Horizon Newsletter

The newsletter of Overeaters Anonymous - Region III

Fall 1999

Members asked to support OA millennial vision
     OA's vision for the new millennium is to be the No. 1 recognized program by 2010 to help those who suffer from compulsive overeating.
     With such an incredible vision, Regions, Intergroups, meetings and individual members are all called on to help.
      Dodie H., Region III trustee, brought that message to the 32 Region representatives gathered in Waco, Texas, October 8-10, 1999, for the Region's Fall Assembly.
      Dodie focused on membership retention and working with others. Both are concerns of OA's Board of Trustees and relate to the above vision, which was approved by the board last August. She also touched on anonymity in relation to OA's goal.

Membership retention
     Retaining members is essential to making this vision a reality. A forum on this topic at the 1999 WSO conference yielded several concerns. These include anger and personality conflicts that are creating disunity, as well as a shortage of members willing to give service and a perception that OA's message is unclear.
      Focus on newcomers was a significant concern. Newcomers, and those returning tot he fellowship, need and require more attention. Follow-up is especially important to improve retention.

What can we do

Like everything in our 12-step program, we can choose to live in the problem or live in the solution. Following are suggestions to help retain members:

     • Clarify our message. Qualify your recovery when sharing, including the physical.
    • Have and demonstrate three-fold recovery: physical, spiritual and emotional. This includes following the adage, "don't tell me, show me," another way of saying walking the walk.
     • Remember to practice the basics: the steps, traditions and concepts. Address abstinence and the importance of sponsorship
  • Demonstrate concern for others, especially tolerance. Be inclusive and avoid cliques; remember that we are all here to recover from compulsive overeating.
    • Personal contact is critical. Reach out to those who are still suffering and those who are not. While it's good to stick with the winners, we were not always the winners. Pick up the phone and call a newcomer or other member.

Working with others

Working with others is crucial to membership retention and attaining our goal. It is also a crux of our program, embodied in Step 12: "Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to compulsive overeaters and to practice these principles in all our affairs."
      It is a very pointed question that we OA'ers need to ask ourselves: "Am I doing everything I can to help the still suffering compulsive overeater?"
      As it says in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous: "Nothing will so much insure immunity from drinking (compulsive overeating) as intensive work with other alcoholics (compulsive overeaters). It works when other activities fail."
      We are further reminded that "every time I do it (work with another compulsive overeater), I take out a little more insurance for myself against a possible slip." Reps reflected on this issue at the Fall Assembly and are asked to bring it up for discussion in their Intergroups and meetings.

Anonymity

     Dodie also brought up the topic of anonymity in relation to becoming the most recognized program to help compulsive overeaters. While anonymity is one of our tools and traditions, the board is concerned about how secretive OA'ers are regarding their membership in the fellowship.
      "Although there may be some situations where discretion is advisable, most of us could be more open about our membership in OA," she says.
      Dodie has started wearing her OA pins as jewelry in hopes that someone will inquire about them, which would open the door to mention Overeaters Anonymous.
      "I know my thinking on the issue of 'stigma' and 'anonymity' have changed," she says.

           Region III's fall 2000 assembly will be held in Tucson, Arizona, September 22-24 at the Sheraton Tucson, 5151 E. Grant Rd.
      The theme will be "Sunlight of the Spirit."
      Fliers will be available at the spring assembly in Tulsa, Oklahoma. More information is also available by contacting Marilyn.

Recovery Roundup slated for August

     If you haven't already done so, be sure to mark your calendar for August 3-6, our Recovery Roundup 2000 WSO Convention.
     This convention, held in our very own Region III in Dallas, features a special weekend of fun and recovery.
      It will include meetings, panels, workshops, general sessions and a marathon meeting from Thursday night to Sunday morning. Special activities include a 40th birthday party for OA, a banquet and dance, entertainment, a carnival and western dance class.
      Watch for registration forms beginning in February. They will be made available through intergroup mailings, "A Step Ahead" WSO newsletter and through regions. Those who do not receive a registration form by March 31 should contact WSO.
      The preregistration fee is $40 ($55 after July 5), and additional fees apply to special events. Rooms at the Hyatt Regency Dallas at Reunion cost $132.25 per night for single or double occupancy, and $155.25 per night for triple or quad occupancy. Ya'll come!

An OA member's experience

"I know in heart I am a compulsive overeater"

     I always sought the comfort and security of food in order to face my life.
      One day 15 years into the program, I understood in my HEART that I am a compulsive overeater who uses food to cope.
      I was then able to put down the fork , stop committing to my disease and begin a commitment to my life, to God and to the community of Overeaters Anonymous.
      I discovered a quality of comfort and security deeper and richer than any I had experienced on my own, with food in tow. No longer is there guilt and worry about controlling my weight or obsession with getting enough food to eat.
      God gives me the grace each day to ask for help from Him and my fellows so that I can get through a day without resorting to food. He has given me a built-in scanner to recognize resentments, fears, worries, concerns, obsessions, uncertainties, insecurities, doubts.
      His gifts of the 12 steps and tools of recovery provide me the means to face these uncomfortable, unsettling, often insidious feelings.
      And poof, the magic happens. The quiet sets in, the turmoil ceases and I get to face life as it really is with the faith that everything is as it is supposed to be in this moment. The relief I feel further enforces my trust in God and His will for me.
      These same steps and tools are available to express my gratitude for being able to face my life without food. God has given me the desire to continue to improve myself (AND to leave others alone), and the desire to keep close to Him so that I feel safe and protected and have the courage to do the next thing in front of me.
      Overeaters Anonymous promises us freedom from food obsession and a new life without bondage to self.
      I am grateful today that my food addiction led me to my depths and that God kept me coming back to this life-giving program.

- Tucson, AZ

HIPM Committee offers service suggestions

     The Region III HIPM Committee has prepared a letter to intergroups suggesting ways of reaching hospitals, institutions, professionals and the military.
      The letter, which has been distributed to Region III intergroups, offers these suggestions that may be used by individual members or passed on to HIPM committees at the intergroup level:
      1) Order the HIPM Service Manual, if you do not already have one, for only $9 from WSO.
      2) Pass around the HIPM Committee database form from WSO to your Intergroup.
      3) Focus on one target group and do an outreach activity, such as visiting a facility, mailing information to a small group of professionals, calling your local recovery center and offering to hold an OA meeting, or take fliers to your Intergroup or meetings regarding HIPM service. Service to hospitals, institutions, professionals or military also includes social service departments, departments of aging, mental health facilities and counseling services.
      4) Ask members to give a copy of the appropriate pamphlet to their own professional contact (see page 15 of the HIPM Service Manual). The letter was prepared by the Region III HIPM Committee.

OA's gift: No New Year's resolutions to break

Dear friends in Region III,

Well, it's all over but the breaking of the New Year's resolutions! What a joy that I do not have to resolve to 1) lose weight; 2) be a kinder, gentler person; or 3) live a more spiritual life.

Admittedly, there is much room for improvement in my emotional and spiritual recovery, but these resolutions and the resulting actions have been part of my life for more than 16 years now.

I told the story the other day at my home meeting of how grateful I am about my behavior during this holiday season. Being blessed with an active and large family, we had eight days of joyful "family chaos."

Through it all, I was abstinent - physically (in spite of having three million calories in the house), emotionally (I did not scold my son-in-law for canceling a golf date at the last minute) and spiritually (I thanked God profusely that my Christmas turkey was divine. Last year, my oven was on the fritz and I had to complete the turkey part by part in the microwave)! This would not be the story I would recount were it not for OA.

So, here I am, catching up on both personal and OA-related business - calm and serene for the moment. Just thinking about all of the work and excitement associated with the Convention 2000 to be held in our region in August makes me break out in a sweat. But, I know I can count on each and every one of you to help wherever needed to make us "purdy proud" of Region III. We'll discuss it in great detail at our assembly in March. What fun it will be to have all the region chairs attend our assembly as part of their regular meeting.

Until March (or August if I won't see you until convention), I wish you abstinence and good health in this exciting millennium year.

In OA love and service,
Dodie Hawkins
Region III Trustee

Like Y2K, OA will survive scary predictions

Dear OA family,

As I write this, we've come through the Y2K scares, and also "survived" the holidays. Very shortly, I will reach my 13th anniversary in OA. I came in January 20, 1987. By that time, my New Year's resolution that year to lose weight had failed again for about the 33rd year. I was feeling very low and was ready for the highway sign that directed me to my first meeting at the local carpet shop. Since then I have found a program which works for me and has for the past 13 years, one day at a time.

The Y2K scares also bring to mind the "scares" about OA. I've heard it speculated that OA is failing and can't survive. People worked hard on computer programs so that catastrophe wouldn't strike at midnight December 31, 1999. That day on TV I watched countries around the world bring in the new millennium without any of the predicted disasters happening.

I think that is what is going to happen with Overeaters Anonymous as well. If we all work hard on our individual programs and continue to reach out our hands to the still-suffering compulsive overeater, we will see OA continue and grow even stronger. The new vision statement of Overeaters Anonymous is: "By the year 2010, Overeaters Anonymous will be the #1 recognized program for help with the problem of overeating."

That statement has certainly come true for me - I had tried everything else and OA was that proverbial "last house on the block." It is the #1 program for me and it is my belief that we will see that vision statement come true, with faith and hard work.

The year will bring new challenges and opportunities for growth. You will shortly be getting your questionnaires concerning the business items to be brought up at WSBC in May in Albuquerque. As always, there will be controversial issues.

I hope that each of you will go through these surveys with an attitude of deciding which issues should be brought to the floor for the good of OA as a whole. Also, please remember that if your IG votes yes on an item, that that just means you feel it should be discussed and voted on at conference, not necessarily meaning that you would vote yes on it at Conference.

In November, I met with the Region Chairs and the BOT in Albuquerque. Strategic planning was done, and I feel very positive about the direction in which we are heading. All the Region Chairs except Regions 9 and 10 will be coming to Tulsa, OK, in March to our Assembly. This is very exciting! We'll get to hear some of their experience, strength and hope, and we'll have the opportunity to show them that Region 3 is the place to be!

This will be my final year to serve as Region Chair. What a great experience it has been! We will have elections for chair and secretary in Tucson, AZ, this fall. Please look into your hearts and at your program and see if you can run for one of these offices. It is my hope and prayer that we have several qualified applicants to choose from for both of these offices. You are wanted and needed to give service.

I look forward to seeing all of you soon in Tulsa. Mark your calendars for then, for WSBC and also for the WSO Convention in Dallas in August. Many thanks to each of you for all the wonderful service you give. I particularly want to thank my Region Board for all that they do. They're great!

Yours in service,
Irish Crawford

Assembly business covers elections to
bylaw changes

From elections to bylaw changes, the 32 region representatives at the fall assembly completed plenty of business while in Waco, Texas, October 8-10. Following is a summary of key actions or business items.

Elections

Prue O. and Bill O. were reelected to two-year terms as vice chair and treasurer, respectively. Mary S.L. was elected fifth member and will also serve as Horizon editor. Dodie H was affirmed as the nominee for Region III trustee.

Future assemblies
The fall assembly will be held September 22-24 in Tucson, Arizona, and the spring 2001 assembly will be held in Austin, Texas. Houston, Galveston and Dallas all have expressed interest in hosting assemblies.

Computer Committee A domain name will be registered for Region III's website, at a cost of $70 for two years. A presentation of our website will be conducted when it is ready.

Ways and Means Committee Several fundraisers are in the works for Region III. Tickets are still being sold for the quilt to be raffled at the WSO Convention this August in Dallas. Tickets cost $1 each or six for $5.
Other fund raisers include highlighters with the words "Recovery Is Discovery" and luggage tags, both of which should be available later this year. Region III 2000 pins are on sale for $3.50, and the committee was exploring the possibility of a recovery check list note pad that could be sold as a fund raiser.

Bylaws Committee The committee was to prepare proposed bylaw changes that would permanently add a fifth member to the steering committee called a communications secretary, propose term limits for steering committee positions and outline duties for the communications secretary.

Finance Committee The region's contribution to WSO has been increase to $1,000 for the year 2000. Also, a motion was approved to give the treasurer the authority to issue advances for approved expenditures so that those doing service at the region level do not have to use personal funds for expenses and then seek reimbursement.

New business Representatives approved a motion from the Region Chairs Committee that would allow the committee to present motions to the World Service Business Conference. Currently, there is no mechanism for the committee to make motions, despite their collective broad perspective on issues affecting the fellowship. This motion will be under consideration for this year's WSBC.

Reminder: Send address changes to WSO

     Just a reminder that any address changes for Horizon (other than for Region representatives) should be submitted to the Word Service Office, which provides the master list for all meetings in Region III.
    This list, and the roster of Region III Intergroups and Region representatives, comprise the Horizon distribution list.
    WSO's address is P.O. Box 44020, Rivo Rancho, NM, 87174-4020