Welcome to the OA Virtual Region!

A Message From The Virtual Region Board
RE: Rainbow Specific Focus Service Board

Dear Members and Service Bodies,

Many of you have become aware that the new Rainbow LGBTQAI+ Service Board was the recipient of several written criticisms and attacks from members. The Rainbow Service Board has called for a meeting for members who would like to support its specific focus. The OA Virtual Region Board stands, hand in hand, in full support of the Rainbow Service Board.

The Virtual Region board recognizes that members may have questions on the following: What is a service board and what is its purpose? What are specific focus groups?  You may have questions regarding OA’s Unity With Diversity Policy and on what is or isn’t an outside issue. OA’s World Service has stated that any outside issue that affects one’s recovery in OA is considered an inside issue and can be shared at meetings. 

The Virtual Region Board recognizes we need to do more and share more information about our service structure, as well as information about the OA Concepts and Traditions.  We have included some helpful links to further all our understanding. 

The theme of our convention this year was our diverse membership, united in recovery. We all share a common problem and a common solution. We often do not agree on matters both inside and outside of OA. However, the board respectfully requests that members, in their communications, both verbal and written, remember we treat each other with patience, tolerance, love, and kindness. We can disagree without being disagreeable. 

Members of OA, who have concerns regarding the decisions of the region board, chair ,or trustee, are always welcome to attend an open Virtual Region Board Meeting. For more information, contact chair@oavirtualregion.org

Anyone with a desire to stop eating compulsively is welcome in OA. Specific focus groups and specific focus service bodies carry the message to OA members, and to those outside of OA, who may relate to each other through their shared voices. This does not exclude anyone from participation in OA. Our suggestion, for anyone suffering with our disease, is to find the meetings that work for them.  For our meetings/groups find the intergroup or service board that serves them best, and to make that their OA home. Hate speech of any kind, or attacks on members giving service, has no home in the Virtual Region.

Rainbow has a special meeting scheduled for Saturday April 20, 2024 from 3:00-:5:00 PM ET (UTC -4) for those interested in supporting the group in service and learning what you or your service bodies can do to support Rainbow.  Interpretation will be available in Spanish and French.

United in recovery, together we get better.

For Event Info and Printable Flyer

Help Links:
https://oa.org/faqs/what-is-a-service-board/
https://oa.org/faqs/what-is-a-special-focus-meeting/
Https://bookstore.oa.org/pamphlets/twelve-concepts-of-oa-service
https://oa.org/group-resources-list/unity-with-diversity-policy-statements
https://oa.org/news/what-is-an-outside-issue-are-we-being-open-minded-in-our-meetings/
https://bookstore.oa.org/pamphlets/twelve-concepts-of-oa-service-330.asp
https://bookstore.oa.org/pamphlets/twelve-traditions-pocket-guide-445.asp
https://bookstore.oa.org/pamphlets/twelve-concepts-of-oa-service
https://bookstore.oa.org/digital-products/the-twelve-traditions-workbook-of-overeaters-anonymous-e-workbook-952v.asp
https://oa.org/group-resources-list/unity-with-diversity-checklist-2/