Thu, 16 Apr 2026 07:11:21 -0700WeeblySat, 13 Feb 2016 22:47:09 GMThttps://www.oaregion1.org/-chairs-blog/january-chair-reportRegion 1 Chair Report - January 19, 2016
 
I was elected Chair at Assembly in September, and as the Board’s newest member, I am relying greatly on the experience of the rest of the Board. So, I want to start by saying THANK YOU to Ruth, Pat, Deborah and Margie for your warm welcome, and for helping me get my feet under me. You are wonderful and it is an honor to work with you!

As R1 Chair, I am also on the Region Chair’s Committee (RCC), which meant I joined them in Brisbane, Australia in October for the Region 10 Assembly and Convention.   I learned so much observing the business meetings and workshops in R10, and was impressed with their commitment to carrying the message. I saw a very strong emphasis on PIPO (public information and professional outreach)--every one of the nine intergroups represented at Assembly reported on a PIPO project! In addition, they have a strong commitment to reach out to “OA Loners” (people who have no meetings close enough to attend) in R10. A Skype meeting (recovery, not business) was held during Convention, and was attended by OA members from Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and Israel. Shares alternated between someone in the room, and someone calling in on Skype. I came away realizing that we must also have “OA Loners” in R1, and would like to find a way we can reach out to these members.
​
It was also very good to meet with the other Region Chairs. The RCC is busy working on an Intergroup Renewal project, which is in the early stages, but I am excited to help create this resource to help intergroups around the world grow and thrive. We are also planning the forum for WSBC 2016 on the theme “Carrying the Message.” Also, as part of the RCC, I co-led a virtual workshop with one of the Trustees, sharing my ESH on Step 11 for the “Working All 12 Steps” podcast series, available on the World Service website.

I am the Board liaison to R1 intergroups, and host a conference call for all intergroup chairs, representatives, delegates and other interested OA members on the first Saturday of each month, at noon PST. My goal with these calls is to share resources and information, and to help intergroups connect with one another.   We decided on our December call to set up a Yahoo Group (email loop) for R1 intergroup chairs to be able to easily connect and share solutions. Thank you to Mary, the new Greater Seattle Intergroup Chair, for setting up the group! We are still adding members, but should be up and running soon.
In December I emailed the Board of Trustees and the RCC a question:
"If you were speaking to a new intergroup chair, what are some of the "Do's and Don'ts" you would suggest they keep in mind in order to be an effective chair?"

I received some really thoughtful replies, which I will be sharing on our monthly conference call and on the new Yahoo Group.
 
I am Board liaison for the Bylaws Committee and the Assembly Binder Committee, and will be reaching out to those committees in the next two weeks so that we can get started with our work for this year. We have received one proposed Bylaws amendment already from Bitterroot Intergroup, and some policy changes from the Budget/Finance/Delegate Support Committee.
Regarding Assembly, I received input from a member that it would be very helpful if the Assembly Notebook were available online, in sections. I think this is an excellent suggestion, and see a great example of what form this might take on the R9 website. Check it out at http://www.oaregion9.org/region-9-membersgroups/region-9-assembly/2015-assembly-28th-october-1st-november-2015-in-parisfrance/
 
Assembly 2016 will be in Calgary September 15-16 and Convention is September 16-18! There will be some Bylaws and Policy amendments proposed, but the Board would like to make Intergroup Renewal a focus at Assembly, as well. We have also asked the Convention Committee to provide a time slot
for a workshop on Building Strong Intergroups at Convention.  Stay tuned for more info!
We have two open positions on the R1 Board— partial terms for Communications Coordinator and Member-at-Large.  If you would be interested in helping carry the message in R1,
please let me know by emailing chairr1@gmail.com.

Special thanks to our Trustee, Margie, for setting up a new Dropbox account for storing R1 documents. Margie also created a new email address that forwards to the entire R1 Board. If you’d like to reach the whole board at once, please email board@oaregion1.org.
 
The Board is looking forward to putting on a workshop—open to the public—this weekend in Longview, Washington. Flyers have gone up in the community inviting people to come and learn about Overeaters Anonymous! We hope many OA members will come help us carry the message and grow the OA fellowship in Longview.Thank you so much for this opportunity to be of service to OA.
 
Beverly M. Region One Chair      chairr1@gmail.com]]>Tue, 17 Mar 2015 19:12:35 GMThttps://www.oaregion1.org/-chairs-blog/region-1-board-meetings-2015The Region 1 Board meets every month via conference call but our main meetings, pursuant to our Bylaws, are in person, four times each year.  We decided several years ago that we wanted to reach out to our Intergroups while holding our Board meetings and that is something we plan for each year now.  This year we are meeting in the following locations, hosted by the following Intergroups:


January 16-18th, 2015 - Lakewood, Washington - Pierce County Intergroup

Our Board meeting took place that morning and the Board members were speakers at a wonderful Marathon held that morning and afternoon.  We are so grateful to the Pierce County Intergroup who decorated the room with beautiful balloons, anchored on each table with flower-filled pots.  The topic of the Marathon was Action Plan for the New Year: One Day at a Time. 

During our Board meeting we heard updates regarding the 2015 Convention in Bend, Oregon, hosted by the Central Oregon Intergroup.  We are very grateful for the hard work of this wonderful part of our fellowship, ably assisted by our Vice Chair, Ruth D.  The Convention group can really use your help with a myriad of tasks....some now....some in the months to come and most certainly at Convention.  Please contact Ruth at vchairr1@gmail.com   

March 13-15th, 2015 - Boise, Idaho - Snake River Intergroup

Our Board meeting took place in Boise, the morning of March 14th at Friends Church in Boise - this was also the location of the Marathon. 

During our Board meeting we provided final approval of the Convention brochure and were pleased to hear from our Vice Chair that the organizing group in Bend has everything well in hand!  It's going to be a terrific Convention!!  Are you planning to attend Convention?  There are plenty of opportunities to provide some service during Convention.  Please contact our Vice Chair for more information - vchairR1@gmail.com.  We had some additional general business to discuss and some great new initiatives!  Stay tuned!!!  Our Virtual Sponsorship program on our Region 1 website needs your help!  Please sign up to be a sponsor!!!  Please visit our Region 1 website often - lots of great information and you never know what new and great piece of info will show up next!

This is Region 1's 40th Anniversary Year!  Calling all those in the fellowship who have been in program for 40 and more years!  We are going to create a book of memories, celebrating 40 Years of OA in Region 1.  If this is you, please send me an email and I will send you information on what we are looking for.  If you know folks who have been in program that long, please pass on this message.  Please have them contact me. 

The Marathon's focus was Participation:  The Key to Recovery and 30+ people attended.  We are very grateful to the Snake River Intergroup for their enthusiasm and PARTICIPATION!  

June 26-28th, 2015 - Ashland, Oregon - Jefferson County Intergroup

Our Board meeting will take place in Ashland, the morning of June 27th.  More to come!


September 18th, 2015 - Bend, Oregon - Post Assembly Board Meeting

This will be our last in person meeting of the year with the new Region 1 Board Members.  The position of Chair and Treasurer is up for election this year. 

If you have any questions regarding Region 1 Board meetings, please contact me at ChairR1@gmail.com  

Thank you!
]]>Sat, 18 Oct 2014 17:58:28 GMThttps://www.oaregion1.org/-chairs-blog/39th-annual-region-1-assembly Assembly 2014 Wrap Up Report

We welcomed 21 delegates, 7 of which were Green Dots on Thursday September 18th, 2014, representing 16 of our 24 Intergroups.  Two additional delegates were able to perfect their Eligibility Forms by the end of the first day of Assembly, bringing our total to 23 delegates representing 18 of our Intergroups.  

In addition to our full board, we were joined by our Trustee, Margie G., our Parliamentarian, George A. and during the event, guests Louise A. and Richard G. 

The Region 1 Board believes that part of our responsibility at our annual Assembly is to provide our delegates with some of the experience they would receive at World Service Business Conference.  One of business processes of that conference is the review, discussion and voting process of amendments to the Bylaws.  Some of that is accomplished with a Consent Agenda which is determined by the Chair of the Board of Trustees.  The Consent Agenda would normally contain Bylaw Amendments that are considered as either “housekeeping” matters or non-controversial matters. 

A Motion was proposed and voted on to accept a Consent Agenda in the Assembly Standing Rules.  Some of the proposed Motions for amendment to the Region 1 Bylaws were then dealt with via a Consent Agenda.  The balance of the Motions were discussed and voted upon by the Assembly Body, resulting in the new 2014 Region 1 Bylaws, which are attached for your reference.  They will also be posted on the Region 1 website in due course.

I would like to personally thank the members of the 2013-2014 Region 1 Committee Members:

Lorri B; Kyra B; Carrie A; Beverly M; Suzan B; Mary S; Candace O; Sue H; Sara H; Rhonda S; Debbie G; Royann G; Wendy S; Dori B; Joan R; Pat O; Brooks Mc; Pat M; Cayley W; Alice W; Tracy S; and Catherine B.

The Assembly Body also accepted the Region One Committee Manual as a guide for our Committees, noting it was not a static document, more of resource to help focus efforts over the year and help them make note of any deadlines in their processes.  The Manual will be posted on the Region 1 website in due course.

An important change to the format of the Region 1 Committees was also adopted on a one-year trial basis.  Rather than the Board Members serving as Liaisons to the committees, they would serve as the Chair person and the driving force of the group’s goals for the year.  We will check in on this process at Assembly 2015 to see how it worked.

2014-2015 Region 1 Committee Members

Assembly Binder:                                Merry, Lorri B, Guy M.

Audit Committee:                                Merry, Guy M, Carrie A, Kyra B

Budget/Finance/Delegate Support:    Deborah, Beverly M, Morrie S

Bylaws:                                               Merry, Sue H, Faye D

Convention Binder:                             Ruth, Merry, Rhonda, Sara H, Robin R

Convention Chair:                               Central Oregon IG – with assistance from Ruth

Membership Outreach/12 Step:         Pat, Martha, Stacey

Nomination:                                         Merry, Pat, Maxine

Professional/Public Information:         Pat, Candace, Dori

Quilt:                                                    Pat, Carol, Arlene

Virtual Sponsor:                                  Catherine, Cayley W, Alice W.

Ways & Means:                                  Deborah, Pat M, Tracy S

The Committees had time to discuss what they would like their focus to be in the 2014-2015 year:

Assembly Binder – Lorrie and Guy presented their focus according to the steps as follows: 

1. I am powerless over technology - create timeline.
2. Sanity – create a committee email account to allow sharing documents.
3. Final documents are turned over to the God of our understanding.
4. Note corrections in current binder and change.
5. Admit there is room for improvement.
6. Willing to try new approaches as technology changes.
7. Be open to new approaches
8. Remember that reprints & missing pages create confusion at assembly.
9. Commit a living amends to make changes as needed.
10. Continue to focus that our service enhances our recovery.
11. Remind ourselves that we are “not in charge”.
12. Document our learning and pass it on to the next committee through the assembly binder.

 
Audit Committee – Kyra, Guy, & Carrie

1. Committee members should be rigorously honest with their food and finances.
   
   
2. Focus is that auditing is spiritual because it is giving service.
   

Budget & Finance – Beverly & Morrie

1. Ask board to fund OA sponsorship packets
   
   
2. Advocate donations for scholarship fund for assembly by posting on Yahoo Group, R1 website target donations with Pay Pal, and email flyers to IG Chairs
   
   
3. Fund a project that says, “Ask Me What Step I am On” and could be worn with “I Am Abstinent” buttons.  Could be sold as a fundraiser.          

Bylaws Committee - Sue & Faye

1. Require completion of the 12th step to serve as a rep to assembly or trustee.
   
   
2. In most cases, change "the 12 steps" to "all 12 steps".
   
   

 Convention Binder – Rhonda S., Robin, Sara H.

1. Make sure that the binder and convention guide ensures that at least one track of workshops is dedicated to the 12 steps.
   
   
2. Session speakers should be required to have worked all 12 steps.
   
   

 Membership Outreach/12 Steps Within – Stacey and Martha would like us to promote the following:

1. Grab one word and work a step, specifically; step one is hope. 
   
   
2. Grab one word and work a principle, specifically; tradition twelve is the principle of anonymity
   
   

 Nominations Committee – Maxine and Pat O. would like us to promote the following:

1. You will be hearing from us as we plan to search fearlessly for nominees.
   
   
2. In 2015, the Chair and Treasure will be up for nominations and we will interview current officer holders by February 2015.           
   
   

 Professional and Public Information Committee  – Candace and Dori

1. Committee members are committed to abstinence and working all 12 steps
2. Tradition 11, we don’t “promote”, we “attract”
   
   
3. Disseminate information about OA as a 12 Step program.
   
   

 Quilt Committee – Carol and Arlene

1. Committee Report theme from “despair to enlightenment and peace”.
   
   
2. Recommend the quilt has 3 squares per step when assigning IG their squares.
   
   
3. Pick brain of previous quilters and professional quilters.                        

Virtual Sponsorship Committee – Cayley and Alice

1. Adding a question to both the sponsor and sponsee questionnaires:
   
2. Sponsors – Have you worked or are you working through the 12 steps?
   
3. Sponsees – Have you had any experience with the 12 steps?
   
4. Under the definition of a sponsor, include “An OA member who helps another member through the use of the 12 steps of recovery.”       

 Ways & Means – Pat M. and Tracey would like to recommend:

1. That raffle baskets include workbooks, journals, and program literature.
2. That OA fundraisers promote the 12 steps.
3. That meeting groups pass a separate envelope along during the 7th tradition baskets for assisting members to attend retreats, conferences, and conventions.

 
Several of the committees have set up regular times to meet via conference call.  So far, our schedule is: 

• Bylaws – First Monday of each month 6pm PST or as needed
  
  
• PI/PO – First Thursday of each month 7:30am PST
  
  
• Audit – Second Monday of each month – 6PM PST
  
  
• Assembly Binder – Second Wednesday of each month – 6pm PST
  
  
• Convention Binder – Third Sunday of each month – 3:30pm PST
  
  
• Nominations – January 2015 for first monthly call
  
  
• 12 Step – Monthly Email
  
  
• Quilt Committee – Monthly contact
  
  

 We look forward to a fun and productive committee year!

 World Service Business Conference – WSBC – April 27th – May 2nd, 2015 – Albuquerque, New Mexico

 Delegate Support – We are pleased to announce we have been able to provide partial funding to three Intergroups who applied to Region 1 for assistance to have their delegate attend WSBC in 2015.  The deadline for applications to World Service for possible additional funding is fast approaching – November 1st.  If you are looking for additional funding (WSO will hope you applied to Region 1 first) please go to

http://www.oa.org/world-service-events/world-service-business-conference/  and click on the link to Delegate Support Fund Application.

 If you are planning on attending WSBC in 2015 – please ensure your registration form – link found at the same location as noted above, is completed and submitted prior to the deadline.  I can advise the hotel books up quickly as well so you will want to ensure your booking is completed as soon as you are able.  (In previous years, rooms with 2 queen beds have been booked up by mid-January)

 One of the requests the Board of Trustees makes of Region Chairs is that we provide the names of two volunteers to serve on the Reference Committee for any proposed Motions that receive three amendments during the Business Meetings at WSBC.  I am very grateful to Cayley W and Guy M who will serve as the Region 1 representatives on this committee.  Thank you!

 The Board

 We said thank you and farewell to our Secretary Cyntha W-P; who had served a one year term as our Communication Coordinator and then was elected to and completed a two-year term as our Secretary.  We are grateful for her wonderful contribution to our Board.

 Elections were held for the positions of Vice Chair, Secretary and Communication Coordinator and I am pleased to advise Ruth D was elected to her second two-year term as Vice Chair, Pat O was elected to her first two-year term as Secretary and Catherine B was elected to her first two-year term as Communication Coordinator.  Catherine was previously elected to complete the final year of a two-year term. 

2015 will see the positions of Chair and Treasurer up for election.

Region 1 Board In-Person Meetings: 

Date                                         Hosting Intergroup                   Location

January 16th – 18th, 2015           Pierce County Intergroup         Lakewood, Washington

March 13th – 15th, 2015              Snake River Intergroup            Boise, Idaho

June 26th – 28th, 2015                Jefferson State Intergroup        Ashland/Medford, Oregon

Ruth D, Deborah R and Margie G presented a 7th Tradition skit – What’s It Worth.
It can be found on the oa.org website by following this link:
 http://www.oa.org/membersgroups/group-support/
Click on Seventh Tradition Skits. 

The Assembly Body reviewed the 2014 Financial Statements and approved the 2015 Budget – a copy of which is attached to this report. 

We had an opportunity to chat about the various challenges facing Intergroups and some of the possible solutions other Intergroups have tried. 

We were pleased to hear about the Region One Convention 2015, hosted by the Central Oregon Intergroup in Bend, Oregon.  Our thanks to Robin R for presentation. 

The draft minutes of the 39th Region 1 Annual Assembly are attached.  I welcome your comments and confirm the final approval of the minutes will be completed by the Region 1 Board at their first in-person meeting – January 17th, 2015. 

I have attached a few reports that were not part of the initial printed Assembly Binder package, for your general information. 

If you believe I have missed something, please let me know.  Thank you again for your attendance.  Your dedication to our fellowship of OA, the time you take away from your family, your employment and your home for the benefit of your Intergroups is sincerely appreciated. 

Respectfully and with love,
On behalf of the Region 1 Board
Merry R – Chair
Region 1
]]>Wed, 23 Jul 2014 00:22:47 GMThttps://www.oaregion1.org/-chairs-blog/region-1-board-meeting-june-2014 REGION ONE BOARD MEETING SUMMARY– EVERETT, WASHINGTON

June 27th – 29th, 2014

The Region 1 Board met on June 28th, 2014 in Everett, Washington, in conjunction with our participation in a Marathon hosted by the North Cascades Intergroup.  The Board Members travelled to Everett on June 27th, meeting together that evening to share our personal and position goals for the year ahead.

We then met the morning of June 28th, 2014 at Best Western Cascadia Inn in Everett, Washington to commence our Board Meeting.  We were happy to have several members of the fellowship sit in on meeting. 

The Marathon hosted by the North Cascades Intergroup focused on Sponsorship with the Board Members as speakers.  It was very well attended and our thanks go out to all those who spent their day with us.




Our theme this year continues to be:

Theme for 2014 – We are the Message.

Our Focus for 2014 continues to be to promote the importance of abstinence, specifically abstinent sponsors and encourage everyone to be involved in service.  These are consistently the two most significant issues that have been brought to our attention by our Intergroups.  These issues are also in line with what the Board of Trustees has advised is their focus for the next three years.

Assembly

Arrangements are in place for our 39th Assembly, the business portion of our annual get-together with the fellowship.  We have experienced a constant increase in the number of Intergroups that have sent representatives and we are hoping that trend continues.  We are able to provide some financial assistance to Intergroups who would like to send a representative.  If you would like more information regarding this possible assistance, please follow the links on our website to the Budget/Finance/Delegate Support Committee.    Eligibility Forms were sent out in late April to all Intergroup Chairs, however, if you need another form, please contact our Secretary, Cynthia – regiononesecretary@gmail.com.  If you are a Delegate for your Intergroup, contact your Intergroup Chair and provide your details.  Assembly this year, as all years, precedes Convention and will be held at the Hampton Inn, Bellingham, Washington, September 18th – 19th, 2014.  Please check the Assembly Page on the Region 1 website – www.oaregion1.org  If you have any questions, I can be reached at ChairR1@gmail.com

Regular Board Meetings:

The Region 1 Board meets via conference call on the first Saturday of each month.  We meet in person four times each year and we hold our meetings in conjunction with outreach service – attending as speakers at Intergroup Marathons.  Our schedule for the balance of this year is:

Post Assembly Board Meeting – September 19th, 2014 – Bellingham, WA.

  

Vice Chair Report

Our Vice Chair Ruth continues to work hard on the organization of the many details regarding our annual Convention.  She is grateful to the volunteer Intergroups who have each volunteered to take on a portion of the work involved.  Ruth hosts conference calls every other Sunday for those helping to make Convention fabulous this year.  The Region 1 quilt is complete and tickets are available for download and printing on the Region 1 website.  Please take a minute, print out a sheet and take them to your meetings.  You can either mail the tickets and money to our Treasurer – P.O. Box 23235, Tigard, OR  97281 or bring them to Convention!

We believe this year’s Convention is going to truly be amazing.  We hope you plan to attend.  Registration details are available on our website – www.oaregion1.org

If you are interested in helping out, please contact Ruth.  vchairR1@gmail.com

  Secretary Report

If you have any changes in your Intergroup – a new Chair, a new Delegate, a new contact address, please contact Cynthia so she can update our Intergroup Contact List.  Please contact Cynthia – regiononesecretary@gmail.com

Treasurer Report

Deborah provided us with the draft budget for 2014, which we have approved for review by the Assembly Body.  It will be available on the Assembly page of our website soon and will be forwarded to all registered delegates in early September. 

Deborah has provided information on how to apply for Delegate Support to attend our Assembly.  If you missed that information, please contact her.  We plan to determine the financial support awards for Assembly in early August.  Contact Deborah today!  Deborah is also a source of information for Intergroup Treasurers.  Any questions – please do contact her:  regiononetreasurer@yahoo.com

Communications Coordinator Report

Have you visited our website lately?  We cannot say enough of the wonderful design and information Catherine has added – www.oaregion1.org

One of her many tasks related to communications is to post the various OA events that take place in our Region.  She encourages and welcomes your submissions.  She has also reached out to our Virtual Services Trustee so you can also find virtual events noted on our site.

Catherine continues to focus on the continued development of our website.  Her current focus is protecting and retaining the anonymity of our committee members and contributors to our website.  Contact Catherine – oar1web@gmail.com

Region One Trustee Report

We are blessed by the service of our Trustee, Margie G.  In addition to our monthly Board conference calls and our four in-person meetings, Margie attends several Board of Trustee (BOT) meetings each year and sits on World Service Committees as a BOT representative.  In between that, she is busy hosting Service and Tradition Workshops all over our Region.  Did you know you could contact Margie and invite her to come and speak to your Intergroup members?   Margie is a great source of information for issues affecting your meetings, your Intergroups, steps, traditions and concepts.  Margie can be reached at – region1trustee@gmail.com Watch for her regular posts on the OA Yahoo Group as well.  Are you a member of the Yahoo Group?  If you would like to be, contact Margie.



I look forward to seeing our delegates at Assembly and all of you at the 2014 Region 1 Convention! Until next time!

Merry R – Chair

Region 1

 

 

 



]]>Sun, 23 Mar 2014 18:07:21 GMThttps://www.oaregion1.org/-chairs-blog/region-1-board-meeting-activities REGION ONE BOARD MEETING SUMMARY– KELOWNA, BRITISH COLUMBIA

March 14th – 16th, 2014

The Region 1 Board met on March 15th, 2014 in Kelowna, British Columbia, in conjunction with our participation in a Marathon hosted by the Southern British Columbia Interior Intergroup.  The Board Members travelled to Kelowna on March 15th, meeting together that evening to share our personal and position goals for the year ahead.

We then met the morning of March 15th, 2014 at Four Points Sheraton Hotel in Kelowna, British Columbia to commence our Board Meeting.  We were happy to have two members of the fellowship sit in on meeting.  Our theme this year continues to be:

Theme for 2014 – We are the Message.

Our Focus for 2014 continues to be to promote the importance of abstinence, specifically abstinent sponsors and encourage everyone to be involved in service.  These are consistently the two most significant issues that have been brought to our attention by our Intergroups.  These issues are also in line with what the Board of Trustees has advised is their focus for the next three years.

Assembly

Arrangements are in place for our 39th Assembly, the business portion of our annual get-together with the fellowship.  We have experienced a constant increase in the number of Intergroups that have sent representatives and we are hoping that trend continues.  We are able to provide some financial assistance to Intergroups who would like to send a representative.  If you would like more information regarding this possible assistance, please follow the links on our website to the Budget/Finance/Delegate Support Committee.    Eligibility Forms will be sent out shortly to all Intergroup Chairs.  If you are a Delegate for your Intergroup, contact your Intergroup Chair and provide your details.  Assembly this year, as all years, precedes Convention and will be held at the Hampton Inn, Bellingham, Washington, September 18th – 19th, 2014.  Please check the Assembly Page on the Region 1 website – www.oaregion1.org  If you have any questions, I can be reached at ChairR1@gmail.com

Regular Board Meetings:

The Region 1 Board meets via conference call on the first Saturday of each month.  We meet in person four times each year and we hold our meetings in conjunction with outreach service – attending as speakers at Intergroup Marathons.  Our schedule for the balance of this year is:

North Cascades Intergroup Marathon – June 28th, 2014 – Everett, WA.

Post Assembly Board Meeting – September 19th, 2014 – Bellingham, WA.




Vice Chair Report

Our Vice Chair Ruth continues to work hard on the organization of our the myriad of details regarding our annual Convention.  She is grateful to the volunteer Intergroups who have each volunteered to take on a portion of the work involved.  Many of the positions are filled but there are still places for everyone to assist.  Ruth hosts monthly meetings with the Convention Committee.  Contact her for dates, times and dial in information.  Ruth shared with us details on potential key note speakers, the registration form and some great ideas on fundraising.  More will be revealed!  If you are interested in helping out, please contact Ruth.  vchairR1@gmail.com

Secretary Report If you have any changes in your Intergroup – a new Chair, a new Delegate, a new contact address, please contact Cynthia so she can update our Intergroup Contact List.  Please contact Cynthia – regiononesecretary@gmail.com

Treasurer Report Deborah provided us with the 2013 Balance Sheet and Income and Expense Summary.  This information will be provided to Intergroup Chairs and Delegates in Assembly packages, once we receive signed Eligibility Forms. 

Deborah will be providing information on how to apply for Delegate Support to attend our Assembly in the months ahead.  Watch for updated information in the Eligibility Form package and on the Assembly page of our Region 1 Website.   Deborah is also a source of information for Intergroup Treasurers.  Any questions – please do contact her:  regiononetreasurer@yahoo.com

Communications Coordinator Report

Have you visited our website lately?  We cannot say enough of the wonderful design and information Catherine has added – www.oaregion1.org

One of her many tasks related to communications is to post the various OA events that take place in our Region.  She encourages and welcomes your submissions.  She has also reached out to our Virtual Services Trustee so you can also find virtual events noted on our site.

Catherine continues to focus on the continued development of our website.  Her current focus is protecting and retaining the anonymity of our committee members and contributors to our website.  Contact Catherine – oar1web@gmail.com

Region One Trustee Report

We are blessed by the service of our Trustee, Margie G.  In addition to our monthly Board conference calls and our four in-person meetings, Margie attends several Board of Trustee (BOT) meetings each year and sits on World Service Committees as a BOT representative.  In between that, she is busy hosting Service and Tradition Workshops all over our Region.  Did you know you could contact Margie and invite her to come and speak to your Intergroup members?   Margie is a great source of information for issues affecting your meetings, your Intergroups, steps, traditions and concepts.  Margie can be reached at – region1trustee@gmail.com



Until next Board Meeting!

Merry R – Chair

Region 1

 

 

 

]]>Thu, 06 Feb 2014 02:08:25 GMThttps://www.oaregion1.org/-chairs-blog/we-are-the-messageDuring the weekend of January 17th - 19th, 2014, the Region 1 Board was in Eugene, Oregon to speak at a Marathon hosted by the Emerald Empire Intergroup.  As we always do at our in-person meetings (4 times a year) the Board members spent Friday evening together, checking in with our personal programs, setting our physical, emotional and spiritual goals for the year, goals for our position on the Board, goals for the Region and a theme for 2014.  We loved the spirit of "We Are the Message" so we adopted it for 2014.

I first heard this early on in program...it was the first time I was clear enough to hear those words in "Our Invitation to You."  I love that document....I love knowing that the message is not just about weight loss - I can go to a multitude of places for that (and I have...and it worked for awhile) but what I understood was the peace and happiness that was in the room and in the faces of those who had been in program for awhile.  Not everyone, but enough that I decided OA was for me.

Now I know that being the message reminds me of the hope of our program that I can hang on to.  It is the peace I too have found.  It is the friendships I have been fortunate to develop, the gratitude I feel, and the happiness that is the biggest part of my life.

Our program tells us to look for someone who has what you want and ask how they are achieving it.  That is being the message.

So what about our meetings that have slipped into the "same old same old" where our members use the time to talk about what is going wrong and forget about what has gone right.  What about our meetings where no one is abstinent....

I have the responsibility to save my own life, to find hope, to connect with a HP, to maintain my abstinence, to serve, to sponsor.  I cannot imagine my life without OA...my life is an absolute 180 from my lowest point.  I never want to return to that sad, mad, crazy woman.  My only solution is OA.  So, I need to carry the message so OA will always be here for me. 

We Are the Message! 

]]>Thu, 26 Sep 2013 18:09:16 GMThttps://www.oaregion1.org/-chairs-blog/2013-assembly-and-conventionI am back home and settled into the beginning of a "new year" for Region 1, following a very successful Assembly and a truly wonderful Convention!

Assembly hosted 26 delegates this year, representing 18 of our 24 Intergroups which is the highest number of Intergroups represented to date!  Thank you again to all the delegates who provided this service to their Intergroups!

This year we offered some learning sessions and that received a big thumbs up!  We hope to continue to provide these sessions at future Assemblies, in addition to the regular work of bylaw, policy and rule reviews, elections and financial review.

Convention was so inspiring!  Thank you so much to Teryl, our keynote speaker!  A huge thank you to the Oregon Intergroup led by Beverly and Vee for the amazing weekend.  193 people were rocketed to the fourth dimension!  Thank you to all the session speakers, all of the registration, decoration, hospitality, greeting, ways & means, entertainment and countless other volunteers who really made this a wonderful experience for all of us.

The 2014 Region 1 Assembly and Convention will be held at the Hampton Inn, Bellingham, Washington.  Watch for more details as the months progress.  We will be dividing up the tasks of putting on a Convention among all of our Intergroups for 2014 - Together We Can! 


Thanks everyone! 

]]>Thu, 05 Sep 2013 14:23:28 GMThttps://www.oaregion1.org/-chairs-blog/the-best-laid-plansI attended the Region Chairs Committee meeting who also met with the Board of Trustees in a strategic planning session.  I am happy to report the theme for the World Service Business Conference 2014 is Our Primary Purpose.  This will also be the theme of the WSO Strategic Plan for the next three years.

We are going back to the basics. 
Goal #1 - Increase focus on actions required for Abstinence
Goal #2 - Increase focus on the necessity of working all 12 Steps
Goal #3 - Increase focus on individual's responsibility to carry the message

I arrived in Cleveland with the beginnings of a bad cold, which progressed quite quickly into a sinus infection...which then became a severe sinus infection and conjunctivitis.  Needless to say, I was not up to snuff and spent both days of the Convention in my hotel bed.  As I lay in bed I had a long chat with my HP, wondering why I was brought all the way to Cleveland, only to find myself bedridden.  The message I received was, It is what it is. 

So often I find it is quite easy for me to beat myself up about what I believe are my short-comings.  What I realized is that if I had been anywhere else, I would have soldiered on, right through this sickness and probably become much sicker.  As it was, I slept.  That probably got me through the worst of it and got me back home.

So, it is what it is.

Now, I am comforted with the care of my medical professionals and I am slowly returning to good health, getting ready for Assembly and Convention.  I thank my HP, my sponsor and this program....I remain abstinent, joyous and free!
]]>Fri, 23 Aug 2013 14:11:00 GMThttps://www.oaregion1.org/-chairs-blog/world-service-convention-cleveland-2013On Tuesday August 27th, 2013 I will fly to Cleveland, Ohio to attend the Region Chairs Committee meetings and then attend the World Service Convention.  This will be my first WSO Convention and I am pretty excited.  Last I heard there are 715 registered.  I cannot begin to imagine what that looks like!
Stay tuned for my reports from Convention!

Next on the horizon is Region 1's 38th Annual Assembly and Convention!  This year we will be at the Heathman Lodge in Vancouver, Washington, September 19-20 (Assembly) and 20-22, (Convention) 2013. 

We do not have any "business" items to present to the Assembly body this year, however, our committees have been working with draft job descriptions over the past year and we hope to be able to formalize those.  The balance of Assembly will be devoted to elections - Chair, Treasurer and Communication Coordinator, sharing information from the Board and our Committees and lots of education opportunities and information for Delegates to take back to their Intergroups.

Convention - Rocket to the Fourth Dimension!  It will truly be a "blast"!  I hope to see you there.

]]>Sat, 06 Jul 2013 18:41:15 GMThttps://www.oaregion1.org/-chairs-blog/everything-assemblyHello Intergroup Chairs and Delegates!  Soon, on our great Region 1 website, you will find a page for all things Assembly! 
The Region 1 Assembly takes place Thursday September 19th and Friday September 20th, 2013 at the Heathman Lodge, Vancouver, Washington.

Your Intergroup Chair will have received a cover letter and eligibility form to be completed and forwarded to our Secretary, Cynthia WP. 

You will also find posted on our website soon:

. How new and Veteran delegates can prepare for Assembly;
. Where you will find the Assembly information package;
. a link to the Heathman Lodge so you can make your room reservation;
. a reminder that there is no cost to delegates to attend Assembly;
. a highlight of the business that will take place at Assembly this year;
. why it is important for Intergroups to send a delegate to Assembly;
. why it is important for Intergroups to fund their delegates to also attend the Reiong 1 Convention, that directly follows Assembly;
. how Intergroups can apply for financial assistance to aid in sending a delegate to Assembly;
. and much more.

Check back soon for lots of information!!  Thanks!]]>