Over the last several weeks I've been thinking a lot about "Keep It Simple", as Dr. Bob reminded Bill W.: "Remember, Bill, let's not louse this thing up.  Let's keep it simple." (Dr. Bob and the Good Oldtimers, p. 343)
 
In so many of my service circles we lament about the shrinking of our fellowship and what it will take to grow it again.  It feels like a big job.  But I am reminded that all I have to do is simply carry the message to the best of my ability - that means showing up for meetings and doing what I can to add to the experience, strength and hope in the room.   Whenever possible, I'm trying to share about "what I was like, what happened, and what I'm like now".  
 
After all, why would anyone come back to OA unless they hear about what separates this program from the hundreds of other options?  We have food plans but so does everyone else.  But, if I hear someone say "food had me by the throat; it was the most important thing in my life, but the 12 steps and my higher power have relieved the obsession", that's unique.
 
At one of the World Service Business Conference workshops titled "Attracting Young People", one presenter who came into the program at 17 and the other in his early 20's, shared about what attracted them to the fellowship and kept them coming back. A key takeaway for me was that it wasn't about sitting in the rooms with other young people, but hearing about attractive recovery from anyone of any age. The younger set wants to hear from older fellows who also came into the program young.  Workshop attendees were encouraged to share a message with weight and depth when talking about recovery in meetings.  
 
When I get all wound up about how to "save OA" and increase membership, I need only remember to carry the message as I have been taught to the best of my ability.  That's "keeping it simple!
 
Cindy C.
R1 secretary

Hi Region 1 OAers!

Sue B here, Region 1 Vice Chair.  I hope everyone is enjoying the warm summer climate and sunny days!  I know I sure am. 
For my part of our Region 1 Blog, I would like to share about our upcoming convention at the Monarch Hotel in Clackamas, Portland, Oregon in October 18-20, 2019!  It is wonderful that OA Newcomers (anyone who has joined OA for the first time since January 2019) can register for FREE by contacting our Convention Registrar at registration@oaregion1.org  

We are excited this year to offer 3 different keynotes speakers (one from Chicago, one from Montana, and one from the Portland area) along with recovery-filled break-out sessions!!  Fun skits are planned for entertainment and there will music to get your groove on…  Of course, there will be a boutique filled with great items to purchase and raffles for quilts, 2 Samsung tablets and much more!  Give your program a boost and register for this action-packed, fun-filled recovery weekend. 
​
Space is filling up quick, we have 77 already registered so make sure you take advantage of the best value rate.  NOTE: The Best Vale Rate of $145 (for registration AND Banquet) are only available until August 31 so you will want to register SOON at https://www.jotform.com/90547126228154 
Hope to see you there!!  Sue

​“I’m just not willing…Please help!”
Oddly enough that has become one of my favorite prayers.
What are these things I need that prayer for in my program?
Should I give up bread?  Maybe my portions at dinner should be smaller, (but it takes that much to satisfy me, and I just don’t want to eat less). 
I struggle, I wrestle with the thoughts.  In complete honesty I say to my Higher Power, God, “Please help me in my unwillingness. I don’t think I’m willing to go deeper with trusting you.”
So I pray.  I spend time with God and keep being honest about how I’m feeling.
Suddenly, the thought crosses my mind, “Maybe I should try measuring a few things.” Nothing drastic, my oatmeal for breakfast, my serving of peanut butter, my salad dressing.  A new level of honesty, a new, different feeling of peace around food, and all of a sudden, I’m not eating as much bread and it’s completely OK with me. Getting honest with my food helps me to get honest in other areas of my life as I amazingly watch as God does for me what I could never do.
I like this new level of honesty with God.  I don’t have to be afraid to express how I feel.  I don’t think God is surprised by it.  So, I discard the old thinking that I’m doing something wrong when I express the thoughts of unwillingness dancing in my head. I grab hold of the principle of honesty, and I do the next right thing.

Hi all - this is Margie I wrote many of the posts in the archives when I was the Region One Trustee, 2010 - 2017.  Now I serve Region 1 as your webmaster.  Here are some of my thoughts today.

                  OA’s Responsibility Pledge states:
"Always to extend the hand and heart of OA to all who share my compulsion; for this I am responsible.”
 
Carrying the message to the suffering compulsive overeater is the subject of much literature in OA. When I have been together with several other OA members, we usually have little trouble listing ways to get the message to the public. 
One of the easiest is to make sure that there is a listing in all appropriate service listings for my town or county. If there is a change in meeting time or location it can be listed in the newspaper as a “newsworthy” item.  If your town or city is the host for a Convention – it is appropriate to announce this in the newspaper.
Available for sale in the OA Bookstore are Public Information Posters – for $6 plus shipping, they send a package of 20 posters.  Members only need to add information about local meetings and place them anywhere that allows public posters. 
Once people come to the meeting there is the issue of getting them to return.  We need to share the HOPE of recovery.  It is very appropriate to talk about the numbers when there are newcomers.  How long a member has been abstinent; how much weight has been lost and how long have you kept it off – these are great to talk to a new person about.  It is also good to talk about the other benefits of recovery – improved relationships and the light in my eyes showing a joy in living. 
It is important to talk with newer people or those sitting quietly on the fringes of a meeting at a break, before, or after the meeting.  One thing that really helped me early on was that someone called and left me a message one night when I skipped a meeting.  I did not return the call, but I went back to the meeting the next week. 
When I am hurting, I tend to get quiet and if I go to a meeting I may sit in the back.   It is hard when I show up at a meeting and everyone is talking to their friends and no one notices me.  I recently saw this happen at a large popular meeting in the city near my town.  There was a woman sitting quietly all by herself and no one noticed.  I saw this and went over and sat down and talked to her even though it was almost time to start the meeting.  The warmth and gratitude she showed me when I did this, convinced me that we need to be reminded of this time and again.  I need these reminders and I bet we all need them. 
So do the outreach to attract newcomers but don’t forget to make individuals feel welcome whether it is with a change in meeting format or simply in a kind welcoming word or quick outreach call. 

Hello OAers,

Who knew? At least I didn’t. The more current the content on a web site, the more likely that  search engines will “pick you up”. So we are reinstating the Region 1 Blog. It had been the Trustee’s Blog. Margie was very good about keeping it up in her tenure but I wasn’t.  This time, it will be kept “fresher”, changed up more often and reflect the ESH of all of our Board members in rotation. Stay tuned as we will also be offering a subscriber option in the near future also. We are going to put in place a way so you can receive notice that a new blog has been  posted. We hope to change up our blogs weekly.
 
SO .... Here’s what’s “on my service plate” of late:
I am working on an Board of Trustees Ad Hoc Task Force to update the OA.org website,  our electronic “front door”. Members of the working group include BOT members and OA fellows. I am learning a lot. We are excited to see how we can engage and inform first time visitors, newcomers and members alike. The goal is to make it easier to discover what OA is all about and what resources exist for recovery.
 
I have my wish lists for the web site such as making the 15 question quiz interactive and embedding a video to tell the OA story on the site. Another idea is to add blogs or podcasts for member stories as a new way to share our ESH now that Lifeline will be closing down (as of December 2020). Of course more will be revealed as we go along.
 
If you have visited a web site recently that you feel has been particularly effective or if you have BIG (or little) ideas about what you’d like to see on our website, please email me: regiononetrustee@gmail.com.
Thanks.
 
Aloha,
Pat O’C
Region 1 Trustee
7/4/19

​I know I have at least one reader for the blog. Thanks T.
I hope there are more over time. However, I have to hold up my end and write some new stuff from time to time!
Right now there is a lot of hubbub getting ready for WSBC later this month. On April 5th there is a Region 1 Intergroup Chairs and Green Dot phone in session scheduled for 7PM. “Green Dots” are delegates attending WSBC for the first time.
I thought I might share a few tips for WSBC gleaned from my five previous trips.
This year there is NO hotel shuttle. Uber or Lyft are the less expensive ways to get to the hotel. Region 1 delegates have shared their arrival info so look and see if anyone is arriving close enough to you to reasonably share a ride.
Plan to take advantage of the grocery shuttles to have the food you prefer to eat available in your room. I usually eat at least lunch in my room. Sharing that mealtime with others is a fun and relaxing way to get a real break in the business day. You’re invited!
Dress in layers. The hotel rooms are often over air-conditioned at least according to my comfort dial. I always pack a shawl to add a layer. I have seen delegates with gloves and scarves! Whatever makes you comfortable as there are long stretches of time spent sitting.
Read your online Binder and make notes of things you want to ask about. Region 1 has a reputation for asking questions that I consider a very healthy sign of interest and engagement.  Going  to the center mic for a question can help the whole body. Chances are if you had a question, others did too. Joining the pro/con groups preparing at the lectern for debate is a fabulous way to help all. This year for the first time there is a session called Meet the Maker (no not Higher Power). They mean the maker of the motions to be discussed. The idea is that much can be clarified by a direct discussion ahead of time.
RSVP for your banquet choice and for the grocery shuttles. https://oa.org/members/events/world-service-business-conference/   to find the info.
That’s plenty of info for now. Looking forward to talking with any of you who can make the call. I will share my ESH from WSBC soon after! Safe travels to all Region 1 Delegates! See you in Albuquerque. (and I am so glad there is spell check for that city name!)

Region 1 Assembly and Convention October 2017
The dust is settling from a very productive Assembly and very interactive Convention in Seattle, WA in mid October.
17 Intergroups (out of 25) were represented at Assembly. The focus was on connection and how that contributes to a strong recovery. Three project teams were organized on the topics of Nurturing Newcomers, Supporting Sponsors and Strong Recovery. Look for “products” to help members in your area out of each of these groups. They will have their own tab on the Region 1 website.These teams are in addition to teams giving service to support Region functioning such as Financial Issues and Nominations.

We reelected Beverly M., OR as Chair for her second term. Margie G.,OR was elected Communication Coordinator, Cindy C., WA was elected Member at Large and Gary O.,Idaho was elected Secretary. Leslie W., Alaska was elected Treasurer. I was affirmed to run for election at WSBC, 2018 for Region 1 Trustee. Sue B., WA remains Vice Chair the only position which was not up for election this year. You can reach all of us at board@oaregion1.org

Over 260 members attended the Emerald City Convention with the imaginative theme of OZ. Dorothys, scare crows and Tin Men were spotted. The keynote speaker was amazing. Ask your fellows who attended Convention to tell you about her approach to forgiveness. Her main object was loving kindness. There were 4 tracks of different workshops all day on Saturday. Body Image workshops were very well attended. I attended Steps 6 and 7, Step 10 and Steps 11 and 12 sessions myself and the presenters offered  practical and helpful ideas.
Region 1 is compiling the handouts prepared by the different workshop presenters and these will be available on the Region 1 website soon. We hope to post recordings of many of the sessions also on this website. We were breaking in a new recording system so we may not have all sessions but by next year we should be pros at this.

I had a weird experience at this Convention.This was my first Assembly and Convention as the official “Trustee of Region 1”. It freaked me out a bit. For no good reason, I felt on display and that I was certainly not perfect enough to be Trustee! There were over 260 hugs that were mine for the asking but I was frozen in the “not good enough” dungeon. I had a serious coming to my Higher Power moment on my way home and realized I had done all that to myself. It never ceases to amaze me how I can judge myself into a corner. My resolution for this in future ...ask for help! I think I can recognize it while it is happening and put myself into reach out mode before I let it take me too far. Thank you OAers and Thank you Higher Power for loving me especially when I am not able to love myself.  I’ll be looking for hugs at the Connections Convention in Spokane next October. Hope to see you there.