I am just back from my first Board of Trustee meeting. Here’s what it was like for me. Every morning there are OA meetings before we start business. They are wonderful. The 3 days of meetings include committee meetings and informal sessions where ideas issues are raised. Different points of view and possible solutions to problems are discussed. The formal BOT meeting is where motions are proposed and voted on. In this way decisions are made and action taken. Meeting time included some joint sessions with the Region Chairs. Combining our perspectives was valuable. The ultimate aim is the good of OA as a whole. Two topics in particular were raised that will be seeing further action: sponsors who are asking sponsees for inappropriate actions outside the scope of OA’s 12 Step recovery program. This outside issue pertains to the use of prescription medication. The second involves healthy bodies, healthy boundaries especially protection for new members when 13 Stepping crosses the line to predatory actions. I was happy to see that the BOT takes the good and safety of OA as a whole and for every member seriously.
There were talks about effective communication. Connecting is the most important thing we do at the base of our inverted pyramid of a service structure. Our connections to the fellowship insure that we can take overall actions to help OA grow, for example, improving the OA web site, OA.org, our electronic front door.
Another aspect of communications can be directly addressed here on the Region 1 Trustee Blog.
Our 12 Traditions are the grease that allows our meetings and our fellowship to operate smoothly. Members frequently send questions about the Traditions and perceived Tradition breaks to the trustees. In the past, these inquires have been answered to the best of each trustee’s ability. (often with input from other trustees to broaden the base of ESH). This style of one on one communicating means that the information is not available to other members and meetings to use as a resource as they seek their own group conscience on different issues. Margie, our previous Region 1 Trustee, started to post the Tradition inquiries or other inquires that might be of general interest on this Blog. I plan to continue that model. This BLOG can continue to be a forum for these discussions. When a tradition question reaches me from Region 1, I will post my response and you can post your point of view. It will not name names of course, just different takes on how the traditions inform our meeting life and our personal lives. I appreciate your input. We are all guardians of our Traditions because we need and want OA to survive and thrive. Ours is a program of individual responsibility and combined grace. I hope you will become part of this conversation. Together we can support each other as we trudge the road of happy destiny!
There were talks about effective communication. Connecting is the most important thing we do at the base of our inverted pyramid of a service structure. Our connections to the fellowship insure that we can take overall actions to help OA grow, for example, improving the OA web site, OA.org, our electronic front door.
Another aspect of communications can be directly addressed here on the Region 1 Trustee Blog.
Our 12 Traditions are the grease that allows our meetings and our fellowship to operate smoothly. Members frequently send questions about the Traditions and perceived Tradition breaks to the trustees. In the past, these inquires have been answered to the best of each trustee’s ability. (often with input from other trustees to broaden the base of ESH). This style of one on one communicating means that the information is not available to other members and meetings to use as a resource as they seek their own group conscience on different issues. Margie, our previous Region 1 Trustee, started to post the Tradition inquiries or other inquires that might be of general interest on this Blog. I plan to continue that model. This BLOG can continue to be a forum for these discussions. When a tradition question reaches me from Region 1, I will post my response and you can post your point of view. It will not name names of course, just different takes on how the traditions inform our meeting life and our personal lives. I appreciate your input. We are all guardians of our Traditions because we need and want OA to survive and thrive. Ours is a program of individual responsibility and combined grace. I hope you will become part of this conversation. Together we can support each other as we trudge the road of happy destiny!