Recently Nadine (Region 1 Member-at-Large) and I traveled to Hailey ID to visit with the Snake River Intergroup folks. We were so welcomed. About 30 members came from all over (and that means traveling some BIG distances) to join us for a Sponsorship and Service workshop.
There are two blog topics that have emerged from our good interactions that day. I will share the first with you today and save the other for my next blog post. 
Becoming a LINK in the Chain - Giving Away What We Have Been Freely Given.
We joined in a circle holding hands. Each person turned to the person on their right as we went around and thanked that member for what we had been freely given in OA. What we heard was amazing: freedom, joy, acceptance, love, belonging, physical recovery, emotional recovery, connection with HP.... the appreciation went all around.  We took those good thoughts and shared about what each of us could do to be a link in the chain to continue to make sure that OA would be there for the next compulsive eater as OA was there for us. Some of the simplest ideas are really the most profound:

• Text all the members of your meeting on meeting day
• Call/use your sponsor
• with permission, put up OA flyers at other 12 Step fellowship meetings
• send introduction letters about OA to counselors and therapists in your area
• share your peace
• Tell your Doctor about OA
• When asked about that new sparkle in your eye, share your source of emotional, physical and spiritual recovery in OA
• BE a SPONSOR/have a sponsor
• Be willing to be a ride or contact 
• Share Lifeline
• Offer 24 hour coin at your meeting (One Day at a Time)
• Get to a meeting whether I want to or not
• Tell your Nutritionist about OA
• Have Sponsorship be a topic at your meeting
• USE the PHONE to reach out
• Start a new meeting
• Be brave and take a new service position

There are many ways to make sure OA is alive and well for the next compulsive eater. What are your ideas?????
Thanks to the Snake River Folks. You are wonderful!
Pat 
Region 1 Trustee

Relax, Take it easy. Don’t struggle.

Those are words that I am trying to remember throughout the day. It is a reminder that God’s in charge, not me.

But, but…I do struggle! I get stressed! I have SO much to do! There’s no end to my list of responsibilities! 

Awareness—Oh look, my shoulders are up around my ears again. I notice I have knots in my belly.  In those moments, I take a deep breath.

​Acceptance—I remember that I am only human. I can’t rise above my humanness.  I am not God. I am not qualified to be God. I look at my past and see how far I’ve come in recovery. I take a deep breath.

Action—I breathe in deeply and consciously feel my body. I cajole the tight muscles to relax. I take a minute and look out the window. I remind myself that God’s in charge. I may call an OA fellow or read literature.  I may listen to a podcast of an OA speaker or I may call into a phone meeting.  Sometimes I even take the dog on a walk and pick up garbage or dog poop in my neighborhood.  Anything to get my mind off myself. 

Breathe in, Breathe out. Step Ten and Eleven in action. Thank you, God, and thank you, OA!

Leslie, Region One Treasurer

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