I was taught as a teenager to give back to the community that had helped my family through some very tough times. My little sister had an incurable disease that was shortening her life expectancy. The Anchorage community was amazing to us. They gave support to parents and families that were struggling financially and also offered fun activities for the kids. This is the foundation I grew up with and had my children participate in throughout their childhood.
I came to OA with this background and when I was asked to give service at the meeting level after six months of being in the program I didn’t say no to the request. I have been in program now for over twenty-one years and I continue with service to this day.
Service at the meeting level has been a joy for me. I have held all the positions and have also been a sponsor to many in the program. It took me a while to get comfortable with service, but it is a pleasure for me to do this and it gives me spiritual, emotional, and physical recovery. I have always held a service position at the meeting level, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.
I held multiple positions at the Intergroup level. I would have to say that the most powerful position for my recovery was a WSBC delegate. This was many years ago that I went to WSBC in Albuquerque. There were so many people attending this event from all over the world. This service really talked to my heart and brought tears to my eyes many times during the week that I was there. I also got to visit the WSO in Rio Rancho, outside of Albuquerque to pick up literature for my meeting. I went into the office and on the side wall there was a picture of the world with colored pins in most of the countries designating how many OA members were in each city. I was overwhelmed when I said that. My son was standing next to me, and we both remarked on how many people that represented all over the world. Talk about not being alone in my disease! This was amazing to me.
I was able to serve on the OA Region 1 Board as the Newsletter Editor starting in 2009. This was when the board was doing a lot of traveling to different locations in the region to carry the message. I was able to visit places I had never been to before and met people that I may not meet at WSBC or Convention. This was not an easy position to hold, but it was a growing time for me in recovery and I remember it well. The board members were amazing and very supportive. I could not have stayed in this position without them. This memory is what brings me to applying once again for a board position. I am excited to be 2nd Vice Chair and work with the current members on the board. I have assisted with the convention for the last three years and it was a great opportunity.
I was once told that giving service is very spiritual. I didn’t believe it at the time, but I do now. Service has proven to me that I can do anything with the support and love of other OA members. I share this with my sponsees and encourage them to give service when they are able to fit it into their schedules. I do know that service is not for everyone, but if you look at it as just setting up chairs, putting out literature, or welcoming newcomers to the meeting it is not that time-consuming. Service can be very simple and only take a few minutes. This is how we keep OA alive for the still compulsive overeater who needs our support.
Giving service is a key tool for all OA members and helps strengthen our individual recovery. Attending meetings, calling, and taking calls from other members, and setting up chairs at meetings are all important types of service and do not require abstinence. - OA FAQs -
Martha R
Second Vice Chair
I came to OA with this background and when I was asked to give service at the meeting level after six months of being in the program I didn’t say no to the request. I have been in program now for over twenty-one years and I continue with service to this day.
Service at the meeting level has been a joy for me. I have held all the positions and have also been a sponsor to many in the program. It took me a while to get comfortable with service, but it is a pleasure for me to do this and it gives me spiritual, emotional, and physical recovery. I have always held a service position at the meeting level, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.
I held multiple positions at the Intergroup level. I would have to say that the most powerful position for my recovery was a WSBC delegate. This was many years ago that I went to WSBC in Albuquerque. There were so many people attending this event from all over the world. This service really talked to my heart and brought tears to my eyes many times during the week that I was there. I also got to visit the WSO in Rio Rancho, outside of Albuquerque to pick up literature for my meeting. I went into the office and on the side wall there was a picture of the world with colored pins in most of the countries designating how many OA members were in each city. I was overwhelmed when I said that. My son was standing next to me, and we both remarked on how many people that represented all over the world. Talk about not being alone in my disease! This was amazing to me.
I was able to serve on the OA Region 1 Board as the Newsletter Editor starting in 2009. This was when the board was doing a lot of traveling to different locations in the region to carry the message. I was able to visit places I had never been to before and met people that I may not meet at WSBC or Convention. This was not an easy position to hold, but it was a growing time for me in recovery and I remember it well. The board members were amazing and very supportive. I could not have stayed in this position without them. This memory is what brings me to applying once again for a board position. I am excited to be 2nd Vice Chair and work with the current members on the board. I have assisted with the convention for the last three years and it was a great opportunity.
I was once told that giving service is very spiritual. I didn’t believe it at the time, but I do now. Service has proven to me that I can do anything with the support and love of other OA members. I share this with my sponsees and encourage them to give service when they are able to fit it into their schedules. I do know that service is not for everyone, but if you look at it as just setting up chairs, putting out literature, or welcoming newcomers to the meeting it is not that time-consuming. Service can be very simple and only take a few minutes. This is how we keep OA alive for the still compulsive overeater who needs our support.
Giving service is a key tool for all OA members and helps strengthen our individual recovery. Attending meetings, calling, and taking calls from other members, and setting up chairs at meetings are all important types of service and do not require abstinence. - OA FAQs -
Martha R
Second Vice Chair