Hello Margie G,
I am a member in recovery for the last 10 years in the Vancouver area, no one at the intergroup level is able to answer a question which has been on my mind for the last two years. I have read all the related OA public documents on the website, still no answer so I am sending this inquiry to you as I think you may be the best fit at the Region level for this question. If not please let me know who I should contact or feel free to forward to appropriate parties.
My question is regarding the literature approval process. In AA (as I understand it) all literature must be AA conference approved; however in OA we seem to have both the Conference approval process and a secondary separate Trustee approval process.
Margie’s response:
Yes, you are correct; there are actually 3 processes by which literature may be used in OA. (Well we also use all “AA books as Conference approved” as well – that statement just passed WSB Conference 2 years ago).
1.) OA Conference approved. Which can then only changed and updated by Conference approval process.
2.) Material which has gone through the approval process for the Lifeline magazine and then is reprinted in a book. This is called “Board Approved”. Many of our OA books are approved in this way. The new Abstinence book, the Lifeline Sampler, Seeking the Spiritual Path, and a couple of others.
3.) Locally produced Literature. I will make an assumption that you read the OA Guidelines for Locally Produced Literature. The Region One Journal falls into that category. Region One has also compiled and produced two other small books. One is a book on Spirituality and I do not remember the topic of the other one. According to the guidelines of Locally Produced literature Region One stopped printing and selling our Spirituality book when Seeking the Spiritual Path came out because that book was on the same topic.
I hope this information is clear and helpful for you.
In love and service,
Margie G
I am a member in recovery for the last 10 years in the Vancouver area, no one at the intergroup level is able to answer a question which has been on my mind for the last two years. I have read all the related OA public documents on the website, still no answer so I am sending this inquiry to you as I think you may be the best fit at the Region level for this question. If not please let me know who I should contact or feel free to forward to appropriate parties.
My question is regarding the literature approval process. In AA (as I understand it) all literature must be AA conference approved; however in OA we seem to have both the Conference approval process and a secondary separate Trustee approval process.
- Why do we have the additional Trustee approval process?
- Why would it be necessary to have any material bypass conference approval process?
- Why does (or does it) this material not go through the conference approval process?
- Are/were the literature materials ever submitted for approval from the Conference, and were not approved, and then went on to be approved by the Trustee's?
- Also on a side note, the new Region 1 journal? Is that conference or trustee approved?
Margie’s response:
Yes, you are correct; there are actually 3 processes by which literature may be used in OA. (Well we also use all “AA books as Conference approved” as well – that statement just passed WSB Conference 2 years ago).
1.) OA Conference approved. Which can then only changed and updated by Conference approval process.
2.) Material which has gone through the approval process for the Lifeline magazine and then is reprinted in a book. This is called “Board Approved”. Many of our OA books are approved in this way. The new Abstinence book, the Lifeline Sampler, Seeking the Spiritual Path, and a couple of others.
3.) Locally produced Literature. I will make an assumption that you read the OA Guidelines for Locally Produced Literature. The Region One Journal falls into that category. Region One has also compiled and produced two other small books. One is a book on Spirituality and I do not remember the topic of the other one. According to the guidelines of Locally Produced literature Region One stopped printing and selling our Spirituality book when Seeking the Spiritual Path came out because that book was on the same topic.
I hope this information is clear and helpful for you.
In love and service,
Margie G