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Third Quarter 2006 |
Volume
16, Number 3
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IN THIS ISSUE
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2006 World Service Business Conference Fruitful
Delegates Transcend Borders
 One hundred eighty-four delegates from around the world met in Albuquerque,
New Mexico USA, May 1–6, for OA’s 45th annual World Service
Business Conference. This year’s theme “OA Without Borders” laid
the groundwork for many informative workshops and discussions.
In
concert with the theme, delegates attended workshops such as “Customs
Declaration: Cultural and Ethnic Diversity,” “Anonymous Traveler:
The Stigma of Membership,” and a forum on “Crossing Borders:
Sharing Region Information.”
Delegates considered four New Business
Motions and three Bylaw Amendments. They adopted only one motion:
“Move
to change the name of the HIPM (Hospitals, Institutions, Professionals
and the Military) Committee to ‘Professional Outreach’ Committee.”
Delegates also elected the following region trustees:
Region
Three — Debbie W.
Region
Six — Margaret Ann B.
Region
Nine — Dominique B.
Elected to a three-year term as general service
trustee was Michael B. One general service trustee position
remained vacant. The Board of Trustees has reviewed applications submitted by OA members and appointed Dexter J. to fill the position until the 2007 Conference.
For more information on Conference voting results, read the 2006
Wrap-Up Report.
In September, the World Service Office (WSO) will send the Conference
Final Report to all delegates and to intergroups not represented
at Conference. Members and groups may purchase additional copies
by contacting the WSO or by ordering online after September (item #800).
Top
Trustees Adopt Translations Policy
New Guidelines to Streamline Process
 Service bodies have translated OA publications into more than a
dozen languages worldwide. However, the process of translating and approving
translated OA literature has often been lengthy and complicated. The requirement
that a professional proofreader check the translations has caused delays
and prohibitive costs.
To streamline this process, at its May meeting the Board of Trustees
adopted a motion to create new guidelines.
The guidelines ask each service body to inform the WSO
in writing of its intent to translate literature. When the service body
finishes the translation, it requests a provisional licensing form from
the WSO. The license allows the service body to test the translated literature
for up to 18 months by circulating drafts to all local groups, intergroups
and members. If necessary, the service body may request an additional
six months for testing. During the testing period, OA members
in these groups determine the accuracy of the draft. The draft’s original translator makes changes
based on the groups’ feedback.
After testing is complete, service body representatives
request a final licensing agreement from the WSO certifying that the
translation has been tested and revised, if revisions were necessary.
The representatives send the signed agreement to the WSO, and
if all is in order, the managing director signs the agreement
and returns the original to the service body. Upon printing of the approved
publication, the service body mails two copies to the WSO, which labels
the copies with the following information:
- English title of the work
- Date of the translation
- Date of the English-text version
- Translating service body information
The new process is still in development
and will doubtless undergo adjustments to better serve
the global OA Fellowship. The WSO and the international-publications
trustee chair will send a letter with detailed instructions
to translating service bodies. Top
Board of Trustees Adopts Consensus Process
At a Board of Trustees (BOT) meeting in mid-2004,
board members passed a resolution to explore a
decision-making process based on consensus rather
than on the formal parliamentary process.
It took this initiative for two main reasons:
First, Concept Twelve suggests making all decisions
on the basis of substantial unanimity, which is
when almost everyone agrees with the idea. The
formal “for” and “against” debate
process can lend itself to people taking one side
or the other of an argument, rather than trying
to find a middle-ground solution that might suit
everyone better.
Second, the BOT often became bogged down in amendments,
and amendments to amendments, and had to think
on our feet with no time left for the wise reflection
that often brings out the best decision. As a result,
at subsequent meetings the board had to correct
some poorly worded motions.
The board hoped to find a process by which our
decisions would reflect the wishes and concerns
of all participating, and that, as stated in Concept
Two, the voice and concerns of the minority would
receive due consideration. It would also give us
time to make sure the wording accurately reflected
our intention.
We have tried the process over the last year,
refining it as we went along, and at a recent meeting
we approved guidelines for the consensus meetings
that are held at each quarterly BOT meeting.
The main points of the process are:
- The board encourages its members to,
whenever possible, bring new issues to the informal
meeting prior to preparing and presenting motions.
- The
board discusses all proposed motions at a separate
consensus meeting before the regular formal meeting.
Staff and other OA members are welome to attend,
except when we discuss confidential items such
as staffing and legal issues.
- The board defines “consensus” in
this context as “something we can live
with.”
- The consensus meeting is
an opportunity for BOT members to discuss possible
amendments, substitutions or alternatives to
a motion.
- No formal voting takes place at this
meeting.
- A subcommittee drafts amendments and
substitutions prior to the formal meeting. Preferably,
the subcommittee consists of the maker of the
motion, other members both for and against the
motion and those with a minority viewpoint.
- If
the board does not reach consensus, it may hold
over the item until the next quarterly BOT meeting.
We believe the process has achieved the desired
results thus far and, in particular, supports
a more accurate reflection of the purpose and
wording of our Traditions and Concepts.
Although the trustees
created the consensus guidelines for use in our
board meetings, we hope other service bodies may
wish to adapt the process to the needs in their
areas. The consensus guidelines are available for
download.
— Member of the Board of Trustees
Top
WSBC Delegates Elect 2006 — 2007 Board
At the 2006 annual meeting of the World Service Business Conference, delegates elected three regional and one general service trustee to the Board of Trustees. The new board then elected officers. The remaining general service trustee was appointed by the board in July.
Officers:
Chair: Dodie H.
First Vice Chair: Michael B.
Second Vice Chair: Jill H.
Treasurer: Kayla W.
General Service Trustees:
Michael B.
Dodie H.
Karen S-A.
Bob F.
Kayla W.
Dexter J.
Regional Trustees:
Region One: Louise B.
Region Two: Angela J.
Region Three: Debbie W.
Region Four: Connie H.
Region Five: Marilyn A.
Region Six: Margaret Ann B.
Region Seven: Donna A.
Region Eight: Charles A.
Region Nine: Dominique B.
Region Ten: Jill H.
Committee Chairs:
Conference Committees
Bylaws: Karen S-A.
Conference-Approved Literature: Angela J.
Finance: Kayla W.
Professional Outreach (formerly HIPM): Dexter J.
Public Information: Marilyn A.
Twelfth-Step-Within: Connie H.
Board Committees
Board-Approved Literature: Kayla W.
Conference Planning: Margaret Ann B.
Convention 2007: Donna A. and Karen S-A.
Convention 2010: Angela J.
History and Archives: Connie H.
Internal Information: Jill H.
International Publications: Dominique B.
Matching Grants: Kayla W.
Media Outreach: Michael B.
Professional Exhibits: Dexter J.
Region Chairs: Debbie W.
Strategic Planning: Bob F.
Technology: Louis B.
Youth in OA: Charles A.
Top
Delegate Support Fund Needs Your Service
Each year at the World Service Business Conference (WSBC), delegates
make decisions that affect OA as a whole. For this reason, it
is critical that the WSBC represents the voice of the entire
OA community. The Board of Trustees (BOT) established the Delegate
Support Fund to assist service bodies that are otherwise unable
to send a delegate to this important annual Conference.
The Delegate
Support Fund needs your financial support! Help send representatives
to the WSBC by donating to the fund. The BOT distributes the
contributions to service bodies that cannot afford to send
delegates to represent them at Conference and gives priority
to service bodies that were unable to send delegates to previous
WSBCs.
Since the BOT established the Delegate Support Program
in 1993, the fund has made it possible for delegates from Australia,
Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, England, Finland, France,
Germany, Italy, Japan, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Northern
Ireland, Scotland, South Africa, Spain, Sweden and the United
States to attend Conference.
The BOT will allocate donations received
by November 1, 2006, to service bodies that have applied for
funding to WSBC 2007 and qualify as beneficiaries of the fund.
These
service bodies need your support. You can help a delegate participate
in OA’s most important gathering and ensure that
the WSBC represents all of OA. Please help!
Top
Convention 2007
Lodging Rates Set
Start saving now for OA’s 2007 World Service Convention, “Ring in Recovery: Declare Your Freedom from Compulsive Eating.” Enjoy four days of great fun!
August 30 to September 2, 2007
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA
Loews Philadelphia Hotel
Lodging cost for single — quadruple occupancy:
$139.08 per night (includes applicable taxes)
Loews reservations: 1-215-627-1200
Visit OA’s Web site for details and updates.
Look for registration costs in early 2007.
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Top
Many
Languages Available
Many service bodies have translated
OA materials into other languages — Afrikaans,
Arabic, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Icelandic,
Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish and Turkish. Contact
the World Service Office for information on obtaining
copies of translations.
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