WSBC2005

 Delegate Report

This was a great World Service Business Conference.  The theme this year was “Singleness of Purpose.” 

There were good workshops leading up to the business meetings.  On Wednesday morning there was forum on “Carrying the Message through the Internet.”  The first part of the forum demoed the World Service web site showing what all is there and how to navigate around it.  The second part was about online meetings.  Three people shared their experience with online meetings – all positive.  We then joined an online meeting in the big conference with use of projection.  The meeting was led by someone from the UK.  We asked those in the meeting to say where they were – all over US and other parts of the world.  Very good experience for most.  Then we had discussion questions at our table.  These answers were turned in for part of the workshop report to be in the Conference Report.

• Bylaws
• Conference literature
• Finance (I served the past 2 years on this one – that’s the maximum time limit for one to serve on the same committee.)
• HIPM
• Public Information
• Twelfth-Step-Within (I served on this committee this year.)
• The statement of service of this committee is
• To carry the same message of recovery to those who still suffer within the OA fellowship.
• To deal with relapse and issues of membership retention offering the message of hope.
• And added this year:  To encourage maintaining recovery and preventing relapse among our members.
• I am NOT Chair of this committee, but I am Chair of the “Electronic” Sub-committee.
• I will be working on this committee all year – I will probably solicit help when needed.

Region meetings/dinners were held on Wednesday evening.  Region 3 was well represented. 

There were six business meetings held.  These are the meat of the Conference where all the proposed policy motions and proposed bylaw amendments are taken care of.  As always it is impressive how we get things done strictly using Robert’s Rules to stay on track.  I’ve attached a file with voting results (WSBC_Proposals_Motions_results.xls). The two main issues that were held a lot of debate and questions were:

• L – to add to the definition of abstinence with the addition of  “in a manner that reflects a desire to achieve and maintain a healthy body weight.”  It was amended to change “a healthy body weight” to “optimal health”  but the amendment was defeated.  Then the motion was defeated as well.
• M – to investigate “what are the economic conditions to update OA literature in order to neutralize the language in it regarding gender.  Lots of debate; and amendment to get rid of the question 2.  The amendment became the main motion but was defeated by a large margin.

Another set of bylaw amendments 4 and 5 and the policy motion I were discussed, debated, and questioned a lot.  The main issue here is making a policy to push something into the Regions with no assurance that it will be handled the same in each region.  Also, regions do not even have a plan of how they would handle it.  This may happen at a future WSBC, but more needs to be done to insure everyone has a voice in what motions and proposals are brought to the WSBC.

Region Trustees and General Service Trustees were elected.  Regions 1, 4, and 7 had one candidate each for 3 year terms.  Region 2 Trustee, Ann Mawn, resigned two months prior to WSBC due to a death in her family. Dodie Hawkins, GST, filled in for her.  There were two candidates running for Region 2 Trustee.  Results:

• Region 1 – Louise Behiel
• Region 2 – Angela Jenkins
• Region 4 – Connie Hight
• Region 7 – Donna Aulenbach

There were three candidates for two General Service Trustee positions.  These are three year terms.  Results:

• Bob Fisher from Region 6
• Kayla Weingarten from Region 8

Each business meeting begins with the Serenity Prayer – first in another language and then in English.  This year I heard Flemish, Hebrew, Spanish – once from Mexico and once from Spain – French, and Swedish.

I purchased a full set of Conference tapes.  If HMI approves reimbursement for these tapes they will be available for all to borrow.  I will be listening to the workshop tapes that I did not attend.

I’d like to thank HMI for this opportunity to serve OA at the World Service level.  It is a privilege and a lot of fun.  The recovery there is phenomenal.  I’ve made a lot of good friends there.  I would encourage everyone to experience this wonderful form of service.  We can seat three delegates from HMI and have approved the expenses to send two.  With interest we could probably do some fund-raisers to make the extra money to fund all three.

In OA Service,

SBC Delegate for HMI

May 7, 2005

P.S.

 Don't Miss OA's Next
World Service Convention!
August 29–September 1, 2007

Loews Philadelphia Hotel
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA

“Ring in Recovery:
Declare Your Freedom
from Compulsive Eating”