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April 2015
Notes of Hope
May\June Topic: Lessons From Relapse
April 5: Sherith Israel Meeting at 5:00 cancelled: 9:00 am IG meeting will meet.
April 20th: MTI Business meeting 6: 30 pm
What led to relapse for you? What did your experience of relapse teach you about the
disease of compulsive eating? How did OA’s membership requirement, “a desire to stop
eating compulsively” as stated in Tradition Three, help you come out of relapse?
Twelfth Step Within
Describe your experience giving Twelfth-Step-Within service by encouraging existing
OA members to become or remain abstinent, work the Twelve Steps and give service to
the best of their ability. How did you find the willingness to give this important service?
What did you do to be available and to support OA members in relapse? TwelfthStep-Within Day is December 12. Share your ideas for events OA groups can start working
on now to be ready.
OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS
POLICY STATEMENTS RELATED TO UNITY WITH DIVERSITY
1992a (Amended 2013) The following policy statement was adopted:
“Unity with Diversity” Policy
THE FELLOWSHIP encourages and promotes acceptance and inclusivity. All are
welcome to join OA and are not excluded because
of race, creed, nationality, religion, gender identity,
sexual orientation or any other trait. We welcome
all who share our compulsion.
THE FELLOWSHIP of Overeaters Anonymous recognizes the existence of individual approaches and
different structured concepts to working our
Twelve-Step program of recovery; that the Fellowship is united by our disease and our common purpose; and that individual differences in approach to
recovery within our Fellowship need not divide us.
THE FELLOWSHIP respects the rights of individuals,
groups and service bodies to follow a particular
concept of recovery within Overeaters Anonymous and encourages each member, group and service body to also
respect those rights as they extend the embracing hand of Fellowship to those who still suffer.
THE FELLOWSHIP encourages each duly registered group and service body to affirm and maintain the Twelve Traditions of Overeaters Anonymous by allowing any member to share his or her experience, strength and hope in
meetings regardless of the individual approach or specific concept that member may follow. Duly registered is
defined as being in full compliance with Bylaws, Subpart B, Article V.
— OA Business Conference Policy Manual
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NO T E S O F HO P E
Carrying the Message to Diverse Groups
I have a desire to somehow bring the message of OA to younger folks - high
school, college age, and even Spanish speaking citizens here in Nashville. This
feels important. For me, my disease really started kicking in around junior high
- which for most kids this day and time would be middle school/early high
school. I struggled to fit in and felt so self conscious. These issues travelled
with me through my life as an adolescent and into adulthood.
I think I feel a connection with young folks because that is when my disease
started and I have heard it said, "when we started our addiction, our emotional
growth stopped." When younger folks show up at OA meetings, I find myself
reaching out to them with my name, number and email. If somehow I had gotten
that message, I wonder what might have changed earlier in my world?
And last but not least, I really connect with the Latino population. I studied
Spanish beginning in 7th grade through college. Part of that process opened
my eyes to how big the world is now. And I see the growing Spanish speaking
population in Nashville and wonder, could there be a need there? Could OA
help anyone? I know there are 3-4 Spanish speaking AA meetings
in the area that I have noticed. As I write this, I think wow, we could possibly
start a meeting for folks in this population! I know enough Spanish to say I am
powerless: Yo no tengo poder y Dios tiene todo poder (and God has all power).
WIth much love to you all, (amor a todos),
Melissa
Journaling Corner:
By Angie B
Unity with Diversity
Diversity - The concept of diversity encompasses acceptance and respect. It means understanding that each individual is unique, and recognizing our individual differences. These
can be along the dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic
status, age, physical abilities, religious beliefs, political beliefs, or other ideologies. It is the
exploration of these differences in a safe, positive, and nurturing environment. It is about
understanding each other and moving beyond simple tolerance to embracing and celebrating the rich dimensions of diversity contained within each individual.
What does this definition mean to you?
How is this applicable in our OA meetings?
How do you contribute to Unity with Diversity? Do you make sure that you welcome everyone at the meetings you attend regardless of size, food problem, religious beliefs, etc.?
How does this concept make it safe for you in OA?
Do you think there can be special focus groups in OA and still be following the traditions? See oa.org Ask-it-basket pages 27, 28, 29 for the trustee’s answer on this.