ACTION V. BEDEVILMENTS - Region 6 of Overeaters Anonymous

Transcription

MESSENGER
The Bi-Annual Newsletter of Region 6 of Overeaters Anonymous
Spring 2008
ACTION V. BEDEVILMENTS
A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR
i, my name is Karin, and I am a compulsive
overeater. I am grateful to be serving as the
Region 6 Chair. I have been in OA for 18 years
and recently celebrated 16 years of abstinence. I
have lost 50 pounds but gained so much from being a
member of this fellowship. I have a relationship with a
Higher Power who does for me what I cannot do for
myself. I am recovering one day at a time and must
continue to practice the 12 Steps and traditions
which have brought me recovery.
H
hen I came into OA 18 years ago I was
hopeless. I couldn't stop eating. It took me
over two years to get abstinent because I
still wanted to control my food and weight and do it
my way. I didn't want to be different. I wanted to be
normal. I'm not sure I ever was normal when it came
to food. I was living in the “bedevilments” which are
described on page 52 of the Big Book.
W
“We were having trouble with personal
relationships, we couldn't control our emotional
natures, we were a prey to misery and depression,
we couldn't make a living, we had a feeling of
uselessness, we were full of fear, we were unhappy,
and we couldn't seem to be of real help to other
people.”
hese are the promises of relapse. After more
suffering and pain I admitted and accepted that I
am powerless over food and my life was
unmanageable. I surrendered. With the help of my
sponsor I began working the steps as outlined in the
Big Book. I became convinced that “God could and
would if He were sought.” I took action and things in
my life got better and they continue to, if I do my part.
Now I am mostly living in the promises of Step 9
which are found in the Big Book on pages 83-84.
T
ome of these promises are: a new freedom and a
new happiness, serenity, peace, that we can be
helpful and useful to others and our attitude and
outlook upon life will change.
S
W
hat a difference my life is today. Of course it
is not perfect but there is lots of progress.
Sometimes I find myself living in the
“bedevilments” in recovery. The door swings both
ways. Then I have to take action with the steps so I
don't return to overeating. I go to meetings, talk to my
sponsor, write step work, pray, do service. This gets
me back on track. Doing service gets me out of myself
and my problems. The most important service I can
do is talk to another compulsive overeater, sharing
my experience, strength and hope.
am grateful for the life I live today. I experience joy
and freedom (most of the time). I have a busy life
with my husband of almost two years, five kids
between us and one dog. My health is back on track
too. I received good news last week after some more
tests that I am cancer free. Now I am looking to
expand my career in meeting planning. I am active in
OA service. I am happy to give back to the program
that saved my life.
I
ince chairing the Fall Assembly in Albany I have
attended the Region Chairs Committee meeting
in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware in October,
attended and spoke at an OA special event in
Montreal, lead a retreat in November and chaired the
Board teleconference call in January 2008. The
Region 6 Board will be busy preparing for the Spring
Assembly on April 12th.
S
– Karin Rhodes Hepburn, Region 6 Chair
chair@oaregion6.org / 613-828-4413
PA GE 2
THE MESSENGER
S PRIN G 2008
REGION SIX CONTACTS
WHAT IS REGION SIX?
Please direct R6 correspondence to:
Helen F., Region 6 Coordinator
16 Pine Avenue
St. John, New Brunsw ick E2M-6J8
Canada
E-mail: Coordinator@oaregion6.org
Region Six consists of Overeaters Anonymous
meetings and intergroups from the follow ing
geographical locations: New York, Connecticut,
Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Maine,
Vermont, Central and Eastern Ontario, Quebec,
New foundland, New Brunsw ick, Nova Scotia and
Prince Edw ard Island.
Please mail R6 contributions to:
Zazu G.
R6 Treasurer
P.O. Box 3073
Milford, CT 01970 USA
Please make checks payable to: REGION SIX OA
The follow ing information allow s us to properly
acknow ledge your group’ s contribution.
WSO Group Number
Meeting Name
Meeting Day & Time
Your cancelled check is your receipt. Your
intergroup w ill receive an acknow ledgment at either
the next R6 Assembly or mailed w ith the next issue of
The Messenger to your intergroup. Please ask your
groups to be as generous as possible. Thank you for
your support, service and contributions.
T HE M ESSENGER is the publication of
Region 6 Assembly of Overeaters Anonymous
7 Porter Park
Cambridge, M A 0 2 1 4 0 -2 1 0 7
The purpose of Region 6 of Overeaters Anonymous is:
•
To further the OA program in accordance w ith
the Tw elve Steps and Tw elve Traditions of OA;
•
To maintain a communications center for Region
Six. Specifically excluded is the endorsement
of any outside enterprise as outlined in Tradition
Six;
•
To provide a forum for the selection of Regional
and General Service Trustee nominees;
•
To provide unity of groups and organization of
Intergroups w ithin Region Six;
•
To host Region Six Marathons and Conventions
as deemed necessary by Region Six;
•
To w ork for OA as a w hole w ithin the Region or
Committees appointed by World Service.
The next Region 6 Assemblies are scheduled for:
April 12, 2008
September 20, 2008
at the Quality Inn, Albany, NY located Route 9W,
just south of Exit 23 on the NY State Thruway.
Editorial Policy
The M essenger is t he bi-annual new slet t er of Region Six of
Ov ereat ers A nony m ous. The deadline f or copy is M ay 1 f or t he
Fall Edit ion and Nov em ber 1 f or t he Spring Edit ion. M at erial
cannot be ret urned nor c an pay m ent be m ade. A ll subm issions t o
t he edit or m ust b e signed and w hen published, w ill appear w it h
f irst nam e and last init ial unless ot herw ise request ed. Nam es w ill
be w it hheld upon request . The M essenger reserv es t he right t o
edit all subm issions f or lengt h and c larit y . Ot her OA groups m ay
reprint w it hout perm ission. W e ask t hat y ou cit e t he w rit er and
The M essenger as y our sourc e. Court esy copies of reprint ed
art icles are apprec iat ed. The opinions ex pressed are t hose of t he
w rit er, not t hose of Region Six or OA as a w hole. Please address
all subm issions and correspondenc e t o The M essenger v ia e-m ail
t o: New slet t er@OA region6 .org or v ia US Post al Serv ice in care of
t he Region Six Coordinat or at t he address designat ed above.
THE MESSENGER STAFF
The M essenger is produced t hrough t he ef f ort s of
t he m em bers of t he Region Six New slet t er
Com m it t ee. W e are:
Gast on L. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chair
M arily n C. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Edit or
Elsa P. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Proof reader
Diane P. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Proof reader
Diana G. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Design & Lay out
J acqueline L. . . . . . French Canadian Coordinat or
J ennif er. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
St ev e M . . . .
WWW .OA REGION 6.ORG
Com m it t ee M em ber
W ebsit e & Publicat ions Coordinat or
S PRIN G 2008
THE MESSENGER
PA GE 3
IT TAKES TWO….OR DOES IT?
I started coming to OA in 1990. At t hat time, I
could binge for a mere $10 a day (that didn' t
include ordering takeout or binging at restaurants).
But I could get a crackley bag, a Family Pak of 10
or 12, a dozen assorted, a cold pint, quart or
gallon, or some things that could be boiled or
melted, and do it up pretty w ell for $10. I spent
much more than that, of course, on a regular basis.
I couldn' t afford it but I spent it.
Then, once I w as good and disgusted w ith
myself, I might decide to buy a diet book
(anyw here from $7 to $20 depending on w hether
it w as paperback or hardcover), join a diet club
(can' t recall how much that cost, but adding in
their “ Special Food” – ugh! I' m gagging a little just
remembering the taste of it – that added up to a
pretty sum), or undergo a liquid protein diet (in
1986 this set me back several hundred dollars A
MONTH for blood tests and individual and group
sessions w ith the psychiatrist w ho ran it).
I don' t remember w hat year OA started the “ It
Takes Tw o” campaign and am too lazy to do the
research, but it w as probably not long after I came
to OA. It w as a radical notion to ask OA members,
w ho had been throw ing a buck in the basket since
1960, to up it to $2. Many meetings still include
“ OA suggests a $2 donation” in their format w hen
the 7th Tradition is passed.
21 percent? 60 percent is made up by literature
sales. Now , w e love and value our literature, but I
don' t think most of us w ant OA' s f inancial health
to rest too heavily on sales.
OA World Service conducts itself just as any
other service body: money is not hoarded, and
anything over operating expenses is plow ed back
into our primary purpose. This includes funding
delegates to the World Service Business
Conference and providing more money for
Conference committees (Public Information and
Professional Outreach, Tw elfth Step Within) to
carry the message.
Here is a thought: w hat proportion of our quality
of life can w e attribute to OA? One percent? Five
percent? More?
How does t hat figure reflect w hat w e throw in
t he basket at a meeting or how w e support OA
through our time?
When w e pay for our intergroup answ ering
service, travel expenses to R6 Assembly, copying
of flyers…. are the prices the same as they w ere
back in the 1990s w hen It Took Tw o? We think
not. Ten dollars doesn' t buy as much binge food as
it used to. So maybe, instead of It Takes Tw o, w e
could –
GIVE AS THOUGH OUR LIVES DEPENDED ON IT!
This is the time in the article w here you get to
groan, “ Oh, God, they have their hand out again!”
But, w ho are “ they” ?
Did you know , though, that the OA annual
operating budget – that' s all the operating expenses
for the World Service Office (payroll, utilities,
insurance, paper clips), the World Service Business
Conference, Lifeline Magazine, the OA. ORG w ebsite,
the Board of Trustees, and every bit of outreach
that OA does at that level – public aw areness,
professional exhibits – of that $1.75 million, only a
portion is funded by member contributions –
- M argaret A nn, Region 6 Trust ee
Trust ee@OA Region6 .org
THE MESSENGER
PA GE 4
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Region Six Assembly - September 29, 2007
BYLAWS
In at t endanc e: Chair, Bruc e R. (Ot t aw a Dist ric t IG)
Karin R-H. (R6 Chair) f our delegat es;
A nn W . (Parliam ent arian).
ISSUES DISCUSSED A T M EETING
1 . Current m ot ion(s)
2 . Com m it t ee proc edures
3 . Term s/dut ies of R6 of f ic ers
DECISIONS M A DE
1 . Cont inue t o look at by law s m anual and suggest
updat es w here nec essary .
GOA LS/A CTIONS TO BE COM PLETED BY NEX T A SSEM BLY
1 . Draf t m ot ions dealing w it h dut ies of R6 of f icers.
2 . W ork w it h ot her com m it t ee Chairs t o hav e procedures
m ov ed t o com m it t ee proc edures m anual.
A SSIGNM ENTS A ND DEA DLINES
1 . M ot ions t o be draf t ed by m id-February .
2 . M ot ions f rom ot her com m it t ees t o be subm it t ed t o
By law s Com m it t ee t w o w eeks prior t o deadline.
CONVENTION
In at t endance: Chair, Robert a L. (Nassau Count y IG); t w ent y
delegat es
1 . Conv ent ion 2 0 0 8 (“ Discov ery 2 0 0 8 " /Sout h Coast al
M ass IG, Ply m out h); Gil P. and Barbara (Co-chairs)
a. Em phasis: Regist er early , as t here are only 1 7 2
room s. A lso, a person m ust be st ay ing t here t o get t he
m eal pack age.
b. Ex c it ing new ev ent s. add Bingo Sat urday night ;
m erc handise and raf f les.
c. Phot os t o be t aken, if people desire.
2 . Conv ent ion 2 0 0 9 (“ Serenit y In Sy rac use-The Key Is
W illin g n ess” / Great er
Sy rac u se
IG,
Sy rac u se);
Updat e f rom Rut h (Great er Sy rac use IG).
3 . Conv ent ion M anual t o be put on R6 w ebsit e.
DECISIONS M A DE
1 . Elect ed of f icers 2 0 0 7 -2 0 0 8 : Robert a, Chair; Charlie,
v ic e-Chair
(Rut h
f rom
Great er
Sy rac use
IG,
cont ingenc y ): Laura R., Sec ret ary , (Ly nn f rom Great er
Rochest er IG, cont ingenc y ).
2 . 2 0 0 8 : M ak e a list of m at erials t o be passed on (R6
banner, easels, w alk ie-t alk ies, t im ers, w ork shop and
m arat hon f orm at s).
S PRIN G 2008
1 . Host ing com m it t ees w ork ing on det ails of conv ent ions.
2 . List num ber of room regist rat ions on-line, and ot her
hot els in area as capacit y is reached.
3 . Program Com m it t ee looking int o Friday af t ernoon
session (perhaps only one): Ex pec t at ions discussion
3 :0 0 - 4 :3 0 pm and/or Body Im age 4 :3 0 - 6 :0 0 pm
1 . Need v olunt eers f or 2 0 1 0 Conv ent ion.
FINANCE
In at t endance: Out going Chair, Louise Y. (Great er Sy racuse
IG); Inc om ing Chair, A ly ssa (Great er NY M et ro IG); Karin R-H.
(R6 Chair); Zazu ( R6 Treasurer); six delegat es
1 . Fund raising is in t he black af t er W orld Serv ice
Conv ent ion.
2 . Treasurer ask ing reps here t o t ake f und-raising it em s t o
sell at int ergroup f unct ions.
3 . Treasurer present ed t w o budget ov erride proposals.
One w as regarding t he t ax prep person, and t he ot her
concerned t he recov ery of R6 f inanc ial rec ords.
4 . A udit ed Treasurer' s f inancial records & check signing
securit y procedure.
DECISIONS M A DE
1 . New Chair is A ly ssa
2 . Im plem ent ed m ore det ailed and com prehensiv e
procedure f or “ audit ing” records.
1 . New securit y procedures f or check signing.
2 . New procedures f or rev iew ing/audit ing records.
3 . Int egrat e sim ple st at em ent s about t hese processes in
by law s.
4 . Describe abov e in det ail in Policy and Procedures
m anual.
1 . Zazu w ill w ork w it h m em bers on language f or
procedure changes. Deadline: Spring A ssem bly .
q
THE MESSENGER
S PRIN G 2008
PA GE 5
COMMITTEE REPORTS
5.
IGOR (Intergroup/Outreach)
6.
2.
Quilt : Discussed w ay s t o announc e in new slet t er t hat
som eone is needed t o m anage t he projec t . Som eone
NEWSLETTER
m ay w ant t o head a com m it t ee t o begin.
In at t endance: Chair, Gast on (IG OA Franc ais de M ont real);
Put
St ev e (W ebsit e and Publicat ions Coordinat or); six delegat es
plans in
m ot ion
to
cont ac t
int ergroups and
unaf f iliat ed groups.
3.
Ideas t o ent ice people t o c om e t o Region (scholarships).
4.
M ailings: c ollat ed and t o be sent out by com m it t ee;
1.
print f rom t heir com m it t ee' s report . This needs t o be
done bef ore report s are subm it t ed t o t he Secret ary .
5.
Cam paign f or loc al int ergroups t o af f iliat e.
6.
W here is pam phlet about Region 6 ?
2.
DECISIONS M A DE
Dist ribut ed Region 6 Handbook . Inf orm at ional.
a. Post ed on w ebsit e and
1.
w ork ed on in com m it t ee;
Do not hold up m ailing t o w ait f or m ore enc losures;
1.
2.
3.
and
inf orm at ion
to
be
com m unicat ed
to
Ex plain $ 2 5 0 sc holarship f und.
sheet
f rom
French
Div ision of t asks am ong m em bers of com m it t ee:
4.
Deadline dat es: Proof read v ersion by Decem ber 1 ;
PI/HIPM
In at t endance: Chair, Nat alie (Ocean and Bay IG); 1 4
Personal cont ac t w it h one or t w o int ergroups not
delegat es
represent ed at t his A ssem bly .
2.
Begin ef f ort t o cont act unaf f iliat ed groups.
3.
Cov er let t er f or int ergroup m ailing f or unaf f iliat ed
1.
Talked about w hat t he PI/PO is about , and t he PI Blit z.
2.
W ent around t he t able t o let us know
w hat our
int ergroups are doing: ads, diner f und raising, PI t ool
groups.
4.
st y le
(Public Information/Hospitals, Institutions, Professional,
Military)
1.
cont ribut e
lay out by J anuary 7 ; f inal v ersion due by February 1 .
unaf f iliat ed groups.
3.
w ill
proof reading, edit ing, lay out .
groups.
Ideas
Gast on
Language Serv ice Board.
Cov er let t er t o be w rit t en t o send inf o t o unaf f iliat ed
Elsa w ill f ind out w het her W SO has a st y le sheet in
order t o sim plif y edit ing process.
Dec ide sc holarships; aw ard Cent ral M ass IG $ 2 5 0
scholarship. Deadline by lat e February .
2.
The M essenger in
A SSIGNM ENTS/DEA DLINES
m ail t oday .
1.
Publicat ion and dist ribut ion of
English, and French.
Put t oget her m ailings t o all unaf f iliat ed groups and
int ergroups not represent ed at Region.
4.
By acclam at ion, Gast on cont inues as com m it t ee Chair.
1.
w ill be rev iew ed in t he Spring.
3.
Discussion of budget ov erride by $ 3 0 0 .0 0 due t o loss
of non-prof it st at us.
DECISIONS M A DE
2.
The Chair of each R6 com m it t ee should ask it s
m em bers w het her t hey w ant t heir nam es om it t ed in
Sc ot t w ill m ail.
1.
Include a list of ex ist ing int ergroups, and set up a
cont act t ree t o call each ot her.
1.
f or unaf f iliat ed groups on updat ing
inf orm at ion f or W orld Serv ice.
In at t en danc e: Chair, Ly n (Green M ount ain Nort h IG);
Helen F. (R6 Coordinat or); sev en delegat es.
Include f orm
kit .
Include f orm f or unaf f iliat ed groups on how t o f orm an
3.
PI Blit z proposal: Sy racuse- ad on prescript ion drug bag.
int ergroup.
THE MESSENGER
PA GE 6
S PRIN G 2008
COMMITTEE REPORTS
DECISIONS M A DE
1.
2.
2.
bet w een t he Region and W orld Serv ice, people w ho
allow Great er Sy rac use IG t o do dist ribut ions in each
hav e know ledge about y out h in OA . This dialogue w ill
count y .
t ake place via e-m ail and phone cont act .
Elect ions: Chair: posit ion open;
v ic e-Chair: posit ion
open; Secret ary : Sam ant ha, (Sout hw est ern CT IG).
1.
1.
Gary w ill cont act Charles A loisio (Young People W orld
Serv ice Com m it t ee Chair), w it hin t he w eek (Oc t . 1 st ),
Dev elop surv ey ; St ev e w ill put it on w ebsit e.
1.
Long t erm : Increase com m unicat ion t o open dialogue
A v ot e w as passed approv ing a PI blit z f und of $ 9 9 0 t o
about e-new slet t er.
2.
Fran w ill order “ OA 1 2 St eps For Yout h” CD/t ape and
Sam ant ha, M ary Rose and Carol w ill dev elop surv ey t o
ot her Young People relat ed pam phlet s or lit erat ure. She
go on w ebsit e.
w ill send t hese t o t he Com m it t ee m em bers in t he
m ont h of Oct ober.
3.
TWELFTH STEP WITHIN
Lisa
w ill cont act Chair o f W orld Serv ice Lit erat ure
Rev iew
In at t endanc e: Chair, Tina C. (Nort h Shore IG); elev en
Com m it t ee,
about
updat ing
t he
booklet ,
A Kid' s V iew .
delegat es.
1.
St at us
of
sponsorship;
report
subc om m it t ee
com m it m ent t o abst inenc e.
2.
Ex ploring w eb presenc e; com m it t ee com m unicat ions.
3.
Elect ions
DECISIONS M A DE
1.
Our m orning w orkshop on div ersit y in OA w as led by
Go f orw ard on “ Com m it m ent t o A bst inenc e” as nex t
Danielle S. (M BI). A f t er her brief qualif icat ion, Danielle led t he
project ; agreed on lit erat ure.
group t hrough an ex erc ise w here w e could all ident if y w it h
1.
2.
som e group w it hin OA . W e all st art ed by st anding up, or
Diane w ill do f irst draf t on let t er in 4 -6 w eeks, t hen
raising o ur hand if w e could not st and. Then, one by one,
send t o c om m it t ee t o get f eedbac k .
cat egories of m em bers w ere asked t o sit dow n. Som e
Tina and Diane w ill m ak e f inal dec ision on let t er.
ex am ples of cat egories included:
1.
M ORNING W ORKSHOP
First draf t in 4 -6 w eek s; done by nex t A ssem bly .
YOUNG PEOPLE
Chair, Gary O' C. (Cent ral M ass IG); Lau ra N. (Secret ary );
•
People w ho hav e at t ended 9 0 day m eet ings
•
People w ho hav e at t ended a H.O.W . m eet ing
•
People w ho hav e at t ended a1 0 0 -pounder m eet ing
•
People w ho hav e at t ended a Gay /lesbian/bisex ual and
t ransgender m eet ing
A f t er Danielle w ent t hrough a long list , a f ew people w ere
t w o delegat es
st ill st anding. The rem aining people w ere ask ed t o sit if t hey
1.
Young people' s t elephone m eet ing.
had ev er had a judgm ent al t hought about t hese m eet ings.
2.
Past A ssem bly goals.
Fiv e people rem ained st anding. D an ielle ex plained t hat
3.
New lit erat ure f or y oung people.
norm ally t here is no one lef t st anding at t he end. The point
4.
Ret ent ion of y oung people.
w as t hat w e hav e all judged each ot her, or som e groups, at
som e point in t im e. W e need t o st op judging, and f ocus on
DECISIONS M A DE
1.
A ssignm ent s f or nex t A ssem bly - Fran, Gary , Lisa.
1.
t hat w hich binds us t oget her.
W e t hen broke int o groups. W e w ere giv en 4 quest ions,
Receiv e e-new slet t er f or y oung people. It w ill be sent
and t hen asked t o share t he answ ers w it h one person in our
t o Gary (Chair) f rom Charles A loisio at W orld Serv ice.
group.
THE MESSENGER
S PRIN G 2008
M ORNING W ORKSHOP
CONTINUED
The quest ions w ere as f ollow s:
1.
2.
BYLAW AMENDMENTS/POLICY MOTIONS
som e plac e (at a m eet ing, ev ent , Conv ent ion or
The chair requ est ed t hat t he By law /Policy m ot ions be
business m eet ing), and had t he f eeling of being an
post poned t o t he Spring A ssem bly in f av or of v ot ing on t he
out sider?
com m it t ee.
How did y ou f eel as y ou int erac t ed w it h ot hers in t his
COMMITTEE MOTIONS
W hich f eeling st rongly ref lect s y our response? Silence?
Denial? A c t iv e cooperat ion?
4.
SUMMARY
M OTIONS & VOTES
Can y ou t hink of a t im e in program w hen y ou w ere in
sit uat ion?
3.
Finance Committee.
The t reasurer present ed a m ot ion f or a budget ov erride of
W hat did it cost y ou t o ac t unnat urally ?
$ 1 5 0 .0 0 t o address t he increased f ees f or t ax preparat ion
W e learned t hat judging people is a nat ural reac t ion, but
serv ices. There w as a quest ion as t o w het her t his w ould be
not alw ay s a good nat ural react ion. It ' s easy t o judge ot hers,
a one t im e inc rease.
and our selv es as w ell.
ongoing ex penses.
She t hen ask ed t he group t o w rit e f or 1 0 m inut es, and
answ er t hese 3 quest ions:
1.
PA GE 7
How /w hen hav e y ou judged ot her OA m em bers in t he
program ?
2.
W hat does it cost t hem ?
3.
W hat does it cost y ou?
The answ er is “ no” as t hese are
This m ot ion w as passed by a 2 / 3
m ajorit y .
The t reasurer present ed a second budget ov erride f or
$ 5 0 0 .0 0 o be used t o recov er R6 f inancial rec ords and if
necessary t o init iat e legal act ion. In response t o a quest ion
f rom a delegat e, it w as st at ed t hat t his is an est im at e and
A f t er t he m em bers f inished w rit ing, she ask ed us each t o
select a part ner dif f erent f rom t he one w e had t han t he f irst
t im e and share our answ ers. Finally , w e w ere encouraged t o
respect m em bers' anony m it y . Danielle read an inspirat ional
OA say ing t o c lose t he session.
hopef ully w ill not be m ore ex pensiv e unless legal act ion is
needed. This m ot ion w as passed by a 2 /3 m ajorit y .
New sletter Committee.
W ebsit e and publicat ions coordinat or present ed a budget
override mot ion for $ 3 0 0 .0 0 in ant icipat ion of increased print ing
and dist ribut ion cost s f or t he R6 new slet t er if t he region' s t ax
q q q q q q
exem pt st at us is not regained f or t he next M essenger mailing.
There w as som e discussion about using email t o cut cost s. This
is not possible as most groups do not have email. The budget
override w as passed by a 2 /3 majorit y.
TWO NEWBIES AT A CONVENTION
Catskill, NY. October 2006. Midnight. Two relative newcomers from Massachusetts are making their first pilgrimage
to the Region 6 Convention. It is raining. It is dark. And perhaps most frightening of all: breakfast is not being served for
several hours. We are pleased to report that they survived until then…
And so began the maiden voyage to our first R6 Convention. And it was worth every second. What a gift it was to
spend a weekend immersed in program, fellowship and fun; indeed, "…we aren't a glum lot". (BB page 132.)
Attending meaningful workshops, hearing powerful (and inspiring) keynote speakers, and dancing Saturday night away
with our friends – new and old -- were just a few of our personal convention highlights. We were among our own kind that
weekend, and it felt fantastic.
We left Sunday afternoon feeling tired and elated, spiritually nourished and emotionally centered -- better than any food
has ever tasted, for sure.
The experience was so wonderful that we already have registered for the next R6 Convention. It will be held the
weekend of October 24-26, 2008 at the Radisson Hotel in Plymouth, MA, and we can't wait. We urge you to register
now as space is limited. For more information, go to W W W .OAR E G IO N 6. O R G
Let's Discover Recovery – Together, We Can
THE MESSENGER
PA GE 8
S PRIN G 2008
W RITINGS OF THE M EMBERS OF REGION 6
A MOMENT REPRESENTING A SPIRITUAL AWAKENING
I CAN’T. GOD CAN. LET HIM.
hen I hit this final bottom, I began to pray in
earnest, one to one, w ith my Higher Pow er. I
asked his help and told Him, I' d do anything. I
w as told in order to recover. I w as desperate and w ithin
5 minutes I felt His presence in my living room. I knew
w ith certainty that if I didn' t turn my w ill and life over to
my Higher Pow er that I w ould die. I also knew that If I
follow ed His direction and kept my w ord about being
w illing to go to any length that there w as still hope for
me. After 10 years of relapsing before that might, I still
believed it could happen for me. The next morning I
w oke up and knew that everything w as about to
change. That w as over seven years ago, and one day
at a time w ith my Higher Pow er' s help, I have remained
abstinent. I found out tw o years after that might I
prayed that I had suffered a stroke that might. I' d seen
a doctor because I w as having memory loss and he told
me that I' d had w hat they called a “ silent” stroke,
meaning there w ere no visible symptoms. I realized
then that my instincts had been correct back then, and
that Higher Pow er hat interrupted my death that night.
W
– Andrea. F.
Greater NY Metro IG
AHA! MOMENT
ne of my biggest aw akening came several years
into OA. Early on I began to sponsor, I said a
prayer each time the phone rang: “ God, please,
give me the w ords that you w ould have me say so I can
help my sponsee.” Being shy and basically a listener it
seemed overw helmed to have a sponsee call on a daily
basis and my mind w ould often go blank. Many years
into recovery I began do re study the Steps and Steps 6
and 7 took on new meaning. All I had to do w as become
w illing. It' s sound simple but for me w ith my “ I' ll do it
myself” attitude it w as an AHA moment. When I w as
w illing , I could ask my HP for help to change and then
relax and do the first w ork. The first w ork for me w as
done in my fourth Step w hen I became aw are of a defect
O
and then discerned the appropriate behavior. My shyness
and reluctance to talking about myself w ould be replaced
by my concern for the recovery of others and how my
experience w ould help them. My HP w as doing for me
w hat I could not do for myself.
– Louise
Greater Syracuse IG
READY TO ACCEPT
he aw akening w as w hen I w as ready to accept I
w as eating myself to death – and the doctors said
I w ould die if I didn' t change my eating behaviors
and life styles. OA gave me hope that w ith help of the
group, Steps, tools, service I could recover. It' s a daily
aw akening each morning w ith my 10th Step and
journaling, meditation, and OA literature books and
commitment to my food plan.
T
– Anonymous
CEASES FIGHTING
t w as 2:30 am in May, 2004 I had been craw ling
through the Big Book, guided by my sponsor, since the
previous August. She had guided me through three
Step 4' s and tw o Step 8' s and I had just finished living,
meditating and w riting on the 9 t h Step promises.
I
At that moment, I read the Big Book w ords “ And w e
ceased fighting anything, even alcohol.” Something in
my psyche cracked open w ith those w ords, as I realized
that, indeed, I had ceases fighting.
Although I w as at that time, abstinent for eight years,
it is from that moment that I mark my recovery.
– Mary Rose D.
GROWING AS GOD WANTS ME TO BE
moment of spiritual aw akening for me happened
at the end of a meeting tw o mont hs ago. As I
w as getting up to leave, I w as chatt ing w ith
others w ho w ere packing up as w ell. Someone started
talking about a w oman (Mary) w ho had shared during
the meeting. Just after she began talking about w hat
Mary said and how she’ d acted, I said that I w as trying
A
THE MESSENGER
S PRIN G 2008
PA GE 9
to minimize gossip in my life and I had to leave. And I
left the room. I know that this experience w as a time of
God doing for me w hat I couldn’ t do for myself because
tw o months prior, I had also been discussing Mary.
Thanks to the Step w ork I continue w ith the help of my
Higher Pow er, I am grow ing every day closer to the king
of person God w ants me to be. I’ m so grateful that HP
continues to offer me these opportunities to
demonstrate my w illingness to learn a new w ay and to
become God-centered. This program continues to be a
huge gift in my life. Thank God for OA!
– Anonymous
GOD CAN AND DOES TRANSFORM
w as attending an OA meetings in Rutland, Vermont.
The time of the year w as early spring, the time of year
the sap runs in the maple trees. There w as a large
w hite pine tree at the edge of the w alk leading into the
meeting. I felt the first w arm air current , in the air as I
approached the w alk w ay from the parking lot. I looked
up at this w hite pine and the needles seemed to have
lost their stability of w inter. Instantly I reached up and
touched them. Pine needles felt like luscious silk. I felt
like I w as being introduced to God and that God can and
does transform. I felt there w as hope for my ow n
rigidity and inability to let go of the w eight I had
collected in increasing amounts since I w as 13 years old
though my earliest memory of addictive eating w as age 7.
I
In the past 18 years in program, my Higher Pow er has
revealed him/her self in daily synchronistic w ays through
other OA members, my relationship w ith my spouse,
family members, community, in my meditation and prayer
allow ing me to go back and collect all of w ho I left behind
in addiction. So that I am coming to w holeness more is
truly revealed each day in this process. Service today is
my lifeline for continued recovery. I do w hat I can w hen
I can. Service off sets the w eakness that inherent in me as
a result of my humanity and my addiction. Thank you OA.
GIFTS
efining spiritual moment w ith my Higher Pow er:
w hen I realized the gifts I w as given could not have
come from me.
D
– Anonymous
KNOW – ABLE – APPRECIATE
have been given many moments in program that I know
are my Higher Pow er w orking through me. Being able to
appreciate the ocean or a beautiful moon; being able to
enjoy the company of others and actually listen! Being
able to enjoy the company of friends and family, and to
say no! No to things I don’t agree w ith; no to things that
w ill cause me to be resentful and no to the food.
I
– Anonymous
HEART LIGHTENS WITH PRAYER
' d been in OA for about 7 months. I had not had a
relationship w ith a Higher Pow er before I found OA and
w as w orking to overcome my preconceived ideas of
w hat HP w as in my life. My husband called me at w ork
to pass on some bad new s he received from his doctor.
I hung up the phone and put my head in my hands. I tried
to come up w ith a list of w hat I could do to help, but this
w as my husband' s problem and the actions needed to be
his. I felt myself begin to cry because I didn' t have a
constructive w ay to help him, and then it struck me. My
head popped up, my heart lightened and realized for the
first time that praying for my husband and my his health
w as a productive, helpful and useful action that I could
take. Thank you OA for show ing me how to access this
loving and pow erful force in my life. P.S.: My husband is
fine. Thanks H.P.
I
– Lyn
q q q q q q
– Ellen B.
THE MESSENGER
PA GE 10
S PRIN G 2008
SPIRITUALLY INSPIRED
had been exposed to OA for several months by a love
one w ho w as in program. But I did nothing about my
overeating until w aking up yet one more morning –
march 12, 1987 to be precise – and w as disgusted w ith
myself for feeling stuffed again. That day, for the first time
in my life, are a sensible breakfast and a moderate lunch
until that day I had starved myself routinely in order to
save up my calories for late-night binging.
I
More miraculous, I actually stopped eating after dinner...
no food orgy once the rest of my family w ent to bed. I
don' t know how this event came to pass. Never before
had I refrained from nocturnal gorging. Why this night? I
Had no answ er then... But as one day of 3 meals w ith
nothing in betw een turned into tw o, tw enty, 200, 2,000
and now more than 6500 days, I know the answ er: GOD.
Who or w hat else than a Pow er outside myself kept me
from doing w hat I w as constitutionally incapable of doing
for myself over the first 40 years of my life.
The miracle w as certainly spiritually inspired. The
aw akening part came only years later after I had finally
realized, that God not me, had stopped me from the
starve-binge circle.
What a freedom it has been to let go – finally – of this
(for me) addictive substance. What surrender it is! What
further letting go of my self-reliance and arrogance. I got
on my knees tw o months ago and asked God to give me
the w illingness and ability to me w ithin my plan of eating
and to do God' s w ill for me.
I had no idea at all that HP' s w ill for me to let go the
substance I w as holding onto so tenaciously. I accepted
flour and yeast w ere a problem for me. I accepted that a
slice w as too much and loaf w as not enough so I had
better abstain completely.
And this is w hat I have learned: one day at a time the
craving and lust for bread products is gone. It is not an
option so it' s not a It w ill only be a problem if I take back
my w ill and make it an option.
My disease is progressive. My bread lust is progressive
and boundless. I see w hat HP' s w ill is for me and today
– one day at a time – I am going over the w inning side. I
am surrendering and doing God' s w ill for me. Trust me,
this is a miracle.
– Margie
– Gil
FREEDOM
w enty-one years in program and I have had a spiritual
aw akening and profound emotional and spiritual
grow th. How ? By giving up bread!
T
One day at a time I have made a decision not to eat
flour and yeast in combination, so it' s not just bread. It' s
all the forms breads – yeast and flour – can take.
For 21 years in OA I have clung to my right to eat bread
even though an honest appraisal of my doing so w ould
reveal this simple fact: one flour/yeast product w as never
enough and a loaf, a dozen, a plastic bag full w as never
enough, and ANY – even a w hiff of fresh dough w as too
much.
THE MESSENGER
S PRIN G 2008
PA GE 11
WHICH STEP ARE YOU ON?
FIRST STEP PRAYER
Dear Lord,
I adm it t hat I am pow erless over m y addict ion.
I adm it t hat m y lif e is unm anageable w hen I t ry t o cont rol it .
Help m e t his day t o underst and t he t rue m eaning of pow erlessness.
Rem ove f rom m e all denial of m y addict ion.
SECOND STEP PRAYER
Heavenly Fat her,
I know in m y heart t hat only you can rest ore m e t o sanit y.
I hum bly ask t hat you rem ove all t w ist ed t hought and
addict ive behavior f rom m e t his day.
Heal m y spirit and rest ore in m e a clear m ind.
THIRD STEP PRAYER
God,
I of f er m yself t o Thee
To build w it h m e and t o do w it h m e as Thou w ilt .
Relieve m e of t he bondage of self , t hat I m ay bet t er do Thy w ill.
Take aw ay m y dif f icult ies, t hat vict ory over t hem m ay bear w it ness t o
t hose I w ould help of Thy Pow er, Thy love and Thy w ay of lif e.
M ay I do Thy w ill alw ays!
FOURTH STEP PRAYER
Dear God,
It is I w ho has m ade m y lif e a m ess.
I have done it , but I cannot undo it .
M y m ist akes are m ine and I w ill begin a searching and f earless m oral
invent ory.
I w ill w rit e dow n m y w rongs, but I w ill also include t hat w hich is good.
I pray f or t he st rengt h t o com plet e t he t ask.
FIFTH STEP PRAYER
Higher Pow er,
M y invent ory has show n m e w ho I am , yet I ask f or Your help in
adm it t ing m y w rongs t o anot her person and t o You.
A ssure m e, and be w it h m e, in t his St ep, f or w it hout t his St ep I cannot
progress in m y recovery.
W it h Your help, I can do t his and I w ill do it .
SIX TH STEP PRAYER
Dear God,
I am ready f or Your help in rem oving f rom m e t he def ect s of charact er
w hich I now realize are an obst acle t o m y recovery.
Help m e t o cont inue being honest w it h m yself and
guide m e t ow ard spirit ual and m ent al healt h.
SEV ENTH STEP PRAYER
M y Creat or,
I am now w illing t hat you should have all of m e, good and bad.
I pray t hat you now rem ove f rom m e every single def ect of charact er
w hich st ands in t he w ay of m y usef ulness t o you and m y f ellow s.
Grant m e st rengt h. as I go out f rom here t o do Your bidding.
EIGHTH STEP PRAYER
Higher Pow er,
I ask Your help in m aking m y list of all t hose I have harm ed.
I w ill t ake responsibilit y f or m y m ist akes and be f orgiving t o ot hers as
You are f orgiving t o m e.
Grant m e t he w illingness t o begin m y rest it ut ion.
This I pray.
NINTH STEP PRAYER
Higher Pow er,
I pray f or t he right at t it ude t o m ake m y am ends, being ever m indf ul not
t o harm ot hers in t he process.
I ask f or Your guidance in m aking indirect am ends.
M ost im port ant , I w ill cont inue t o m ake am ends by st ay ing abst inent ,
helping ot hers and grow ing in spirit ual progress .
TENTH STEP PRAYER
I pray I m ay cont inue;
To grow in underst anding and ef f ect iveness;
To t ake daily spot check invent ories of m yself ;
To correct m ist akes w hen I m ake t hem ;
To t ake responsibilit y f or m y act ions;
To be ever aw are of m y negat ive and self -def eat ing at t it udes and
behaviors;
To keep m y w illf ulness in check;
To alw ays rem em ber I need Your help;
To keep love and t olerance of ot hers as m y code;
and To cont inue in daily prayer how I can best serve You, M y Higher
Pow er.
ELEV ENTH STEP PRAYER
Higher Pow er, as I underst and You,
I pray t o keep m y connect ion w it h You open and clear f rom t he
conf usion of daily lif e.
Through m y prayers and m edit at ion I ask especially f or f reedom f rom
self -w ill, rat ionalizat ion and w ishf ul t hinking.
I pray f or t he guidance of correct t hought and posit ive act ion.
Your w ill, Higher Pow er, not m ine, be done.
TW ELFTH STEP PRAYER
Dear God,
M y spirit ual aw akening cont inues t o unf old.
The help I have received I shall pass on and give t o ot hers, bot h in and
out of t he Fellow ship.
For t his opport unit y I am grat ef ul.
I pray m ost hum bly t o cont inue w alking day by day on t he road of
spirit ual progress.
I pray f or t he inner st rengt h and w isdom t o pract ice
t he principles of t his w ay of lif e in all I do and say.
I need You, m y f riends and t he program every hour
of every day.
This is t he bet t er w ay t o live.
q q q q q q
TOGETHER WE CAN!

ACTION V. BEDEVILMENTS - Region 6 of Overeaters Anonymous

Transcription

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