Rationale Since our beloved founder has passed away, this policy is a moot point.

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1 Total Percentage: Total Voting: A New Business Status: Adopted Failed Amended Withdrawn Referred to Committee Move to rescind WSBC Policy 1979d. Current Wording WSBC Policy 1979d It was adopted to: Pay founder Rozanne S. s expenses to all future Conventions. Proposed Wording WSBC Policy 1979d It was adopted to: Pay founder Rozanne S. s expenses to all future Conventions. Board of Trustees Cyndy L., BOT Bylaws Committee Chair Remove a policy that is no longer necessary. Update the Business Conference Policy Manual. None. Since our beloved founder has passed away, this policy is a moot point. No history in the past five years. None.

2 Total Percentage: Total Voting: B New Business Status: Adopted Failed Amended Withdrawn Referred to Committee Move to amend WSBC Policy 1991a, Item 6 by striking and inserting as follows: Current Wording WSBC Policy 1991a (Amended 2003 and 2013). It was adopted that: 6) Delegates should be registered by March 1 and have submitted a committee preference form by April 1 in order to be considered for committee membership. Delegates will be notified at or prior to WSBC if they were selected to serve on a committee. The committee preference form will be updated to advise delegates that serving on a committee is optional. Proposed Wording WSBC Policy 1991a (Amended 2003 and 2013). It was adopted that: 6) Delegates should be registered by March 1 and have submitted a their committee preference form by April 1 in order to be considered for committee membership. Delegates will be notified at or prior to WSBC if they were selected to serve on a committee to which committee they have been assigned. The committee preference form will be updated to advise delegates that serving on a committee is optional. Service on a committee at WSBC is expected and the commitment should be maintained throughout the following year. Board of Trustees Karin H., Conference Planning Committee Chair To ensure that delegates understand that committee work is part of being a delegate and to help ensure that committee work continues between Conferences. Update the Business Conference Policy Manual. None

3 WSBC 2014 New Business Page 2 Proposal Item: B Having delegates serve on committees and maintain that commitment throughout the year will help ensure that committees are accomplishing their goals. Delegates are attending WSBC to serve the fellowship as a whole and committee work is part of that responsibility WSBC Policy 1991a (paraphrased) Delete special provisions for membership from Conference and board committee s structure. (Adopted) None.

4 Total Percentage: Total Voting: C New Business Status: Adopted Failed Amended Withdrawn Referred to Committee Move that OA manufacture, supply and award chips to celebrate abstinence One Day at a Time. This will require new chips for 1 to 6 days of abstinence and chips for 1 to 3 weeks of abstinence (nine new chips in total). Baton Rouge IG, Region 8 Trina S. The purpose of the motion is to: We Live... - One Day at a Time We Celebrate... - One Month at a Time Let s Celebrate... - One Day at a Time Let s Celebrate... - Each day of abstinence as a sacred, wonderful treasure! New chips would be manufactured and made available for purchase and use by each OA group. Initial cost to design and manufacture would be repaid by groups ordering and using the chips. The history of the current chip cost and usage should dictate the size of the initial run. Why institute One Day at a Time abstinence celebrations and chips? In one day of abstinence, we have overcome a true challenge and earned the right to a token of success to serve as a reason and reminder to carry on! My story: I have thirty days of abstinence one chip. My chip quickly became a tool. - Pulling me, pushing me - A loving reminder of what I ve accomplished - I wished that I had this tool after my first day of abstinence and after the fifteenth first day.

5 WSBC 2014 New Business Page 2 Proposal Item: C - How do I use my chip? I taped it to my bathroom mirror. I also considered attaching a magnet and posting on my refrigerator. I touch it each day and am reminded that my life was insane before abstinence. I had the courage to be abstinent yesterday and can do it again. Each day of abstinence is a sacred, wonderful treasure! After one day of abstinence, I want everyone to have a token of success to serve as a reason and reminder to carry on. No history in the past five years. Note: The WSO does not manufacture chips; a company would be contracted to manufacture them. estimate for chip production: approximately $3,800 including die charges, minimum order and shipping. Sales history for current chip inventory (January through November 2014): Welcome: 15, days: 5, days: 3, days: 3,431 6 months: 2,558 9 months: 2,336 1 year: 1, years: average years: average years: average 68

6 D New Business Move to create a policy that allows a member to substitute the word God in place of the word Him and God s in place of the word His in Steps Three, Seven and Eleven when the Steps are read aloud. This motion has been ruled out of order by the chair. See WSBC s Review Comments. St. Louis Bi-State IG, Region 4 Martha P. To allow members the freedom to use non-gender-specific language when reading the Steps at a meeting without having to reprint our literature. Update policy manual and distribute new information. None. Many OA members find it difficult to relate to a male figure as a Higher Power, and in Step Three we turn ourselves over to the care of the God of our own understanding. By allowing the member this small amount of flexibility in how the Steps are read aloud within a meeting, members will not be forced to speak the language about God that violates their own concept of God. The lack of pronouns for God, if chosen by the reader, honors the diverse understandings of God held by listeners as well. This exception does not create a financial burden on the Fellowship as a whole since reprinting is avoided OA, Inc. Bylaws, Subpart B, Article I (paraphrased) Revise Steps Three, Seven and Eleven to refer to Him as God. (failed) Ruled out of order by the chair. It is not in order for a policy motion to be in conflict with a bylaw. This motion is in conflict with the spirit and the intent of Article XIV Bylaw Amendments, Section 1e.

7 E New Business Move to create a policy that allows a member to substitute the word God in place of the word He and Godself in place of the word Himself in Tradition Two when the Traditions are read aloud. This motion has been ruled out of order by the chair. See WSBC s Review Comments. St. Louis Bi-State IG, Region 4 Martha P. To allow members the freedom to use non-gender-specific language when reading the Traditions at a meeting without having to reprint our literature. Update policy manual and distribute new information. None. Many OA members find it difficult to relate to a male figure as a Higher Power. Allowing other compulsive eaters to turn themselves over to the care of the God of their own understanding is foundational to our Fellowship. By allowing members to use non-gender-specific language when the Traditions are read within a meeting, members will not be forced to speak the language about God that violates their own concept of God. The lack of pronouns for God will honor the diverse understandings of God held by listeners as well. This exception does not create a financial burden on the Fellowship as a whole since reprinting is avoided OA, Inc. Bylaws, Subpart B, Article I (paraphrased) Revise Steps Three, Seven and Eleven to refer to Him as God. (failed) Ruled out of order by the chair. It is not in order for a policy motion to be in conflict with a bylaw. This motion is in conflict with the spirit and the intent of Article XIV Bylaw Amendments, Section 1e.

8 F New Business Move that the third Region Chairs Committee meeting of the calendar year be held in North America. This motion has been ruled out of order by the chair. See WSBC s Review Comments. OA South & East England IG, Region 9 Caroline M. To follow the Seventh Tradition and ensure prudent use of scarce OA funds. The Region Chairs Committee (RCC) would incorporate the decision into their manual stipulating the location of the third RCC meeting each year is in North America. None, but potential savings. The Region Chairs Committee (RCC), composed of all ten region chairs, has a practice of their third meeting of the calendar year being held at one of the regional assemblies. This requires nine chairs, plus the trustee cochair, to travel to another region. In 2015, the RCC has proposed traveling to Region Ten in Australia at a rough cost of $30,000 to the Fellowship. This is approximately $18,000 more than if the meeting were held in North America because the majority of the region chairs live in North America. The stated purpose of this third RCC meeting is to allow region chairs to observe another assembly and take away ideas of how to better conduct their own regional assembly. In recent years, a new idea has crept in that traveling to another area for a business meeting is carrying the message of recovery. Holding a business meeting somewhere geographically distant is not spreading recovery; it is holding a business meeting in a distant location. To spend $18,000 to send one committee of ten people to observe a business meeting is imprudent use of funds. If a region feels their chair would benefit from observing another region s assembly this can be accomplished in a much more economical fashion. (Most region chairs serve two to four years and could easily attend a nearby region assembly to observe.) If OA wants to help carry the message of recovery internationally (for instance in Australia or Europe or South America or any other international area), sending funds to a local service board would be a better

9 WSBC 2014 New Business Page 2 Proposal Item: F way to help carry the message in a manner of their own choosing rather than sending ten OAers to see how business is conducted regionally. No history in the past five years. Ruled out of order by the chair. As per OA, Inc. Bylaws, Subpart B, Article VII Regions, Section 4 Functioning, Part a), Regions may conduct the business of their organization by any method they choose. It would require a bylaw amendment, not a new business motion, to alter and/or establish guidelines for the RCC.

10 Total Percentage: Total Voting: G New Business Status: Adopted Failed Amended Withdrawn Referred to Committee Move to amend WSBC Policy 1984a by striking and inserting as follows: Current Wording WSBC Policy 1984a (Amended 1990 and 2013). Upon the recommendation of the Literature Committee, a preamble for Overeaters Anonymous was adopted to read: Overeaters Anonymous is a Fellowship of individuals who, through shared experience, strength and hope, are recovering from compulsive overeating. We welcome everyone who wants to stop eating compulsively. There are no dues or fees for members; we are selfsupporting through our own contributions, neither soliciting nor accepting outside donations. OA is not affiliated with any public or private organization, political movement, ideology or religious doctrine; we take no position on outside issues. Our primary purpose is to abstain from compulsive eating and to carry the message of recovery through the Twelve Steps of OA to those who still suffer. Proposed Wording WSBC Policy 1984a (Amended 1990 and 2013). Upon the recommendation of the Literature Committee, a preamble for Overeaters Anonymous was adopted to read: Overeaters Anonymous is a Fellowship of individuals who, through shared experience, strength and hope, are recovering from compulsive overeating. We welcome everyone who wants to stop eating compulsively, restricting or purging. There are no dues or fees for members; we are self-supporting through our own contributions, neither soliciting nor accepting outside donations. OA is not affiliated with any public or private organization, political movement, ideology or religious doctrine; we take no position on outside issues. Our primary purpose is to abstain from compulsive eating behavior around food and to carry the message of recovery through the Twelve Steps of OA to those who still suffer. Los Angeles IG, Region 2 Roberta L. To make the OA preamble more inclusive and welcoming to all members in our Fellowship. Update the Business Conference Policy Manual.

11 WSBC 2015 New Business Page 2 Proposal Item: G Unknown. Many of our members suffer from restricting or have various forms of bulimia and have felt excluded by the current wording. Some are not overeaters so in the first paragraph,...compulsive eating... would replace...compulsive overeating... Others suffer from anorexia so the phrase in the third paragraph,...compulsive behavior around food... would address that as well. Many members have asked us to broaden our preamble so that it would include them WSBC Policy 1984a (paraphrased) Include the terminology Twelve Steps in the preamble. (Adopted) All literature containing the OA Preamble would be updated as it is reprinted.

12 Total Percentage: Total Voting: H New Business Status: Adopted Failed Amended Withdrawn Referred to Committee Move to amend WSBC Policy 1991a, Item 2 by striking and inserting as follows: Current Wording WSBC Policy 1991a (Amended 2003 and 2013) It was adopted that: 2) Committee membership will be limited to a delegate cochairman, a trustee cochairman and two or more delegates from each region, up to thirty members at WSBC. Additionally, a combination of up to six former trustees, current trustees, and nondelegate members may be appointed to participate in the work of the committee during the year. Proposed Wording WSBC Policy 1991a (Amended 2003 and 2013) It was adopted that: 2) Committee membership will be limited to a delegate cochairman, a trustee cochairman and two or more delegates from each region, up to thirty forty members at WSBC. Additionally, a combination of up to six former trustees, current trustees, and nondelegate members may be appointed to participate in the work of the committee during the year. Board of Trustees Karin H., Conference Planning Committee Chair To increase WSBC committee membership since service on a Conference committee is expected and we are encouraging every delegate to sign up for a committee. It would be ideal if there was room on a committee for a delegate s first choice. Update the Business Conference Policy Manual. None. We may have more delegates signing up for committees. This will allow space for all delegates who wish to join.

13 WSBC 2015 New Business Page 2 Proposal Item: H 2013 WSBC Policy 1991a (paraphrased) Delete special provisions from committee membership from Conference and board committees structure. (Adopted) None.

14 Total Percentage: Total Voting: I New Business Status: Adopted Failed Amended Withdrawn Referred to Committee Move to amend WSBC Policy 2010c by striking as follows: Current Wording WSBC Policy 2010c It was adopted that: The WSBC Final Conference Report be made available electronically. All delegates and service bodies will continue to receive the printed version unless otherwise requested. Proposed Wording WSBC Policy 2010c It was adopted that: The WSBC Final Conference Report be made available electronically. All delegates and service bodies will continue to receive the printed version unless otherwise requested. Board of Trustees Cyndy L., BOT Bylaws Committee Chair To reduce costs due to budgetary constraints. Update the Business Conference Policy Manual. None. The WSBC Final Conference Report is already available online, so the time and materials for a printed version will be saved. The cost of providing the printed copies in 2014 was $4,016 for the book and $3,340 in shipping. This motion will save the Fellowship $7,356 which can then be budgeted for other ways to carry the message WSBC Policy 2010c (paraphrased) Initial policy established. (Adopted)

15 WSBC 2015 New Business Page 2 Proposal Item: I None.

16 Total Percentage: Total Voting: J New Business Status: Adopted Failed Amended Withdrawn Referred to Committee Move that World Service display the name Overeaters Anonymous on all displays, banners, badges and other signage at its events. San Diego County IG, Region 2 Holly C. To ensure that possible newcomers know that an Overeaters Anonymous event is happening at the location. Update the Business Conference Policy Manual. Purchase banner with Overeaters Anonymous on it and instruct people who create displays, banners, badges and other signage to use the Overeaters Anonymous name. Unknown, but small for any permanent banners and displays. There are no additional printing costs for placing the name Overeaters Anonymous on badges, flyers, etc. since these are printed for each event. At the 2014 World Service Business Conference, our delegate noticed that at the Conference hotel, our posters and notices said OA and not Overeaters Anonymous. Although our members observe personal anonymity in public media of communication, the name Overeaters Anonymous need not be hidden from public view. Showing our name is consistent with Tradition Five, Each group has but one primary purpose to carry its message to the compulsive eater who still suffers. At events where the Overeaters Anonymous name is not used, we might be missing a valuable opportunity to carry the message. This is especially important because of Tradition Eleven, Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, films, television, and other public media of communication. The very name Overeaters Anonymous may be exactly what a possible newcomer needs to see, and the first step on a road to recovery.

17 WSBC 2015 New Business Page 2 Proposal Item: J San Diego County Intergroup and Region Two implemented this several years ago. No history in the past five years. The cost to include the Overeaters Anonymous name on two World Service banners and twelve permanent signs is approximately $1,100.

18 K New Business Move that meetings and service bodies are encouraged to honor the spiritual diversity of our membership by allowing the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions to be read in gender-neutral and/or religion-neutral language. This motion has been ruled out of order by the chair. See WSBC s Review Comments. Oregon OA IG, Region 1 Beverly M. We all recover differently in OA and OA is the place where we find acceptance. Many of us in OA have trouble reading the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions as written because the wording does not ring true for us. We want to recover more than anything and have done the work to find a Higher Power who can walk with us. All we are asking is for the freedom to speak our highest truth in our meetings by changing the gender and/or religious wording when we read the Steps and Traditions to neutral language. Update the Business Conference Policy Manual. None. Our Unity with Diversity Policy 1992a, Amended 2013 states, THE FELLOWSHIP encourages and promotes acceptance and inclusivity, regardless of religion or any other trait. Our diversity policy also directs us to respect different concepts of recovery, and to allow any member to share his or her experience, strength and hope in meetings regardless of the individual approach or specific concepts that a member may follow. Allowing members to read the Steps in a gender-neutral or religion-neutral way, such as saying God as we understand God for Step Three, honors our commitment to inclusion and diversity. An individual whose spiritual concept is contradicted by the word Him, and who would like to read in a neutral fashion, should be able to provide service without concern about being called out for reading incorrectly. Note that this motion allows for the use of neutral language. It is not intended to allow promotion of specific religious concepts. Nor does this motion allow for written materials in the format or literature be changed.

19 WSBC 2015 New Business Page 2 Proposal Item: K 2014 Article I, Steps 3, 7 and 11 (paraphrased) Change Him to God (Failed) Ruled out of order by the chair. It is not in order for a policy motion to be in conflict with a bylaw. This motion is in conflict with the spirit and the intent of Article XIV Bylaw Amendments, Section 1e.

20 L New Business Move to amend the Suggested Meeting Format, Item 8 by striking and inserting as follows: Current Wording Suggested Meeting Format 8. SPONSORS: Sponsorship is one of our keys to success. Sponsors are OA members committed to abstinence and to living the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions to the best of their ability. Sponsors share their program up to the level of their experience and strengthen their recovery through this service to others. To find a sponsor, look for someone who has what you want and ask how he or she is achieving it. Will all abstinent sponsors please identify themselves? Proposed Wording Suggested Meeting Format 8. SPONSORS: Sponsorship is one of our keys to success. Sponsors are OA members committed to abstinence and to living the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions to the best of their ability. Sponsors share their program up to the level of their experience and strengthen their recovery through this service to others. To find a sponsor, look for someone who has what you want and ask how he or she is achieving it find someone whose recovery is meaningful to you, and ask if that person is available to sponsor you. Will all abstinent sponsors please identify themselves? This motion has been ruled out of order by the chair. See WSBC s Review Comments. Greater Kansas City Area IG, R4 Tim H. To clarify the language regarding how to find a sponsor in the Suggested Meeting Format posted on the OA website. The WSO documents committee would make the official change in the Suggested Meeting Format document and the webmaster would repost it online. Minimal, if any cost at all. Currently the Suggested Meeting Format uses the following language: To find a sponsor, find someone who has what you want, and ask how he or she is achieving it.

21 WSBC 2014 New Business Page 2 Proposal Item: L We have recognized that this is not really an effective way for someone to find a sponsor because: 1) It never says that you should actually ask the person to be your sponsor. 2) New people may not have a healthy idea of someone who has what they want. Our discussion of this topic was supported by newcomers echoing the confusion of this language. Most groups in our intergroup have changed their introductions to wording similar to what was proposed in our motion above. No history in the past five years. Ruled out of order by the chair. The Suggested Meeting Format is board-approved literature and is therefore not amendable at WSBC. The proposed amendment to the Suggested Meeting Format will be submitted to the Board-Approved Literature Committee for their review.