MOTION 9

CURRENT WORDING
Article VI — Service Bodies
Introduction before Section 1

Service bodies are formed to support the groups in matters the group cannot accomplish on their own.

There shall be five types of service bodies to provide services beyond the group level. Service bodies provide support and representation of the groups and intergroups from which they are formed and act as guardians of the Twelve Steps, Twelve Traditions, and Twelve Concepts of OA Service.

Service Bodies

1. Intergroups
2. National Service Bodies
3. Language Service Bodies
4. Specific Focus Service Bodies
5. Regions

Section 1 – Composition

1. Intergroups are composed of two or more groups that have formed a service body for the purpose of supporting and representing these groups that are affiliated with it. Each state/province/country may have at least one service body (intergroup or national service body). In a state/province/country having only one group, that group may function as an intergroup.
2. National service bodies are composed of groups and intergroups who share a common purpose; to deal with issues that require a combination of membership and financial resources of intergroups and groups established within a single country.
3. Language service bodies are composed of groups, intergroups, and national service bodies to serve the common needs of a language group, regardless of geographic proximity.
4. Specific focus service bodies are composed of two or more groups or intergroups to serve the common needs of groups and intergroups with the same specific focus, regardless of geographic proximity.
5. There shall be ten regions: one virtual region and nine geographic regions each composed of intergroups, groups, and service bodies that fall within its region. Subject to region and bodies of Trustees approval, language service bodies that span more than one region may choose to affiliate with any single region or choose not to be affiliated with a region.
   1. Region No. 1 shall be the Pacific Northwest Region composed of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Saskatchewan, and Yukon.
   2. Region No. 2 shall be the Pacific Southwest Region composed of California, Hawaii, Reno/Tahoe area of Nevada, and Mexico.
   3. Region No. 3 shall be the Southwest Region composed of Arizona, Colorado, Central and West Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Utah.
   4. Region No. 4 was dissolved/disbanded in July 2024 and ratified at World Service Business Conference 2025.
   5. Region No. 5 shall be the Central Region composed of the East Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri (except Greater Ozarks Intergroup), North Dakota, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
   6. Region No. 6 shall be the Northeast Region composed of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and Bermuda.
   7. Region No. 7 shall be the Eastern Region composed of Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.
   8. Region No. 8 shall be the Southeast Region composed of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Greater Ozarks Intergroup, the US Virgin Islands, the Caribbean Islands, Central America, and South America.
   9. Region No. 9 shall be composed of countries and territories in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and Western Asia, including all of Russia.
   10. Region No. 10 shall be composed of countries and territories in Australia, East Asia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia, and the Western Pacific Basin.
   11. Virtual Region is nongeographic and is primarily composed of virtual groups and virtual intergroups.

Should states/provinces/territories/countries within a region, or service bodies within a state/province/territory/country wish to transfer to a region that is more convenient, the body notifies its current region, the region it would like to join, and the board of Trustees of its desire to transfer. The board of Trustees then submits a motion to World Service Business Conference to amend Subpart B, Article VI, Section 1e of the bylaws.

Section 2 – Registration

Section 3 – Affiliation and Participation

Section 4 – Functioning and World Service Business Conference Representation

1. Service bodies may conduct their business by any method they choose.
2. Minimal requirement for registered service bodies to maintain their registration at the World Service Office:
   1. Intergroups shall convene at least once a year, after prior notice has been given to all affiliated member groups, and for election of officers and selection, when necessary, of delegate(s) to the World Service Business Conference of Overeaters Anonymous.
   2. National service bodies shall convene at least once a year, after prior notice has been given to all affiliated member groups and intergroups for election of officers and selection, when necessary, of delegate(s) to the World Service Business Conference of Overeaters Anonymous.
   3. Language service bodies shall convene at least once a year, after prior notice has been given to all member groups, intergroups, and national service bodies for election of officers and selection, when necessary, of one delegate/alternate to the World Service Business Conference of Overeaters Anonymous.
   4. Specific focus service bodies shall convene at least once a year, after prior notice has been given to all member groups for election of officers and selection, when necessary, of one delegate/alternate to the World Service Business Conference of Overeaters Anonymous.
   5. Region assemblies whose members shall be called “region representatives” or “RRs” shall convene at least once a year, after prior notice has been given to all service bodies, and unaffiliated registered groups, for the election of officers and/or the selection of nominees for trustee(s) from that region and any sitting trustee from outside of that region who is currently serving as their trustee liaison.
3. To send delegates to the World Service Business Conference a service body must be formally registered, along with its delegate information, thirty days prior to Conference opening. (See Article VIII, Section 3(c) for qualifications and selection of delegates.)
4. In order to deregister, a service body submits a written request to the World Service Office, region chair, and trustee liaison; or in the case of a language service body or specific focus service body that is not affiliated with a region, the World Service Office and the trustee liaison.

PROPOSED WORDING
Article VI — Service Bodies
Introduction before Section 1

Service bodies are formed to support the groups in matters the group cannot accomplish on their own.

There shall be five four types of service bodies to provide services beyond the group level. Service bodies provide support and representation of the groups and intergroups from which they are formed and act as guardians of the Twelve Steps, Twelve Traditions, and Twelve Concepts of OA Service.

Service Bodies

1. Intergroups
2. National Service Bodies
3. Language Service Bodies
4. Specific Focus Service Bodies
5. Regions

Section 1 – Composition

1. Intergroups are composed of two or more groups that have formed a service body for the purpose of supporting and representing these groups that are affiliated with it. Each state/province/country may have at least one service body (intergroup or national service body). In a state/province/country having only one group, that group may function as an intergroup.
2. National service bodies are composed of groups and intergroups who share a common purpose; to deal with issues that require a combination of membership and financial resources of intergroups and groups established within a single country.
3. Language service bodies are composed of groups, intergroups, and national service bodies to serve the common needs of a language group, regardless of geographic proximity. Subject to Region and Board of Trustees approval, language service bodies that span more than one Region may choose to affiliate with any single Region or choose not to be affiliated with a Region.
4. Specific focus service bodies are composed of two or more groups or intergroups to serve the common needs of groups and intergroups with the same specific focus, regardless of geographic proximity.
5. There shall be ten regions: one virtual region and nine geographic regions each composed of intergroups, groups, and service bodies that fall within its region. Subject to region and bodies of Trustees approval, language service bodies that span more than one region may choose to affiliate with any single region or choose not to be affiliated with a region.
   1. Region No. 1 shall be the Pacific Northwest Region composed of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Saskatchewan, and Yukon.
   2. Region No. 2 shall be the Pacific Southwest Region composed of California, Hawaii, Reno/Tahoe area of Nevada, and Mexico.
   3. Region No. 3 shall be the Southwest Region composed of Arizona, Colorado, Central and West Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Utah.
   4. Region No. 4 was dissolved/disbanded in July 2024 and ratified at World Service Business Conference 2025.
   5. Region No. 5 shall be the Central Region composed of the East Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri (except Greater Ozarks Intergroup), North Dakota, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
   6. Region No. 6 shall be the Northeast Region composed of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and Bermuda.
   7. Region No. 7 shall be the Eastern Region composed of Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.
   8. Region No. 8 shall be the Southeast Region composed of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Greater Ozarks Intergroup, the US Virgin Islands, the Caribbean Islands, Central America, and South America.
   9. Region No. 9 shall be composed of countries and territories in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and Western Asia, including all of Russia.
   10. Region No. 10 shall be composed of countries and territories in Australia, East Asia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia, and the Western Pacific Basin.
   11. Virtual Region is nongeographic and is primarily composed of virtual groups and virtual intergroups.

Should states/provinces/territories/countries within a region, or service bodies within a state/province/territory/country wish to transfer to a region that is more convenient, the body notifies its current region, the region it would like to join, and the Board of Trustees of its desire to transfer. The Board of Trustees then submits a motion to World Service Business Conference to amend Subpart B, Article VI, Section 1e of the bylaws.

Section 2 – Registration

Section 3 – Affiliation and Participation

Section 4 – Functioning and World Service Business Conference Representation

1. Service bodies may conduct their business by any method they choose.
2. Minimal requirement for registered service bodies to maintain their registration at the World Service Office:
   1. Intergroups shall convene at least once a year, after prior notice has been given to all affiliated member groups, and for election of officers and selection, when necessary, of delegate(s) to the World Service Business Conference of Overeaters Anonymous.
   2. National service bodies shall convene at least once a year, after prior notice has been given to all affiliated member groups and intergroups for election of officers and selection, when necessary, of delegate(s) to the World Service Business Conference of Overeaters Anonymous.
   3. Language service bodies shall convene at least once a year, after prior notice has been given to all member groups, intergroups, and national service bodies for election of officers and selection, when necessary, of one delegate/alternate to the World Service Business Conference of Overeaters Anonymous.
   4. Specific focus service bodies shall convene at least once a year, after prior notice has been given to all member groups for election of officers and selection, when necessary, of one delegate/alternate to the World Service Business Conference of Overeaters Anonymous.
   5. Region assemblies whose members shall be called “region representatives” or “RRs” shall convene at least once a year, after prior notice has been given to all service bodies, and unaffiliated registered groups, for the election of officers and/or the selection of nominees for trustee(s) from that region and any sitting trustee from outside of that region who is currently serving as their trustee liaison.
3. To send delegates to the World Service Business Conference a service body must be formally registered, along with its delegate information, thirty days prior to Conference opening. (See Article VIII, Section 3(c) for qualifications and selection of delegates.)
4. In order to deregister, a service body submits a written request to the World Service Office, region chair, and trustee liaison; or in the case of a language service body or specific focus service body that is not affiliated with a region, the World Service Office and the trustee liaison.

CURRENT WORDING
Article VII — Board of Trustees
Section 2 – Duties and Responsibilities

2. Subject to the limitations of these Bylaws, and to the action of the delegates at the Conference, all powers shall be exercised by or under the authority of, and the business affairs of the Corporation shall be controlled by the Board of Trustees. Without prejudice to such general powers but subject to the same limitations, it is hereby expressly declared that the trustees shall have the following powers:
   6. To call to the attention of any group or service body any non-adherence to the Twelve Traditions or the Twelve Concepts of OA Service which the trustee believes the group or service body has made, acting only in an advisory capacity in matters affecting Overeaters Anonymous as a whole.

PROPOSED WORDING
Article VII — Board of Trustees
Section 2 – Duties and Responsibilities

2. Subject to the limitations of these Bylaws, and to the action of the delegates at the Conference, all powers shall be exercised by or under the authority of, and the business affairs of the Corporation shall be controlled by the Board of Trustees. Without prejudice to such general powers but subject to the same limitations, it is hereby expressly declared that the trustees shall have the following powers:
   6. To call to the attention of any group, or service body or Region any non-adherence to the Twelve Traditions or the Twelve Concepts of OA Service which the trustee believes the group, or service body or Region has made, acting only in an advisory capacity in matters affecting Overeaters Anonymous as a whole.

CURRENT WORDING
NEW SECTION

PROPOSED WORDING
Article VII – Regions
Section 1 – Purpose and Authority

Regions are established to provide coordination, support, and representation to affiliated service bodies and groups within defined geographic or nongeographic areas.

Each Region shall:

1. Support the work of affiliated intergroups, service bodies, and groups;
2. Facilitate communication between the World Service Office, the Board of Trustees, affiliated and participating service bodies and both affiliated and unaffiliated groups;
3. Uphold and serve as guardians of the Twelve Steps, Twelve Traditions, and Twelve Concepts of OA Service

Section 2 – Composition

There shall be ten Regions: nine geographic Regions and one nongeographic Virtual Region.

Each Region shall be composed of groups and service bodies located in the areas described in Section 3 of this Article.

Section 3 – Region Composition

1. Region No. 1 shall be the Pacific Northwest Region composed of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Saskatchewan, and Yukon.
2. Region No. 2 shall be the Pacific Southwest Region composed of California, Hawaii, Reno/Tahoe area of Nevada, and Mexico.
3. Region No. 3 shall be the Southwest Region composed of Arizona, Colorado, Central and West Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Utah.
4. Region No. 4 was dissolved/disbanded in July 2024 and ratified at World Service Business Conference 2025.
5. Region No. 5 shall be the Central Region composed of the East Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri (except Greater Ozarks Intergroup), North Dakota, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
6. Region No. 6 shall be the Northeast Region composed of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and Bermuda.
7. Region No. 7 shall be the Eastern Region composed of Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.
8. Region No. 8 shall be the Southeast Region composed of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Greater Ozarks Intergroup, the US Virgin Islands, the Caribbean Islands, Central America, and South America.
9. Region No. 9 shall be composed of countries and territories in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and Western Asia, including all of Russia.
10. Region No. 10 shall be composed of countries and territories in Australia, East Asia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia, and the Western Pacific Basin.
11. Virtual Region is nongeographic and is primarily composed of virtual groups and virtual intergroups.

Should a service body wish to transfer to a region that is more convenient, the service body notifies its current region, the region it would like to join, and the Board of Trustees of its desire to transfer. The Board of Trustees then submits a motion to World Service Business Conference to amend Subpart B, Article VI, Section 1e of the bylaws.

Section 4 – Governance

Each Region shall:

1. Adopt bylaws consistent with OA, Inc. Bylaws
2. Shall convene a Region Assembly at least once a year, after prior notice has been given to all service bodies, and unaffiliated registered groups, for the election of officers and/or the selection of nominees for trustee(s) from that region and any sitting trustee from outside of that region who is currently serving as their trustee liaison.
3. Submit a copy of its bylaws to the World Service Office whenever they are updated or revised.
4. Elect officers and conduct assemblies at least annually;
5. Provide for the selection of trustee nominees and representatives to the World Service Business Conference

Section 5 – Relationship to Other Service Bodies

Regions shall coordinate with service bodies within its boundaries to ensure effective means of carrying the message.