WSBC 2026 Region 9 Delegate Report
The Assembly will be start at 8am on Wednesday 30th of September, in order to feel refreshed we enourage members to arrive Tuesday 29th of September in the late afternoon or early evening. The assembly will finish around 4pm on Friday 2nd October 2026. Convention will then start on Friday 2nd October 2026 in the early evening and finish no later than 2pm on Sunday 4th October 2026.
Names, acronyms, and short forms have been removed or edited for consistency with OA Policy
I was elected to serve as the Region 9 Representative to the World Service Business Conference during the Region 9 Assembly in Paris in 2025. From the very beginning, I have felt a deep sense of responsibility for performing my duties well.
As a representative, I have participated in a ‘Meet the Maker’ session, where I could ask about the rationale behind the submitted motions and listen to the arguments for their implementation. I have also familiarized myself with all the Conference materials available on oa.org.
In addition, I am supporting the Polish delegate in their tasks. I helped discuss the motions during the Polish National Service Board meeting with group representatives, and I explained the purpose of the Agenda Questionnaire.
I am very grateful to everyone who placed their trust in me and voted for me to represent Region 9. Preparing for the trip to Albuquerque is quite demanding, and at times there is a lot to keep track of. I am grateful to all the Region 9 delegates for our mutual support and, to paraphrase the OA Promise — I will never be alone again.
Arriving in Albuquerque as a delegate was, I must admit, a rather overwhelming experience. While the heartwarming messages and the opportunity to gather with fellow members who share a profound devotion to OA were truly wonderful, the initial transition proved challenging. I found that the mounting pressure triggered my ego and heightened my anxiety, leaving me feeling somewhat unsettled.
A pivotal turning point occurred during a dinner meeting, which provided a safe space for rigorous honesty. By openly acknowledging my feelings and vulnerability, I managed to shed the self-imposed pressure and tension that had been weighing me down. This emotional release was incredibly cathartic, ultimately granting me the internal freedom to commit myself fully to my responsibilities.
I found the subsequent workshops to be highly informative and engaging. By Wednesday, I was well-prepared to participate in the committee meetings, where we successfully established our objectives and delegated tasks. However, it was the commencement of the formal business meetings on Thursday that truly impressed me. The professional setup, combined with the palpable passion and seriousness of the participants—balanced with moments of levity—was remarkable. Engaging in constructive discussions that led to peaceful outcomes allowed me to remain authentic and vote with a sincere, loving heart.
This experience has underscored the vital importance of service at the world level. Nevertheless, it also brought a personal realization: my primary calling lies in direct service—working with newcomers, supporting my sponsees, and contributing to local meetings. In conclusion, I am convinced that we each have a unique role to play within this program, and by working together, we can provide immense value to the fellowship.
I joined the Conference-Approved Literature Committee and serve on a subcommittee where we are creating a new piece, ‘For Today – Secular’.
Below is a summary of the work done during the conference.
- Motions & Bylaw Proposals
- General Motions
- Motion A-b (Mental Health): Publication “Healing the Mind, Body and Spirit” approved as CAL (Conference Approved Literature). [PASSED]
- Motion A-b (Unity with Diversity): “Unity with Diversity Checklist”. [PASSED] (> 2/3 majority)
- Motion B: Addition of “Plain Language Big Book” to Conference Approved Literature (CAL). [PASSED]
- Motion D: Withdrawn by the maker following debate in the Reference Subcommittee. [WITHDRAWN]
- Motion E: Removal of the word “over” from the Preamble (re: compulsive overeating). [PASSED]
- Motion G (New Business / GDPR): Amendment to align with GDPR and inclusion of an opt-in for delegates distributing contact information. [PASSED]
- Motion H: Provision allowing the use of “any of the following prayers…”. [PASSED]
- Motion I (Serenity Statement): Addition of the “Serenity Statement” (with proviso defining it) to meeting closing options. [PASSED] (Vote on proviso amendment: 97 YES / 49 NO)
- Motion J: Addition of “Ethnically Jewish” as a valid specific focus category. [DEFEATED] (Closed ballot: 51 YES / 96 NO)
- Motion K: Referred to the Convention Planning Committee for full scoping. [REFERRED TO COMMITTEE]
- Motion M: Updating AA-approved literature reference dates from 2010 to 2026. [DEFEATED]
- Bylaw Amendment Proposals
- Proposal 1: Replacement of “Boards” with “Bodies”. [PASSED]
- Proposal 2 (Group autonomy regarding God & pronouns): Reference Subcommittee reported no consensus; withdrawn by maker. [WITHDRAWN]
- Proposal 3 (Removal of prefix “over-” in Art. II, Tradition 5): Failed to reach a 2/3 majority. [DEFEATED] (88 For / 64 Against)
- Proposals 4 & 5: Withdrawn by the makers. [WITHDRAWN]
- Proposal 6 (Changes to Bylaws Committee): Disband/reference structural changes. [PASSED UNANIMOUSLY]
- Proposal 7 (Striking “such as the region vice chair”): Failed to reach a 2/3 majority. [DEFEATED]
- Emergency New Business Motion
- Presented by Region 9 Chair (Loudovika) and accepted as an Emergency Motion.
- Following debate and adoption of the first amendment (88 Pro / 59 Con), the motion was voted on by ballot. [PASSED] (137 Pro / 10 Con).
- General Motions
- Trustee Elections
- With 152 voting members present, 77 votes were required to pass. All candidates met the threshold and were elected:
- Gary D: 151 / 152
- Karen C: 149 / 152
- Alice W: 142 / 152
- Beverley M: 142 / 152
- Michelle D: 137 / 152
- Alexandra D: 82 / 152
- With 152 voting members present, 77 votes were required to pass. All candidates met the threshold and were elected:
- Key Highlights from Officer & Committee Reports
- Finances & Reserves: Investments and prudent reserves are managed securely.
- Literature Definitions (CAL vs. BAL):
- CAL (Conference Approved Literature) – Carries the official stamp for the fellowship at large.
- BAL (Board Approved Literature) – Used for specific purposes (e.g., 12-Step within institutions, Lifeline samples, meeting formats, flyers/posters via Material Approved Committee (MAC)).
- Website Updates (Phase 3): Updates to the main website and “Find a Meeting” tool are completed. Phase 3 will focus on updating the service body database and integrating with Constant Contact for improved communication.
- AI Translation: Addressed a query regarding the use of AI translation at Region 9 assemblies and conventions.
- 7th Tradition Collection Total contributions collected
- USD: $7,428.86 (includes $123 in credit card donations)
- EUR: €15.00
- CAD: $50.00
With love in service
Michal K.
