Region 9
in the
World Service Business Conference 2024
The World Service Business Conference (WSBC) is Overeaters Anonymous’s annual business meeting and serves as the Fellowship’s collective conscience. It is held annually and attended by delegates representing OA service bodies from around the world. During the WSBC, we elect our trustees, amend our bylaws, adopt new business policies, and grant the Conference Seal of Approval for new OA literature.
You can see the 2024 WSBC Wrap-Up Report at the following link: https://oa.org/world-service-business-conference/
This year’s theme was “We ALL Belong: Welcome to OA!”
Region 9 had a strong representation of 18 delegates from 12 different countries: Denmark, England, Germany, Greece, Iran, Israel, Italy, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, and Wales. This is the biggest representation that Region 9 has ever had, and it is amazing and very promising.
It was the third year that we created a Region 9 Delegates Committee in order to offer support and share our experience, strength and hope for all aspects of the Conference, whether this was the business part, or matters of recovery and abstinence. We have seen that this is something that helps all the delegates and creates a strong bond between the members. We have seen that this is helpful and very precious.
You can read below the experience, strength and hope of some of our Region 9 delegates.
I’ve been extremely inspired by attending the World Service Business Conference (WSBC) for the first time this year. I was inspired by the way in which everything was done during the business meetings. I learned so much about procedures, motions and bylaw amendments, which helps me also in my own involvement in our National Service Board (NSB). I was inspired by those at WSBC who make so much more service than me! The playground for service has drastically increased, which also means more recovery for me. – Marianne, Denmark
It is very inspiring to be part of the WSBC experience that brings together OA members worldwide to join together in a common purpose to work towards OA unity and fellowship. The moment when we say the serenity prayer together in English and listen to the prayer in different languages leaves us all crying and joyous and grateful to be there. – Adele – Israel
Region 9 delegates at WSBC really bonded together at all times taking the opportunity to get to know each other, instead of Zoom meetings you could really get to know the person. Regular questions were put to the conference from Region 9, we were represented with a strong showing. It was great fun to be at conference having a chance to enjoy recovery that builds up OA and self improves our own quality of life. WSBC was amazing sending out recovery at its center; getting all motions and bylaws submitted to conference voted on in time, delicious food on tap and a jump up disco banquet at the end to close proceedings. – Robin S. – UK
Region 9 made a huge difference during the recent WSBC 2024. We didn’t expect that an almost self-evident proposal would raise so many hidden assumptions and so much passion. There are deep cultural differences between North American members and the rest of the world, and a shift is happening within OA, changing the fellowship for the better. It was a miracle of the program that unity and harmony prevailed and we experienced it when we said together Rosanne’s prayer in all delegates’ languages. – Amodini K – Greece
Firstly, I am immensely grateful to have been elected for the second time as a delegate representing my Iranian fellows at the conference. Their trust, alongside the acceptance from R9 and WSBC, means the world to me. I often harbor a fear that living in the US sets me apart from my fellow friends in R9, but upon arrival, that fear dissipated as I felt embraced by unconditional love. I believe we all had a profound impact on the English speakers at the conference, as many of them expressed a desire to facilitate and improve everything for non-English speakers. – Nima A. – Iran (Iranian, living in the USA)
For me it’s always like a rollercoaster, it challenges me all the time. Every day I learned a lot about service, people, OA, relationships, myself… It’s always deeply emotional, on one hand because in OA I have discovered that I’m an emotional person and on the other because I put my heart in it, most of us do. The sense of trust and security that I feel there, although I know there are people with all kinds of views, thoughts and ways of understanding OA, some of them opposite to me, give me the courage for being myself and let people see me, know me.
I feel blessed to do this service.
Thank you. – Eva – Spain
My experience this year was a little different from the last year – it was my second participation – and I left behind any inconveniences and difficulties, due to the long-hour journey from Greece to Albuquerque, and especially on my return after the Conference, back home.
Some of my thoughts in brief, given the different cultures of the countries of Region 9 and its wide geographical area:
I saw and felt:
Unity, partnership, strength to carry on, inclusion, opportunities to participate, empowerment among us members, strengthening the interest of participation, integration, awareness about Region 9 issues, concerns, solidarity, elimination of prejudices and personal beliefs, because the principles of the Concepts of Service and Traditions, helped me to broaden my horizon in general!
I listened more willingly, without empathy and clinging, I saw that I have more options and how Unity is very important for continuation and well-being!
Thank you very much to my HP and to you all, for the opportunity you gave me and for all the support I received!
All beauty reflects on all my levels!
Thankful always – Antonia – Greece
I loved to get to know everyone from Region 9 and learn about OA structure as a whole as well as Roberts Rules and how business is conducted. It was great to meet people from other regions and learn how OA helps them with recovery. – Carmen – Germany
It was my first time at WSBC. I received an incredible dose of strength and hope and saw how big OA is in the world. I have made many valuable contacts and feel that I have become stronger physically, spiritually and emotionally. I feel incredibly grateful for every member of the OA community. – Michal – Poland
I participated in WSBC 2024 as Isfahan intergroup ‘s delegate.
As always, it was a wonderful experience for me to do service beyond group level. I learned how we all together can do something that we cannot do alone.
It was a good fortune for me to meet OA friends who help our worldwide fellowship to grow.
Each time I come to conference; more I believe that our spiritual principles can survive our lives.
All my appreciation to all our trusted servants who tried to run the WSBC 2024.
Hope best. – Ehsan – Iran
This year’s conference gave many pleasant emotions and new useful acquaintances in the OA fellowship. It was an honor for me to represent the interests of Ukraine at the international level of service in the OA WSBC.
Through active participation, I was able to convey to other delegates the importance of allowing groups to decide for themselves whether they wanted to merge their groups into one or continue to have separate groups, which could affect the number of representatives at next year’s WSBC.
While serving in Region 9, it was a pleasure to meet face to face every delegate from our countries and learn how meetings were going in other countries. Issues of conveying information from Region 9 on the web platforms of the global OA were discussed. Thanks to the unity of Region 9, we together managed to bring peace and love to our OA fellowship. – Svetlana – Ukraine
This year’s Conference was much more challenging for me than usual. Even though it was my fifth time, I experienced intense and sometimes demanding moments.
I served as Conference Committee Chair and faced situations I am not used to experiencing daily: public speaking is not my thing, but I overcame the fear of not making it.
I returned home physically and spiritually exhausted.
I reflected on my service, which I do with dedication and love. I thought about the questions I am asked and answered as I try to give a vision of a fellowship that grows globally in respect and love for linguistic, cultural, ethnic, gender, religious, and social diversity.
I intend to be impartial, but respect the uniqueness of the individual and support the group consciousness of a committee.
Having said that, I have received a lot of love and support from close and unexpected people.
And all this love managed to balance the negative emotions I felt.
Emilia I. – Italy
This year’s conference was bittersweet for me. I got sick with Covid and I missed two days out of five from the WSBC.
Even though it was exceptional, because the first three days, I experienced the strength of the worldwide OA community, and participated in many interesting and effective business meetings in which the spirit of unity and fellowship prevailed.
Exceptional also, because even though at first, I did not want to believe that I had to isolate myself in my room, because of Covid, this was also something that added experience to my recovery. I learned that things will continue to happen in my absence and the outcome will be exactly as it should be. I learned that there are amazing members in this fellowship that took care of me, sent me messages or came by to see how I was doing. Once again, I was reminded that I am not alone and that there is help for me if I ask for it.
Above all, it was an amazingly powerful experience when at the end of one of the workshops the members from non-English speaking countries spontaneously started to say one after another the Serenity Prayer in their own language.
Thank you OA!
Thank you, Region 9 Team!
Loudovika P. – Greece
This year marked my last attendance at the Conference for at least a year, due to the rotation of service. It was such a wonderful experience, filled with memorable moments. As a delegate from a Virtual Region service body, I was unsure of what to expect, but I was warmly welcomed into the fellowship by my friends in Region 9.
From the very beginning, I felt included in all the activities that Region 9 had to offer. Whether it was participating in discussions or simply sharing meals, I was made to feel like a valued member of Region 9. This sense of belonging was truly special and made my time at the Conference incredibly rewarding. I left the Conference feeling more connected and energised.
Looking ahead, I sincerely hope that in future years, all delegates from the Virtual Region who reside in Region 9 countries can experience the same warm welcome that I did. Being part of this vibrant and supportive community is something I wish for everyone.
Thank you, Region 9, for such a wonderful experience. Your inclusiveness has left a lasting impression on me, and I look forward to the next time we meet.
Sharlotte G – Virtual Region