Register to Speak in R3

The Region III Twelfth Step Within Committee is in the process of updating the Region III Speakers’ List. All qualified OA members in Region III who would like to speak at workshops and other program events are encouraged to apply for inclusion in this list. The qualifications statement reads: “I certify that I have at least one year of current abstinence, that I have a sponsor, that I sponsor at least one other member of Overeaters Anonymous, and that I regularly attend OA meetings.” If you select the “I am interested in applying for inclusion in the World Service Twelfth-Step-Within Speakers’ List” option your application will be forwarded to the World Service Twelfth Step Within Committee as well. The completed form must be signed by your sponsor or an officer of your Intergroup prior to submission.

Completed applications may be submitted in .pdf format to rtswchair@region3.org.

• Region III Speakers’ List Application (PDF)

Lifeline Weekly from OA

Lifeline Weekly is a weekly publication of the OA World Service Organization. You can receive your own subscription to LW as a bonus when you subscribe to e-Lifeline, the online version of Lifeline magazine at http://www.oa.org/lifeline-magazine/subscribe-to-e-lifeline/.

Lifeline Weekly provides an inspirational “best of” selection of articles from previous editions of OA’s Lifeline magazine and its digital counterpart, e-Lifeline. Here are a few recent editions courtesy of WSO’s Intergroup Loop:

• Lifeline Weekly – January 30, 2012
• Lifeline Weekly – January 23, 2012
• Lifeline Weekly – January 16, 2012
• Lifeline Weekly – January 9, 2012
• Lifeline Weekly – January 2, 2012

When we’re sinking, OA members are there to buoy us up. Many of us have found that OA’s influence in our life is nothing less than miraculous. Lifeline Weekly, e-Lifeline, and the print Lifeline magazine can shine a little light into your day, whether or not you have time for a meeting!

We were glad we did as speaker Wendy shared a profound message of her experience with compulsive eating and how her desire to no longer be lonely lead her to Overeaters Anonymous. In OA she has found strength and hope as never before. She’s no longer alone. She has a fellowship and, most importantly, her spiritual relationship with a Higher Power has evolved into true relationship.

The foundation of Wendy’s story came from excerpts she shared of her writings in the OA 12 Step Workbook. She has a unique way of journaling in that she meditates on the topic and then merely records the response and inspiration she receives from her HP. She closed with a message of the love and care that she believes God holds for each one of us.

Listen as Wendy shares…¹

Stay tuned to the Event’s section of this site for the next OA Speakers Meeting.

Share Your Experience, Strength & Hope

If you were at the meeting or listened to the message here please consider sharing your OA experience, strength and hope in recovery below…

¹ The opinions expressed by our speakers are given as individual OA members and do not represent OA as a whole.

[Scroll down for the event recordings...]

It was a day for the name “Rose” as Rose G offered her talents to MC the event. Our speaker, Rosie H, graciously flew up from Mesa, Arizona to share her comeback story of 25+ years in recovery. She mentioned that one of the things she did “right” was to keep coming back. Her perseverance and ever present enthusiasm, encouraged many of us to reflect on our own journey and what we might do to strengthen our own program.

Her selfless candor and honesty about not wanting, at different times, to be part of OA; the price of the forever growing weight gain as a result of her leaving each time, and the self hatred that continued to undermine her efforts to stay abstinent, were touched on. Everyone seemed to relate to the obstacles she described.

We were in for several treats this year. MaryAnn, Marion and Marilyn, who made up the “Steppettes,” shared a couple of familiar songs, whose altered words brought enjoyment to those in attendance. Marilyn again shared her song “Little Bit By Very, Very Little Bit,” which is becoming a “regular” at our brunches. Mark M. helped end the event with his amazing musical version of Rozanne’s Prayer.

Thanks go out to the Sheraton Denver West for providing a wonderful venue for our celebration, and all those who stepped up to do the work to make this yearly event happen.

Finally, thanks to Jim C. for recording and editing the event so that those who were there can enjoy it again and those who weren’t have an opportunity to share the experience, strength and hope offered at this wonderful OA kickoff to 2012.

Event Recordings

The Fabulous Steppettes and Recognition of Members’ Years in OA

Amy K. Introduction and Guest Speaker Rosie Shares on Recovery, Relapse and Back Again

OA Members’ Share and Mark M. performs his musical interpretation of Rozanne’s Prayer.

Here is how it works:

The ABC Basket (with slips of paper and a pen) is passed around twice. Those wishing to participate will write their name, phone# and the best time to receive a call on a slip of paper, fold it and put it in the basket on the 1st time around. The 2nd time around, each participant draws out a name.

This is the “buddy” you will call that week. Since someone else has drawn your name and will call you, each person will have two buddy connections for the week.

This is a great way to use several of our OA TOOLS:

• By reaching out to each other by TELEPHONE and being each other’s buddies for the week (for as often and in whatever way that develops between the two of you),
• you are having mini-MEETINGS and being of SERVICE to each other.
• By perhaps supporting each other’s abstinence through your sharing and commitment to each other, (“I’ll abstain if you’ll abstain.”), its like temporary SPONSORSHIP.

It is a wonderful way to connect with someone you might not otherwise have gotten to know as well.

I hope your groups will be willing to try it. Remember, “Together we get better”.

Happy ABCing.

Love and Blessings,

Ann D.

What I entered into was a fifteen-year relapse that included gastric bypass surgery in 2006. In those fifteen years I never stopped spiritually seeking for my happiness and peace of mind. I simply believed that OA was just another failed attempt at recovery. My weight ballooned back up to 280 pounds. I was devastated, demoralized and filled with anxiety because I had tried everything and was failing once again.

I walked back through the doors of OA in 2010 and was welcomed with open arms. I started working the Steps with a sponsor but remained in relapse. Then in May 2011 I became abstinent from sugar during a retreat. This was a huge milestone for me and my body began to return to a healthier weight. I had more peace of mind and happiness now. But I was still restless and discontent a lot of the time. I was struggling to maintain my abstinence.

On December 17th, 2011, while in the shower, I again received a very clear insight from my HP. All these years of seeking for a spiritual community and family were being answered in OA. My eyes were opened! The Twelve Steps are a spiritual program of change. I have fellowship with people who understand me. The ME that I hesitate to show the outside world has the freedom to be myself in OA. God and Higher Power are openly discussed in meetings, retreats and in conversations between members. There is no apology among us for speaking of God and seeking spiritual truths. In fact, this is the crux of the Steps for us. The beauty of the OA program is that we are encouraged to connect with whatever a Higher Power is for each of us. Our physical, emotional and spiritual recovery flows from this connection. I do not have words to express my deepening gratitude. So I will simply say THANK YOU to each member of OA for being here!

Terri S.

I put my hand in yours was our theme for what has become an annual event.

Thanks to the Monday night 7 p.m. OA meeting for once again hosting the event at Unity Church in Southeast Denver. Virginia W. returned as our effervescent MC. She invited three speakers, Margie, Pat and Mandy to share their stories from the theme’s standpoint.

As frequently happens, each speaker shared their unique experiences, offering new strength and hope to the more than 35 members who attended. We closed the meeting listening to the instrumental version of the prayer, lighting each other’s candles…watching the light get brighter and stronger as does the strength we find in the unity of the fellowship.

As the candles illuminated the room, we joined together in the singing of the prayer. Thanks to all who shared their efforts in bringing about this wonderful night!

Event Recordings

TSW Introduction (4:40)

Virginia W. welcomed the audience and led us in the Serenity Prayer followed by a Reading from Voices of Recovery, a recitation of the 12 Steps and the Tradition of the Month and an introduction of the theme of the event: I put my hand in yours…

I Put My Hand In Yours – Musical Interpretation (3:51)

Mark M. composed a beautiful musical interpretation of Rozanne’s Prayer, I Put My Hand In Yours. He, and fellow OA, Ace, gave a memorable performance to those of us attending.

Speaker Margie’s Presentation (19:16)

Margie gave a wonderful presentation followed by audience sharing culminating with Amy T. receiving her 30 year medallion from Amy K.

Speaker Mandy’s Presentation (27:56)

Mandy gave a powerful presentation again followed by great sharing from audience members.

Speaker Pat’s Presentation (19:27)

Pat closed the evening with a very meaningful share followed by participant sharing, a final reading and a powerful candlelight ceremony where all present lit their candles from a single flame to the beautiful melody of I put my hand in yours.

Complete TSW Candlelight Recording (1:15:11)

This is the complete event consisting of all the individual sections above in one file.

Share Your Experience

If you attended the Candlelight meeting, listened to the recordings or would otherwise like to share your story of experience, strength and hope, please use the “Leave a Reply” box below for your comments.

It was a fine way to spend a Saturday afternoon and we were fortunate enough to record the proceedings to share with anyone concerned about obtaining, maintaining and strengthening their own abstinence from compulsive eating and other compulsive and destructive food behaviors.

Please share your own comments at the end of this post.

Introduction, Mandy’s Share on Abstinence and the Audience’s Share

Christina Shares on Abstinence, the Audience Share and Overview of Abstinence Document

After Christina’s Share, Amy K. passed out a powerful essay on Abstinence. Click the link to download in PDF format.

A Reading on Abstinence from Jean, Ruth Shares on Abstinence, Abstinence Handout and Exercise and the Audience Shares

• Download the 10th Step Inventory Form (.xls format)
• Download the 10th Step Inventory Form (.pdf format)

Leave Your Comment/Share On Abstinence from Compulsive Eating Behaviors

Please feel free to leave a share or comment if you attended the event or listened to the recordings. Regardless of your attendance/listening please feel free to leave your questions or comments on abstinence from compulsive overeating and other compulsive food behaviors.

Hi Anonymous,

I met you at the OA Conference in Denver and got your card. I just wanted to know what the convention meant to you and what miracles or struggles you have been experiencing since the conference.

The conference was so amazing. Often when I get home I am on such a high because the week-end was so inspiring. Then when I get home and the real world sets I think that I have lost all of the good things that I got from the conference. However as I think back I am finding some great things continue to happen…

• It is easer to be abstinent with the help of my HP and I never thought I would say that
• I am on Step 6
• I get new lessons each day. One example is that a person said that I needed to plan my food ahead of time. I thought, “No I don’t, I plan what I am going to eat so that I have the ingredients in my home. So, true to form, I realized that at the end of the day I would have too many calories. So today I planed my calories and am on tract. Yea.
• My sponsor is helping me
• I see new insights for my life each day

(…) Take care and have a great day tomorrow

Anonymous

OA Note: The convention session recordings are now available for purchase from this site. If you’d like to hear the message that inspired our anonymous correspondents and 150 other OA members, you can click on our Convention Preview Page for program excerpts and buy the recordings online at our Convention CD Order page.