The Real Purpose of OA Groups

May 2010

Tradition Five: Each group has but one primary purpose — to carry its message to the compulsive overeater who still suffers.

Our individual home group’s primary purpose is to carry its message of recovery to the newcomer, still suffering compulsive overeater and the long time member. So this does beg the question: what kind of recovery does our individual group carry to those who attend our group? Are we willing to share what we have read from program literature or do we share things that are the purview of the medical, psychological and religious fields? Do we say we welcome the newcomer and then ignore the newcomer after the meeting so we can chat with our good program buddies? Do we bemoan the fact that there are no sponsors yet we aren’t willing to be a sponsor? Does our group have regular steering committee meetings where discussions are held to assure the meeting is the best it can be?

With all of these questions I realize that I have not followed the suggested guidelines myself during my tenure in Overeaters Anonymous. I had to learn from people with just a bit more time than me the real purpose of the meeting: to bring hope to the still suffering compulsive overeater. Getting out of myself and being of service to another human being was not my idea of a good time but it has bolstered my program to a level I did not think was possible.

All of the service work done at the intergroup level is but a part of the whole we do to recover. When the intergroup is healthy on the emotional, spiritual, and physical levels members can’t help but want to be a part of the action! It has been my observation that over the past one and one-half years numerous strides have been made to assure a firm foundation of recovery for the new Intergroup Representatives who come and represent their home group…and it is because you all are bringing your recovery to the intergroup meeting which you have gained from your home groups. Thanks for sharing that with us as we continue to serve the OA community in Denver and the surrounding area.

In loving service,

Mike K.
Central Colorado Intergroup Chair