What is Western Mass Intergroup (WMI)?
Tradition 9 reminds us that “OA, as such, ought never to be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.” WMI is such a service board.
WMI serves and supports – and is directly responsible to – the OA members and the 38 OA meetings in Berkshire, Franklin, Hamden, and Hampshire Counties in Massachusetts, and in Litchfield County in Connecticut.
We represent the interests and concerns of our members and meetings at Region 6, which supports OA in communities in Bermuda, Central and Eastern Ontario, Connecticut, Labrador, Maine, Massachusetts, Newfoundland, New Brunswick, New Hampshire, New York, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Rhode Island and Vermont; and at the World Service Business Conference, which supports (and is directly responsible to) OA internationally.
Our Purpose:
Our primary purpose is to carry the message of recovery to compulsive overeaters (including but not limited to those who suffer from obesity, anorexia and bulimia), and to serve and represent the OA groups in our area.
These Principles and Practices guide us in our meetings, and in our work together.
Principles:
– We strive for consensus, fairness, and an informed group conscience within the spirit of the Traditions and Concepts.
– We reach decisions through substantial unanimity rather than majority rule.
– Everyone has a voice.
– Our process is as important as the outcome.
– When differences arise, we try to keep our discussions within the spirit of “I love you, and I disagree with you.”
– Our collective Higher Power, as expressed in our group conscience, is in charge.
– When the group conscience is reached, let there be unity; we all pull together.
– Should our discussion become difficult or heated, anyone can call for us to pause for 15 seconds, then we can say the Serenity Prayer together.
Practices:
We agree on the following practices for our meetings:
– We begin and end promptly.
– We use our agenda to guide our discussion.
– Please raise your hand to be recognized, and wait to be called upon in “raised hand” order.
– If you have been an active participant in the discussion, consider waiting to raise your hand in order to give those who have not spoken the opportunity to speak. (Step Up, Step Back)
– Consensus is favored over voting; we loosely follow Robert’s Rules.
What Do Intergroups Do?
– Create and maintain a website, which is how most people find meetings today.
-Maintain an up-to-date list of meetings in our area
– Organize workshops, marathons, and other special events aimed at educating, informing, and helping members strengthen their personal recovery.
– Maintain contact with health care professionals in fields related to OA.
– Publish regular newsletters to keep groups informed about each other and about upcoming OA events.
– Arrange a system for groups to obtain abstaining OA speakers.
– Respond to telephone and mail inquiries.
– Handle public information requests from local news media, arrange radio or TV public service announcements or programs about OA, and furnish OA speakers for outside organizations.
– Help new members find sponsors.
– Send representatives to regional assemblies and delegates to the World Service Business Conference, OA’s annual business meeting.
– Act as guardians of the Twelve Steps, the Twelve Traditions, and the Twelve Concepts of OA Service as specified in the Bylaws of Overeaters Anonymous, Inc.
WMI meets every month!
We’re currently meeting on Zoom, from 6:00-7:15 pm on the second Sunday of every month (NOTE THE NEW TIME). All OA members are welcome to attend.
Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84852105205?pwd=K0VOcGhNYlVTeEdHMzhrYkd4cEhQZz09
Or join by phone: 646-876-9923 and enter meeting ID 848 5210 5205 and passcode 123456
Email chair@oawmass.org for the agenda.
We have no plans at present to resume in-person Intergroup meetings.
Please feel free to join us! We start on time and we end on time – and we have an agenda and stick to it!
