Intergroup Support

Intergroup Support

This page is intended to help Intergroups in Region IV share ideas of things that are working in their areas. Included are workshop ideas, community outreach, and public information practices to help get the message of recovery out to the still-suffering compulsive overeater.  

Serenity Prayer 7:52 meeting opened
 
Elinor Sunflower Intergroup: 
  1. Excited about the convention.
  2. Started an OA group in the women’s prison which required training, a background check and a badge for OA members who went to the prison to get the meeting started. The women in the prison held an appreciation dinner and gave certificates for the OA members who helped them get started.
  3. A meeting was started at a rescue mission as well, a meeting focused on recovery form relapse and re-entry into the program.
Greater Omaha Intergroup
 
1.      Barb is chair of Intergroup PI committee this year and looking forward to learning more about PI
2.      Greater Omaha intergroup is still going strong. 
3.      Communication with hospitals has led to connections with hospital support groups, i.e. bariatric surgery support groups. 
 
Northern Serenity Duluth 
  1.  Had contact with local hospitals to present PI materials to local interns.
  2.  Also proposed a presentation about OA to bariatric patients
  3.  Bus Advertisement: No charge to put the poster on the bus, they only needed pay for creating and printing the posters. The posters are rotated in along with other advertisements.
  4. Following up on the PSA that WSO offers to put up on the radio. 
  5. Is Food a Problem for You Cards- Each OA group takes responsibility to make sure they are posted in Laundromats and other businesses. 
  6. Social workers and other county service people attending a new meeting on Tuesdays.

 

St Louis Bi State Area- 
 
1.      Looking forward to Region IV Convention
2.      Because the intergroup has been without a PI chair for 3 years. the intergroup is acting as the PI chair collectively. In particular using Is food a Problem for You because it give such a great explanation of the disease and OA.
3.      Have also been sending out newsletters to a list of Health Care Professionals in the area.  
4.      Experiencing an influx of newcomer and new groups are sticking with the program
5.      Health Fairs in the area are interested in OA. OA will be participating in one health fair: A Day for OA. This has prompted further research in to more health fair newsletters and connections.
6.      Noticing an increase in male newcomers. 
 
Quad Cities, Iowa 
 
1.      Concern over a change in the bylaws: abstinence is no longer a requirement for intergroup board members
2.       2 groups in Illinois May 1 in Sterling IL having an event. 
3.      Let the Fall retreat go and spring was out with Ottumwa . 
4.      Did get a few more members using tear off posters for PI  
5.      150 letters sent out to Doctors and Bariatric Centers in the Quad Cities.
6.      Telephone is back up and running , a prepaid trac phone, it’s cheaper than their previous phone and people can call in for messages from any phone.   The intergroup number is now posted in the phone book. Volunteers rotate the duty of taking the calls that come in.
7.       A PI letter will be sent out to the school nurses in the area.
8.      PI funds- North East Iowa used their money for a bill board and it increased membership
 
Unity Intergroup
 
1.      Diabetes Expo was very successful. Many of the people manning the booth were diabetic themselves and could attest to how abstinence improved their health and outlook. Pamphlet boxes came back empty.   we had people from the group but boxes came back empty
2.      Women’s Expo wasn’t as successful for PI. 
3.      Big Book Study, had Laurie C come in and had over 70 people attending even though had a short time to put it together.
4.      Insurance has become an issue for venues. More hotels, churches etc are asking for proof of insurance.
5.      Summer of 2010 there will be a Catholic Conference in St Paul and all Twelve Step groups are invited to bring in speakers to talk about recovery. The group had contacted WSO who gave the info to Unity. We plan on attending with speakers.
6.      Contributions are down so thinking of creative ways to make a dollar stretch. 
7.      Lots of events this year NEDA, Gay Pride, Women’s Expo and fellowship days sponsored by individual groups.
8.      Several new groups request start up funds and literature this year.
9.      Teleconferencing is in place, intergroup reps from remote locations in Minnesota and other states can easily attend.
10. Started an Ad Hoc 12 Step Within Committee. 
11. Haven’t found a printer for our newsletter so group members need to download from intergroup website and print it themselves.
12. Searching out ways to get attendance from affiliated groups who are not sending reps.
13. Working on getting an updated Display and a banner for outside events.
 
Greater Kansas City Intergroup
 
1.      Not able to secure a WSBC rep this year
2.      Meetings are holding strong in numbers
3.      Contributions seem to be up more than they were.
4.      Putting in a bid for Region Assembly Spring 2011
5.      Cyndy will be doing a service workshop
6.      Every Monday postcards are sent out inviting group members to intergroup.
 
Promises of Eastern Iowa
 
1.      Working on promoting WSO Convention
2.      Also got a trac phone to cut down on costs
3.      Working on putting together an even to coincide with Fall Assembly
4.      Had an 18 week step study that was well attended.
 
St. Louis Intergroup
 
1.      The intergroup has begun to break down projects into smaller tasks to find it easier achieve
2.      Health Fairs: an intergroup rep knew abut a community based health fair and OA was able to get a booth for the fair at a non-profit rate.
3.      The same organization issues a newsletter, Healthy Planet, and OA was given add space for free.
4.       New banner similar to the cookie poster was used at a health fair and attracted  
 
Discussion- Ideas and Resources
 
·         Teleconferencing: a great way for intergroups to include virtual meetings.
·         Theresa- interesting questions have arrived for WSO to consider as virtual meetings gain ground and provide opportunity for those people who do not have face to face meetings in their area. A great way to support us between face to face meetings.
·         WSO does not provide a step study format but it could be proposed to the literature committee. It would be guidelines for using conference approved literature.
·         Contact colleges: Social work students may visit 12 step groups, we could ask to visit/speak at health and nutrition classes or interns at Med Schools.

 

Fall 2005   Spring 2006  Fall 2006  Spring 08  Fall 08  Fall 09  Spring 10

Comments are closed.

TOP