Region 2 Spring Assembly
San Diego, CA
Saturday, April 5, 2003

Report by Mariel D and Val L, Sacramento Valley Intergroup. Nineteen Intergroups of 38 in the region were represented; $107 was collected for 7th Tradition. Lunch was provided and a collection was taken to contribute to the lunch as well. The local Intergroup sponsored Café OA with entertainers and karaoke in the evening. A Public Information workshop was held on Sunday afternoon.

BOARD REPORTS

• R2 Chair, David H will attend WSBC in Albuquerque. There will be a R2 meeting there for Intergroup delegates to attend and they will go to dinner. Send comments to David about choice of restaurants.
• Region Chairs may meet in Belgium (Region 9) in September.
• WSO Committee is looking at restructuring OA based on survey input. May result in changing boundaries of regions and structure or how to strengthen existing structure. Committee will present at the upcoming WSBC.
• R2 Goals & Strategic Planning. Board examined R2 strengths & weaknesses. Made some changes to committee structure and are providing more guidance to committees with Board liaisons. Will invite all committee chairs to Friday Board meeting prior to next Fall Assembly. Concerns with decreasing volunteerism and relevance of committee structure; can we expect some of the committees to work between meetings like a convention committee?
• Elections coming up - Please talk up need for people to do service at Region. Bylaws contain position descriptions.

• Ian announced the Speaker Leader list is updated and forms to sign up are available. See website.
• Master Calendar - email Ian with events and check out the website at www.oar2.org
• Developing Intergroup map to help unaffiliated groups connect with regions. If any have known boundaries, send Ian information

• Palm Springs Convention - The Convention Chair reported that all the logistics have come together for June 20th convention with the theme "Oasis of Recovery". They will have a clothing boutique again. Have 40 registered so far. Please promote attendance. We want to sell out the hotel's 260 rooms. We brought back registration forms so ensure they get distributed. T-shirts need promotion - lots of L/XL. Can call hotel direct to arrange $89 group rate and for extended stay. Street Fair is Thursday so can come early for that. Committee may coordinate airport shuttle if there is enough interest -- contact Hanna. For Hanna's email address, visit www.OAR2.org web site and there is a link for the convention for more details.
• Fall Assembly, Oct. 3-5, 2003 in Sacramento at the Hilton on Arden Way. Note: SVIOA is responsible for hosting the Saturday evening event. We need to brainstorm and decide what to do.
• Spring Assembly 2004 will be in the north, possibly Silicon Valley.
• Sacramento Convention, July 23-25, 2004 at the Hilton Hotel, Arden West. Rates are $89. The Board approved the theme of "Recovery -- All Aboard!" Will unveil approved colors/logo at this year's convention.
• Fall 2004 Assembly will be in Long Beach at the Hilton, site of the 2005 convention.
• Spring 2005 Assembly will be in the south, possibly Burbank or Ontario.
• 2005 Convention will be at the Long Beach Hilton with rates of $99 ($3 parking)
• Fall 2005 Assembly will be in the north at the site of the 2006 convention (Oakland/Berkeley)
• Spring 2006 Assembly will be in the north.
• 2006 Convention will be in the bay area (Oakland/Berkeley).
• Fall 2006 Assembly will be in the south at the site of the 2007 convention.
• 2007 Convention will be in the south, possibly San Diego.

• Ann provided a report in the packet and a supplemental report
• "Dignity of Choice" pamphlet's third draft will be presented to delegates at this year's WSBC for approval.
• 2010 International Convention on 50th Anniversary of OA will be held in R2!!!
• WSO Mortgage in Rio Rancho NM was $592K in 1994 at 9.75%. Was refinanced at 8.5%. Paid $50K to reduce loan balance. Now will invest funds from matured CD to $61K and refinance it. Expect whole loan to be paid by WSBC next year. Are considering selling adjacent land and Walmart has optioned the property and may buy it by July.
• Survey got overwhelming response - 1300 were asked to complete it and 435 were returned.
• WSO considering revising suggested meeting guidelines to clarify sharing experience, strength and hope; also clarifying feedback, cross talk as being discouraged. Will be voted on at May meeting.

Treasurer: Bonnie noted the Assembly Packet contained a number of reports -- see Val or Mariel if you would like more information. Board is considering having donations on web page so meetings can track when their donations are received and posted (only if they list their WSO meeting number).

COMMITTEE REPORTS

• Intergroup Support will reinforce benefits of service and pilot within one Intergroup.
• Electronic Advisory Team (EAT) focused on new position of webmaster. Responsibilities include: keep webpage current; serve as liaison with Intergroups/their web sites, committees & Internet Service Provider. Discussed Website preliminary list of content improvements - newcomer information; agenda/minutes from Assemblies; ask-it basket Q/A; what R2 does with committee structure and responsibilities; bylaws/policies; assembly information packet, etc. Suggestions for improvements are welcome! Send to oawebmaster@oar2.org or marield@earthlink.net
• Bylaws Committee recommended technical bylaw changes; clarified terms of service of board positions. Also recommended changes to policy and procedures including technical changes.
• Public Information/HIPM will send reply card to Intergroups to follow up on Public Service Announcement (PSA) tapes distributed previously. Letter would include the introduction on how to use the PSA and announcement of R2's new "Take a Number" Poster.
• Young People - R2 has an email address at youngpeople@oa.org but has not received much contact, so requested we publicize it. Planning a list serve on Yahoo groups. Discussed online meetings and reaching out to high schools and colleges. Need to coordinate with HIPM/PI committee. Thinking about having unity meeting monthly in SF area.
• 1st Traditions - Discussed ways to celebrate IDEA day (3rd Saturday in November) and do a chip for abstinence similar to the Great American Smokeout. Mexico has translated Unity Handbook in Spanish. Discussed availability of literature in Spanish. Discussed need for committee or merging with Service and Traditions/Intergroup Support committee
• 12th Step Within mission defined; Fall 2002 strategy was to develop a packet of relapse material. Have revised letter and upon approval, sample packet will be sent to Intergroups/Assembly representatives. Hope to have packets mailed to Intergroup by early May. Literature Chairs: Price will be $3 per packet, includes letter and 8 pamphlets.

NEW BUSINESS

INTERGROUP CONCERNS

• Fundraising Suggestions: Do a second 7th Tradition collection for stamps, envelopes, paper and money. Collect cans and recycle for cash. Collect used CDs and sell them for cash. Sponsor a Game night (board games). Sell tickets to a Baseball game/sporting events. Have a Café OA to promote fellowship and can charge admission and/or have a drawing where meetings contribute gift baskets on a theme e.g., the tools. Could do gift basket drawings at Days in OA, too.
• 12 Concepts of Service mentions prudent reserve; wanted to know what policy groups had. 1) 80% of bare bones operating expenses; 2) 3 months of operating expenses; 3) ditto plus cost of liability insurance policy for all groups.
• Policy & Procedure Manuals. Sacramento Valley looking for samples and specifically travel policies.
• What experience do groups have with men "13th stepping" new women? Women only meeting. Sponsor contacted. Restraining orders. Intervention by other men.
• Insurance requirements. LA unity can refer to company that will provide $ million liability policy. If other intergroups can suggest companies, R2 will refer.
• Retreat committee had a retreat center that wants to donate free spaces for scholarships. Does that violate traditions? May depend on whether is also offered to other non-profits although others disagreed. Some meetings have scholarships as does Intergroup.
• Channel Islands would like to sponsor a retreat but doesn't have enough people so asked for other area Intergroups that might be interested in co-sponsoring to contact them.
• Third Edition big books -- some groups donating them to hospitals, rehab centers.
• Any groups getting letters from prison inmates seeking to contact women members? Intergroup in Fresno is and is responding to them directly. Also recently had a newcomer's parole officer require attendance; spoke to parole officer about concerns with convicted felons attending meetings although their crime is not likely to affect current members. Concerns with anonymity and this being discussed at Intergroup.
• General Concern over lack of involvement by LA intergroup at regional level and events; their focus is on OA birthday party.
• Tape Library. Need volunteer to take on responsibility. Must have storage capability. Please announce. Suggested be posted to website. Are looking at having convention tapes on the web eventually. Concern with loss of tape quality. Scott & Deborah volunteered to look into transferring masters to CD to preserve them and then making them available on the website.

ASK IT BASKET

1. Why doesn't OA R2 Trustee still travel to Mexico? Trustee spends 4-1/2 weeks of her vacation doing service for R2 and WSO and doesn't have additional time. But R2 Board are thinking of Mexico and working on projects together and communicating on joint issues.
2. We'd like to do a service & traditions workshop but will R2 Board come if we have only a few people? Yes, but also suggested combining multiple Intergroups to get better attendance.
3. How do we get Assembly delegates to rotate service -- isn't it a violation of traditions for someone to continue to attend Assemblies? Not strictly -- consider 7th tradition of keeping OA self-supporting -- more than just money. Others suggested asking people to step down and cultivating others to do service. Some Intergroups have term limits on representation.
4. Why do we do a 7th Tradition collection? Came from the Fellowship that Assemblies are meetings and as such, attendees should set a good example for other meetings.
5. Why were last Assembly ask-it basket questions and Intergroup concerns not in packet? Will be in next packet and on web as space permits.
6. Can we team with other programs based on the 12 steps for speaker events? Yes, but wouldn't be an OA event.
7. Can we have other 12 step programs' meetings listed in our schedule? - OA-HOW is part of OA but CEA-How is not. It is a violation of the traditions to list other 12 step programs.
8. Could we have a meeting in the morning before assembly? Region will provide a room, but someone has to volunteer to lead the meeting and determine topic or local Intergroup can do it. Board is unable to plan it as they have other responsibilities and meetings.
9. Have we heard about a new eating disorder called autorexia - eating only pure, natural foods? No one had familiarity with it.
10. What OA tools promote group unity? First tradition committee and unity handbook; service and traditions workshops can be provided by R2 Board and on individual issues that arise, the trustee and R2 vice chair can help.
11. How do we get our Intergroup to get friendly with others to cosponsor events? Network at Assemblies and Conventions and get R2 Vice Chair to assist. Louis in the SF bay area has had a lot of experience so you could see Ian to get his email address.