Assembly Bytes: Fall 2018

Intergroup Outreach Committee Continues Its Intergroup Officer Training

There was an Intergroup Outreach (IGOR) event before the Assembly addressing group member service stagnancy and burnout.  The IGOR event also continues to provide officer training, French translation for the officers’ training, and information exchange between intergroups.

Officer Elections

The most important business at the Fall Assembly is the election of officers to the Board. Each year, three of the six officers’ terms expire. This year, the Vice Chair, Secretary and Treasurer were up for election. After each candidate presented their qualifications to the Assembly and fielded questions, voting was held.

This year, we also needed to affirm a candidate to present to the World Service Business Conference (WSBC) for election as the Region 6 Trustee. It’s important to note that the Regions do not elect their trustees directly, but rather affirm them, which is to say we notify WSBC that this person is whom we want for our Trustee. The WSBC then decides whether the affirmed nominee shall be part of the board.

Beth B. submitted the only application for trustee to the Assembly. The problem is that, as of this Assembly, she did not completely meet the Region 6 requirements for serving as a Trustee. She would meet the qualifications at the next Assembly for being elected at the WSBC.

Not wanting to change the bylaws, the Assembly accepted the Chair’s and Parliamentarian’s solution of holding a group conscience, taken by ballot, to allow this irregularity for this situation on this occasion. With this in place, we proceeded to the actual elections.

The election results were as follows:

• Vice Chair: Kelly C. was elected to a second two year term.
• Secretary: Lynda B. has been elected for a two year term.
• Treasurer: Karen C. has been elected for a two year term.

Many thanks to Dorothy M., the only outgoing officer, who served as the Region 6 Secretary.

Kristin has been selected as the WSBC reference subcommittee member from the Region. The reference subcommittee is probably one of the hardest working groups during the WSBC, other than the Board, which runs the conference. The reference subcommittee meets during all the lunch breaks and free time as needed to resolve issues created when several motions to amend are submitted for any particular main motion. The reference subcommittee takes these motions and works on them to propose a new version of the motion amenable to all.

The Assembly heard about a plan from WSBC to reduce the trustees seated on the World Service Board of Trustees from 17 to 12 over the course of a 5-year period.  Essentially, the idea introduced was that one less trustee would be elected each year as their terms are up. 

Writing Topic

Our writing topic for this Assembly was:

This is what I do to make the newcomer feel welcome at their first meeting.

Voici ce que je fais pour que le nouveau se sente bien accueilli a sa première réunion.

Responses will be posted soon on the Region 6 Website.

Committee Reports

Web & Publications:  Went over timeline and assignments, including efforts to complete the French translation of the website by Fall Assembly 2019.

12th Step Within: Welcome back scholarships and making phone calls on the 12^th of each month.

PI/PO: Continued to work with other groups to spread the message of OA.  It has a $2,500 budget for PI/PO blitzes. 

2019 Convention Committee has already started planning for our convention to be held in White Plains, NY. Visit the R6 Convention website at www.oaregion6.org/2019. A Super Early Bird rate of  US $35.00 was available through November 25, 2018. A discounted rate from at-the-door registration price will be available shortly. Whether you’re coming for one day or the entire weekend, this will be your lowest price for the Convention.

Traditions Tune-up: Beth, our R6 Trustee, concluded the afternoon by session reviewing various meeting topics to helping us have a better understanding whether a group member might be breaking an OA Tradition.

Next Assembly: April 12-13, 2019: Red Lion Inn, 205 Wolf Rd, Albany, NY 12205