Intergroup # 09262
Region # 6
Revision date: April, 2022.

   

BYLAWS
of MARITIMES INTERGROUP OF OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS

ARTICLE I – NAME

The name of this organization shall be the Maritimes INTERGROUP OF OVEREATERS

ANONYMOUS, also known as 0vereaters Anonymous Maritimes Intergroup, Maritimes Intergroup (IG),OAMIG.

ARTICLE II – PURPOSE

Section1 – Purpose

The primary purpose of Maritimes Intergroup is to carry the message of recovery to those with the problem of compulsive eating and compulsive food behaviours through the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of Overeaters Anonymous, and guided by the Twelve Concepts of Overeaters Anonymous. To serve and represent the OA groups from which the Intergroup is formed; this Intergroup is in compliance with and qualifies as a self-supporting, non-profit organization exempt of Revenue Canada tax rules (i.e., group does not raise funds from outside activities).

Section 2 – The Twelve Steps

1. We admitted we were powerless over food — that our lives had become unmanageable.

2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.

4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.

8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.

9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.

11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.

12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to compulsive overeaters and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

Section 3 – The Twelve Traditions

1. Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon OA unity.

2. For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority — a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.

3. The only requirement for OA membership is a desire to stop eating compulsively.

4. Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or OA as a whole.

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

6. An OA group ought never endorse, finance, or lend the OA name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property, and prestige divert us from our primary purpose.

7. Every OA group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.

8. Overeaters Anonymous should remain forever non-professional, but our service centers may employ special workers.

9. OA, as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.

10. Overeaters Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence, the OA name ought never be drawn into public controversy.

11. Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, films, television, and other public media of communication.

12. Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all these Traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.

Section 4 – The Twelve Concepts of OA Service

1. The ultimate responsibility and authority for OA world services reside in the collective conscience of our whole Fellowship.

2. The OA groups have delegated to the World Service Business Conference the active maintenance of our world services; thus, World Service Business Conference is the voice, authority and effective conscience of OA as a whole.

3. The right of decision, based on trust, makes effective leadership possible.

4. The right of participation ensures equality of opportunity for all in the decision-making process.

5. Individuals have the right of appeal and petition in order to ensure that their opinions and personal grievances will be carefully considered.

6. The World Service Business Conference has entrusted the Board of Trustees with the primary responsibility for the administration of Overeaters Anonymous.

7. The Board of Trustees has legal rights and responsibilities accorded to them by OA Bylaws, Subpart A; the rights and responsibilities of the World Service Business Conference are accorded to it by Tradition and by OA Bylaws, Subpart B.

8. The Board of Trustees has delegated to its Executive Committee the responsibility to administer the OA World Service Office.

9. Able, trusted servants, together with sound and appropriate methods of choosing them, are indispensable for effective functioning at all service levels.

10. Service responsibility is balanced by carefully defined service authority; therefore, duplication of efforts is avoided.

11.Trustee administration of the World Service Office should always be assisted by the best standing committees, executives, staffs and consultants.

12. The spiritual foundation for OA service ensures that:

(a) No OA committee or service body shall ever become the seat of perilous wealth or power;

(b) Sufficient operating funds, plus an ample reserve, shall be OA’s prudent financial principle;

(c) No OA member shall ever be placed in a position of unqualified authority;

(d) All important decisions shall be reached by discussion, vote and, whenever possible, by substantial unanimity;

(e) No service action shall ever be personally punitive or an incitement to public controversy;

and

(f) No OA service committee or service board shall ever perform acts of government, and each shall always remain democratic in thought and action.

ARTICLE III – MEMBERS

Section 1 – Intergroup Membership

Membership of the Intergroup, shall consist of the following:

A. The Intergroup Board;

B. Intergroup representatives (IRs), which shall consist of 1 member from each group within the geographic area of the Maritimes IG. Geographic area shall be defined as New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, Canada.

C. Group members not acting as IRs but elected or appointed to carry out specific duties, e.g., Committee Chair. (NOTE: A committee chair, like every other IG member, will have only one vote even if also serving as an IR.)

Please note: Visitors are welcome and are encouraged to participate in the discussion, but have no vote.

Section 2 – Qualifications

A. Qualifications for group membership in an intergroup: A land-based intergroup is composed primarily of groups within its region or groups within its geographical proximity. A virtual intergroup is composed primarily of virtual groups. With permission, a land-based group may affiliate with a virtual intergroup and a virtual group may affiliate with a land-based intergroup. Each intergroup has the autonomy to determine which groups may affiliate with it; that decision should always be guided by OA Traditions and Concepts.

B. The Maritimes Intergroup endorses the definition of an OA group in Overeaters Anonymous, Inc. Bylaws, Subpart B, Article V, Section 1, as written and as it may be amended by a future World Service Business Conference.

C. Definition of an Overeaters Anonymous group:

1) As a group, they meet to practice the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of Overeaters Anonymous, guided by the Twelve Concepts of OA Service.

2) All who have the desire to stop eating compulsively are welcome in the group.

3) No member is required to practice any actions in order to remain a member or to have a voice (share at a meeting).

4) As a group they have no affiliation other than Overeaters Anonymous.

5) It is affiliated as an Overeaters Anonymous group by registering with the World Service Office.

Virtual groups (groups which replicate face-to-face meetings through electronic media) may be an Overeaters Anonymous group if they:

1) otherwise meet the definition of Overeaters Anonymous      groups;

2) are fully interactive; and

3) meet in real time.

Section 3 – Intergroup Representative

A. Intergroup representatives shall be selected by the group conscience of the group they represent. Each IR shall be selected by any method deemed appropriate by their group.

These IRs shall serve for a period designated by their group, always subject to recall by the group they represent. Each group shall be free to designate an alternate delegate when the necessity arises.

B. The duty of the IR is to represent the group at IG meetings and to serve as a contact to carry communications between the IG and the represented group.

C. IRs should be selected for his or her:

1. Willingness to travel and attend IG meetings located within the geographic area of the IG.

2. Regular attendance at their home group OA meeting.

3. Commitment to OA’s primary purpose and the purpose of Maritimes Intergroup.

Section 4 – Membership with voice and no vote may be:

Any member of the Fellowship who is not a duly elected representative or alternate.

ARTICLE IV – THE INTERGROUP BOARD

Section 1 – The Intergroup Board

A. The board shall consist of the chair, vice chair, secretary and treasurer.

B. The immediate past chair, at their option, can serve without vote as an ex-officio member of the Intergroup Board for one year. The Intergroup Board may also include other positions such as the World Service Business Conference delegates, committee chairs and regional representatives. Their duties shall be set by the policy adopted by the Intergroup and contained in the Duties and Responsibilities Manual.

C. This Intergroup Board shall serve as the Executive Board. In the event the chair of the board should be unable to attend any meeting of the board, the next highest ranking executive officer in attendance shall serve as chair for that meeting.

D. The ranking of these officers shall serve as follows:

1) Vice chair

2) Treasurer

3) Secretary

Section 2 – Nominations to the Intergroup Board

Nominations to the board may be made from the floor at the time of election. A nominating committee may also be formed, at the discretion of the Intergroup.

Section 3 – Qualifications for the Intergroup Board

A. Working the Twelve Steps of OA for a minimum of 6 continuous months.

B. Familiarity with the Twelve Traditions of OA.

C. Familiarity with the Twelve Concepts of OA service.

D. Actively pursuing or maintaining abstinence and following the OA program to the best of one’s ability.

E. Regular attendee of an active group for a period of 1 year and/or to have service experience at group level.

F. The World Service Business Conference Delegate/alternate (whether or not a member of the Intergroup Board) shall have at least 1 year of current abstinence, have 2 years or more service above the group level, and meet the qualifications and requirements as outlined and defined in the Overeaters Anonymous, Inc. Bylaws, Subpart B, Article VIII, Section 3, and as required for election to the Board by Article IV, Section 4, of these bylaws.

G. The regional representative/alternate (whether or not a member of the Intergroup Board) shall meet qualifications and requirements as outlined and defined in the Region 6 Bylaws, and as required for election to the board by Article IV, Section 4, of these bylaws.

Section 4 – Method of Election

A. Elections shall be held annually at a meeting specified for that purpose.

B. To be eligible for election to the board, the nominee must;

1) Meet all the qualifications as defined in Article IV, Section 3.

2) Understand the responsibilities of the position as defined in Article IV, Section 6, and as defined in the Duties and Responsibilities Manual of the Maritimes IG.*

C. In order to be elected to membership on the Intergroup Board, a nominee must be present at the election meetings or, if absent, indicate agreement to let his/her name stand for nomination and then receive a majority vote of the IRs present.

Section 5 – Term of Office

A. Board members shall be elected to serve for a period of 1 year. Members can be re-elected to the position for a second term, after which they must step down.

B. Board members shall serve no more than 2 consecutive terms in the same office.

C. After an interval of 2 years, a member may again be eligible for election to his or her prior office.

D. Upon election to the board, a member shall cease to be a representative of their group and that group shall elect a new Intergroup representative.

Section 6 – Responsibilities of the Intergroup Board Members

A. Serve as guardians of the Twelve Steps, Twelve Traditions, and Twelve Concepts with respect to the functions of the intergroup.

B. Perform the duties of their offices in accordance with IG Duties & Responsibilities Manual.*

C. Serve as guardian of IG funds; participate in an annual financial audit.

D. Provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and information among member groups.

Section 7 – Vacancies and Resignations

A. If a board member is absent from an IG meeting more than 2 consecutive times, he/she may be removed from the position by a majority vote of the ballots cast either at a regular IG meeting or a meeting announced for that purpose.

B. Any board member may resign at any time for any reason by giving the board of the IG written notice.

C. Any board member of this IG may be removed from office for due cause by a majority vote of the ballots cast at a regular or special meeting announced for that purpose.

Section 8 – Filling of Vacancies

A. Vacancies shall be filled by a majority vote at the next meeting or special meeting of the IG after the vacancy occurs. Such persons chosen to fill said vacancies shall serve for the remainder of the unexpired term.

B. A person chosen to fill any vacancy on the board shall meet the qualifications as defined in Duties and Responsibilities Manual of OAMIG.

ARTICLE V – MEETINGS

Section 1 – Regular Meetings

The IG will meet 3 times annually in the third week of April, August and November at a time and place designated by a majority of the voting members.

Section 2 – Annual Meetings

An annual meeting shall be held in the month of August for the election of officers.

Section 3 – Special Meetings

A special meeting may be called at any time by a majority vote of the IG board, or by a petition of 4 IG members, provided sufficient notice is provided to the membership

Section 4 – Meetings by Virtual Conference

Members of the IG may participate in a meeting through use of electronic means, so long as all members participating in such meeting can hear one another and have a way to participate in any voting. Materials presented during the meeting shall be made available to those participating virtually. Participation by IG members in a meeting in the manner provided in this Section constitutes presence in person at such meeting.

Section 5 – Method of Notification

Notifications of all meetings shall consist of notices prepared by the intergroup secretary and distributed to each group secretary and/or IR prior to the date of the meeting. Placing an announcement in the IG newsletter, if any, or by mail, or electronic media, and at the previous Intergroup meeting is also considered proper notification.

Section 6 – Quorum

The voting members present at any meeting of this Intergroup shall constitute a quorum for all proceedings of the Intergroup.

Section 7 – Meeting Procedure

The Twelve Steps, Twelve Traditions, and Twelve Concepts shall be read at the beginning of each meeting.

The board may establish committees as are needed for the welfare and operation of the intergroup. Each committee is responsible to the IG board.

ARTICLE VII – PRUDENT RESERVE

The IG treasurer will maintain a prudent reserve of One year to cover expected operational needs. Excess funds will be donated to OA service bodies as determined by the IG.

ARTICLE VIII – PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE

All Intergroup meetings shall be conducted in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised except when in conflict with these bylaws, in which case these bylaws shall take precedence. We are to be ever mindful and be guided by the Twelve Steps, Twelve Traditions and Twelve Concepts of Overeaters Anonymous.

 

ARTICLE IX – AMENDMENTS TO THESE BYLAWS

These bylaws may be amended at any time by a two-thirds vote of the voting members present and voting at any regular or special meeting of the intergroup. The proposed amendment must be communicated in writing to each member group at least five weeks prior to the voting meeting. Amendments to the Twelve Steps, Twelve Traditions, and Twelve Concepts of OA may be made only as per OA, Inc. Bylaws, Subpart B, Article VII, Section 1.

ARTICLE X – DISSOLUTION

Section 1 – Deregistration

In order to deregister, an intergroup must submit a written notice to the World Service Office, region chair, and region trustee.

Section 2 – Disbursement of Remaining Funds

When this intergroup ceases operation and all debts have been paid, all remaining funds shall be distributed to other Overeaters Anonymous service bodies or the WSO in accordance with Tradition Six.

                                                                                  

*Our Duties & Responsibilities Manual is being developed and will be placed here when completed…