The 2009 FA-WSI Business Convention

Final Report

May 29–31, 2009

Sheraton Ferncroft Resort Danvers

Danvers, Massachusetts

This Convention Report was prepared by the FA-WSI Secretary Margaret H., with

assistance from the FA World Service Board and the FA World Service Office Staff

November 30, 2009 2

FA-WSI BUSINESS CONVENTION 2009 FINAL REPORT

TABLE OF CONTENTS Page No.

I. Opening Remarks by the FA-WSI Chair....………………... 3

II. Motions and Voting Results………........................................ 6

III. Election of Officers…………………………………………... 9

IV. World Service Committee Reports…………………………. 9

V. Intergroup and Chapter Reports………..………………….. 15

VI. FA-WSI Vice Chair’s Remarks……………………………... 32

November 30, 2009 3

I. Opening Remarks by the FA-WSI Chair

When FA began in Massachusetts, USA, everyone commuted to the same meetings in the city of

Chelsea. Even when people moved away, they all had sponsors who were directly connected

with the Chelsea meetings. Today, FA and its World Service organization have grown beyond

what we could ever have imagined. We now have over 3,500 members, three intergroups, four

chapters, and more than 400 meetings in a number of different countries, including Canada,

Germany, and Australia. Probably the majority of FA members have never heard of Chelsea,

Massachusetts.

WSI is a much more complicated organization now, though our challenge remains the same: to

support the strength and meet the service needs of meetings throughout the world. As we begin

our work together today, I would like to highlight that context and then talk about who you are,

as the World Service Conference; who we are as the World Service Board; and the nature of our

work together.

The World Service Conference

Last year’s revision of the bylaws caused us to rethink every aspect of our organization’s

structures and processes. As is the case in AA, FA’s business is conducted by a board, with

ultimate authority for decisions resting with the World Service Conference (WSC) – FA

members speaking for and guiding the fellowship as a whole through their group conscience.

When we established the WSC, we referred to members as ―delegates.‖ We used to say that each

―delegate‖ served as the ―representative‖ of his or her meeting. We made the abstinence

requirement for service low so that we could maximize representation.

As we worked on revising the bylaws, we realized that our reality was not reflected in the

policies governing some of our structures. Could or should a person ―represent‖ a meeting? This

implies that the needs of a meeting in Alaska differ from those of one in Sydney, Australia, that

the needs of a food addict in each area are different, and that each ―representative‖ should

consult his or her meeting and then ―vote‖ accordingly.

In fact, though, we do not operate on a model of representative government. By its affirmation of

the revised bylaws last year, the WSC affirmed that our needs are met through the efforts of

―trusted servants,‖ not ―representatives. Though all food addicts in FA recovery are just food

addicts in recovery, there are stages of recovery and levels of service appropriate to each. We ask

members with a solid time of continuous abstinence to act as our servants. And while it looks

like their decisions are made through voting, they are actually made through prayer and group

conscience, as each person seeks to find the best way to meet the needs of the newcomer and FA

as a whole.

As members of the WSC, you do not represent your groups. You are each a trusted servant of the

whole. Therefore, we ask you and ourselves to think about the needs of all food addicts seeking

recovery as you pray for guidance. Have an open mind to new information and new ideas. Have

humility. But we also need to be brave and speak. These two days at the convention are not

November 30, 2009 4

separate from our daily lives. The Steps, the principles of recovery, and the God we ask to help

us through each day will show us the way forward.

The World Service Board

The WSB exists solely to serve the FA fellowship and you! You should be able to ask for

literature and receive it quickly, for meeting lists, for a website that has the information you

need. You should have, in us, a resource you trust when you wonder how to approach the media

or think that your meeting practices may be in tension with one or more of the Traditions. If we

are doing our job well, you should hardly know that we are here because you get what you need

when just you need it. You should feel organizational support for individual recovery, the well-

being of your meetings, and your own Twelfth Step work.

As FA has grown, the WSB has been challenged to grow with it. Recently, I was speaking about

our work with a friend who is a management consultant. He observed that usually a ―board‖

directs others to handle all of the organization’s operations. In our case, WSB members do

double duty, taking care of both board work and operations. We have outgrown our

infrastructures, and the work load has almost increased beyond what can be handled by any one

chair, each of whom is, after all, volunteer.

In another sense, too, the WSB wears two hats. On the one hand, we are, above all, a spiritually

based group charged to give our service to the whole of FA. On the other, as I have had to learn

over the past couple years, we are a small non-profit business. WSI is responsible for rent for a

large office, for the production and sale of literature and CDs, for personnel compensation, and a

large annual budget. We are at the point now where we need to consult occasionally with

lawyers, accountants, and, certainly, a parliamentarian.

WSI needs help, but I am aware that we should not rob people from intergroups and chapters to

find the assistance we need. We exist to support their work, too. World Service work is not more

important than efforts at the area or local level. I urge that you not privilege in your minds the

WSB. It is not more prestigious or significant to be involved at the WSI level. The central work

of FA is individual – the conversations between sponsor and sponsee, between meeting members

and newcomers – and thus the good service of chapters and intergroups is vital, too.

Our Work Together

I have heard that Dr. Bob’s last words to Bill W. were his admonition that the fellowship should

―keep it simple and not mess it up.‖ These are good words for us. We must keep it simple. FA is

God-given, and its essential principles embody unchanging, simple truths.

We are unified by our definition of abstinence and our clear understanding that the

boundaries of abstinence do not change with shifts in circumstances or settings. Nuts and

dried fruits are not on our food plans. We do not go to a salad bar and put them into a

bowl with lettuce as ingredients in a ―salad‖ – so defined because all the ingredients are

from a ―salad‖ bar.

Isolation is a core part of our illness. We cannot get well if we continue to isolate. At our

meetings, we stand up, face the room, and do service at whatever level we are able,

whether by reading or by sharing. FA is a high priority for us, and we need contact with

November 30, 2009 5

other food addicts in recovery. We don’t rationalize going to NA or AA simply because

those meetings happen to be shorter and scheduled to our liking. Telephone conference

calls are not meetings.

We do the disciplines to put the food down, and we do the Steps so that we can keep the

food down. We do not ―study‖ the Steps, we do them. This takes time – always more than

a year. We make participation in AWOL a priority and do not change our open FA

meetings into Step meetings. A newcomer hearing a discussion of the Fifth or the Ninth

Steps might well be frightened enough never to return and would leave without ever

knowing that there were people in the room with whom he or she could identify.

We are rigorous in our own programs and faithful in our efforts to pass on what we have

been given. People coming into our rooms are dying. Whether or not our suggestions

make them angry, we can’t water down the program. We have a responsibility to be

respectful, good listeners who also aren’t afraid to ask hard questions and say what we

really think.

We need to grow up. Early on, I was struck by Bill’s story that psychologists who did a

study of alcoholics discovered that immaturity was a characteristic common to all of

them. We have been given a great gift, and our own recovery will be strong only if we

exert ourselves. After a certain point, we need to stand up and get going. If we’re alone

without a fellowship, we must get busy! I can have a great program, even if I’m

completely alone. All I need to do is to remember Bill W. and Dr. Bob. Like them, I need

to go out and find a suffering food addict who has never heard of FA. If we are alone, we

can take FA literature to anyone who might come in contact with food addicts – doctors,

nurse practitioners, dentists, personal trainers, chiropractors, massage therapists,

counselors, priests, rabbis, ministers, nutritionists, employee assistance personnel. We

can put up notices listing a phone number where we can be reached or have small

announcements put in local newspapers. Even without a meeting, we can talk

individually with anyone responding and help them begin if they are ready. When we

have one or two sponsees, we can start a meeting, and once there are a few people with

six months of abstinence, we can list the meeting with WSI and publish it in the papers.

When Dr. Bob and Bill talked about not ―messing it up,‖ I am guessing they might have been

alluding to denial. Unless I live this program each day, I’ll relapse into denial. I can’t rationalize

if I’m forty or even ten pounds overweight, if I’m underweight or madly eating diet mints. We

must also watch for denial within our organization. The chairs must maintain a credible body

size, and the Board needs to respond honestly to questions raised by members of the fellowship.

We have no authority to govern, but we have a responsibility to share our understanding of the

FA practices that have worked so well for hundreds of recovering food addicts.

Our challenge today is to keep the FA message and recovery as strong as it was when there were

fifty people sitting in a church in Chelsea, despite the fact that there are now more than three

thousand of us, and we are separated by oceans.

When a man enters an FA meeting leaning heavily on a cane because he is 5’4‖ and weighs 380

pounds, when a woman walks in who is fifteen pounds underweight and has dark gray teeth

because the enamel has been worn away by a lifetime of bulimia, when a call comes from

someone frightened to put down the food after three institutionalizations and two suicide

November 30, 2009 6

attempts, we need to be ready. Together, we are working to make an organization that is known

for offering immediate hope to food addicts and the promise of a solution. We are responsible.

II. Motions and Voting Results

MOTION 1: COMMITTEE PROCEDURES

Text of Motion:

The following section shall be added to Article IX Committees of the bylaws: Section 11.

Procedures

Committees are authorized to adopt their own procedures, to be effective immediately, subject to

review, amendment, or rescission by the WSB. Any such committee procedures or changes to

such procedures shall be reported to the WSB upon adoption or amendment. The World Service

Conference shall be notified in the next annual WSC members’ notice of the fact that procedures

have been adopted or amended and that the details will be available from the WSO. In case of

dispute, the Conference shall determine whether a procedure adopted by a committee is within

the power of the committee.

The following footnote or ―proviso‖ shall be added to the bylaws following Article IX

Committees, Section 11:

The addition of section 11 to these bylaws does not have the effect of automatically rescinding

all previously adopted committee procedures. Committees do have the authority to amend or

rescind specific committee procedures in accordance with section 11, notwithstanding that such

committee procedures were previously adopted by the Conference.

Outcome: Passed unanimously after questions but no debate.

MOTION 2. WORLD SERVICE BOARD PROCEDURES

Text of Motion:

Article VI Board of Trustees of the bylaws is amended by striking subsection 3(e) and adding a

new subsection 2(c) as follows:

(c) The WSB is authorized to adopt its own procedures, to be effective immediately, subject to

review, amendment, or rescission by the World Service Conference. The WS Conference shall

be notified in the next annual WSC members’ notice of the fact that procedures have been

adopted or amended and that the details will be available from the WSO.

Outcome: Passed unanimously after questions but no debate.

November 30, 2009 7

MOTION 3: CONFERENCE-ADOPTED POLICIES

Text of Motion:

The approval of the Conference of WSI shall be sought for those policies that are to be

administered by the board and that affect FA or WSI as a whole. These are to be designated

―Conference-adopted policies,‖ and they are to be adopted and amended as motions in

accordance with the Conference’s usual procedures. In case of dispute, the Conference shall

determine whether a policy adopted by the board affects FA or WSI as a whole.

Outcome: Passed unanimously without discussion.

MOTION 4: theconnection MAGAZINE

Text of Motion:

The World Service Board moves that the Conference recognize theconnection Magazine as the

international journal of Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous.

Outcome: Passed unanimously after questions but no debate.

MOTION 5: FA CONFERENCE-APPROVED LITERATURE

Text of Motion:

2003 May (as amended in 2009)

1. No materials may be offered for sale or distribution at an FA meeting, except as follows:

a. Conference-approved literature (as listed below in subsection 2)

b. Conference-recognized literature

c. WSB-approved literature

d. Materials distributed by the boards or committees of WSI, FA intergroups, or FA

chapters

e. Telephone lists (of registered FA meetings)

f. Meeting directories (of registered FA meetings)

g. FA Information Session notices

2. FA Conference-Approved Literature includes:

a. Twenty-Four Hours a Day (Hazelden)

b. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)

c. The Little Red Book (Hazelden)

d. The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions (AA)

e. All FA pamphlets and books that have been approved by the World Service Conference,

including those translated into other languages

Outcome: Passed as amended with no debate; 3 opposed.

November 30, 2009 8

MOTION 6: LITERATURE APPROVAL PROCESS POLICY

Text of Motion:

CONFERENCE-APPROVED LITERATURE

Conference-approved FA literature consists of works intended for the entire FA fellowship and

made available to the public at large. Such literature shall be written or revised by or under the

direct supervision of the Literature Committee. The process for the writing, revision, and

approval of such literature is described below.

REQUESTS FOR LITERATURE

Meetings, chapters, and intergroups (or their boards) may submit to the Literature

Committee chair a written request for the writing or revision of a piece of literature. If

approved by the Literature Committee, the request shall be taken to the World Service

Board.

Requests approved by the WSB are given to the Literature Committee for their direct

action.

Should it see need, the WSB may directly ask the Literature Committee to create or

revise a piece of literature.

WRITING AND REVISION

The Literature Committee or its subcommittee shall submit the completed draft of its

work to the WSB to receive the board’s feedback and input. The draft shall then be

returned to the committee for revision.

This revised work shall be submitted to the board for its approval. Once approved, it will

be deemed ready to submit to the fellowship for feedback.

The final revision process will begin with a minimum of thirty days posting on the WSI

website to allow for review and submission of comments by members of the FA

fellowship.

Within the next sixty days, the Literature Committee shall thoughtfully consider all

feedback, further edit the draft as it deems necessary, receive comments from the WSB,

and submit a final revision of the draft to the WSB for its approval.

The final, WSB-approved draft of the proposed literature shall be posted thirty days prior

to the World Service Business Convention, where it shall be presented as a motion for

adoption by the World Service Conference.

CONFERENCE APPROVAL

At the World Service Business Convention, work approved by the WSB and proposed for

Conference approval shall be discussed, approved as is, or sent back to the committee for

further revision and presentation at the Business Convention the following year.

Revisions shall be done in accordance with the timeline and process described above.

Once approved by the World Service Conference, literature shall be formally deemed

―Conference approved.‖

Outcome: Passed after questions but no debate; 2 opposed.

November 30, 2009 9

MOTION 7: ANONYMITY, ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION, AND USE OF FA

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Text of Motion:

Registered FA meetings, intergroups, and chapters may freely use WSI materials owned or

controlled by FA in registered FA meetings. Some examples of these materials are meeting

formats, definition of a food addict, FA tools, and Meeting Guidelines. Use of such materials and

any FA intellectual property is otherwise restricted. The World Service Conference directs that

permission be obtained from the World Service Board by anyone wishing to use the FA logo,

WSI materials, or other intellectual property on the internet or in any other medium of public

communication.

Outcome: Passed as amended after debate; 2 opposed.

MOTION 8: SPONSORSHIP PAMPHLET

Text of Motion:

The World Service Conference delegates final revision of the pamphlet ―Some Thoughts About

Sponsoring‖ to the World Service Board and authorizes the Board to publish the pamphlet within

the coming year. By virtue of these actions, the final pamphlet will have Conference approval.

Outcome: Passed after debate; 85 in favor and 41 opposed.

III. Election of Officers

All board positions that were up for re-election were uncontested. Therefore, the body voted in

the following trustees by acclamation: Margaret H. (formerly Margaret C.), secretary; Joan M.,

treasurer; Misch E., Chapter and Intergroup Support Committee; Jane M., Literature Committee;

Bonnie H., Public Information Committee; and Jim S., Twelfth Step Committee.

IV. World Service Committee Reports

Bylaws Committee (Joshua P., Chair)

Accomplishments

Posted the final, 2008 World Service Conference-approved revision of the FA bylaws on the

For Members section of www.foodaddicts.org. Formed the Special Committee on Governing Documents (a/k/a, the ―governing docs

committee‖). This ad hoc committee, initiated by the WSI Chair and brought together by the

current bylaws chair, formally began work in November 2008 on a review of the FA

governing documents for consistency with our newly revised WSI bylaws.

November 30, 2009 10

Worked with our parliamentarian, Michael Malamut, to develop a new, simplified way of

organizing WSI committee and WSB operating procedures. The central idea in the new

concept was that committees and the WSB would henceforth only have ―procedures,‖ (a/k/a

―operating procedures‖) while the term ―policies‖ would refer only to Conference resolutions

that have ongoing effect (until this year known only as ―continuing effect motions‖).

Assisted WSI committees and the WSB with developing updated operating procedures.

Since the board and committees do so much of the day-to-day work of FA world service, this

was a logical starting place for carrying on our revision of the governing documents. While

some parts of this process are still ongoing, the WSB and most committees have made

substantial headway in completing useful new operating procedures documents. When

finished, these procedures will contain important information about how FA world service is

carried out, and will be useful for members of the fellowship wondering how to interact with

the WSB or WSI committees. These procedures will be posted on the website as they are

adopted.

Feel free to contact the chair of the bylaws committee, Joshua P., at bylawschair@gmail.com

if you have any questions relating to our bylaws or other governing documents.

Chapter and Intergroup Support Committee (George M., Chair)

Accomplishments:

Continued to have a geographically diverse committee as an ongoing resource positioned

to help the fellowship throughout the world: Representation from Australia, England,

Washington State, Ohio, Washington DC, from California to Florida to Maine.

Continued nurturing the development of the Michigan, Maine, Southern Florida, and

Central Florida Chapters, and WAI, EAI and Unity Intergroups. The majority are

thriving as communities.

Supported pre-chapter activities, particularly Ohio, Washington State, Washington DC,

and Australia.

Advised Upstate New York Chapter as they chose to discontinue as a formal chapter.

Planned two Chapter and Intergroup Support Forums - May 29, 2009, at the Business

Convention and October 15, 2009, at the Fellowship Convention. Twelve breakout

groups, with 300 + participants at the Business Convention. Anticipate 600 at the

Fellowship Convention.

Published Best Practices News Flash and other articles in the new Gratitude in Action

newsletter.

Assisted in communications between intergroups, chapters and the WSI Board.

Coordinated quarterly chapter and intergroup chairs meetings to share communication

and develop programs that meet FA’s needs.

Worked closely with the Office Committee in improving the administrative systems and

the use of our Website by Chapters and Intergroups.

.

Goals:

Continue to develop new ways to support service leaders as they organize to reach the

newcomer.

Increase support for those involved in pre-chapter activities.

November 30, 2009 11

Increase communications between chapters and intergroups, and among chapters,

intergroups, and the WSI Board.

Continue to serve as resource to current chapters and intergroups.

theconnection Committee (Jacquie P., Chair)

Accomplishments:

Created new Committee position: Writing Team Leader Coordinator.

Enlarged Writing Team Leader group to increase geographic diversity in contributions.

Enlarged Art Team membership.

Sent Fellowship Letter regarding meeting subscriptions and Connection Reps.

Reviewed and forwarded Committee Policies & Procedures to Governing Documents

Subcommittee.

Created hiring protocol for paid editor.

Hired paid editor.

Met our Committee objective to increase geographic diversity in contributions for each

magazine edition.

Convention Planning Committee (Ann H., Chair)

Accomplishments:

The Convention Committee planned and facilitated the 2009 Business Convention by:

Welcoming over 400 recovering food addicts to attend to FA World Service business at

the Sheraton Ferncroft in Danvers, Massachusetts.

Coordinating logistics with the hotel including meeting room selection and set-up, menu

design, and audio-visual needs.

Developing materials including registration documents, nomination and motion forms,

and letters and notices to the fellowship, all transmitted electronically.

Eliminating paper registration and working with the Office Committee to further

streamline on-line registration and dissemination of information through the FA website.

Coordinating with the FA-WSI office and working with intergroups to disseminate

information to all FA members.

Developing the convention agenda.

In addition, the Convention Committee continued the detailed planning of the second FA

Fellowship Convention, to be held at the Santa Clara Marriott in Santa Clara, California, October

16–18, 2009, working with a group of dedicated volunteers in the San Francisco bay area.

Goals:

Plan and manage the next business convention to be held once again at the Sheraton

Ferncroft Danvers Resort, June 4–6, 2010.

Successfully plan, manage, and hold the Fellowship Convention in Santa Clara,

California, with anticipated attendance of 800 FA members.

Be mindful of the escalating costs of the conventions and plan accordingly.

November 30, 2009 12

Continue to work closely with the intergroups and chapters to disseminate information

about the conventions to our ever-growing fellowship.

Work with the Chapter and Intergroup Support Committee to include a repeat of the

Chapter and Intergroup Forum at the Fellowship Convention.

Literature Committee (Anne B., Chair)

Accomplishments:

Finished editing stories and introductory chapters for FA book.

Wrote draft of new sponsorship pamphlet.

Created new titles for qualification CDs.

Goals:

Continue work on FA book with eventual goal of publication.

Finalize new sponsorship pamphlet.

Edit and revise as necessary other FA pamphlets.

Office Committee (Adrienne C., Chair)

Accomplishments:

Completed the move of contents of the ―fadocs‖ website to the ―for members‖ page of

www.foodaddicts.org.

Outsourced literature and CD production and shipping.

Added online donation and translation button(s) on the website.

Added online registration for conference members, the business convention, and the

fellowship convention.

Added new CDs to online ordering form.

Welcomed new office manager for WSI.

Developed the following sub-committees:

o World Service Office Support

o World Wide Meeting Directory

o Meeting Information and Registration

o FAQ (―Frequently Asked Questions‖)

o WSI Intergroup and Chapter Support Committee Liaison

o Online Services

Formulated a sub-committee to develop a policy and procedure manual; this work is in

process.

Our focus today is to continue to manage the World Service Office, online services, and

the World Wide Meeting Directory accuracy, complete the policy and procedure manual,

add frequently asked questions for newcomers on the homepage of the FA website.

November 30, 2009 13

PI Committee (Bonnie H., Chair)

Accomplishments:

Census Committee

This year the Census Committee did a tremendous job accumulating the membership

count for the over 400 meetings in our fellowship and there are only 11 meetings left to

account for. Next year we hope to completely implement it via the website.

Fact File and FA at a Glance

Both are now completed and have gone to the World Service Board for approval. These

documents will be helpful to the fellowship, the media, and the medical profession and

will be placed on the Media Page of the website for everyone’s use

Cision

This is a list of all the media addresses around the country. If you are having an

Information Session or would like to get the word out for your local meeting, contact

Tanya at plescia11@sbcglobal.net for a list of media in your area.

Weblinks

If you come across websites that have a place for resources or links where FA might be

included (i.e. an obesity site with a list of support groups; a personality’s site with tips for

members; or a hospital, church, or city with community health resources) please email

the website name and internet address to weblinks@foodaddicts.org. If you want to

volunteer please mention that.

PI Kit Committee

We are in the process of updating the letters to the Healthcare Professional and Clergy as

well as adding information about Health Fairs and changing the questions on the format

for Information Sessions. The major change, however, is removing the many references

to www.fadocs.org which no longer exists.

Website Committee

The Website Committee continues to update the stories on the Home Page and the

Information Session Calendar as well as the ―Media Page‖ which holds TV Interviews,

Census Information and Press Releases. Also, the Public Information Section which

holds the Public Service Announcements, PI Kit and all other PI info. Contact

pi@foodaddicts.org if you have any questions about PI work.

Mediawatch

Please contact mediawatch@foodaddicts.org if you notice newspaper or magazine

articles, TV or radio shows that you feel could benefit from hearing about FA.

Survey

Plans are under way for a new survey.

Teens and Twenties Committee

We are contacting colleges around the country with a letter and a follow up call.

Because of interest from the fellowship we will also be looking into contacting the armed

services.

The PI Committee has a Tri-Fold display appropriate for conventions that anyone can use and

also through the FA Office you can order the Tri-Fold Banners which will only be available in

chartreuse with black lettering (seen at the convention).

November 30, 2009 14

Traditions Review Committee (Sue G., Chair)

Met monthly to review inquiries submitted by members of FA about possible violations

of traditions. Prepared written responses to inquiries. Compiled an index of past questions

submitted and responses given.

Twelfth Step Committee (Jamie M., Chair)

Purpose:

To carry the message of experience, strength and hope within our fellowship.

To facilitate communication and outreach to members on the ―Frontier‖ and members

with language differences or physical constraints.

To produce and distribute communication throughout our fellowship via Gratitude in

Action, an e-newsletter of FA service.

Accomplishments:

Continued to serve as a resource and guide for Twelfth Step service, addressing questions

and concerns for FA members by facilitating communication and meeting special needs.

Accessibility Sub-Committee

Provided guidelines for accessibility for the FA-WSI Meeting Guidelines to inform

meetings and individuals to make decisions to ensure that FA is available to all.

Communications Sub-Committee

The Gratitude in Action (GIA) e-letter was published in June as a 24-page edition,

focusing on the history, organization and celebrating the 10th Anniversary of FA.

Frontier Sub-Committee

Changed committee name from ―Outlying‖ to ―Frontier‖.

Changed focus of FA Frontier Phone List from members with less than three meetings to

people with no meetings.

Maintained and distributed the FA-WSI Twelfth Step Committee FA WSI Frontier

Sponsor List.

Language Sub-Committee

Updated and distributed and the FA Universal Language Phone List.

Assisted two new Spanish Speaking meetings with the necessary translations and

possible speakers.

November 30, 2009 15

V. Intergroup and Chapter Reports

CENTRAL FLORIDA CHAPTER – Debbi N., Chair

Our Chapter serves just 5 meetings that are geographically close in proximity. We have a small

group of members that participate in Chapter service. The Vice-Chair position has been vacant

for over a year. We maintain a hotline, host 1-2 open information meetings a year, participate in

2-3 health fairs, provide the tri-fold pamphlet to our meetings, and send out regular PSA to local

media.

Our meetings are held on the last Saturday of the month at 9:10 am, between the 8:00 am AWOL

and the 10 am FA meeting. We were meeting every month until recently when the group

decided to meet every other month. The focus of our Chapter meeting is changing to include

more discussions about why we do what we do, how to reach the newcomer, and staging

effective meetings.

Financial Report:

July 1, 2008 Balance Forward 1172.47

Contributions 1832.68

Total

3005.15

Expenses

Telephone

Printing

EAI Donation

WSI Donation

Public Information

Travel

621.18

158.63

250.00

750.00

150.00

330.00

Total Expenses 2259.81

Income less expense

745.34

Balance in Checking June 30, 2009

$745.34

MAINE CHAPTER - Patty R., Chair

Summary

The Maine Chapter of FA New England Intergroup has strengthened this past year.

Attendance at chapter meetings has been consistently between 15-20 people on the 3rd

Sunday of every month. A few highlights of our achievements follow, with detailed

committee reports beginning on page 3.

Instituted a system of ―mentoring," whereby a member with less than 2 years

abstinence may serve as a committee chair while being mentored by a longer-term

November 30, 2009 16

member. Accepted a ―Commitment of Officer and Committee Chairs‖ outlining the

role and responsibility of Board members.

To increase participation in chapter meetings, we began including time for meetings

to request speakers, for available sponsors to stand, and discussion time on a

―Meeting Effectiveness‖ topic.

Received an anonymous cash donation of $1,000. The funds are being designated for

specific public information purposes to help us better reach the suffering food addicts in

Maine.

Office Committee

Developed a Welcome Letter and Orientation Packet for new, existing, and changing Chapter

Contacts. The Meeting Liaison calls Chapter Contacts at least quarterly to help with meeting

record accuracy, meeting effectiveness/health issues, and the nuts and bolts of running a

business meeting.

Changed phone number from a ―hotline‖ to an ―information line‖ to avoid misinterpretation

as a crisis number.

Were partially successful in listing FA in the free statewide Community Services section of

phone directories, adding a distinct category for ―Food Addiction‖. However, with major

problems statewide with a new company providing phone service, these listings have not

been realized.

Listed the Maine Chapter Information Line in all 13 phone directories in the state of Maine.

Trained Information Line volunteers how to respond to a healthcare professional calling

indicating that they had run out of pamphlets for their rack and ensured that these pamphlets

are sent in a timely manner.

Archived most Maine Chapter documents in an electronically retrievable manner through the

Maine Chapter Work Area on www.foodaddicts.org member pages.

PI/Media Committee

Held second annual Maine Chapter Support Day with 86 FA members in attendance. The day

included the chapter meeting and two panel sessions — ―Tools In Action‖ and ―Meeting

Effectiveness Tools,‖ with lunch and a closing Q&A session. Evaluations were

overwhelmingly positive.

Placed paid announcements for FA Information Sessions in several statewide and local

newspapers, along with free calendar listings on radio websites, area newspapers and cable

stations.

Delivered FA materials to University of Southern Maine student health and spiritual

advisors. FA members shared their FA stories with students at an addiction class.

Exhibited at two health fairs (Augusta and Rockland). Developed a list of Maine Health

Fairs.

FA members delivered 36 brochure racks with FA literature to libraries, doctor offices,

health clubs, etc.

Reviewed and discussed the entire PI Kit during the monthly Chapter Meetings throughout

the year.

Purchased a set of the three-panel FA banners for display at information sessions and health

fairs.

November 30, 2009 17

Made calls to each FA Maine Meeting Contact to encourage members to do service by

becoming a PI representative for their respective meeting. Currently only three Maine

Meetings have PI representatives.

Bylaws Committee

Worked with NEI Bylaws Committee to adopt a procedure for accepting and reviewing

motions from meetings for the FA Business Convention. We did not receive any proposed

motions from Maine meetings.

Intergroup Liaison

Promoted the NEI Chapter Support Day by sending a flyer to all meetings and encouraging

car pools. More than 15 FA members from Maine attended, with two board members serving

as group leaders.

Treasurer’s Report

06/01/08 Beginning Balance $ 536.79

Total Income $7,044.64

Total Expenses $6,039.29

NEI $ $ 842.44

WSI $ $2,527.31

05/31/09 Ending Balance $1,542.14*

* NOTE: This includes a $1,000 donation received that is being spent on specific,

public-outreach related expenses as directed by the Board, over the course of the 2009-

2010 FY.

Registered Meetings in Maine

Number of individual, registered meetings at beginning and end of fiscal year: 19

MICHIGAN CHAPTER – Lynn N., Chair

Chair

Once the Michigan Chapter finished all the ―setting up‖ issues, we have now moved on to the

public information aspect of running a chapter. We talked to the Public Information Committee

about doing two different Expos last summer but through much conversation with the traditions

committee, we opted not to do both of them because they were thought to be too

commercialized. Our focus right now has been on setting up booths as different health fairs all

around Michigan. We have done several so far.

Vice Chair

This year I have continued to support our chair by having open dialogue with the chair and doing

whatever it is that the chair needs to help continue a healthy chapter. At each meeting I write

down the highlights of that meeting. I read the tradition for each month. I will start to give an

example of how that tradition has played out in the chapter or in a meeting in our chapter. That

November 30, 2009 18

was suggested from the traditions committee. I keep myself abreast of any needs our committees

are having at the time. My main role is to support the chair and help in all areas of need.

Office Committee Chair

In order to establish better communication between the chapter and meetings, I am in the process

of finding a chapter contact person for each of the meetings in the Michigan chapter. As of June

13th

, all but 7 meetings have a chapter contact person. The main responsibility of this person is

to read email sent by the office committee chair notifying the meetings of service opportunities,

chapter highlights and chapter meetings. The chapter contact person will also be responsible in

filling out the meeting change form so the FA web site will be up to date. I am in the process of

evaluating the use of the 800# and how to use it better and how to pick up calls that come in

more efficiently.

Since most FA business is being done online, communication with the office committee is being

done through mioffice@foodaddicts.org instead of foodaddictsmichapter@yahoo.com. As office

committee chair, I participate in monthly conference call with the WSO office committee held on

the last Sunday of the month.

PI Committee Chair Here are the highlights for the Public Information Committee of the Michigan Chapter for

December 2007-July 2008, since I just recently became the PI Chairperson.

We had two Information Sessions in the spring of 2008:

- Grand Rapids, March 8th

- Madison Heights, April 26th

The local meetings in those areas shared the expenses for the PI sessions, and fellowship from

other areas in Michigan supported them. Announcements of our PI sessions were sent to NEI

and placed on the web site calendar. As the new PI Chair I am now on the WSI-PI Committee

Conference call the third Sunday of each month and I am gathering a wealth of information and

resources to share with our Michigan Chapter. I attended the 2008 Business Convention.

I attended the PI Break Out Group at the Chapter Forum. I attended two WSI-PI Committee

meetings at the Convention. We have purchased two banners for the Michigan Chapter, and we

contacted a local business and paid $20.00 to change the phone number on one of the banners.

For the months of June and July we have just started having PI Committee Meetings. There are

many willing and eager members wanting to help inform the public about FA. Members are

making available the letter to the Professional and the Clergy on the literature table at the

meetings. We are encouraging members to take them to their doctors, dentists, clergy, etc.

Adopt-a-rack has taken off. We have two racks so far, one each at a doctor’s and dentist’s office

in the Saginaw area.

Treasurer BEGINNING BALANCE $ 2053.54

Total Year Deposits $ 9007.59

Total Year Expenses $ 9615.66

November 30, 2009 19

Checking $ 1445.40

YEAR END BALANCE IN CHECKING $ 1445.40

Expenditure Amount Balance

$11061.13

Public Information $ 2856.51 $ 8204.62

Telephone $ 360.10 $ 7844.52

WSI $ 4248.23 $ 3461.54

EAI $ 1416.07 $ 2045.47

Prudent Reserve $ 600.00 $ 1445.47

SOUTH FLORIDA CHAPTER - Misch E., Chair

The South Florida Chapter, in existence since 2001, serves 18 meetings – 11 on the south east

coast of Florida, and 7 on the west coast of Florida. At a typical chapter meeting we have

between 8 and 12 participants, all from the east coast and representing 9 of the 11 east coast

meetings. Representatives from the west coast do not attend the chapter meetings, but we do try

to include them as much as we can.

These are the significant happenings within our chapter for the year beginning July 2008 through

June 2009:

1. July 2008

We voted to increase our monthly escrow from $600 to $1000 to cover the

expense of literature as well as rent and telephone.

2. August 2008

We changed our meeting time to 8:00 to 9:30 AM.

We changed our meeting format to incorporate the PI Committee and the Office

Committee into the regular meeting, with everyone serving on both committees;

we also allotted time for putting together PI packets each month (beginner

packets, letters to the professionals, tri-folds, etc.).

3. September 2008

We received two inquiries from doctors to whom we had mailed letters to last

month.

Plans were made for an Information Session in October.

Gail D. presented the tri-fold she had prepared for our next Information Session.

Gail D. resigned as secretary and Karen L. was appointed secretary.

4. October 2008

PI media efforts were finalized for the IS.

November 30, 2009 20

5. November 2008

Report: On October 26th

the IS was held, preceded by a fellowship luncheon.

The speakers were Darlene from MA, Marie from central FL, and Renee who is

local. There were 31 newcomers.

The chapter purchased a banner for the Ft. Myers area meetings.

Misch will attend the Chapter Support Day in Boston.

6. December 2008

There was no meeting in December.

7. January 2009

Eileen M. resigned as Chapter Vice Chair.

Bonnie H. was appointed as Chapter Vice Chair.

8. February 2009

Ellen V. resigned as Office Chair and Misch E. is standing in with this position.

Quick Books soft-ware was purchased for the Chapter Finances.

Ft. Myers has an Information Session scheduled for March 26th

with a Fellowship

Dinner.

Nominations are open for Chair and Vice-Chair.

The Unified Phone List is being updated by Nancy O.

9. March 2009

Plans were made for a Health Fair at the Jewish Community Center in Boynton

Beach on March 26th.

Misch E. was nominated for Chair and Bonnie H. was nominated for Vice-Chair.

The chapter participants divided up the list of meeting contacts who had not yet

completed the census, and committed to contacting each meeting contact to offer

encouragement and assistance.

10. April 2009

The abstinence requirement for answering the Hot Line was changed by vote from

1 year to 6 months.

Report: The Health Fair at the JCC was very well attended and there was a lot of

interest generated. The chapter borrowed the Fri-Fold Banners from the west

coast meetings, and they added a lot to the FA display.

Report: The Information Session in Ft. Myers was successful; there were 60 in

attendance and 6 newcomers; the meeting was well supported by the east coast

fellowship.

Donna C. will generate announcements on Craig’s List.

Misch was re-elected as Chair and Bonnie was elected as Vice-Chair; no one else

was nominated; they will be accepted by acclamation.

Plans were made for a Health Fair at the West Palm Beach YMCA for April 19th

.

11. May 2009

Meeting cancelled due to the Swine Flu!

12. June 2009

No meeting.

November 30, 2009 21

EASTERN AREA INTERGROUP (EAI) - Kathleen M., Chair

In June 2008 the Board had a retreat which was very productive in focusing its efforts for the

coming year and the fruits of that effort can be seen in our service. We focused much more on

Chapters, pre-chapters, and outlying areas because we wanted to strengthen our connection with

our members. Ways in which we attended to this effort are as follows:

We changed our name. From Chapter Support Day in November 2008, it was clear that

the Chapters would greatly appreciate our changing our name from the New England

Area Intergroup. There was much discussion on the name, even thinking of just calling

ourselves by a regional number, such as Intergroup One. But realizing that no one would

want to be number Two and it might offend other Intergroups, we eliminated a numerical

basis. Although there were concerns about Eastern Area Intergroup because how far east

are we talking about and what about Intergroups in the future that will develop in those

areas, we decided that the name was broad enough and left plenty of room for another

Intergroup to develop and call itself Southeastern, Middle eastern, for example. It was

also thought that Eastern Area Intergroup was a nice balance to Western Area Intergroup

and from the World Service perspective would reflect its largest Intergroups. Also Unity

Intergroup which resides is in the South Carolina area did not mind New England

changing to Eastern Area. The body voted the name change in at the May Intergroup

meeting.

Our attendance at Intergroup improved somewhat (maybe a difference of 5 more people

each month) and I believe the jump in attendance was a result of our Chapter Support

Day in November. Not just the one that took place this past year, but for a couple of

years now we have made a big push to invite members from the southeastern part of

Massachusetts, so we are slowly building our Intergroup.

Two members from the southeastern part of Massachusetts came to the Chapter Support

Committee’s meeting in January 2009 requesting guidance on what constitutes a healthy

meeting. By March the Committee developed and sponsored a ―ReachOut‖ for that area.

It was a huge success and other meetings in that area and the Ohio area are requesting

ReachOuts. The people from the Southeastern area were hospitable and appreciative of

our efforts. We expect more to follow in FY 2010. This year’s Chapter Support Day will

happen on the Cape instead of at our regular location in West Roxbury. The change in

location shows that members of our Intergroup are looking outward to extend a hand.

Our relationships with our Chapters have improved. Historically there has been some

unease in the relationship between our Chapters and our Intergroup. Both were unclear

as to the role we had with each other and I believe a lot of that had to do with

communication. Chapter Support Day is one of the ways in which we present

opportunities to work on our communication with our Chapters. There has been, for a

few years now, a big effort on the part of the Chapter Support Committee to shift the

expectations that our Chapters members had about Chapter Support Day. In the past,

people would come to Chapter Support Day and expect answers from Intergroup on how

to handle various issues that arose from their meetings. I think that expectation has

November 30, 2009 22

shifted because, as a result of these Chapter Support Days over the years, it became clear

to both Intergroup and the Chapters that our Chapter members have much more

experience with attending meetings that have problematic practices than our Intergroup

members and we all needed to work together and learn how to better communicate with

our new members why we do what we do. Because we recognized the importance of

doing that, we extended our communication to pre-Chapters and outlying areas. Hence

the development of ReachOuts.

EAI Chair regularly attends the Chapter and Intergroup Support Conference call in order

to hear ideas from the chapters and outlying areas and learn how EAI could provide

service more effectively to these areas.

Not only has Intergroup made an effort to extend service to other areas, but it is beginning to

extend service to each other by thinking about ways their committees’ work overlaps with each

other, especially PI, Chapter Support, Teens & Twenties, and 12th

Step. Committee chairs

encouraged committee members to attend the ReachOut in November. A member from the

Teens & Twenties Committee attends PI’s monthly conference calls in order to serve as a

resource to PI representatives. I expect more of this kind of effort to happen in the coming year

as the Chapter Support develops more ReachOuts and I strongly encourage each Committee

Chair to read the Secretary’s notes from each Intergroup meeting.

Again, as a result of the Intergroup’s focus on extending its outreach efforts, one of our Cape

members presented PI with the opportunity to attend a Health and Safety Fair at a Stop and Shop

distribution center in Assonet, MA, which is near the Cape. The PI Committee has created a

Radio Contact person. This person will be responsible for getting PSAs on air for FAIS in the

New England Area. PI will develop a centralized way for accomplishing that for other areas in

FY 2010. In its efforts to be more farsighted, the PI Committee has consistently reached out to

areas outside of New England. Currently on their monthly conference calls, members from

Ohio, England, Maine, and New York attend regularly.

The Teens & Twenties Committee has continued to lead the way in outreaches. It has

participated in 16. Four were in the fall and 12 in the spring. Because of their excellent database

(created on a Google spreadsheet) which keeps track of the colleges of their outreach efforts,

they have maintained a relationship with these schools and 8 of the 16 outreaches were repeats

from last year. In an effort to help areas outside of the New England area, the committee created

a ―Teens and Twenties Starter Kit‖ for anyone in an outlying area (individuals, meetings,

chapters, etc.) interested in doing outreach to people in their teens and twenties. The kit is on our

website.

The 12th

Step Committee continues its efforts to reach out to meetings that need support. It has

made commitments to meetings in three different areas of Massachusetts: Sharon, North

Andover, and Ipswich. It has set-up at least 3 home meetings for members whose condition met

the criteria for (one). It created home meeting guidelines. This is an excellent resource that will

be posted on the website so that other Intergroups may use them. The Committee provided a

travel fund for one PI session in Fort Myers, FL, and posted its criteria for the Travel Fund along

with an application form on the website. It sponsored another successful Thank-A-Thon on

November 30, 2009 23

Thanksgiving and assisted our Michigan Chapter in setting up its own Thank-A-Thon.

Partnering with meetings continues, but right now there is no tracking of which meetings are

partnering together. A database of partnering meetings, such as WAI has, is something for the

Committee to develop next year. The 12th

Step Committee continues to help the World Service

12th

Step Committee distribute the Sponsorship List and Frontier Phone List. As part of their

Committee work, members of the Committee make calls. I have also encouraged members of

the Intergroup body to make some calls to members on the Frontier List.

The Convention Resource Committee continued its stellar work in helping this fellowship come

together at the Business Convention.

Awarded approximately $1,500 to fund six World Service Conference Members to attend

the 2009 Business Convention based on need.

Maintained the Ride and Lodging List to assist members with rides to and from the

convention and house those staying in Boston before and after the convention.

Provided information to the World Service Convention committee chair on how members

can obtain the Ride and Lodging list. The information will be disseminated through the

WSI report.

Provide a series of suggestions in NEI Reports to help New England area FA meetings

welcome and assist Business Convention travelers.

Updated all CRC materials (letter to World Service Member, Financial Aid Application,

reimbursement form, ride and lodging list, and evaluation form).

Decided to increase the abstinence requirement for committee members to five years and

required that new members serve on the committee for a minimum of six months before

reviewing applications.

Created an orientation packet for new committee members.

The Office Committee’s role continues to evolve. This past year 3 to 5 volunteers were recruited

to help the WSI Office retrieve and return calls that were left on the WSI Office phone. The

Committee cut phone costs significantly by changing its Verizon plan. The Office Chair attends

monthly conference calls of the Intergroup and Chapter Support Committee in order to

understand ways that the Committee may be better utilized. It created a Literature Kit which

went to WSI for its approval. A member is developing a proposal consisting of helpful changes

to our website.

In the coming year, in an effort to increase our spending on outreaches while decreasing our

expenditures for overhead, our office secretary will gradually shift her responsibilities to

members of the Office Committee. This will be a process which we will examine very closely in

order to make sure that we are not sacrificing service to our members by eliminating the cost of a

paid employee. We are also trying to sublet our office space now that it has become more

evident than it was a few years ago, that people can work remotely from home. The Office

November 30, 2009 24

Committee will also work more closely with WSI’s Office Committee as two of its members are

on its conference call.

The Bylaws Committee, consisting of one member, has an integral role in our Intergroup. She

provides counsel on questions pertaining to bylaws, continuing effect motions, and various issues

that arise. The Bylaws Chair held conference calls with Chapters, Intergroups and their Bylaws

Chairs to discuss good procedures for submitting Main Motions to WSI by Intergroups and

Chapters. She prepared a consensus procedure for Main Motions that was used as the basis for

the specific procedure developed by each Chapter and Intergroup. She assisted EAI’s Chair in

developing a Main Motion procedure to take to the Board and the Body Over several months, the

Bylaws Chair prepared and presented a bylaw change to amend the name of the Intergroup from

New England Area Intergroup to Eastern Area Intergroup.

EAI contributed $3,000 to WSI this year.

UNITY INTERGROUP - Margaret D., Chair

Average 25-30 members attend UIG meetings on a regular basis.

PI committee has subcommittees that meet every month which are: Teens and Twenties,

Media Relations, General Administrative, and Professional/Healthcare. They have

participated in Health Fairs. We have had a change in chairs over the last year. The

current chair is attending WSI-PI committee meetings.

12th

Step Committee has held fellowship gatherings for member to include family and

friends over the last year. These gatherings have been a success for our fellowship. They

continue to work on planning more gatherings and supporting struggling meetings in the

area. The current chair attends WSI 12th

Step Committee meetings.

It was voted by the fellowship that UIG no longer support a Travel Committee for many

reasons, one of which is monetary reasons. Members who want to attend the convention

are encouraged to plan and save for the cost of the travel. As our fellowship is so small, at

this time it is best if the money collected stay in the area to support the work the

fellowship is doing for the food addict who still suffers in the area.

UIG participated in the FA census and all the meetings affiliated with UIG were counted.

At every UIG meeting there is old business that supports FA’s theconnection and

encourages members to write articles and submit artwork for the magazine.

Our financials currently show that 30% of all monies collected are sent to WSI and 70%

remain in the General fund at the local level.

The Fellowship recommended that the UIG Bylaws state specific Committee Chair term

limits and that there be a possible change to the abstinence requirement. There will be a

vote on these recommendations at the August UIG meeting as discussion has taken place

prior to this.

WESTERN AREA INTERGROUP (WAI) – Kris S., Chair

November 30, 2009 25

General Information

Western Area Intergroup continued to expand areas of service to the food addict who still suffers

as well as offer help to areas of the general FA fellowship. In March a new chair and vice chair

were elected. Following the clear path paved by the preceding board, the newly elected Board

continued fostering the Intergroup’s generous spirit of service to the newcomer, to the outlying

area meetings, and to the general fellowship. We now begin every Intergroup general session

with a few minutes of quiet time. Attendance at monthly WAI meetings averaged 350 members

doing service through 4 main committees (12th

Step, Public Information, Office, and Conference

Resource as well as multiple sub-committees). The Teens & Twenties Committee became a sub-

committee of the PI Committee.

Vice Chair

Maintained the WAI Phone list of members in attendance at the Intergroup meetings for the

purpose of use for FA service. Currently there are 578 names on the list; tracked those in

attendance and dropped their names off quarterly if they had not attended Intergroup for the

previous 3 months.

Took down the names of available sponsors who stood up at the Intergroup meeting. These

names went out to those who requested to be on the email list to give to newcomers at their

meetings. Done on a lap top connected to an AV system, the whole Intergroup could view

names/numbers of available sponsors. We also mark those that are Spanish speaking.

Counted the attendees at the Intergroup meetings and announced to the group.

Began work on updating the WAI by laws. This is expected to be completed by October 2009.

This includes adding a section addressing handling WSI Business Convention motions.

Secretary

Took minutes at each Intergroup meeting and at each Board meeting. Typed up the minutes the

same day as the Intergroup meeting so that the information was fresh, using the same template

each month. Each committee chair sent a summary of their report to the secretary for inclusion

in the minutes. After the full minutes and summary were completed, they were sent to the chair

for approval. The Secretary then sent it to the Office Committee who emailed them to all of the

Intergroup Contacts. Outside of Intergroup meetings, the Secretary is also a very involved

member of the Board and provides insights and opinions on issues.

Treasurer

7/01/08 Beginning Balance $ 25,620.98

Total Income $ 39,600.24

Total Expenses $ 38,534.18 (including $ 12,000.00 contribution to WSI and

$6923.56 Literature and CD purchase from WSI)

6/30/09 Ending Balance $ 21,476.00

We continue to keep our financial records in QuickBooks, currently using QuickBooks for

Nonprofits 2008.

November 30, 2009 26

Our income was primarily from Meeting donations ($27,827.59), with additional income from

IG 7th

Tradition ($5,716.29), anonymous donations ($4,814.33), and interest earned from the

savings account ($37.04). Our expenses included committee expenses for PI ($6,263.32), phone

lines, yellow pages, and internet yellow pages, copies for IG meetings ($10,648.86), rent

($2,042.50), materials for Teens and Twenties ($1,214.13), and Travel funds to FA Business

Convention (for voting members needing assistance in order to attend, and for speakers to travel

to outlying areas i.e. Canada, Seattle) for FA Information Sessions ($6,263.32).

Our standard practices are to have monthly financial reports for IG, to prepare a yearly budget

and update it quarterly with input from the officers and committee chairs, and to maintain a

reserve consisting of 3 month average expenses as a basic prudent reserve, plus any larger cost

planned expenses (such as conferences) and plus the travel fund reserves. This year we have

been able to fund several people for travel to FA Information Sessions in Idaho, Texas and

Canada as well as twenty one voting members to the 2009 FA Business Convention.

Approximately every three months the Treasurer reviews the financial status with the Officers

and passes on to WSI any funds beyond our reserve. In the past year we were able to donate

$12,000.00. We have encouraged our meetings to split their donations as follows: 25% to

Intergroup and 75% to WSI. We use Expense Reimbursement forms available on

www.foodaddicts.org submitted with receipts to document the expenses. The treasurer

maintained the financial records and hired an accountant to file the 990’s for 2009 and 2008.

Committee Reports

1 – Office Committee

Meeting Registration, Directories and Records:

Currently 193 meetings are registered with the WAI; this is up from 170 in 2008. The WAI

meeting directory is revised monthly and posted on the website at www.foodaddicts.org under

the Intergroups and Chapters section. The Office Committee uses the database to maintain

accurate records of all WAI meetings and the contact people listed for those meetings.

Information that is listed for a meeting in the database is directly reflected in the monthly WAI

meeting directory as well as on www.foodaddicts.org under the meeting section. The Office

Committee at WAI no longer accepts mailed registration change forms. All meeting changes

must be received by email at waioffice@foodaddicts.org by the last day of the current month to

be included in the next month’s directory.

In 2001 we had 41 meetings, and by the end of 2006 this number had tripled to 121 meetings.

FA continues to grow at a steady pace in 2009 within these regions. There are 193 meetings

currently registered with Western Area Intergroup -- this is up from 170 in 2008. The

breakdown by geography is as follows:

Australia: 4 Southern California: 23 Iowa: 4

New Zealand: 1 Northern California: 94 New Mexico: 2

Canada-Brit. Columbia: 3 Colorado: 3 Texas: 12

November 30, 2009 27

Canada-Alberta: 13 Oregon: 3 Washington: 12

Central California: 10 Idaho: 2

Nevada: 2 Utah: 1

Arizona: 1 Hawaii: 3

In July 2008 the Office Committee asked all meetings registered with WAI to re-register. It was

a timely project with a lot of follow-up required, but within just a few months nearly all of the

170 meetings in WAI had re-registered. The committee felt that this was a necessary task since

all meeting directories and website listings are directly taken from what is listed in the database.

If a meeting is listed with inaccurate location or time information or if the contacts listed for the

meeting are no longer in FA, there could be a serious challenge for a newcomer trying to find

their way to FA. As records were updated during the re-registration process it was indeed found

that there was a lot of incorrect information listed for several WAI meetings. The meeting

registration/change form was revised as well in 2008. Contacts are no longer asked to give their

home address. What is asked for is the contact’s first and last name, their email address, and

their phone number. The revised form now includes a field for the new service position of

Meeting Contact. The Meeting Contact agrees to have their telephone number listed in all

meeting directories and on the website. Their one responsibility is to return calls in a timely

fashion. Before this new service position was created WAI always listed the primary and

alternate Intergroup Contacts in the meeting directory. However, WAI is following suit with

WSI and the other Intergroups and Chapters and is listing the Meeting Contacts 1 and 2 in the

meeting directory. If a form is submitted and there are no names listed under the meeting

contacts section the Intergroup Contacts automatically fill that role for the meeting.

Our main goal in the Office Committee continues to be one of producing the meeting directory

so that it serves as a reliable document for the newcomer. We want to represent FA with

integrity.

Intergroup Information Documents:

The Office Committee distributes monthly emails to approximately 275 FA members. These

emails consist of updated phone lists that include Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan,

and also a phone list of members living in outside areas of the Western United States where there

are few or no FA meetings. The Outlying Area Speaker List is also emailed to members as well

as Intergroup meeting summaries and any other information pertinent to FA members. The

email list is kept confidential, anonymity is our guiding principle, and is never shared with

anyone. The email list is created each month through the email tool that is linked to the

database. The Office Committee continues to hand out the document entitled ―Introduction to

Western Area Intergroup‖, which is distributed to all new participants at the monthly Intergroup

meeting. This was first implemented in 2004 and still continues to be very well received,

especially since attendance at Intergroup continues to grow monthly. We have a ―Welcome

Table‖ set up at every Intergroup with people standing at the table to greet those who are new to

the Intergroup meeting. In addition, there are volunteers who stand at the entrance doors of the

building to help guide people to where a certain committee is meeting.

FA-WAI Phone Message Line

Our FA-WAI phone line has two voice mailboxes with messages. The 800 number now spans

all of California and was recently expanded nationwide (previous coverage was only for the San

November 30, 2009 28

Francisco area). The first mailbox provides general FA information and the website

information. The second voice mailbox recites the names and phone numbers of FA members

located in five areas of Northern and Southern California who are willing to take calls and

answer questions about FA. Calls are returned in a timely manner, thus ensuring that the caller

can speak with someone right away. We receive an average of about 20 calls per month which

get a return call and/or information mailed to them. Our FA phone message line can be seen in

phone directories and on the internet as well, and we have added a link in the Yellow Pages that

would direct people to www.foodaddicts.org. FA is now listed in twenty-one Yellow Page

listings throughout California under ―weight loss programs‖ and/or ―eating disorders‖, following

the example of where OA is listed. We are also listed in several communities in the White

Pages.

Literature Committee

In January 2007 a subcommittee was formed to oversee the sales of FA pamphlet literature each

month at Intergroup. In 2008 total sales reached $10,686 with each month averaging between

$600- $1000. Literature can be pre-ordered for quick pickup at Intergroup by downloading the

order form from www.foodaddicts.org and emailing it to waioffice@foodaddicts.org. All orders

must be received by the last day of the month in order to be available for pick up at the next

Intergroup meeting. Literature can also be purchased at Intergroup without having preordered,

but there is no guarantee that inventory will be available. Literature must be paid for at

Intergroup with either cash or money order. The WAI Treasurer works with the subcommittee to

keep an accurate financial spreadsheet while the subcommittee also maintains an inventory

spreadsheet. There are a number of volunteers in the subcommittee who receive the orders, fill

them, and assist with the distribution of literature at Intergroup.

2 – Twelfth Step Committee

The Bay Area Carpools are announced at each Intergroup meeting. Members planning to speak

in an outlying area connect with anyone who would like to come along. In this way, the

committee continues to provide ongoing support and fellowship to smaller, more distant

meetings in the Northern and Central California areas. After much trial and error, the best

method thus far has been to announce at Intergroup who the traveling speakers are, when and

where they are going, and their departure location. This information, along with phone numbers

of the traveling speakers, gets out immediately to the entire WAI and is then published in the

monthly Intergroup Summary, which is read at each meeting’s business meeting. It seems to be

running smoothly and great service continues to get done.

The Target Area Resource Subcommittee (TAR) is continuing to be the "eyes and ears" for

meetings that are more than two hours away from our monthly WAI meeting. The goal of this

committee is to keep the Intergroup contacts from all WAI meetings abreast of the happenings at

Intergroup above and beyond the monthly summary they receive in the mail. We especially want

to help those meetings that are "on the frontier" by connecting them with those specific

Intergroup resources designed to help them get up and running. TAR subcommittee members

from the Bay Area are required to have two years of abstinence. First contact is made with the

Intergroup Contact for a specific meeting and letting them know this committee is here to help.

November 30, 2009 29

Sometimes the help is welcomed and sometimes it is not necessarily needed. We don't force

ourselves on anyone. We just try to reach out and offer support.

When the TAR subcommittee first formed over three years ago, we focused mostly on remote

location meetings. Now we are trying to get more people involved and we are widening our

reach to any meeting that is two hours or more from Intergroup, even in FA well-established

areas (i.e. Los Angeles).

This past year the Information Sheet for New Members has been revised. This Information

Sheet is designed for people joining the TAR committee at Intergroup. It outlines how to

proceed with contacting a group in an outlying area as well as what kinds of resources are

available for support. The previous Information Sheet did not reflect this committee's current

practices.

There are now more people participating at Intergroup this past year, largely through the new

meeting format of the Twelfth Step Committee, the "Service Fair" as it is known.

The Meetings for the Homebound subcommittee has continued to support members who were

unable to attend their regular meetings due to illness or surgeries by providing meetings brought

to them on an ongoing basis. Others who are too ill to attend meetings requested and received

twelfth step calls in their homes. A substantial list of those willing to attend meetings in homes

is maintained and updated regularly. About halfway through this past year this committee went

from being a one person entity to an actual committee which meets at Intergroup in order to get

more FA members involved in service. The committee has recently worked on establishing

guidelines. They have passed out the details of how to hold homebound meetings so that they

most resemble a regular FA meeting as much as possible. They have gotten the word out that

this committee is a resource. Members who have either held a meeting or attended one have

shared their experience with the other members of this committee. At this stage the Homebound

committee is transitioning leadership, so more will be revealed on the growth and direction of the

committee in the coming months.

A Bay Area Outlying Area Speaker List is maintained to help speaker–getters in outlying

areas find speakers for their meetings. The list contains contact information of members willing

to travel 1-3 hours outside of the Bay Area to qualify at a meeting. It continues to be a valuable

resource for the meetings to find food addicts with substantial recovery willing to share their

experience, strength and hope.

The Universal Language List is an excellent resource for members speaking a foreign language.

There is no abstinence requirement to be on the list. All that is required is a desire to receive

outreach calls and conversational fluency in a language other than English. This committee has

worked to get the word out to members about the existence of the Universal Language List, so

that those who speak another language and want to do service can learn how to add their name to

the list, and those who may want to access the list as a resource for themselves can do so.

We continue to encourage ―Partner Meetings‖ where larger meetings take smaller ones under

their wing, exchange phone calls, keep posted on available sponsors, include each other’s phone

November 30, 2009 30

numbers on the meetings’ phone lists, and generally lend a hand in whatever ways they can.

Many newcomers report finding a sponsor from the membership of their meeting’s partner

meeting.

The WAI annual Thank-a-thon went well again this year. It included eleven separate Thank-a-

thon locations around the WAI (up from ten last year). 714 people were in attendance, with 14

newcomers. 6 newcomers got sponsors. This allowed more people to come and get what they

needed before a day that could be a bit of a challenge for any food addict. Thank-a-thons were

held in Austin, TX; Los Angeles, CA; Marin City, CA; Oakland, CA; Petaluma, CA;

Sacramento, CA; San Diego, CA; San Francisco, CA; Santa Clara, CA; Fairfield, CA; and

Walnut Creek, CA.

This committee continued to administer the WAI Speaker Fund to support members with many

years of abstinence to share their experience, strength and hope with newcomers at FA

Information Sessions. Four awards were given to support qualifying speakers attending FA

Information Sessions. They were in Calgary, Canada; Austin, TX; Los Angeles, CA; and

Spokane, WA. Many speakers traveled significant distances to share and did not request

reimbursement.

―Best Practices‖ sessions where two members share their experience serving in a particular

service position were held each month, and continued to motivate newcomers to take service

positions. Meeting Secretary / Speaker-getter, Intergroup Contact, Public Information

Representative, Greeter, theconnection representative, CD person, Literature person, and

Treasurer have now been covered twice and the written summaries of these presentations, once

approved by the WAI Board, are being posted for access by members at www.foodaddicts.org.

Some newcomers expressed newfound willingness to volunteer for service positions, and several

members with experience were grateful for what they learned and pledged to do an even better

job the next time they took a meeting service position.

Greeters have been in place to welcome newcomers and members new to the Twelfth Step

Committee at the entrance at each meeting. They explain the activities of the committee and

encourage participation.

The committee continues to reach out and help all those in our fellowship who need it and are

willing to go to any lengths to get it.

theconnection Committee first met in January of 2009. The goals of the committee are to first

increase awareness of the magazine and to provide service opportunities for members. Within

the committee, it is divided into two different groups; one is the monthly Writing Workshop for

members who are interested in contributing to theconnection. There is someone in place who

helps in a workshop setting to discuss writing, suggested topics, and how to write a well-crafted

article for theconnection. The aim is to help those who are interested in contributing articles to

the magazine. The other group is for Writing Team Leaders. theconnection Writing Team

Leader Coordinator works with the WAI Writing Team Leaders to support them in their

endeavor to solicit articles from their teams. The committee also provides general information

for other members who want to be of service in some way, mainly theconnection Reps. They

November 30, 2009 31

have started developing a network of theconnection representatives so that they can be the

ambassadors at their meetings, letting members know how to subscribe or contribute an article,

and what kind of articles are needed. There is now a place for the theconnection Rep on the

Meeting Registration Form. They are included on the form so a database can be built at the WSI

level to keep theconnection Reps up to speed. The committee is interested in developing a script

for theconnection Reps to read at their meetings. They are also discussing how to provide

information for members who want to contribute artwork. For those who participate in

theconnection meeting, but don’t presently want to write or submit artwork -- they are

encouraged to let others at their meetings know about the service opportunities available to them.

3 – Public Information / Media Committee

The WAI-PI Committee is now broken up into four subcommittees: Media, Teens and Twenties,

Weblinks, and Community Outreach. These four committees meet separately at Intergroup each

month, and we come together for about 10 minutes before we meet with the large body. Tanya

P. assumed the chair position in January.

Community Outreach report

We attended 19 health fairs – not including the Teens & Twenties health fairs and

classroom speaking outreaches.

Teens and Twenties Report

The Teens & Twenties Committee continued to focus our efforts on college campuses.

We participated in 28 Health Fairs at colleges and spoke in full days of health classes for

three teachers at two high schools in the spring and fall. We are now on several college

websites and continue in our efforts getting FA onto others. We have five area

coordinators for the San Francisco Bay Area who facilitate FA outreach activities for

their specific areas. We also continue to have a service position tracking the locations of

tri-fold literature racks and now have a committee set up for getting FA linked to college

websites.

Mediawatch Report

FA members at large email this committee with tips about TV, radio, internet, newspaper,

and magazine articles related to overeating and weight issues. Then we have a team of

members that do the look ups and email the chair with the information. A member then

calls, emails, or sends health packs out. Our follow up this year has garnered many new

connections and awareness between the medical community, health professionals, eating

disorder specialists, and FA.

Weblinks Report

The weblinks project has been very successful this year. Our web address has been

linked to many associated sites through our efforts this year, including a link on NEDA,

the National Eating Disorders Association. For a comprehensive list of sites and links

contact Lyn at lyn_travis@yahoo.com.

4 – Conference Resource Committee

November 30, 2009 32

In December 2003, the Convention Resource Committee was formed as an on-going committee

and procedures for providing financial assistance were defined in a Continuing Effect Motion in

2006 to require that recipients of financial assistance serve as delegates. For 2009, voting

members with 5 years of abstinence were eligible for funding. The maximum allotment was

increased from $300 to $500 due to increased traveling expenses and fewer applicants due to the

abstinence requirement.

A lot of good work was done by helping people to attend; however, it didn't always feel as

though the same criteria were used across the board for all applicants. The Board was involved

in some cases to help make a final decision, i.e. for applicants past the deadline or who were not

meeting delegates and therefore had to be declined. The committee acted as trusted servants and

did their best to use good judgment. In 2008, concrete policies and procedures for evaluating

applicants were created.

20 voting members were granted funding for a total of $7,700. The committee felt the increased

abstinence requirement helped us to focus on the voting members who really needed help.

Conclusion

Following those who have gone before us, the current Board expectantly looks forward to

increasing numbers of newcomers walking through the doors of FA because of the amazing

service of so many in our Intergroup. Each expansion causes a broader need for dedicated

sponsors, healthy meetings, and a greater dependence on the direction and power of God.

VI. FA-WSI Vice Chair’s Remarks (Elissa P.)

Hi, my name is Elissa and I am a food addict. A few months ago I was really struggling with

what I would say when it came time to share, ―Remarks from the Vice Chair‖.

I feel absolutely privileged for the opportunity to be able to speak here from the front of the

room. Nonetheless, in preparation for today, I found it quite challenging to determine what

exactly to say. In all honesty, I started panicking about this back in March. Fortunately, I had a

brief conversation one night with my sponsor and she really helped put things in perspective. She

reminded me that these remarks are optional and that there is no need to share unless there is

something I really feel moved to say to the fellowship. This golden nugget of wisdom gave me

just what I needed to relax and turn inward to see what was in my heart.

One of the most important principles that I live by in recovery is to remember that I am but a tool

for G-d. G-d works through people and I have come to see that when I am spiritually fit, then G-

d can sometimes choose to work through me. With this in mind, it seemed prudent to ask G-d if

there was anything he would like me to share. I sat quietly, and waited.

Despite my longing, G-d never did whisper in my ear, or send me an email, voicemail, fax, or

text message. Possibly, he did however remind me of something I previously read regarding the

Fifth Tradition, in the illustrated version of The Twelve Traditions. On the top of the page it

November 30, 2009 33

reads: ―No matter how different our own personal concerns, we are all bound together by one

common responsibility- to carry the message to the suffering alcoholic.‖

With the way the world is today, it is almost impossible not to think about the ―personal

concerns‖ each of us is faced with. Many of us in here have, in the recent past, experienced

financial insecurity in a way never experienced by us before. Likewise, many of us, if not all, are

saddened by the loss of at least two members of our fellowship who have died this past year.

Similarly, several other members of FA have been afflicted with very serious health concerns,

some which are even life-threatening. And amongst our fellowship, all of us can identify with the

struggles related to family, career, and romantic relationships.

In the chapter on the twelfth step, the Twelve and Twelve asks, ―Can we accept poverty, sickness,

loneliness, and bereavement with courage and serenity?‖ It further goes on to say, ―The answer

to [this] question is yes, all of these things are possible. We know this because we see monotony,

pain, and even calamity turned to good use by those who keep on trying to practice AA’s twelve-

steps.‖

This passage fills me with tremendous gratitude. Five months ago I underwent major back

surgery. I went in with a fairly straight-forward orthopedic problem, and I came out with a slew

of unimaginable side-effects. In a nutshell, for almost ten weeks I stayed in bed as I lost my

ability to ingest and digest solid food, to breathe comfortably, to think clearly, or to move easily.

It was a very trying time. And of course, all the while life went on around me- the value of our

family savings was cut in half, my children both had double ear-infections, my father underwent

his own surgery, two members of our family were incarcerated, and my husband’s grandmother

died.

Service from others saved my life during this unbearable time. The 12th

step committee of New

England Intergroup arranged for home meetings to be brought to me. Fellowship brought me all

of my meals during my hospital stay. People called day and night. People offered their prayers.

People drove me to my doctor’s appointments. Fellowship came to help me in my home with

everything from laundry to emptying the dishwasher, to giving my kids a bath. And so on.

People all around me, many of you who are in this room today, were genuine examples of those

whose entire well-being revolves around living the twelve steps. People all around me were

completely willing to give, despite their own life circumstances, simply to help me out with

mine.

When I was in disease, any one of these situations I just mentioned would have been license to

eat uncontrollably, and to be filled with despair, rage, and hopelessness. There were during those

weeks that I was ill, a few moments when I was overcome with a good cry. But, by and large, I

felt carried by G-d’s presence.

And, when I look back now, I am also surprised to remember how much comfort I found at the

time in also being able to give back. When I was headed to the ER, I could barely think straight,

November 30, 2009 34

but G-d reminded me to grab my fat pictures and my cell phone charger - the essentials I would

need to share my story with any newcomers I might find and to stay connected with my

fellowship in case I was admitted. Whether at home recuperating, or back in the hospital, it was a

privilege to be helpful and take a phone call from someone in need. It filled me up to share FA

with my doctors. And as luck would have it, I was able to share FA with my roommate at the

hospital - a 300-pound diabetic woman contemplating gastric bypass surgery. No G-d there!

Upon reflection I began to wonder how not to take for granted this tremendous gift—how is it

that we as a fellowship are blessed with the opportunity to both give and receive service, no

matter what is going on around us?

An idea as how to answer this question came to me in the form of many other questions.

We are all familiar with the wisdom suggested by the Big Book - do I believe I am powerless, do

I believe in a higher power, and am I willing to go to any lengths?

These questions are a big part of my foundation, and in part explain this precious gift we call

Recovery. But when I think about getting well, and staying well, and therefore then being

available to others, so that they may get well and stay well, there are many additional questions

that come to mind. If I want to fully be of service I must ask myself:

Do I entirely grasp that I am an addict and always will be? Do I believe that there is a higher

power out there and that it’s not me? Am I willing to turn my entire life over to my higher

power?

Am I fully surrendered? Am I completely willing to let go of anything that presents itself as a

barrier between my fellowship and me, the newcomer and me, my sponsor and me, or G-d and

me? Am I willing to let go of things I think I really want for the benefit of putting my recovery

and my health first?

Am I willing to be inconvenienced, in regards to time, energy, and money in order to do service?

When I share my experience, do I share from my heart? Have I let go of ego and do I remember

to give credit where credit is due? Do I realize that I am just one among many?

Do I pass on a program that is rooted in the same wisdom that was originally given to me? Do I

avoid watering down what I pass on because I am otherwise afraid that someone won’t like what

I have to say?

Do I acknowledge, accept, and embrace the fact that I have a disease that will kill me? Am I

grateful that today I want to live? Am I therefore willing to give of myself - at meetings, at

Intergroup, and out in the world - because I know that without doing service I will die?

Answering yes to these questions, each day, to the best of my ability allows me to be part of the

movement to fulfill our common responsibility- to carry the message to the newcomer.

November 30, 2009 35

Our business convention is largely about examining this service, and perhaps remembering that

our personal recovery depends on FA unity. Likewise, our unity, and our ability to pass this

program on, must depend on our personal recovery. Today I am grateful for all of the difficulties

that have intermittently emerged in my life. And of course I am grateful each time troubles pass.

Nonetheless, I believe from the bottom of my heart that, if during these times, each one of us

stays abstinent, grateful, honest, and willing, if each one of us focuses on the strength that we

gain through all that we endure, FA is sure to grow and our primary purpose will be met.