Proposed Merger: Los Angeles & San Fernando Valley OA Intergroups

The San Fernando Valley Intergroup has already voted yes to merge with the Los Angeles Intergroup. Now, it is time for the Los Angeles Intergroup to discern, through group conscience, whether to unite as one service body.

Proposed Group Conscious Timeline

Sat, Oct 18

Presentation of Pros & Cons and supporting documents at the Intergroup meeting.

Delegate Action: Receive and review documents.

Oct 18–Nov 1

Share documents and information with meetings.

Delegate Action: Bring information to all meetings you attend. Encourage attendance at the Town Hall. Compile your group’s questions for the Town Hall. If you can’t attend, find another member to go. Schedule a group conscience for after Nov 1 so your group can vote.

Sat, Nov 1 – 10:30 am

Town Hall Q&A (Zoom).

Delegate Action: Attend and invite members. Submit questions to newmedia@oalaig.org by Oct 30. This is the time where open discussion will take place.

The zoom Meeting will be held at the following zoom address:

Meeting ID: 986 8413 8128

Click here to be taken to the zoom meeting.

Passcode: 586561

Dial-In Number for SoCal Locals: +1 408 638 0968

Nov 2–Nov 14

Group conscience voting period.

Delegate Action: Discuss and hold your group conscience. Record your meeting’s vote on the merger.

Sat, Nov 15 – 10:30 am

Delegate Meeting - Final Intergroup Vote.

Delegate Action: Bring and cast your group’s vote. Results announced live at the meeting.

How to Participate

Share this document, the Pro/Con list, and the Merger Timeline at every OA meeting you attend if a delegate is not already doing so.
Schedule a group conscience vote between November 2 - November 14.
Encourage members to attend the Nov 1 Town Hall.
Help meetings without a delegate elect one—even just for November—so every group has a voice and a vote.
Take a group conscience at your meeting and bring your group’s vote to the Nov 15 Intergroup meeting. Waive the 2 week announcement period if your group did not schedule a group conscience.

Thank you for your service and thoughtful participation.

Questions may be sent to: newmedia@oalaig.org

Town Hall Agenda For Proposed Merger - Saturday 11/01/25

Opening
- Serenity Prayer
- Welcome and overview of purpose
Background
- Review of Pros & Cons
Questions & Answers
- Address pre-submitted questions
- Open floor for live Q&A
  - “Raise Hand” feature or use chat
Next Steps
- Remind delegates:
  - Bring topic to their meetings
  - Take a group conscience and record group vote. If a meeting has not scheduled a group conscience prior to Nov 1, the group should vote to waive the traditional two-week announcement period so they may hold a group conscience immediately and have their voice heard.
  - Encourage meetings without a delegate to elect one before Nov 15 and take a group conscience vote.
Closing
- Reminder of delegate responsibilities
- Thank participants for unity and service
- Serenity Prayer

The Town Hall will be recorded and posted at oalaig.org. Participants’ voices may be heard in the recording. Members may pre-submit written questions through the form provided or email newmedia@oalaig.org for additional clarification.

● Financial and Administrative Efficiency

Combining bookkeeping, tax returns, payroll, insurance, and office audits streamlines operations and reduces expenses. Shared revenue from events like the Birthday Party supports sustainability.

○ Supporting Principles:

■ Tradition Seven:

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

■ Concept Twelve (b):

“Sufficient operating funds, plus an ample reserve, shall be OA’s prudent financial principle.”

■ Concept Ten:

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

Simplified Governance and Legal Alignment

A unified board, delegate body, and bylaws structure enhances clarity and decision-making. Best practices from both intergroups can be integrated.

○ Supporting Principles:

■ Concept One:

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

■ Concept Three:

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

■ Concept Four:

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

■ Concept Ten:

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

● Stronger Use of Trusted Servants

Reduces duplication of roles, creating more space for members to step into service and grow spiritually. The shared volunteer pool increases capacity.

○ Supporting Principles:

■ Concept Nine:

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

● Expanded Service and Outreach

Combines networks of sponsors, newcomers, and literature access. Zoom increases accessibility. More unified efforts to reach the still-suffering compulsive eater.

○ Supporting Principles:

■ Tradition Five: “Each group has but one primary purpose—to carry its message to the compulsive overeater who still suffers.”

■ Step Twelve Principle: Service

● Renewal of Structure, Clarity, and Opportunity to Invigorate Fellowship and Service.

The merger provides a rare opportunity to revisit bylaws, policies, and committee roles with fresh intention, shared experience, and turning the merger into a moment of celebration.

○ Supporting Principles:

■ Concept Ten: “Service responsibility is balanced by carefully defined service authority; therefore, duplication of efforts is avoided.”

● Unity with Diversity

Merging allows a broader spectrum of recovery styles and experiences to work together and serve the fellowship.

○ Supporting Principles:

■ Tradition Three: "The only requirement for OA membership is a desire to stop eating compulsively.”

■ Unity with Diversity Policy: “The Fellowship of Overeaters Anonymous encourages and promotes acceptance and inclusivity. We welcome all who share our compulsion.”

PROS

● Integration and Transitional Workload

The process of merging two intergroups involves significant planning, coordination, and administrative effort. It may require additional resources and effort to ensure continuity of service, equitable support and fair and inclusive representation for all member groups during and after the transition.

○ Principles of Concern:

■ Concept Ten:

“Service responsibility is balanced by carefully defined service authority;

therefore, duplication of efforts is avoided.”

■ Concept Three:

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

■ Tradition One:

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

■ Concept One:

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

■ Concept Five:

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

● Structural Transition and Role Reconfiguration

Consolidation of service boards may necessitate redefining or eliminating some existing roles. This requires careful planning to preserve meaningful opportunities for trusted servants to contribute.

○ Principles of Concern:

■ Tradition Two:

“For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority—a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience.”

■ Concept Nine:

“Able, trusted servants… are indispensable for effective functioning at all service levels.”

● Geographic Accessibility and Representation

A centralized intergroup structure may reduce localized access to in-person events and services. Representation across regions must be intentionally maintained to support inclusion and participation.

○ Principles of Concern:

■ Tradition One:

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

■ Concept Four:

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

● Service Capacity and Volunteer Engagement

Combining intergroups does not inherently resolve challenges in volunteer recruitment or participation. Proactive strategies will still be needed to engage and support trusted servants.

○ Principles of Concern:

■ Concept Nine:

“Able, trusted servants… are indispensable for effective functioning at all service levels.”

● Mission Clarity and Spiritual Prioritization

In pursuing administrative or financial efficiency, there is a risk of diverting focus from OA’s spiritual foundation and primary purpose. Ongoing discernment and group conscience are essential.

○ Principles of Concern:

■ Tradition Five:

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

■ Tradition Nine:

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

■ Concept Twelve (a):

“No OA committee or service body shall ever become the seat of perilous wealth or power.”

● Information and Communication Gaps

A successful transition requires consistent communication, clear timelines, and accessible information to support fully informed group conscience across all meetings.

○ Principles of Concern:

■ Tradition Two:

“For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority—a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience.”

■ Concept One:

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

Proposed Merger: Los Angeles & San Fernando Valley OA Intergroups

Proposed Group Conscious Timeline

Sat, Oct 18

Oct 18–Nov 1

Sat, Nov 1 – 10:30 am

Nov 2–Nov 14

Sat, Nov 15 – 10:30 am

How to Participate

Town Hall Agenda For Proposed Merger - Saturday 11/01/25

PROS

CONS

Download the Merger Document here.

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