2025-06-01-Assembly-Minutes-unapproved
Virtual Region of Overeaters Anonymous
Assembly 1 Minutes
Date: June 1, 2025
Time: 10:00 AM Eastern Time
Opening
The assembly opened with the Serenity Prayer, followed by the reading of opening materials and remarks by the Chair, after which the Chair introduced the Parliamentarian and Center Microphone Monitor.
Roll Call of voting members was taken by the Secretary and Data Officer, and announced as follows:
20 Intergroups/service bodies represented
31 Representatives
5 Board members (minus the chair
7 committee chairs
For a total of 43 voting members
Meditation and Reading
A passage from For Today was read, followed by a 3-minute meditation.
Quorum
The Secretary and Data Officer confirmed the roll call results The Quorum was announced and the Chair declared a quorum present.
Standing Rules
The Standing rules were presented, upon which an amendment was introduced.
Standing Rules Amendment 1 (made by the Secretary): A motion to amend the Standing to extend the time for questions from seven minutes to twelve minutes was introduced and seconded.
Motion to call the question.
Seconded.
Vote on Calling the Question: 38 yes; 2 no. Adopted
Standing Rules Amendment 1 (Continued). The motion to amend the Standing Rules was taken up. The Chair called for the vote on the motion to Standing Rules Amendment 1.
Vote on Standing Rules Amendment 1: 28 yes; 15 no. Adopted.
Standing Rules Amendment 1 was adopted as follows:
10 Questions on the Motions
Standing Rules (as amended)
The Standing Rules (as amended) were taken up.
Vote on the motion to adopt the Standing Rules (as amended): 37 yes; 4 no.
The Standing rules were Adopted.
Adoption of Agenda
The motion on the adoption of the Proposed Agenda was taken up. The proposed agenda was adopted without objection.
Appointment of Minutes Review Committee
A Minutes Review Committee was appointed.
Approval of 2024 Assembly 2 Minutes
The motion on the adoption of the 2024 Assembly 2 Minutes was taken up. The 2024 Assembly 2 Minutes were adopted without objection.
Consent Agenda
The motion on the Adoption of the Consent Agenda was taken up. New Business Motion 1 was removed from the Consent Agenda.
The Chair called for the vote on the motion to adopt the Consent Agenda. The Consent Agenda was adopted without objection.
New Business Motion 3 was adopted as follows:
OA Virtual Region Policy Manual, Section 10.1: Amendments to this Policy and Procedure Manual may be proposed by any Virtual Region service body, the Virtual Region board, or a Virtual Region committee.
Treasurer’s report:
The Treasurer’s report was taken up. Questions were asked and answered.
Motion To Suspend The Rules
A motion to suspend the rules, in order to increase the time for question on the treasurers report by 5 minutes was taken up. The motion to suspend the rules was debated. Questions were asked and answered.
A motion to extend the question period by 5 minutes was adopted: 33 yes, 9 no.
The motion to suspend the rules was adopted.
Motion To Suspend The Rules
A motion to suspend the rules in order to take an item out of order was presented. The Chair ruled this out of order as the agenda had already been approved.
New Business Motion 2: Move to add Jewish Ethnicity Specific Focus Category
Motion 2 (Move to add Jewish Ethnicity Specific Focus Category) was taken up. The motion was presented, after which an amendment was presented.
Amendment 1 to Motion 2
Amendment 1 to Motion 2 was proposed and seconded, after which Amendment 1 to Motion 2 was taken up.
Questions were addressed from the floor.
Vote on the motion to adopt Amendment 1 to Motion 2: 25 yes; 17 no.
Amendment 1 to Motion 2 was adopted as follows: Move to present a motion to the 2026 World Service Business Conference directing the board of trustees to create a specific focus category for ethnically Jewish members and add it to the specific focus drop-down menu on OA.org.
Amendment 2 to Motion 2
Amendment 2 to Motion 2 was proposed and seconded, after which Amendment 2 to Motion 2 was taken up.
Questions were addressed from the floor.
Vote on the motion to adopt Amendment 1 to Motion 2: 22 yes; 19 no.
Amendment 2 to Motion 2 was adopted.
Note: This amendment was later withdrawn at the suggestion of the Parliamentarian.
Move to Commit Motion 2
A motion to commit the motion to the bylaws committee was proposed and seconded, after which the motion to commit was taken up.
Questions were asked and answered.
Vote on the motion to commit Motion 2: 17 yes; 24 no.
Motion to commit Motion 2 failed.
Motion 2 (as amended)
Motion 2 (as amended) was taken up.
Questions were asked and answered.
Vote on the motion to adopt Motion 2 (as amended): 24 yes; 18 no.
Motion 2 (as amended) was adopted as follows: Move to present a motion to the 2026 World Service Business Conference directing the board of trustees to create a specific focus category for ethnically Jewish members and add it to the specific focus drop-down menu on OA.org.
Suspend the rules
A motion to suspend the rules, in order to take up New Bylaws Motion B prior to consideration of New Bylaws Motion A was proposed and seconded after which it was taken up.
Questions were addressed from the floor.
Vote on the motion to suspend the rules: 27 yes; 8 no.
The motion to suspend the rules was adopted.
New Bylaws Motion B – Move to amend Article 5 of the bylaws to create a new member of the board of directors: Member at large
Motion B was taken up.
Questions were addressed from the floor.
Vote on the motion to adopt Motion B: .29 yes; 10 no.
Motion B was adopted as follows:
OA Virtual Region Bylaws
ARTICLE 5 – THE VIRTUAL REGION BOARD
Section 1 – Composition
Move To Withdraw New Bylaws Motion A
A motion to withdraw Motion A was presented by the Maker of the Motions Representative. The Chair ruled this out of order as the motion now belongs to the body.
Move to Extend the Limits of the Assembly
A motion to extend the assembly by 45 minutes in order to Consider New Bylaws Motion C and New Business Motion 4 was proposed and seconded after which it was taken up. The motion to extend the assembly by 45 minutes in order to Consider New Bylaws Motion C and New Business Motion 4 was debated.
Questions were addressed from the floor.
Vote on the motion to extend the assembly by 45 minutes in order to consider New Bylaws Motion C and New Business Motion 4: 25 yes; 13 no.
The motion to extend the assembly by 45 minutes in order to consider New Bylaws Motion C and New Business Motion 4 was adopted.
Suspend the rules
A motion to suspend the rules, in order to consider Bylaws Motion C and New Business Motion 4, without debate or questions, and move directly to the vote which was proposed and seconded, after which it was taken up. The motion to suspend the rules was debated. Questions were asked and answered. The Chair called for the vote on the motion to suspend the rules.
Vote: 32 yes; 2 no. Motion to suspend the rules was adopted.
Message from the Chair:
At the conclusion of the assembly, following the passage of the motion to create the Member-at-Large position, a motion was made to consolidate the two remaining motions—one bylaw and one policy and procedure—relating to this new role. However, there remains some uncertainty regarding whether Motion C and Motion 4 were actually passed or simply combined for consideration.
In the interest of transparency and fairness to the body, we believe it is appropriate to bring these two motions back for a clear vote at the next assembly. They may be placed on the consent agenda, from which any member may request an item be removed for separate discussion and vote.
The motions in question pertain to:
These motions will be submitted in advance for consideration at the next assembly.
Move to adjoin.
Motion to adjourn was proposed and seconded, after which it was taken up.
Questions were addressed from the floor.
Vote on the motion to adjourn. 30 yes; 5 no. Motion to Adjourn was adopted.
Closing
The Region Chair conducted a Green Dot ceremony, after which the assembly was adjourned by announcements and closing prayers at 4:21 PM Eastern Time.