BLA F: Clean Up Trustee

BLA F

MOTION: Move to amend OA Virtual Region Bylaws Article 5 – The Virtual Region Board, Section 4 – Trustee Nominees, by striking as follows:

 

CURRENT WORDING

Article 5 – The Virtual Region Board

Section 4 – Trustee Nominees

  1. Trustees are elected at the World Service Business Conference; however, Virtual Region nominees for the position of Trustee will be selected from members of Overeaters Anonymous within the Virtual Region who meet the requirements of the Virtual Region Assembly and the OA Inc., Bylaws Subpart B.

The Virtual Region requires:

  1. Being a regularly attending member of a Group within the Virtual Region.
  2. An awareness of the time and expenses involved in service as a trustee.
  3. People wishing to be nominated must submit a Trustee Application.
  4. Applications must be submitted no later than sixty (60) days before the Assembly at which the election will be held.
  5. Applicants must be present at the Assembly, prepared to respond regarding qualifications for trustee service.
  1. In the event that there are no applicants for Trustee at an Assembly where applications are needed, or if a vacancy occurs where there is no Virtual Region Assembly prior to the date required for submission of applications or if the Board of Trustees calls for further Trustee applications for appointment, the following options will be taken:
  1. The Virtual Region board will solicit applications from the Virtual Region service bodies.
  2. A board meeting will be held for the purposes of affirmation of the candidate.
  3. A majority vote of the Virtual Region Board will constitute affirmation of the application.
  4. Notification of the results of the affirmation process shall be sent to the Virtual Region service bodies. unaffiliated meetings and will be posted on the Virtual Region website.

PROPOSED WORDING

Article 5 – The Virtual Region Board

Section 4 – Trustee Nominees

  1. Trustees are elected at the World Service Business Conference; however, Virtual Region nominees for the position of Trustee will be selected from members of Overeaters Anonymous within the Virtual Region who meet the requirements of the Virtual Region Assembly and the OA Inc., Bylaws Subpart B.

The Virtual Region requires:

  1. Being a regularly attending member of a Group within the Virtual Region.
  2. An awareness of the time and expenses involved in service as a trustee.
  3. People wishing to be nominated must submit a Trustee Application.
  4. Applications must be submitted no later than sixty (60) days before the Assembly at which the election will be held.
  5. Applicants must be present at the Assembly, prepared to respond regarding qualifications for trustee service.
  1. In the event that there are no applicants for Trustee at an Assembly where applications are needed, or if a vacancy occurs where there is no Virtual Region Assembly prior to the date required for submission of applications or if the Board of Trustees calls for further Trustee applications for appointment, the following options will be taken:
  1. The Virtual Region board will solicit applications from the Virtual Region service bodies.
  2. A board meeting will be held for the purposes of affirmation of the candidate.
  3. A majority vote of the Virtual Region Board will constitute affirmation of the application.
  4. Notification of the results of the affirmation process shall be sent to the Virtual Region service bodies. unaffiliated meetings and will be posted on the Virtual Region website.

SUBMITTED BY:

Virtual Region Bylaws Committee

For the motion maker’s contact details, please email secretary@oavirtualregion.org

INTENT: To clearly distinguish the role of the Trustee from that of a Region Board Member in all relevant sections of the bylaws, thereby avoiding confusion about service positions and authority.

IMPLEMENTATION: All sections of the Bylaws and Policy & Procedure Manual and related documents where the Trustee is referenced alongside Board Members will be reviewed and revised. Language will be updated to state explicitly that the Trustee serves as a liaison and resource but is not a member of the Region Board.

PRIMARY PURPOSE: This motion supports OA’s primary purpose by ensuring that service roles are clearly defined, preventing misunderstandings about authority, responsibility, and accountability.

RATIONALE: At present, wording in some sections could lead members to assume that the Trustee is a Board Member. Since the Trustee’s role is defined differently in OA Bylaws, clarification is necessary. This protects the integrity of the Region, prevents conflicts of interest, and ensures that all participants understand the scope of the Trustee’s service.