The Virtual Region Public Information Professional Outreach/ Unity With Diversity Committee (PIPO/UWD)
On the Public Information side, we reach out to the still suffering compulsive eater who may not even know Overeaters Anonymous exists. We look for creative and compassionate ways to make sure no one misses the opportunity for recovery simply because they did not know help was available.
On the Newcomer Website:
https://welcome.oavirtualregion.org/
Keep Meeting lists updated
Newcomer Open House 3/year with
a Welcome Center, including at annual VR Convention
outreach pages updated
On our main OA VR Website/Events:
https://oavirtualregion.org/
Main page keep attention/info updated
Workshops and send info to the Digital Resources Committee
On the Day of the Open House there will be a WELCOME CENTER. This will be the Zoom room that will greet Newcomers and help them in any way needed.
This room also hosts the various breakout rooms for the Newcomer meetings all day.
VR PIPO/UWD:
We schedule service workers for the Welcome Center Zoom room through which newcomer meetings will be directed to breakout rooms.
Hosts chooses a Meeting time slot:
We have English meetings every hour (55min) starting at 8am EDT
We have Foreign Language Meetings on the half hour (90 mins)
Their groups provide the meeting:
The meeting provides the Topic, Host, Lead, Speaker, & Security
Groups provide their service worker list and each one signs a service agreement.
On the Professional Outreach side, we connect with doctors, therapists, clergy, and other health professionals, offering information about OA as a trusted resource for the people they serve. Professionals then feel confident in referring patients and clients to the OA program that offers hope and community.
Outreach to Professionals:
Getting information about OA to Doctors, Clergy, Therapists, counselors, dietitians, and treatment programs
On our Newcomer Website:
Resources for newcomers and members to use/outreach
On our main OA VR Website:
Outreach /direction to newcomers
Newcomer Website and on our main OA VR Website:
We review and make sure information is inclusive and accommodating.
https://oavirtual.org/ and
We Update all Resources
Our Open House encourages and promotes inclusivity for Newcomers with our affiliated intergroups and service body’s meetings.
We Host Workshops, including Unity Day.
Our Committee is mindful to be inclusive in all endeavors and to promote inclusivity in all we do.
THE FELLOWSHIP of Overeaters Anonymous encourages and promotes acceptance and inclusivity. All are welcome to join OA and are not excluded because of race, creed, nationality, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other attribute. We welcome all who share our compulsion. Everyone with the desire to stop eating compulsively is welcome in Overeaters Anonymous.
THE FELLOWSHIP recognizes the existence of individual approaches and different structured concepts to working our Twelve Step program of recovery; that the Fellowship is united by our disease and our common purpose; and that individual differences in approaches to recovery within our Fellowship need not divide us.
THE FELLOWSHIP respects the rights of members, groups, and service bodies to follow a particular concept of recovery within Overeaters Anonymous and encourages each member, group, and service body to respect those rights as they extend the hand of fellowship to those who still suffer. For example, this means we do not try to convince any member or visitor to adopt a belief in God.
THE FELLOWSHIP encourages each duly registered group and service body to affirm and maintain the Twelve Traditions of Overeaters Anonymous by allowing members to share their experience, strength, and hope in meetings, regardless of the individual approach or specific concept that member may follow. Duly registered is defined as being in full compliance with Bylaws, Subpart B, Article V.
— OA Business Conference Policy Manual
Virtual Region Open House: We will have one in October, Convention 2027 & in June 2027.
PIPO/UWD Resource Review Phase 1 (Websites) Making sure that all Newcomer Info, Public Information Professional Outreach and Unity with Diversity information is clear and concise, updated, and can be seen easily without much searching.
PIPO/UWD Reach out Phase 2
-Go over committee’s lists of collected organizations with virtual committees or programs, such as therapists, counsellors, dietitians, and treatment programs, that may benefit from information about virtual recovery meetings.
-The committee will then begin outreach efforts by sharing existing PIPO/UWD digital resources and information about how individuals can access meetings in the Virtual Region.
PIPO/UWD Google Drive: Organize and simplify the committee’s Google drive so that with rotation of service any person can ease into the position. In having step by step directions, we feel this will ease the work of the numerous tasks PIPO/UWD does. Having event history with documentation helps put things into perspective and is a good resource going forward.
WORKSHOP & POSSIBLE ONE: We will have a “Carry the Message: Principles into Practice Workshop on September 20th, 2026. The committee will discuss a possible workshop on the topic, “The Blurred Line of Outside Issues,” which will explore how members and service bodies can remain welcoming and inclusive while staying grounded in the Traditions of Overeaters Anonymous. The workshop will help members better understand how to balance unity and diversity while honoring the spiritual Principles that guide the fellowship.
Look forward to serving with you.
See you at the next PIPO/UWD meeting!
We meet the first Saturday of each month at 4PM ET.
Visit the
PIPO/UWD Chair
-Attend Committee Meetings, share ideas, enthusiasm, skills, and time to complete any tasks we may have so our region grows. There is always something we can do!
-Be the PIPO/UWD Secretary
-Virtual Region Open House
-Volunteer at the Welcome Center
-Share flyers
-Help Review and make suggestions on our online website Resources
-Work on upcoming various goals as they arise
-Help with upcoming Workshops
-Help with Committee Carnivals and games
-Make Flyers
The Virtual Region Public Information Professional Outreach/ Unity With Diversity Committee (PIPO/UWD)
“Always to extend the hand and heart of OA
to all who share my compulsion;
for this I am responsible”