What is a Intergroup?

When several groups form in an area, they soon realize that they can better perform together rather than separately. Groups may form an intergroup that is directly responsible to the groups it serves. Intergroups spring from a need to provide service for a number of local groups and to provide better information about OA in a community (adapted from OA Handbook for Members, Groups, and Service Bodies). Typical services provided by an intergroup are:

• Providing a central telephone number for information about OA and the local meetings
• Publishing regular newsletters or bulletins to keep groups informed about each other and upcoming OA events
• Coordinating speakers, public information, and contact with the professional community
• Maintaining a supply of OA literature and OA and AA books
• Sending delegates to regional assemblies and the World Service Business Conference
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What is a Service Board?

National, language, and specific-focus service boards are a tier of the OA service structure.

National service boards are composed of groups and intergroups who share a common purpose; to deal with issues that require a combination of membership and financial resources of intergroups and groups established within a single country.

Language service boards are composed of groups, intergroups, and national service boards to serve the common needs of a language group, regardless of geographic proximity.

Specific-focus service boards are composed of two or more groups or intergroups to serve the common needs of groups and intergroups with the same specific focus, regardless of geographic proximity.