Chair's Corner 
 

Step Up to Service

 
“You will do service” was the statement given by the woman who was to become my first sponsor. I had been in program for only a few months when I asked her to sponsor me, and her condition was non-negotiable. Even though the night of Intergroup conflicted with my weekly meeting, I attended to see what this was all about. 
 
My new sponsor was the chair, and I watched and listened to members reporting on their committee work, upcoming events, Region and World Service matters, and the status of their meetings. That I was unaware of, and confused by, the service structure of OA as a whole didn’t matter – I wanted to be part of that group of people sitting around that conference table!
 
Computers and cell phones were not the ubiquitous companions they are today, where all information is at our fingertips. My first service position at Intergroup was being the meeting contact person. Quarterly, the World Service office published two large spiral-bound books of meetings – one for the US, and one for international locations. When members traveled, they could call me (remember, no email or texting), and I would give them meeting locations. However, the information was not always accurate when meetings closed or changed location, because the books were updated only every three months.
 
While meeting information is now readily available electronically, there are always service positions to fill at Intergroup. Please consider taking a step up from your group service to see what Intergroup can offer. We organize committees to plan special events and do outreach, serve as board members, and represent our meetings to give a voice and a vote to issues that affect Brandywine IG and OA as a whole. If your meeting does not send a representative to Intergroup, please consider doing that service. If you would just like to experience an Intergroup meeting without making a service commitment, we welcome you, too. 
 
Some members have served in various capacities and are rotating out of their service positions at the end of the June meeting, so we are in need of replacements for those who are stepping up to replace them. Everyone was a newcomer at one time, and we welcome you to come, participate, and learn. Please join us on the second Saturday of each month from 10-11:30 AM at Paoli Hospital, board room 206. There is often a speaker meeting following the IG meeting; so bring your lunch and stay for more recovery. Details will be found in the Blast which is emailed the week prior to the meeting. I’m looking forward to seeing you.

Yours in service,
Marilyn
 

At the 2018 World Service Business Conference, delegates voted to change OA Unity Day celebration dates and times to be more inclusive of all members of our Fellowship:

Therefore Unity Day will be celebrated alternately on the last Saturday of February in even years and the last Sunday in February in odd years. Plus, Unity Day will now be celebrated at 11:30 a.m. local time (previously Pacific Standard Time). The next Unity Day celebration is at 11:30 a.m. local time on Sunday, February 24, 2019. (As mentioned above, the Brandywine Intergroup Unity Day event will begin @ 1:30 pm)

For the purposes of 2019 Intergroup event planning the other OA holidays for the year 2019 are celebrated as weekends except for Twelfth Step Within Day.

* OA’s Birthday will be celebrated every third weekend of January. Next year’s OA Birthday weekend is January 19–20, 2019.

* Sponsorship Day will be celebrated every third weekend of August. Sponsorship Day weekend 2019 is August 17–18, 2019.

* International Day Experiencing Abstinence (IDEA day) will be celebrated every third weekend of November:  November 16–17, 2019.

OFFICERS

Chair: Marilyn
Ex Officio: Mary Frances

Vice-Chair: Louisa

Treasurer: Laura W

Corresponding Secretary: Linda R

Recording Secretary: Irene

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