DECEMBER 2024
- Elections: the positions of Vice Chair and Chair of Communications Committee have been filled: Lina and Benjamin respectively.
- Need for additional technical support for website and additional communication needs. Solutions are being pursued.
- 2025 Budget was adopted.
- Stepping Stones relaunch, first issue will debut in the spring.
- Happy holiday season – stay abstinent. Meetings are available on the holidays – please check the website for more information.
NOVEMBER 24, 2024
- Elections held.
Results: Chair – Karen B; Secretary – Connie A; Interim Treasurer – Karen M; 2nd Region Representative – Sue B; Public Information/Public Outreach – Jane S.
Positions open: Vice Chair; World Service Delegate; Website/Communications Committee Chair; Finance Committee Chair; and 12th Step Within/Special Events Committee Chair.
To be revisited in December.
- 2025 Intergroup Meeting dates have been determined and will be posted on the website.
- Priorities going forward:
- Recruiting more Intergroup reps;
- Creating more face-to-face workshop opportunities; and
- Having fundraisers.
- Next month:
- Approve 2025 budget
- The future of Steppingstones newsletter
JUNE 23, 2024
- Public Information/Professional Outreach Committee continies to seeking ideas regarding local health fairs where OA can participate.
- BAIG/Annapolis Area Workshop: Sponsorship Day – August 18th location TBD
- 2024 Region 7 Convention – November 1-3 in Ocean City, Maryland – REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!
- An open discussion of BAIG efforts was held
- An internal Intergroup inventory will be held at our July meeting. This is an open discussion – please consider joining us.
- Each BAIG meeting will be reached-out to regarding when would be the most optimal day and time to meet.
MAY 19, 2024
- BAIG will be co-sponsoring a workshop with the Annapolis Area Intergroup for Sponsorship Day on August 18th. If you are willing to serve on an organizing committee, please contact Sue B. (suebalco@hotmail.com).
- Our June meeting will be moved to June 23rd at 2pm in light of Father’s Day.
- BAIG discussed how best to support our member meetings. This will be the main topic of our June meeting. ALL OA MEMBERS are welcome to attend and participate in a brainstorming session. If you are not available to join us, please send any ideas you might have to our chair Karen B. (karen.beck@mac.com).
- 2024 Region 7 Convention – November 1-3 in Ocean City, Maryland. Flyers and registration materials will be available on June 1, 2024 @ www.oaregion7.org.
APRIL 21, 2024
- Public Information/Professional Outreach Committee is seeking ideas regarding local health fairs, conferences and health care profesisonals who might be interested in information about OA.
- Our quarterly newsletter – The Stepping Stone welcomes submissions. When you practice your tool of writing, consider sharing your results with others.
- BAIG is seeking members to serve in several capacities. We are in need of a Secretary and a 12th Step Within Committee Chair. Please contact Karen B. for more information (karen.beck@mac.com).
- BAIG Workshop: Sponsorship Day – August 18th location TBD
- 2024 Region 7 Convention – November 1-3 in Ocean City, Maryland
FEBRUARY 18, 2024
Our Next BAIG Meeting is scheduled for Sunday, March 17 from 2-3:30. We encourage meeting reps from each local meeting to attend, so you can contribute to our fellowship across the region. Most BAIG meetings are virtual and use the general zoom link. Service is a way to support both your own recovery and that of others. Please join us – everyone is welcome.
Why don’t you help plan an OA Special Event in 2024?
Baltimore Area Intergroup invites you to help organize and host one of our annual “12 Step Within” Activities. These are events to help support current OA members sustain their recovery or recover from relapse. We’ll provide you ideas and resources along the way. Here are some of the events we hold most years that we need volunteers to help plan.
- Sponsorship Day – an event celebrated the third full weekend (Friday included) of August, this is a day set aside to acknowledge the importance of sponsoring in our Fellowship.
- International Day Experiencing Abstinence (IDEA), celebrated the third full weekend (Friday included) in November, encourages OA members worldwide to begin or reaffirm their abstinence from compulsive overeating.
- Twelfth Step Within Day, recognized on December 12 (12/12) each year, is designated as OA’s International Twelfth Step Within Day. The purpose is to encourage OA service bodies, meetings, and individual members to reach out to those within the Fellowship who are still suffering from compulsive eating behaviors.
- Candlelight Promises. A BAIG event held during the weekend closest to December 12 to inspire OA fellows with the Promises of OA.
No experience needed. If you might want to take the lead on one of these or another event, contact Hans M. to discuss (Hansmeeder@gmail.com).
Make Your PayPal 7th Tradition contributions easier!
OA’s 7th Tradition states that “every OA group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.” Together we make OA work. Did you know that PayPal allows you to set up a subscription for making payments? Just click on the box that says, “Make this a monthly donation.”
You can use this for your regular local meeting, and also to support the coordinating work of the Baltimore Area Intergroup (website management, zoom link subscriptions, participation in OA world conference, and support for local group starts-ups) Here’s the link to our website for Intergroup 7th Tradition contributions. https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=HV7RJ23WJ4HRW
Conventions – Plan Early to join us!
Region Seven hosts an annual convention. It is a face-to-face event and draws approximately 225 OA’ers from around our region. This year’s convention is scheduled for November 1-3 in Ocean City, Maryland. The convention committee is looking for folks who are interested in participating in, or leading committees to support the event. This includes programming of workshops, entertainment, hospitality – there are lots of opportunities to consider. For more information, please contact Karen B. at karen.beck@mac.com to discuss anything about this fun event.
In addition, it’s never too soon to consider attending the World Service Convention which will be held at the Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld® – August 21-23, 2025. More information will be made available in the next few months.
JANUARY 28, 2024
- Every meeting should contact BAIG to provide information regarding their intergroup representative and/or contact persons.
- Please make sure that literature made available at your meeting is the most recent version. Literature is the end-result of the group conscience of OA as a whole, and maintaining up-to-date versions is important. When a pamphlet is updated, please remove any older versions for clarity. If your meeting chooses to donate literature to a newer meeting, please make sure that the donation is of current literature.
- BAIG has approved reinstating a prior policy to support new (and re-forming) meetings to assist with the purchase of literature and payment of initial rentals. This will be limited to $50 per meeting. The meeting must be registered with the WSO as an affiliated meeting of BAIG.
- Unity Day is February 24. BAIG and Annapolis Area OA Intergroups will be co-sponsoring a workshop focused on our Unity of purpose – to abstain from compulsive eating and compulsive food behaviors through the 12 Steps, 12 Traditions of OA while supporting our differing approaches to recovery. The workshop will be held at the South Shore Recovery Club (1199 Generals Highway; Crownsville, MD) from 11am – 3 pm. A flyer will be posted as soon as it is available.
- We have agreed to meet in a hybrid fashion once each quarter. Specific locations will be reported as soon as they are known.
- Next BAIG Meeting: Sunday, February 18th, 2024 at 2-3:30pm
DECEMBER 17, 2023
- The January BAIG meeting will be held on Sunday January 28, 2024 at 2-3:30pm. Pleases designate a representative from your meeting to attend and share how things are going with your meeting, and provide your input to the intergroup about your meeting’s plans for the upcoming year.
- New in-person meetings are forming and need OA approved literature. If any groups have excess literature that you would be willing to share, please contact Hans M. @ hansmeeder@gmail.com
- Some groups have experienced negative impact from Zoom bombers/stalkers. Please take a look at a forthcoming message from Karen B that provides good advice about how to protect your personal security. Also look at the policy adopted by the Sunday morning meeting to not allow admission to anyone trying to log on to Zoom fifteen minutes after the meeting begins. See https://oabaltimore.org/meetings/
- The BAIG is pursuing a joint in-person Unity Day event to be held on February 24, 2024, in collaboration with the Annapolis Area Intergroup. Stay tuned for more information.
- Next BAIG Meeting: Sunday, January 28th, 2024 at 2-3:30pm
NOVEMBER 12, 2023
- Starting a Face-to-Face Meeting is within reach. https://oa.org/how-to-start-a-meeting/
Support:Mike B MikeB1Bear@yahoo.com
- Baltimore Area OA has a Facebook page! We are looking for someone who would like to become an administrator. Help us get out the OA message! Contact Hans M. 443-878-3503
- The Fall Steppingstone is out on our website. Thanks to everyone who has submitted stories, thoughts, and drawings. Please keep them coming! Winter submissions should go to the Steppingstone editor through the link on OABaltimore.org by December 5. Write some thoughts about getting through the Holidays!
- Upcoming Workshops on Zoom:
- IDEA Day held Sunday November 19th, 2-4 pm
Looking forward to international speakers on Zoom
- Candlelight Promises on Saturday December 16th, 5:30pm
- JOIN US! “Fridays with Fellowship” meeting of the Baltimore Area Intergroup is organizing a winter beach retreat. Our themes this year will be women’s experiences in OA and Steps Six and Seven. All OA members are welcome.
When: January 19-21, 2024
Where: Memorial House in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
See flyer on https://oabaltimore.org
- Next BAIG Meeting: Sunday, December 17th at 2-3:30pm
OCTOBER 15, 2023
- Region 7’s in-person Convention, Don’t miss the boat! SAIL INTO RECOVERY, will be held at the Princess Royale in Ocean City, MD November 3rd – 5th, 2023. Registration ends November 1st: https://oaregion7.org/events/2023-region-7-convention/
- Looking to fill many BAIG positions for 2024. Questions and Answer Session on Tuesday, November 7th @ 7pm on Zoom. Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Public Information/Professional Outreach (PI/PO), Steppingstone Editor, 12-Step Within Chair.
- Starting a Face-to-Face Meeting is within reach.
https://oa.org/how-to-start-a-meeting/
Support: Mike B MikeB1Bear@yahoo.com
- Baltimore Area OA has a Facebook page! We are looking for someone who would like to become an administrator! Help us get out the OA message! Contact Hans M. 443-878-3503
- The Fall Steppingstone is out on our website! Thanks to everyone who has submitted stories, thoughts, and drawings. Please keep them coming! Winter Submissions should go to the Steppingstone editor through the link on OABaltimore.org by December 5.
- BAIG attended the In-person Health Fair in September.
Huge success carrying the message to over 50 City Employees.
- Upcoming Workshops on Zoom:
- IDEA Day held Sunday November 19th 2-4pm (looking forward to international speakers on Zoom).
- Candlelight Promises on Saturday, December 16th, 5:30pm on Zoom.
- JOIN US! “Fridays With Fellowship” meeting of the Baltimore Area
Intergroup is organizing a winter beach retreat. Our themes this year will be women’s experiences in OA and Steps Six and Seven. All OA members are welcome.
When: January 21-23, 2024
Where: Memorial House in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
See Flyer on https://oabaltimore.org
- BAIG November Elections meeting: Sunday, November 12th at 2-3:30pm
SEPTEMBER 10, 2023
- Baltimore Area OA has a Facebook page! We are looking for someone who would like to become an administrator! Help us get out the OA message! Contact Hans M. 443-878-3503
- Thanks to everyone who has submitted stories, thoughts, and drawings to The Steppingtones. Please keep them coming! Submissions should go to the Steppingstone editor through the link on OABaltimore.org. Be on the look out for the latest edition.
- Region 7’s in-person convention, Don’t miss the boat! SAIL INTO RECOVERY, will be held at the Princess Royale in Ocean City, MD from November 3rd – 5th, 2023. Registration ends October 31. https://oaregion7.org/events/2023-region-7-convention/
- BAIG (Baltimore Area Intergroup) October meeting is Sunday, October 15 at 2-3:30pm on our zoom link.
AUGUST 20, 2023
- Baltimore Area OA has a Facebook page! We are looking for someone would like become the administrator! Help us get out the OA message! Contact Hans M. at 443-878-3503
- Thanks to everyone who has submitted stories, thoughts, and drawings to the Steppingstone. Please keep them coming! Submissions should go to the Steppingstone editor through the link on OABaltimore.org
- Join us for the virtual Sponsorship Workshop to be held on Saturday, September 9th from 2pm-4pm. This collaboration between 4 Intergroups promises to be inspirational. Please see details on the Events page on OABaltimore.org.
- Keep your eyes out for the results of the in-person meeting survey. Thanks to all who participated and helped provide directions and ideas about where to go next.
- Region 7’s in-person convention, SAIL INTO RECOVERY, will be held at the Princess Royale in Ocean City, MD from November 3rd – 5th, 2023. Registration is now open!
- Earlier this year, BAIG’s website was hacked. We are working on making changes to increase the security of our site. If anything on the website looks unusual, please let us know!!
