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Minutes from OIAA Assembly 20 Dec 2025
Board members Present: Gwen M (OIAA Interim Board Chair), Mark M (Tech Chair). Sharon G (Interim Vice Chair), Lesliee A (Interim Secretary), Mary M (Interim Trustee at Large)
Interpretation offered: Farsi (found under Russian), Spanish
Quorum was met (47)
The Chair opened the meeting at 2:09pm (US ET) by introducing Mike Y OIAA Finance committee chair member and IGR for One Day at a Time group who lead the Assembly in the Serenity prayer.
Lesliee A presented and moved to accept the minutes from the 25-9-20 Membership Assembly, Delcina B 2nd; No Discussion. Vote: 58 Yes, 1 no, 2 abstention. The Chair asked for a Minority Opinion and no was given. The Minutes were approved.
Chair Welcome and comments
The chair introduced interim members of the Board. Each interim member gave a short introduction.
No Officer or Committee Reports
New Business Only
2026 Proposed budget
Joe M Standing in for the Alternate Treasurer who was traveling presented the 2026 budget. He first discussed 2025 final budget and the 2026 proposed budget changes.
The presentation constituted a motion to accept the 2026 proposed budget as presented. No 2nd needed. Discussion: Bruce V (Into Action) moved that the 2026 OIAA budget be amended to remove line items related to the 2026 OIAA Convention; Mike P (IGR Dimension young) 2nd.
Discussion of motion to amend:
Bruce V stated:
As it stands, the current budget proposal for the convention is about $39,000. The entire 2026 budget is $143,000, which means that the convention cost is estimated to be about 26% of the entire budget, while the convention budgets are going up significantly every year. For 2024, it was $19,000. For 2025, it was $32,000. And for 2026, It’ll be about 39,000. Every year, it’s going up significantly. Attendance is dropping. The 2025 convention, was about one-third of what it was in 2024. So, here’s the question. Should we be spending almost one-third of our budget on a three-day event? Is this the most effective way to fulfill our primary purpose, that of carrying our message to the alcoholic who still suffers? Is this a prudent use of our money?
Several members spoke some in favor some against and some offering advice.
Vote: 27 Yes, 24 No, 3 Abstentions. The motion passed. The Chair asked at this point if anyone wanted to change their vote. Jared M (NZ World of the Spirit) made a motion to reconsider; Beth D (Into Action) 2nd. No Discussion. Vote: Yes 27 No 26, 1 Abstentions The motion to reconsider passed by simple majority.
The motion now before the membership: Approve the budget exclusive of the line items related to the Unity committee convention. Discussion was varied but a few comments focused on the distribution of excess funds. Votes:(need 2/3) 42 Yes, 10 No, 3 Abstentions . The budget was accepted as amended.
Elections
The OIAA Board secretary read the eligibility requirements. Applicants shared their qualifications.
Chair: Susan R My sobriety date is 12-7-1987. My home group is Dawn Patrol online. I have a sponsor, and I have service sponsors and service experience that was raised in general service from the home group: Delegate, to chair, Chair to the board, 8 years on the board And, when COVID happened, our groups divided, and I became the IGR for my online home group. I was appointed vice Chair of OIAA, then elected chair. During my time, we passed the guidelines. Since I’ve left, I’ve continued to work within the organization. I participated in the Vancouver Convention Committee and was part of the Cyber Suite Experience in Vancouver. I’m a lister on PAC a lot of my work is done in translation with groups that are coming in. So that’s my experience. I believe, in the 36 Principles, and I deeply love this organization. Thank you. No Discussion.
Vote: 41Yes, 0 No, 4 Abstentions. Susan R was elected Chair of the OAA Board.
Vice Chair: Jan BB shared my sobriety date is July 10th, 1990. I’ve been with OIAA since 2005. I started as an IGR. I’ve worked with OIAA for quite a few years, and have taken on many roles. The most recent role, the role that I’m in tonight is a voting role as the alt chair for the convention committee, which is the one that goes to face-to-face at the every-five-year international. Our chair was unable to attend, and I am stepping in to vote for him tonight. I love OIAA. I put numerous hours in, and I love it. I’ve done numerous roles at OIAA. Some of them I haven’t. I have not been a steppers, which I respect very much. They’re the backbone, I think, of OIAA. I’ve worked on PAC for years, listing meetings. Maybe some of you have recognized my name from that. I really feel, at this time, I’ve done numerous roles here, but I feel that I’ve never been on the board, and I wanted to be on the board, because I want to bring some stability. I want to bring a sense of our program.And I don’t want to see any members singled out. I feel very strongly about this. I’ve worked in general service. I lived in Paris for 9 years. I was the chair of the Paris AA Intergroup, the English-speaking intergroup. I worked for 3 years from 2003 to 2005 as a delegate to GBAA.I fully understand the online intergroup and all of its intricacies of how to do it. Thank you so much, everyone. Thanks. No discussion.
Vote 44 Yes, 0 No, 2Abstentions. Jan BB was elected OIAA Board vice chair.
Secretary: Lesliee shared my sobriety date is February 4th, 1992. My sponsor is Ethel J. Moreno Valley, California. My home group is Serenity Now Women’s Meeting. That meets online Fridays at 6 30 p.m. Yeah, right now, I can’t tell you why I’m doing this. It’s the force of forward motion. I have held every meeting commitment from greeter to secretary to chair of steering committee. I always hold a commitment in my home group until a newcomer needs it. I have done service in, every position at the district level. I’ve served as DCMC twice at my, local district. I’ve been, treasurer, I’ve been secretary, and I currently serve as archivist for my district. I served OIAA as Secretary to their Guidelines Committee and their Bylaws Committee back in 2022, I believe And, then I served as chair of the Communications Committee for OIAA. I really love the philosophy of OIAA, and I am very happy, to participate. I am also currently studying for my credential as parliamentarian, but I do have some experience. Thank you for letting me share. And stand. No discussion.
Vote: 44 Yes, 0 No, 2 Abstentions. Lesliee was elected OIAA board secretary.
Treasurer: Joe shared My sobriety date is October 1st, 2006 so I meet the requirement for sobriety. Yeah, and if anybody else wants to serve as treasurer, please raise your hand. I’m interested in serving because it’s good for my sobriety to be of service. I have substantial, experience in financial fields. I was president of a large company, and I’ve also been the treasurer of two AA groups, for long-term, as well as a long-standing annual, retreat. So, I have some experience with AA accounting. I have been the treasurer of a couple of non-profits as well. I’m not a CPA, but I have worked with a lot of CPAs, and we have very good accounting skills on the Finance Committee, so I feel that… I feel that we’ll be well served. I would like to just say briefly that this subject of excess funds is one that I care about, and that will be brought back to the Assembly after consideration and input from the groups involved. We’re definitely going to bring this back to the Assembly and come up with a policy, which we evidently currently don’t have on what to do with funds that are in excess of our needs. I think that’s it for me, thanks. No discussion.
Vote: 46 Yes, 0 No, 1Abstention. Joe M was elected OIAA board treasurer.
Trustee at Large: Mary shared My sobriety date is January 9th, 2009. My home group here in North Carolina, where I live, is the 1030 group I have served as the chair, the secretary, the vice chair, treasurer, and I’ve done multiple treasurer stints there, because we’re a pretty large, group with almost 150 members, and we have a fairly significant treasury, I’m glad to say. A lot of you probably already know me because I served as list keeper and then OIAA Registrar, so If your group has joined, as a voting member any time after the middle of June of 2020, I’ve corresponded with you on email. And I will just say, that has been my joy. I also am a member of an online group, the Halfway Through Group, and I don’t have a role there. I spend, I would say most all of my time in various things here at OIAA. I started as a stepper in 2018, I’ve never left that committee, I continue to serve, but I was alternate chair for 2 years, and then served as chair for a 2-year term. I’m currently the Public Information Committee Chair, and I will fulfill that commitment on the 31st of this month. As I said, I love serving here. I’ve had the pleasure of, working with almost everybody who’s… well, everyone, really, who has stood, this year for a position, and look forward to an opportunity to continue that. Thank you. No discussion. Vote: 44 yes, 0 No, 1 Abstention. Mary M was elected OIAA board Trustee at large.
International Trustee: Carlos shared Thank you very much. My name is Carlos. I’m a recovering alcoholic. My date of sobriety is February 11, 2014. I’m a resident of Portugal, even though I spent 35 years working in the United States. My present home group is Caminhamos Online. Portugal. We are part of Area 8, which is the area online in Portugal. I sponsor people in Portugal, Angola, Mozambique, and in Brazil. I presently serve as secretary of my online group. At the area level, I was a GSR, member of the area committee, chair of the public information. Hospital institutions, for Area 7, which is Greater Lisbon area for a period of 4 years. At the GSO level, I was a member of the National Public Information Committee from 2018 and 2022. I organized, service online. I was one of the founders of the first online group in Portugal in October 2016. I served as representative in the intergroup. Discussed for 3 years with GSO in the integration of the groups online in the structure of AA in Portugal. I was Responsible for the Public Information Committee of Area 8, the Area Online in Portugal, participated in an ad hoc committee of OIAA that wrote the bylaws. Participated in an ad hoc committee of OIAA that elaborated OIA guidelines. I’m a member of the Unity Committee since January 15th. I’m on my second term as chair of the Unity Committee. I help the Steppers Committee finding AA resources in countries where they’re not readily available, member of the organizing committee of the two international online conventions of OIAA 2024-2025. And, that’s it. Thank you. No discussion.
Vote: 37 Yes, 0 No, 5 Abstentions. Carlos D was elected OIAA board International Trustee
Announcements
The interim Chair introduced Susan R (Dawn Patrol) as chair, Jan BB as vice chair. Lesliee A (Serenity Now) as secretary, Mary M (Halfway Through Group) as trustee at large, Carlos D (Camille Online) as international trustee, Joe M as Treasurer. Mark M remains as our technology officer for one more year.
The Next Assembly will be 2025 March 21st at 2pm Eastern US.
The next IGR Forum will be on 2026 January 24-25th at 2pm Eastern US.
Please come to the finance meeting.
The Interim chair shared: Come support our committees. They need help. Thank you for being a intergroup rep, a voting member, a participating member. My heart is full of love and appreciation, and I’m incredibly honored to have served as your interim chair the last 9 months of this year. thank you all.
The meeting closed at 5:02pm Eastern US with Phil J. (We Walk Together) in Portugal leading the Responsibility statement.
