BYLAWS OF THE QUAD CITY INTERGROUP OF OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS
PREAMBLE
GENERALWARRANTS OF THE QUAD CITY INTERGROUP
In all its proceeding the Quad City Intergroup shall observe the spirit of the Overeaters Anonymous tradition, taking care that the Intergroup never becomes the seat of wealth or power; that sufficient operating capital, plus reserves, be its prudent financial principal; that none of the Intergroup members ever be placed in a position of unqualified authority over any of the others; that all important decisions
be reached by discussion, vote and whenever possible, by substantial unanimity; that no Intergroup action ever be personally punitive or any incitement to public controversy, that though it may act for the service of Overeaters Anonymous Groups in the Quad City area, it may never perform any acts of government, and that like the Fellowship of Overeaters Anonymous, the Intergroup itself will always remain democratic in thought and action.
I. NAME
The name of this organization shall be Quad City Intergroup (hereinafter referred to as "QCIG') of Overeaters Anonymous (hereinafter referred to as OA).
II. PURPOSES OF THE INTERGROUP
The purpose of the QCIG shall be the administration and coordination of OA activities common to the various Local Groups comprising its membership. These activities include:
The Twelve Steps:
1. We admitted we were powerless over food- that our lives had become unmanageable.
2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood him.
4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5. Admit to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.
9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.
11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we
understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message
to compulsive overeaters and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
These steps cannot be amended by the intergroup.
The Twelve Traditions:
1. Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends on OA unity.
2. For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority- a loving God as He may express
Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.
3. The only requirement of OA membership is a desire to stop eating compulsively.
4. Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting OA as a whole.
5. Each group has but one primary purpose- to carry its message to the compulsive overeater
who still suffers.
6. An OA group ought never endorse, finance or lend the OA name to any related facility or
outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property and prestige divert us from our
primary purpose.
7. Every OA group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.
8. OA should remain forever non-professional, but our service centers may employ special
workers.
9. OA, as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees
directly responsible to those they serve.
10. OA has no opinion on outside issues; hence the OA name ought never be drawn into public
controversy.
11. Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always
maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio, films, television, and other public
media of communication.
12. Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all these traditions, ever reminding us to place
principles before personalities.
These traditions cannot be amended by the intergroup.
The Twelve Concepts of OA Service:
1. The ultimate responsibility and authority for OA world services reside in the collective
conscience of our whole Fellowship.
2. The OA groups have delegated to the World Service Business Conference the active
maintenance of our world services; thus, the World Service Business Conference is the
voice, authority and effective conscience of OA as a whole.
3. The Right of Decision, based on trust, makes effective leadership possible.
4. The Right of Participation ensures equality of opportunity for all in the decision-making
process.
5. Individuals have the right of appeal and petition in order to ensure that their opinions and
personal grievances will be carefully considered.
6. The World Service Business Conference has entrusted the Board of Trustees with the
primary responsibility for the administration of Overeaters Anonymous.
7. The Board of Trustees has legal rights and responsibilities accorded to them by OA Bylaws
Subpart A. the rights and responsibilities of the World Service Business Conference are
accorded to it by Tradition and by OA Bylaws Subpart B.
8. The Board of Trustees has delegated to its Executive Committee the responsibility to
administer the Overeaters Anonymous World Service Office.
9. Able, trusted servant. together with sound and appropriate methods of choosing them. are indispensable for effective functioning at all service levels.
10. Service responsibility is balanced by carefully defined service authority: therefore,
duplication of efforts is avoided.
11. Trustee administration of the World Service Office should always be assisted by the best standing committees, executives, staff and consultants.
12. The spiritual foundation for OA service ensures that:
a. no OA committee or service body shall ever become the seat of perilous wealth or
power;
b. sufficient operating funds. plus an ample reserve, shall be OA's prudent financial
principle:
c. no OA member shall ever be placed in it position of unqualified authority:
d. all important decisions shall be reached by discussion, vote and. whenever possible, by substantial unanimity;
e. no service action shall ever be personally punitive or an incitement to public
controversy: and
f. no OA service committee or service board shall ever perform acts of government,
and each shall always remain democratic in thought and action.
These concepts cannot be amended by the intergroup.
III. MEETINGS Of THE OCIG
QCIG will conduct regularly scheduled meetings at a time and place designated by the QCIG members.* A special meeting may be called at any time by a majority vote of the QCIG Executive Committee or by at least one- fourth (25%) of the registered QCIG Representatives (hereinafter referred to as IR). Notification of special meetings of QCIG shall consist of phone calls or written notices prepared by the QCIG Secretary to be mailed to each registered IR and Executive Committee member at least one (1) week prior to the date of the meeting.
IV. MEMBERSHIP OF QCIG
The membership of the QCIG shall consist of all Quad City members, outlying area members and of one IR or Alternate from each Local Group desiring to affiliate with the IG along with the members of the Executive Committee, RR's and the WSBC Delegate. The Local Group is defined as the following:
1. As a group they meet together to practice the Twelve Steps, Twelve Traditions and the 'twelve Concepts of OA Service.
2. All who have a desire to stop eating compulsively are welcome in the group.
3. No member is required to practice any actions in order to remain a member or to have a voice (share at a meeting).
4. As a group, they have no affiliation other than OA.
A. Those I Rs or Alternates are deemed members of the QCI provided that each Local Group has registered them with the QCI Secretary.
B. The selection of IR's and Alternates to QCI shall he determined by the Local Group which they represent.
C. The IR's which represent each affiliated Local Group shall serve a one year term.
D. The IR's or Alternates have an obligation to keep the Local Group which they represent informed about all meetings of the QCI and its actions, activities and services.
E. The IR's and Alternates always remain subject to recall by the Local Group they represent.
F. It is the responsibility of each Local Group to maintain contact in writing or phone calls with the QC'I Secretary to make certain that the Intergroup Office receives any and all necessary information, complete with accurate mailing addresses, regarding changes in I R or Alternate status.
V. VOTING BODY OF QCIG
Any person attending any meeting of the QCIG has the right to be heard
A. A quorum shall consist of all members of the voting body who are present.
B. The voting body is: the registered IRs or Alternates from each Local Group and shall be
entitled to one vote each
C. Each Executive Committee member. RR and WSBC Delegate shall be entitled to one vote in
all Intergroup meetings
D. Any Local Group may send as many observers as it wishes to any QCIG meeting who shall
have voice but no vote.
E. A simple majority of voting members shall govern for voting purposes unless otherwise
specified within these Bylaws
F. Each voting member is entitled to one vote only, no matter how many positions he/she holds
in the QCIG and needs to be present vote.
G.That we vote in compliance within the OA Bylaws.
VI. COMPOSITION OF THE QCIG EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The service positions of the Executive committee will be comprised of the Chairperson, Co-
Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer. The WSBC Delegate is Ex-officio.
A. The Chairperson ,shall:
1. Preside at all QCIG meetings:
2. Develop the agenda for all meetings,
3. Make necessary arrangements for all meetings:
4. Serve as ex-officio member of all Intergroup committees:
5. Arrange for an acting Chairperson to preside over meetings which he/she cannot attend.
B. The Co-Chairperson shall:
1. Presided over meetings which are not attended by the Chair.
C. The Secretary shall:
1. Maintain accurate minutes and records of all QCIG and Executive Committee Meetings:
2. Maintain accurate records of all affiliated Local Groups and their registered IRs and Alternates:
3. Notify all IRs and Alternates of all special meetings of the QCIG.
4. Will notify each group, in writing, after their IR has missed 2 consecutive meetings.
D. The Treasurer shall:
1. Maintain a checking account established in the name of the Quad City Intergroup –
Overeaters Anonymous:
2. Be a guardian of all funds received and disbursed:
3. Submit a written report at all meetings of the QCIG regarding all contributions and
expenditures.
E. Executive Committee shall conduct a semiannual audit.
F. Each outgoing officer shall work with the new incoming officer for at least two months.
G. The QCIG shall be Jointly responsible for all communication within the Intergroup.
H. Should have a current copy of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised present at each
QCIG meeting
VII. NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF QCIG CHAIRPERSON, CO-CHAIRPERSON, SECRETARY, TREASURER AND REGIONAL REPRESENTITIVE
A. Biennial election of Service positions of the Executive Committee shall be staggered electing a Co-Chair and Treasurer on the odd year and a chairman and Secretary on the subsequent even year. The election of the Regional Representative will continue to be elected on the odd year. These elections are to he held at the October Intergroup meetings.
B. Nominations of any regularly attending member of this voting body shall be made from the
floor for positions of Chairperson, Co-Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, and Region
Representative.
C. All members elected to the Committee shall serve for a term of two full years.
D. To be eligible for election to the QC Executive Committee, a person must, at the time of
election:
1. Be regularly attending OA meetings within the Intergroup area for at least six months,
2. Have a minimum of six months current abstinence from compulsive overeating and
faithful adherence to the Twelve Steps, Twelve Traditions and the Twelve Concepts of
OA Service.
3. Must have an awareness of the possible time, expense and travel involved in service as a QCIG member.
E. Qualifications of Regional Representative include:
1. Attend all meetings of Region IV Assembly.
2. Report to the monthly meetings of QCIG on the activities of Region IV.
3. Serve as a spokesperson for QCIG in Region IV.
4. Must have an awareness of the additional possible time, expense and travel involved in service as a Regional Representative.
5. Be regularly attending OA meetings within the IG Area and have I year current
abstinence prior to the date of election.
6. have a current copy of the Region lV Bylaws at all QCIG meetings.
7. To present all receipts for expense when traveling for the QCIG.
F. In the event that the RR is not able to participate in a Region IV Assembly meeting, the QCIG
Executive Committee shall designate an alternate.
G. If a Executive Committee member or RR wishes to resign from her/his position, a resignation
in writing should he submitted to the QCIG Executive Committee and forwarded to the
Secretary.
H. At any monthly meeting of the QCIG any QCIG Executive Committee member or RR may he
removed from office by a majority vote of all voting members present if that committee
member is deemed failing to fulfill the obligations and responsibilities of his/her position. Such
as:
1. Return to compulsive overeating.
2. Not attending meetings of QCIG
VIII. WORLD SERVICE BUSINESS CONFRENCE DELLEGATE NOMINATINO AND SELECTION:
The nomination and selection of persons tier the position of Intergroup Delegate to the World Service Business Conference will he made from members of (,)('I who meet the requirements of the World Service Business Conference Charter and bylaws.
1. Each Delegate should he elected life a term of two years,
2. Each Delegate in addition to attending the annual Conference should serve the World
Service Business ('deference throughout the two year term.
3. Each Delegate should he selected for judgment, experience, stability, willingness and
faithful adherence to the program of OA:
4. A Delegate should have a minimum of twelve (12) months current abstinence prior to
the date of submitting qualifications and continuing to the date of the annual World
Service Business Conference meeting and have two (2) years Service above the Local
Group level.
5. All delegate should be instructed as to the desires of the Intergroup which he/she
represents:
6. As a WSBC participant, a Delegate shall not he bound by the wishes of the Intergroup,
but should not vote against these wishes unless the situation arises at the annual meeting which makes it necessary for the best interests of OA as a whole.
B. In addition, the QCIG requires of all WSBC Delegates:
1. Each person is the sole judge of her/his abstinence and adhere to the OA program.
2. Two (2) years of service to OA beyond the Local Group meeting level:
3. Must be an IR or holding a Service Position in the (XI at the time of nomination:
4. An awareness of the possible time, expense and travel involved in service as a Delegate.
D. Applicants for nomination must present at a pre-designated meeting of the QCIG to respond to questions regarding Delegate service.
E. A WSBC Delegate will be selected at a biennial election, by a majority vote, at a December QCIG meeting, from among previously determined qualified nominees. A special election may be scheduled to selected a Delegate if necessary.
F. The term of office will be two years from the date of election. A person may serve no ore
than two consecutive full terms.
G. If the WSBC Delegate wishes to resign from her/his position, a resignation in writing should be submitted to the QCIG and forwarded to the Secretary.
H. A Delegate may be removed from office by a simple majority vote of all voting members
present at a QCIG meeting if that Delegate is deemed by the Intergroup as failing to fulfill the obligations and responsibilities of her/his position, such as:
1. A return to compulsive overeating.
2. Not attending meetings of the QCIG.
I. If a Delegate resigns or is removed from office, the QCIG will schedule a special election as
soon as possible.
J. A person cannot serve concurrently as a WSBC Delegate and as a QCIG chairperson, Co-
Chairperson. Secretary or Treasurer. A person can serve concurrently as A WSBC Delegate and/or RR. the WSBC Bylaws suggested that the same person serve as both RR and WSBC Delegate, but does not require it.
K. In the event, a duly elected WSBC Delegate cannot attend the annual meeting of the WSBC, the QC Executive Committee shall designate an Alternate who meets the same qualifications as a regular Delegate, if one can he recruited.
IX COMMITTEES
The Chairperson shall appoint such committees as are deemed necessary by and for the QCIG.
X FINANCIAL STRUCTURE
The activities of the QCIG shall he financed primarily by the contributions of its affiliated Local
Groups and OA members for whom it serves.
C. The QCI shall not accept any responsibility for trusteeship or enter into the distribution or allocation of funds set up outside
XI MAJOR POLICY MATTERS
Matters which relate to Major Policy affecting OA as a whole shall he referred to the OA World
Business Service Board of trustees.
XII. PARLIAMLNTARY ATHORITY
A. The rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Orderly Newly Revised shall
govern the QCIG in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not
inconsistent with these Bylaws or any special rules of order the QCIG may adopt.
B. Emergency meetings may he called by any member who qualities under these Bylaws (Article
IV,) of the QCIG as deemed necessary
XIII AMENDMENTS TO BYLAWS
These Bylaws may be amended at anytime by a majority of IR, at a regular meeting of the QCIG
provided that a copy of the proposed amendment has been submitted to the QCIG Secretary at least 60 (sixty) days before the meeting at which the action will be taken on the amendment. Notice shall be given by the QCIG Secretary to each Local Intergroup IR and Executive Committee member, RR and WSB( Delegate at least four weeks prior to the date of the meeting.
XIV LEAGAL DISCLAIMER
No member of the Intergroup or member of any Local Group which is a member of the Intergroup and no officer or member of a committee or person connected with the Intergroup, or any other private individual shall receive at any time any earnings or pecuniary profit from the operations of the Intergroup; provided, that this shall not prevent the payment to any such person of such reasonable compensation for services rendered to or for the Intergroup effecting any of its purposes as shall be fixed by the Executive Committee: and no such person or persons shall he entitled to share in the distribution of any the assets upon the dissolution of the Intergroup.
All members of the Intergroup and all members of Local Groups which are members of the Intergroup shall be deemed to have expressly consented and agreed that, upon such dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Intergroup, whether voluntary or involuntary, the assets of the Intergroup. Then remaining in the hands of the QCIG, after all debts have been paid shall be delivered and paid over in such amounts as the Executive Committee may determine or as may be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction upon application of the QCIG exclusively to charitable, religious, scientific, literary, or educational organizations which would then qualify tinder the provisions of Section 501 (e)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and its regulations as they now exist or as they may hereafter be amended.
Revised NOVEMBER 2009 Approved FEBRUARY 2010
*Ammended: Section III March 9, 2013
“QCIG will conduct regularly scheduled meetings at a time and place designated by the QCIG