Inner Voice

April 2024

Newsletter of New Freedom Intergroup of OA
Step 4: Made asearching and fearless
moral inventory ofourselves.
• Spiritual Principle:
Courage

Carrying the Message

The main purpose of Public Information/Professional Outreach Committee (PIPO) is to carry
the message of recovery to compulsive eaters who still suffer, as instructed in Step 12. OA is a
program of attraction, not promotion. Members attract newcomers to OA when we:• Inform the public about the program• Inform health care professionals about the program so they may acquaint their
Tradition 4: Each grouppatients and clients with OA
should be autonomous• Keep communication within the Fellowship open so members and groups can carry
except in mattersthe message more effectively
affecting other groups
A PIPO committee acts on behalf of its service body to provide information about the OA
or OA as a whole.
Fellowship to the local community. Note: The PIPO Committee is represented on three• Spiritual Principle:
different levels in OA: the Intergroup (ours is: New Freedom Intergroup, aka: NFI); the Region
Autonomy(NFI belongs to Region 8) and World Service (WSO).
Each PIPO Committee meets separately. However, as often as possible, the PIPO committees
Concept 4: The right ofshare information freely and eagerly with each other regarding ways they’ve successfully
participation ensuresinformed the public about OA; and ways they’ve reached out to professionals. We also shareequality of opportunity
the failures, as evidence of what to avoid. However, many times we find ourselves inspired byfor all in the decisionanother member’s insight for ways in which we can improve our approach to help make amaking process.
possible future success.
• Spiritual Principle:
The various levels of PIPO committees are not in competition with each other. It’s such a
Equality
beautiful thing we do for each other in OA!! And…in this way, we avoid recreating the wheel(so to speak); we learn new and exciting ideas from each other; and get to build on each idea,
Promise 4: No matter
together, with the primary purpose of carrying the message to as many fellow sufferers as
how far down the scale
we can.
we have gone, we will
The following are some examples of how our NFI PIPO Committee has spent member
see how our experience
donations to help carry the message there is hope and recovery in OA:
can benefit others.
• In the fall of 2023 we purchased a 3-panel table presentation board (54” x 30”) to
display items such as: OA pamphlets and brochures, WSO promotional posters, wallet
size slogan cards, OA serenity coins, the 15 Questions flier in large format, etc.
• We also purchased a 10’ x 10’ Canopy Tent to protect our OA table from inclement weather while participatingin outdoor health fairs.
• In addition, we purchased a substantial supply of pamphlets and brochures to hand out to the public during thehealth fairs and lucite brochure holders for efficient pamphlet display, as well as Professional Folders that
contain various brochures specifically designed to pass on information to professionals, so they may acquainttheir clients with OA.

Some of our recent accomplishments:•

In the Fall of 2023 we participated in the 3rd Annual Recovery Fair (held at Fort Mose State Park, St. Augustine)by hosting a table filled with an elaborate display of OA literature and pamphlets. Many who attended shared
how they identified with the information presented on our table and the personal information we shared about-1NEW FREEDOM INTERGROUPPO Box 31072 • Savannah, GA 31410 • Email: oanfig@gmail.com • Website: www.oanfig.org••

our own experience, strength and hope. We carry the message; we hope for the best outcome; and God takes
care of the rest…
During the Fall Region 8 Business Assembly and Convention, we hosted a similar table display to our members inan effort for them to take pamphlets and brochures home to carry the OA message of hope and recovery tofolks they know. We also received much praise as to how lovely the PIPO table looked and how professional the
Tri-fold Presentation Board was. Also, on Friday night of the event, I announced to all attendees that our PIPO
Committee was distributing the Professional Folders to members willing to take home to a professional(s) of
their choosing. The outcome was: 33 members took home a total of 56 folders. (The committee is in theprocess of following up as to the feedback the members received from their professional.)
Another large order was placed for WSO Promotional Posters, “STOP Hurting Yourself with Food” (see below).
The intent is to roll out distribution to members willing to put up a poster in places such as: local libraries,
community rooms, Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs),
hospital bulletin boards, eating disorder units, local
Chambers of Commerce, social clubs, local gyms, those who
may have access to school guidance counselors orcafeterias, senior citizen groups, etc. Anyone willing to put
up OA promotional posters in their local community, pleasecontact me at: npklei@gmail.com or (516) 286-1888, and I
will be happy to mail them out to you.
Our next goal is to update NFI’s website (https://oanfig.org)
to include a section for PIPO. We are also considering doing
Public Service Announcements (PSAs).
I leave you with this thought: Each time we share about thehope and recovery found OA with a fellow sufferer ‘outside’
the fellowship – we are doing public Information service
work – aka: 12 Stepping.
To find out more about the work we do in this committee,
or if you may have an interest in joining the PIPO
committee, please reach out to me at: (516) 286-1888.
Kindly leave a message if I do not pick up and I willdefinitely return your call. Or feel free to email me at:npklei@gmail.com.
In loving service,– Nancy K., NFI PIPO Chair

Spring Into Recovery!
If you are like me, your program (and your regular meetings) could use alittle spring cleaning!
Consider Refreshing your Meeting Topics. The Relapse Meeting format
below was recently discussed at the NFI meeting. Each group isautonomous and can change their meeting format with a groupconscience. Your group may wish to consider the format below as an
option for your weekly meetings, or adding this into the rotation of meetings.
https://media.oa.org/app/uploads/2022/06/22120336/suggested-recovery-from-relapse-meeting-format.pdf
Relapse does not have to be a part of everyone’s OA journey, but it has been for me. I relapse in my mind well before I
pick up that first compulsive bite. I forget that I do have a choice before I take the first bite. After I take that bite, I have-2NEW FREEDOM INTERGROUPPO Box 31072 • Savannah, GA 31410 • Email: oanfig@gmail.com • Website: www.oanfig.org

no choice, but to go on eating into oblivion. When the obsession of the mind tells me the food is safe again, the only
thing that stands between me and that choice not to pick up is my Higher Power. If I am doing regular work in the steps,
it gives me the best chance of hearing my Higher Power’s voice in that moment.
There are other resources on OA.org for relapse as well. This writing tool is always helpful when I’ve been struggling in
my program: https://media.oa.org/app/uploads/2021/09/11085258/been-slipping-and-sliding-a-reading-and-writingtool.pdf.
If you are curious about hosting a Relapse workshop – NFI can help! Here is a sample workshop on the Road back to
Recovery: https://media.oa.org/app/uploads/2021/08/22222211/recovery-roadmap-workshop.pdf
There are many other workshop formats listed in the documents posted on OA.org. If NFI can help you – please let us
know by contacting the NFI Chair, Echo G at chairnfi@gmail.com.
Yours in grateful service,— Carly B. Jacksonville, FL

Step 4: You’re Worth It

Step 4: Made a searching and fearless moral
inventory of ourselves.

I recently completed my fourth step….followed by working Steps 5-12. While this was not my first fourth step – it was
the most profound. It seems to me that more than any other step, the location of the fourth step, between Steps 1-3 (Icannot, God can, I think I’ll let Him) and Steps 5-9 (improving relationships with our fellow human beings), is extremely
significant. I needed to admit my powerlessness and unmanageability, believe my HP could make me sane, and turn mythoughts and feelings over to that God BEFORE I could muster the courage to truly clean my dirty, disorganized,
cluttered “house.” Working Steps 5-9 after the 4th, the Promises (Big Book, pp. 83-84) were there to motivate me
toward them, one step at a time.
After reviewing the fourth step in the Big Book, my sponsor guided me through a simple process of filling out forms
based on the Big Book method. While at first I hesitated as I worked through the forms, it was easy to see the patternsof my disfunction and obvious habits of negative behavior. As I moved from “resentments” to “fears” to “sex issues,” to“harms done,” I found myself looking forward to unloading this stuff with my sponsor. I did not want to dwell in thesebehaviors – seeing them on paper motivated me to do something about them. The Promises loomed ahead of me.
As soon as I finished filling out the forms, I scheduled my fifth step with my sponsor. I felt afraid suddenly, of showing allof this to her. But it was scheduled – and like so many things in recovery, at this point I just had to suit up and show
up…with my forms in hand.
I find myself wondering why we have created such drama around the fourth step. It is a daunting task to do a searching
and moral inventory of ourselves, for sure. But what do we get in return? “We have listed and analyzed our resentments. We have begun to comprehend their futility and their fatality. We have commenced to see their terrible
destructiveness. We have begun to learn tolerance, patience and good will toward all men, even our enemies, for welook on them as sick people. We have listed the people we have hurt by our conduct and are willing to straighten out thepast if we can. …faith did for us what we could not do for ourselves…God can remove whatever self-will has blocked you
off from him.” (pp. 70-71)
We get to understand how we will benefit from the work in those first three steps to ground us in our growing faith as
we continue to move through the rest of the steps soothed by the love of our fellows and faith in our HP, rather thanby food.
Let’s remember to discuss the magnificent promises of the fourth step as we encourage each other to complete all
twelve steps.
DO IT. YOU’RE WORTH IT.
— Lucy B.

-3NEW FREEDOM INTERGROUPPO Box 31072 • Savannah, GA 31410 • Email: oanfig@gmail.com • Website: www.oanfig.org

More on Step 3 From Our Region
Every time I honestly took Step 3, I had hit another emotional bottom. Whether it was with a binge food, an eating
behavior, or a character defect, eventually I would become tired of repeating the insanity. Taking Step 3 andsurrendering my will and life to a Higher Power was the way to serenity, sanity, and happiness.
I couldn't control my food, eating, or my unmanageable life. My self-will and dishonesty kept me in bondage toovereating, restricting, overexercising, and narcissism(endless trips to the mirror). This was the best that my willpower
could accomplish in my life. I was frustrated, exhausted, and depressed.
I practiced Honesty in Step One. "I can't" do this by myself. I found Hope in Step 2. "God can." I practiced Faith in Step 3.
"God can, I'll let God."
Today I continue to work Step 3 daily, as many times as I need to let my Higher Power be in charge. As it says on pp. 8788 of the Big Book, "We constantly remind ourselves we are no longer running the show, humbly saying to ourselves
many times each day, “Thy will be done.” "I can't. God can. I'll let God.
— Anonymous

Tradition 4:
We’re Autonomous

Tradition 4: Each group should be autonomous except inmatters affecting other groups or OA as a whole.

When I first got into OA 35 years ago, we had a very thin member who spoke to her sponsor in another program about
our meeting. Her sponsor said that we had no recovery in this meeting and we should be doing X,Y, and, Z. Luckily oneof our members, who was also a long-time AA member spoke up. She quoted this tradition and explained that we wereautonomous.
This meant that no one from another group could tell us what to do. We had a format and the AA 12 & 12 and werestudying the steps paragraph by paragraph. That was recovery, working the steps. So we kept studying the steps andhad occasional group consciences to decide on things.
One member binged on any food mentioned at a meeting. She asked for help so we decided we wouldn’t mention
specific foods to help her. We changed that years later after she’d been gone for a long time. The bossy person started
her own group where you couldn’t talk about negative things and no one went. It folded in a month.
One of our jokes back then was that the Steps were for suicide prevention and the Traditions were for homicide
prevention! They teach us how to get along.
One member also explained how this tradition can be used with family, friends, and neighbors. Is your kid’s hairstyle,earrings, tattoos going to affect the family? Probably not. Using drugs would, so concentrate on important things thatwould affect the family or the program and let other stuff go. It works quite well for me and for OA.
Combined with our only requirement for membership, the desire to stop eating compulsively (Tradition 3), this keeps it
simple and workable. We have the right to try things within the guidelines of the steps and traditions and to change
our minds if they are not working.
It works!
— Patience M., Gainesville FL-4NEW FREEDOM INTERGROUPPO Box 31072 • Savannah, GA 31410 • Email: oanfig@gmail.com • Website: www.oanfig.org

Promises: Up or Down

Promise 4: No matter how far down the scale we havegone, we will see how our experience can benefit others.

The word “scale” can be a trigger word for some of us. The eye on the number, up or down, can have implications forour mood, sense of self-worth, etc. And I’ve been known to kid that in OA the promise should read, “No matter how
far up or down…” This has the advantage of understanding that even if my weight isn’t what I would wish it to be, I canbe of use to others. Not that I would endeavor to be a bad example. The “up or down” also allows for people who havestruggled with anorexia and/or bulimia. (You’ll recall that our statement on abstinence says, “working towards ormaintaining a healthy body weight.”)
In the AA sense, though, going “down the scale” had more to do with loss of employment, economic status, estrangement from family and such. It recognized that some people have a higher bottom than others. In the Big Book story“Our Southern Friend,” the writer relates: “Suddenly I feel a wave of utter hopelessness sweep over me. I am in thebottom of hell.” But we don’t remain at the bottom. The account continues: “And there, a tremendous hope is born.”
Having ascended or descended the scale (anyone else keep thinking of musical scales?) we can use the journey to be ofhelp to others. If we can make the way easier for others; if we can point out boulders in the path, dead-end routes, orbillboards that promise an easier, softer way, we can all, indeed, be happy, joyous, and free.
— Mark W.

And More Promises
Here are some other promises in Big Book order with a few comments (see last month for the first installment). Notethat the promises are generally conditional. One needs to work the program for the promises to come true in our lives.
Bill’s Story“It [the idea of choosing one’s own conception of God] melted the icy intellectual mountain in whose shadow I had lived
and shivered many years. I stood in the sunlight at last.” This is a good reminder that my brain cannot think itself out ofaddiction.
“It was only a matter of being willing to believe in a Power greater than myself. Nothing more was required of me tomake my beginning.” A quick search on “willing” in my e-copy of the Big Book showed 99 instances of the word in its
various forms. Of course, many of these were in the stories and not just the “basic instructions,” but clearly it’s a basic
element of recovery.
“Scales of pride and prejudice fell from my eyes. A new world came into view.” I love the intertwining of the idea ofphysical sight with the idea of new insights.
“My friend promised when these things were done I would enter upon a new relationship with my Creator; that I would
have the elements of a way of living which answered all my problems.” Note that recovery is not only for the eatingproblem, but that we are offered a cure affecting our entire lives.
“These were revolutionary and drastic proposals, but the moment I fully accepted them, the effect was electric. There
was a sense of victory, followed by such a peace and serenity as I had never known. There was utter confidence. I felt
lifted up, as though the great clean wind of a mountain top blew through and through. God comes to most men
gradually, but His impact on me was sudden and profound.” The “Step 9” promises include “We will comprehend theword serenity and we will know peace.” We are offered this here in a much earlier chapter from Bill’s experience.
— Mark W.

-5NEW FREEDOM INTERGROUPPO Box 31072 • Savannah, GA 31410 • Email: oanfig@gmail.com • Website: www.oanfig.org

Trusted Servants and Committee Chairs (New emails)
GENERAL INFORMATION
Chair
Vice Chair/Bylaws
Treasurer
Secretary
Delegate
Newsletter/Meeting List
Public Info/Prof. Outreach
Young Persons
12th Step Within
Sponsor CoordinatorWebsiteWays and Means

Secretary will forward as needed
Echo G.
561.704.2917
Barbara C.
352.474.1366
Augusta L.
Sandi JC912.464.4231
VACANT—Consider doing service
Mark W.
904.527.3433
Nancy K.
516.286.1888
VACANT—Consider doing service
VACANT—Consider doing service
Hailey404.797.5586
Brian B.
904.616.0608
VACANT—Consider doing service

oanfig@gmail.com
chairnfi@gmail.com
vicechairnfi@gmail.com
nfitreasury@gmail.com
oanfig@gmail.com
delegatenfi@gmail.com
innervoicenfi@gmail.com
piponfig@gmail.com
youngpeoplenfi@gmail.com
TSWnfi@gmail.com
sponsor.nfig@gmail.com
websitenfi@gmail.com
wandmnfi@gmail.com

Save the date!
“Stepping To Recovery(A Big Book Buffet)”
Big Book Weekend

NOVEMBER 1-3, 2024
Join us in person as we witness examples of ‘how to recover’ from the disease of compulsive eating, as
outlined in the “Big Book” of Alcoholics Anonymous. Two speakers will share how they practice theirprogram, maintain their recovery, live in spiritual abundance, letting go of the food and working withothers. There will be group sharing activities and plenty of time for fellowship, reflection and relaxation.
Abstinent meals, on the premises, will be available.
Program begins at 7:00 pm Friday evening
and ends at 12:00 pm Sunday.
LOCATION: MARYWOOD RETREAT AND CONFERENCE CENTER
235 Marywood Drive, St. Johns, FL 32259
www.marywoodcenter.org
904.287-2525
If you cannot attend the full weekend in person, virtual access will be available for the speakers. Virtual
registration will give you access to these workshops, but not any of the after-hours activities.
More information and the registration flyer will be coming soon.

-6NEW FREEDOM INTERGROUPPO Box 31072 • Savannah, GA 31410 • Email: oanfig@gmail.com • Website: www.oanfig.org

Highlights of the March NFI Business Meeting:(Note: These are NOT the official minutes; they are only a recap of what was discussed. Official minutes are released
after changes and approval in the next month’s business meeting.)
New Freedom Intergroup business meeting was held March 9. Each meeting is welcome and encouraged to send two
voting members, and as many observers as desire to attend. The meeting is always the second Saturday of the month(unless otherwise decided) and runs for one and a half hours. Thus, the next business meeting is Saturday, April 13
from 10:00 am to 11:30 am by Zoom. (Meeting ID: 872 7218 1719, Password: 883350).
Highlights of what was covered at the March business meeting:Service Opportunities:•••

We need to fill the following service positions: Delegate, Parliamentarian, Young Persons subcommittee chair,
Twelfth Step Within chair, and Ways and Means chair. Other committees also need volunteers to provide
service.
We’ll be hosting a Big Book Retreat at Marywood on November 1-3, 2024. There will be many opportunities togive service as we plan for this event and at the event itself. If you are interested in volunteering in any way,please reach out to Nancy K. Expect more details soon! And please continue to be on the lookout for moreannouncements and information about this!
In August of 2025, the World Service Convention will be held in Orlando, FL. While NFI is not officially sponsoringor hosting this event, ANYONE is welcome to give service for it! If you are interested in helping with planning orotherwise volunteering, please contact Susan B. by email at chair@oaregion8.org-7NEW FREEDOM INTERGROUPPO Box 31072 • Savannah, GA 31410 • Email: oanfig@gmail.com • Website: www.oanfig.org

Other Items of Note:
•
•
•

•

All meetings are to let Chair know about changes in format. Thank you to those who sent us updates thismonth! They should be reflected on the website and meeting list.
Thank you to everyone who sent in feedback so far for how to use funds from 7th Tradition donations tofurther carry the message. We reviewed the feedback and following ideas:▪ Advertisement using the newly released PSAs from the World Service Office — Digital options exist as
well as news and radio options (Might be good to do something on Facebook or Instagram to try andtarget a wider audience. There are options for focusing on specific zip codes to keep it still within ourarea.)▪ Local advertising:o Our PIPO committee has about 60 posters that can be used for advertising locally at places likelibraries, community centers, recreation centers, etc. If your meeting would like some, pleasereach out to Nancy K.
o For newspapers, it’s gotten more complicated over the years. Most newspapers have moved
to advertising solutions being offered by media groups, making it more expensive and more
complex. Echo G. has put in requests for information from some of these companies and will
share the results with the PIPO committee for review and recommendations.
o Consider looking into advertising using grocery cart runners too. Other intergroups havementioned having success using this method.
▪ Other advertising options including buses, billboards, refrigerator magnets, and more.
▪ Literature:o Books for newcomers if they show consistent attendance, are working with a sponsor,
pursuing service? Books could be kept at the meeting locations?
o Purchase/make available additional “Where Do I Start” packetso Purchase/make available the Sponsorship kits from WSO▪ Workshops:o Remind meetings/groups that if they are interested in hosting a workshop and need funds forit, they can absolutely request support from NFI.
o Would love to see more groups putting on workshops, so if the only thing stopping you isfunds, please reach out!
▪ One-time special donation either to the Region, WSO, or split between them in some fashion.
▪ Next Steps?
o We can absolutely continue to collect ideas and feedback on an ongoing basis from themembership!
o In the meantime, the ideas will be passed on to the appropriate committee (for example: PIPO
committee will be given the information for advertising) for them to review and discuss andthen make recommendations to the intergroup if additional funding is needed for theircommittee’s budget to move forward with any of the items.
Our last big discussion topic for March was regarding Save a Member/Relapse and Recovery focused meetings.
In the past within NFI, we had a meeting that was focused on the special topic of keeping members away from
relapse and in recovery. Currently our intergroup does not have a meeting that is focused on this, but many of
our intergroup representatives agreed that it’s a very important topic for our fellowship. If your meeting islooking to shake things up and try a new format, consider checking out the Recovery from Relapse Meeting
format on oa.org. Also be on the lookout for an article from Carly B. on the topic of freshening up your format
in the Inner Voice, which will have more information on this!

-8NEW FREEDOM INTERGROUPPO Box 31072 • Savannah, GA 31410 • Email: oanfig@gmail.com • Website: www.oanfig.org

Events from All Over

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More from Region 8
A new way to carry the message!
Region 8 announces an excellent resource page with links to valuable OA information tobenefit newcomers, returning and current members. Maybe even the "old timers."
Have you read the appendices to Overeaters Anonymous, Third Edition? They include writingson The Role of a Plan of Eating, A Disease of the Mind, A Disease of the Mind, A Disease of theBody, A Disease of the Spirit and more.
People may scan this QR code (point your smart phone’s camera at the QR code and it will pop
up a link) and connect to the Region 8 resources page. Please feel free to print this informationand pass around in face-to-face meetings or insert into a visual format for virtual meetings.
Check it out — Pass it on!

-17NEW FREEDOM INTERGROUPPO Box 31072 • Savannah, GA 31410 • Email: oanfig@gmail.com • Website: www.oanfig.org

rot

Report look familiar? Yes, this is the February Donations Report. Rather than apartial month report for March, given that we distribute Inner Voice prior to the endof the month, the March report will be in the next issue. This will bring us into alignment with our Procedure Manual. Thanks for your understanding.

Where areyour
donationsgoing?
According to our Seventh
Tradition, we are selfsupporting through our own
contributions. To donate
directly to Intergroup, write acheck made payable to ‘NFI’
and mail to: OA NFI, PO Box
550842, Jacksonville, FL 32255;
or log onto oanfig.org andscroll down to the ‘donate’
button. You may pay by PayPalor credit card.
When you contribute your 7th
Tradition donations, if you
indicate your group number,the donation will be recorded
for that specific group. When
we do not have a group
number to work with, we may
include the donations as
unspecified.
Each 9, NFI tallies the groupdonations and sends 10% of
the total to Region 8, with anadditional 30% to the World
Service Office.
Donations sent directly toWorld Service Office do notreflect in our group donations
total.

Articles printed in this newsletter reflect the opinion of each individual OA member and do not represent OA as awhole. Intergroup meets on the 2nd Saturday of each month. The deadline to submit articles is the 20th of the month
before the Intergroup meeting. Articles may be edited. When submitting articles, please include your name andphone number and whether or not you would like your name printed. This newsletter may be reproduced andenjoyed by other 12-steppers without written permission. If you would like to submit articles and/or comments, or if
you would like to receive the Inner Voice in color as a pdf, send your email address to the Newsletter Chair at
innervoicenfi@gmail.com.

-18NEW FREEDOM INTERGROUPPO Box 31072 • Savannah, GA 31410 • Email: oanfig@gmail.com • Website: www.oanfig.org