Inner Voice

June 2024

Newsletter of New Freedom Intergroup of OA
Step 6: Were entirely
ready to have God
remove all these defects
of character.
• Spiritual Principle:
Willingness
Tradition 6: An OA
group ought neverendorse, finance or lend
the OA name to any
related facility oroutside enterprise, lest
problems of money,
property and prestige
divert us from ourprimary purpose.
• Spiritual Principle:
Solidarity

Did you know?
Did you know World Service Office has a News Bulletin Email newsletter?
Stay up to date with what Over Eaters Anonymous is doing as a whole. To sign up for the
Bulletin, enter your email address in the Let’s Keep in Touch space on the OA.org homepage
and click yes to confirm.
https://oa.org/
Now that you know, email or take a screen shot and text this to all your meeting members to
get everyone connected!

Concept 6: The World
Service Business
Conference has
entrusted the Board ofTrustees with theprimary responsibility
for the administration ofOvereaters Anonymous.
• Spiritual Principle:
Responsibility
Promise 6: We will lose
interest in selfish thingsand gain interest in our
fellows.

-1NEW FREEDOM INTERGROUPPO Box 31072 • Savannah, GA 31410 • Email: oanfig@gmail.com • Website: www.oanfig.org

-2NEW FREEDOM INTERGROUPPO Box 31072 • Savannah, GA 31410 • Email: oanfig@gmail.com • Website: www.oanfig.org

6: Were entirely ready to have God remove
Step 6: Just One Paragraph Step
all these defects of character.
The Big Book devotes just one paragraph to Step Six. It asks us to check our willingness. If we are willing to let go of all
the defects, we identified in Step Four, then we move on to Step Seven. What does this willingness look like? ….and how
can I be entirely ready?
If I am abstaining from the foods that cause me problems, I have already had the experience of being willing to have God
remove my food problem. Of course, I was desperate and in nearly constant mental anguish over the symptoms of thisdisease. Being entirely ready to have God remove that particular problem might have been simpler than otherproblems/defects.
Take for example my defect of self-pity. I identified it as a character defect in my fourth step inventory. In that inventory
I saw how damaging this defect is to me, and yet, I saw how much I seemed to really invest in, even revel in self-pity. In
my mind I had many movies that I played over and over justifying feeling sorry for myself. Why life was not fair to me inmany ways. I could find friends to agree that I got a raw deal. I was justified! And yet – the pain of those feelings…
blocked me off from my God. I could not experience an open channel to my HP and self-pity movies in my mind at thesame time. It was one or the other. Black and white.
So, I might consider that my job in the sixth step, is to do everything in my power to create an environment where I
demonstrate willingness to have my defects removed. Some ways I can demonstrate willingness are by:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Staying abstinent. Self-pity and bingeing are best friends in my disease world.
Becoming aware of when my defects are likely to be triggered.
Remaining open-minded, regardless of what is going on.
Cooperating with HP in the building of my character, by doing my best to respond to difficult circumstances withhumility.

This is not a one-time thing. It’s a lifetime job. As with all the remaining steps, I will get better with practice.
— Lucy B.

More on Step 5 From Our Region
I just finished receiving a 5th Step from a beloved sponsee and it reminded me of why this step in our process is sotransformative. It has the capability to turn shame and guilt into compassion and love for myself and others. I watched
my friend become open to the idea that our needs, wants, and desires drove us to behaviors that did not result in theoutcomes we expected. But we do not have to let those needs, wants, and desires continue to drive.
Why does the 5th Step seem so daunting? I used to think, “I’ve already admitted to myself and my Higher Power thethings that are haunting me and taking up so much of my energy (Step 4). Why tell another person?
The truth for me was that I needed someone else’s perspective – mine was distorted. I found it terrifying to let someone
really see me, especially what I considered the worst of me. I had spent my life wearing a mask. The mask changed,
based on what I thought I needed to do to be accepted. I protected my “real” identity behind the mask because I was
terrified you would know me and reject me. My very survival felt like it depended on whether or not the world accepted
me. In my own eyes, I always fell short and I assumed, if you saw me, you would see the same thing I was seeing.
I took the mask off and timidly tiptoed from behind it, in a safe space with a trusted sponsor, and read her my 4th Step
inventory. At that moment, my real life began. As the fear slipped away, a feeling of connection replaced it. At the endof the 5th Step, the Big Book promises (p.75), “We may have had certain spiritual beliefs, but now we begin to have aspiritual experience. The feeling that the drink problem has disappeared will often come strongly. We feel we are on the
Broad Highway, walking hand in hand with the Spirit of the Universe.” What a comforting thought, hand in hand.
For me, the 5th Step opened the door for connection with myself, my Higher Power, and you. I learned to havecompassion for my needs, wants, and desires, and love for the person I used to be. I continue to bring the real me to myHigher Power, knowing that I will be heard, helped, and cherished. Please do not miss the experience!
— Barbara P.

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

Tradition 6: Singlenessof Purpose

Tradition 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 ourprimary purpose.

The traditions resulted from experiences of the early AA groups getting involved in outside enterprises. Singleness of
purpose is one of the main reasons that 12-step programs work. They don’t take up popular causes or recommend
outside books or treatments. We use what we know works. That is the steps – not a plan of eating, not an exercise
program, not a particular religion, philosophy, or opinion.
When I was first in OA we wanted a name for our group and I suggested calling it after the institution we met in.
Someone explained to me that that would be a violation of Tradition Six, so I think we called it the acceptancemeeting.
Before the internet, when we had a phone in Gainesville, someone called up who was selling food bars from a famous
diet book. He wanted to bring them to a meeting. He was told he couldn’t and became quite indignant because he had
THE ANSWER!
We have the answer that works for us and it is not dieting or food bars or diet books. There have been minor violations
in our meetings, someone trying to get people to walk for diabetes years ago; two different people offering to convert
other members to Christianity. So far no one has been political, which is great.
We need singleness of purpose: “The desire to stop eating compulsively.” Everything else is an outside issue.
— Patience M., Gainesville FL

Promises: A Paradox

Promise 6: We will lose interest in selfish things and gaininterest in our fellows.

When I first read this promise, I was slightly dubious. By this time (we are half-way through the steps), I was aware of
my many shortcomings – especially selfishness and self-centeredness. I thought, wow, “We will lose interest in selfish
things and We will gain interest in our fellows.” Part of me was hedging – we meant you, not me. I thought, “We”
meant you would gain interest in your fellows and that it didn’t apply to me.
How could it? On a daily basis I mostly think of me. It takes a lot of effort for me to set aside my needs and think ofyou. I seem to always fall back on selfish thinking. Why is that?
In the chapter How It Works, (Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, p.62) our literature reminds me that, “Selfishness,
self-centeredness! That, we think, is the root of our troubles.” Further along the page, we are instructed, “Above
everything, we alcoholics must be rid of this selfishness. We must, or it kills us! God makes that possible.” And earlier itsays, “Our very lives, as ex-problem drinkers, depend upon our constant thought of others and how we may help meettheir needs.” (p.20)
A wise person I know always reminded me that the more I think of you, the less I think of me. I still do not know whysome people find selflessness natural, and why for me I default to selfishness. I do know that -- food addict or not -selfishness is a character defect. However, for a food addict/compulsive overeater, selfishness can result in a relapse.
Hence selfishness can be deadly to me – and (perhaps) not to a “normie.”
So how do I reduce my selfishness and increase interest in my fellows? Service and God. Horrors!! Another paradox of
12-step recovery. Doing what I don’t want to do makes me feel better. Doing the opposite of what I’m normally wired
to do, like God’s will, reduces my need to fill the God-shaped hole in my soul. The simple act of doing for others
increases my ability to defend against the next compulsive bite. Simple but not easy.
As an imperfect bozo on this bus, I now know what I’m supposed to do, act, and say. And, if I’m being honest, I fallshort…a lot! But my Higher Power provides me with grace. If I am striving to follow the program to the best of myability, my HP keeps me in a state of grace, safe and protected from relapse.

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If you are struggling with selfishness, try the Seventh Step Prayer:“My Creator, I am now willing that you should have all of me, good and bad. I pray that you now remove from meevery single defect of character which stands in the way of my usefulness to you and my fellows. Grant me strength, as
I go out from here, to do your bidding. Amen.” (p.76)— John K.

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.
There Is a Solution“Nearly all have recovered. They have solved the drink problem.”“…there exists among us a fellowship, a friendliness, and an understanding which is indescribably wonderful.”“We are like the passengers of a great liner the moment after rescue from shipwreck when camaraderie, joyousness
and democracy pervade the vessel from steerage to Captain’s table.”“…our joy in escape from disaster does not subside as we go our individual ways.”“The feeling of having shared in a common peril is one element in the powerful cement which binds us.”“…we have discovered a common solution.”“We have a way out on which we can absolutely agree, and upon which we can join in brotherly and harmonious
action.”— Mark W.

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.
912.508.4777
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

Help Us Keep Our Lists Up to Date
We work to keep our NFI meeting lists up to date, and as you’ve probably noticed, we have a column for contact people
for specific meetings on the lists. However, no one is perfect, and change is always with us. Someone can move away, ora focus of a meeting can change. And meetings have changed from in-person to virtual or hybrid and sometimes back.
So if you ever have trouble getting meeting info, or don’t find a meeting where or when you expect one, please let us
know. OA is asking all the service bodies to audit their meetings and report back. So when newcomers, travelers, or justmembers in search of different voices look at oa.org they get good information.

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See the Registration Form Attached!
Big Book Weekend
NOVEMBER 1-3, 2024
Join us in person as we witness examples of‘how to recover’ from the disease ofcompulsive eating, as outlined in the “BigBook” of Alcoholics Anonymous. Our
speaker will share how he practices his
program, maintains his recovery, lives inspiritual abundance, letting go of the food andworking with others. There will be groupsharing activities and plenty of time forfellowship, reflection and relaxation.
Abstinent meals, on the premises, will be available.

Stepping
Our Way to
Recovery(A Big Book Buffet)

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.
The two-page registration flyer is attached to this newsletter.

Highlights of the May 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 May 11. 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, June 8 from10:00 am to 11:30 am by Zoom. (Meeting ID: 872 7218 1719, Password: 883350).
Highlights of what was covered at the May 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.

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••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 officiallysponsoring or hosting this event, ANYONE is welcome to give service for it! If you are interested in helping withplanning or otherwise volunteering, please contact Susan B. by email at chair@oaregion8.org

Other Items of Note:•••

All meetings are to let Chair know about changes in format. Thank you to those who sent us update thismonth! They should be reflected on the website and meeting list.
Discussed the definition of membership with regards to renewing our liability insurance. We have ~250
individuals on our contact list, but for insurance purposes, we are mostly interested in members who attend
face-to-face meetings and events.
o After discussing it with our insurer, we are going to use 75 for the number of members as this is a goodaverage between regular attendance across all of our affiliated meetings and special event attendance.
Discussed the increase in our costs for the liability insurance. We saw an increase of 43% this year, and will
begin looking around for other options. It could be that our rate is the best possible rate, but we won’t know
for sure until we look around. Reached out to the World Service Office for guidance on this topic as well per
instructions on the OA website, but haven’t seen a response yet.

Region 8’s New International Committee Page
Check our Region's new International Committee page at https://oaregion8.org/committees/icr8/
Many parts of the webpage may be viewed in English, Spanish, or Portuguese! You may choose the language on theupper left tab.
– JC, Secretary Region 8-7NEW FREEDOM INTERGROUPPO Box 31072 • Savannah, GA 31410 • Email: oanfig@gmail.com • Website: www.oanfig.org

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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 to benefit
newcomers, returning and current members. Maybe even the "old timers."
Have you read the appendices to Overeaters Anonymous, Third Edition? They include writings on
The Role of a Plan of Eating, A Disease of the Mind, A Disease of the Mind, A Disease of the Body,
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 information and pass around in
face-to-face meetings or insert into a visual format for virtual meetings.
Check it out — Pass it on!
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.

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rot

Where are your donations going?
According to our Seventh Tradition, we are self-supporting through our own contributions. To donate directly toIntergroup, write a check made payable to ‘NFI’ and mail to: OA NFI, PO Box 550842, Jacksonville, FL 32255; or log onto
oanfig.org and scroll down to the ‘donate’ button. You may pay by PayPal or credit card.
When you contribute your 7th Tradition donations, if you indicate your group number, the donation will be recorded forthat specific group. When we do not have a group number to work with, we may include the donations as unspecified.
Each month, NFI tallies the group donations and sends 10% of the total to Region 8, with an additional 30% to the World
Service Office. Donations sent directly to World Service Office do not reflect in our group donations total.

-16NEW FREEDOM INTERGROUPPO Box 31072 • Savannah, GA 31410 • Email: oanfig@gmail.com • Website: www.oanfig.org