Announcement for 24 Sep 2024
INTERNATIONAL TRUSTEE REPORT- BETH A.
OIAA Assembly, September 21, 2024
INTRODUCTION
Service Mission – OIAA Guidelines
“5.3.1 International Trustee. [contents]
The international trustee serves as a liaison from OIAA to online groups outside the US and Canada. While no trustee can be said to “represent” a geographical area, this trustee brings an international perspective to the board and membership. This trustee provides insight to the board regarding the needs of the OIAA international online community and cultivates the spirit of inclusion and unity. This may include recommendations regarding zonal and regional inclusivity. They coordinate and collaborate with Unity and other OIAA committees as needed or as determined by the board. The international trustee provides the board with pertinent information which may affect our organization and its online presence, utilizing their experience in diverse cultural environments. Being bilingual or multilingual and residing outside of the US or Canada are assets. As our membership grows, additional international trustees may be added at the discretion of the board.”
In addition to the mission you, the membership, have given me, the OIAA Board has entrusted me with the task of assisting Carlos D. our Unity Chair, and the Unity Committee in organizing the first OIAA Online International Convention. I hope it will be the first of many to come.
The process of organizing this Convention is in itself the culmination of my mission as International Trustee. We have seen international groups unite in their countries to participate. We were overwhelmed with emotion as so many of you and your groups stepped forward to host meetings and serve. Our OIAA Committees have generously provided invaluable support and expertise. This convention unites A.A. members around the world and is a beautiful expression of our first tradition in action. I love it!
Thank you to every A.A. serving this convention for the hundreds of hours of service, enthusiasm, technical expertise, artistic expertise, financial expertise, experience, strength and hope, and the overwhelming messages of support we received from your registration forms. In the words of our OIAA Treasurer, Jennifer, “This convention is going to be EPIC!”
SERVICE HIGHLIGHTS
SERVICE TO THE BOARD-
On 4 July 2023, prior to the creation of the two additional Trustee service positions, I was inspired to write to the Board outlining a risk management plan to provide solutions and address the growing pains of the organization. I proposed the following three general ideas (details omitted):
- Retaining a business, nonprofit, and employment law expert. (fee estimates can be obtained and negotiated)
- Hiring a translating/interpreting service for nonprofits (fee estimates can be obtained and negotiated)
- Increasing in the number of Trustees to address the lack of diversity (referring to cultures, ideas, viewpoints) and enable the Board to better serve an international and diverse membership.
I do not take credit for the Board implementing each of these ideas, but perhaps a seed was planted that in the end benefits us all.
- Initiation of a Board Inventory – the Board designated me AdHoc Board Inventory Chair and Jeff graciously accepted to assist. We established a list of questions from input of our Board members and found two facilitators with experience serving in the A.A. General Service Office in New York.
- Proposal of several in depth Terms of Use Policy documents that are now in review with our legal council. This is a standard policy to have for online businesses that can protect them from a variety of potential liability issues.
- I fulfill the standard obligations of providing monthly reports, participating in Board meetings, participating in Unity Committee meetings, and other OIAA meetings as needed.
- Provide an international point of view and solutions within the limits of my experience and knowledge on pertinent issues affecting our organization.
I’d like to share a favorite quote from a nonprofit diversity advocate, Jane Scaccetti, that encourages me to keep an open mind in Board service: “When you have a board composed of people who all have roughly the same background, it’s easy for everyone to assume an answer. They might ultimately get to the right place, but they also may not know what they do not know.”
SERVICE TO YOU-
- Outreach and relationship building with members in Europe, Africa and Asia, particularly in France, Belgium, Switzerland, Kenya, South Africa, India and Russia. Outreach to our deaf and blind members in the USA. It takes a lot of time and service to build relationships and trust.
These are precious relationships that we must continue to nurture.
- Service and dedication to the Unity Committee and Carlos D., Unity Chair, in his outreach to members in Central and South America, Portugal and Spain
- Serving all members, groups and convention registrants by personally answering all questions and concerns sent to me. I work in tandem with Carlos D. who responds to our Portuguese and Spanish speaking members and Masood who translates all correspondence into Farsi for our Iranian members.
- I respond and visit groups at their request to address any questions and concerns.
- Most importantly – organizing the first OIAA Online International Convention with the Unity Committee.
- Details of our vision for the convention planning structure can be below.
- Current convention statistics as of 21 September 2024, from 3000 registrants (these are approximations). Almost 200 members have registered since that date.
Countries with the highest number of registrations
USA – 1503, Brazil – 282, UK – 183, Canada – 98, South Africa – 31, Australia & France – 61, Ireland – 50, Iran – 45, India – 36
New Zealand – 30, Mexico – 25, Spain – 28, Colombia – 20, Kenya – 16, Trinidad & Tobago – 10
+ 63 other country’s registrations with less than 10
Most prevalent languages spoken by registrants
English – 2000, Portuguese – 300, French – 95, Spanish – 90, Farsi – 45 , Punjabi/German/English Captions – 9,
Irish/Hindi/Swahili – 6, American Sign Language – 3.
Registrants also speak approximately 50 other languages, and many of them are multilingual.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve.
Beth A. – International Trustee
