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Minutes from the OIAA 20-Sept 2025 Assembly
Board members Present: Gwen Mc (OIAA Board Chair), Mark M (Tech Chair)
Quorum was met (47)
The Chair opened the meeting at 2pm ET by introducing the alternate IGR from the Morning Meditation, Evening Reflection group who lead the Assembly in the Serenity prayer.
A motion was made to accept the minutes from the 21-June 2025 Membership Assembly, Faith 2nd; Discussion. Vote:
Chair Welcome and comments
The chair announced ongoing board turnover issues. She encouraged interested members to reach out for information about Board service opportunities, noting that the next assembly December 20, 2025 will include voting for all leadership positions.
Officer Reports
Secretary’s Report: No report made. This position is open.
Technology Report: The Tech Chair reported that the website translation into multiple languages is underway, with an expert from Portugal working on the project and expected to complete it in 2-3 weeks. He explained that technology expenses were over budget due to website translation costs and delayed project investments.
Finance Report: The Acting Treasurer presented a financial report showing the organization is performing well ahead of budget, with $22,000 in excess revenue, though group contributions have started to plateau slightly and a prudent reserve balance of $72,592.
Discussion: A member raised concerns about excess funds in OIAA and potential declining contributions. The Acting Treasurer noted that addressing this would be a priority for the new treasurer. The group discussed group contribution limits, with a member clarifying that while individual contributions are capped at $10,000 annually, there is no limit for group contributions.
International Trustee Report: No report made. This position is open.
Committee Reports
Steppers: The alternate chair of the 12-step committee, reported that the Steppers received 445 inquiries in August, up from 335 the previous year, with responses coming from 32 countries including the US, South Africa, Canada, and India. The committee is seeking new volunteers with at least one year of sobriety and good communication skills to help respond to inquiries via email.
Unity: The Chair of the Unity Committee, announced that their second international online convention has nearly 1,000 registrants and will take place over three days in November, featuring meetings in multiple languages and rooms, with volunteer opportunities still available.
Old Business
No old business was carried over.
New Business
Motion to approve spend of $5,000 to provide accounting services for the balance of 2025.
Discussion: After a short discussion this motion passed.
Vote: 55 votes in favor, 2 against, and 1 abstention
Motion to approve spend of $3,540 for organizational fees to provide legal counsel.
Discussion: Several participants expressed concerns about the policy conflicting with AA traditions, particularly regarding anonymity and avoiding public controversy. The Chair of the Public Information Committee, opposed the motion, citing concerns about transparency, insurance coverage, and the resignation of the appointed investigator. Another member supported the motion, emphasizing the importance of group safety. Yet another member raised concerns about the potential overlap between board member departures and the whistleblower complaint. The board entertained a motion to postpone until the March 2026 assembly; however, this motion was lost in the discussion. The original motion did come to a vote, which did not pass.
Vote: 46 votes opposed, 13 votes in favor, and 3 abstentions.
Announcements
The Chair announced the upcoming OIAA2025 Online International Convention, scheduled for November 14-16, 2025, with the theme “Unity: At Home Around the World.” Concerns were raised about translation services. The Tech Chair acknowledged the need to address this gap.
The chair announced an upcoming Intergroup Rep Forum on October 25th, where panelists will share how their groups conduct business, and invited volunteers to participate by contacting IGR.forum@aa-intergroup.org
The Assembly closed at 4pm ET with the Responsibility Statement.
