Minutes from the OIAA 21 December 2024 Assembly

– approved by Assembly March 15, 2025 –

Saturday, December 21, 2024
9:00 am HST | 11:00 am PT | 1:00 pm CT | 2:00 pm ET

Susan R., OIAA Chair, called the meeting to order at 2:04 PM ET: The meeting opened with the We version of the Serenity prayer.  Mark M, OIAA Tech Chair, confirmed Quorum of 48 members.

Minutes: Jeff B, OIAA Secretary screen-shared the minutes in English and posted them on the website in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and French and can be translated into whatever language you need.  Motion by Cam H. to accept the minutes with minor corrections and seconded by Beth D.  Minutes were approved unanimously by 48 members. 

Elections:  Jeff B, OIAA Secretary explained the third legacy process, that candidates will need two-thirds of the membership voting and that candidates will be given 3 minutes to present their service resume.

• OIAA Vice Chair: No one stood initially, later in the meeting Ken B raised his hand and presented his service resume which included his participation in the Unity Committee and preparations for the first OIAA online international convention. He has participated in multiple AA service positions, has a strong parliamentary procedure background and was on the advisory board of the Veterans Empowerment Organization.  He was elected by 89.3% of the voting membership.
• OIAA Secretary: Jeff B’s two-year term was up.  No one stood.
• OIAA Tech Chair: Mark M., who has served for two years, stood for a second term and was reelected for another two years.  He was elected by 98.1% of the voting members, with many accolades and gratitude for his first term.
• OIAA Trustee at Large: Barry M. from Texas with many service responsibilities in OIAA and Paolo from France, service in online AA and translator in French and Italian, stood for this position. Paolo received 70.7% of the vote.

Financial Matters: 

• Excess Funds:  OIAA Treasurer, Jennifer B, identified approximately $20,000, That could be spent on GSO’s abroad, some other AA organization, or allocating it to the Tech budget for needed work to the Website to make it more internationally usable.  There were concerns that the GSOs did not have an online presence, that only a few countries in the world have online groups: Australia, Portugal, France, Great Britian and US/Canada.  Many believed that we need to use the funds to upgrade the website as far as translation and accessibility in the different languages.  Jeanine F motioned that we keep the excess funds for the OIAA infrastructure (website) towards its future development and assisting other groups because we assist them already throughout the world.  Cam H seconded it.  85.9% or 64 members voted to approve the motion. 
• Annual Budget (See the Website for the proposed budget):  OIAA Treasurer, Jennifer B, presented the proposed annual budget line by line.
  • Contributions have increased from $123,500 in 2024 compared to $101,000 last year. 
  • Expenses are proposed to be $120,000.
  • Issues with the expenses included:
    • The second online convention 2025 was proposed at 33,371 consisting of $14,645 for Tech 12, an additional Zoom room, a hospitality room of $12,506 for 248 interpreter hours. for four rooms, and adding two additional languages to the four Zoom rooms, $2,520 for registration platform, including website for the second OIAA online convention event create, $1,500 for bilingual tech and admin support as needed. And $2,200 for certified translation of the convention agenda into six languages.  Some objected since other AA organizations charge for registration. Others cited international barriers such as some countries barred by US sanctions, other third world countries could not afford the dollar, and we need to foster AA meetings for native peoples and remote communities, not just expat meetings.  It was noted that contributions to OIAA increased after the convention and recommended that we make the contributions more visible on the website and the convention registration.  Tamara S motioned and Beth D seconded that the budget be increased from last year’s budget by 20% above the last year’s budget of $19,725 or $23,670 for the convention.  The membership voted 57% to keep the convention line item at $33,371 (33 to 25).  There was then a motion to reconsider the vote by Mark M and seconded by Tamara S.  It did not pass (28 to 23 or 55% declined to reconsider). The $33,371 convention budget stands.
    • Tech Line Item: Shelly B motioned to increase the Tech budget by $20,000, seconded by Preston T and records showed it passed 39 to 1.
• Annual Budget: Motion to approve the annual 2025 budget with $20,000 added to the Tech budget by Preston T and seconded by Barbara R.  The budget was approved by 91.3% of the voting members. 

Greg H motioned to adjourn and Preston T seconded.

Motions Approved Summary

The following motions were voted on by the Membership at this meeting:

• It was motioned that we keep the excess funds for the OIAA infrastructure (website) towards its future development and assisting other groups because we assist them already throughout the world.  85.9% or 64 members voted to approve keeping the excess funds.  
• It was motioned to increase the Tech budget by $20,000 and passed 39 to 1.
• It was motioned to approve the annual 2025 budget with $20,000 added to the Tech budget.  The annual budget was approved by 91.3% of the voting members. https://beta.aa-intergroup.org/committee-updates/2025-final-budget/

Signed: Amelia L., OIAA Secretary, February 10, 2025

Secretary@AA-Intergroup.org

Approved by Membership: March 15, 20255