“I’ve been blessed to attend some of our World Service Conventions,” says Bonnie. ”I know I‘ll be reunited with my ‘worldwide friends’ and meet new ones. Most heartwarming is when . . . ‘I put my hand in yours’ again.”
“Why do I keep coming back to World Service Convention? When was the last time you were in a room with more than a thousand compulsive eaters working or working toward a program of recovery?” —Karen, OA member with a more than 200-pound (91-kg) weight loss.
“I’m planning on attending the next World Service Convention this August 21–23 in Orlando, Florida USA, and I hope you plan to attend too,” says one anonymous OA member. “This is an opportunity you won’t want to miss!”
I need the balance of recovery and fellowship to keep me well. I get both when attending a World Service Convention. I always get excited just thinking about World Service Convention. These are events not to miss! I have attended almost every World Service Convention since 1995, and I’ve attended lots of workshops at them, … Continued
“The best part of Convention was sitting and talking to OA members from all over the world,” says Bob, who has attended five World Service Conventions. “I laughed the most at a workshop in Cleveland on LGBTQ+ issues. The leader was hilarious, and the sharing was hard hitting.”
After struggling with weight and atheism, Frank H. found a Higher Power within himself, transforming his approach to recovery through Overeaters Anonymous.
“So many people set powerful examples that I want to emulate,” says OA member Rhonda after experiencing her first OA Convention. “I am very grateful for the organizers of this World Service Convention and all it offered everyone”
Barbara recounts the two World Service Conventions she attended, and says, “Conventions are a great place to strengthen recovery, find a sponsor, make new friends, nurture existing OA relationships, and allow ourselves to have some fun.”
At her first World Service Convention, Aleta reconnected with OA members who she knew only virtually or hadn’t seen in 20 years. “I was thrilled to see so many people who had been around and stayed for for so long.”
“For me, Convention was a badly needed ‘shot in the arm,’“ says one OA member from Alaska who traveed to Boston for the 2016 World Servcie Convention. “It’s the most amazing feeling to say ‘I put my hand in yours . . .’ and be standing in a circle of over a thousand people.”