Guidelines: Events & Outreach

Why Guidelines?

Curious how to…

  • plan a public information or outreach event?
  • plan a convention or retreat?  
  • participate at a health fair?
  • set up a newsletter? 
  • set up a website?  

We have you covered with our guidelines.  Here’s a brief description of the ones available in the menu above.

Planning an event: Explore a list of the types of events that groups and service bodies typically host. Get suggestions on how to form a committee to get the work done and how to budget so expenses are covered by the suggested donations. 

Newsletters: What to include, how to handle anonymity, where to get extra material, and who should review it before distribution. 

Health fairs: What you need to know if you ever want to participate in a local health fair, so healthcare professionals and the public can learn about OA. 

OA CARES – Inmate Correspondence: Did you know there is a need for members to write to inmates who want to start meetings or need a sponsor so they can work the program?  Here’s how volunteers perform this important service.

Public information events: Make OA known in your area through public events how to plan for them, including publicity ideas, volunteer roles, and a suggested timeline.  

Professional outreach committees: Learn ways for your service body to reach out to the doctors, educators, therapists, schools, and other professional organizations in your area.

Website development: Groups and service bodies use websites to help spread the word about OA. Here is a single source to review from time to time to ensure you are making the most of your site , while also honoring the Traditions.

Literature Titles
Automatically translated literature titles appearing on this page are for reference only and may not exactly match the official titles approved by OA, Inc. and A.A. World Services, Inc.

Translation Permission
All registered OA groups and service bodies have permission to translate and reprint any OA document or text currently on the OA website. Permission includes the right to distribute automatically translated material and the right to correct errors in automatic translations. Translation corrections should be as close as possible to the meaning of the original English text, with nothing added or omitted. Translated materials must include this statement in the language of the translation: This is a translation of OA-approved literature. © Overeaters Anonymous, Inc. All rights reserved.

To translate OA documents with significant graphic design, see Free Licensed Images, Translation, and Graphic Design Platform for Intergroups and Service Boards Registered as Nonprofits/Charities.

To obtain OA-approved literature in your language, contact your service body or see the Digital Files in Translation list and Guidelines for Translation of OA literature.

Volunteer to improve translations on staging-frontendrebuild.oa.org. Apply here!