Interview with Cindy L

Cyndy L, is a Trustee of OA, and is currently the chair of the Website Review Committee, on the Board Reference Manual Committee, and on the Executive Committee.

Over the years, I have served as the Bylaws Committee Trustee Co-Chair, (my favorite WSBC Committee). I also served on the Board Approved Literature Committee, Website Review Committee, Board Reference Manual Committee, Conference Planning, Convention Planning committees, Lifeline Committee, an Ad Hoc Committee to realign the size of the board, plus several project committees from the strategic planning.

Q: What brought you to OA?

A: My elevator story is that I had always been a compulsive eater, but I was not overweight until I left home. I grew up in a big family and you couldn’t always get as much as you wanted. Then, my weight did the normal woman thing–up and down, had a baby, gained weight, lost some weight, gained more weight, had another baby, etc.….

I went through a divorce and lived on my own for a couple of years, and then I met someone and got the perfect life. When I was single, I didn’t have any trouble with my weight, because I had switched over to sex, drugs, and rock & roll for my compulsion for those few years.

Once I remarried, I had everything I wanted; a nice house, my kids were teenagers so I wasn’t having to do much for them, a good job… but I couldn’t stop eating! I went to a therapist and she suggested OA. I said no, because I was going to handle it myself. My weight got over 200lbs, and I decided that I would just fake it. I would dress well, walk around like everything was good in my life and all would be okay. But the eating just made me hate myself – and I couldn’t stop. It was just the progressive nature of the disease. This time it was out of control. A friend told me I was a compulsive eater and said she would take me to a meeting. She knew I had finally hit the place where I needed to go. I hit bottom 34 years ago.

It took me a long time to figure out this program-–to get into the Steps, but I was blessed with abstinence after four months. Within the first 2 years I started giving service. Service was my anchor. It was the thing that kept me here. I am good at administrative and planning things. I got involved in the local convention that had a big entertainment component. It gave me an opportunity to play. To be part of something where people were joyful and happy. We did fun things. Part of the entertainment every year was a skit that someone wrote. Everybody pitched in, and we all worked really hard on that. Those things kept me coming. At about 8 years, I was the chair of the convention, and my professional job had gotten more demanding. And I thought, I have done all of the service I need to do. I have given enough. I quit service. My job evolved and around this time it required that I travel. It was very exciting. Who knew that I would get to live in England for 3 months or go to Hong Kong. I had never expected I would get to do those things, but I did.

However, since I wasn’t invested in service, I would only get to meetings between trips. I ended up in a hotel room with room service – You order something extra good off the menu, then you have a little party in your mouth. It led me right into relapse. I was alone and lonely. I knew what to do, which was to reach out, but I didn’t do it. I started eating again and gained 30lbs. One day someone gave me 10lbs of candy as a gift, and I knew I was in big trouble. I came home, gave away the candy, and got a new sponsor. I knew that there was no other answer for me, and that I needed to get back to working the Steps. I have been abstinent for the last 24 years. I also worked through letting go of the big job, the money, the prestige, and because I had traveled, to pursue photography.

Q: What path lead you to become a trustee?

A: I was treasurer of Region 4 for four years which I loved doing. Then, I was region chair for four years. My sponsor, at the time, was a very charming lady, and she had served as trustee. I thought that, if I just do what my sponsor did, and follow in her path, then I’ll be doing all of the things I love and admire about her. Also, I would be giving back to OA in a way that I know how to contribute. So, I moved into the Region Four trustee slot. I served for 6 years my first time, which was 2 terms, and then went back as an intergroup delegate for 4 years. I was recently reelected as trustee. I ran because we needed more trustees, and I love the work that you do as a trustee. At the last World Service Business Conference, we didn’t fill all of our trustee positions. We put out a plea for service and had six people apply, four of them are now appointees. Hopefully, they will run again in the spring to be elected to the positions.

Q: What is your favorite part of being a Trustee?

A: That it contributes. It gives something back to the fellowship. Everything that I do there, is to help create ways to attract members. To make people aware of OA and bring people to OA. And hopefully, to educate the members in OA, that is an aspect that people don’t always think about. The trustee work is very serious. I have to look towards the future, and where we are as an organization. My skills from my years in business helps me be a good Trustee, as well as my enjoyment of the other people, and I still enjoy getting into projects that are fun. I know this time that 3 years will be plenty. I am 75 years old, and will step away when I am 78 years old. And hopefully, inspire more people to come forward.

Q: What is the most challenging part of Trustee position?

There is no downside. Even though our main focus is about recovery, it is the job of the Board of Trustee to look at the normal aspects of any organization. For me, the budget process is the most challenging. Speaking for myself, I would love to do more, but we have the normal limits and obligations of any organization. I have a lot of years at world service, and have always heard we need more contributions, and more literature sales. Those are the two sources of income for OA. It’s a good thing for me to remember that in addition to recovery, a real part of recovery is the giving back – both in terms of service and contribution. This year there is the release of the new book Diverse Voices. I’m always excited to see how new recovery material also helps support OA financially.

Q: With which committees are you involved?

A: I’m on the Executive committee which is involved in the budget but that’s not my only job.

I am the chair of the Website Review Committee. This means that we look at what is necessary, what can we do to improve the website, and what can we do to help members? We are completing a huge translation project. Through IP recognition, the website will display in the language of the IP address. So, someone in Russia will find the website, and it will be their language. We are hoping that non-English speaking people will come to oa.org and immediately start to get help. They will be able to read the website content and they can read finding a meeting in their language.

Working on the website committee, I am able to use my skills from the business world. The committee is looking for ways to encourage people to correct their meeting info. I am also working on the Board reference manual that allows me to use my Bylaws experience.

I am also on a committee that is creating an e-zine called “The Joy of Service”. It’s about how much people enjoy and love giving service in order to encourage more service participation. I know that for me, service is a real need for my program to stay healthy. It’s not just about getting off the food, it’s about my spiritual aspect to be healthy – my heart – my giving back.

There are eight conference committee and eight trustees serve as the co-chairs. There are also several board committees and each trustee serves a couple of those. There is always work to be done. Nothing unmanageable. It’s hard to estimate the time, but I have given from 5 hours per week, and in rush time it could be up to 20 hours a week. It depends on what I am working on, and where that project is in the process. There is lots of collaboration, as everything is done through group conscience.

Q: What is your favorite part of giving service beyond the Intergroup level?

A: My favorite part is that I have friends all over the world. Because there is a bigger world out there! I started in a group. I went to intergroup, and I met people from all over the St Louis area. I went to events all over the St Louis area and gave service where I could. Then, when I joined the region, I started going all over the mid-west, and started to build a circle of friends there. At the world service level, as a delegate, I met people from all over the world. Then as a Trustee, I started meeting this huge network of people that are supporting OA.

The Fellowship represents a lot of the things that my Higher Power wanted for me. It was to use my personality, my abilities to support, and give back to this organization. The best thing I did this week, was when two new people came to a meeting and did not know what to do. I reached out to both. They were both men, and I connected them to other men, so that they have a connection, can find sponsor, and start working their program. So, I worked with newcomers as part of my program. But I also work on the other side, so that everyone has the material that they can hand out to that newcomer. For example, the pamphlet “Where do I Start” used to be individual pamphlets. When I was serving on the Board the last time, it was decided to consolidate those into a single document; an example of an idea that was adopted to serve the Fellowship. I just love OA, and I’m willing to do whatever it takes to support that.

Q: What is one thing, one action you would recommend today to someone wanting to be a Trustee.

A: I don’t think anyone starts out wanting to be a Trustee. However, if you never start giving service beyond the group level, you will never understand the rewards that are out there in the service world. The Intergroup is a good place to start. Once you get some experience there, your region needs you. You will grow in amazing ways. There is a quote: “Everything you ever wanted is just outside your comfort zone”. Recovery is not about being comfortable – It’s not – recovery is about spiritual growth.

I truly believe that my service leads me to spiritual growth. I am put in situations where I have relationships with others. I am not just in relationships with myself and my best buddies. It challenges me and expands my spiritual life. There are lots of times after a meeting where I have to sit down and do that little resentment prayer, or I have to make an amend, or I have to be grateful that I didn’t say what I was going to say, so I didn’t have to make amends. Then, I have to look at what was going on in that situation and perhaps I could have done it differently. Perhaps the issue was me.

One more story – We were preparing a convention, and I went down to put together the packets. All the papers were arranged on a table. The person in charge explained we were to pick up an envelope, and walk around the table adding each paper to the envelope. I said ok – just stop – I will pick up the envelope and put these three papers in there, and then I will pass the envelope to the next person, and they will put these three in the envelope. We will just pass the envelope around. It was fast and efficient. Then, at the end, the friend I was with said, “Cyndy, their way would have worked”. That was an ah ha moment, where I have to stop and think – Let others decide how- don’t think you are the only one who knows how to do things. I want everyone to do things my way, and that’s not always the right way.

Q: Any last thoughts?

A: The four years in between my trustee position, I helped out at the Virtual Region. In the last year, I was helping out with Foot Steps, with the bylaws and the board. I really enjoyed getting to know the virtual world through those situations. The virtual region is very viable and very engaged. I learned things that I can take back to the World Service Board, and ways to support the virtual region Trustee. I am really grateful for the time I spent with Foot Steps and the region, working in the virtual world.

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