“Service responsibility is balanced by carefully defined service authority;
therefore, duplication of efforts is avoided.” – Concept Ten
Spiritual Principle: Clarity
I remember when I first joined an Intergroup, the service position of Newsletter Editor was up for election. I was immediately nominated. In loving to write and having experience in Microsoft word, I felt how hard would this be? So, I accepted the nomination and was voted in.
Afterwards, in looking for exacts of my duties or guidelines, I scoured the bylaws and searched for policy and found none. When I asked, I was directed to OA.org for any information needed about newsletters. I felt overwhelmed. I felt alone. Fear rushed in. Logo permissions and copyright laws danced in my head. I knew of copyrights having had dealt with the making of graphics many moons ago. Why was I afraid? I took the pause and asked my HP for direction. I dug in and soon was able to get the job done.
It was with this experience I saw the importance of Concept 10. Having policy manuals with defined roles so there is clarity for the membership when offering service is so important. Groups do suffer loss when there are no defined roles. It creates confusion, chaos, and nothing gets done, or everyone jumps in and in that chaos, multiple people may do the same things or no one does nothing. Duplication of efforts does waste precious time which can be spent elsewhere. When no one takes responsibility, people may get pissed and walk away. No one wanting to do a service creates a sick intergroup.
The Concepts of Service give us guidance in our group.
Concept Ten explains how service above the group level is balanced. In having defined service positions, it brings clarity to the different roles within the group so duplication of efforts is avoided. Everything runs so much better.
Concept Ten also helps in my own life. My family or my workplace is a small micro chasm of my OA service structure. I serve in OA, I serve at home and at work. Within my family or workplace we all have roles. If they are not defined, chaos ensues. So, clarity of defined roles is valuable there too so everything runs smoothly. Who wants to waste time in two people doing the same job? When two jobs can get done simultaneously. Taking responsible to train or vocalize and communicate those roles so members of whatever group I am a part of works effectively is so important. I can practice clarity in whatever group I am involved with in service of any kind.
Grateful for Concept 10.
Submitted by Melanie B.
©2026 Experience Strength & Hope Newsletter,
All rights reserved. Proudly sponsored by OA Foot Steps VIG #09670.
Did you enjoy this article? We would encourage our members to use this post, and others like it, at their meetings, or for private reflection. We also encourage you to share this post to other fellows to help the compulsive eater who still suffers. Please let us know if you have an idea for an article or an upcoming theme, or have any questions or suggestions. Email our editorial staff at [email protected].
The experience, strength, and hope expressed in this article, reflect the individual OA members and does not represent OA as a whole. Other OA groups and service bodies are welcome to reprint articles from Experience, Strength & Hope Newsletter without permission. When reprinting from other OA newsletters, be sure to credit the source.
