IN THE KNOW – July 2026

2026-07-01T10:00:12-04:00

A monthly newsletter from the Board of Region 3 of Overeaters Anonymous

Serving Arizona • Colorado • Iowa • Kansas • Nebraska • Nevada •

New Mexico • Oklahoma • South Dakota • Texas • Utah

Monthly Step, Tradition, and Concept

STEP SEVEN
Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.

TRADITION SEVEN
Every OA group ought to be self-supporting, declining outside contributions.

CONCEPT SEVEN

The Board of Trustees has legal rights and responsibilities accorded to them by OA Bylaws, Subpart A; the rights and responsibilities of the World Service Business Conference are accorded to it by Tradition and by OA Bylaws, Subpart B.

Meet Marla D
Region 3's Chair

When Marla walked into her first Overeaters Anonymous meeting at age 27, she was desperate, hopeless, and completely out of answers. What she found instead was something she had been searching for all along—a place where she belonged. “At that first meeting,” she recalls, “I knew I was home, and I wasn’t alone.”

Today, Marla celebrates 41 years free from bulimia and 27 years of abstinence from compulsive eating while living in a healthy, happy 65-year-old body. She credits those blessings not to willpower, but to the power of recovery, connection, surrender, and service.

Ask Marla what keeps her coming back after all these years, and her answer is immediate: she remembers what happened when she left. “I relapsed, and it was hell.” That experience taught her one of the greatest lessons of her recovery: she cannot do this alone or keep it forever.

Instead, recovery is a daily practice supported by her Higher Power and the fellowship of OA. "I came because I was desperate," she explains. "I stayed because I found recovery. I serve because I found my people."

Her introduction to Region 3 came about 25 years ago when she attended her first Region 3 Convention. Until then, her recovery world had been centered in Utah. Seeing hundreds of OA members gathered together helped her realize she was part of something much larger. Inspired by the energy, recovery, and spirit of service she witnessed, a seed was planted that would eventually lead her into regional service.

Through the years, Marla said yes to many forms of service (yes, she confesses to being a service junkie), and ultimately to serving as Region 3 Chair. While she admits the opportunity felt very daunting at first, she is deeply grateful she trusted her Higher Power and accepted the challenge.

As Chair, Marla enjoys working with the Region 3 Board and watching members grow into service leaders. She has learned that many conflicts arise from misunderstandings rather than bad intentions and has gained greater compassion for both others and herself. One of the greatest rewards has been witnessing members discover strengths and abilities they never knew they possessed.

One of the sweet surprises of serving as Chair has been the friendships she has developed with the other Region Chairs around the world. “We come from different backgrounds, cultures, and experiences,” she says, “yet we speak the same language of recovery and service.” What began as working relationships became something more—an entirely new OA family.

Marla keeps her recovery simple. Each day begins and ends with her Higher Power. She spends time in nature, uses the OA tools, stays connected with others, sponsors, and serves. These are not just habits—they are lifelines. Having lost family members and close friends to this disease, she knows firsthand how serious food addiction can be. “Food addiction is real,” she says. Recovery is not just something she values; it is the reason she is alive and thriving today.

When asked what she hopes members take away from her service, Marla doesn’t hesitate. “Say yes,” she says. “Say yes to a committee. Say yes to a service position. Say yes before you feel ready.” Service has connected her with people she admires, stretched her beyond her comfort zone, and brought some of the greatest gifts of her recovery journey.

After more than four decades in OA, Marla is convinced of one thing: we stay abstinent together, we heal together, and we grow together. The Power of WE is real.

Meet Tracy F
Utah Soaring Intergroup Chair

Tracy found Overeaters Anonymous at a moment when she had exhausted every other solution. After years of struggling with compulsive eating, weight gain, and the belief that she could overcome it through willpower alone, she reached a point of complete powerlessness. A simple online search for help led her to OA, where she found understanding, hope, and a recovery program centered on a Higher Power.

Today, Tracy serves as the Chair of the Utah Soaring Intergroup and remains grateful for the healing she has experienced through OA. While recovery continues to be a daily journey of growth, honesty, and surrender, she stays because she has witnessed miracles in her own life and in the lives of others.

Outside of OA, Tracy's greatest joy comes from her family, including her four children and six grandchildren. She is also completing her bachelor's degree, a lifelong goal that has strengthened her confidence and resilience. When she has free time, she enjoys digital scrapbooking, planning travel adventures, and reading historical fiction.

Tracy believes leadership is rooted in service. Guided by her Higher Power and inspired by mentors throughout her life, she strives to be approachable, supportive, and hopeful. Her goal is to help others believe that recovery and transformation are possible no matter where they begin.

Looking back, Tracy has learned that true peace is not found in achieving perfection or meeting the expectations of others. Instead, she has discovered the value of self-acceptance, spiritual growth, and trusting that even life's most difficult challenges can become opportunities for growth. It is a message she carries into both her recovery and her service to others, one day at a time.

Sometimes all it takes is one simple "yes" to begin an incredible recovery journey.

This Fall, Region 3 will elect both a new Chair and a Recording Secretary. We invite you to consider whether one of these positions might be right for you. Service is one of the greatest gifts of recovery. It strengthens our abstinence, deepens our connections, and allows us to give away what has been so freely given to us.

The Chair helps guide the vision and activities of Region 3, while the Recording Secretary serves as the keeper of our history, communications, and governing documents. Both positions are vital to carrying OA's message throughout our Region.

You don't need to have all the answers. You simply need a willingness to serve. Could this be your next service adventure?

Talk with any current Board member to learn more. We'd love to share our experience with you. Some of our greatest growth, deepest friendships, and most meaningful recovery experiences have come through service.

Recovery gives us a new life. Service helps us give it away.

Ready to say YES? Click here to for more information and/or to apply.

Region 3 eBlast

Relapse can be one of the most challenging experiences in recovery, but no one has to face it alone. The Region 3 Twelfth Step Within Committee has prepared this month's eBlast, “What Should I Do? I'm in a Relapse and I Want Out?” We encourage you to review the attached eBlast for practical suggestions, recovery resources, and links that may help anyone seeking a way back to recovery.

Region 3 Events

Zoom Security Training

Saturday, July 18, 3:30 PM
Keep Your Virtual Meetings Secure! Are constant disruptions interfering with your virtual meetings? It’s time to take charge and create a secure, seamless experience for everyone. Join our monthly Zoom Security Training Session to learn the keys to safeguarding your meetings.

Click Here!

OA HOW RETREAT: Recovery Begins Here

Friday, August 7th through Sunday, August 9th

Holy Retreat Center, Houston, TX

Looking for a fresh start with food and a deeper connection to recovery? Join fellow OA members August 7-9, 2026, for the OA HOW Retreat at the beautiful Holy Name Retreat Center in Houston, Texas. This three-day retreat will guide participants through all Twelve Steps in a supportive and encouraging environment designed for healing, growth, and fellowship.

Beginning Friday evening and concluding after lunch on Sunday, the retreat includes a private room with an attached bathroom, all meals, and multiple opportunities to connect with others who share the common goal of freedom from compulsive eating. Whether you are new to OA, returning after time away, or looking to strengthen your recovery, this retreat offers a chance to step away from daily distractions and focus on the solution.

Click Here!

OA First Ten Days Meetings

WHO? Beginners, abstinence strugglers, returnees, program boosters, everyone
WHAT? Tools, food plans, action plans, cross talk/discussions, questions answered, and a new lease on life

WHEN? 10 consecutive days starting on first day of EACH month; each session is about 60 minutes. In all odd months it is held at 6 PM Central time; in all even months it is held at 8 AM Central time.
PLEASE NOTE: This event does not take place in July or December. The next 10-day workshop series begins Satuday, August 1st.
WHERE? On Zoom with your camera on (Zoom details will be provided after registration).

TO DO? Get a notebook for the Workshop. Obtain the “Where Do I Start” pamphlet at oa.org/what-to-expect/where-do-i-start/

HOW? Register by sending an email to Shelly F at shellyjo1262@gmail.com with your first & last name, cell phone number, email address, and time zone.

Click Here!

Colorado OA State Convention | Freedoms in OA

September 25th from 8 AM to 4:30 PM

A day of recovery at the tranquil and beautiful Franciscan Retreat Center at the base of the mountains in Colorado Springs. All are welcome!

Click Here!

R3 Assembly and Tri-County OA Retreat

Step into a weekend of connection, renewal, and a little bit of magic under the Texas sky. The Sunlight of the Spirit R3 Assembly & Tri-County OA Retreat invites you to Glen Rose this November for heartfelt fellowship, inspiring speakers, and moments of quiet reflection that just might change everything. Whether you’re coming for the full experience or just a day, you’ll find laughter, serenity, and a community that understands the journey. With a speaker bringing 45 years of abstinence and a schedule full of meetings, meditation, and even a bonfire gathering, this is more than an event… it’s a place to breathe again.

Click Here!

Other News & Resources

List of OA Events Worldwide: https://oa.org/event-calendar/
Find a Meeting Any Time, Anywhere: https://oa.org/find-a-meeting/
Read A Step Ahead News: https://oa.org/news/
Recovery Resource Library: https://oa.org/recovery-resource-library/

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Region 3 of Overeaters Anonymous

IN THE KNOW – July 2026

Monthly Step, Tradition, and Concept

Zoom Security Training