WAI Standing Rules of Order
Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous
Western Area Intergroup (WAI)
Standing Rules of Order (SROs)
All motions are adopted by the group conscience of Western Area Intergroup of Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous (FA/WAI). Not included in this list are Bylaws, Policy and Procedures, or motions temporary by their nature.
Current Standing Rules of Order are organized alphabetically by subject. Archived, superseded, and expired provisions are retained at the end of the document for historical reference and are not operative.
The WAI Bylaws Committee may make non-substantive editorial changes to this document, including corrections to grammar, spelling, formatting, numbering, cross-references, and organization, provided such changes do not alter the meaning or effect of any Standing Rule of Order.
CURRENT STANDING RULES OF ORDER
INDEX (The index is arranged alphabetically.)
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Financial Assistance to attend FA World Service Business Convention (WSBC)
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Main Motion Process for Submission to World Service Conference
Financial Assistance for Attendance at the FA World Service Business Convention (WSBC)
Adopted December 2003
Revised December 2005
Revised August 2026 (increased chair abstinence requirement from four to five years; revised committee eligibility requirements; limited financial assistance to include only WSC voting members)
The Convention Resource Committee, in conjunction with the WAI Treasurer, is authorized to provide moderate financial assistance from Intergroup funds to help WAI members serving as WSC voting members to attend the yearly World Service Business Convention (WSBC). The total amount of funds available for financial assistance shall be determined through the WAI budget process, with guidance from the WAI Executive Board. Applications shall be evaluated on a first-come, first-served, case-by-case basis each year.
Financial assistance may be granted when the WSC voting member plans to attend the business convention, can pay some of their own way, and has a clear financial need for assistance in order to attend.
The Chair of the Convention Resource Committee must have at least five years of continuous abstinence in FA, have completed at least two AWOLs (as defined in WAI Bylaws Article VII(b)(2)), and regularly attend WAI meetings. Members of the committee must have at least two years of continuous abstinence in FA, have completed an FA AWOL, and regularly attend WAI meetings.
Any Conference Resource Committee member who applies for financial assistance must recuse themselves from the approval process for their application.
Main Motion Process for Submission to World Service Conference
Adopted November 2021
Revised August 2026 (changed voting threshold from 2/3 majority to substantial unanimity; established December 1 submission deadline; added two-year reconsideration rule)
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Main motions for submission to the World Service Conference concern FA as a whole. A main motion may be submitted to WAI by any meeting group registered with WAI. Main motions approved by WAI are forwarded to the FA World Service Board for consideration by the World Service Conference (WSC) members.
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A proposed main motion will not be considered if, in the opinion of the WAI Board, it does not align with the Twelve Traditions of FA or the WAI Bylaws. A motion addressing issues previously decided by the WSC may not be raised until at least two years have passed since the prior vote.
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Main motions submitted to WAI are subject to the following process:
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Submission. Proposed main motions must be submitted to the WAI Board and Bylaws Chair by December 1. The Bylaws Committee will consult with the motion makers as needed to clarify intent and language, ensure proper format, and explain procedural steps.
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January Discussion. Proposed main motions are presented and discussed at the January WAI meeting. The motion maker(s) must attend to present the motion.
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Amendments. WAI Board and Intergroup members present at the January meeting who have at least two years of continuous abstinence in FA may suggest amendments or edits, provided any changes remain consistent with the motion makers’ intent.
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February Vote. At the February WAI meeting, all present WAI members with at least two years of continuous abstinence in FA are eligible to vote on whether to forward the motion to the World Service Board. Main motions require a vote of substantial unanimity to pass.
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The WAI Executive Board submits any main motion approved by substantial unanimity to the World Service Board by the Wednesday following the February WAI meeting.
5. The Executive Board may also independently submit a main motion to the World Service Board.
Voting – Defining Substantial Unanimity
Adopted December 2024
Unless the Western Area Intergroup votes otherwise before debate begins on a main motion, substantial unanimity for the purposes of the vote on a main motion shall be set at 2/3.
ARCHIVED/SUPERSEDED/EXPIRED PROVISIONS
(Retained for historical reference only. Not currently in effect.)
Archived Provision: A standing rule or motion that is no longer operative but is retained in this document for historical reference and transparency.
Superseded Provision: A rule that has been replaced or amended by a later adopted rule. The earlier language is preserved here to document the historical record of the change.
Expired Provision: A rule that was adopted for a specific limited time, event, or circumstance and is no longer in effect because that timeframe or condition has passed.
Archived provisions are organized alphabetically by subject and then chronologically within each subject. The language below is preserved verbatim as originally adopted.
Financial Assistance to FA Business Conference
December 2003
Adopted December 2003 – Revised December 2005
Original Adopted Language:
2003 December – Financial Assistance to FA Business Conference: Requirements for applications to Conference Resource Committee – It was adopted:
(NOTE: This was REVISED in 2005-December motion)
The Conference Resource Committee shall be authorized to make decisions in conjunction with the FA/WAI Treasurer, regarding providing moderate financial assistance from IG funds to assist FA members from this IG in attending the yearly FA Business Conference. Written applications would be received from such members. Applications shall be evaluated on a first-come, first served, case-by-case basis each year, with guidance from the FA/WAI executive board (the officers) regarding the amount of financial assistance for each applicant, and the total funds available.
Decisions to offer financial assistance would be based on:
a) the member is interested in participating at the Conference and can pay some of their own way;
b) the member has a clear financial need for assistance in order to attend; and,
c) the member would be a voting attendee at the Conference (either as a meeting delegate or as an IG officer or committee chair, and has at least two years of abstinence in FA).
The requirements to be Chair of this Committee are to have four years continuous abstinence in FA and have completed an FA-AWOL. The requirements to be a Member of this Committee are to have two years continuous abstinence in FA, and have completed an FA-AWOL. Both Chair and Members of this Committee must have attended one Conference previously, be active with Intergroup and not need financial assistance themselves to go to the Conference.
December 2005
Adopted December 2005 – Superseded TBD 2026
Original Adopted Language:
2005 December – Financial Assistance to FA Business Conference: Requirements for applications to Conference Resource Committee – It was adopted:
(NOTE: This REVISES the 2003-December motion)
That the December 2003 SRO regarding the Conference Resource Committee be amended as follows regarding requirements for financial assistance:
Change item c) which currently reads:
c) "the member would be a voting attendee at the Conference (either as a meeting delegate or as an IG officer or committee chair, and has at least two years of abstinence in FA)."
To read:
c) "the member either would be a meeting delegate (including both voting and non-voting delegates) or else would be a voting attendee at the Conference (as defined by the FA World Service requirements)."
The revised Standing Rule of Order is as follows:
The Conference Resource Committee shall be authorized to make decisions in conjunction with the FA/WAI Treasurer, regarding providing moderate financial assistance from IG funds to assist FA members from this IG in attending the yearly FA Business Conference. Written applications would be received from such members. Applications shall be evaluated on a first-come, first served, case-by-case basis each year, with guidance from the FA/WAI executive board (the officers) regarding the amount of financial assistance for each applicant, and the total funds available.
Decisions to offer financial assistance would be based on:
a) the member is interested in participating at the Conference and can pay some of their own way;
b) the member has a clear financial need for assistance in order to attend; and,
c) the member either would be a meeting delegate (including both voting and non-voting delegates) or else would be a voting attendee at the Conference (as defined by the FA World Service requirements).
The requirements to be Chair of this Committee are to have four years continuous abstinence in FA and have completed an FA-AWOL. The requirements to be a Member of this Committee are to have two years continuous abstinence in FA, and have completed an FA-AWOL. Both Chair and Members of this Committee must have attended one Conference previously, be active with Intergroup and not need financial assistance themselves to go to the Conference.
Main Motion Process
November 2021
Adopted November 2021 – Superseded TBD 2026
Original Adopted Language:
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Main motions are motions concerning FA as a whole. A main motion may be submitted to WAI by any meeting group registered with WAI. The WAI board may, on its own initiative, also propose main motions. Main motions that are adopted by WAI are passed along to the FA World Service Board for consideration by the World Service Conference members.
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A proposed main motion will not be considered by WAI if, in the opinion of the WAI board, it is not in keeping with the Twelve Traditions of FA or the WAI bylaws or if it duplicates issues or motions already decided upon by WSI.
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Main motions submitted to WAI, either by a meeting registered with WAI or by the WAI board, will be subject to the following procedures:
a. Proposed main motions must be submitted to the WAI bylaws chair no later than one week prior to the December WAI meeting. The WAI bylaws committee will partner with the motion makers as needed to (i) clarify the intent and language of a motion, (ii) designate the proper format for motions, and (iii) explain the next procedural steps.
b. Proposed main motions will be presented and discussed at the January WAI meeting. A representative from the meeting or board submitting the motion must attend this meeting to present the motion to the intergroup members.
c. Intergroup members who are present at the January WAI meeting and who have two years or more of current continuous abstinence in FA may suggest amendments or edits to proposed main motions during the January WAI meeting. The WAI board may also do so. Any such amendments or edits must be consistent with the intent of the motion makers.
d. At the February WAI meeting all WAI members with two years or more of current continuous abstinence in FA who are present that day will be eligible to vote on whether to send a proposed main motion to the World Service Board for consideration by the World Service Conference members. A 2/3 majority vote is required to pass a proposed main motion.
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The WAI executive board must submit all proposed main motions receiving a 2/3 majority vote as defined above to the World Service Board by the Wednesday following the February WAI meeting.
Officers: Nomination and Election
November 2002
Adopted November 2002 – Replaced December 2006
Original Adopted Language:
FA/WAI elections of Officers shall be at the FA/WAI February meeting in odd-numbered years. The nominations of Officers shall be at the FA/WAI January meeting in odd-numbered years, and additional nominations may be made at the February meeting. The elected officers shall take office on March 1 in odd-numbered years.
December 2006
Adopted December 2006 – Archived January 2024 (subject incorporated into WAI Bylaws with revisions)
Original Adopted Language:
FA/WAI elections of Officers shall be at the FA/WAI February meeting, with nominations at the January meeting. Chair and Vice Chair will be nominated and elected in odd years; Secretary and Treasurer will be nominated and elected in even years. The elected officers shall take office on March 1 in the year they are elected. As a transition from the current practice, Secretary and Treasurer were each elected in 2007 for a one-year term.
Archival Note:
In the January 2024 revision of the WAI Bylaws, provisions governing nominations and elections of WAI officers were incorporated directly into the bylaws with revised language. As a result, this Standing Rule of Order is no longer operative.
Special Provisions for 2022 Elections
December 2021
Adopted December 2021 – Expired March 2023
Original Adopted Language:
Notwithstanding the odd/even schedule for nominations and elections stated in the December 2006 Standing Rule of Order, all four WAI officers were nominated and elected in 2022, following a three-month period in 2021 during which interim officers appointed by the FA World Service Board served WAI. Nominations and elections for the chair and the vice chair resumed the usual odd-year schedule in 2023.
