points to consider during the quarantine
Most AA Members Are Experiencing Barriers to Typical Meetings
Most Area 30 AA members are experiencing barriers to typical AA meetings. To address this, AA groups in Area 30 and across the world have leaped into action to continue to carry our message of recovery despite these barriers; also, many are posting helpful information so we can all continue to share our experience, strength, and hope with one another.
Our Site as a Clearinghouse of Useful Info
Our Committee considers our website to be a clearinghouse of shared resources and information from across the fellowship to help AA groups in Area 30 to continue to carry the message to the suffering alcoholic despite the barrier of social/physical distancing. Given the speed with which new information is being shared, we may not always have the most up-to-date info; also, we cannot endorse or recommend one resource over another. We simply hope to be helpful and invite feedback on how to be more useful.
Please send helpful information to to share here to: accessibilities@aaemass.org
Please note we are not posting meeting information other than www.aa-intergroup.org
Consideration for Members Unable to Participate Online or By Phone
It’s awesome that so many new virtual and telephone meetings are starting--but what about group members who are unable or unwilling to attend meetings online? There are members who find technology to be a barrier to attending AA and are missing out or--even worse--feeling judged or excluded by others attending the virtual meetings. Homegroups may consider checking in with these members with love and support, possibly scheduling talk times to hold a phone meeting. Members could adopt a non-techie member to keep them updated. Think of ways that you and your group can send a message of unity, recovery, and service to all during this isolating time.
Guidance for Online and Telephone Meetings
Suddenly, there is an amazing treasure trove of helpful information on developing virtual (online) meetings, along with tips for maintaining our tradition of anonymity and ensuring safety for meeting attendees.
Group members who were early responders are sharing their experience with us!
- From Los Angeles Intergroup: Recommendations on Zoom settings and useful tutorials for users and moderators https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-s3EVFEuF6Z65Jsl4ICW6v0aliGCAcmWmkzAqXooWaI/edit#gid=0
- From Baltimore intergroup: “Managing Disruptive Participants During Zoom Meetings”: https://baltimoreaa.org/managing-disruptive-participants-during-zoom-meetings/
- From the San Francisco & Marin County Intergroup: Guidance on “How to Carry the Message in a Pandemic!”: https://aasfmarin.org/how-to-carry-the-message-in-a-pandemic
- Tips for managing virtual meeting disruptions from NY AA Intergroup:: https://www.nyintergroup.org/zoom-protection-guide/
Tips on developing successful online meetings: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-s3EVFEuF6Z65Jsl4ICW6v0aliGCAcmWmkzAqXooWaI/edit#gid=0
Let Literature Carry the Message
There are a number of options for content to use to carry the message:
- Videos/Audios https://www.aa.org/pages/en_US/videos-and-audios
- Read/Listen/ASL “The Big Book” and Twelve Steps/Twelve Traditions Book https://www.aa.org/pages/en_US/read-the-big-book-and-twelve-steps-and-twelvetraditions
- A.A. Archives and history https://www.aa.org/pages/en_US/archives-and-history
- A.A.W.S. YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2nfvf9DeDA7QYvLeq4pQ-w
- A.A. Grapevine website : https://www.aagrapevine.org/
- “Reach Out and Touch Someone” published in the August, 1995 issue. From author Bob We used wired landlines in those days, but we could still use conference calling to hold A.A. meetings. The technology has changed since then but the language of the heart remains the same. The article has been given a renewed life on the Grapevine website at https://www.aagrapevine.org/magazine/1995/aug/reach-out-and-touch-so
Guidance for Virtual 7th Tradition Options
AA and a number of AA groups posting helpful information for starting a virtual 7th Tradition option:
- https://www.aa.org/assets/en_US/mg-15_finance.pdf
- https://www.aa.org/pages/en_US/contributions-and-self-support
- https://aasfmarin.org/online-contributions-your-digital-7th-tradition-guide-to-best-practices
- https://aaphx.org/digital-7th-tradition/
- https://alcoholics-anonymous.eu/online-7th-tradition-and-anonymity/
- https://aasanjose.org/technology