1 Welcome … Please press spacebar to move through the show … You are about to view a computer presentation which attempts to describe one aspect of online AA. You are about to view a computer presentation which attempts to describe one aspect of online AA. This presentation hopes to give you some knowledge of the aims and functions of: This presentation hopes to give you some knowledge of the aims and functions of:

2 The O.I.A.A. The Online Intergroup of Alcoholics Anonymous

3 What is the O.I.A.A. ? The Online Intergroup of Alcoholics Anonymous The Online Intergroup of Alcoholics Anonymous An online facility equivalent to Area Assemblies and some Intergroups in the usual land-based world-wide Fellowship structure. An online facility equivalent to Area Assemblies and some Intergroups in the usual land-based world-wide Fellowship structure.

4 What is the OIAA 1 of 3 The Online Intergroup is a service entity established pursuant to the 9 th Tradition of Alcoholics Anonymous ("AA") to operate on behalf of the participating groups of AA on the internet in accordance with the Twelve Traditions and Twelve Concepts of Alcoholics Anonymous. The Intergroup exists to assist the groups in their common purpose of carrying the AA message to the alcoholic who still suffers. The principal responsibilities of the Intergroup are to promote the unity of online AA groups in accordance with AA's First Tradition; to use the internet to carry the message of AA in accordance with AA's 5 th Tradition; to respond to the needs of the online AA groups in accordance with AA's 9 th Tradition; and to provide a central source of information about online AA through a website, directory, and the activities of its members, in accordance with AA's 11 th Tradition. The primary purpose of all Alcoholics Anonymous groups is to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers. For that purpose, the OIAA has committed itself to assisting member groups in several ways, most of which are related specifically to the medium of cyberspace. Because personal recovery depends upon A.A. unity, we at the Online Iintergroup of AA are dedicated to assisting and facilitating the best possible unity of service to and for A.A. in cyberspace. Communication and information are two essential ingredients for establishing and maintaining unity; therefore, the OIAA is obliged to provide a central forum for the dissemination of information about and for the online community of A.A. and A.A. as a whole.

5 What is the OIAA 2 of 3  Online AA is the collective term for meetings held on the Internet, via a computer equipped to access this medium of communication "Therefore nothing can matter more to the future welfare of AA than the manner in which we use this colossus of communication." Bill_W Language of the Heart pg. 320 Many AA members use the online medium to supplement their regular f2f meetings. Indeed, Online AA as a whole strongly suggests that newcomers attend regular AA meetings when possible. There are many, however, who cannot attend regular AA meetings: Many AA members use the online medium to supplement their regular f2f meetings. Indeed, Online AA as a whole strongly suggests that newcomers attend regular AA meetings when possible. There are many, however, who cannot attend regular AA meetings:  Those with a disability such as hearing loss, or mobility impairment  Geographically-isolated members, or those living in a foreign country where AA either doesn’t exist or where distance presents attendance difficulties  AA members in the military or merchant navy at sea There are those, too, who find the online AA medium provides a means of working their program when traditional meetings are not always available or accessible to them. For others, online AA provides a supplement to their face-to-face meetings. There are also friends who wish to broaden their understanding of AA by exchanging experience, strength and hope with different groups or nationalities; they too may attend online AA groups.

6 What is the OIAA 3 of 3 We hope to have give you enough information about the OIAA, our purpose, the AA groups and AA members we serve, over the course of this presentation but please feel free to contact us for further information. In service and fellowship, Jan_BB, Historian Ewart_F, Unity OIAA The AA Responsibility Pledge: " I am responsible … … When anyone, anywhere, Reaches out for help, I want the hand of AA always to be there- And, for that, I am responsible.“ The online link for the OIAA:

7 Online Intergroup of Alcoholics Anonymous Purpose, Operation, and Membership  The Online Intergroup of Alcoholics Anonymous (OIAA) is a service entity operating on behalf of online AA groups. It is self-supporting through contributions of AA groups and members. OIAA assists online groups in their primary purpose of carrying the message to the alcoholic who still suffers. OIAA is a non-profit corporation, formed on February 24, 1996, organized and existing under the laws of the state of New Jersey.  The OIAA Assembly meets continuously by . Any AA member may join OIAA and participate in discussions. However, voting on OIAA business items is limited to registered online AA groups, acting through their representatives, and current officers and standing committee chairs, who are elected by the Assembly.  OIAA also maintains "The Open Forum" for informal discussions.

8 Activities and Services 12th Step Committee  The OIAA 12th Step Committee (Steppers) responds directly, by , to those searching for help with a drinking problem. Fluent in many languages, scores of AA members from around the world provide 24-hour assistance. Maximum response time is usually less than 10 minutes.  links to the Steppers committee can be found on the OIAA web site as well as on an increasing number of AA sites around the Internet. Inquiries by AA entities, including intergroups, districts, and areas, wishing to utilize this service are encouraged.

9 Activities and Services Real-time and Meeting Directories  OIAA maintains directories of real-time (text, audio, and video) and meetings on its web site. At this time, OIAA does not maintain lists of face-to-face meetings nor does it provide hyperlinks to web sites other than AAWS and The Grapevine.  In addition to English-language meetings, there are currently listings for online meetings in numerous other languages, including Danish, Finnish, French, German, Hungarian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Swedish.  Men's, women's, gay/lesbian, blind, and deaf/hard-of-hearing meetings are also available.  Groups or meetings need not be OIAA members to be listed in the directories. Nevertheless, in accordance with AA's pinciple of non- affiliation, listings are only accepted for Alcoholics Anonymous meetings/groups

10 Activities and Services Unity Committee  An important communication vehicle is the OIAA Unity Committee, which is charged with communication with other AA service entities, such as Intergroups, districts, areas, regions, The Grapevine and AAWS, and with other AA entities world-wide.  This presentation is made under the auspices of the OIAA Unity Committee.  It is hoped that it may prove a small step towards encouraging greater AA Unity.

11 Activities and Services Public Information and Cooperation with the Professional Community Committees (PI & CPC) The OIAA PI Committee answers requests for general information about AA. It also handles many requests each month from AA members looking for meetings (both online and face-to-face). The Literature Committee is a sub-committee of PI. The OIAA PI Committee answers requests for general information about AA. It also handles many requests each month from AA members looking for meetings (both online and face-to-face). The Literature Committee is a sub-committee of PI. The CPC Committee responds to inquiries from educators and professionals. The CPC Committee responds to inquiries from educators and professionals. Both committees maintain sections on the OIAA web site that include basic AA information; links to pamphlets on the AAWS, Inc. web site; and online information request forms. Both committees maintain sections on the OIAA web site that include basic AA information; links to pamphlets on the AAWS, Inc. web site; and online information request forms.

12 Activities and Services Convention Committee  The Convention Committee plans OIAA participation at International Conventions and, as finances permit, at local conferences, round-ups, and other events.

13 Activities and Services Other Operating Committees  Additional OIAA committees include the Policy & Admissions Committee, the Finance Committee, and the WWW Committee.

14 Activities and Services OIAA Publications  OIAA has developed several informational pieces, available in Adobe PDF or PowerPoint formats, that provide an overview of OIAA, online AA, and how to start an online AA group. (OIAA does not publish or distribute publications to which others hold the copyrights, including materials copyrighted by AA World Services, Inc.)  The OIAA will co-operate with any other AA entity to assist with any problem, or need discovered, that may be either online or simple computer use related:  The committee recently produced two (2) PowerPoint presentations for AA_India relating to their Hospitals & Institutions needs throughout that country.  These presentations may be available ‘here’ on request.

15 Activities and Services Contact OIAA  The OIAA web site is located at:   links for all OIAA officers and committees can be found on the web site. If you have immediate questions, please write to the OIAA Chair at: 

16 A Brief History of OIAA  The Living Cyber Committee (LCC) was formed in March 1994 to coordinate the hosting of a hospitality suite at the 1995 International Convention in San Diego. Alcoholics from all corners of the online community ― bulletin boards, commercial online services, and the Internet ― joined in the effort.  Prior to the convention, the LCC endeavoured to communicate its existence, purpose, and activities to all known online AA groups through a web page. Flyers providing information on how to find and contact AA online were developed, printed, and distributed at the convention. The LCC expanded its efforts to include a link to the online fellowship for those who could not attend the convention in person. Three computers were set up in the hospitality suite. Throughout the convention, the computers remained connected to the Internet and to alcoholics around the world.  The Living Cyber Suite provided a gathering place for members of online groups to meet each other in person, often for the first time. Visitors to the suite had an opportunity to connect to the online Fellowship. Those unable to travel to San Diego were effectively able to "virtually" attend the convention through the suite. Two major AA groups, several AA groups from the major online service providers, and an AA group that met on an Internet Relay Chat channel participated in uniting those alcoholics from all over the world with the visitors in the suite.  Following the convention, the LCC was to be dissolved. However, the participants, now fully aware of the tremendous potential of a unifying service structure, invited all online AA groups to send a representative to the committee. Together 1, they decided to form an Intergroup that would continue to serve the online AA groups. The Online Intergroup of Alcoholics Anonymous was established in February 1996, and it now serves scores of online groups with a combined membership numbering many thousands. 1 1 Less than a dozen people were involved and the decision to form the OIAA was reached by consensus of those present. 1 The OIAA was subsequently incorporated in New Jersey.

17 Who Can Access AA Online? Anyone with a computer, a modem, and an Internet connection now has easy access to AA. Many thousands of members use online AA to supplement their face-to- face meetings, service, and fellowship (or vice versa). The Internet also is proving invaluable to people living in remote communities or foreign countries; people who cannot easily access regular meetings, such the deaf, deafened, hard-of-hearing, or blind; people who are homebound; members of the military serving overseas or at sea; shift workers; and parents with small children. For such individuals, and others who have made an active choice in favour of online-AA, AA on the Internet may be their main contact with the world-wide Fellowship. Anyone with a computer, a modem, and an Internet connection now has easy access to AA. Many thousands of members use online AA to supplement their face-to- face meetings, service, and fellowship (or vice versa). The Internet also is proving invaluable to people living in remote communities or foreign countries; people who cannot easily access regular meetings, such the deaf, deafened, hard-of-hearing, or blind; people who are homebound; members of the military serving overseas or at sea; shift workers; and parents with small children. For such individuals, and others who have made an active choice in favour of online-AA, AA on the Internet may be their main contact with the world-wide Fellowship.

18 International Events Calendar OIAA maintains an online calendar of AA conventions and General Service Area and Intergroup events around the world (for both online and face-to-face AA events). OIAA maintains an online calendar of AA conventions and General Service Area and Intergroup events around the world (for both online and face-to-face AA events).  An online submission form is available on the OIAA web site.

19 Frequently Asked Questions  The OIAA web site includes a Frequently Asked Questions page for general information about Alcoholics Anonymous online. Topics include:  What is online AA?  What is an group and how do I join?  How do I join an AA real-time group?  How do I know my anonymity will be safeguarded online?  What is Netiquette?

20 Thank You for taking time to get to know more about online AA It’s always good to meet new friends It’s always good to meet new friends Further information – or to answer your extra questions – is available through our Pages intergroup.org Further information – or to answer your extra questions – is available through our Pages intergroup.orghttp:// intergroup.orghttp:// intergroup.org …or from the members who brought this information here; we’ll be happy to answer your questions. …or from the members who brought this information here; we’ll be happy to answer your questions.