A working group is being formed to propose modifications and revision of the online group/meeting section in the GSO Internet Guideline document. Our objective is to respond to previously raised concerns that were overlooked and to provide additional information about online districts that was not included in earlier updates, along with details about services available in online groups.

The kickoff meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 11 at 7 PM (ET) / 6 PM (CT) / 5 PM (MT) / 4 PM (PT). You can join via Zoom using the ID: 818 0170 5778 and the passcode: 2021. 

If you're interested in participating in this writing project as an author, editor, or reviewer, we would love to have you join us! Should you have any inquiries, please contact Jeff B. at a44p69delegate@gmail.com.

Background

The General Service Office (GSO) is responsible for creating service pieces when the need arises. A good example of this is the Safety Card (F-211) which was developed to deal with safety issues which have arisen in the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous. GSO is also responsible for creating and revising Guidelines on a variety of subjects including Central or Intergroups Offices (MG-02), the Relationship between AA and Al-Anon (MG-08), the Relationship between AA and Clubs (MG-3A), and over a dozen others. Services pieces are available free of charge and do not go through the Conference process.

One such guideline is the Internet Guideline, MG-18. The previous version of this guideline, which had a revision date of 11/18, included a short paragraph on A.A. Online Meetings / Groups. That paragraph contained the following sentence:

"Due to the lack of a central geographic location online A.A. meetings/groups are not a direct part of the U.S./Canada service structure. A.A. members are encouraged to participate in service where they physically reside and to participate in group conscience decisions locally."

This statement was true in Nov., 2018, when these Guidelines were previously revised.  However, due to the Advisory Action at the 71st. Conference in 2021, this was no longer true and online groups were recognized and allowed to join Districts, effectively becoming a direct part of the service structure and the equivalent of in-person groups. In fact, they also occupy a space at the top of the inverted triangle.

In October, 2022, an email was sent to the Group Services desk pointing out that the Internet Guidelines had outdated information and that as of April, 2021 online groups were indeed part of the service structure.  A request was made to update this information about online groups in the Guideline. This request was brought to the General Service Board and the task of updating this portion of the Internet Guidelines was undertaken along with a review of the entire Guideline.

The result was an updated guideline was developed which was released in June, 2023 after being translated into Spanish and French. The section on online groups was greatly expanded and describes the Advisory Action from the 71st Conference which indicated that online groups are now part of the service structure. This section now includes what the authors of the revised Guideline consider the positive influence of online groups and their concerns about online groups. Those concerns include:

• Some feel online groups lack the spiritual impact of talking with each other after the meeting that is typical in physical meetings

• A perceived lack of interest in service in online groups 

• Concern about privacy and confidentiality

• Seventh Tradition contributions

• Concerns that online A.A. groups may erode personal contact or service activity

Several of these concerns are quite disturbing to those of us who believe that online and in-person groups have spiritual parity, that service in online groups and beyond the group level is alive and well and flourishing and that members of online groups follow all 36 of our principles (Steps, Traditions and Concepts) including the responsibility to make 7th Tradition contributions.