OIAA Original Purpose and Objectives Statement
–— This Statement is part of OIAA’s history. It was written in the mid-1990s —-
The phenomena of the new technology of computers, modems, World Wide Web, and Internet communication gave birth to a new medium of exchange through which alcoholics could interact with other alcoholics. Over the last several years, many new online meetings have sprung up which, having no geographical boundaries, were not able to fit the service structures of the usual face to face (f2f) meetings of A.A.. Out of this grew a recognition on the part of many online groups that some form of service group was necessary to assist and facilitate communication and coordination of the cyberspace A.A. milieu. While the official service structure of A.A. is attempting to develop a strategy for including the online meetings within that structure, the Online Intergroup of Alcoholics Anonymous (OIAA) was formed to provide services typical for Intergroups or Central Offices of face-to-face meetings. While most Intergroups serve specific geographic regions, OIAA was established to serve cyberspace.
The primary purpose of all Alcoholics Anonymous groups is to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers. Out of that purpose, 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 OIAA 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, 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.
OIAA currently provides information in several ways, and we are hoping to develop even more ways in the future. One way OIAA disseminates information is the development and maintenance of the World Wide Web Meeting Directories that includes email meetings and groups as well as real time (chat) meetings and groups. Another communication vehicle is the OIAA Unity Committee, which is charged with communication with other A.A. service bodies, such as local districts, intergroups, areas, regions, AAWS, GSO-NY, and GSO-UK. A third form of communication is the OIAA Public Information Committee, which responds to needs at the public level and facilitates public awareness and understanding of Alcoholics Anonymous by means of the Internet, news media, personal contact, or non-AA public functions through conference approved literature, speakers, or correspondence and in accordance with the 12 Steps, 12 Traditions, and 12 Concepts of Alcoholics Anonymous.
The OIAA is also in the process of developing guidelines to assist its member groups, future groups, other intergroups, f2f meetings, districts, areas, and GSOs, and AAWS with the ins and outs of the online experience. This may translate into online publication of how-to service pieces on establishing online groups, or dealing with the traditions in cyberspace, or a number of other nuts and bolts issues (like creating home pages, etc.).
Another priority for OIAA is the development of joint projects for its member groups. These would include providing a presence at International Conventions, local conventions and round-ups, and demonstrations of how online A.A. works. OIAA itself was born out of one such project at the 1995 International Convention in San Diego. We hope to provide such a presence at many conventions in the future.
The online phenomenon is relatively new, but the membership of online groups has been swelling tremendously recently as news of its existence reaches the world-wide membership of A.A. We expect this trend to continue and hope that OIAA will be able to provide the cyberspace community with the kind of services such membership will require. It is an exciting experience and one which all of us at OIAA are dedicated to providing under the principles of A.A.’s steps, traditions, and concepts.
