Chair Report for Aug 2024
And so, another month of service to our groups…
Successful July Service Expo!!
Instead of the IGR Forum in July, and as a follow up to our June Assembly, we conducted our first Service Expo. The Tech Committee hosted this event. We created breakout rooms for this event to give members a chance to meet our hard-working committee chairs up close and personally. Mark’s Zoom Tech Crew were “rockstars” in helping to support the committee chairs in each of the breakout rooms We provided Spanish, French, and Portuguese Interpretive services in the main International Hall. Committee chairs came to this hall to speak to our international membership as well as chatting in their breakout rooms to answer specific questions about their committees. We are grateful to the support by each of the 9 standing committees the Techsteppers subcommittee, our board, and as always the Zoom Tech Crew for their support with this event.
Committee Service Work:
We currently have 3 committees and 1 subcommittee designed to respond directly to membership questions: 12 Steppers Committee, their “twin” for technical questions and support: the Techsteppers’ Tech Subcommittee, PAC, Policy and Admission Committee and PIC, Public Information Committee. These committees provide training to do the work.
12th-Stepper Committee: Steppers is currently chaired by OIAA long timer, DC Dave. The 12 Step (Steppers) Committee functions as a standing committee and is an integral part of OIAA’s worldwide outreach. If you want to put a link to steppers on your website, you can do so here: https://A.A.-intergroup.org/link-your-group/
Steppers was formed to assist alcoholics and others who are reaching out for help via the internet. Individuals are directed to Steppers via “Get Help Now” buttons/links found on A.A. and other websites around the world. Every request receives at least one reply, although our practice is to try to send 2 to 3 replies to each request. Answer the “phone” and get people the help they need. Check out the video about the committee on our YouTube channel (link below) and check out the gratitude expressed by those they helped in their June report. For more information, visit their webpage here: https://A.A.-intergroup.org/committees/12-steppers/
Techsteppers: The Techsteppers Technology subcommittee is currently chaired by Katy F. Their mission is to provide support to OIAA directory meetings and their attendees for online security and account settings.
Between March 2023 and June 2024, they have answered 150 Tech requests for help to both individuals and groups. There are currently 14 Techsteppers. And they provide quarterly Safety Workshops.
To request help: https://A.A.-intergroup.org/online-meeting-help/
To contact the chair for more information: techsteppers.chair@A.A.-intergroup.org
PAC or Policy and Admissions: This committee is chaired by Jan BB. PAC is one of the foundational committees that groups encounter when they first contact us to list. The Registrar in the Tech Committee is the other. Jan summarized what her committee does for the Service Expo:
Our Services
- Registration Assistance: PAC helps new groups register to list A.A. meetings/groups on the OIAA meeting directory.
- Submission Review: We review all new meeting submission forms for compliance with form completion and directory listing guidelines.
- Intergroup Representatives: PAC assists new member groups in listing Intergroup representatives at the time of registration.
- Reinstatement Support: We help meetings/groups regain their listing status within the OIAA meeting directory or as Intergroup representatives if they have lapsed.
- Complaint Resolution: PAC assists in resolving complaints and answering questions regarding OIAA directory-listed meetings/groups that have been reported.
- Policy Advisories: We offer OIAA policy/guideline advisories to interested parties.
Ideal Opportunity For:
- Detail-Oriented: A.A. members who can dedicate time (sometimes daily) for online service.
- Experience: Individuals with a year or more of sobriety.
- Tech-Savvy: Those familiar with using email, laptops, or computers (not compatible with mobile phones).
Why Join PAC?
PAC provides a vital service for OIAA. Each new meeting form is reviewed according to OIAA meeting directory guidelines and A.A. Twelve Traditions. New meeting submissions arrive daily, typically averaging two or more per day. This active service role requires good communication skills and involves assisting in listing meetings.
Multilingual Opportunities
If English is not your first language or you are not fluent in English, we have services tailored for you. PAC particularly welcomes members fluent in Spanish, Portuguese, or any language other than English to serve as ‘on-call’ service members, offering the warmth of member-to-member service.
If you have any interest in doing this work, we could use your help. For more information, here is a link: https://A.A.-intergroup.org/committees/policy-and-admissions/
The Membership asked, Is OIAA really A.A.? PAC had the answer, absolutely! In 2008, a US/Canada General Service Conference Advisory Action recognized it:
“The Online Intergroup of A.A. (OIAA) be listed in a new section titled “Online Intergroups” under the section “International Correspondence Meetings” in the A.A. Directories above where “Online Meetings” appear; the listing will include the online intergroup Web site and e-mail addresses.” M-39, Advisory Actions, 1951-2024, Report & Charter, 2008, p. 154: https://www.A.A..org/sites/default/files/literature/M-39_Advisory_Actions_1951-2024_M1_0.pdf And you can find our link on the A.A..org website, here: https://www.A.A..org/find-A.A. .
PIC: Public Information Committee-answers questions and provides information. What kind of questions: I was thrown out of a meeting, what do I do? How do I use the filters to find the meeting I like? How do I get meeting verification to court? How to I find a meeting in my area? How do I find the “classes” I am required to go to for court? I don’t think the meeting I went to is A.A., what do I do?
The Public Information Committee received 183 legitimate inquiries from April 1 through June 2024. Although 33 of these requests were spam, dealt with appropriately, twenty-three of the legitimate requests were forwarded to another committee for a reply. All queries received prompt replies, usually within hours of receipt.
Training is available if you want to serve on the PIC committee, additionally, the Communications Committee is completing an excellent training video for PIC. The video should be an excellent resource for PIC when it is completed.
Contact Mary M., our PIC chair, for more information: pic.chair@@A.A.-intergroup.org.
Convention Committees: We currently have two committees working on Conventions. The Unity Committee is sponsoring our first OIAA Online International Convention and our standing Convention Committee is gearing up to host the Cybersuite in Vancouver in 2025!
The Unity Committee sponsored 2024 OIAA Online International Convention registration is open!
Registration is free, but individuals must register to attend. This is a closed event for A.A. members and those who believe they have an alcohol problem.
As of July 31, we have 1000 registrations for the 2024 OIAA Online International Convention of A.A. members from over 40 different countries! Let’s keep the momentum going!
Register https://A.A.-intergroup.org/1st-OIAA-online-international-convention/
Convention fliers can be found here https://A.A.-intergroup.org/group-events/the-1st-OIAA-online-international-convention/
Thank you to everyone involved in making this convention happen and look for the new Spanish video about the convention on our YouTube Channel shortly. (link below)
OIAA Convention Tech Committee:
The OIAA Convention Tech Committee continues to work hard to ensure that the OIAA
Online International Convention will be a wonderful experience for everyone who attends. At the present time we have 70 committed Convention Tech Co-Hosts, and we are currently creating a Wait List for people who volunteer. We will undoubtedly have some last-minute cancellations and we need to be prepared.
Most of the participating groups have given us the information about their meeting theme and the names and contact information of the members of their group who will serve as Group Tech Co-Hosts. We have scheduled several Tech Training sessions for both the OIAA Tech Co-Hosts (the spiritual gatekeepers) and the Group Tech Co-Hosts who will assist their own meetings.
We are always open to hearing from more volunteers, particularly those who are bilingual and speak both English and Spanish, Portuguese, French and Farsi.
For more information contact, Beth D. 2024 International Online Convention Tech Chair
unityconvention.tech@A.A.-intergroup.org.
Vancouver 2025 OIAA Standing Committee is planning the details for the Cybersuite we have hosted at A.A.’s International Conventions held every 5 years since 1995! Additionally, this committee may plan our own A.A. birthday celebration on years we do not attend the A.A. International Convention. At our July meeting, the committee elected Barry M, our Trustee at Large to chair this event, pending board approval in a few weeks. We have people who have served us on this committee at past international conventions, the alternate chair, Jan BB, and Jeff B, board secretary. You can serve on the committee whether you plan to go to Vancouver or not. But we are also looking for 12-step service volunteers who do plan to attend. For more information about this committee: https://A.A.-intergroup.org/committees/conventions/ The next meeting for this committee is at 2:15 18 August pm ET. ID: 896 6153 1454 PW: Convention. If you have any questions, contact me, chair@A.A.-intergroup.org.
And for more information about Vancouver: https://www.A.A..org/international-convention
Other OIAA Committees in Action:
Communications: Lesliee A. chairs this committee Besides in-house informational and instructional video production, art and flier design headed by Randy C., the OIAA Communications Committee also has an Archivist, Paul M. Their committee meets on the 3rd Sunday of the month at 1:15 pm ET. More information can be found here: https://A.A.-intergroup.org/committees/communications/
Cooperation with the Professional Community (CPC) chaired by Gwen M., with alt-chair Sharon G., is holding meetings-the 4th Monday of the month at 6:30 pm ET. Look for more information on their webpage: https://A.A.-intergroup.org/committees/cooperation-with-the-professional-community/ Get in touch with Gwen for more information; cpc.chair@A.A.-intergroup.org
Finance: The Finance Committee is chaired by our Treasurer, Jennifer B. The alternate Treasurer is Felix E. The committee meets on the 2nd Saturday of the month at 2 pm ET. In August we will begin our 2025 budget process. If you have an interest in how we manage and budget our finances or in being part of an internal financial review team, here is the place to serve. The link to their webpage is here: https://A.A.-intergroup.org/committees/finance/
Technology: If you have skills in technology and want to participate on our technology committee, they have five active subcommittees:
The Technology Committee’s primary purpose is to provide, support, maintain, secure, and enhance the essential Information Technology needs of the Intergroup, including the OIAA Website, the OIAA Meeting Directory, electronic communications (including email, video conferencing, electronic voting, and surveys), and file sharing and collaboration.
The Technology Committee is responsible for the development, administration, and maintenance of OIAA’s technologies. The Technology Committee consists of 3 primary service branches: Member Services, Web Services and Cloud Admin and continually strives to serve in accordance with A.A. principles.
We currently have the following active subcommittees and are always looking for new volunteers to join us! Send us an email today at OIAA.tech@A.A.-intergroup.org
- Cloud Admin: implements and maintains OIAA’s cloud services (Google Workspace) and helps support OIAA workspace users.
- Member Directory Team: administers the updates to the OIAA meeting directory with meeting adds and changes.
- Tech Steppers: helps with meetings with safety and security information.
- Web Services: helps develop and maintain the OIAA website.
- Zoom Events Crew runs the OIAA workshops, forums and assemblies Zoom rooms.
The Tech committee has set summer hours and at a slightly earlier hour: 8:00 pm ET.
August: August 12th (only meeting )
September (2nd/4th Mondays): Sept 9th, Sept 23rd.
For more information, their webpage is here: https://A.A.-intergroup.org/committees/technology/
Open Positions:
Vice Chair
In late April, our Vice Chair, Nona C., resigned for personal reasons. We will miss her and wish her well. We have sent you an announcement of this open position and posted it on the website, here: https://A.A.-intergroup.org/documents/vice-chair-of-the-board-of-trusteesbrduties-eligibility-qualifications/ If you have any additional questions regarding this position, contact me-chair@A.A.-intergroup.org.
What’s Next:
Techsteppers Quarterly Workshop—3 August 2024
August 3 @ 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm (EST)
Zoom Meeting ID: 839 1683 1125
Passcode: OIAA
Join us at the OIAA TechSteppers for our engaging quarterly safety workshop! Spanish interpretation will be provided.
OIAA Assembly—21 September 2024@ 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm ET
All members are welcome. Please request interpretive services by 7 September and register or update IGR information by 14 September 2024!
Meeting ID: 839 1683 1125
Passcode: OIAA
Reminders:
Voting Members and Updating the member directory:
Another update we have made to our website is a clearly marked page to update any changes to IGRs within your groups. It is the responsibility of each group to update any changes in advance of assemblies, so that your vote can be counted. Although anyone can attend the assembly, only elected IGRs or in their absence, the alt IGRs can vote or make motions. Group contacts can come to assemblies, but they cannot vote. Please note, I give a deadline for group changes with every assembly announcement I send out. Please look for this deadline if your group is holding elections. Here is the link for making those changes: https://A.A.-intergroup.org/group-rep-update-request/ The link can also be easily found under the IGR Hotlist tab.
For More information about our OIAA group listing guidelines go here: https://A.A.-intergroup.org/meeting-directory-guidelines/ If you have any additional regarding group listings, contact PAC.chair@A.A.-intergroup.org.
OIAA International Convention—25-27 October 2024
Eighth Tradition:
So, what happens if we don’t have volunteers and we have mission critical work to do? This is a topic Bill Wilson wrestled with in the formation of the organization. When should we take money or not for doing a job? At the end of his essay in the Grapevine about Tradition 8 in, 1952, he wrote: “Our Twelfth Step is never to be paid for, but those who labor in service for us are worthy of their hire.” Never take money for doing 12 step service work was the decision. But, if other work needed to be done to make that 12-step service work possible, we hired people. These people became known as Tradition Eight Service workers. There is an office full of them in New York, at the General Service Office. My own service sponsor was a Tradition Eight special worker at the General Service Office in New York.
Many Intergroup offices have paid Tradition Eight workers. Often these essential people receive competitive compensations and benefits. As employees or independent contractors rather than volunteers, they do not often rotate but instead are evaluated for their effectiveness by a board of trustees or directors. As with all paid employees or independent contractors, their compensations are competitive and with their benefits are included in the organization’s budget.
Here at OIAA, we have two Tradition Eight part-time special workers, both in technology committee. Kerri C is responsible for helping me and others post their material. She publishes my chair’s report, assembly agenda, and other materials I need to convey to you. Kenika W. is a new hire graphic designer. The last couple of fliers for the Tech Committee, for the Service Expo and for the Safety Workshop this week are her work. If you see them around, please thank them for their work. They are worthy of their hire, and by helping us, they make your 12th step work possible.
Finally, we have another type of paid worker here at OIAA, paid by the job they do for special events. These are our freelance vendors who provide interpretative services for our events and meetings. They are hired as needed and as requested by our membership to help include all members who want to be involved. These, too, are included in the budget, so look for it on our website and in the budget in December. They make your 12 Step work possible. They enable our international members and deaf members the opportunity to participate in our volunteer service work and the business of the committees and assembly. They help you inform your groups of what we are doing. They help you tell us what you need as we tell you what we need to keep the doors of our digital office open. So, if you see an event or committee scheduled on our calendar and need these services, let me know at least two weeks in advance! And you are the evaluators of their competency to carry our message. Look for a survey of their work at the end of events where they are hired.
Humbly and respectfully submitted,
Susan R
OIAA Chair
Here is a link to our OIAA YouTube channel. It can be found on the IGR Hotlist tab. Check it out: https://www.youtube.com/@A.A.-Intergroup
