Electronic Group Resources
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What is an Electronic Group?
Any group that does not meet in person is an Electronic Group. These groups meet online, by phone, by chat, etc. Often (but not always), Electronic Groups meet using a virtual meeting platform.
What are the different types of Electronic Groups?
Temporary Electronic Groups are groups that registered with WSO as in-person groups prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, and which switched to meeting as an electronic group. These groups either plan to:
Permanent Electronic Groups are groups that may or may not have started as in-person meetings, but have decided to remain permanently electronic with NO in-person component.
How do Temporary Electronic Groups inform WSO of their current status?
Temporary Electronic Groups retain their original (in-person) registration (including group number), but need to complete the Temporary Electronic Meeting Change Form to inform WSO that they are currently meeting electronically.
In addition, if the group is part of a local meeting list through an Al-Anon Information Service (AIS) or Intergroup, the group needs to update those entities as well.
My Temporary Electronic Group wants to discuss becoming a permanent Electronic Group. What resources are available?
Al-Anon recommends Knowledge-Based Decision-Making (KBDM) to reach a group conscience. To help support you in your discussion, check out:
How do Permanent Electronic Groups register with WSO?
Permanent Electronic Groups registering for the first time should fill out the Electronic Group Registration Form. This includes new groups and groups that formerly met in person but which will be permanently electronic moving forward.
Permanent Electronic Groups that need to change their information (Current Mailing Address, Group Representative, etc.) should fill out the Electronic Group Change Form.
How do Permanent Electronic Groups register with New York South?
Permanent Electronic Groups that register with WSO for the first time using the Electronic Group Registration Form should select New York South as their Area from the drop-down menu. If the group does not list New York South, it will automatically be placed in the Global Electronic Area.
Permanent Electronic Groups that are already a part of the Global Electronic Area that want to transfer to New York South should fill out the Electronic Group Area Transfer Request Form.
If my group registers with New York South, what District will it be part of?
New York South has identified Districts that are prepared to welcome permanent electronic groups. As part of your group’s registration with New York South, you will be asked what District it is a part of. If the group is unsure, does not have a District preference, or the group’s previous District is not prepared to welcome permanent electronic groups, the group will be placed in the Electronic Overlay District (District 36).
What if my group is splitting into 2 groups: an in-person/hybrid group and a permanent electronic group?
In this situation, the in-person group will retain the group registration (and ID number) on file with WSO. The permanent electronic group should register as a new group using the Electronic Group Registration Form.
As part of the group conscience prior to the split, the group should also consider allocation of resources. For example, which meeting retains the treasury? Some groups split the treasury equally, some unequally based on anticipated group expenses, and some leave the treasury with one group or the other. There is no right answer except that reached by the group conscience.
Got other questions?
Contact the Area Group Records Coordinator at [email protected].
What is an Electronic Group?
Any group that does not meet in person is an Electronic Group. These groups meet online, by phone, by chat, etc. Often (but not always), Electronic Groups meet using a virtual meeting platform.
What are the different types of Electronic Groups?
Temporary Electronic Groups are groups that registered with WSO as in-person groups prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, and which switched to meeting as an electronic group. These groups either plan to:
- Return to meeting in-person, but now with an electronic component (hybrid), OR
- Discuss whether they will return to meeting in person in the future
Permanent Electronic Groups are groups that may or may not have started as in-person meetings, but have decided to remain permanently electronic with NO in-person component.
How do Temporary Electronic Groups inform WSO of their current status?
Temporary Electronic Groups retain their original (in-person) registration (including group number), but need to complete the Temporary Electronic Meeting Change Form to inform WSO that they are currently meeting electronically.
In addition, if the group is part of a local meeting list through an Al-Anon Information Service (AIS) or Intergroup, the group needs to update those entities as well.
My Temporary Electronic Group wants to discuss becoming a permanent Electronic Group. What resources are available?
Al-Anon recommends Knowledge-Based Decision-Making (KBDM) to reach a group conscience. To help support you in your discussion, check out:
How do Permanent Electronic Groups register with WSO?
Permanent Electronic Groups registering for the first time should fill out the Electronic Group Registration Form. This includes new groups and groups that formerly met in person but which will be permanently electronic moving forward.
Permanent Electronic Groups that need to change their information (Current Mailing Address, Group Representative, etc.) should fill out the Electronic Group Change Form.
How do Permanent Electronic Groups register with New York South?
Permanent Electronic Groups that register with WSO for the first time using the Electronic Group Registration Form should select New York South as their Area from the drop-down menu. If the group does not list New York South, it will automatically be placed in the Global Electronic Area.
Permanent Electronic Groups that are already a part of the Global Electronic Area that want to transfer to New York South should fill out the Electronic Group Area Transfer Request Form.
If my group registers with New York South, what District will it be part of?
New York South has identified Districts that are prepared to welcome permanent electronic groups. As part of your group’s registration with New York South, you will be asked what District it is a part of. If the group is unsure, does not have a District preference, or the group’s previous District is not prepared to welcome permanent electronic groups, the group will be placed in the Electronic Overlay District (District 36).
What if my group is splitting into 2 groups: an in-person/hybrid group and a permanent electronic group?
In this situation, the in-person group will retain the group registration (and ID number) on file with WSO. The permanent electronic group should register as a new group using the Electronic Group Registration Form.
As part of the group conscience prior to the split, the group should also consider allocation of resources. For example, which meeting retains the treasury? Some groups split the treasury equally, some unequally based on anticipated group expenses, and some leave the treasury with one group or the other. There is no right answer except that reached by the group conscience.
Got other questions?
Contact the Area Group Records Coordinator at [email protected].