1998 Group Conscience Decisions
The founding members of GROW engaged in lengthy and lively email discussions as they worked out details of how the group could operate in cyberspace. The crafting took place between July and September, 1998. The founders deeply believed in the A.A. principle of "informed group consensus." They discussed each issue, waiting for consensus before the issue became part of the early structure of GROW. The following is a list of the decisions that they made.
July 1998
- 7/6/98 - To archive group history
- 7/7/98 - To register group with GSO
- 7/8/98 - Seventh tradition distribution
- 7/13/98 - To develop a website for the group
- 7/17/98 - To conduct business on a separate mail list
- 7/18/98 - To hold business meetings quarterly (in the months of January, April, July, October) using a 4-day format. No digest on business list.
- 7/19/98 - To use Esosoft as Listserver
- 7/23/98 - Adoption of Traditions in Cyberspace
- 7/27/98 - Trusted Servants positions will be filled by either volunteer or nominee. If more than one meets group guidelines, the position will be filled by election.
- 7/28/98 - Steering Committee: purpose and who serves.
- 7/29/98 - To hold periodic group inventory (how often still to be determined)
August 1998
- 8/3/98 - Adopted weekly meeting format
- 8/4/98 - Several general guidelines:
- Group Conscience Guidelines
- Group Guidelines for Mail List Etiquette
- Common Welfare Guidelines (disruptions procedure)
- 8/11/98 - Online Sponsor Statement
- 8/14/98 - Greeter letter; Birthday Listkeeper Service Responsibilities; Trusted Servants, terms of Service and Sobriety Requirements
- 8/17/98 - Archivist to develop service responsibilities after a trial period in this position
- 8/19/98 - Treasurer Service Responsibilities
- 8/20/98 - To use Esosoft WWW services for website. Only AA recovery links to be included
- 8/21/98 - Name of Group "Grateful Recovering Online Women (GROW)
- 8/22/98 - To pay Esosoft for 6 months service each pay period. To pay by check (cash) not credit card.
- 8/23/98 - To send new meeting announcement to appropriate
sources; several service position responsibilities:
- Welcomer Service Responsibilities
- Chair Service Responsibilities
- Greeter Service Responsibilities
- GSR Service Responsibilities
- Leader Listkeeper Service Responsibilities
- OIAA Rep Service Responsibilities
- Secretary Service Responsibilities
- 12 Step Listkeeper Service Responsibilities
- Sponsor Listkeeper Service Responsibilities
- 8/24/98 - Listkeeper Service Responsibilities; several "form"
letters:
- Pass-the-Basket Announcement
- majordomo Letter - Main List
- majordomo letter - Business List
- Welcomer Letter
- 8/25/98 - Several items:
- 12 Step Volunteer Letter
- FYI Letter Format, to include list of current trusted servants, group addresses and web page information.
- Secretary to serve as second signer on checking account in case of emergency
- 8/31/98 - All Group Conscience Decisions have a six month "no revisit."
September 1998
- 9/2/98 - To have password-protected members-only web pages for member information not of general interest to the public.
- 9/3/98 - Only the approval address will be shown on the public pages of the website; reply to be set to sender of original mail
- 9/4/98 - First group inventory to be held in September, 1999 and at least every two years thereafter.
- 9/5/98 - First business meeting to be held in January, 1999.