Frequently
Asked Questions
- What is GROW?
GROW stands for the Grateful Recovering Online
Women's Group of Alcoholics Anonymous. Founded in 1998, GROW
is for women who have a desire not to drink. Our primary purpose is
to stay sober and help other women to achieve sobriety.
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How, where and when does GROW meet?
We meet by E-mail, so we're "open" 24 hours a day! Subscribed members
can send mail to the group list service which is then distributed to all
members. Each Sunday a meeting leader sends out the week's topic. Throughout
the week we can choose when to attend, logging on any time of day or night
to participate in an A.A. meeting.
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- What if I want to share on
something besides the topic?
In GROW we share both on- and off-topic. We only ask that members
carefully consider if an "off-topic" post is appropriate for an A.A.
meeting and that the subject line always indicate whether an E-mail
is on- or off-topic. Guide for E-mail
Etiquette | Tradition 10
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Do I have to share?
We are, of course, eager to get to know you, but no one is required
to share. You are welcome to listen and observe. As you begin to hear
the hearts of grateful recovering women, we hope our experience, strength,
and hope will make your road a little easier and your faith in A.A. a
little stronger.
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will anyone know I have joined the group?
When you subscribe, you will receive an E-mail from our Greeter, who
will ask you to write a paragraph or two about yourself. She will use
what you write to introduce you to the group. Prepare yourself for lots
of warm welcome messages -- we love new members!
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What does it cost to participate?
There are no dues or fees to be a GROW member. To help pay for expenses,
such as listserver and website costs -- and in accordance with A.A.'s
7th Tradition -- we "pass the
basket" here in Cyberspace just as in traditional meetings. Treasury reports
and 7th Tradition reminders with information about how to contribute are
sent to the list periodically.
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I think I may have a drinking problem, but
I'm not sure. Can I still be a member of GROW?
By all means we welcome you and hope you will join us! GROW
is for alcoholic
women and/or women who wish to learn how A.A. might help them stop drinking.
We have experienced some pretty amazing recoveries with women just
like yourself!
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Is GROW a "real" A.A. group?
Yes! We meet the definition of an A.A. group provided by the General
Service Conference (U.S. & Canada): "any two or three alcoholics gathered
together for sobriety may call themselves a group, provided that, as a
group, they have no other affiliation."
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Do you adhere to the 12 Traditions?
Yes, GROW is firmly rooted in the 12 Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous.
We have spent considerable time studying the traditions and how they can
be applied to online A.A. meetings. Our interpretation of the Traditions
In Cyberspace is based on our collective experience and history with
meetings on the Internet.
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How does a meeting of GROW compare to
"live" meeting?
A.A. is very much alive here in Cyberspace! Many of us attended face-to-face
(f2f) meetings long before we discovered the Internet. For some of us
this online experience has rekindled our interest and participation in
f2f meetings. We also have members who found A.A. through the Internet
and are now very active members in their local home groups. We also have
members who are homebound or who can't attend f2f meetings for a variety
of reasons, such as illness or disability, living in remote areas, or
working odd hours. Deaf members who can't hear at f2f meetings don't have
to miss a word here! Online meetings meet many needs, reaching around
the globe, carrying the message, just as postal mail has done for loners
over the years.
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How does GROW conduct business?
GROW has a separate mail list to handle group business. Discussions
related to how the group operates take place only on this list, much as
f2f groups hold business meetings separate from their regular A.A. meeting.
Business meetings are scheduled quarterly. Reminders with information
about how to subscribe to the Business List are sent to the group on a
regular basis.
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Service is so important to recovery. How
does that work online?
GROW provides many opportunities for service work, a cornerstone of
our sobriety. We rely on our trusted servants and steering committee to
help keep the group running smoothly. Besides the familiar positions found
in most face-to-face A.A. groups, we also have trusted servants responsible
for the tasks necessary to maintain an online group. In addition, we have
an active 12 Step committee and women who are willing to serve as online
sponsors. You can sign up for either or both of these. You can also serve
the group by welcoming new members; sending birthday greetings to celebrants;
sending hugs and encouragement to someone hurting; and writing private
letters to members, just as you would make a phone call f2f. We have found
we can be very creative when improvising ways to be of service here in
Cyberspace!
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How are trusted servants selected?
Our trusted servant positions are filled by volunteers. When a position
needs to be filled we call for volunteers and nominations for a period
of one week. If only one member meeting the criteria suggested by group
conscience volunteers, she's our new trusted servant! If more than one
member volunteers, we vote.
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How can you possibly feel connected with
strangers you never meet?
Hold on to your seat! You will be amazed, just as we have been, to
find yourself forming lasting friendships with women you may never meet
f2f. We laugh, cry, identify; and yes, even disagree sometimes. We share
more openly than most of us ever imagined possible. In fact, some of us
have met face-to-face and in that meeting experienced a bond that is difficult
to describe. We recognized that we hadn't prejudged each other based on
physical appearance, body language, or speech patterns. We found we already
knew each other's spirits. Yes, we can and do become up close and personal.
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I'm afraid of mail lists because I keep
hearing about "flame wars." What are they exactly and what does GROW do
if they happen?
Flaming refers to an E-mail that attacks an individual or group. One
flame escalates into a "flame war" when two or more individuals begin
exchanging flames publicly. GROW adheres to the First Tradition of Alcoholics
Anonymous, placing our common welfare first. Individuals who display a
pattern of disruptive behavior toward group members may be unsubscribed
from the list in accordance with group Common Welfare Guidelines.
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I'm a little nervous about my anonymity
on the Internet. What does GROW do to guarantee privacy?We cannot
guarantee anonymity on the Internet. However, privacy is of paramount
importance to us and we make every effort to protect it. GROW rents a
list service (our equivalent to a church basement), and only members who
are subscribed to this list can post to the group, or receive mail from
members through the list service. People surfing the Internet cannot stumble
in to our meeting without subscribing. Our experience with online meetings
has also taught us some simple courtesies that help us protect our anonymity.
Guide for E-mail Etiquette
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How do I join GROW?
That's easy! You simply click here. If
mail lists are something new to you, remember, we're all pretty new to
Cyberspace. We're learning and GROW'ing together!
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