Meeting Safety

Anonymity is an important principle of the Al-Anon/Alateen program. Everything said in a meeting is held in confidence.

• The meeting script can include a safety statement.

• Rotation of service promotes safety and harmony.

• Regular business meetings are a great place to discuss any issues that emerge.

• In all discussions about safety, keep the focus on our primary purpose which is to help the families and friends of alcoholics.

• Place principles above personalities.

• Read “Let’s Talk About Safety,” Al-Anon’s WSO publication about situations that can threaten the safety of a group and its members, and actions a group or individual can take.

Each meeting must decide which security tools to use [below] to balance safety in the meeting with welcoming the newcomer.

Go to zoom.us and log in for a one-time set up

Go to Account Settings

Enable Waiting Room with the following settings:

• Everyone will go to the waiting room

• Place participants in the waiting room if the host and co-hosts are not present or if they lose internet connection during a meeting [found in Edit Options]

• Meeting Passcode

• Require passcode for participants joining by phone

• Embed passcode in invite link for one-click join

• Host video

• Participants video

• Mute all participants when they join a meeting

• Require encryption for 3rd party endpoints (SIP/H.323)

• Chat (This can be controlled in the meeting by the host)

• Private Chat (This can be controlled in the meeting by the host)

• Co-host

• Meeting Polls (these can be set up for a group conscience)

• Always show meeting control toolbar

• Show Zoom windows during screen share

• Screen sharing (set to Host Only)

• Disable desktop screen sharing for meetings you host

• Allow participants to rename themselves (larger meetings may want to toggle this feature off)

• Report to Zoom

THE FOLLOWING TOGGLES SHOULD BE SET TO “OFF”:

• Reactions: This allows the raise hand feature to show up on the toolbar.

• Virtual Backgrounds: These may be toggled on, but uncheck “Allow use of videos for virtual backgrounds”

Recommended Service Positions for a Safe Zoom meeting:

• CHAIR: to read the script

• HOST (also referred to as tech host): to open the meeting from the account, manage muting, lower hands and handle meeting intrusions. 

• CO-HOST: to be assigned at the start of the meeting to ensure the meeting continues if the host has an internet outage. The co-host can also assist in the removal of an intruder, should it be necessary.

NOTE: Larger meetings may need several co-hosts with assigned responsibilities to ensure the smooth flow of the meeting. description

“Tradition 12: Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles above personalities.”

Zoom and other virtual platforms are designed for easy connection, not anonymity. Our community of individuals, groups, and trusted servants can always take time to PAUSE.

Options for Chat:

• open throughout the meeting, privately, and to the group

• open only during 7th Tradition Break and Announcements

• not open at all

• open for chatting with the host only

We suggest this be decided by a group conscience. Settings can be adjusted by the host clicking the three dots in the chat box (click twice to access the menu).

Suggestions for the Meeting Host

• Use a computer or laptop, not a phone or a tablet

• Open the meeting 5-10 minutes before the scheduled start

• Keep “Participants” and “Chat” tabs open throughout the meeting on the Host screen

• Let participants in from the waiting room throughout the meeting

• Send messages to the waiting room if desired, but remember: the participant in the waiting room can’t respond

• Ask for more identification or Al-Anon background via the Chat or verbally if unsure about a newcomer

• Reassign the “Host” function to someone else via the Participants List IF the host needs to leave before the end of the meeting,

Four areas on the screen which give Hosts control during the meeting

• Security Tab at the bottom of the screen

• Mute All and More under the Participants List

• Three dots [...] in the Chat [double click]

• Three dots [...] in each Participant’s square

In addition, anyone can be muted via the Participant List.

If a Troll disrupts your Meeting

• Mute all and have a co-host keep everyone muted

• Send the troll to the Waiting Room. A disruption can be chaotic and it's easy to remove someone by mistake. Using the Waiting Room is a safer option.

• Suspend Participant Activities is an option In the Security tab

• Or… end the meeting and restart. If there are multiple disrupters and the meeting can’t be brought under control, you can simply end it and restart from the account.