Website Guidelines
Formation
Guidelines
Duties
Website Contents
Formation
- The Web Servant must have a working knowledge of how a website is maintained as well as having access to a personal computer and the internet. It is suggested that the Web Servant have at least two years sobriety as well as experience in the General Service structure.
- Keeping in mind that adherence to our Traditions and Concepts overrides the need to have technical expertise; an effort will be made to sponsor someone into the position of Web Servant. We need a trusted servant who knows how we must work together in order to make a website an effective communication tool.
- The Saskatchewan General Service Conference Committee shall employ a management company to host and maintain the website. The requirements of the host are as follows:
- To perform any task that is required by the Assembly, but is beyond the technical expertise of the Web Servant, and has been deemed to be a reasonable or necessary expense.
- To assist the Web Servant in learning how to access their service and update meeting lists, roundup information, etc…
- To acknowledge the Web Servant as manager of, and primary contact for, the website, aasask.org, in accordance with Area 91 guidelines. The Web Servant shall act as a liaison to the web hosting provider, and as the primary website contact to the fellowship, be accountable to the guidance of the assembly.
- The Web Servant. shall be appointed by a committee of incoming and outgoing Table Officers, and the chosen applicant shall serve for a term of two years and may be reappointed for one additional, consecutive term of two years.
- At the end of their term, the outgoing Web Servant shall provide the incoming appointee with a document containing valid server information. This shall include, but not be limited to, URLs, passwords, security information. The outgoing Web Servant shall also facilitate any necessary change with the hosting provider to change billing information, or introduce the new appointee as a contact and liaison to the Saskatchewan General Service Conference Committee, Area 91.
- The Web Servant shall sit on a committee along with two current DCMs and a table officer who will chair the committee.
- The Web Servant shall be a voting member of the Assembly only on matters pertaining to the web site.
- The Website shall preferably be registered with “aa” and “sask.org” in the name and be registered in the name of the Saskatchewan General Service Conference Committee, Area 91.
- The Chairperson of the Saskatchewan General Service Conference Committee, Area 91 would be named owner of the domain registration.
- The billing contact would be the Area 91 Treasurer, however, renewal of the domain name and hosting service would be the responsibility of the Web Servant.
- The technical contact would be the Website’s Internet Service Provider through the Web Servant.
- Technical access to the Website would be limited to the Area 91Chairperson, and Web Servant.
Guidelines
- A website is a way of communicating to the world who we are and what we do. We must
- be all-inclusive,
- technically user friendly, and
- ensure confidentiality and member anonymity.
- The web site shall serve as a communication tool for the Saskatchewan General Service Conference Committee Area 91 by providing approved, publicly available information about Alcoholics Anonymous to:
- the public (including those who need AA and are searching for help).
- the media.
- the A.A. fellowship- inside and outside Area 91.
- The Website shall present information to enable the still-suffering alcoholic to make direct, face-to-face contact with Alcoholics Anonymous, and to provide information regarding the service structure in Area 91.
- If the Website provides any links other than to GSO or the Grapevine sites, a non affiliation disclaimer like the one GSO uses will precede the connection.
- In keeping with the 12 Traditions of A.A., the Website would NOT:
- Publish any member’s email address that identifies the full first and last name of the member.
- Publish a member’s full name or identifiable picture.
- Present any affiliation, endorsement, display of or link to any non-A.A. entity.
- The Website would be funded exclusively by the Area 91 Assembly and should not accept funds from any other source. Area 91 will provide a fund from which the web servant can pay for expenses other than those to the service provider.
- The Website would operate under the guidance and direction of the Saskatchewan General Service Conference Committee, Area 91.
- District Committee Members (DCMs) may request the addition or removal of any or all group information for groups within their District from the Website at any time.
- Announcements of AA events to be posted on the Website shall be submitted to the Web Servant, by the host of the event, using electronic mail.
- In the spirit of anonymity, and keeping with the wishes of the Area 91 Assembly, any submission that does not adhere to these guidelines shall not be accepted by the Web Servant until amended.
Duties
- The Web Servant is responsible for the day-to-day maintenance of the website. As a trusted servant, the Web Servant is authorized to make minor changes to the Website, as deemed necessary, within the limitations of these guidelines. No wholesale changes would be made to the webpage without consultation with the Area Table Officers. In all cases the Area Assembly shall have policy control.
- The table officers shall biannually canvas the membership in Area 91 to ensure that the web site is fulfilling its purpose and that it is effective as a communication tool.
- The Web Servant shall be invited to Assemblies and shall display the web site at each Assembly whenever it is technically feasible.
- If the website is used to distribute Area Committee and Assembly reports; that section of the web site should be password protected to limit access to those authorized by the table officers or the Area Committee.
- To facilitate the operation of the Website within the Traditions of A.A., the Web Servant would maintain E-mail aliases for Table Officers and Committee Chairs. Each E-mail alias would be set up to route communication to the member’s own email account.
- The Web Servant shall:
- Be directly accountable to the table officers.
- Work within the Area budget assigned to the website.
- Respond to the changing needs of the AA membership in Area 91 as they determine the uses of the web site as a communication tool.
Website Contents
The following shall be displayed on the home page: “This web site observes all AA’s practices and principles. Since anonymity ‘is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions’, we practice anonymity at all times. A web site is a public medium which has the potential for reaching the broadest possible audience and, therefore, requires the same safeguards that we use at the level of press, radio and film.”
A home page displaying the name of the Website as well as clearly identified connections to the other sections of the Website.
A map of Saskatchewan identifying the location of Area 91Districts.
A list of A.A. meeting information for groups within Area 91, except the contact number listed would be that of the nearest central office or intergroup instead of any individual member.
A page for Committees operating within Area 91, where each committee may post relevant information.
The Conference-approved “A.A. Fact Sheet”.
The “Anonymity Letter to the Media” as supplied by GSO.
Listings of A.A. events and roundups within or connected to Area 91,as provided by the fellowship, without telephone numbers that could be used to identify members.
Links to the GSO and the Grapevine Websites.
These Guidelines.
A list of public Area 91 Intergroup/Central Office phone numbers, addresses and hours of operation.
Phone numbers for AA call centres.
A “Search” function for site navigation.
A Site Map function to assist in understanding the site organization and navigation.
The locally approved pamphlet “An Overview of Service in Area 91 Saskatchewan”.