At Recovery Realm, our goal is to make online meetings as comfortable for our members as possible, with as few “rules” as possible; however, some structure to the meeting is necessary in order to allow everyone to share and to keep disruption to a minimum.
Every meeting chairperson opens the meeting by introducing themselves, asking everyone to join in the Serenity Prayer, introducing a topic, and offering a simple list of guidelines for conduct during the meeting.
Here are those guidelines:
If you would like to share, please raise your hand or type ! (exclamation point),and I will call on you in turn.
Please show the same respect as you would in a face to face meeting by not crosstalking when someone is sharing, staying on topic, and limiting your share to 5 minutes so that all who care to have the chance to share.
If you have something else you need to do, please log out of the meeting so that we know you are not at your keyboard.
I realize that some of our members may not be aware of these guidelines, either as a result of being new to the online experience, or arriving after the guidelines have been posted during the meeting. We ask that everyone abide by these guidelines in order to keep the meeting a pleasant experience for all who attend.
The definition of crosstalking is responding directly to a person’s share, such as asking questions, offering advice, or commenting. Crosstalking while someone is sharing is confusing – more so online than in face-to-face meetings, because everything is in writing. That’s why we generally just type “nod” or use an emoticon to express our support of the person who is sharing. Anything more than that becomes disruptive. There is always time after the meeting to talk to the person who shared, and discuss something that was brought up during their share.
We try to allow everyone time to share, within the constraints of a one-hour meeting, just as in a face-to-face meeting. This is difficult sometimes, because not everyone is proficient at typing their thoughts, and it may take some longer than others. We are understanding and tolerant of this, but if someone’s share begins to ramble, and especially toward the end of the meeting, we may ask that they “wrap it up” in the interest of time. This is not a reflection of their typing ability, their share, or anything other than trying to allow as many people as possible the opportunity to share if they would like.
Another unique feature of online meetings is private messaging. Private messaging allows the chairperson to privately contact someone in the meeting to remind them of time constraints or to limit their crosstalking. Again, this is to avoid disruption of the meeting. Private messaging may also be used to resolve differences of opinion between members, rather than bringing personality issues into the meeting. This feature is also available in the chat room, so that others do not have to be witness to a discussion between two people who disagree.
Please help us keep Recovery Realm a safe, comfortable environment for those in recovery by following the guidelines for meeting conduct, and exercising courtesy, respect and tolerance of others, just as in a face-to-face meeting.
We are here to help and support each other.
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