Notes made by Jim K. on Zoom (on-line) meetings:
0. Zoom is not the only service that can be used; there are several others.
1. Everyone attending the meeting has to have previously installed the Zoom App on their device. If they have not done so, when they try to join the meeting, Zoom will guide them through the installation process, but it may take a several minutes.
2. The FREE version of Zoom is limited to 40 minutes duration for a meeting if there are more than 2 people. They would have to end and start a new meeting every 40 minutes. The Pro Version meets all our needs but the person who HOSTS the meeting has to sign up to pay $14.95 per month. The group could reimburse them.
3. Doing a meeting this way does not violate any of the 12 Traditions, apparently (WSO site & person at NCWSA).
4. Individuals can participate in the meeting by audio only (phone), or by audio and video (smart phone, tablet, or computer). The host sends out an e-mail to all prospective participants prior to the meeting that gives instructions for joining the meeting. For voice and video, they click on a URL provided in the invitation, or launch the ZOOM app and then enter a meeting ID (and password if host requires). The host can use a different meeting ID and password for each meeting, or they can always use the same ones.
5. There can be technical issues. I hosted a meeting with one other person, and when they joined, I could see them, and they could see me, but they couldn't hear me. I was using an external camera/microphone, and Zoom couldn't recognize the microphone. I plugged in a desktop microphone, and then it worked OK.
6. The ZOOM app is available for at least the following: Computers (Windows, Apple iOS, Linux), iphones, ipads, android phones, android tablets, and Amazon Fire tablets.
7. The apps for different devices are not all identical. Some features, like "raise your hand" are not available on all the apps. (I use Linux, and the Linux app apparently is missing some features)
8. When people install the app they should not use their last name, because when you join a meeting your "Zoom name" appears under your picture.
9. If the group is emulating a regular Al-Anon meeting with readings etc, the HOST is in a good position to "secretary" the meeting, or at least to get it started. Screen sharing can be used like a "teleprompter" for steps, traditions, etc.
10. Right now, most people interested in these on-line meetings probably want it to be just a temporary thing while the virus situation is going on. If they want it to be a permanent meeting they can choose a GR and proceed to get the meeting registered with WSO. I'm not sure what on-line meetings do about donations.
11. This evening I attended a brand new impromptu Al-Anon on-line meeting, with 9 people who all knew each other from the same home group. The host (it was not I) was well prepared with readings, and screen-shared the steps, traditions, and other readings for selected people to read out loud. We could all see each other, and we all had a chance to share personally, and the meeting lasted 75 minutes. Everyone was quite pleased with it. The host said that she would be glad to share with anyone interested the steps she took to prepare. I noted that she is not a "tech" person; she said she just went to the Zoom site and followed instructions.
