Dear Area 82 Al-Anon/Alateen Members,

World Service (WS) Area members have been asking questions. These questions address temporary Electronic Meetings, when and how to return to Face-to-Face (FTF) meetings, and the possibility of having a “hybrid” meeting (some combination of FTF and simultaneous virtual meeting).

This Questions & Answers (Q&As) document has been created based on consultation with other Areas and staff at our World Service Office (WSO) in Virginia Beach, as they are also receiving many inquiries from members all over the continent about how to “safely reopen” our FTF meetings. The Q&A below is intended to offer some guidance as our members reason things out with one another in order to reach an informed group conscience regarding how their group will meet in the future. This document is long and detailed because of the many issues related to FTF and electronic meetings that we’ve never had to consider before. If you find that you still have questions, please contact us.

We greatly appreciate you sharing this important information with your group. Please feel free to contact us at:

Love in Service,
Brenda L.
Delegate Panel 61
delegatearea82@gmail.com

With Gratitude,
Mintie G.
Area 82 Chairperson
mgrienke@mymts.net

The attached document addresses the following questions:

  1. Our face-to-face (FTF) meeting switched to a web-based platform due to the COVID pandemic. How long can we stay with that format before we have to go back to FTF?
  2. While we are using a temporary virtual platform, what reading materials can be used/displayed?
  3. We have members concerned about returning to their FTF meeting due to a variety of factors, such as their age, health conditions, young children at home. What are things our group needs to consider regarding “re-opening” FTF meetings?
  4. Can we hold a “hybrid” meeting (a meeting that is both FTF and electronically), at the same day and time/simultaneously? And can we do that indefinitely?
  5. Our group members like meeting virtually and want to continue doing that permanently without returning to meeting FTF. Can we do that?

Click for the attachment