December 1998

WHAT IS THE ONLINE AL-ANON INFORMATION SERVICE?

The Online Al-Anon Information Service [OLA-IS] is made up of representatives of the Al-Anon /Alateen cyber community whose online meetings choose to participate. It is understood that each meeting abides by Al-Anon's Traditions and is open to any Al-Anon member.

WHAT DOES THE ONLINE AL-ANON INFORMATION SERVICE DO?

In addition to providing a forum for discussion about OLA meeting concerns and facilitating cooperation with the World Service Office [WSO], the OLA-IS provides a Public Information Service to help families and friends by:

1. Maintaining a web site listing online chat and email meetings listed at WSO.

2. Providing a short description of all the OLA meetings choosing to be listed with an address to contact for further information.

3. Offering alias address for individuals selected by their meeting to receive mail from the web site.

4. Offering each listed meeting the option to have separate web pages giving detailed information about their meeting.

ARE COSTS INVOLVED FOR THE OLA-IS?

There are no due or fees to participate in the OLA-IS. The information service incurred costs to establish the web site on the Internet. They were: $50 to register the domain name OLA-IS.org $329.95 to pay for web site hosting for one year [including 10 alias addresses for up to 9 email addresses] [Additional alias address cost $11/year/additional address] Paid through June 1999.

HOW IS THE ONLINE AL-ANON INFORMATION SERVICE SUPPORTED?

Participating meetings and their members support the OLA-IS. Financial reports are filed monthly and are on the site. Al-Anon meetings or members may make Seventh Tradition contributions by putting their OLA Meeting name and ID number in the memo portion and sending to:

OLA Information Service
P. O. Box 416
Westminster SC 29693, USA

All OLA meetings are invited to select a representative and alternate to be part of the OLA-IS, whether they are listed at WSO or not. When a meeting is listed at WSO and receives its ID# it may choose to be listed on the web site as an email or chat OLA meeting by writing OLA-IS and giving the ID #, a short description of the meeting and how the meeting may be contacted.

WHERE CAN I FIND THE OLA-IS WEB SITE?

The URL for the Online Al-Anon Information Service is at http://ola-is.org

WHERE MAY I LEARN MORE ABOUT OLA-IS?

The suggested guidelines, adopted by the initial participating meetings, are on the web site at http://www.ola-is.org/guidelines.htm

HOW IS OLA-IS CONTACTED?

You may use the email boxes provided on the site or write to ola@ola-is.org which goes to all the Trusted Servants of OLA-IS.

WHAT HAS OLA-IS ACCOMPLISHED?

1. Coordination among all known OLA meetings for participation at the July 1998 Salt Lake International

2. Established and is maintaing a domain name and a web site at which information and links for all meetings listed at WSO may be found; as well as a link to WSO.

3. Inclusion on the OLA-IS web site the Board of Trustees "Guidelines for Electronic Meetings" and the information regarding how to receive permission to use copyrighted CAL in OLA meetings.

4. Development of an emerging OLA history which was published in the November 1998 Issue of THE FORUM.

WHICH MEETINGS LISTED AT WSO ARE LISTED ON THE OLA-IS WEB SITE?

Email Meetings: 5th Tradition, A Serenity Place, Awakenings Cyberserenity, Cyberserenity-2, Friends of Lois Key to Harmony, Men's ODAT, SHARE, Tranquility [10]

Chat Meetings: Al-Anon Beginners, Al-Anon Chatters, Al-Anon Family Online, Caring Space Al-Anon Chat, EFNET Al-Anon, Heart To Heart, Saturday Night Butterflies [7]

WHICH MEETINGS HAVE BECOME PART OF OLA-IS?

A Serenity Place; Al-Anon Beginners; Al-Anon Chatters; Awakenings; CyberSerenity; Experience, Strength and Hope; Friends of Lois; Key To Harmony; Men's ODAT; Saturday Night Butterflies; SHARE; Tranquility [12]

If you have comments or questions regarding information in this newsletter, please contact your Meeting/Member/Group Contact or ola@ola-is.org.

© Dec 1998