Section I: PURPOSE OF THE WEBSITE
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE DISTRICT 37 WEBSITE GUIDELINES
The concept for a District 37 website was born out of the Covid pandemic. With a suspension of in person meetings, GSR’s found it difficult to interact with the district. Though the district had a page on ABE intergroups website, the district’s ability to edit and manage information was less than adequate. It was suggested that a separate district 37 website would be helpful to those needing to communicate with the district. It was imagined that the website would give information about activities in the district and the greater service structure of AA. A motion was carried in June 2021 to create and maintain a new district 37 website.
Adopted by Unanimous Committee Consent 10/27/21
- The Purpose of this website shall be to:
- Facilitate communication in District 37.
- Disseminate information from the service structure of AA.
- Serve as a resource for new and existing GSR’s.
- Platform to receive digital contributions from groups.
- Ownership of Website:
- The Owner of this website is EPGSA District 37.
- For administrative purposes, its mailing address is District 37, PO Box 90274, Allentown, PA 18109.
- Domain Name Registration and Web Hosting Services
- The domain name shall be www.pad37aa.org and is registered in the name of the Owner.
- The Finance Committee (in collaboration with the web servant) shall choose a domain name registrar/domain name reseller and web hosting provider at its discretion, based upon the goal of using a “best-cost” service provide. This process should be repeated with every incoming Panel.
- Billing Contact
- Invoices from the domain name registrar/domain name reseller and web hosting provider should be directed to the District 37 Treasurer, with his/her mailing address at District 37, PO Box 90274, Allentown, PA 18109.
- The Treasurer will pay fees for registration of the domain name and for web hosting services and include the cost in the district budget.
- Technical Contact
- The District 37 web servant is the technical contact for issues relating to the website.
- The District Committee may contract for these services as needed, outside AA if necessary.
- Inquiries may be directed via email to the district secretary who serves as liaison: district37secretary@gmail.com.
- District 37 Web Servant
- Elected by the District committee, the web servant provides on-going website operations and maintenance, and reports to the District regularly.
- Web servants are expected to serve a term, concurrent with the District Panel. Rotation is strongly encouraged; however, members may serve more than one term as circumstances warrant.
- If such a person is not available, the Committee may contract the work outside of AA.
- Technical Access
- The web servant will have password-protected access to the site’s server. Protocol dictates the DCM will also have the same password access.
- Website Changes
- Major changes to the website will be approved by the District Committee, being suggested by either the web servant or structure committee through floor motions. Members may suggest changes through either party.
- Minor changes in standing content may be made by the Web Servant without prior District approval for the following purposes to:
- enhance site visibility, accessibility, and ease of use
- maintain accurate and up-to-date information
- maintain compliance with applicable laws, rules, and web standards.
- Standing Content
- All information posted to the website should conform to spirit of A.A. principles and traditions. Special consideration should be paid towards always following anonymity guidelines.
- The Home Page will contain information about the district, its purpose and structure.
- The website will contain the following offsite links:
- AA General Service Office
- ABE intergroup
- Area 59
- Penncypaa
- NERAASA
- AA Grapevine
- The following information should be contained within the website
- Website Guidelines
- Flyer’s page
- Events page
- Contact Form
- Contributions Page
- GSR Communications – Password Protected Section to secure members anonymity
- Direct Communication
- The website will not permit interactive communication such as:
- chat rooms
- message boards
- forums
- on-line meetings
- or any other form of direct communication, including regular (two-way) email accounts.
- The website will not permit interactive communication such as:
- Non-AA Content
- In keeping with Tradition 6, there will be no non-AA content or links to non-AA-related sites.
- No promotion of or links to commercial websites, nor commercial/professional services is available through this site or crowdsourcing such as GoFundMe.
- Personal Information
- In keeping with Tradition 11 and in favor of personal privacy, security, and anonymity:
- No individual is to be identified by first and last name, nor an individual’s photograph published on the website.
- Individual telephone numbers will not be published outside password protected sections.
- Event flyers will be edited to remove personal information prior to being published on the website.
- In keeping with Tradition 11 and in favor of personal privacy, security, and anonymity:
- The Website Guidelines will be updated by the web servant in collaboration with the Structure Subcommittee as conditions warrant and to reflect current conditions or practices.
- These updates may reflect changes to the site itself or changes to District and/or committee activities or procedures.
- Changes are subject to Motions at District 37 committee meetings.
- With every incoming Panel, the Structure Committee will meet for the purposes of evaluating the district website guidelines.
- This should be done in collaboration with the Web servant.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE DISTRICT 37 WEBSITE GUIDELINES
The concept for a District 37 website was born out of the Covid pandemic. With a suspension of in person meetings, GSR’s found it difficult to interact with the district. Though the district had a page on ABE intergroups website, the district’s ability to edit and manage information was less than adequate. It was suggested that a separate district 37 website would be helpful to those needing to communicate with the district. It was imagined that the website would give information about activities in the district and the greater service structure of AA. A motion was carried in June 2021 to create and maintain a new district 37 website.
Adopted by Unanimous Committee Consent 10/27/21