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Zoom Meeting Practices 

Security: Virtual SoberStart is in complete support of the anonymity and wellbeing of its members and guests. To insure that anonymity and wellbeing we will:

• Treat every participant with respect and courtesy and expect that treatment in return. 

• Change your screen name upon request after you enter the room.

• Ask that you do not share your last name during the meeting. Most participants use a first name and last name initial.

• Ask that general names like iPhone are changed to your first name and last name initial to avoid duplication of participant names that are attending the meeting.

• Discuss general principles from the meeting without revealing specifics about individual shares.

• Not cross-talk during the meeting which is commenting, during your share, on specific statements made by others during the meeting.

• Dedicate persons with meeting roles that manage the meeting behind the scenes to remove participants that disrupt the meeting.

• Remove those disruptive participants that:

  • display any nudity

  • use rampant profanity

  • verbally abuse other participants

  • engage in any controversy

  • openly endorse or oppose any cause other than obtaining sobriety and staying sober

Meeting Norms: Virtual SoberStart facilitates a meaningful meeting for its members and guests. To insure that the meeting is meaningful for all we will:

• Start meeting promptly at 6:30 am Eastern Time and end meeting promptly at 7:30 am Eastern Time 7 day a week/52 weeks per year.

• Admit participants starting at 6:15 am Eastern Time.

• Admit any person that is attempting to join the meeting. The only requirement is a desire to stop drinking.

• Rename your screen name upon request.

• Encourage informal chit chat before and after formal meeting. This time is a great way to get to know those in the room and let those in the room get to know you. If you need help with alcoholism this is an opportunity to ask for contact information.

• Remove those that disrupt the purpose and spirit of the meeting which is to obtain sobriety and stay sober.

• Verify meeting attendance for that day. Verifications are to be requested by 7:45 am Eastern Time on the day of the meeting for which you request verification.

• Open “Chat” to ”Everyone and Anyone Directly” during the first 5 minutes and last 5 minutes of the meeting.

• Modify “Chat” for chatting with ”Host and Co-hosts Only” at approximately 6:35 am Eastern Time until approximately 7:25 am Eastern Time.

• Respond to your Chat message when you request help with alcoholism.

• Mute everyone at the start of the meeting and request that all participants remain muted when others are speaking during the meeting. 

• Remove the ability to unmute yourself during a designated lead speaker's remarks. Unmuting yourself will be restored after those remarks are finished.

• Limit each individual share during the meeting to two minutes by using a timer. 

• Have a meeting chair that will recognize the next speaker during a show of hands meeting.

• Allow impromptu shares during a jump-in meeting as those requests are made to the meeting chair. For example, when someone finishes a share you could say, “Hi, I am [YOUR NAME], I am an alcoholic, and I would like to share.” 

• Pick random participants to share as chosen by the meeting chair during chair’s pick  share meetings. If called upon and you choose not to share then respectfully decline. No requirement to share is enforced at Virtual SoberStart meetings.

• Call for a “Burning Desire” every day at 7:25 for those that have not shared previously but feel a burning desire to pick up a drink or harm themselves or harm others.