Summary for OIAA IGR FORUM April 25, 2026

7th Tradition: How Online Groups Do It

01:32 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) ID: 839 1683 1125

Quick recap

The IGR Forum focused on “7 Tradition Online: How Online Groups Do It,” featuring three treasurers sharing their experiences managing finances for online AA groups. Jan G from MMER Online, Charles S from Dawn Patrol Online, and Kelley C from AA Unity in Recovery discussed various approaches including non-profit status, bank accounts, and payment processing through platforms like Home Group Online. The discussion revealed challenges with international payments, GSO’s potential concerns about contributions through certain platforms, and the need for clarity on group numbers for online-only groups. The forum also addressed practical issues like PayPal problems, distribution percentages, and the role of Home Group Online as a facilitator rather than a contributor.

Next steps

• Charles S.: Provide contact names at GSO to Lonnie regarding Home Group Online contribution acceptance status (Lonnie to put email in chat for follow-up)
• All interested groups: Register host groups for OIAA 2026 Online International Convention using the link provided in chat
• All interested IGRs: Attend the new IGR workshop on the third Sunday of the month (details in chat)
• All interested: Attend TechSepper Safety Workshop next Saturday at 2pm Eastern (link and flyer provided in chat)

Summary

Virtual Event Setup Planning Meeting

The meeting focused on preparing for an upcoming event with discussions about technical setup and logistics. Mark and the team reviewed co-hosting responsibilities, including managing speaker spotlights and timer controls in the virtual platform. Jan confirmed the speaking order for the event, with Jan G scheduled to speak first followed by Charles S and Kelly C. The team also discussed updates to the meeting guidelines and platform settings, including allowing participants to rename themselves but not adjust mute settings.

Meeting Introduction and Check-ins

The meeting began with casual conversation about Zoom features and timing, with participants discussing whether certain sound effects were appropriate. Mark welcomed several attendees including Charles, who was identified as the Dawn Patrol treasurer, and noted his group’s connection to Susan. The discussion included brief check-ins with participants, including Jeff who confirmed he was in Atlanta, and others sharing their locations across different regions. The meeting appeared to be in an introductory phase with participants joining and being welcomed by Mark.

Meeting Introduction and Housekeeping

The meeting began with introductions from various participants, including representatives from groups like AA Unity and Recovery and Keep It Simply Spiritual (KISS). Participants shared personal anecdotes and jokes to lighten the mood before transitioning to housekeeping notes. Mark mentioned preparing to start the formal meeting and noted the need to manage audio settings, with assistance provided by another participant to unmute the meeting host. No specific decisions or action items were discussed during this segment.

IGR Forum Introduction and Guidelines

Mark, serving as OIAA Technology Chair, welcomed attendees to the IGR Forum and introduced Jan as the forum host. He provided important guidelines regarding anonymity, recording policies, and technical instructions for participants, including the use of speaker view and the “raise hand” function for questions. Jan then took over as host, introducing the forum’s theme “7 Tradition Online: How Online Groups Do It” and announcing the three speakers for the session: Jan G from MMER Online, Charles S. from Dawn Patrol Online in Delaware, and Kelley C. from AA Unity in Recovery.

Online AA Group Financial Management

Jan G. shared her experience as treasurer for an online AA group, explaining how she and Rachel G. set up a non-profit structure to handle donations through multiple methods including mail, Venmo, PayPal, and QR codes. The group maintains a $800 prudent reserve and donates free big books to newcomers, with remaining funds distributed 70% to GSO and 30% to OIAA. Charles S. from Dawn Patrol Online discussed their group’s transition from being part of an in-person meeting to becoming independent, during which they obtained a bank account and evaluated different donation methods including Cash App.

Online Group Financial Setup Process

Charles explained the process of setting up a bank account for their online group, including the use of Home Group Online as a payment processing service to handle contributions through various methods like Venmo and Zelle. He noted ongoing discussions about whether the General Service Office would accept distributions through this service. Kelley C., treasurer for AA Unity in Recovery, shared their group’s financial setup, including their 503C designation, bank account, and practices for managing donations and expenses, with a prudent reserve of $600. Both speakers discussed their groups’ financial reporting processes and compliance with necessary regulations.

Treasury Management Practices Discussion

The meeting focused on discussing treasury management practices across different OA groups. Preston shared his experience as treasurer for the Joy of Living group, explaining how they transitioned to using Home Group Online for anonymous contributions and detailed their distribution percentages to various organizations. Jan G discussed their 501c3 group’s use of a post office box for contributions and registered agent requirements, while Rhonda began explaining K.S.’s use of PayPal before technical difficulties interrupted her contribution.

HGO Financial Clearinghouse Discussion

The meeting focused on discussions about Home Group Online (HGO) and its use as a financial clearinghouse for AA groups. Charles explained that HGO acts as a portal to manage contributions from various payment platforms, simplifying the process for treasurers. There were concerns raised about GSO’s decision not to accept donations through HGO, though Charles noted that previous donations had not been refunded and that HGO was working to find an alternative payment method. The group also discussed challenges with PayPal, particularly regarding tax ID and social security number requirements for business transactions, and the complexities of managing international donations.

International AA Payment Options

The meeting focused on discussing payment options and challenges for international contributions to online AA groups. Debbie McKay inquired about international payment issues and the usage of different electronic payment platforms through Home Group Online. Charles explained that credit card payments are often the easiest option for international transactions, and while Home Group Online offers multiple payment methods, they don’t track which platform is most frequently used. David from Toronto shared his positive experience using Home Group Online for international contributions, particularly through credit card payments, after their previous PayPal option ended. Joshua G., treasurer of a 24-hour international marathon meeting, discussed their group’s challenges with PayPal account freezing and their exploration of Home Group Online as an alternative, noting that the group maintains an 18-month prudent reserve for services.

AA Fund Distribution Discussion

The meeting focused on discussing the distribution of funds and contributions to various AA entities. Jan shared that their group allocates 30% to OIAA and 70% to GSO after covering bills and maintaining a prudent reserve. Kelley C. reported a 50-50 split between OIAA and GSO, while Charles detailed their group’s distribution of 37.5% to GSO, 22.5% to Area 12 and District 14, and 17.5% to a local intergroup. The discussion also addressed concerns about contributions through Home Group Online (HGOL), with Carla and Charles arguing that HGOL functions as a facilitator rather than an outside entity, and they await clarification from GSO regarding their stance on HGOL contributions.

HGOL Banking and Contributions Challenges

The meeting focused on challenges with Home Group Online (HGOL) banking and contributions, particularly regarding group numbers and contributions from online groups. Preston explained that some treasurers faced issues because their registered group numbers weren’t included in contributions, and clarified that it’s the treasurer’s responsibility to ensure correct group numbers are used. The discussion highlighted that online-only groups often don’t have group numbers, creating additional complications. The meeting also included announcements about upcoming events, including a TechSteppers Safety Workshop scheduled for the following Saturday and the OIAA 2026 Online International Convention planned for November 20-22.