Internet is a great tool.  Proof of that is the fact that I'm writing in this message.  It has become a vital part of AA service.  Thanks

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1. Anonymity – As anonymity is the "spiritual foundation of all our Traditions," is the MSCA website practicing anonymity at all times? Are you satisfied with the present level of protecting our anonymity. Yes - very satisfied.  The WebServant seems to take great caution in ensuring anonymity.

2. Reaching Out – Is the MSCA website doing an adequate job of reaching out to the Area fellowship, or should we be more pro-active? If we should be more pro-active, what specific suggestions do you have?   As with General Service as a whole in Area 09, the members who have an interest in participating, seem to utilize the web site quite a bit.  And those who don't, don't.

3. The A.A. Way – Is the website meeting A.A.'s spiritual considerations for personal and intimate sharing, encouraging and including the spiritual nature of "one drunk talking to another"?   There does not seem to be anything too "personal and intimate" about interacting with a computer.  Individual communication with another alcoholic (face to face or via computer) seems to be the key.  So generalized info. is helpful, but when it comes to personal relationships - there is no substitute for direct 1 on 1 interaction, even if it is done electronically.

4. Website content – Is the content displayed on the website useful and appropriate? What way might it be improved? The good news about website technology is that today's decisions can be reviewed, revised, abandoned or expanded.   Content is King... I mean the content on our web site is excellent!  I am impressed with the way things are current and accurate.  I appreciate the efforts of those who ensure it is updated as frequently as possible.

5. General Service Office (GSO) – Is there value to have the GSO in New York available to you at your fingertips via www.aa.org? How about the Grapevine and La Vina via www.aagrapevine.org? Is there value to access from GSO's website, a list of over 90 other websites covering differing areas of the U.S. and Canada? Do you utilize GSO and/or Grapevine websites?   Yes - these are very appropriate links.  I have used them, but not real often.  Links to other sites are great, so long as we know (to the best of our ability) that those other sites are adhering to the Traditions.  Also, why don't we have a "disclaimer" that the person is now leaving our site?  GSO's site has a "disclaimer" whenever you link from their site to an "outside" site ==> even when you simply link to the Grapevine's site ==> ???

6. Is the MSCA Website user friendly – Is it easy or difficult to navigate. Is the information current or stale? Would you like to see the information updated more frequently? What additional information would you like to see? What information would you like discarded or archived? It is perfect the way it is, other than I believe that there should be a notice or some sort of "disclaimer" whenever there is a link to an outside site.

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It seems the web should be a great resource for sharing experience, strength, and hope in recovery.  It has been my experience that journaling helps to clarify the confusion of swirling thoughts that can muddy  progress.  The internet can act as an interactive forum for sharing ideas that work.

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1. Anonymity – As anonymity is the “spiritual foundation of all our Traditions,” is the MSCA website practicing anonymity at all times? Are you satisfied with the present level of protecting our anonymity.  I believe that the website makes every attempt to practice anonymity at all levels.  No last names used ensures that no individual anonymity is broken.  Additionally, by not using any names in this forum, the website ensures that no individual A.A. member can promote themselves or their opinions.  When I use the google search feature, I find a lot of last names used in the posed MSCA newsletters – perhaps more care, (maybe more than one person) can be used to “scrub” all documents prior to posting. 

2. Reaching Out – Is the MSCA website doing an adequate job of reaching out to the Area fellowship, or should we be more pro-active? If we should be more pro-active, what specific suggestions do you have? It seems that the website is trying to reach out to all.  The only way the website could conceivably reach out to more people is to re-design the home page of the website and make it easier to find items, maybe by making the site map the home page – not as attractive, but much more informative.  I defined some suggestions for additional efforts for reaching out to the MSCA fellowship in point 6 of this document. 

3. The A.A. Way – Is the website meeting A.A.’s spiritual considerations for personal and intimate sharing, encouraging and including the spiritual nature of “one drunk talking to another”?  I believe that it is the purpose of the website to be a source of information.  This information should always have at its root, the idea that all publications on the website will always be for the purpose of ultimately supporting and making possible the principle of “one drunk talking to another”.  The website does offer online access to meeting directories in our area, as well as information that can be used to find telephone meetings, for those inclined. There are other venues on the internet for A.A.’s to reach out in intimate and personal sharing – the MSCA website should not go down this path.  .  The website should be viewed as a corollary to the A.A. Service Manual, but more conducive to local efforts

4. Website content – Is the content displayed on the website useful and appropriate? What way might it be improved? The good news about website technology is that today’s decisions can be reviewed, revised, abandoned or expanded.  The information on the website is useful and appropriate, though sometimes dated.  The conundrum of the website is that its very nature oftentimes engenders fear in those who cannot or will not see its powerful positive effect and can only see the harm that COULD be caused by its misuse – but also by its very nature its power must be used or MSCA will fail in its mission to help the groups within MSCA reach out to the alcoholic who still suffers - simply because the information to further this effort will not be widely distributed to the A.A. population in MSCA. 

5. General Service Office (GSO) – Is there value to have the GSO in New York available to you at your fingertips via www.aa.org? How about the Grapevine and La Vina via www.aagrapevine.org? Is there value to access from GSO’s website, a list of over 90 other websites covering differing areas of the U.S. and Canada? Do you utilize GSO and/or Grapevine websites? There is value in the convenience of easily viewing the national A.A. websites without leaving the MSCA website.  I go to the GSO website at least once a week, either for information or just to check it out and see what news of A.A. service work is available.  I have viewed the A.A. Grapevine website at times in the past, but haven’t done so recently. 

6. Is the MSCA Website user friendly – Is it easy or difficult to navigate. Is the information current or stale? Would you like to see the information updated more frequently? What additional information would you like to see? What information would you like discarded or archived?  Considering all the information available on the website, it is as easy to navigate as one would expect.  If I am going to the website and the information is not available on the home page, I go directly to the site map, which is much easier to use to find what I need on the website.  If I still can’t find it, I use the google-assisted search capability, which is a tool not found on most A.A. websites.  Through education and experience, the Districts and Standing Committees should be encouraged to use their webpages on the website – maybe a bi-annual forum to inform, educate and encourage the District Officers, Standing Committee Chairs and Area Officers in the advantages of using their webpages. 

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