HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ASSEMBLY VIRTUALLY*
On May 18, 2025, a motion was passed to change the GSSA Business Meeting from “view only” hybrid attendance to fully hybrid. The intent was to allow virtual participation in the GSSA Business Meeting to include voting, discussion, nominations and motion making (GSRs or the Alt GSR in the absence of the GSR), all other members be able to participate in discussion.
Procedure for virtual attendees:
The Sunday morning business meeting will be hybrid with full participation. Some Saturday events will be observation/view only. The hybrid business meeting, like the in-person business meeting, is open to any member of Alcoholics Anonymous in Area 16, Georgia.
Generally speaking, those attending The GSSA Business meeting will follow the same rules as those who are attending in-person. The following points will help in clarification:
All virtual voting results will be added to the in-person votes to obtain totals.
How the assembly operates does not change in the virtual setting. The virtual room will have its own microphone for participation and be called upon to share by the chairperson when it is their turn. Please be sure and read the “How the Assembly Operates” document to familiarize yourself with the business meeting process.
Page 15 of the Georgia Service Manual states, “The Georgia State Service Assembly Office shall receive notice of any changes in GSRs one week prior to the Assembly.” This applies to all attendees both in-person and virtual.
*Virtual participation is dependent on availability of technology and volunteers able to operate the technology.
Procedure for virtual attendees:
The Sunday morning business meeting will be hybrid with full participation. Some Saturday events will be observation/view only. The hybrid business meeting, like the in-person business meeting, is open to any member of Alcoholics Anonymous in Area 16, Georgia.
- Meeting links and passwords to all of the meetings being offered virtually will be on the website at least 2 weeks prior to the assembly.
- All participation features (chat, reactions) will be disabled at the observation view only sessions.
- GSRs or their duly elected alternates in the absence of the GSR may make and/or second motions, vote on motions, participate in nominations and vote in elections.
- In order to vote on Sunday, a GSR (or their duly elected alternate in the absence of the GSR) MUST be signed in to the virtual business meeting no later than 8:45 AM and Identify themselves as a voting member.
- When attending the assembly virtually, Instructions will be provided on how to identify yourself.
Generally speaking, those attending The GSSA Business meeting will follow the same rules as those who are attending in-person. The following points will help in clarification:
- The term “the floor” will always include “the virtual floor”.
- When entering the virtual room, members will be identified as either voting or non-voting participants.
- Any person attending virtually who would like to participate in discussion must raise their virtual hand and will be called on by the chairperson when it is their turn to share. The same 2-minute rule will apply to virtual attendees.
- Proxy voting is defined as anyone voting on behalf of an absent voting member or a member who has not themselves been registered (at least a week prior to assembly) in order to have the right to vote for that group. (Page 15, item 3 under voting privileges states that “Proxy votes will not be accepted at the Assembly.” This applies in the virtual space as well)
All virtual voting results will be added to the in-person votes to obtain totals.
How the assembly operates does not change in the virtual setting. The virtual room will have its own microphone for participation and be called upon to share by the chairperson when it is their turn. Please be sure and read the “How the Assembly Operates” document to familiarize yourself with the business meeting process.
Page 15 of the Georgia Service Manual states, “The Georgia State Service Assembly Office shall receive notice of any changes in GSRs one week prior to the Assembly.” This applies to all attendees both in-person and virtual.
*Virtual participation is dependent on availability of technology and volunteers able to operate the technology.