Instructions for Comments
Below is a draft of a survey that will be sent to all SMR members regarding the comfort and safety of our meeting. We are asking that you give us comments on the survey, not answers to the survey questions themselves. If you are giving feedback about a specific question, please include the question number in your comment.
This draft survey will remain posted for comments for one week, until April 30, 2021. All comments we receive will be reviewed at a special group conscience meeting on Monday, May 3, 2021. All are welcome.
The Survey
This survey originated from a decision made by the Group Conscience (GC) in February 2021 and is being conducted to find out how our members feel about our meeting, how it is run, and whether there are any issues not being addressed. The GC will use the answers to consider how we can keep the meeting a safe and affirming space for everyone, and improve the meeting as necessary. All questions are optional – you can answer as many or as few as you want to. Please also note that we are not collecting any information on the identity or demographics of those who complete the survey. Please only respond once. This survey will be available for two weeks, until [2 weeks from issuance]. As you think about the following questions, we ask you to remember ACA tradition 12: Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our Traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.
- How often do you attend the SMR morning meeting?
Daily
4-6 days a week
2-3 days a week
At least once a week
At least once a month
- Safety Question 1 – Do you agree or disagree with the following sentence? “The ACA morning meeting is a safe space.” Note: You may provide feedback about this on the last survey question below.
Strongly agree
Agree
Neither agree nor disagree
Disagree
Strongly disagree
- Leader/Moderator (Room Host) Question 1 – What should be the leader/moderator (lm) training strategy?
Training As-is , Advantage – more leader/moderators; Disadvantage – not trained in comfort rules
Advanced training; Advantage – leader/moderators are trained in comfort rules; Disadvantage – fewer leader/moderators
- Leader/Moderator (Room Host) Question 2 – Can the lm change the script for the day by holding a mini Group Conscience vote within the meeting?
No
Yes
- Meeting Chat Function Question 1 – Are you satisfied with the Zoom chat feature (private and everyone/public) the way it is now at SMR? (no restrictions during the meeting)
1=Dissatisfied — 3=It’s just fine — 5=Very satisfied
1 2 3 4 5
Dissatisfied Very satisfied
- Meeting Chat Function Question 2 – We should:
Keep the current Zoom chat features as they are now.
Only allow chat features to/from the leader/moderator.
Don’t have the chat feature at all in the whole meeting.
- Pre Meeting Question 1 – How do you feel about the current format of the pre-meeting time (7:15 AM – 7:30 AM EST) ?
1=Dissatisfied — 3=It’s just fine — 5=Very satisfied
1 2 3 4 5
Dissatisfied Very satisfied
- Pre Meeting Question 2 – What should be the pre-meeting vibe? (7:15-7:30 AM EST)
(Select all that apply)
Keep it as is; loose and relaxed, no changes needed.
Structure the discussion.
Put reminders in the chat to keep discussion ACA/recovery related.
Play meditation music.
I’m not in the room during that time period.
I don’t know.
- Post Meeting Question 1 – Who should be able to host the post meeting discussion time?
As-is; any trusted servant can host.
Only the tech host.
Anyone from the meeting.
- Please enter any comments that you feel may help improve our meeting. (e.g. safe/unsafe behavior)
I was expecting to see a direct question about safety so that members could share their experience.
Such as:
Have you experienced anything that felt unsafe or inappropriate during an SMR meeting?
Often, on occasion, rarely, once, never, NA
How did you respond when that happened?
1. I left the meeting. 2. I reached out to someone in a service role for SMR 3. I used my ACA recovery tools. 4 I reached out to someone. 5. I addressed my issue with the person involved. 6.I did not know what to do 7. N/A
Have you experienced anything that felt unsafe or inappropriate in between SMR meetings?
Often, on occasion, rarely, once, never, NA
How did you respond when that happened? same as above, except change “I left” to “I blocked the person involved.”
The SMR meeting can best address safety in the meetings and in between meetings in these ways:
1.As Is 2. Create a service role to support meeting safety 3. Create a portal on the website for concerns 4. announcements (like the Newcomer often does) N/A
#6 Can an answer be added : Add a group comfort rule for using the chat in the Leader scrip.
#8 add an answer or add to #2 Have a designated service role , such as Morning Greeter to structure the pre-meeting discussion
#9 Add to answers As is: It is hosted by the Newcomer Greeter.
I was expecting to see a direct question about safety that members could share their experience.
Such as:
Have you experienced anything that felt unsafe or inappropriate during an SMR meeting?
Often, on occassion, rarely, once, never, NA
How did you respond when that happened?
1. I left the meeting. 2. I reached out to someone in a service role for SMR 3. I used my ACA recovery tools. 4 I reached out to someone. 5. I addressed my issue with the person involved. 6.I did not know what to do 7. N/A
Have you experienced anything that felt unsafe or inappropriate in between SMR meetings?
Often, on occassion, rarely, once, never, NA
How did you respond what that happened? same as above, except change “I left” to “I blocked the person involved.”
The SMR meeting can best address safety in the meetings and in between meetings in these ways:
1.As Is 2. include information on the website . 3. Create a service role 4. Have this identified in the announcements (like the Newcomer often does) N/A
#6 Can an answer be added : Add a group comfort rule for using the chat in the Leader scrip.
#8 add an answer or add to #2 Have a designated service role , such as Morning Greeter to structure the pre-meeting discussion
#9 Add to answers As is: It is hosted by the Newcomer Greeter.
What an amazing job you’ve done on this survey. I agree the words “brave vs safe” may be activating for many. More than anything, I want to thank this thoughtful, dedicated group who continue to strive to improve and include all.
I’ve been moderator for after meetings in another program that are regularly zoom bombed. I deeply appreciate the consideration given to safety here.
I don’t understand Question 3: What are the different ways the training could be? Can you describe how it is being done and what would be different the second way. Other than that, I think it’s a good survey. Not too long and not too deep but a good starting point for further discussions and to see what matters to the group. Thank you all for putting this together.
Thank you SMR Fellow Travelers in Service for the thought, time, care, experience, and patience that went into preparing this Survey. The word painstaking comes to mind and my belief that my recovery will require me to take pains to grow (much like the emergence of a butterfly from its caterpillar cocoon).
In reviewing the questions, and the comments provided so far, I am offering the following ideas: I read in “The Survey” section that answering each question is optional. As I read through each question I felt an internal prompt/drive to be ‘Complete’ (i.e. answer every question) and forgot that I didn’t need to respond. I identified with another member’s comment that I may not have a decided opinion on a question. I believe I’d find it helpful if there were an response option to the effect of ‘I don’t know or Undecided or Abstain from responding…etc…’.
Q9: I am not clear regarding the time frame referred to as ‘Post Meeting’. Is it the 8:30 – 8:45 AM EDT portion of the meeting, or the 8:45 AM EDT and beyond time (when it occurs)? I am aware that the newcomer greeter of the day, or back up is the usual facilitator for the 8:30 – 8:45 AM EDT segment.
Thank you for your time and consideration of my comments. Please do contact me if you need more information in any way.
In peace,
This is great. My only comment is for #3. I don’t know what is meant by “Training As-is” and “Advanced Training”.
I like this survey a lot, and think it’s a great idea to survey the group for their feedback. Thank you for your work to ensure the meeting is working for everyone. Fwiw, I like the question on safe spaces- as a female who has experienced non-safe spaces I am glad it is being actively considered. I also do not know what current training looks like, so would not know how to answer this question (maybe add “N/A, don’t know” as an option for some of the questions rather than trying to make sure each question is relevant to everyone)?
Thanks again!
Great job committee! I like “Brave Space” not being familiar I googled it and found many many things. Would like to have that term defined if used in the survey. Thanks.
I agree with a previous comment regarding “Brave Space” rather than “safe space”.
The question regarding training of l/h is unclear. We don’t know what training they receive. We only know how they l/h. Maybe the question is about “behaviors”. What works for us, what doesn’t.
Q8: Can we select more than one? BTW, I’m grateful that this question was included.
HI! This is Leslie L. Great job, survey committee!
I have two comments.
1. In Position Description committee recently, the name ‘leader/moderator’ has been changed to ‘Room Host’. I’m not sure if that change needs to be/has been ratified at the Group Conscience level, but it’s something to pay attention to and perhaps change the language as it’s written here.
Second: the concept of Safe Space v Brave Space
I think that it’s a set up for drama, to ask about whether the meeting is a ‘Safe Space.’ We are all ACA’s, which means that we are dealing with our own Trauma with a capital T! and that a meeting can feel safe or unsafe depending on our own perceptions, which might be skewed by our own trauma.
Perhaps we could put that Invitation to Brave Space poem at the top of the survey? That could set the tone for a reasonable expectation around this concept. I am open to other solutions, though.
Again, so much appreciation for you for your care for our morning meeting.