Impact of COVID-19 on Al‑Anon/Alateen
in Minnesota South Area

In response to the threat of COVID-19, some Al‑Anon and Alateen events have been postponed or cancelled. However, many meetings and a few events have become “virtual”, using conference calls, email, or programs or apps that allow meeting over the internet. This page will try to provide up-to-date information.

If you know of other meetings or events in Minnesota South Area that are postponed, cancelled, suspended or become “virtual”, please notify AIS (Minneapolis Al-Anon/Alateen Information Service) by calling 952-920-3961 or emailing alanon@pobox.com. If your group is becoming virtual and still woule like to attract newcomers but don't want full connection information posted on-line, provide AIS with the information, and the schedule will say "Call AIS (952-920-3961) for connection information."

When a group starts to meet face-to-face again, please notify AIS. This page will not change automatically even if an end date was provided at the start of suspension.

Under the Governor’s Stay Safe executive order, face-to-face Al-Anon and Alateen meetings are permitted under restrictions, although recovery groups are encouraged to meet virtually or by telephone. Indoor face-to-face meetings are limited to not more than 10 and participants are required to wear face coverings and maintain social distancing – six feet between members. See this FAQ on the Governor’s Stay Safe order and this FAQ on the face covering requirement. A few groups are meeting out-of-doors, maintaining social distancing.

If your group is suspended or if it has gone “virtual” and it is difficult for you to join, take a look at the WSO page on electronic meetings.

Below is a list of suspended and restarted meetings and a schedule of virtual neetings we know about.

Anonymity and privacy issues with on-line meetings

Groups should know there are real issues of loss of anonymity and privacy with some of the services enabling on-line meetings. Before setting one up, they should carefully read the terms of use and privacy policy. Some of the most popular virtual meeting solutions state in their privacy policies that they cross reference multiple databases to identify you personally, anyone else in your online meeting, and even any contacts on your device they are able to access.

In spite of privacy and anonymity issues, many Al‑Anon and Alateen groups are conducting on-line meetings. One of the most popular providers is Zoom. We have prepared a Zoom information page which, among other things, suggests specific settings that should be changed to minimize risk to anonymity.

Whatever virtual meeting service is used – Zoom, Skype or some other – it is essential that you regularly check to see the most recent version of the app or client program is installed on your device. If it is not, then you should download it only from the official website for the service. For Zoom, this is zoom.us/download.

One way anonymity can be breached that is easy to overlook, is when others in your household are able, whether accidentally or purposefully, to see what is on your screen or hear what is being said. A member in the virtual meeting might be recognized and thus identified as an Al‑Anon member. Thus make every effort to shield your screen and sound from others’ eyes and ears.

Alano societies and other places multiple groups meet

Here is what we know about Alano Societies and other places multiple Al‑Anon groups meet.

Fridley Alano, 6279 University Ave NE, Fridley has re-opened. Most of the Al‑Anon and Alateen groups meeting there have restarted or are meeting virtually.

Hutchinson Alano Club is closed until further notice and hence all Al‑Anon groups that meet there have been suspended or are meeting virtually.

New Hope Alano, 7550 Bass Lake Rd in New Hope, has re-openend but the only Al‑Anon group is Sunday at 6:00 PM.

Plymouth II Alano, 610 Hopkins Crossroad in Minnetonka, has closed and hence all Al‑Anon groups that meet there have been suspended or are meeting virtually.

Uptown House, 1344 Summit Ave in Saint Paul, has re-opened for Al‑Anon and AA meetings, but with a different schedule. Three rooms on the second floor are for Al‑Anon at 2 and 4 PM every day. Masks and social distancing are required with a limit of 10 people per room. At present, there is no guaranty that meetings will actually happen in these time slots, but the opportunity is there. Some groups are meeting virtually. See below.

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