Keep Calm and Carry On the Traditions

Please note that these are my opinions only and do not represent Overeaters Anonymous. Let me know if you have any questions. - Ellen L, OA San Diego Zoom Administrator. zoom@oasandiego.org

Many of our 12-step meetings have been experiencing an increase in Zoom disruptions. Here are some tips to help you keep your meetings safe and secure while maintaining our important traditions of being welcoming to newcomers.

The OA San Diego Intergroup is happy to offer our Zoom classes to all who are giving service in Overeaters Anonymous and other 12-step programs. Registration is required. How-to's from our classes are available to download on our website

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Register for Classes and Download How-To's

Some Tricks and Fixes

Someone comes into your meeting and claims to be working for Zoom or says they are a security expert and can help keep your room safe. Do not make anyone a co-host until you verify their identity as a trusted colleague.

A scout comes in to see what security controls you are using and then tells others via social media if your room is ripe for intrusion by posting your meeting link as an "open mic" meeting. Enable the Waiting Room and restrict permissions before letting people in.

Participants enter and make their boxes move around rapidly onscreen, taking advantage of Zoom's automatic ordering of videos in the gallery view. They do this by rapidly turning their video on and off and raising their hands. Restrict the ability to start their video. Unfortunately, we do not (yet) have a tool to prevent hand raising and lowering. If disruptors are doing this, use the "Pin" feature to freeze them and remove them easily.

We talk about other tips for a smooth hosting experience in our Zoom classes. Register here.

Security Do's

Get to your meeting early to claim host. San Diego rooms open 15 minutes before the scheduled start time.

Enable the Waiting Room.

Have enough trained co-hosts to ease the load and verify their identity visually.

Restrict permissions before letting in unknown people from the waiting room - see settings for maximum security.

Let everyone in unless they have an obvious disruptive name. You can't tell anything from names or by chatting with people in the waiting room. Disruptors will fool you, and newcomers seeking to recovery will be discouraged or intimidated.

Remove disruptors and report to Zoom. Click "report later" and fill out the report that comes to your email.

Security Don'ts

Don't put disruptors in the Waiting Room. Remove and report.

Don't lock your room. That makes your room an unwelcome place. The Waiting Room is your best protection.

Don't bother to "vet" people in the Waiting Room. It doesn't work.

Don't turn off chat completely. That will prevent your legitimate members from communicating with you. Rather, limit chat to hosts and co-hosts only.

Don't panic and end your meeting. If multiple disruptors are present and you need to quiet things down quickly, use Suspend Participant Activities and then unmute yourself and calmly explain what happened. Unlock the room and resume the meeting.

Behind the Curtain

Some settings are best set by the Zoom administrator or account holder in the Zoom web portal. These settings are among those that are set by default in San Diego Zoom rooms:

• Mute Participants Upon Entry
• Sort Gallery View
• Delete in Chat
• Restrict Screen Sharing
• Restrict File Sharing
• Restrict Annotation

Other settings can be turned on or off during your meetings. Read more about recommended settings for Zoom administrators and account holders.

Last Thoughts

Do the best you can and keep updated. Zoom continues to add tools to keep our meetings safe. Your service is life-saving work.

If you experience an intruder, don't panic. These people are sick. Say the serenity prayer. Don't forget to breathe!

Thank you for your service!

Hosting Basics

Wednesday, September 6

7:00-8:00 pm PDT

10:00-11:00 pm EDT

This 1-hour training is for new hosts, co-hosts, or those who want to review their hosting skills. Topics covered include starting and ending meetings, claiming host, making co-hosts, Zoom settings for your room, sharing your screen, and managing participants. It is strongly recommended you take the Zoom Security class next.

Zoom Security

Thursday, September 7

7:00-8:00 pm PDT

10:00-11:00 pm EDT

This 1-hour class will cover best practices and Zoom settings to minimize disruption, how to remove individual disrupters, and what to do if your meeting is targeted for a coordinated attack (aka Zoom bombers).

Screen Sharing

Saturday, September 9

3:00-4:30 pm PDT

6:00-7:30 pm EDT

This 1.5-hour class is for hosts and co-hosts or for those who would like to learn how to share their screen in a Zoom meeting. It is a combination of the Screen Sharing basics class along with some advanced features and tips. NOTE: For computer users only (not mobile devices).

Advanced Zoom Hosting

Monday, September 11

4:00-5:30 pm PDT

7:00-8:30 pm EDT

Learn advanced features, tips, and tricks for moving your hosting skills to the next level in this 1.5-hour class. Topics covered will include customizing views, understanding your settings, breakout rooms, captions, timer apps, and more. Prerequisite: Zoom Basic Hosting or hosting experience.