The CoDA Website Guidelines were approved by the 2003 CoDA
Service Conference
Guidelines for CoDA service committees, communities, groups,
or meetings (group) desiring to establish a web presence with a web site to
carry the message of Co-Dependents Anonymous.
A CoDA group may decide what information they want to provide
and the level of complexity they wish to maintain on a web site.
A typical web site might include the following:
Home page – general information about the group and
CoDA.
Preamble, Welcome, Twelve Steps, Twelve Traditions, Twelve Promises.
List of local CoDA events
Local newsletter
Contact phone numbers
Meeting information / list
Literature information, and how to order
Links to other CoDA web sites
The possibilities to “carry the message” are endless. There are
potential problems to be avoided. These can fall into two general categories:
those concerning the Twelve Traditions and those concerning technology.
How Do the Traditions Affect What We Put on a Web Site?
The Twelve Traditions of Co-Dependents Anonymous are the
guiding spiritual principles our Fellowship. (For additional information about
the appropriateness of applying our Traditions, please refer to the CoDA pamphlet,
“Using the Twelve Traditions.”)
No matter how modest the web site, it is available to a
large, diverse and growing audience. If a web site is linked to the CoDA,
Inc. site (www.coda.org), that link represents an endorsement by CoDA. Possible
Tradition issues are:
Our primary purpose - carrying the CoDA message
of recovery from codependency
Endorsement - avoiding endorsement of related facilities or outside enterprises.
Outside issues - avoiding opinions on outside issues
Self-support - costs of development and maintenance
Autonomy - responsibility for web site content and copyright acknowledgment
Anonymity - the Internet as an extension of press, radio and films.
Unity - deciding what goes into a web site
It is important to remember that “our common welfare
should come first; personal recovery depends upon CoDA unity” (Tradition
One). Keeping the information presented general allows us to reach as many
codependents as possible, many of whom will be newcomers who know little about
Co-Dependents Anonymous. Please be clear that information regarding any special
focus meetings on your pages are a small part of CoDA.
A group conscience of the sponsoring group is the basis
for deciding what goes into the website. Before putting up a website, the
content should be thoroughly reviewed by the membership of the group sponsoring
the site.
Placing information about the site’s sponsoring group,
on each page of the site, makes the message clear to the reader. As a design
consideration, having a consistent “look and feel” on each page
makes reading the material easier for the user.
Our primary purpose - carrying the CoDA message of recovery
from codependency
The purpose for the web site should be to carry the CoDA
message. Our Step 12 reads, “Having had a spiritual awakening as the
result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to other codependents,
and to practice these principles in all our affairs. A website can be a great
tool in carrying the message of recovery to codependents who still suffer,
by employing modern technology to implement our primary spiritual aim. Our
websites rely on attraction, not promotion.
Avoiding endorsement - avoiding endorsement of related facilities
or outside enterprises as stated in Tradition 6.
A link to another web site, is saying, “This is a site
that we think well of. It is an unspoken but very real endorsement of the
linked-to site. Some web sites are hosted by facilities such as hospitals
or rehabilitation centers. These facilities may provide CoDA meetings on-premises
and include CoDA information on their web site as a service. This is fine.
Although we may not endorse a related facility or outside enterprise, a facility
or outside enterprise may endorse us. Their sites may provide information
about CoDA and/or link to CoDA developed/maintained sites.
An exception to this policy is when a CoDA event (Convention,
Conference, retreat) is held at a location that has a web site. A reference
to the facility web site may be included in the announcement of the event.
It is appropriate for the CoDA Fellowship to obtain information about the
place were the event will be held.
It is impossible to know which web sites have linked to
your site. If asked, it would be acceptable for a site to link to a CoDA sponsored
site. However, in order to maintain the spirit of the Traditions, it is a
good practice to request that the linking site makes it clear that they are
linking to your site for information purposes and not as an affiliation.
Linking to sites that have been developed and sponsored
by CoDA service bodies or communities is the safest choice. The CoDA, Inc.
web site does not link to web sites outside of CoDA. Many web sites that include
CoDA information may also include information and links that have nothing
to do with codependency. CoDA linked sites should not endorse, link or reference
related facilities or outside enterprises. CoDA does not endorse sites developed
and maintained by non-CoDA organizations, so we don’t link to sites that
are not affiliated with a CoDA group.
Outside issues - avoiding opinions on outside issues
The Tenth Tradition says “CoDA has no opinion on outside
issues.” We need to consider the good of CoDA as a whole, which may be
affected if a CoDA web site links to a site that has opinions on outside issues
Another problem that may be encountered on a web site is
provider-included advertising. If a small flashing picture appears saying
“If you’d like to see more about this, press here - it’s an
ad. These advertisers pay site providers to place their ads that allow you
link to sites to download free software. Providing information like this violates
both Traditions Six and Ten. (“A CoDA group ought never endorse, finance
or lend the CoDA name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest
problems of money, property and prestige divert us from our primary spiritual
aim.” And, “CoDA has no opinions on outside issues; hence, the CoDA
name should never be drawn into public controversy.”)
Some Internet providers insert their own addresses at the
bottom of a web page to encourage viewers to contact them. Closely associated
with this problem is that some of the code generators insert messages such
as, “This web site was developed using XYZ Tool.” These, are also
advertisements and break CoDA’s Tradition of non-endorsement.
Use of credit card or financial trademarks is acceptable
in the normal course of financial transactions.
Self-Support
Setting up a site on the Internet has recurring costs. Many
Internet Service Providers (ISP’s) make space available for clients as
part of their monthly fees for a “personal” web site. A member may
want to donate their personal web site space as a service to the sponsoring
service body. But what happens if the individual decides to change ISP’s?
What if they move? What if they decide that CoDA isn’t for them anymore?
Tradition Seven says “every CoDA group ought to be
fully self-supporting.” So it’s best that the group provide its
own Internet presence. The important issue is that the group be responsible
for the site, not an individual.
Responsibility for Page Content
No one may publish CoDA copyrighted material without the
express written permission of CoDA, Inc. Copyright infringement is one of
the most common problems that have occurred with the explosion of the Internet.
Using copyrighted material without permission has the potential of deeply
affecting CoDA as a whole. The only CoDA materials that may be reproduced
on a web site are those items on the CoDA, Inc. web site and the appropriate
Copyright notice must be included. Excerpted material must also be acknowledged.
CoDA Service Items/Literature
CoDA's service items include the Meeting Starter Packet,
the Fellowship Service Manual, the Steps, Promises, Traditions, & meeting
format. All service items appear on the coda.org website. They may be photo-copied
for use in CoDA meetings or posted on CoDA community websites.
CoDA Inc. does not allow quotations from our literature
on any website, nor does CoDA Inc. allow photo-copying of literature. Literature
includes but is not limited to:
The CoDA Book, the 12 Steps and 12 Traditions Workbook,
the Newcomer's Handbook and other items which we sell through CoRe. Although
text of CoDA's literature is not posted on the CoDA.org website, short descriptions
of literature (blurbs) and ordering information are available online.
We, as a Fellowship, own the literature, develop it, approve
it and maintain it. We have entrusted the Board of Trustees of Co-Dependents
Anonymous the legal responsibility to protect our property. That includes
rigorous protection of our copyrights from use without permission. If copyright
infringement is found to exist, the following steps should be taken:
· Bring it to the attention of the Board of Trustees.
· The Board of Trustees will take appropriate action
to preserve CoDA, Inc. rights and resolve the violation, up to and including
notification of the Internet Service Provider, and legal action.
An Extension of Press, Radio and Films
Tradition Eleven, which calls for maintaining “personal
anonymity at the level of press, radio, film,” also applies to the Internet.
Technical Issues
Technical issues that may arise during the development of
web sites. Detailed questions about coding, page structure, and other issues
cannot be covered in this general overview. Your Internet Service Provider
may be able to provide you with technical assistance. Trustees or committee
chairs may be contacted via e-mail, the CoDA, Inc. web site, http://www.coda.org
or by postal mail. (PO Box 33577, Phoenix, AZ 85067
Summary
The general things to remember are:
Design the site with newcomers in mind.
Do not use CoDA copyrighted material beyond those items found on the coda.org
web site. Be sure to include a copyright notice on each page indicating that
it contains copyrighted material.
No other CoDA literature may be copied or posted on any website.
Take a careful look at any site that you consider linking to, so Traditions
related problems can be avoided. CoDA strongly suggests that you only link
to sites sponsored by other Co-Dependents Anonymous groups, including the
CoDA, Inc. web site, http://www.coda.org.
Create a Web Site Maintenance Committee within the group to make ongoing revisions
to your web site.
· Sponsoring groups should approve all revisions to their web site.
· Have fun considering the possibilities and the
creativity to accomplish what you want.
· A web site is an incredible tool to help carry
information to people who suffer from codependency. It just takes thought
and effort to maintain our adherence to the principles that we have incorporated
into our everyday lives.
· The Internet is a great way to bring more
hands and hearts into our CoDA Fellowship
The CoDA World Fellowship 