Meeting Times (PST)

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
7 a.m. 6 p.m.	7 a.m. 6 p.m. 9 p.m.	7 a.m. 6 p.m.	7 a.m. 6 p.m. 9 p.m.	7 a.m. 6 p.m.	7 a.m. 6 p.m.	7 a.m. 3 p.m. 6 p.m.

How it works

The Greysheeters Anonymous phone meeting is a closed meeting (for GSA members only). To find the phone number, call a Greysheet member and leave a message with your name and telephone number. You will receive a call back with the phone number and connection information.

Dialing the access number connects you to what is called a teleconference bridge ("bridge" for short). This "virtual meeting" holds anywhere from 2 to 30 participants from anywhere in the world and is live and interactive.

Note that you will incur long distance telephone charges of approximately 10 cents per minute (USA residents), depending on your long distance telephone carrier ($6 for the one-hour meeting).

Greysheet Phone Meetings are supported by the 7th Tradition: donations should be sent to the meeting treasurer, who will give his or her address during the meeting.

Phone Meeting Etiquette (please read)

Mute button

Use your telephone's mute button, if there is one. Background noise, the dog barking, TV/radio, typing, dishwashing, etc. can pose problems if 30 callers all aren't using their mute buttons. If you don't have a mute button, not to worry. Just try to call from a quiet location. Note: The leader is asked to interrupt at any time to ask those calling from noisy locations to please hang up and call back from a quiet location. New feature: Once you've dialed into the meeting just press "5" to mute your phone and later you can press "4" to un-mute it, so you can share.

Please don't use your "hold" button; on many phone systems, this pipes music on to the phone line, where all other participants will hear it the whole time you've placed the call on hold.

Breathing

Some people breathe "heavier" than others, and most of the heavy breathers don't realize it. (Who, ME?) So, we ask everyone to hold the mouthpiece of their telephone handset a bit away from their mouth and nose, unless they are speaking. This sounds pretty silly, but when you're on a call with a heavy breather, you'll understand why it matters!

Two-line phones and call-waiting

If you have a two-line phone, please turn the ringer off the second line. If you don't, and you get a call during the phone meeting, it can really be a shrill noise that everyone hears. Call-waiting can be disabled by dialing *70 prior to dialing the bridge number. If you do not disable, we all hear the repetitive clicks. Call-waiting will automatically reset when you hang up.

Dogs (and cats)

If you're on a small phone meeting, (six to twelve callers), your dog will probably woof at exactly the time needed for some comic relief, so it's not usually a problem. But if you're on a large phone meeting (fifteen to thirty callers), please put Fido in another room.

Speakerphones and cordless phones

Please don't use speakerphones, period, unless you use the mute button. Speakerphones are wonderful things, but we ask that you do not speak into them when sharing. The clarity/quality simply isn't good enough. Pick up the handset when you share; then put the mute button on when you're just listening. Cordless phones are fine, but please stay close to the base unit to avoid static interference.

Sharing

The leader or a speaker will qualify, then will usually ask for callers to share or respond. The leader will say, "Who would like to be the first to share?" The caller will then share. Then after one person shares, the leader will say, "Who's next?" The next caller will then share - just like a real, live meeting. Until we all get the hang of it, please let the leader direct traffic.

Early/late

Please don't call the bridge before the scheduled time; another meeting or class may be being conducted. And don't call the bridge number trying to reach Greysheet. When the bridges aren't being used for phone meetings or tele-courses, there really isn't anyone there. It's just a bridge system, not a phone system. It is a private facility being leased to us, so please don't try to use this system other than at the appointed time. If you're late to the call, no problem; just dial in and be silent until you catch on. The leader may or may not officially welcome you, but probably won't so as not to disturb the flow of the call. That doesn't mean you're not welcome!

Phone meeting leaders

By group conscience, phone meeting leaders are elected at the regular meetings.