This is simply a notice that all Miracles In Progress 12 Step Recovery Forums chat rooms will be moved to a new dedicated server, that is solely for the use of Miracles In Progress.  This change will be fully initiated on Sunday, January 22nd, 2006.  It is our greatest hope that all ops/chairpersons will be set up to carry out their service work in the rooms and meetings will be held as scheduled without any problems by Monday.  This should give everyone a chance to adjust to the new java chat web site entrances and those using mIRC to set up the server on their mIRC software programs.  Instructions on how to do this will be posted at the end of this notice.

We have already upgraded the chat room entrances on the web site, with a higher quality java chat program, so... combined with the dedicated server we will have 90% less problems than has existed using the webmaster conference room java chat with webchat.org's server.

This simply means that getting into the rooms will be much less troublesome, getting and using a nickname will be a breeze, the server will very rarely be shut down for services or restarts, Netsplits will be non existent... etc, etc, etc... in short, we are taking some big steps to resolve chat room problem areas, and are working hard to make this forum a very comfortable, user friendly recovery environment.

Nicknames:

On the new java chat entrances that are attached directly to our website, upon the room opening (which is much faster now), you will automatically enter the room as a "Guest".  To change to the nickname of your choice, look in the lower right corner of the chat window and you will see where it says, "Change Nick To"... and under that a box.  Type your desired nickname into that box, and hit your Enter key on the keyboard.  This will automatically change your Guest nick to the nickname of your choice.  Now, place your mouse cursor in the area were text is typed out, click your mouse so you see the cursor in that area, and you are ready to chat.  Because we are the only users on the new server, (no other rooms or users will be on this server) it is not so imperative that you register your nickname unless you want to in order to secure it solely for your own use on the server.  If you want to register it, after getting changed to it, type the following and send it into the room.

"/msg nickserv register password"  (Replace "password" with a password you will remember as it is not retrivable should you forget it.)  Doing this will require that you identify to the server as the registered owner of this nickname each time you enter the room and try to use the nickname.  To identify as the owner of your nickname after you have registered it and you enter the room with it, type the following and send it into the chat room.  "/msg nickserv identify password" (again, replace the word password with the password you registered your nickname with.)  If you fail to identify to the server as the registered owner of your nickname in a relatively short amount of time, your nick will automatically be turned back into a Guest nick.  This is how you can be assured that no one else is able to use a nickname that you picked for yourself.  Again, nickname registration is not required, only a way to secure your nickname from others using it and possibly registering it to themselves if its not registered to you.

It is required that all Ops and meeting Chairpersons register their nicknames on the new server in order for them to be granted op status in the room(s), so its very important that this is done as soon as possible.  You won't get an email confirmation letter like you got on webchat.org's server.  Once you register at the room, its done.  What would really help speed the process up is that you email me as soon as you have registered your nickname so I can get your ops status reinstated on the new server quickly.  My email address is mip@12stepforums.net

Setting up mIRC

Open your mirc program and at the top of the status window, you will see some icons.  One of them is a picture of a folder with a hammer next to it.  This is your mIRC Options window.  Click it.  On the window that opens is a ADD button, click it.  In the Description box, type - Miracles In Progress Server, in the IRC Server box type  "gromit.jmrtech.net", in the Port(s) box type 6667,6668,6669,7000 and click ADD.  Now click on the Connect To Server button and you will be on the new server.  The MIP chat rooms will keep their old names, so you would just join them the same way you did before once connected to the server.

All ops and chairpersons please get this server set up on your mIRC program immedately so we can make this transition with relative ease and give it a full test drive on Sunday nite.   After you are set up, you will always be able to find the Miracles In Progress Server at the bottom of your server list on mIRC.

Sincerely,

John