Updated: September 21, 2026
We invite ON/NO members to join the ON/NO chat groups on WhatsApp. These are private chat groups strictly for members of ON/NO. They not only enable ON/NO to communicate with its members but also allow members to communicate with each other. There are two chat groups: ON/NO Official and ON?NO Group Chat.
ON/NO Official is used for official ON/NO business such as event announcements and to quickly communicate information to members such as last minute changes to or cancellation of events. For instance, a few years ago when a fire in a pump at a pool shortly before the scheduled start of a swim caused the event to be cancelled, Whatsapp would have enabled us to get the news to members much more quickly.
ON/NO Group Chat is intended for informal chit chat among members and allows members to organize their own get-togethers – be it house parties, hikes, trips to naturist beaches and parks, etc.
What’s Whatsapp
WhatsApp is a free, cross-platform messaging and calling application owned by Meta that uses the internet to let users send texts, photos, videos, documents, and make voice and video calls. It is known for being a global alternative to SMS, as it operates over Wi-Fi rather than cellular networks, and it uses end-to-end encryption to secure conversations. The app is available on smartphones, PCs, and the web, making it widely accessible worldwide.
Key features
- Messaging: Send and receive messages with individuals or groups.
- Calling: Make free voice and video calls to other users.
- Media sharing: Share photos, videos, and documents.
- File sharing: Send files up to (100) MB in size, like PDFs.
- End-to-end encryption: Conversations are secured so only the sender and recipient can view them.
- Multi-platform access: Use the app on smartphones (iOS, Android), Windows PCs, Macs, and through a web browser.
- Voice messages: Record and send audio messages instead of typing.
- Meta AI: Access an AI chatbot for search, questions, and image generation within the app.
How it works
- Internet-based: WhatsApp connects through Wi-Fi or cellular data to send and receive messages, which can be more cost-effective than traditional SMS and MMS.
- Phone number registration: Users register with their phone number, and the app uses the phone’s contact list to find other WhatsApp users.
- Cross-platform communication: Users can message others regardless of whether they have an iPhone or an Android device, or a PC.
A Caution About Photos
As conversations are end-to-end encrypted on WhatSApp, information is safe from interception by outside parties during transmission, However, once the information reaches its intended destination and is stored on the recipient’s device, the information is subject to all the usual hazards. By default, WhatsApp allows other applications on the device to access photos received via WhatsApp. While WhatsApp can be configured to block other apps from accessing its photos, this setting must be activated by the user. If you haven’t done this, you may well find such photos in your Photo Gallery, Google Photos, or other apps that have photo repositories and when you share your vacation pics with Aunt Martha, Naked Nick from ON/NO on his paddle board may pop up.
And take note that you can only control how photos are treated on your own device; you have no control over how photos are treated on other devices to which you send them.
How to Join ON/NO Group Chat
Joining the chat groups is very simple. First, if you have not already done so, install the Whatsapp app on your phone. Then send an email to whatsapp@onno.ca with a subject line “Join WhatsApp”. Specify which chat group(s) you wish to join – ON/NO Official, ON/NO Group Chat, or both. Include your name, ON/NO membership number and your phone number.