14. A program product comprising a memory and a set of instructions stored in the memory, the instructions, when carried out by a processor, implement a method for grouping a plurality of instant messaging statements into a plurality of topic groups, the method comprising: the processor creating a plurality of topics, each topic comprising a topic name; the processor assigning a statement classification method to each of the plurality of instant messaging statements; the processor associating each of the instant messaging statements with one of the plurality of topics based on an assigned statement classification method; and the processor grouping together each of the plurality of instant messaging statements having a common associated topic into a corresponding topic group; wherein the topic name of each of the topics is negotiable, thereby allowing any participant to propose a change to the topic name; and wherein the change is subject to an approval by a group leader wherein the statement classification method is by a keyword search.
14. A program product comprising a memory and a set of instructions stored in the memory, the instructions, when carried out by a processor, implement a method for grouping a plurality of instant messaging statements into a plurality of topic groups, the method comprising: the processor creating a plurality of topics, each topic comprising a topic name; the processor assigning a statement classification method to each of the plurality of instant messaging statements; the processor associating each of the instant messaging statements with one of the plurality of topics based on an assigned statement classification method; and the processor grouping together each of the plurality of instant messaging statements having a common associated topic into a corresponding topic group; wherein the topic name of each of the topics is negotiable, thereby allowing any participant to propose a change to the topic name; and wherein the change is subject to an approval by a group leader wherein the statement classification method is by a keyword search. 27. The program product of claim 14 wherein a chat participant is granted access to a first topic group but is not granted access to a second topic group.