What is an Intergroup or Central Office? 

1.  It is a service office that involves partnership among groups in a community – just as AA groups themselves are partnerships of individuals.

2.  Established to carry out functions common to all the groups – best handled by a centralized office.

3.  Maintained, supervised and supported by the same groups in their general interest.

4.  To aid groups in their primary purpose of carrying the AA message to the alcoholic who stills suffers.

                                                 Reprinted from “A.A. Guidelines/Central or Intergroup Offices” with permission of AA World Services, Inc.

What does an Intergroup or Central Office do?

      The AA experience has demonstrated that central offices are helpful, particularly in populous areas.  There are nearly 1000 central/  intergroup offices throughout the world, performing vital AA services.  These constitute a network of service outlets and AA contacts to help carry the AA message.

      Sometimes, however, central office ventures have bogged down in disputes over money, authority, and like matters – thus becoming less effective in carrying the AA message.  It’s not always clear why these troubles have come up, but often it’s been because the proper functions of a central office were not clearly explained or understood, or there was some disregard of the principles in AA’s Twelve Traditions.  So the following suggestions have been made to outline the basic services a central office might offer as recommended in the

1.  AA Guidelines for a Central or Intergroup Office.

     a.  AA inquiries. (Central telephone nr., Sponsorship, twelve step referrals).

     b.  Office facilities.  (Conveniently Located, meetings every day, conduct business, such as order literature, chips, medallions etc…).

     c.  Meeting lists.  (Provide updated lists of all meetings in the area).

     d.  Information exchange.  (Bulletin board of GSO information, flyers for functions/events in the Tri-County and surrounding areas, conduct monthly business meeting).

     e.  Local Committees on Public Information (PI).  (Provide information to the professional community and public, answer questions and provide assistance, such as the National Night Out, in Jacksonville, NC).

     f.  AA in Correctional & Treatment Facilities.  (Host the annual anniversary eating meeting at the Duplin Correction Center, sponsor inmates, offer literature and arrange for speakers, oversee the meeting at the brig aboard Camp Lejeune).

     g.  Local AA events.  (Founders Day, Coastal Plains, 12-step/service workshops and the Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Year’s Alkathons).

     h.  AA bulletin or newsletter.  (Manage a website where visitors can find meeting and event information for our area, publish a newsletter periodically. 

     i.  Special needs services. 

Reprinted from “A.A. Guidelines/Central or Intergroup Offices” with permission of AA World Services, Inc.