What Does an AA Intergroup or Central Office Do?
You have found an old meeting address, a phone number labelled “intergroup” and another listing for a central office. Which one should you contact? These local resources can help with practical AA information, but the services and opening hours need checking before you make a journey.
Understand the local service role
AA's explanation of central offices and intergroups describes a partnership among groups in a community. Its central-office guidelines outline functions that local services may perform.
Names and arrangements vary. A telephone resource may not have a walk-in office, and an office address is not necessarily a meeting venue. Read the listing carefully before using either as your destination. You can ask what service the contact provides without already knowing the AA service structure.
Find a current contact route
Use AA's resource finder to locate information for the relevant area. Check the local website for hours, contact options and meeting listings. If travelling, use the destination area rather than assuming your home office holds current details elsewhere.
Write down the meeting name, date and location you are trying to confirm. A specific question is easier to answer than “Where do I go?” For an online meeting, include its listed name and time zone rather than sending private joining details widely.
Ask the question before making the trip
Useful questions include whether a listed meeting is still active, how to clarify an access note, or where current meeting information is maintained. If the office does not handle a particular question, ask which local resource may be appropriate.
For literature, confirm the title, language and collection or ordering arrangements. Do not assume a particular book is stocked just because an office distributes literature. If you need access information about a building, the group or venue may have the more specific answer.
Check coin availability separately
Some local services may stock sobriety tokens; others may not. Ask about the actual milestone and the arrangements before travelling. Our guide to obtaining AA chips describes different routes, including meeting customs and optional retail purchases.
An office's stock does not establish a universal chip schedule. Nor does a shop's selection tell you what your meeting will present. Keep those questions separate, especially if you are buying a gift or arranging something on behalf of a group.
Respect the limits of the enquiry
A local AA contact can help you find AA information. Don't expect them to disclose whether a named person attends, provide someone else's number without permission, or assess a medical problem. Ask for information about a meeting rather than information about its members.
Keep the details you receive with the date you checked them. If you discover a listing error, send a concise correction through the published route. Include the source of the updated information so the people maintaining the directory can check it.
Medallions to consider
If you prefer an optional retail anniversary design, these are two current store choices. A purchase here is separate from any local office, group contribution or meeting chip arrangement.
Tricolor Jet Black Rainbow Sparkle (1-50y)
Annual options from 1 year to 50 years and 18 months. Use the Sobriety Time selector on the product page to choose the actual milestone; this catalog photograph shows a sample year.
Tricolor Opulent Deep Blue (24h, 1-65y)
Annual options from 1 year to 65 years; also 24 hours and 18 months. Use the Sobriety Time selector on the product page to choose the actual milestone; this catalog photograph shows a sample year.
Common questions
Is the central office the same as my home group?
No. A local service office and an individual group have different roles.
Can I walk in at any time?
Check first. Some resources have limited hours or operate by telephone and online contact.
Will every office sell chips?
No universal stock promise applies. Ask the particular service about availability and arrangements.
Keep reading
If you want to choose a personal AA sobriety keepsake, browse Elite Medallions and Deluxe Coins. Review the design, milestone selector and current product details before ordering.
