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Alcoholic Anonymous Area 74, District 17 #0900 Contact Number and Perspective District Central Office In the past fourteen months there has been serious discussion in our district over the 0900 phone Help Line AA number, the primary reason for such discussion arose from the need to have some kind of central district control over this part of carrying the message (our primary purpose). It became next too impossible to affect any changes to the programmed message that was computer controlled and housed through the Dickinson County Sheriffs Department. If it was possible to get changes into the system - they were well outdated by the time they were entered. So we, your trusted servants, have been looking at the needs of this issue and with regards to our growth as a district. It was concluded that if the district had their own computer which controlled this help line we could make any changes almost immediately. Then the issue of housing the computer came to light. The idea of a central district office ( Intergroup Office) was the agreed solution. People, we are at a turning point in our district, grow (change) or stay the same (stagnant), so the issue is being brought to you all for your input, concerns, and support. In order to move forward, let us all have some kind of understanding about the past years in regards to our Districts’ 0900 AA number. In the twenty-four years I have been in this Fellowship the Help Line AA number has also been here. Back in my youth and up until about ten years ago, the funding for this number and the finding of a person to chair this service issue was always a point of confusion and great controversy. Donations were always sought independently from all the groups to pay the phone bill, sometimes twice a year due to rising cost. Phone numbers for contact persons were sought as well as funds. This was a no ending job for the person in charge. The Iron Mountain Post of The Michigan State Police use to house and answer the line for us, going down a list of contact numbers until someone was reached to respond to the requested contact. They were open then 24/7, and then came change which meant the number could no longer be housed there - so it was suggested we move it to the county which was a great expense back then and there was ‘much to do’ over this change. Mind you these changes fell upon one person doing all the work to get things done. Then the county went to a 911 emergency number and a fully automated system which has been updated since it was first installed. This automated system became the problem, because to make any changes in our message or schedules someone would need to get together with the person in the Sheriff Department who programmed any changes into the system, this would take several (10) months to finally happen. About ten years ago it was decided, discussed, and voted, by those responsible groups back then, that instead of separate solicitations of funds for this phone number the district just absorb it into their budget and groups could donate more instead of the independent donation. This is still the way it is today as each month our trusted treasurer (Cliff W.) pays the bill loyally and diligently. Page 2 |