Unity • Service • Recovery

 

Treasure Valley Intergroup &

Central Office

 

Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. The only requirement for AA membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for AA membership; we are self-supporting through our own contributions. AA is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy; neither endorses nor opposes any causes. Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics achieve sobriety.

 

The A.A. Preamble is copyrighted by the A.A. Grapevine and used with permission.

Treasure Valley Service Meetings

TVICO Board of Trustees Meeting
Every Monday before the 2nd Thursday of the month at 7:00pm.
Central Office
1524 Vista Rm 10, Boise

Treasure Valley Intergroup
The 2nd Thursday of the month at 7:00pm
The Red House
200 Myrtle St, Boise

CPC/PI
The 3rd Thursday of the month at 11:30am
The Alano Club
3820 Cassia St , Boise

H & I West
The 3rd Saturday of the month
9:00am Corrections Comittee
9:45am Treatment Institutions Comittee
General service meeting at 10:00am
Saturday Day Live
1524 Vista, Boise

 

 

12 Step Answering Service

What is the AA Hotline?
The Treasure Valley Intergroup Office operates an answering service (hotline) for the Southwest Idaho (Treasure Valley) area. The AA Hotline is a number that people can call to find meetings, ask questions about AA, or to speak to another alcoholic. In the Treasure Valley, the hotline phone is the same as the AA Central Office but is answered by volunteers when the Central Office is closed. The phone is simply transferred to the volunteers home phone. The volunteer doesn’t have to go anywhere special to answer the phone – just stay near their own phone, have an up-to-date meeting schedule on hand, and a list of “12 step” volunteers provided by the Answering Service representative.

Who can Volunteer?
No experience is necessary; all that is required is a telephone and a desire to help other alcoholics. Six months of sobriety is recommended.

What is involved?
Answering the hot line typically involves answering simple questions, such as where meetings are and simple questions about sobriety. It is important to have an up-to-date schedule on hand as most questions/calls can be answered simply by referring to the schedule.

Volunteers should not do extensive 12-step work with people asking for help, for this ties up the hot line. The volunteer is asked to get the callers first name, phone number, and city and tell the caller that someone will call them back shortly. Then, by calling people on the provided “12 step” list, the volunteer finds someone listed in the caller’s city that will commit to calling them back.

The answering service does not arrange rides although the 12-step list includes some people willing to give rides in an emergency situation.

Callers interested in information about AA are referred to the central office during regular business hours. AA meeting places often have fliers and information concerning AA activities. It doesn’t hurt to be aware of the time and place of any special events that are being held around the time you volunteer. (Central Office hours of operation: Monday through Friday from 10 AM till 6 PM)

AA does not affiliate itself with any outside agency. Therefore, answering service volunteers should not give referrals to any specific agencies while representing AA. When answering the AA Hotline, you are representing AA. The local hospitals can give information regarding emergency detox (see local phone book).

How Should I Answer the Phone?
It is important that a caller know right away that they have reached the right number without having to ask if they’ve called the AA Hotline. Always answer politely and professionally, preferably with “AA Hotline, how may I help you?” Many answerers drop the “AA” and/or answer more informally with simply: “Hotline.”

How can I volunteer?
Many AA groups have volunteered to take responsibility for answering the hotline on certain days of the week or on weekends. Check to see if you home group or group you often attend does this and contact the Answering Service Representative of that group to see what times might be available. Volunteers are always welcome. There are always openings, either on a regular basis or as a substitute for a regular volunteer.

If your group hasn’t volunteered to provide this service, find out why and perhaps volunteer to become your group’s answering service representative and organize others in your group to help out. Sometimes all that is needed is someone to take the lead.

If your group isn’t interested, contact the Answering Service Representative of another group. The Central Office or the Intergroup Answering Service Representative can help you get in touch with the appropriate people.

What is the 12 Step Volunteer List?
The 12 step volunteer list is a list of names and phone numbers maintained by the Central Office and Answering Service to be used by persons answering the AA Hotline. Volunteers who are willing to make 12 step calls are on this list. To have your name added to this list, contact the Central Office or Intergroup Answering Service Representative.

HELP WANTED!!!
Volunteers for the TVICO AA Answering Service’s 12-step list. If you are interested in accepting referral calls from the AA Hotline, please contact the Central Office at 344-6611 to get your name added to the 12-step call list OR to verify that your name is already on the list with your correct phone number.

The Answering Service is always looking for volunteers to answer the AA Hotline during the evenings and weekends. A number of groups volunteer to answer the phone on a regular schedule (shown below). Currently, no groups or individuals have volunteered to answer the hotline on the 4th or 5th Wednesday.

If you are interested in assisting with this worthwhile service, either by volunteering yourself or volunteering to represent a group, contact your group’s GSR or call the Central Office at 344-6611.