NIA 20 District 61 – call/text 630-492-1255
Committee Chairs
Lee Ann W: 630-815-6306 Natalie G: 331-301-3848
Please contact if interested in becoming an Answering Service 12-step Volunteer
WHAT IS AN A.A. ANSWERING SERVICE? An A.A. answering service offers a local gateway to reach Alcoholics Anonymous. The service receives inquiries from those seeking help and may refer callers to a nearby A.A. group or may have an A.A. member contact them.
- District 61 chooses a rotating committee of up to 6 volunteers to receive phone calls. The 12-step volunteer list also includes individuals willing to meet someone at a meeting or to callback a caller, if interested.
- It is suggested that the Twelfth Step volunteer should have at least six months’ sobriety
When an alcoholic calls for help…
1. Answer by saying, “A.A. answering service.”
2. Try to find out what the caller wants.
3. If the caller is reluctant to give a name or other information, don’t insist.
4. Never argue with callers. Explain that you are an answering service and will provide information such as meeting times/location (Zoom/In-person, open/closed) and/or try to put them in touch with an A.A. member.
Resources: Meeting Guide App, AA.org, NIA20, District 61, AlAnon, Narcotic Anonymous
5. Please remember that alcoholics and members of their families who call for help are sick people; dealing with them can sometimes be frustrating unless this is kept in mind. Be inviting. Practice compassion, empathy and do not give advice. Ask when they had their last drink if they seem to have been drinking. Suggest a meeting or offer to do a twelfth step visit to pick them up (with at least 2 AA members) or meet them at a meeting. Talk to them about the successes of AA and the many lives that have been restored. Let them know that the only requirement is a desire to stop drinking.
6. If you are criticized, tell the caller that you are acting on instructions from the answering service committee. Problems or questions should be referred to this committee.
7. Record each call with the name of the caller (if possible), date, volunteer, and reason for call into group message to add into the Answering Service call log.
Revised – September 2025