An important goal of Minneapolis Al-Anon/Alateen Information Services (Minneapolis AIS) and St. Paul Al-Anon/Alateen Intergroup (SPIG) is to have phones calls answered by Al-Anon members as many hours as possible. In an ideal world, this would be 24 hours every day. A more practical goal is 9 am until 10 pm every day. Unfortunately, we fall far short even of this.
Here’s how it’s supposed to work: When the Minneapolis AIS office is closed (before 9 am Monday through Saturday, after 4 pm Monday through Friday, after 1 pm on Saturday and all day Sundays and holidays) calls are forwarded to a home phone volunteer if one has been scheduled for that time. When a home phone volunteer is not available, callers are connected to a voice mail system and calls are returned when the AIS office is next open.
Unfortunately, there are many hours when we don’t have have home phone volunteers, and callers reach only voice mail and not an actual Al-Anon member.
Home phone volunteers provide information about Al-Anon and Alateen meetings. They answer questions about the program, where and when one can buy Al-Anon/Alateen literature, and may arrange for a call back by an active Al-Anon member. They do not give advice. Their own telephone number is not available to callers so their anonymity is protected.
If you might be willing to be a home phone volunteer, call (952-920-3961) or email (info@aismpls.org) the Minneapolis AIS office. You must be an Al-Anon member with at least two years of regular attendance at Al-Anon meetings. You will be trained in what to do and will be provided with a complete up-to-date meeting directory. Although home phone volunteer scheduling is coordinated through Minneapolis AIS, volunteers are needed from both Minneapolis and St. Paul and their suburbs.
This is a great opportunity for Twelfth Step work that is really needed. Call 952-920-3961 or email info@aismpls.org if you are able to volunteer. Experience shows that, although few calls are received during these latenight hours, the calls that come in are often from those who need help most.
Another great opportunity for Twelfth Step work is as an office volunteer. See the Office Volunteer page for more information.