St. Paul Al-Anon/Alateen Intergroup is an Al-Anon Information
Service (AIS) and a Literature Distribution Center (LDC). It serves
the Al-Anon and Alateen groups in Dakota, Ramsey and Washington
Counties, and a few groups in Isanti County.
An AIS exists to aid the groups it services in the common purpose
of carrying the Al-Anon message to the suffering families and friends
of alcoholics. An LDC provides Al-Anon members with local access to
Al-Anon books, pamphlets, booklets, kits, posters, buidelines and other
Al-Anon material.
Where is the Intergroup office?
The office is at 253 State Street on St. Paul’s West Side. This is just
south of Plato Boulevard, two blocks east of Robert Street and one
block west of highway US 52 (map). There is a sign
on the street side of the building indicating the entrance.
There is usually a complete inventory of English language Al‑Anon
and Alateen Conference Approved Literature in stock. We try to have a few
titles in Spanish. In addition, anniversary medallions are for sale.
The office is scheduled to be open 12 noon – 4 pm, Monday
through Friday and 9 am – 1 pm Saturday. Because we rely solely
on member volunteers to open and staff the office, it’s a good
idea to call ahead (651-771-2208) to confirm that the office is
actually open.
How can I contact Intergroup?
The Intergroup phone number is 651-771-2208. This is answered in
the office during office hours (Noon – 4 pm Monday through Friday, 9 am –
1 pm Saturday) when a volunteer is staffing the office. When the
office is closed or unstaffed, calls are automatically forwarded to
Minneapolis Al‑Anon/Alateen Information Services
(952-920-3961).
You can email to stpaulafg@pobox.com. If the
person who checks email cannot provide the information needed, the
email will be forwarded to an officer or committee chair.
What does Intergroup do?
It keeps open an office where literature is sold and where people
can call for information and other help.
It maintains, together with Minneapolis Al‑Anon/Alateen
Information Services, the Twin Cities Al‑Anon website
(www.al‑anon-alateen-msp.org) where you can find complete
schedules of Al‑Anon and Alateen meetings, announcements of open
meetings and roundups and basic information about Al‑Anon and
Alateen.
It publishes Al‑A‑News, the Intergroup
newsletter. This is mailed to all the groups we serve. It is
also emailed to individual members who so request. If you would like
to receive it by email, send a request to stpaulafg@pobox.com.
It finds Al‑Anon and Alateen speakers for events
It hosts an Al‑Anon/Alateen Gratitude Night
potluck and speaker meeting each November and organizes
workshops for members on such topics as taking a Fourth
Step and on passing the message through speaking.
It tries to carry our message of hope to the wider
community at health fairs and other public and professional events
as requested. In recent years this has included participation in a
resource fair for inmates soon to be released from Dakota County Jail
and staffing a table at an Inver Hills College health fair. Another
important activity has been providing meetings for families and friends
at alcoholism treatment facilities.
How is Intergroup run?
Intergroup is run completely by volunteers. Plans are made and
priorities set at the monthly meetings of Intergroup Representatives.
Its officers – Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and
Assistant Treasurer – serve one year terms and are elected at the
December Intergroup Representatives’ meeting.
The real work is done by Al-Anon and Alateen members. Some chair
service committees that order literature, schedule office volunteers,
provide Al‑Anon and Alateen members to speak at open meetings,
edit and mail the newsletter, and organize outreach activities such as
meetings for families at treatment facilities or staffing a booth at an
college or school health fair. Others volunteer their time to staff
the Intergroup office, to answer after-hours calls at home, to sell
literature at open meetings and roundups, to participate in outreach
activities, and to represent their groups at the Intergroup meetings.
You can find more information about what Intergroup volunteers do and
their responsibilities on the volunteer opportunities page.
There is a great need for more volunteers.
Where and when are Intergroup
meetings?
Meetings are at 7:00 pm on the second Tuesday of each month at 253 State St.,
St. Paul.
Some minutes and agendas of past meetings are available
on-line. Minutes and agendas are also distributed by email. If you
would like to to be added to this email list, send a message to
stpaulafg@pobox.com.
Who may attend Intergroup
meetings?
Meetings are primarily for Intergroup
Representatives (IRs). These are Al‑Anon and Alateen members
elected by their groups to represent them at the monthly
meetings. IRs are the only people who have a vote. This is a one night a month commitment, with a huge payback
to you and your group.
You don’t need to be an IR to attend the monthly Intergroup meeting.
Any Al‑Anon or Alateen members are welcome although they cannot
vote unless they are an IR.
Note that an Intergroup Representative fills a different
position from a Group Representative (GR) who represents their
group at the Area Assembly and District Meetings. One person can fill
both positions, but a better arrangement is to have both a GR and IR,
with the GR also serving as an Alternate IR and the IR serving as an
Alternate GR.
One difference between GRs and IRs is that an
Al‑Anon member who is also a member of Alcoholics Anonymous can
be an IR but not a GR.
What constitutes a quorum
at Intergroup meetings?
To carry out important business at Intergroup meetings, our bylaws
require that 5% of the groups we serve be represented. Currently this
means there must be at least 6 voting members. At several recent
meetings there were only 5 or fewer voting members present. This even
occured at a meeting when we were to to elect a Treasurer. The result
was that we were unable to elect someone who was willing to
serve. This should underscore the importance of groups being
represented.
How is Intergroup supported
financially?
Intergroup has three sources of financial support:
Group contributions.
Many groups contribute on a regular basis, monthly, quarterly,
yearly, or whatever the group feels comfortable with.
Individual contributions
We also receive contributions from individuals. Some
contribute several times a year. A few send a contribution in
honor of the anniversary of their first meeting.
Sale of literature and medallions
Intergroup is able to purchase literature from the World
Service Office at a discount from the listed retail price. Our
sales at the retail price cover the cost plus shipping plus a
small profit. Although the sale of literature important to our
financial health, it is far from sufficient, making up less than a
quarter of our income.
St. Paul Al‑Anon/Alateen Intergroup home page
Twin Cities Al‑Anon/Alateen home page