Southern Minnesota Area Assembly

THE SOUTHERN MINNESOTA AREA ASSEMBLY (SMAA) IS 1 OF THE 93 SERVICE AREAS IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA THAT MAKES UP THE VOLUNTEER SERVICE STRUCTURE OF ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS. SMAA SERVES THE ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS (AA) MEMBERS AND GROUPS LOCATED IN SOUTHERN MINNESOTA. SMAA'S MISSION ECHOES THAT OF AA AS A WHOLE: "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 VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS. AA IS NOT ALLIED WITH ANY SECT, DENOMINATION, POLITICS, ORGANIZATION OR INSTITUTION; DOES NOT WISH TO ENGAGE IN ANY CONTROVERSY; NEITHER ENDORSES NOR OPOSES ANY CAUSES. OUR PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO STAY SOBER AND HELP OTHER ALCOHOLICS TO ACHIEVE SOBRIETY."

THE SOUTHERN MINNESOTA AREA ASSEMBLY (SMAA) REPRESENTS AND SERVES OVER 1,050 GROUPS LOCATED THROUGHOUT SOUTHERN MINNESOTA. DURING 2022 SMAA HELD ONE SIGNIFICANT WORKSHOP FOR ITS MEMBERS. THE TRUSTED SERVANT LEADERSHIP TRAINING, A ONE-DAY WORKSHOP TO PROVIDE TRAINING TO MEMBERS WHO HAVE VOLUNTEERED TO HOLD A SERVICE POSITION IN EITHER SMAA, OR IN THEIR LOCAL AA COMMUNITY OR GROUP. THE SOUTHERN MINNESOTA AREA ASSEMBLY (SMAA) SERVES MANY FUNCTIONS: 1) WE ELECT A DELEGATE TO REPRESENT US AT THE NATIONAL GENERAL SERVICE CONFERENCE OF ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, HELD ANNUALLY NEAR AA'S HEADQUARTERS IN NEW YORK, NY, AS WELL AS FIVE OTHER AREA OFFICERS THAT CONDUCT AND OVERSEE THE BUSINESS OF SMAA; 2) SMAA HAS 13 APPOINTED COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS. WE HOLD QUARTERLY COMMITTEE MEETINGS TO PLAN ACTIVITIES AND SHARE INFORMATION WITH LOCAL SERVICE VOLUNTEERS; 3) ANNUALLY WE HOLD 3 "ASSEMBLY" MEETINGS WHERE OFFICERS AND CHAIRPERSONS REPORT BACK TO THE AA GROUPS WE SERVE, AND CONDUCT SMAA-WIDE BUSINESS. WE PROVIDE AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS AT THESE ASSEMBLY MEETINGS SO OUR DEAF AND HARD-OF-HEARING MEMBERS CAN FULLY PARTICIPATE; 4) WE PUBLISH A QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER WHEREIN OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE CHAIRS REPORT ON THEIR ACTIVITIES, AND IN WHICH OUR FINANCIAL REPORTS ARE PUBLISHED; 5) WE PROVIDE SERVICE INFORMATION AND LITERATURE DISPLAYS AT UNAFFILIATED CONFERENCES HELD ACROSS SOUTHERN MINNESOTA EACH YEAR. SMAA'S MAIN GOAL IS TO HELP ALCOHOLICS WHO ARE SEEKING A SOLUTION TO THEIR DRINKING PROBLEM. WE DO THAT THROUGH A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES: 1) EDUCATING PROFESSIONALS ABOUT WHAT AA CAN DO, AND WHAT WE CAN'T DO FOR ALCOHOLICS; 2) COORDINATING PUBLICATION OF PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS ABOUT HOW TO FIND AA IN SOUTHERN MINNESOTA; 3) OUR "PINK CAN PLAN" COLLECTS CONTRIBUTIONS FROM OUR MEMBERS TO PURCHASE AA LITERATURE FOR PERSONS IN CUSTODY; 4) OUR "TEMPORARY CONTACT PROGRAM" RECEIVES REQUESTS FROM INDIVIDUALS BEING RELEASED FROM TREATMENT FACILITIES FOR A LOCAL AA CONTACT TO INTRODUCE THEM TO AA MEETINGS IN THEIR HOM COMMUNITY; 5) WE PROVIDE A SIMILAR SERVICE AT MINNESOTA DEPT. OF CORRECTIONS' TRANSITION FAIRS TO HELP INCARCERATED PEOPLE WHO ARE NEARING THEIR RELEASE TO GET CONNECTED WITH AA IN THEIR HOM COMMUNITY; 6) SMAA ENDEAVORS TO MAINTAIN A CURRENT DATABASE OF AA MEETINGS THROUGHOUT SOUTHERN MINNESOTA FOR THE "MEETING GUIDE" MOBILE APP WHICH HELPS PEOPLE LOCATE AA MEETINGS ON THEIR MOBILE DEVICES. DURING 2022, WE PURCHASED AND STAFFED AA INFORMATION BOOTHS AT THE FOLLOWING EVENTS: THE MINNESOTA ASSOCIATION OF RESOURCES FOR RECOVERY AND CHEMICAL HEALTH (MARRCH), AS WELL AS A PUBLIC INFORMATION BOOTH FOR THE FULL 12 DAYS AT THE MINNESOTA STATE FAIR. DURING 2022,WE SENT ONE REPRESENTATIVE TO EACH OF THE FOLLOWING CONFERENCES: THE BRIDGING THE GAP WORKSHOP TO SHARE BEST PRACTICES FOR AA OUTREACH TO INDIVIDUALS IN TREATMENT CENTERS AND CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES; THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES WORKSHOP, TO SHARE BEST PRACTICES IN PRESERVING AA HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL; THE NATIONAL CORRECTIONS CONFERENCE, TO KEEP US CURRENT WITH NATIONAL TRENDS IN THE CORRECTIONS INDUSTRY, WHICH IN TURN HELPS OUR LOCAL AA SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS AND MEMBERS WORK COOPERATIVELY WITH CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES. IN 2022, WE HOSTED THE ANNUAL WEST CENTRAL REGIONAL SERVICE CONFERENCE, WHERE DELEGATES, AREA OFFICERS, AND OTHER SERVICE VOLUNTEERS MEET AND WE DISCUSS MATTERS PERTAINING TO AA IN NORTH AMERICA.