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 900 GROUPS LOCATED IN SOUTHERN MINNESOTA. THESE GROUPS MAY CONSIST OF ANYWHERE BETWEEN 4 AND 200 PEOPLE WHO MEET ON A REGULAR BASIS. DURING 2021 SMAA HELD TWO SIGNIFICANT WORKSHOPS WITH APPROXIMATELY 100 PEOPLE ATTENDING EACH. THE TRUSTED SERVANT LEADERSHIP TRAINING WAS A ONE-DAY EVENT HELD BY VIDEO CONFERENCE. THIS EVENT PROVIDES TRAINING TO MEMBERS WHO HAVE VOLUNTEERED TO HOLD A SERVICE POSITION IN THEIR GROUP, DISTRICT, OR SMAA. THE RECOVERY, UNITY, AND SERVICE CONFERENCE WAS ALSO A VIDEO CONFERENCE. IT'S PURPOSE IS TO GIVE AA MEMBERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE INFORMATION AND EXPERIENCE ABOUT PARTICIPATING IN AA'S SERVICE STRUCTURE IN MINNESOTA. OTHER ACTIVITIES THAT SMAA IS INVOLVED WITH INCLUDE: 1) EDUCATING PROFESSIONALS ABOUT WHAT AA CAN 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 MEMBERS TO PURCHASE AA LITERATURE FOR INCARCERATED PEOPLE; 4) OUR "TREATMENT CONTACT PROGRAM" RECEIVES REQUESTS FROM PEOPLE BEING RELEASED FROM TREATMENT FACILITIES. WE CONNECT THESE REQUESTS WITH A LOCAL AA MEMBER WHO CAN INTRODUCE THEM TO MEETINGS IN THEIR COMMUNITY; 5) MAINTAIN A CURRENT DATABASE OF AA MEETINGS THROUGHOUT SOUTHERN MINNESOTA FOR THE "MEEING GUIDE" MOBILE APP WHICH HELPS PEOPLE FIND MEETINGS USING THEIR MOBILE DEVICES. DURING 2021, WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HOST THE WEST CENTRAL REGIONAL SERVICE CONFERENCE WHERE WE DISCUSS MATTERS PERTAINING TO AA IN NORTH AMERICA. WE ALSO PARTICIPATED VIRTUALLY IN A REGIONAL FORUM WHERE WE MEET WITH AA'S GENERAL MANAGER, TRUSTEES OF THE GENERAL SERVICE BOARD, AND STAFF FROM OUR NATIOAL HEADQUARTERS TO DISCUSS NATIONAL SERVICE ACTIVITIES BENEFITTING ALL OF AA.