H&I Command Center
Santa Barbara · District 52 (N. SB County) · SoCal Intergroup — Curtis C., H&I Rep
SB Facilities
12
Active + in coordination
District 52 Facilities
8
Active panels (Santa Maria + Lompoc)
District 52 Outreach
7
No panel yet — opportunity
SoCal Mtg Next
May 24
MWA Club · 835 E. 33rd St., Signal Hill · Lunch 11am, Mtg noon–2pm
✅ Action Items — tap to check off
☐
📨 Send Brett message SoCal Sunday
Drafted but NOT sent. Ask to meet at SoCal Intergroup May 24 or San Diego. He's the target #1 for sponsor by mail — double-life-sentence, got Zoom approved in fed prisons. Hold carefully, don't over-tip hand.
☐
🤝 Connect with Brett at SoCal May 24 This Sunday
Get his story, make connections, see what's possible. Bring his story back to the Santa Barbara program and to things you're building. Harbor Area is hosting — Nick O. (562-746-1936) is the contact there.
☐
📨 Send Mike D. message Pending
Drafted but NOT sent. Mike is a GUTS host, lives in SF, does H&I there, has remote sponsorship experience. Ask about his SF H&I work and connect him to the mail sponsorship program. Reference the GUTS meeting.
☐
💰 Reach out to SB H&I Treasurer Pending
Didn't receive treasury report at last meeting. Ask: Has SB H&I made any contributions to SoCal Intergroup? If not — you want to make one on behalf of the group before/at the May 24 meeting. SoCal is actively fundraising (conference deficit). Contributions via Zelle: SoCalHandI@gmail.com.
☐
📬 Mail Sponsorship thread — share District 52 program with Susan Pending
On the larger mail sponsorship thread (includes Susan, the main Lompoc contact): share that District 52 also has a mail sponsorship program. Ask if she's aware / connected with it. Was there a women's mail sponsorship program at SB that's now paused? Find out if there's any coordination gap between SB, District 52, and Lompoc programs.
☐
📅 Wednesday — CADA panel solo visit This Week
First visit, solo. No further details logged — note what you learn.
☐
📅 Thursday 7pm — District 52 H&I meeting This Week
Zoom 334 839 0221 · PW 448146. Jimmy (H&I Co-Chair) message sent ✅ — confirm he got it.
☐
☀️ Sunday May 24 — SoCal Intergroup (11am lunch, noon meeting) This Sunday
MWA Club · 835 E. 33rd St., Signal Hill CA 90755 · Zoom 290 755 6393 · PW 2025. Diana already welcomed you as SB rep. Both SB North and South are Open in the roster — you fill that by showing up. Arrive for lunch (real conversations happen there). Consider bringing a 7th Tradition contribution on behalf of SB H&I.
⚠ Key Flags & Opportunities
🟢 Diana personally welcomed you as "Santa Barbara" rep
Her email says
"It's nice to have Santa Barbara represented!!" — she's already counting you in. Santa Barbara North AND South are both listed as
Open in the May 2026 roster. You're the rep by default just by showing up Sunday.
📄 Diana Adam email — May 17, 2026
📄 SoCal H&I Roster May 2026 — Santa Barbara North: Open, Santa Barbara South: Open
💡 Inferred: "you fill it by showing up" — no one has officially asked you to take the role
🟠 SoCal H&I Conference is in financial deficit — fundraising actively
They sent a bilingual fundraising letter to all SoCal AA groups. Conference costs increased, attendance declined. Seeking donations via Zelle to SoCalHandI@gmail.com or mail to PO Box 4013, Carlsbad, CA 92018. Current total funds: $3,024.18.
📄 SoCal H&I Fundraising Letter 2026 — direct quote: "we have a significant deficit in our Conference funds"
📄 Treasurer Report May 2026 — Literature Fund $2,049.01 + General Fund $975.17 = $3,024.18
📄 April 2026 Minutes — conference venue search ongoing, pricing very high (~$80/hr)
🔴 Lompoc Federal Prison — Coordination Gap
Susan B (SB H&I) coordinates Lompoc Fed Prison (Wed 7pm). District 52 lists "Federal Prisons, Three Facilities" as outreach with no active panel. Two districts, same facility, zero coordination. You could be the bridge.
📄 SB H&I Roster — Susan B listed as Lompoc Fed Prison contact, Wed 7pm
📄 District 52 H&I Master List — "Federal Prisons, Three Facilities" listed under outreach, no volunteer name
💡 Inferred: "zero coordination" — the two rosters don't reference each other, but they may be in contact informally. Not confirmed.
💡 Inferred: opportunity for Curtis to bridge them
🟠 Dual Mail Programs — Should Be Unified
SB H&I runs a Sponsor by Mail / County Jail program (Cynthia H). District 52 also has a "Jail Inmate Mail Correspondence Program" in outreach. The new Lompoc program you're launching is a third. These should be coordinated, not siloed.
📄 SB H&I Roster — Cynthia H listed as "County Jail Sponsor by Mail, Sun 7:30pm"
📄 District 52 H&I Master List — "Jail Inmate Mail Correspondence Program" listed under outreach with no active coordinator named
💬 From Curtis — new Lompoc mail program is in progress
💡 Inferred: these should be coordinated — they may already know each other. Not confirmed siloed.
🔵 District 52 Rep — Open Seat
District 52 H&I has no listed SoCal Intergroup rep (just Randy R as H&I chair). You're already SoCal Intergroup rep for SB. Appointing yourself District 52 rep too would give you visibility across all of northern SB County AND connect both to SoCal.
📄 SoCal H&I Roster May 2026 — District 52 does not appear as a listed committee or representative
📄 District 52 H&I Master List — Randy R listed as H&I Chair; no SoCal Intergroup liaison noted
❓ Assumption: District 52 may not be eligible or seeking SoCal representation — it’s a GSO district, not necessarily an H&I committee. Verify before acting on this.
💡 Inferred opportunity — not confirmed anyone wants or has asked for this
🟢 Thursday is a Dead Zone in SB
Only Sanctuary House (Katie C) runs on Thursday in the SB district. No jail, prison, or hospital panel. Large gap for someone looking to start a new commitment.
📄 SB H&I Roster — schedule analysis: only Katie C / Sanctuary House appears on Thursday
💡 Inferred gap — "no panel" means not listed; a panel may exist that isn’t on the roster
🟣 Contact on Release (COR) — Underutilized Tool
SoCal H&I runs a COR program: members being released submit a form 90-120 days out and get connected to their first meeting. This is a natural extension of the mail sponsorship program and likely unknown to most SB volunteers.
📄 SoCal H&I Roster May 2026 — COR contacts listed per region; Harbor Area (Nick O.), OC (John R.), SD (Diana A.) etc.
📄 May 24 Agenda — Santa Barbara COR contact IS listed: Kris B. (agenda item k)
❓ Correction: earlier said SB had no COR listing — that was wrong. Was reading the roster, not the agenda. Kris B. holds this role. Whether they’re active or known to Susan/Jane/Sam is unknown.
📅 Upcoming SoCal Intergroup Meetings
- May 24
SoCal H&I Monthly Meeting — Harbor Area hostsLunch 11am · Meeting noon–2pm · MWA Club, 835 E. 33rd St., Signal Hill CA 90755 · Zoom 290 755 6393 · PW 2025
- Jun 28
SoCal H&I Monthly Meeting11am–2pm · Hybrid · Zoom 290 755 6393 · PW 2025
- Jul 26
SoCal H&I Monthly Meeting11am–2pm · Hybrid · Zoom 290 755 6393 · PW 2025
- Aug 23
SoCal H&I Monthly Meeting11am–2pm · Hybrid · Zoom 290 755 6393 · PW 2025
- Sep 27
SoCal H&I Monthly Meeting11am–2pm · Hybrid · Zoom 290 755 6393 · PW 2025
- Oct 25
SoCal H&I Monthly Meeting11am–2pm · Hybrid · Zoom 290 755 6393 · PW 2025
- Nov 22
SoCal H&I Monthly Meeting11am–2pm · Hybrid · Zoom 290 755 6393 · PW 2025
- 3rd Thu
District 52 H&I Monthly Meeting7pm · Zoom 334 839 0221 · PW 448146
- 2nd Thu
District 52 Santa Maria Subcommittee5:30pm · Orcutt Presbyterian Church · 993 Patterson, Orcutt
Facilities Schedule
SB District
District 52
Jail
Prison
Color = source / facility type
Monday
6:45 PM
Stalwart Women's
Jane R · SB
Tuesday
4:00 PM
Hedges House (IV)
Grayson L · @ Good Sam
5:00 PM
Dignity Homes
Susan B
7:00 PM
SB Rescue Mission
Greg C · Coed
7:00 PM
SM Jail Men's Unit D
District 52
7:00 PM
SM Jail Women's Unit G
District 52
7:30 PM
Women's SB Jail
Jane R
⚠ overlap
7:30 PM
La Posada
Brenda Razo
⚠ overlap
Wednesday
11:30 AM
Men's SB Jail
Alan B
6:00 PM
Cottage 5 Bath
David R
6:00 PM
Pathways Bungalow (Men)
District 52 · SM
6:30 PM · 1st&3rd
SBYPAA
Lorenzo F
7:00 PM
Good Sam Detox
District 52 · SM
7:00 PM
Pathways P3 House (Men)
District 52 · SM
7:00 PM
Lompoc Fed Prison
Susan B · SB
8:00 PM
CADA Arts
Ellen R · Fri–Wed
Thursday
2:30 PM · 2nd&3rd
Another Road Recovery
District 52 · Lompoc
5:30 PM
LAGS Recovery Shelter
District 52 · SM
7:30 PM
Sanctuary House
Katie C · Casa Serena
6:00 PM · 1st Thu
TC House (Women)
District 52 · SM
Friday
7:00 PM
Bethel House
Ellen R
8:00 PM
CADA Arts
Ellen R · Fri–Wed
Saturday
8:00 PM
CADA Arts
Ellen R · Fri–Wed
Sunday
4:00 PM
Cottage 5 Bath
David R
7:30 PM
County Jail Mail
Cynthia H · Text only
8:00 PM
CADA Arts
Ellen R · Fri–Wed
Overlap & Gap Analysis
| Day | Issue | Details | Source |
|---|
| Tue 7:30pm | Overlap | Women's SB Jail + La Posada both at 7:30pm. Competing for same volunteer pool. | SB |
| Wed evening | Crunch | 5+ facilities 6–8pm. Hardest night to staff. Good Sam / Pathways / Cottage 5 Bath / SBYPAA / Lompoc Prison / CADA Arts. | SB D52 |
| Tue evening | Crunch | SM Jail Men's, SM Jail Women's, Rescue Mission, Women's SB Jail, La Posada all clustered. | SB D52 |
| Fri–Wed 8pm | Load | CADA Arts runs 6 nights/week. Ellen R carries this alone. High burn risk. | SB |
| Thursday | Gap | Only Sanctuary House in SB. No jail/prison/hospital panel. Large gap. | SB |
| Any | No schedule | PHF (Steve G) — listed as facility coord but no day/time. Needs follow-up. | SB |
| Lompoc | Dup | Susan B (SB) coords Lompoc Fed Prison. District 52 also lists Federal Prisons (3 facilities) as outreach. Zero cross-communication. | SB D52 |
District 52 — Northern Santa Barbara County
Covers: Guadalupe · Lompoc · Los Alamos · Los Olivos · Orcutt · Santa Maria · Santa Ynez · Solvang
💡 Not in your SB H&I documents — completely separate district
District 52 runs its own H&I committee covering northern SB County. No cross-communication with SB city district despite overlapping facilities (Lompoc Fed Prison). Source:
aadistrict52.org H&I Master List
Leadership
| Name | Role | Contact |
|---|
| Randy R | H&I Chair | 360-515-8969 |
| Jacque' J | SM Subcommittee | 805-978-6945 |
Meetings
| Meeting | When | Where |
|---|
| District H&I | 3rd Thu · 7pm | Zoom 334 839 0221 · PW 448146 |
| SM Subcommittee | 2nd Thu · 5:30pm | Orcutt Presbyterian, 993 Patterson (The Ark Building) |
Active Panels — Santa Maria
| Facility | Day / Time |
|---|
| Good Sam Detox | Wed 7pm + Tue 7pm |
| LAGS Recovery Shelter | Thu 5:30pm |
| Pathways P3 House (Men) | Wed 7pm |
| Pathways Bungalow (Men) | Wed 6pm |
| SM Jail Men's Unit D | Tue 7pm |
| SM Jail Women's Unit G | Tue 7pm |
| TC House (Women) | 1st Thu 6pm |
| Another Road Recovery | 2nd & 3rd Thu 2:30pm (Lompoc) |
Outreach — No Active Panel Yet
| Facility | Location | Note |
|---|
| Juvenile Hall | Santa Maria | 🔗 Lee Carroll leads this. Connect with Naomi Hultquist (Kern County, 661-495-4354) — Kern is also working to get into juvenile facilities. Share approval process learnings both ways. |
| Pathways Sober Living (Women) | Santa Maria | |
| SM Jail Units C, E & H | Santa Maria | Units D + G/Women already active — these are the remainder |
| Jail Inmate Mail Correspondence Program | Santa Maria | ⭐ Parallel to SB mail program — coordinate! |
| Bridgehouse | Lompoc | |
| Federal Prisons (3 facilities) | Lompoc | ⭐ Susan B (SB H&I) also coordinatesLompoc Fed — no crossover currently |
| Recovery Way House | Lompoc | |
| Santa Maria Stabilization Center | Santa Maria | Literature/info only — no panel |
SoCal H&I Intergroup
Southern California Hospitals & Institutions Intergroup · socalhandi.com · SoCalHandI@gmail.com · Zelle: SoCalHandI@gmail.com
🟢 Diana welcomed Curtis as the SB rep — Santa Barbara is Open in the roster
Diana A. (Coordinator) emailed Curtis directly:
"It's nice to have Santa Barbara represented!!" The official May 2026 roster lists Santa Barbara North
Open and Santa Barbara South
Open. You're filling a real vacancy just by attending.
🟣 SB H&I has an existing SoCal rep — clarify your role
Cynthia H is listed on the SB roster as "SoCal Intergroup Rep." As you take on more responsibility, clarify whether you're now the rep, co-rep, or whether Cynthia still holds it.
About SoCal H&I Intergroup
Exists to strengthen unity among H&I committees and partner agencies across Southern California so they can better carry the AA message to alcoholics in hospitals, jails, and prisons.
Comprised of delegates from H&I committees and General Service Area liaisons, plus partnerships with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and NorCal H&I Intergroup.
Monthly Meeting
| When | Last Sunday of every month · Lunch 11am · Meeting noon–2pm |
| Format | Hybrid (rotating in-person location + Zoom) |
| Zoom | 290 755 6393 · Passcode: 2025 |
| Link | Join Zoom |
| Website | www.SoCalHandI.com |
| Contributions | Zelle: SoCalHandI@gmail.com · Mail: PO Box 4013, Carlsbad CA 92018 |
2026 Meeting Schedule
| Date | Host | Location |
|---|
| May 24, 2026 | Harbor Area | MWA Club · 835 E. 33rd St., Signal Hill CA 90755 |
| Jun 28, 2026 | S. Orange County | Canyon Club · 20456 Laguna Canyon Rd, Laguna Beach CA 92651 |
| Jul 26, 2026 | Inland Empire | Redlands Recovery · 1235 Indiana Court Suite 12, Redlands CA 92374 |
| Aug 23, 2026 | San Diego | Machinists Hall · 5150 Kearny Mesa Road, San Diego 92111 |
| Sep 27, 2026 | Central Coast | Oddfellows Hall · 710 Harbor St., Morro Bay |
| Oct 25, 2026 | Temecula | Serenity Circle Hall · 27574 Commerce Center Dr., Temecula 92050 |
| Nov 22, 2026 | Inter-Valley | 502 Club · 510 S. 2nd Ave, Covina 91723 |
Contact on Release (COR) Program
Connects AA members being released from institutions/hospitals with their first meetings in their destination community. Free, volunteer-run.
| How it works | Inmate submits COR form 90–120 days before release. AA member in destination area responds within 30 days. |
| Submit to | Orange County H&I
c/o Contact Upon Release
92 Corporate Park Suite C-115
Irvine, CA 92606 |
| Form | Download COR Form (PDF) |
💡 COR + Mail Sponsorship + IVSS = Full Pipeline
Mail sponsorship inside → IVSS tablet/phone contact → COR form 90 days before release → BTG volunteer at the door. Each program hands off to the next.
COR — San Diego/Imperial Area
| Email | contactonrelease@yahoo.com |
| Voicemail | 866-756-5477 |
| Mail | P.O. Box 23431 · San Diego, CA 92193 |
| Area | San Diego / Imperial Area |
| How to use | Fill out contact card (name, age, gender, expected release date, ID#, current location, release address, phone/email) and mail, email, or leave on voicemail. |
Bridging the Gap (BTG)
💡 BTG sits under Treatment & Accessibilities — not H&I/Corrections
COR is corrections pipeline. BTG is treatment/detox/hospital/halfway house pipeline. Different committee, same goal: hand the newcomer off to community AA. You hold both angles via Accessibilities chair.
| What it is | Temporary contact program. Volunteer accompanies newcomer leaving a correctional or treatment facility to up to 6 AA meetings. Strictly temporary — connects them to the group, then steps back. |
| Area 93 contact | treatment@area93.org · (424) 284-9322 |
| National site | btgww.org |
| Request inside CA | QR / local form for Central California requests |
| Request outside CA | btgww.org — national request system |
For volunteers
Volunteer agrees to accompany newcomer to up to 6 meetings after release, helping them connect with AA members and become familiar with meetings in their area. Arrangement is strictly temporary.
Sign up: treatment@area93.org or via QR on flyer.
Meeting Guide App
Official AA app for finding local meetings. Available on iOS and Android. Also accessible at aa.org → "Find A.A. Near You." Hand this to newcomers and volunteers as first resource for finding meetings near their release location.
IVSS — Inside Visiting Sponsorship Services
🟢 Active Program — Recruiting Sponsors Now
106 men currently requesting sponsors. 89 matched. Small waitlist forming. Getting the word out is the ask.
| What it is | Pilot program launched 2018 by H&I Area 53 (NorCal). One-on-one AA sponsorship for incarcerated individuals via text, phone call, and optional in-person visits. |
| Coordinator | Max V. (Men's Stag, Fremont CA) |
| Communication | GettingOut texting app + phone calls (inmate-initiated). All inmates have tablets. |
| In-person visits | Optional but encouraged. Very orderly, officers present, sponsor reports strong sense of safety. |
| Orientation | 1-hour Zoom orientation with 16-page overview. Covers legal background (DoJ), prison protocols, GettingOut app. Max walks you through everything. |
| Background check | Inmate record disclosed to sponsor before match. Sponsor decides if comfortable. |
| Sponsor requirements | Minimum 5 years sobriety · Solid sponsorship experience · Knowledge & practice of Steps & Traditions · Willingness to anonymously text, receive calls, exchange letters · Same-gender match (but anyone can help recruit) |
| Note on volunteers | Due to prison regulations, meeting volunteers are ineligible to participate at the facility where they volunteer |
| Sign up | handi.ivss@gmail.com |
| Sign-up form | IVSS-EO Sign Up Form |
| NorCal source | handinorcal.org · East Bay AA article |
Why it matters for SB H&I
IVSS is the model Curtis has been pointing to as a complement to the Lompoc mail sponsorship program and the COR workflow. It's NorCal-originated but the approach maps directly to what SB H&I is building:
- Mail sponsorship inside → IVSS-style digital contact
- COR form 90 days before release → continuity on the outside
- IVSS + COR = full pipeline from incarceration to community
Sponsor experience (Max V.)
“Being in AA, he feels that he is a free man. He says, 'I do want to be released, but I've got a sense of complete ease and comfort, and I know I am okay.'”
“I get so much encouragement and so much hope… and there is a lot of gratitude for outside sponsorship.”
Rooted in the Responsibility Statement. First page of orientation.
Key Leadership — 2026 Roster (from SCHII Master Copy)
Elected Officers
Appointed Officers
General Service Liaisons
Santa Barbara + Central Coast (Your Region)
COR / BTG Contacts by Region
| Region | Name | Phone | Email |
|---|
| Santa Barbara | Susan B. | — | via Kris Brown |
| Central Coast | David Plevel | 805-801-6683 | davidscottplevel@gmail.com |
| Ventura | Kris Brown | 805-358-6009 | brownkris73@gmail.com |
| Greater LA | Jeff B. | 323-847-8906 | btgarea05@gmail.com |
| Harbor Area | Nick O. | 562-746-1936 | Nick0sisfe@gmail.com |
| Inland Empire | Teri Montgomery | 909-649-6940 | aaintheie@gmail.com |
| Inter-Valley | Stephanie Lopez | 909-614-9039 | steffielopez@gmail.com |
| Orange County | John Rianda | 714-858-8194 | jhrianda@hotmail.com |
| Coachella Valley | Tony C. | 760-774-5287 | ajcisneros@aol.com |
| San Diego / Imperial | Diana Adam | 858-208-6764 | dianaadam@sbcglobal.net |
| San Diego/Imperial (Alt) | — | 866-756-5477 (VM) | contactonrelease@yahoo.com |
| Kern County | Naomi Hultquist | 661-495-4354 | denimNdiamonds62@gmail.com |
🏟 2026 SoCal AA Convention — H&I Panel
| Event | 74th Southern California AA Convention — "Get Your Spiritual Kicks in 2026" |
| Dates | October 16–18, 2026 |
| Venue | The Westin Rancho Mirage Golf Resort & Spa · 71333 Dinah Shore Drive, Rancho Mirage CA 92270 |
| H&I Panel | Saturday Oct 17 @ 8:00am · Speaker: Scott S. — Ventura |
| Room rate | $205 + tax (13.29%) + $5 resort fee ≈ $240 · Group rate expires Sept 8, 2026 |
| Book rooms | book.passkey.com/go/SCAAC2026 · (877) 253-0041 (mention SCAAC) |
| Register | aasocal.com |
💰 Conference Fund Deficit — Fundraising Active
Conference attendance has declined while costs increased. Significant deficit in Conference funds.
SCHII is actively soliciting contributions from all SoCal AA meetings and groups to restore the Conference fund. Bilingual (English/Spanish) fundraising letter sent. Contribute:
Zelle: SoCalHandI@gmail.com or check to
PO Box 4013, Carlsbad CA 92018.
Notes from April 2026 Minutes
- Conference replacement event still TBD — pricing very high (~$80/hr in Costa Mesa), looking at venues with catering. Vote expected at May meeting.
- North/South collaboration bylaws in progress — Blair working on guidelines, looking at hotel in Fresno or Bakersfield.
- Nikki J. resigned as NorCal/SoCal Liaison — position is open.
- Aimee T. elected Co-Coordinator (12-6 vote over Kristian).
- Orange County H&I is the largest active committee (~270 members). Good benchmark.
- Kern County working to get into juvenile facilities — 🔗 Connect Naomi Hultquist (Kern, 661-495-4354) with Lee Carroll (Santa Maria). Lee has an active Juvenile Hall opportunity in Santa Maria and Kern is navigating the same process. Compare notes on approval process, what worked, what didn't. Potential to share playbook across regions.
- Treasury: Literature Fund $2,049.01 + General Fund $975.17 = $3,024.18 total.
- Fundraising letter sent to all SoCal AA groups seeking conference donations.
Past Meeting Locations
| Date | Location | Address |
|---|
| Apr 26, 2026 | SFV — Lance's Ranch | 25548 Sand Canyon Rd, Canyon Country 91387 |
| Mar 22, 2026 | NC San Diego — Harding Community Center | 3096 Harding St., Carlsbad 92008 |
| Feb 22, 2026 | Kern County — Tehachapi Alano Club | 303 E. H Street, Tehachapi 93561 |
| Jan 25, 2026 | Ventura County | 321 Aviador St. #115, Camarillo CA 93010 |
Documents & Forms
Key reference materials from SB H&I, District 52, and SoCal Intergroup
SoCal H&I Intergroup
District 52
SB H&I
- 📊
contacts.csv — Full contacts spreadsheet (all three sources, importable to Numbers/Sheets)
- 📅
Key Zoom Links
| Meeting | Zoom ID | Passcode | Link |
|---|
| SoCal H&I Monthly (last Sun) | 290 755 6393 | 2025 | Join |
| District 52 H&I Monthly (3rd Thu) | 334 839 0221 | 448146 | — |
| GUTS Nightly (7pm–2am) | 372 663 4285 | (see GUTS link) | Join |
District Accessibilities Chair
District-level role · Curtis C. · Taken on June 2026 · District Slack is primary coordination tool
♿ Role Overview
Accessibilities Committees explore, develop, and offer resources to AA members with significant barriers to receiving the message and participating in recovery. Three focus areas: (1) projects supporting members with access challenges, (2) communications to public + agencies, (3) guidance to groups so they can accommodate all members. Formally linked to H&I/Corrections, CEC (Seniors), CPC, and PI.
⚡ First Steps — Do Immediately
🔗 H&I Crossover — Already in Motion
Workbook explicitly states: "Work closely with CPC, PI, Corrections, and CEC to inform the public and appropriate agencies that AA is accessible."
Corrections is a formal Accessibilities partner. Your H&I work IS Accessibilities work — report it as both.
| H&I Activity | Accessibilities Frame |
|---|
| Panels at jails/prisons | Arranging meetings for those without regular access |
| Lee Carroll · Juvenile Hall | Direct Accessibilities mandate — corrections |
| Lompoc/Zoom panels | Remote access model for institutionalized |
| IVSS sponsorship program | Institutionalized access + pre-release support |
| Mail sponsorship | Loners/remote — covered in Accessibilities guidelines |
Best corrections literature (easy-read, illustrated):
- P-33 — "It Sure Beats Sitting in a Cell" — illustrated, 7 inmate stories, do's and don'ts after release
- P-55 — "Twelve Steps Illustrated" — one step per page, simplified text
- P-36 — "Is AA for Me?" — 32-page illustrated, based on the 12 questions
👴 Seniors Priority (CEC)
CEC = Cooperation with the Elder Community. Accessibilities and CEC are explicitly linked — workbook says work with CEC to reach elder alcoholics. Symptoms of alcoholism often mistaken for depression or dementia in seniors.
Outreach Targets
| Target | Approach |
|---|
| Senior centers | Leave literature in library; offer panel for seniors + staff |
| Geriatric physicians | Leave literature; offer staff presentation |
| Assisted living / SNFs | In-person or Zoom panels; offer regular meeting |
| Health fairs | Send agency letter (see Sample Letters below); man a booth |
Meeting Designations
- Mark morning/midday meetings as "SF" (Senior Friendly) on district list
- Consider launching or supporting a Seniors in Sobriety (SIS) meeting
- Recruit tech-savvy members to help homebound seniors join online meetings → aa-intergroup.org
- "Call if they miss meetings" contact system for elderly members
Key literature for seniors: B-28 "AA for the Older Alcoholic — Never Too Late" — stories of people who came to AA after age 60. Order several copies for outreach.
🛡 Safety Items in Accessibility Scope
| Item | Action |
|---|
| Wheelchair access (entrance + bathroom) | Survey all district meetings, mark on meeting list |
| Ramp access / parking | Group reps communicate with landlords to fix |
| Locked access doors | Group reps get keys or identify alternate entrances |
| Lighting | Adequate lighting helps deaf/HOH members lip-read — mention at group level |
| Service animals | Groups guided by group conscience. Remind: service animals ≠ pets. Workshop if needed. |
| Background noise (fans, HVAC) | Affects HOH members — note during group surveys |
📚 Literature Guide (Order at aa.org/bookstore)
Guidelines (request free from GSO)
- MG-16 — Accessibility for All Alcoholics ← read first
- MG-13 — Sharing with Deaf/HOH Members
- MG-19 — Guidelines for Remote Communities
- F-107 — Serving All Alcoholics
Outreach Pamphlets
- P-83 — Access to AA: Overcoming Barriers
- P-33 — It Sure Beats Sitting in a Cell
- P-55 — Twelve Steps Illustrated (easy-read)
- P-36 — Is AA for Me? (illustrated)
- P-40 — Speaking at Outside Meetings
Large Print / Seniors
- B-28 — AA for the Older Alcoholic ← key
- B-16 — Large print Big Book
- B-14 — Large print 12 & 12
- P-56 — Large print "This Is AA"
- P-57 — Large print FAQ
✉️ Sample Letter Templates
To agencies / facilities (general)
"You may be familiar with Alcoholics Anonymous. It is possible you have patients or clients with a drinking problem who might be interested in learning about AA. Our Accessibilities Committee members are available to provide information about AA at your convenience. We can arrange for someone to answer your questions or introduce your patient/client to our fellowship. We are also available to make presentations to your staff, patients or clients."
Include: local contact info + "AA at a Glance" flyer
To professionals working with those facing access barriers
"We of the ___ AA Accessibilities Committee recognize that there are alcoholics who face barriers on a daily basis. It is possible you have students, patients or clients with a drinking problem who might benefit from AA's program of recovery. We would welcome the opportunity to provide information about AA or about how our committee is available to try to help alcoholics have access to AA in our community regardless of access barriers."
Adapt with district name, contact phone/email
🎯 Workshop Agendas
Agenda #1 — "Service in Motion" (2-3 hrs)
- Open with silence + Serenity Prayer
- History of Accessibilities in your Area
- How the Traditions relate to Accessibilities
- Needs of blind/visually impaired members
- BREAK
- Needs of deaf/hard-of-hearing members
- Needs of members with physical challenges
- Members who cannot read or write?
- BREAK
- Ask-It Basket Q&A
- Close with Responsibility Statement
Agenda #2 — "Are We Going to Any Length?" (Share-A-Day)
- Registration / Breakfast (9:30am)
- Panel 1: "Going to Any Lengths to Get Sober" — ESH from those who came in with access challenges
- Panel 2: "Going to Any Lengths to Stay Sober" — those who developed challenges in sobriety
- Lunch
- GSO Speaker — Liaison for Accessibilities
- Big Meeting + Sobriety Countdown
🎤 Presenting at Facilities / Senior Centers
Before you go
- Be on time, well-groomed, courteous
- Bring literature + local contact info card
- Never comment on the agency's policies or practices
- Allocate time to each section — better to finish early
Presentation outline
- Read AA Preamble
- Local meeting list + Meeting Guide app
- What a newcomer can expect: anonymity, home group, sponsorship
- Relevant literature
- Q&A — stick to AA and your experience
- Thank you + invite them to open meetings
📞 GSO + Network Contacts
| Resource | Contact | Notes |
|---|
| GSO Accessibilities | access@aa.org · (212) 870-3400 | Register here; auto-get free kit |
| GSO Mail | Box 459, Grand Central Station, NY 10163 | Attn: Accessibilities |
| All Accessibilities Zoom | accessaa.org · 2nd Monday · 6pm CT | Peer network, not GSO-affiliated |
| Technology in AA | tiaa-forum.org | Digital accessibility resources |
| Online AA Intergroup | aa-intergroup.org | Homebound / remote members |
| Norm | Area accessibility chair | Coordinate to avoid duplication |
| Christian B. | DCM / DCM Alt | Keep informed; pull in for district support |
| Stephanie Lopez | 📞 909-614-9039 · steffielopez@gmail.com | SCHII Audio Librarian — crossover for audio resources for blind/low-vision members. Also Inter-Valley H&I Rep + COR contact. |
| Teri Montgomery | 📞 909-649-6940 · aaintheie@gmail.com | SCHII Audio Librarian (secondary) + Archivist — coordinates AA audio materials. Relevant for audio Accessibilities resources distribution. |
| Oscar H. (L.A. H&I) | ✉ Roseart747@gmail.com | Spanish H&I Liaison — language access is an Accessibilities issue. Spanish-speaking members face significant barriers. Connect to understand what Spanish audio/literature resources are already in circulation and where gaps are. |
📚 Audio Librarian → Accessibilities crossover
The SCHII Audio Librarian role tracks AA audio materials (Big Book on CDs, ASL DVDs, audio pamphlets) distributed to H&I facilities. This directly overlaps Accessibilities work for blind, low-vision, and print-disabled members. Coordinate with Stephanie/Teri before ordering or distributing audio materials to avoid duplication and to leverage what SCHII already has in circulation.
🇪🇸 Spanish H&I / Language Access
Language is an accessibility barrier. AA workbook covers this under "cultural differences." Oscar H. and the Spanish H&I network know what's in circulation in Spanish. Several SoCal regions have dedicated Spanish reps (LA, OC, Riverside, Pomona, SFV). Connecting here gives you a clear lane in your Accessibilities role — Spanish-language materials for facilities, Spanish meeting access for newcomers.
Source: aa.org/accessibilities-committees · M-48I Workbook (2025 ed.) · Assembled June 4, 2026
Last updated May 2026 · Sources: SB H&I Roster, District 52 H&I Master List, socalhandi.com