The Dallas Central Office had its first Board meeting and was open for business on September 18, 1947. At that time there were only two AA groups in the area. The Central Office was located on Akard Street in the Davis Building. It was a musty old office, a little cluttered, but filled with AA caring. Dick P. was the director. He suffered physically from Jamaica Ginger poisoning during Prohibition days, but it didn’t stop him from answering the phone, coordinating 12-Step calls or sharing with a friend or stranger over a cup of coffee. He even sold some literature.
The location of the office changed a few times over the next several years, but always stayed in the Downtown Dallas area. In the late 50’s Lester F. hired Merl (“a perfect lady”) to run things. According to Lester, she kept the place “real clean and orderly” during the time she worked there.
In 1968 a reorganization meeting was held. The Central Office became an Intergroup Office operating under the guidance of the AA Groups, which numbered 8 or 9 by then. A local member then loaned the Intergroup $2,000.00 to buy literature from AA World Services, Inc.
In 1989 the Intergroup incorporated and became Dallas Intergroup Association, a non-profit organization. From that small beginning in 1947, we now serve over 100 AA groups in Dallas and its suburbs. A full range of committees are headed by members of the Board of Trustees. The include Cooperation with the Professional Community, Treatment Centers, Public Information, and Correctional Facilities. The Groups make all decision on their services at the Representative’s meetings and the Board decides all fiduciary policy and business decisions regarding the Office. In April 2000 the Intergroup office once again became known as the Dallas AA Central Office. This change was made to better describe the function of the office to potential newcomers.
The Foundation of the DIA: Tradition Nine
“AA, as such, ought never be organized, but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.”
AA’s Ninth Tradition is the foundation of the Dallas Intergroup Association’s structure. Our sole purpose is to serve the AA members and groups of Greater Dallas by our committee work and by funding and maintaining a central service office for AA in the Greater Dallas area.
The Dallas Intergroup Association is a Texas non-profit corporation. Each of the approximately 100 groups in the Dallas area may belong to the Intergroup Association simply by electing an Intergroup Representative. The DIA’s principles are based on the same Twelve Traditions as are those of other AA entities. Thus, there are no dues or fees for participation, but we are self-supporting through the voluntary contributions of our membership. As a local AA service organization, we operate in two separate but related spheres: (1) Committee work in the areas of Public Information, Cooperation with the Professional Community, Correctional Facilities and Treatment Facilities, and (2) Maintenance of the Dallas AA Central Office, a regional service center for all AA groups in the Dallas area. Our services are available to any AA group upon request, whether or not the group belongs to the DIA.
One Representative and one Alternate are elected for one-year terms by each member group. Their service commitment is one meeting per month for the duration of their term. The representatives communicate information and concerns between the DIA and the groups.
The Intergroup Representatives elect Trustees for the DIA Board each November. There are 9 members of the Board of Trustees. Trustees serve two-year terms. Not more than 2 members of one group can serve at the same time. All Trustees serve on a standing committee or on the Executive Committee. The board is responsible for overseeing the Central Office and its employees. The Trustees meet each month at the Central Office just before the Intergroup meeting.