How to Find an Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting in Ames, Iowa

Updated

Ames Area Intergroup (amesaa.org) is the local AA central office serving Ames, Iowa, and its surrounding groups. To find a meeting, use the "find a meeting" link on the site or download the District 3 AA Meeting Schedule PDF; if you have questions at any hour, call the local AA line at 515-232-8642 to speak with an Ames-area AA member. The site is aimed at anyone wondering about their drinking, anyone new to AA, and members looking for local meetings, events, or business information.

Finding a meeting

The homepage offers two direct routes to meeting information:

  • Find a meeting online — the "CLICK HERE TO FIND A MEETING" link leads to the meeting search.
  • Download the printed schedule — "CLICK HERE for the PDF" downloads the District 3 AA Meeting Schedule, which you can print and keep.

The schedule file referenced on the page is dated 20260707, so if you print a copy, check back periodically for an updated version.

Understanding meeting types and codes

Printed schedules and the website use abbreviations and codes to describe how each meeting runs. The site links to a "Guide to Understanding A.A. Meeting Types and Codes" so you can decode entries before you go. Reading that guide first is useful if you are choosing between, for example, an open meeting you can attend with a supportive friend and a closed meeting limited to those who identify as alcoholics.

What to expect at your first meeting

If you are unsure whether AA is for you, or your drinking has you worried, the site points to two introductory resources:

  • "This is A.A. – An Introduction to the A.A. Recovery Program" — for anyone having trouble with drinking or wondering if they might be an alcoholic.
  • "The A.A. Group … where it all begins" — for anyone curious about how AA groups function or how to start attending.

Both are linked from the homepage section that asks, "Questions about finding your recovery in Alcoholics Anonymous, or what to expect at your first meeting?"

Other local resources

  • Sober events — the "CLICK HERE" link for area events leads to an Events/Flyers page, where you can also download flyers to share with your home group.
  • Central office location — the office is in the Annex of the Collegiate United Methodist Church, 130 S. Sheldon Ave. #309, Ames, Iowa 50014. To access it, contact an Ames AA Group Literature Representative for assistance.
  • Business meetings — held the third Thursday of the month at 7pm, hybrid (in person at the Central Office or over Zoom), and open to all Ames AA members. Upcoming dates listed are October 15, 2026; November 19, 2026; December 17, 2026; and January 15, 2027. Zoom access and a phone dial-in number are provided on the site, and questions can be sent to the email address listed there.

If you are not sure where to start

Call 515-232-8642 to talk with an Ames-area AA member day or night, then use the meeting finder or the District 3 PDF to pick a time and location. If the code on a schedule entry is unclear, check the meeting types guide before you go.