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What is Ames Area Intergroup?
Ames Area Intergroup is the local Alcoholics Anonymous service body for the Ames, Iowa area. In its own words, its mission is to help Ames-area AA groups carry the AA message to the alcoholic who still suffers. Practically speaking, it acts as a central hub: a phone line, a meeting finder, a meeting schedule, event flyers, and a business meeting where local groups coordinate.
What it offers
- A phone contact for talking to an Ames-area AA member day or night: 515-232-8642
- A meeting finder and a printable District 3 AA meeting schedule
- Information on sober events in the area and downloadable event flyers
- A Central Office at the Annex of the Collegiate United Methodist Church, 130 S. Sheldon Ave. #309, Ames, Iowa 50014; access is arranged through an Ames AA Group Literature Representative
- Introductory reading for newcomers, including "This is A.A." and "The A.A. Group," plus a guide to meeting types and codes
Who it is for
Anyone in or near Ames who is worried about their drinking, wants to attend a first meeting, or wants to understand how AA groups work. It is also for existing AA members who need schedule information, literature, or a way to help with local service.
How it is run
The Intergroup holds an open business meeting, usually on the third Thursday of the month at 7pm, in a hybrid format—in person at the Central Office or over Zoom, with a phone dial-in option. Listed upcoming dates include October 15, November 19, and December 17, 2026, and January 15, 2027. Any Ames AA member may attend.
Next step
If you are new, call the phone line or open the meeting finder and pick one meeting that fits your schedule. If you are already a member, the business meeting is the place to ask how your group can help with the Central Office, literature, or events. For national context on the program, see Alcoholics Anonymous.
How do I find an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting in Ames, Iowa?
You can find an Ames, Iowa AA meeting through the Ames Area Intergroup's meeting page or its printable District 3 schedule, which lists meeting times and formats. The site also gives a phone line for talking to a local AA member day or night.
Ways to find a meeting
- Meeting finder: Use the site's "find a meeting" link for current local listings.
- Printable schedule: Download the District 3 PDF if you prefer a paper copy or want to share it with a group.
- Phone: Call 515-232-8642 to speak with an Ames-area AA member and ask which meetings fit your situation.
- Special events: Check the Events/Flyers page for sober events and flyers you can bring to a homegroup.
What to know before your first meeting
The site addresses common first-meeting questions and links to an introduction to the AA recovery program. It also links to a guide explaining AA meeting types and codes, which is useful because listings often use labels such as open, closed, discussion, speaker or step meeting. If you are unsure, calling the phone line is the simplest way to get a recommendation.
The Central Office is at the Annex of the Collegiate United Methodist Church, 130 S. Sheldon Ave. #309, Ames, Iowa 50014. Access is arranged by contacting an Ames AA group literature representative, so it is not a drop-in storefront.
Next step
Start with the meeting finder or the printable schedule, then call 515-232-8642 if you want help choosing a first meeting or understanding what a listing means. For general context on AA, see Alcoholics Anonymous.
What should I expect at my first AA meeting?
Expect a meeting that is more ordinary than dramatic: people gather, someone opens with a short script, members may read from AA literature, and then individuals share their experience with drinking and recovery. You are not required to speak, and you do not have to call yourself an alcoholic or commit to anything. If asked whether you are new, a simple "I'm just here to listen" is enough.
Ames Area Intergroup points newcomers to two starting points: an introduction to the AA recovery program and a guide to how AA groups function. It also links a guide to meeting types and codes, which matters because "open," "closed," "speaker," "discussion," "step study," and "Big Book" meetings feel quite different. For a first visit, an open discussion or speaker meeting is usually the easiest entry point.
What typically happens
- People arrive a few minutes early; some chat, some sit quietly.
- A chairperson or secretary opens the meeting and may read a preamble or a passage such as the AA Preamble or "How It Works."
- A speaker may tell their story, or the chair may open the floor for sharing.
- A basket or collection may be passed. It pays for rent, literature and coffee; visitors are commonly told they need not contribute.
- The meeting closes, often with a prayer or a moment of silence, and people linger afterward.
Practical decisions for a first meeting
| Choice | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Open vs. closed meeting | Open meetings welcome anyone, including visitors and supporters; closed meetings are for those who want to stop drinking. |
| Speaker vs. discussion | A speaker meeting lets you simply listen; a discussion meeting may invite sharing, though "pass" is always acceptable. |
| In-person vs. online | In-person gives you faces and phone numbers; online lowers the barrier if you are nervous. |
| Bring someone | A friend or family member can attend an open meeting with you. |
Whose observation is this? The guidance above reflects what Ames Area Intergroup tells newcomers and what its meeting-type guide covers, not a personal review. Practically, the most useful thing you can do is pick one open meeting, arrive ten minutes early, and stay for the whole hour even if you feel awkward.
If you are in the Ames area and want to talk to a member before deciding, the intergroup lists a phone line reachable day or night, plus a searchable meeting list and a printable schedule: Ames Area Intergroup. You can also look up meeting types and codes on that same page, or find general program information through Alcoholics Anonymous.
How can I contact an AA member in Ames day or night?
Call the Ames Area Central Office Intergroup phone line at 515-232-8642. The site presents it as the way to talk to an Ames-area AA member day or night — so it is the right first call if you want to speak with someone before attending a meeting.
If you would rather not call, or you want meeting details in writing first, the same page points you to the local meeting schedule and a printable PDF version. For someone nervous about a first meeting, that combination works well: read the schedule to pick a time and place, then call if you have questions about what to expect.
A few practical notes:
- The Central Office is in the Annex of the Collegiate United Methodist Church, 130 S. Sheldon Ave. #309, Ames, Iowa 50014. It is not described as a drop-in walk-in office — the site says to reach out to an Ames AA Group Literature Representative to arrange access.
- The Intergroup business meeting is usually the third Thursday of the month at 7pm, held as a hybrid (in person at the Central Office or over Zoom) and open to all Ames AA members. That is a service meeting, not a recovery meeting, so don't treat it as your first AA meeting.
- For events and flyers, the site directs you to its Events/Flyers page.
If you are unsure whether AA is right for you, start with the phone line. You can ask what a first meeting is like, which meetings are open or closed, and whether a particular meeting is a good fit — then use the schedule to choose one. For general background before you call, Alcoholics Anonymous explains the program and meeting types.
What happens at the Ames Intergroup business meeting and who can attend?
The Ames Intergroup business meeting is the monthly administrative gathering where local AA groups coordinate the work of carrying the message in the Ames area. It is not an AA recovery meeting; it is where group representatives discuss and decide on intergroup business.
Who can attend: The meeting is open to all Ames Alcoholics Anonymous members.
When and how it meets: It is usually held on the third Thursday of the month at 7pm. It is a hybrid meeting, so members can attend in person at the Central Office or join over Zoom. The listed upcoming dates are October 15, 2026; November 19, 2026; December 17, 2026; and January 15, 2027.
Where it happens: The Central Office is in the Annex of the Collegiate United Methodist Church at 130 S. Sheldon Ave. #309, Ames, Iowa, 50014. The page notes that to access the Central Office, you should contact an Ames AA Group Literature Representative for assistance.
A practical next step: If you are a group member interested in how intergroup decisions get made, ask your group's literature representative or intergroup representative to bring you along, or use the posted Zoom access to sit in on the next third-Thursday meeting. If you are new to AA and looking for recovery rather than service, this is not the meeting to start with; instead use the meeting finder or the "This is A.A." introduction linked from Ames Area Intergroup.
How do I get the District 3 AA meeting schedule or attend a sober event in the area?
The Ames Area Intergroup page gives you two direct paths: download and print the District 3 AA meeting schedule as a PDF, or open its events/flyers page for sober events in the area. Both are linked from the home page of Ames Area Intergroup.
Fastest route
- Meeting schedule: Use the "CLICK HERE for the PDF" link to download and print the District 3 schedule.
- Sober events: Use the "CLICK HERE" link for area events, then the Events/Flyers page to download flyers you can share with your home group.
- Need a meeting now or a person to talk to: The page lists a phone line answered by an Ames-area AA member day or night: 515-232-8642.
If you are new
The page points to two introductory reads: "This is A.A. – An Introduction to the A.A. Recovery Program" if you are worried about your drinking, and "The A.A. Group ...where it all begins" if you want to understand how groups work before attending. It also offers a guide to meeting types and codes, which matters because the schedule uses labels like open, closed, speaker, discussion, step study, and Big Book. Open meetings generally welcome anyone; closed meetings are for those who identify as alcoholic or think they may have a drinking problem. Checking the codes first helps you pick a first meeting that fits your comfort level.
Practical tip
Print or save the PDF before you go, since meeting times and locations change and the printed schedule carries a date. If you are unsure which meeting suits you, call the day-or-night line and ask; a local member can point you to a beginner-friendly or open meeting near you.
Business meetings, if you want to get involved
The Intergroup business meeting is usually the third Thursday of each month at 7pm, held as a hybrid — in person at the Central Office in the Annex of the Collegiate United Methodist Church, 130 S. Sheldon Ave. #309, Ames, Iowa, or over Zoom. It is open to all Ames AA members, with upcoming dates listed through January 2027. Note the page's access instruction: to reach the Central Office in person, contact an Ames AA Group Literature Representative for assistance.
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