WAI is entirely funded by AA members and groups via direct contributions and purchases. An AA member or group may contribute by phone, mail or online, as shown below. To contribute monthly, see the "Faithful Fiver" page.

WAI Officers & Committees

WAI is overseen by two committees, a Steering Committee and a Delegates Committee which together comprise the membership of WAI. Both committees meet monthly on the 2nd Thursday, all interested A.A.s are invited and encouraged to attend (for directions: click here).

The Steering Committee — the officers of WAI — consists of a chairperson, secretary, treasurer and their alternates, the office manager, and four trustees. The Steering Committee oversees the daily operations and finances of WAI. The Delegates Committee consists of the intergroup delegates from local AA groups. The Delegates Committee votes on all matters beyond the scope of the Steering Committee. At the delegates committee meeting WAI service committee chairpersons give reports, and all attendees can ask questions or share ideas, information, or concerns.

WAI officers, staff, and service positions are listed here. For more information about WAI, see the WAI Guidelines.

A.A. General Service Structure

A.A.'s general service structure is often depicted as an "inverted triangle", as shown below.


For AA General Service, North America is divided into Regions, with each region represented by a Regional Trustee on the General Service Board (GSB). Each region is divided into Areas, and each area is represented by an Area Delegate. Each area is further subdivided into Districts and each districts elects a District Committee Member (DCM) to represent the district at area meetings and assemblies.

At the top of the triangle are A.A. groups, with each represented by a General Service Representative (GSR) who can voice their group's conscience (and vote) at district meetings and area assemblies.

At the base of the triangle are two corporations: A.A. World Services Inc. (AAWS) and A.A. Grapevine Inc. (GV), collectively referred to as the General Service Office (GSO). The GSO is governed by the GSB, consisting of AAWS and GV directors and the trustees. The GSB, in turn, is loosely governed by the area delegates via the General Service Conference (GSC). The GSC itself has several boards and committees, as depicted in this GSC structure chart. Below is a chart of general service entities and the communication lines among them.

AA Communications Flowchart

A.A. Intergroups & General Service

An A.A. Intergroup (also called a Central Office or Intergroup/Central Office IGCO) is an entity whose purpose is to serve A.A. groups at the local level. Intergroups often have a physical office and a 24-hour hotline and provide resources to support AA's primary purpose at the local level: to help the still sick and suffering alcoholic in collaboration with A.A. members and groups.

An Intergroup Committee is mainly composed of Delegates from local AA groups. An AA group may elect a delegate to represent them at Intergroup committee meetings. An intergroup delegate is an A.A. group’s link to an Intergroup, equivalent to the GSRs who represent groups at District and Area assemblies. A district may also elect a delegate or District Liaison to serve as a link between the district and the intergroup. Similarly, an intergroup may elect an Area Liaison to represent the intergroup at area assemblies and committee meetings.

For an overview of A.A. general service, see the pamphlet Circles of Love and Service and for details, see the AA Service Manual. A.A. general service in eastern Massachusetts is documented in The Area 30 Handbook.

IGCOs have existed since the earliest days of A.A. and operate independently of A.A.’s General Service structure. Many IGCOs are incorporated, nonprofit entities governed by charters or bylaws and elected officers and delegates, and may employ paid staff members.

Traditionally, general service committees and IGCOs have performed different functions. IGCOs provide local services; general service committees provide a link between the A.A. groups and the A.A. General Service Board by means of the General Service Conference. So these two separate but vital A.A. service structures coexist and function in mutual cooperation and harmony. The IGCO and A.A. general service structures are depicted below.

Although IGCOs fall under the broader definition of AA "general service" (service beyond the group level), they are not to be confused with "General Service" — a shorthand reference to the A.A. service structure. In Massachusetts and elsewhere, IGCOs and General Service entities (Areas, Districts) operate and exist independently. For more information on IGCOs, see the Central or Intergroup Offices guidelines.

Within Eastern Mass (Area 30) and Western Mass (Area 31) are these IGCOs (in addition to WAI):

• Eastern Mass Central Service Office
• Western Mass Intergroup Office
• Berkshire Intergroup Office
• Cape Cod Intergroup Office
• Martha's Vineyard Intergroup
• Nantucket Intergroup