The Conference-approved pamphlet, "The AA Group," describes a central office this way:

"Your intergroup, or central office, is often where the sick alcoholic first calls or shows up for AA help.

"Although local central offices operate independently of AA's worldwide service structure, they are a vital part of the Fellowship. [AA's Conference structure (groups, districts, areas, etc.) was established in the early 1950's to link together AA groups throughout the United States and Canada. By that time, there were already well-established intergroups/central offices in many larger cities throughout the country. The major function of those intergroups/central offices was (and still is) to provide direct help to the alcoholic who still suffers.] In most parts of the country, any group that so wishes can belong to the central office, which is supported by contributions from its member groups. These contributions are purely voluntary........."

The Capital District Central Office ("CDCO") had its beginnings back in June, 2004. At that time, an organizational meeting was held to discuss consolidating the AA phone answering services of several General Service Districts in and around Albany into one central contact point, and setting up a single local office where literature could be sold, AA events could be posted, and other services to local groups and members could be provided. The AA groups in Districts 1, 2, 14 and 18 of Area 48, "Hudson, Mohawk Berkshire," voted to turn their phone services over to the CDCO. Since the initial organizational meeting in '2004, the CDCO has held a monthly business meeting every month. The current Office opened its doors in November, 2005. The CDCO now has By-Laws, an elected Steering Committee, a bi-monthly newsletter ("The Broken Bottle") and AA Conference-approved literature for sale. The monthly meeting, held at 7:00 pm on the third Tuesday of the month at the Central Office, is open to anyone interested in becoming involved, and especially to those who are representing their groups as "Central Office Representatives" ("COR's").

The CDCO itself is open from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm Mondays through Saturdays, and from noon to 4:00 pm on Sundays. Daytime volunteers answer the phone at the Office during two shifts (11:00 am - 3:00 pm and 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm). At the end of the second shift and on Sundays at 4:00 pm, the phone is "rolled over" to a "nightowl" who answers the phone at home until 11:00 am the next day. This ensures that incoming phone calls are always answered by a "live" AA member, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Like other intergroups/central offices throughout the country, the CDCO depends on contributions from the groups it serves to operate. The CDCO is staffed by volunteers who have found that answering calls from alcoholics and greeting visitors to the office greatly enhances their sobriety and "...broadens their circle of friends."