The Akron Area Intergroup Office is in the process of moving to a new location in Akron OH. Please keep us in your prayers as we navigate this complex process, and bookmark this page to keep up-to-date on all of the latest developments.
Akron Area Intergroup Move
Why Are We Moving?
The Akron Area Intergroup Office has been at its 775 N. Main St. location for 30 years. In fact, the Intergroup has only ever been at two locations for its entire existence. Here are the main reasons we feel it has become time to move again.
The current building has developed a number of structural issues that have become impossible to ignore. Recently we experienced water damage that ruined about $3,400 of our inventory. Thankfully it did not affect any of our Archives. The exact source of the water leak has not been identified. Expecting it to happen again, we have resorted to using tarps and garbage bags to protect equipment and inventory that might be in the path of future leaks.
Over the years debris has fallen from the exterior of the building, particularly following windy storms. A number of AA contractors have suggested that will only become more common once planned work starts on the next-door building.
We have outgrown the space available in our current location. In particular, we lack the space needed for our retail inventory and items our Standing Committees utilize throughout the year. It has become difficult to keep track of what we need to order and we have resorted to storing things in hallways. This solution has encroached on the Akron AA Archives displays many come from all over the world to enjoy.
We have had an extremely good and beneficial relationship with our current landlord, as well as the management company he hired a few years ago. In fact, our current landlord has not asked for a rent increase in 15 years! But these reasons have made it apparent that we need to move to a location that better fits our current needs.
What Have We Done So Far?
Last year the Executive Board started discussing the idea of whether we needed to find a new location. Those discussions were elevated following the water leak that ruined a significant portion of our inventory.
In March our situation was presented to the Akron Area Intergroup Council. Council authorized the Executive Board to secure a new location.
Following the Council authorization, the Executive Board convened the Finance Committee to examine ways to pay for the move as well as provide an on-going means to pay for a potential rent increase. That committee agreed that our current Prudent Reserve is at a level that can account for the upfront costs that a move will incur. Additionally they proposed three way of handling a future rent increase.
- Increase the price of all of our items by 15%, but allowing for our Office Staff to modify some items they deem will become too expensive to justify. In particular, special attention is to be paid to critical AA items like Big Books and the Twelve and Twelve.
- Eliminate the growing costs of our mailings by moving the weekly announcements and IGNews to digital formats. Along with saving postage and printing costs, this will provide significant savings by allowing us to lease a much less-costly copier.
- Increase the cost of Founders’ Day registrations to provide funds specifically designated for office expenses like rent and utilities.
At the April Akron Area Intergroup Council meeting, Council approved the price increase and agreed to moving the mailings to a digital format on a trial basis. The Founders’ Day increase is to be looked at by the Founders’ Day Committee once the 2025 event has been completed.
The Executive Board also created an ad-hoc Needs Assessment and Site Selection Committee. That committee identified a large number of “needs” and “wants” to look for in potential locations. Among the more important are:
- Keeping the Office within the physical bounds of the birthplace of AA: Akron, OH
- Adequate storage space
- Paved parking with at least 25 available spaces
- Access and bathrooms that meet ADA requirements, preferably on the first floor.
- A large conference room for Executive Board and Committee meetings along with an isolated space for the office employees to complete critical work undisturbed.
- Adequate space to display the Akron AA Archives, including our Man-on-the-Bed stained-glass window.
How is the Search Going?
The Executive Board has engaged a commercial realtor, who also is an AA member, to aid in a search for a new location. The Site Selection Committee, Executive Board and office staff have examined lists of about 100 potential spaces currently available throughout the city.
More than 20 locations that appeared to meet our space and financial requirements have been visited. Walk-throughs have been completed at five of those locations.
What is Next?
The Finance Committee reconvened on April 14 to fine tune the expected costs associated with a potential move. It was decided at that meeting to authorize the Executive Board to enter into a letter of intent for one of the sites that has been previously discussed.
Our loose goal is to have a move completed sometime between the end of this year’s Founders’ Day Weekend and the end of the year.