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Welcome

Welcome to the Western Washington Area 72 Corrections Committee webpage.  A central resource for all of your corrections needs, including corrections information, literature and contacts.  We hope after reading the information you will be ready to start your journey in what many of us have found is an extremely rewarding form of 12th Step work.  Here is a quick summary of what corrections servants do:

AA members carry the A.A. message to the alcoholic in a Correctional Facility who wants to live sober, one day at a time.  Our members do this service work as part of maintaining their own sobriety and to give individuals who are confined an opportunity to find sobriety.  Through a Corrections Committee working with corrections personnel, alcoholics are reached who might never otherwise find the A.A. program. [Source : Oregon Area 58 Correction Committee]

Our Corrections Committee assists in carrying the A.A. message to those confined in facilities in a variety of ways, including:

  • Take in-person and/or virtual A.A. meetings or panels into correctional facilities;
  • Provide correctional facilities and corrections professionals with A.A. literature;
  • Encourage participation in the Corrections Correspondence Program (see below for more information and link);
  • Help those A.A. members who are about to be released to immediately connect with A.A. in the outside community. See our section on the Corrections Bridge Program below;
  • Work with the other committees, such as Cooperation with the Professional Community and Public Information, to help inform corrections professionals about resources A.A. provides to those who are in custody;
  • Provide information and support services to our A.A. members involved in A.A. Corrections;
  • Connect you with A.A. members currently taking meetings and literature into facilities; and
  • Keep everyone informed on corrections activity throughout Western Washington through our Area Corrections Quarterly meetings, workshops, Corrections Workbook Study and other events and speaking engagements.

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Are you interested in or new to corrections work?  Start Here!

First, welcome to A.A. corrections service.  We hope this page helps provide you with all the information you need to begin your corrections service journey.  We recommend watching the corrections video “Carrying the Message Behind These Walls” provided by A.A.’s General Service Office (GSO) first.  Next, read the information on this page and link to the pamphlets.  After that you may have questions.  Our committee members are here to help and would love to hear from you.  Feel free to reach out to any of them by email to answer any questions you may have or to be connected to the A.A. members in your community already involved in corrections service work.  For more information review our Corrections Volunteer Registration section where you can also register to request additional information, be included on our committee emails, or speak with a committee member.

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Are you a new Corrections Committee Member or Chair?

There are a variety of resources for new committee chairs.  Here are some suggestions to help you make the most of your rotation as a District or Intergroup Corrections Chair or Committee Member:

  • Fill out the Area 72 District Trusted Servant Update form & submit.
  • Contact AA’s General Service Office and let them know you are a new Corrections Chair and ask for a Corrections Kit, they will send it to you free of charge to help you in your service position.  It contains all the pamphlets, literature and videos you will need.  You can reach by email at corrections@aa.org or online at: https://www.aa.org/information-for-new-trusted-servants
  • Contact your Area Corrections Committee Chair at corrections@area72aa.org and let them know you are the new District Corrections Chair for your District.  The chair will help you with accessing your area72aa.org email  and notify you of upcoming corrections events such as:
    • the Area’s Corrections Quarterlies held every third Saturday in March, June, September and December
    • information on the National Corrections Conference and the weekly International (US and Canada) corrections call.
    • They are also a great resource for suggestions on how to approach and access correctional facilities in your District, who the AA facility liaisons are and key AA members in your district for additional information.
    • Review the Area Corrections Committee webpages as they provide access to the literature, videos, website links to all the corrections information you will need.
    • Order your A.A. Corrections Kit online here: https://onlineliterature.aa.org/Corrections-Kit
    • Assemble your own Corrections Kit in the meantime. Use the Corrections Kit Flyer [English] [Spanish] as a checklist to hyperlink to, search for and download most of the information. In fact, many of the contents are available on this webpage in the Literature and Videos section below. If you need further assistance, contact your Area Corrections Chair.

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Correctional Facilities in Western Washington

Click [here : note - under development] for a list of the correctional facilities in Western Washington Area 72 and the District or Intergroup Corrections Committee contact for that facility.

Correctional Facilities covered by Greater Seattle Intergroup Corrections Committee : here

Corrections Bridge Program

The Corrections Bridge Program (also known as the Corrections Prerelease Program) connects the A.A. member being released from a correctional facility with A.A. members in the community they are being released to. Past experience has shown that attending an A.A. meeting on the outside on the day of release from prison is one of the most effective tools for a person in custody in making a sober transition and maintaining continued sobriety in the free world. It is strongly recommended that an  A.A. member being released have an A.A. contact on the outside (preferably with at least one year’s sobriety and of the same sex) who contacts the inmate and arranges to meet him or her on the day of release to help in “Bridging the Gap” between the institution and A.A. on the outside. (AA Corrections Workbook Page 35)

Area 72’s Corrections Bridge Program does just this. Through the distribution of our Corrections Bridge Program flyer to A.A. members in custody within Area 72, the person in custody is able to notify our Bridge Coordinator about their release date and location they are being released to.  Our Bridge Coordinator then connects them with the district corrections chair or DCM for that location to ensure that member is immediately connected to the A.A. community they are be released to.

In addition, bridge requests also come in from the General Service Office from persons in custody being released into Area 72. Our Bridge Coordinator then arranges for the District Corrections Chair in the destination District to contact the person in custody and arrange to get them to A.A. meetings in that district.  It is suggested that the District Corrections Chair facilitate getting the newly released member to at least 3-6 meetings within the District.  Let the local fellowship do the rest.

For more information contact our Bridge Coordinator at corbridge@area72aa.org.

Download our Area 72 Bridge Form in [English] or [Spanish]

A.A.W.S. Corrections Prerelease pamphlet – Outside Members - [English] [Spanish]

A.A.W.S. Corrections Prerelease pamphlet – Inside Members - [English] [Spanish]

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Corrections Literature Program

Alcoholics confined in correctional facilities usually have just one A.A. meeting a week available to them if they are lucky. A sizable number are on waiting lists and go to none at all. But, there’s another way to carry the message to these people: provide them with meetings in print through A.A.’s Big Book, pamphlets and the Grapevine. The only stumbling block is money.

How are local corrections committees funded? How do they accumulate literature for  inside meetings? These questions have become a frequent refrain at all levels of service, including the General Service Office, where more than 90% of the letters that cross the Corrections desk contain requests for free literature. In the spirit of A.A.’s Seventh  Tradition, the search is on for financing approaches that make practical as well as spiritual sense. [A.A. Corrections Workbook Page 18]

Throughout Area 72, A.A. Literature is delivered to correctional facilities through a variety of resources.  For example, the Area 72 Correction Committee is allotted an annual budget just for A.A. literature and Grapevine subscriptions for correctional facilities.  In addition, most intergroups and many districts within Area 72 collect contributions from A.A. members through "pink can" funds, as A.A. members fondly refer to them, the collection of which is typically handled by the Intergroup or District Corrections Chair or committee.  These funds are accessible by contacting the local intergroup or district corrections chair and making an inquiry or request.  Corrections literature is an important part of the corrections committee work and, along with active meetings in correctional facilities, is a main discussion topic at Area 72’s Corrections Committee Quarterlies.

To inquire on requesting a literature order for a correctional facility you service or attend regularly, contact our Corrections Literature Coordinator at corlit@area72aa.org.

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The A.A. Facility Liaison

In Area 72, many A.A. members have a well-established relationship with a particular corrections facility and act as that facility’s liaison to the supporting A.A. community. Here in Area 72, we call these valued members our “A.A. Facility Liaisons.” We have found these servants are the gold-standard for our corrections work in Area 72. They typically work outside of the two-year rotation cycle. It is important that we maintain these relationships with each facility. It is suggested District Corrections Chairs work to support the liaison with 1.) members to go to meetings on the inside 2.) literature for that facility 3.) provide bridge program flyers and bridge support.

Corrections Correspondence Service

From A.A. Corrections Workbook Page 44:

The Corrections Correspondence Service has been one of the most productive ways for individual A.A. members to carry the message to inmates who are confined. The G.S.O. staff member on the Corrections assignment receives approximately 35 letters a day from inmates who wish to receive A.A. literature, A.A. contacts, interim sponsorship, and correspondence with A.A.s on the outside.

It is difficult for an A.A. member behind the walls to participate in ongoing individual sharing about the A.A. program of recovery, particularly in large prisons. The Corrections Correspondence Service allows inmates to correspond with outside A.A.s on an individual basis. 

Several thousand A.A. members active in local groups are currently writing to inmates.  G.S.O. sends the name and address of the inmate who wants correspondence to the outside A.A. member.  The outside A.A. member then makes the first contact. Some outside A.A. members use a home group post office box number for correspondence. Some A.A. groups are A.A. contacts for many inmates.

It is suggested that men correspond with men, and women with women. Sometimes, correspondence is the only opportunity an inmate has to share experience, strength and hope with another A.A. An inmate might be in protective custody or solitary confinement and cannot attend regular meetings; other inmate A.A.s could be on a facility waiting list to attend A.A. meetings inside.

The 1993 Conference Correctional Facilities Committee discussed this service at great length and agreed it is an important one. However, they recognized the difficulty G.S.O. has in obtaining “outside” A.A.s to correspond with inmates and agreed that perhaps it is now time for areas to become more involved in this Twelfth Step work. Corrections committee members might remember to encourage A.A. groups and members to participate in this service. Any A.A. member who would like to carry the message in this way can download a sign-up form from our Web site or they can contact the Corrections Assignment Desk, P.O. Box 459, Grand Central Station, New York, NY 10163, or corrections@aa.org.

If you would like to share your experience, strength and hope with A.A.s who are confined, please mail the Corrections Correspondence Form to G.S.O.’s Corrections Desk, or email the information to corrections@aa.org. (You can also access the form on the Corrections Committee page at aa.org) The name of an inmate, selected at random from a geographic region different from your own, will be sent to you from the General Service Office and you will make the initial contact through the mail.

Those who have participated in this service have found sharing with inmates a very gratifying form of Twelfth Step work. We are happy to know there are A.A. members like you willing to help make it possible for the A.A. message to be carried to those on the “inside.” [source: aa.org]

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Area 72 Corrections Committee Contacts / Service Positions:

Corrections Events

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Literature and Videos on A.A. Corrections

In page viewing and printing a single copy of these items is permitted in accordance with the A.A. World Services, Inc. content use policy.
  • AA in Correctional Facilities [English] [Spanish]
  • Carrying the Message Into Correctional Facilities [English] [Spanish]
  • It Sure Beats Sitting in a Cell [English] [Spanish]
  • Behind the Walls: A message fo hope (Memo to an Inmate who May Be an Alcoholic) [English] [Spanish]
  • A Message to Corrections Professionals... [English] [Spanish]
  • How A.A. Members Cooperate with Professionals [English] [Spanish]
  • A.A. Guidelines on Corrections Committees [English] [Spanish]
  • Many Paths to Spirituality [English] [Spanish]
  • The AA Corrections Workbook [English] [Spanish]
  • The Correctional Facilities A.A. Group Handbook [English] [Spanish]
  • Sharing from Behind the Walls – Quarterly newsletter from the A.A. Corrections desk [English] [Spanish]
  • Recommended Videos at AA.org.
    • Carrying the Message Behind These Walls (14:42) [English] [Spanish]
    • AA in Correctional Facilities (10:10) [English] [Spanish]
    • A New Freedom (30:49) [English] [Spanish]

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G.S.O. and Local Corrections Committee Webpages:

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Guidelines and Registration for Corrections Volunteers

Welcome to our Corrections Committee Volunteer Registration section.  Please review the following information and if interested, click the link to the registration page below and a member of the corrections committee will be in contact with you.

If you desire to participate in this rewarding 12th Step service work, we suggest you read the pamphlets AA in Correctional Facilities  and Carrying the Message Into Correctional Facilities. AA members bring meetings or panels into correctional facilities to carry the message of recovery.

Volunteers may need to attend a facility orientation to understand that facility rules and regulations.  We are guests of each facility and are expected to know and abide by their rules and regulations.  We are expected to live up to certain standards we have set for ourselves – some of which are expressed on the Do’s and Don’ts.  Please read them.  You will be expected to act accordingly.

Washington State Department of Corrections General Requirements

Each facility may have different requirements.  The following are some general guidelines:

  • Sobriety requirements - typically at least 1 to 2 years continuous sobriety
  • Age: 21 years minimum
  • Off Paper [no pending parole or probation] for certain period of years
  • Period of years since last violation
  • Volunteers must submit to a background check
  • Each facility may have its own background check requirements
  • Attendance at an orientation at that facility.
  • COVID: Masking and proof of vaccination may be required

DO'S & DONT'S

  • Do – Have a valid Photo ID
  • Do – Check dress code rules
  • Do – Keep your commitment, on time
  • Do – Share your experience strength and hope
  • Don’t – Use profane or vulgar language
  • Don’t – Take anything in or out
  • Don’t –  Give personal information to Inmates
  • Don’t – Talk about outside issues or drunk-a-log
  • Don’t – Promise jobs or aid of any kind

To register to be a volunteer, fill out the
Corrections Volunteer Registration Page here.

If you want more information or have questions, fill out the
Corrections Contact Request Form here and someone from the committee will contact you.

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District 01

Business Meeting Information 

Meets Every Thursday of month at 8:00 PM.
St. Luke’s Episcopal
99 Wells Ave S
RentonWA 98057 
 

Contact Information  

MCD – District 1
 
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District 02

Business Meeting Information 

Meets 3rd Tuesday of month at 6:30 PM.
Peace Lutheran
1717 Larson Rd
SilvanaWA 98287
 

Contact Information 

×
District 03

Business Meeting Information 

Meets 3rd Thursday of month at 7:00 PM.
Monroe Covenant
202 S Sams St
MonroeWA 98272
Zoom ID:
92258011108 

Password: Service

Contact Information 

District 3
PO Box 157
MonroeWA 98272
 
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District 04

Business Meeting Information 

Meets 3rd Sunday of month at 5:00 PM.
PUD Bldg
1415 Freeway Dr
Mt. VernonWA 98273
 

Contact Information 

District 4
PO Box 608
Sedro WoolleyWA 98284
×
District 07

Business Meeting Information 

Meets 4th Thursday of month at 7:00 PM.
Vancouver Area Intergroup Office
2203 Fairmount Ave
VancouverWA 98661
(360) 694-3870 
 

Contact Information 

District 7
PO Box 504
VancouverWA 98666-0504
×
District 08

Business Meeting Information 

Meets 2nd Sunday of month at 6:00 PM.
St. Mark’s Lutheran
2109 College St SE
LaceyWA 98503
 

Contact Information 

South Sound Service Ctr
344 Cleveland Ave SE
TumwaterWA 98501-3342
(360) 352-7344
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District 09

Business Meeting Information 

Meets 3rd Tuesday of month at 6:30 PM.
Pierce County Central Service Office
3640 S Cedar
TacomaWA 98409
(253) 474-8897
 

Contact Information 

Pierce County Central Service Office
3640 S Cedar
TacomaWA 98409
(253) 474-8897
 
 
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District 10

Business Meeting Information 

Meets Last Sunday of month at 1:30 PM.
Location Rotates
Contact DCM for more information.
WA
 

Contact Information 

District 10
PO Box 1214
SilverdaleWA 98383
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District 11

Business Meeting Information 

Meets 3rd Wednesday of month at 6:30 PM.
Currently on Zoom – for meeting info go to https:www.district11aa.org/events and look for District Committee Meeting
 

Contact Information 

District 11
PO Box 2268
BellinghamWA 98225
(360) 734-1688
 
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District 12

Business Meeting Information 

Meets 1st Thursday of month at 7:00 PM.
Baker Heights Comm Ctr
1401 Poplar St
EverettWA 98201
 

Contact Information 

District 12
PO Box 1387
EverettWA 98206-1387
×
District 14

Business Meeting Information 

Meets 2nd Tuesday of month at 7:00 PM.
Fauntleroy UCC
9140 California Ave SW
SeattleWA 98136
 

Contact Information 

District 14
6523 California Avenue SW #292
SeattleWA 98136
Contact Us
 
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District 15

Business Meeting Information 

Meets 2nd Tuesday of month at 7:00 PM.
Greater Seattle Intergroup Office
5507 6th Ave S
SeattleWA 98108
(206) 587-2838
 

Contact Information 

District 15
PO Box 20083
SeattleWA 98102-9799
×
District 16

Business Meeting Information 

Meets 3rd Wednesday of month at 7:00 PM.
University Lutheran
1604 NE 50th St
SeattleWA 98105
 

Contact Information 

District 16
PO Box 27791
SeattleWA 98165-2791
 
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District 17

Business Meeting Information 

Meets 2nd Thursday of month at 7:00 PM.
St. Luke’s Episcopal
5710 22nd Ave NW
SeattleWA 98107
 

Contact Information 

District 17
PO Box 19365
SeattleWA 98109-1365
×
District 18

Business Meeting Information 

Meets 3rd Thursday of month at 7:00 PM.
Renton Methodist
2201 NE 4th St
RentonWA 98056
 

Contact Information  

×
District 19

Business Meeting Information 

Meets Last Wednesday of month at 7:00 PM.
First Covenant
4502 Rucker Ave
EverettWA 98203
 

Contact Information 

District 19
PO Box 13023
EverettWA 98206-3023
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District 22

Business Meeting Information 

Meets 3rd Wednesday of month at 6:30 PM
Veterans Center
216 S Francis St
Port AngelesWA 98362
 

Contact Information 

District 22
PO Box 1646
Port AngelesWA 98362
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District 24

Business Meeting Information 

Meets 1st Wednesday of month at 7:00 PM.
(6pm for 3rd Legacy)
Edmonds Masonic Lodge
515 Dayton Ave
Edmonds WA 98020
 

Contact Information  

 
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District 27

Business Meeting Information 

Meets 3rd Saturday of month at 2:00 PM.
Location Rotates. Contact DCM for more information.
 

Contact Information 

District 27
PO Box 1422
LongviewWA 98632
×
District 28

Business Meeting Information 

Meets 2nd Monday of month at 6:30 PM.
Jackson Prairie Assembly Of God
4224 Jackson Hwy
ChehalisWA 98532
 

Contact Information 

District 28
PO Box 593
ChehalisWA 98532
×
District 29

Business Meeting Information 

Meets 2nd Tuesday of month at 6:30 PM.
Puyallup Elks
314 27th St NE
PuyallupWA 98372
 

Contact Information 

District 29
PO Box 1439
PuyallupWA 98371
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District 31

Business Meeting Information 

Meets 2nd Wednesday of month at 6:30 PM.
John Knox Church
109 SW Normandy Road
Normandy ParkWA 98168
 

Contact Information 

District 31
PO Box 48284
BurienWA 98148-0284
×
District 32

Business Meeting Information 

Meets 3rd Monday of month at 7:00 PM.
Brooklake Comm Ch
629 S 356th St
Federal WayWA 98003
 

Contact Information 

District 32
PO Box 4722
Federal WayWA 98063-4722
×
District 33

Business Meeting Information 

Meets 2nd Tuesday of month at 6:00 PM.
Maple Valley Presbyterian
22659 Sweeney Rd SE
Maple ValleyWA 98038 
 

Contact Information 

District 33
PO Box 11
Black DiamondWA 98010
×
District 34

Business Meeting Information 

Meets 1st Tuesday of month at 7:00 PM.
Grace Lutheran Church
9625 NE 8th Street
BellevueWA 98004
 

Contact Information 

District 34
PO Box 50081
BellevueWA 98015
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District 35

Business Meeting Information 

Meets 3rd Wednesday of month at 7:00 PM.
Issaquah Valley Senior Ctr
75 NE Creek Way
IssaquahWA 98027
 

Contact Information 

District 35
PO Box 882
IssaquahWA 98027-0017
 
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District 36

Business Meeting Information 

Meets 1st Tuesday of month at 7:00 PM.
Fall City Methodist
4326 337th Pl SE
Fall CityWA 98024
 

Contact Information 

District 36
PO Box 1963
North BendWA 98045
email: dcm@snovalleyaa.org
×
District 37

Business Meeting Information 

Meets 4th Tuesday of month at 7:00 PM.
Vancouver Area Intergroup Office
2203 Fairmount Ave
VancouverWA 98661
(360) 694-3870
 

Contact Information 

District 37
PO Box 5566
VancouverWA 98686
 
×
District 38

Business Meeting Information 

Meets 2nd Tuesday of month at 7:00 PM.
Kirkland Congregational
106 5th Ave
KirklandWA 98033
 

Contact Information 

District 38
PO Box 322
KirklandWA 98083-3220
 
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District 39

Business Meeting Information 

Meets 1st Tuesday of month at 7:00 PM.
 
First Lutheran Church
10207 10207 NE 183rd St.
Bothell, WA 98011

Contact Information 

District 39
PO Box 1695
BothellWA 98041-1695
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District 40

Business Meeting Information 

Meets 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7:00 PM.
Plymouth Church
1217 6th Avenue
Rm 322
Seattle, WA 98101
 

Contact Information 

District 40
PO Box 12132
SeattleWA 98102
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District 41

Business Meeting Information 

Meets 2nd Wednesday of the month at 7:00 PM.
Denny Park Lutheran
766 John St
SeattleWA 98109
 

Contact Information 

District 41
PO Box 99132
SeattleWA 98139-0132
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District 42

Business Meeting Information 

Meets 2nd Thursday of month at 7:00 PM.
The Phoenix Club
15011 Aurora Ave N
ShorelineWA 98133
 

Contact Information 

District 42
PO Box 33222
SeattleWA 98133
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District 43

Business Meeting Information 

Meets 1st Wednesday of month at 6:00 PM.
Givens Activity Bldg
1025 Tacoma Ave
Port OrchardWA 98366
 

Contact Information 

District 43
PO Box 186
BurleyWA 98322-0186

District Hotline : 1-360-329-2841

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District 44

Business Meeting Information 

Meets 3rd Wednesday of month at 6:30 PM.
Pierce County Central Service Office
3640 S Cedar
TacomaWA 98409
(253) 474-8897
 

Contact Information 

Pierce County Central Service Office
3640 S Cedar
TacomaWA 98409
(253) 474-8897
×
District 45

Business Meeting Information 

Meets 3rd Thursday of month at 6:30 PM.
Pierce County Central Service Office
3640 S Cedar
TacomaWA 98409
(253) 474-8897
 

Contact Information 

Pierce County Central Service Office
3640 S Cedar
TacomaWA 98409
(253) 474-8897
 
×
District 46

Business Meeting Information 

Meets 3rd Saturday of month at 9:30 AM.
Location Rotates
Contact DCM for more information.
 

Contact Information

District 46

PO Box 484
AnacortesWA 98221
×
District 54

Business Meeting Information 

Meets 2nd Thursday of month at 7:00 PM.
St. Aloysius Catholic
211 W Mason Ave
BuckleyWA 98321
 

Contact Information

×
District 55

Business Meeting Information 

Meets 3rd Sunday of month at 5:00 PM.
St. Luke’s Episcopal
525 N 5th Ave
SequimWA 98382
 

Contact Information

District 55
PO Box 1985
SequimWA 98382
 
×
District 56

Business Meeting Information 

Meets the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 6:00 PM.
Masonic Lodge
1338 Jefferson Street
Port Townsend, WA 98368
 

Contact Information

District 56
PO Box 1066

Port Townsend, WA  98368

×
District 57

Business Meeting Information 

Meets 2nd & 4th Sunday of month at 8:00 AM.
Una Vision Para Ti
607 SE Everett Mall Way
EverettWA 98208
 

Contact Information

×
District 22

Business Meeting Information 

Meets 3rd Wednesday of month at 7:00 PM.
Unity In The Olympics
2917 E Myrtle St
Port AngelesWA 98362

Contact Information 

District 22
PO Box 1646
Port AngelesWA 98362

 

×
District 21

Business Meeting Information 

Meets the 3rd Sunday @ 5:30 PM
Aberdeen Alano Club
823 W Heron St
AberdeenWA 98520
 

Contact Information 

Contact Us

×
District 28

Business Meeting Information 

Meets 2nd Monday of month at 6:30 PM.
Jackson Prairie Assembly Of God
4224 Jackson Hwy
ChehalisWA 98532
 

Contact Information 

District 28
PO Box 593
ChehalisWA 98532
×
District 32

Business Meeting Information 

Meets 3rd Monday of month at 7:00 PM.
Brooklake Comm Ch
629 S 356th St
Federal WayWA 98003
 

Contact Information 

District 32
PO Box 4722
Federal WayWA 98063-4722
×
District 25

Business Meeting Information 

TBD
 

Contact Information  

 
×