All members of H&I and the H&I board are volunteers who want to be of service to A.A. by carrying the message of Alcoholics Anonymous to those confined to a hospital or institution. In keeping with the Seventh Tradition of A.A., we are self-supporting through a monthly collection and donations from A.A. groups. Books are purchased and distributed by the committee. We welcome donations from individuals or groups to help get books and other literature to those we serve.

Currently Las Vegas H&I takes 324 Panel of Alcoholics Anonymous, a month into facilities around Las Vegas and beyond. 60 of these panels are in jails, prisons, and juvenile halls where inmates seeking to stay sober “behind the wall” are given an opportunity to hear sober members of Alcoholics Anonymous share their experience, strength and hope. Many men and women have heard the A.A. message for the first time while incarcerated, having stayed sober and gone to A.A. when released. Often they come to our monthly meeting, when they are released to share their gratitude with us for the work we do.

 264 of our panels are in hospitals, residential or detox facilities and shelters where people we serve are often in their first few days of sobriety. Our members report great satisfaction in being able to carry the message in much the same way as Dr. Bob and Bill W. did. For many of those to whom we present our experience, strength and hope, our panels are their first contact with Alcoholics Anonymous.

A panel (not to be confused with open AA meetings )  is a commitment by a member of H&I to bring a group  of Alcoholics Anonymous members  into a facility on a specific day and time each month. Most of our panels meet weekly. With four or five weeks in a month, there are four or five panel leaders covering a particular panel each month.

Panels can be for men only, women only or co-ed depending on the facility. In the jail system and prison panels are male or female only, but either male or female can participate on the panel. 

Guests can be other members of H&I or members of Alcoholics Anonymous who are friends or acquaintances of the panel leader. For the Las Vegas  jail system panel guests must have a security clearance from the Sheriff’s Department. Prison panel guests must be cleared in advance for the facility they wish to visit. Prison and jail panel guests must be at least 21 years old and have at least one year of continuous sobriety, although there are some panels that require longer lengths of sobriety. Hospital panel guests usually must have a minimum of 6  months of sobriety, but some panels require 1 year or more of sobriety.

To be eligible to be a panel leader you must have 1 year of continuous sobriety, give a monthly report to LV H&I Facility Coordinator to report in H&I business meetings.  Leaders of jail or prison panels must also pass a security background check and may not be on probation or parole. Some special panels may also require a longer length of sobriety or a more thorough investigation of your background. The Las Vegas  jail system also requires that panel leaders and guests be at least 21 years old. Open panels are announced at the monthly H&I business meeting and are filled by eligible members that day.