AREA 53 OUTREACH:
LET THE MESSAGE BEGIN WITH ME
Jan 1, 2014
LET THE MESSAGE BEGIN
WITH ME
Presented by the Area 53 CPC/PI Committee
• UNITY:
• “A society of alcoholics in action.” (Bill W)
• SERVICE:
• Become an A.A. “Bridging the Gap” Volunteer
• RECOVERY:
• Sharing the Steps, Traditions, and Concepts
What Does CPC/PI Mean?
• CPC - Cooperation with the Professional Community
• PI - Public Information
• 1956 - The Public Information Committee of the General Service Board
formed to better inform the public about Alcoholics Anonymous
• 1971 - the Cooperation with the Professional Committee formed to
better distribute A.A. information to those in contact with alcoholics
through their professions
• In some locales, CPC and PI committees are separate, here they
function as one committee covering two services
2
What is A.A. Public
Information?
“Public Information (P.I.) in Alcoholics Anonymous
means carrying the message
of recovery to the still-suffering alcoholic
[inside and outside the rooms] by informing the
general public about the A.A. program.”
(P.5; Public Information Workbook, 1994)
3
Public Information Goals
• Encourage, inform and stimulate active participation in outreach work at some level
by the A.A. fellowship of District 53.
• Provide local libraries with our business cards and at least one copy of the Big Book,
Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, and Living Sober in both English and Spanish
• Place literature at the YMCA and local treatment facilities keeping them stocked with
appropriate literature and meeting schedules
• Participate in District and Area A.A. Seminars and conventions
• Cooperate with the C&T, Grapevine, and Archives Committees
• Present at the local medical and treatment conferences with a well-stocked
information booth.
• Speak at conferences when invited to deliver the message regarding what A.A. is
and is not
4
CPC Goals
•
Prepare Literature packets for the various Target Populations for
distribution and presentations
•
Send letters to Professionals who may have contact with still-suffering
alcoholics; which includes Doctors, Nurses, Therapist, Counselors,
Lawyers, DWI Monitors, Probation Officers, Juveniles Services, Social
Services, Teachers, Employers, and Clergy offering A.A. literature
and/or a presentation on A.A. – what we do and what we do not do
•
Provide appropriate A.A. literature and meeting schedules to Doctor,
Lawyer and Therapy offices/clinics
5
3 Levels of Public Information
Outreach
• Public Information Outreach is Twelfth Step work in Action
• It starts with the Individual AA and the Group
• It progresses to the District, the Intergroup, and the Area on up to General
Services
INDIVIDUAL
THE GROUP
AREA 53
6
Target Outreach Populations
Families and Friends
Teachers
Legal
Services
Students
Medical and
Therapeutic
Services
Clergy
Treatment
Facilities
Media
Employers
Correctional Facilities
Still-Suffering
Alcoholic
7
Carrying the Message How?
Sponsoring
Professionals
and Professional
Students
Phone
Contact
Celebrating
Sponsoring the
Newcomer
Anniversaries
Public Information
Forums and
Displays
Conference
Approved
Literature
“When Someone Reaches Out for the Hand of A.A.
Let Me Be There. For That I Am Responsible.”
8
What Can I Do As An
Individual?
– Share with your family and close friends about A.A. Encourage them to seek more
information.
– Greet the Newcomer and give them a Newcomer packet. Tell them about A.A. and to keep
coming back.
– Celebrate A.A. “Anniversaries” to show the Program works.
– Become a Sponsor and part of a recovery network – Talk to an AA’s/ Sponsee’s family, if
appropriate.
– As a Sponsor, introduce your Sponsee to the 12 recommended Basic Information Pamphlets
and help guide and prepare him/her for Service work at the Group, Intergroup and District
levels.
– Share information about A.A. with outside contacts – Doctors, Therapists, Lawyers, etc.
– Attend, and hopefully participate in, District committees and local workshops, seminars and
A.A. sponsored social functions.
– Become a GSR or Intergroup Representative for your Home Group.
– Become a Bridging the Gap Outreach Volunteer for the CPC/PI and/or the C&T committees.
– Work and live the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions and practice these principles in all
your affairs.
9
What Can “WE” Do As
A Group?
• Be well-informed about the Steps, Traditions and Concepts of A.A. and practice
these principles.
• Welcome Newcomers and provide them with Conference Approved Literature.
• Pass around a Where and When for A.A. phone #’s for the Newcomer.
• Have an active Sponsors List available for any AA who may need it.
• Encourage the Newcomer to “Keep Coming Back”.
• Encourage the fellowship to participate in the District and Intergroup outreach
projects.
• Have an active GSR and Intergroup Representative who gives monthly reports to
the fellowship.
• Have an active Secretary who informs the Home Group of upcoming
anniversaries, events, and Committee, District, Intergroup and Area meetings
10
Service Sponsorship
“Sponsorship in A.A. is basically the same, whether helping another
individual’s recovery or service to a group. It can be defined as one
alcoholic who has made some progress in recovery and / or
performance in service, sharing this experience with another
alcoholic who is just starting the journey. Both types of service
spring from the spiritual aspects of the program.”
(p.28)
11
Responsibilities of a
Service Sponsor
Present various aspects of service such as:
• Setting up a meeting.
• Make the Coffee.
• Be a Greeter.
• Become the Chair, Secretary, or Treasurer of a Group.
• Working on Committees.
• Become a G.S.R./G.R. for the District or Intergroup.
• Participating in Conferences.
• Become a Committee Chair/Co-Chair.
• Become the D.C.M.
Help individuals understand the distinction between serving the needs of the
fellowship and meeting the personal needs of another group member.
12
Volunteer Outreach A.A.
Contact Guidelines
• Minimum of one to two years of sobriety, knowledge of the Traditions and service
structure, and some service experience (group, intergroup or general service).
• Volunteers should contact the prospective professional/student promptly and let the
CPC/PI Committee know of any difficulties.
• Schedule the meeting at the professional’s/student’s convenience.
• Attend only open A.A. meetings, preferably those the volunteer contact is familiar with
and where he or she is known.. Avoid hospital, rehab, or institution meetings.
• In order to help the attendee experience a typical meeting, introduce them as a
professional/professional student to the entire group after the meeting rather than before.
• One-to-one contact is important. Do not travel to the meeting with other A.A. friends.
• Let the attendee ask the questions; don’t tell them everything.
• When sharing a personal opinion, make it clear that you do not speak for A.A. as a whole.
• Offer the attendee a Conference Approved Literature packet.
G.S.O. Guidelines - C.P.C. Workbook, page 20-21
13
Working Within The Traditions
“The Twelve Traditions are Our Traditions and the responsibility for
preserving them is Ours…We cannot expect others to understand and
observe the Traditions if we are poorly informed ourselves…An
understanding of all the Traditions and a firm grasp of the anonymity
Traditions are especially vital.”
“Thoughtful reading of A.A. literature (Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions
and the pamphlets “A.A. Tradition – How It Developed” and “The Twelve
Traditions Illustrated”) is essential for anyone who works with non-A.A.’s.
(p.9)
14
Tradition of Anonymity
“Our relations with the general public should be characterized by
personal anonymity. We think A.A. ought to avoid sensational
advertising. Our names and pictures as A.A. members ought not
be broadcast, filmed, or publicly printed. Our public relations
should be guided by the principle of attraction rather than
promotion. There is never need to praise ourselves. We feel it
better to let our friends recommend us.”
“Anonymity to this extent is actually the practice of genuine humility.”
15
Our Special Thanks to
Bill and Bob!
16
Remember, we are never alone!
17
“Thank you”
To all of you for attending
and participating
18