WELCOME

Area 64 Assembly 2 Workshop Git-R-Done

What Could I Do?

Is there a fear associated with speaking with professionals? Speaking with 20 at once, probably. With only one, maybe not. 4 Speaking with Professionals

Third Parties often can Link us to Those who still Suffer 5 One AA survey showed that 1/3 of our members found their way to AA through a Third Party’s recommendation

HOW CAN WE HELP? By becoming a speaker at Non AA Meetings Spreading the word about what AA does and does not do Informing….not persuading Maintaining anonymity at the public level 6

Who do we contact? Health Care Professionals 7

Teachers HR Professionals Business Owners 8

Counselors Social Workers Corrections Workers ◦Guards ◦Activity Coordinators ◦Administrators Mental Health Personnel 9

Lawyers Judges Law Enforcement Drug Courts 10

11  Religious Leaders  Senior Centers  Care Givers of All Types

CPC/PI members… CPC/PI members… Informing the non AA public about A.A. What we are, where we are, what we can do and what we cannot do. 12

Before you jump in, let’s discuss - What’s involved in talking to non AA professionals How it differs from talking at AA events 13

But, if you feel like this when you think of speaking in front of others…This may not be the service work for you at this time. 14 Butterflies are normal...

Or, If this looks like you… think again. 15

Sorry If you have trouble showing up on time. That doesn’t build “good” will. 16

Shy, Cocky or Timid? 17

Unsure of your Sobriety? 18

So, this service work may not be right for you at this particular time We must be careful in our approach We must be non combative We must not try to persuade -- our purpose is only to inform We are not professionals, we don’t have all the answers 19

How do we approach them? 20

 GSO Target Areas Mental Health Provider Educator Supervisor Coach Military Leader Union Representative Employee Assistance Professional Social Worker Judge or Correctional Officer Physician Nurse or Physician Assistant Clergy 21

We’re looking for members Confident Calm Compassionate 22 who are: Knowledgeable of AA steps and traditions Appropriate in demeanor and dress

We’ll Provide Suggestions Presentations Literature 23 If You’ll Provide  Commitment  Time  Patience

CPC/PI – Join Us CPC/PI – Join Us 24

Spreading the Word Meeting with the public ◦Outline of what to say ◦Discussion of Presentation Styles ◦Anonymity ◦(A suggested presentation can be found in the pamphlet, Speaking at Non-AA Meetings) 25  Working to establish contact Phone calls to set appointment Mailing information and invitations Setting up for seminars and workshops

CPC & PI Committees Need Contact Links ◦Meet individuals one on one and in small groups ◦Inform without attempting to persuade Speakers ◦Speak before larger non AA groups ◦Time commitment Organizers ◦Phone calls to set appointment ◦Mailing information and invitations ◦Setting up for seminars ◦Distributing literature ◦Researching possible venues 26

And You Feel You Can and Should Fulfill this Need, Let’s Discuss... What are the FAQs - the ‘Usual Questions’ that Professionals will Ask Me? What’s the Best Way to Answer these Questions? A helpful guide is “44 Questions” p-2 27

What’s The Best Definition for AA? The Preamble of AA ◦Fellowship who share their experience, strength, and hope with each other ◦Solve their common problems and help others recover from alcoholism ◦Requirement: desire to stop drinking ◦No dues/fees ◦Not allied with any other organizations ◦No outside controversy ◦Purpose: help self & other alcoholics stay sober 28

What is the Origin of AA? What is the Origin of AA? 1934: NY stockbroker sobered up, realized the only thing that kept him sober was working with another alcoholic 1935: Akron - met an alcoholic surgeon Together, both sought out other alcoholics and remained sober The movement spread - name taken from the book published in 1939, “Alcoholics Anonymous” 29

How Does AA Work and How Well Does It Work? How Does AA Work and How Well Does It Work? Primarily works through local meetings where alcoholics help other alcoholics use the AA program to recover Latest US/Canadian survey states alcoholics ◦With <1 year in AA have a 41% chance of making it through the next year without a drink ◦With 1-5 years have an 86% chance ◦With >5 years have a 92% chance 30

The demographics of AA? (2004) The demographics of AA? (2004) Worldwide – ~2 million members ◦105,000 groups in 180 countries ~35% are women & 65% are men Average length of sobriety 8+ years ◦36% sober more than 10 years ◦14% between 5-10 years ◦24% sober 1-5 years, 26% < 1 year Average age 48 years and declining… ◦21-30= 8% and 31-40=18% ◦41-50=33% and 51-60=23% ◦61-70=11% and over 70=5% 31

Cooperating without Affiliating Affiliate: to associate as a member or branch. Cooperate: willing to work with others. 32

Cooperating without Affiliating A.A. Guidelines Cooperation with the Professional Community (5M) Cooperating with Court, D.W.I. And Similar Programs (12M) 33

Cooperation without Affiliation Working within the following Traditions. One, Two, Three, Five, Six, Ten, Eleven and Twelve. 34

Is there a Suggested Outline for a Talk? Is there a Suggested Outline for a Talk? Introduction ◦Usually first name ◦Request anonymity be respected and give the reasons (Traditions) AA – What it is ◦Preamble ◦12 Steps (how they worked for us ◦12 Traditions ◦Types of meetings Personal Story ◦Drinking pattern & experience ◦Why you decided to seek help ◦What you found in AA that helped you ◦Your life now How We Can Work Together ◦How to contact AA ◦What we can do 35

What can the Non-Alcoholic do to Help? What can the Non-Alcoholic do to Help? Professionals - e.g. Doctors, Nurses, Attorneys, Social Workers, Care Specialists and Clergy ◦Alcoholics and their families come to them for help ◦Expert status of having knowledge of alcoholism  as an illness  and hope for recovery 36

What can the Non-Alcoholic do to Help? What can the Non-Alcoholic do to Help? Professionals - e.g. Counselors, Correction Professionals and Law Enforcement Officials ◦Alcoholics and their families can be influenced by their recommendations ◦Expert status of having knowledge of alcoholism  as an illness  and hope for recovery 37

What can the Non-Alcoholic do to Help? What can the Non-Alcoholic do to Help? Non-professionals - e.g. Friend, Spouse, Acquaintance, Relative, Neighbor, etc. ◦Possibly, may also suspect the problem in themselves ◦Acknowledge their important third-party role of having knowledge of alcoholism  as an illness  and hope for recovery 38

CPC Recap... AA cooperates, but does not affiliate with professionals and/or organizations Purpose is to inform, not persuade Requests anonymity at public level Targeting healthcare professionals, business owners, teachers, counselors, attorneys, judges, law enforcement, clergy, care givers, senior centers, and the general public. Asks - are you an organizer, contact link or speaker type of person? 39

Next Steps (continued)... Review AA pamphlets ◦ Speaking at Non-AA Meetings ◦ How AA Members Cooperate ◦ 44 Questions ◦ Anonymity ◦ “White Sheet” aka Information on AA ◦ Specialty Pamphlets discussing speaking with Clergy, Health Care Professionals, Medical Community & Correctional Facilities 40

Specialty Pamphlets 42 Health Care Professionals Clergy Correctional Facilities Professionals Workplace

Health Care Professionals 44 The family physician's office presents one of the best opportunities for CPC/PI work.

A.A. website aa.org

Contact Information? Contact Information? What are the phone numbers to AA central offices? ◦East Tennessee ◦Middle Tennessee ◦West Tennessee Where can phone numbers. regarding alcoholism, be found? How can you tell if a meeting is open? 47

Contact Information? Contact Information? What are the phone numbers to AA central offices? ◦ [NE] Knoxville [865] ◦ [SE] Chattanooga [423] ◦ [M] Nashville [615] ◦ [MW] Jackson [877] ◦ [W] Memphis [901] Where can phone numbers, regarding alcoholism, be found? [yellow pages] How can you tell if a meeting is open? Call AA or look for an ‘O’ in the listing 48

The Professional 50

Thank You 51

Openoffice.org