What We Do
AA's Committee
for the Cooperation with the Professional Community (CPC) provides information
about AA to members of the community whose profession may bring them into
contact with people who may suffer from the disease of alcoholism.
These professionals can
include, but are not limited to:
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·
Physicians
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·
Social
Workers |
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·
Members of
the Clergy |
·
Psychologists |
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·
Attorneys
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·
Educators
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·
Medical
Professionals |
·
Alcohol
and Drug Counselors |
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·
Business
Professionals |
·
Union
Leaders |
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·
Students
at professional schools |
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In practice, the
message we carry is simply an extension of the 12 step approach: we carry the
AA message to the alcoholic who still suffers by informing the person in a
position of trust of what AA is, what AA does, what AA does not do, and
how to find AA
Our hope is that,
with this information, the professional will feel confident referring patients,
clients, or employees to AA
Why We Do It
In the depths of
despair, many practicing alcoholics come into contact with a lot of
professionals: they might be getting a divorce, in trouble at work, losing all
of their teeth, in trouble with creditors, and constantly visiting doctors or
clergy members looking for answers…
It might never
occur to the practicing alcoholic to look up Alcoholics Anonymous in the phone
book! And he or she may never cross the path of a sober member of AA who
could point them in the right direction.
But many
professionals have not had the opportunity to find out that the AA program of
recovery works. Unless we reach out to these professionals, many practicing
alcoholics may never find us.
We do not teach
the professional – we do not try to change the way they do their jobs. We
simply inform them about Alcoholics Anonymous and let them know that we are
eager to help.
How We Do It
Favorite CPC projects in
Western Washington:
·
Creating and
distributing information packets that any AA member can give to the
professionals in their lives.
·
Bringing a
professional to an Open AA meeting so they can see for themselves what AA is
like.
·
Organizing a
“Take a Professional to Lunch” presentation.
·
Providing
speakers to professional groups (Rotary Clubs, staff meetings).
·
Speaking at
AA home groups to spread the word about CPC and how it helps us fulfill our
primary purpose.
·
Tagging along
with Public Information (PI) folks at Health Fairs – so we can introduce
ourselves to the other professionals in the booths around us and offer them our
services.
·
Asking members
of the fellowship for contacts in the professional community.
How Can You Help?
The CPC
committee needs all types of volunteers, from the shy to the bold:
·
We need
people to help plan events, to stuff envelopes, and to quietly fill literature
racks in lawyers’ offices.
·
We need
people who love speaking to groups or as part of a panel, and who are excited at
the prospect of calling on a professional.
·
We need
people who would speak to other AA members about CPC.
·
We need
people who would speak to non-AA members about AA
·
We need
people who will give their own doctor, or lawyer, or HR rep, a packet of
information about AA
This
type of service work does not require much time. Due to its nature, very often
it can be done at your convenience. Yet it is still a very rewarding type of
service work. You could learn a lot more about AA and how it works. You could
grow personally from conquering your fears and trying new activities. You could
have the satisfaction of knowing that a professional, who may eventually come
into contact with hundreds of still-suffering alcoholics, now knows that there
is Hope.
For More Information
Send
email to the Chair of our Area CPC Committee at
cpc@area72aa.org.
He or she can help you get started -- and might even be able to introduce you to
people in your district already doing this work.
Upcoming CPC Events in
Western Washington
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