This is the Area 48 Cooperation With the Professional Community Committee Page
CPC Presentation 1.27.22
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_PI CPC Conference. 2.2022. Share file.pptx
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Suggested C.P.C. Committee Goals and Projects
• Study C.P.C. Workbook and related A.A. literature and resources available on G.S.O.’s
A.A. Web site: www.aa.org.
• Communicate and cooperate with Correctional Facilities, Treatment/Special Needs,
and Public Information committees and other C.P.C. committees to share experience.
• Hold workshops for members who want to learn about C.P.C. Twelve Step service and
how to share information about Alcoholics Anonymous with professionals they may
come in contact with in their daily lives.
• Contact local professional schools that train future healthcare, legal/correctional,
human resources/employment professionals and offer A.A. presentations.
• Offer to help groups communicate with their landlord about A.A. — often a professional
who may deal with alcoholics in the course of their work, such as the pastor
of a church.
• Create small business or index-size cards to give to professionals with pertinent A.A.
information such as a central office telephone number or other ways to find local meetings,
and a nonrotating telephone number or e-mail to contact the C.P.C. committee.
• Contact professionals and offer to meet with them in their office to share information.
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• Utilize the About A.A. newsletter for professionals in your C.P.C. contacts with
professionals. (Past issues can be found at www.aa.org)
• Utilize the C.P.C. Videos for Professionals.
• Invite local professionals to a breakfast or luncheon with a presentation explaining
how A.A. can be a resource and explaining what A.A. is and is not.
• Contact local court professionals and offer A.A. presentations.
• Contact local physicians, hospitals and clinics and arrange for A.A. literature to be
available in their waiting rooms and develop a plan for how to keep the literature stocked.
• Let groups know the committee is available as a resource if questions or problems
arise with the local courts.
• Invite professionals and professional students to attend an open meeting.
• Contact the C.P.C. desk at G.S.O. to request the PowerPoint presentation developed
by the trustees that can be adapted for local needs.
• Create a display for use at professional meetings and conferences.
• Contact local professional organizations and offer A.A. presentations and/or investigate
opportunities to have an A.A. table/exhibit at their meetings or conferences.
• Send sharing on local C.P.C. efforts to G.S.O.
• Share your enthusiasm! Find a co-chair and interested members in order to help.
Basic guidelines for C.P.C. presentations: Here are two suggested formats for presentations:
first, with a speaker and one or two supporting members; and second, with
a panel of two to four people.
A.A. participants include a moderator, and one or two A.A. members experienced in
speaking about A.A. Sometimes, a knowledgeable, nonalcoholic friend of A.A. may also
be invited to take part.
In either case, the points listed below can be useful:
• Introduce yourself and ask other A.A.s to follow suit; read or summarize the Anonymity
card for public meetings; read or paraphrase the A.A. Preamble, emphasizing relation to
Traditions.
• Discuss A.A. history. Cover our beginning with Bill and Dr. Bob’s meeting in Akron
(1935), emphasizing the empathy that was present between these men. As the result of
this first meeting, A.A. has grown throughout the world. Mention estimated number of
members and groups in your locality.
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• Briefly explain A.A.’s Twelve Steps, and briefly summarize their application in your
own experience.
• At this point consider showing videos, such as the C.P.C. video “A.A. Cooperation
With the Professional Community,” “Hope: Alcoholics Anonymous,” “A.A. Videos for
Young People,” or other videos appropriate for the audience.
• Explain that A.A. meetings may follow a variety of formats—speaker, discussion, etc.,
but that there are two basic types:
Open: Guests are welcome; if practical, mention that individual members are available
to take a professional friend to a meeting.
Closed: For A.A. members or those with a desire to stop drinking.
• It’s important to have information on local meetings available, whether the central
office A.A. meeting directory or a listing of local “open” meetings. Be prepared to offer
the names and phone numbers of one or two committee members to the guests.
• Discuss what A.A. does and does not do (refer to “Fact Sheet,” p. 27).
• Give a brief version of your story, emphasizing recovery in A.A.
• Allow time for a Question and Answer period:
Our credibility is determined by the way we respond to questions. “I don’t know” is
often the best answer. If you are uncertain of an answer, research the question and contact
the person later.
Avoid commenting on issues outside of A.A., including remedies or treatments for
alcoholism used by others.
• After the meeting, handle literature requests promptly. Requests from professionals
to be added to the About A.A. mailing list are sent to G.S.O. A letter expressing appreciation
for the visit is sent to the host.