Cooperation with the Professional Community Committee focuses on:
- Establishing better communication with professionals working with alcoholics
- Finding simple, effective ways of cooperating without affiliating
- Explaining clearly what A.A. does and doesnโt do
What AA Does:
- A.A. members share their experience with anyone seeking help with a drinking problem.
- A.A. members offer person-to-person โsponsorshipโ to the alcoholics coming to A.A.
- Offers the alcoholic a design for living that works.
What AA Does Not Do:
- A.A. does not: Furnish initial motivation for alcoholics to recover
- Solicit membership
- Engage in or sponsor research
- Keep attendance records or case histories
- Join โcouncilsโ or social agencies (although A.A. members, groups and service offices frequently cooperate with them)
- Follow up or try to control its members
- Make medical or psychological diagnoses or prognoses
- Provide detox, rehabilitation or nursing services, hospitalization, drugs or any medical or psychiatric treatment
- Offer religious services, or host/sponsor retreats
- Engage in education about alcohol
- Provide housing, food, clothing, jobs, money or any other welfare or social services
- Provide domestic or vocational counseling
- Accept any money for its services, or any contributions from non-A.A. sources
- Provide letters of reference to parole boards, lawyers, court officials, social agencies, employers, etc
๐คWhat our committee can offer you:
Someone to attend with
We can provide a member of AA to bring a professional to an open meeting.
Community Engagement
We can bring members of our community into your professionals for a visit.
Clarity on AA
We will share about what AA is and what AA is not.
Dedicated Q&A
We can answer AA related questions which you may have to help you serve the public more easily.
Sharing Our Journey
We can share our stories with the AA fellowship and our experience with the AA 12 steps.
๋ฉํฐ AA Sponsorship Insight
We can offer you insight on Sponsorship and how it works.
Foundational Perspective
We can offer you a perspective with a strong foundation in compassion for the Alcoholic that still suffers.
The Never-Ending Hope
Our preamble states that some may be constitutionally incapable of being honest with themselves. We never give up hope. Thereโs a chair available whenever anyone wants one. Until then, we hold a chair open for them to visit AA.
Some of the professions we hope to be useful to:
โ๏ธ Healthcare Professionals
- Doctors and physicians
- Nurses
- Therapists and counselors
- Psychologists and psychiatrists
- Social workers
- Substance abuse and addiction counselors
- Hospital and clinic staff
- Employee assistance program (EAP) coordinators
โ๏ธ Legal and Corrections Professionals
- Judges and court officials
- Lawyers and public defenders
- Probation and parole officers
- Correctional facility staff and counselors
- DWI/DUI program staff
๐ Educators
- School counselors and administrators
- College and university staff (especially in student health services)
๐ Clergy and Spiritual Leaders
- Ministers, priests, rabbis, and other members of the clergy
- Pastoral counselors
๐ข Workplace and Human Resources
- Employers and supervisors
- Human resources professionals
- Personnel managers
๐ค Other Community Professionals
- Members of the armed services and military family support staff
- First responders
- Community center staff
- Social service agency workers
C.P.C. recorded presentation for professionalsโ
The Area 31 C.P.C. committee developed a recorded presentation as a resource to reach professionals who work with alcoholics. This short, 10-minute recording provides an overview of the A.A. recovery program, how to access meetings, including virtual meetings, and other resources available specifically for professionals. We have made this presentation available on the Area 31 website so members of the Fellowship can access it and share it with professionals in their life as they deem appropriate.
The C.P.C. committee is available to speak with any professional individually or as a group who has questions or wants to learn more about Alcoholics Anonymous. We will also attend an open meeting (virtually or in person as permitted) with a professional to observe a meeting first-hand. We can be reached at cpc@area31aa.org.
AA's Official App: Meeting Guide
The AA Grapevine App
Contact the CPC Committee
What you as an AA member can do for CPC:
CPC Meeting Information
Get involved with the Cooperation with the Professional Community (CPC) committee. CPC works to establish better communication between A.A. and professionals who work with alcoholics.
In-Person Meeting (South Hadley, MA)
Location: 30 Carew Street in South Hadley, MA
Time: Second Tuesday of every month, 6:00 PM โ 7:20 PM
Online Meeting (Zoom)
Time: 6:00 PM โ Second Tuesdays
Platform: Zoom
Meeting ID: 837 9476 2937
Passcode: 603447
Click Here to Join the Online Meeting
Who Can Attend & Requirements
- Open Attendance: Any A.A. member or curious Professional is welcome to attend.
- Service Position: If you sign up for a group representative service position, you are required to attend the monthly meetings.
Calls to Action: Get Involved!
1. Distribute Information 
Help us spread the word about A.A. to professionals in the community.
- Target: Clergy, legal services, judges, treatment centers, doctors, and professional students.
- Action: Hand out info cards, mail them, or make phone calls. Report new leads to the CPC Committee.
2. Attend Presentations 
Gain experience and support our outreach commitments.
Any A.A. member may attend a presentation commitment and either listen or ask to participate as a speaker.
3. Promote Minutes 
Keep your home groups informed of CPC activities.
Announce the CPC abbreviated minutes, and, if possible, pin them to your boards on a monthly basis.
4. Offer Rideshare Service 
Support Professionals who want to attend an open A.A. meeting.
Volunteer to be a rideshare with your open A.A. meeting group. Talk to the CPC Liaison at the meeting to coordinate.
What We Do: CPC Presentation Content
| Focus Area | Description |
|---|---|
| Education | Put on presentations and talk about what A.A. is and is not. |
| Our Program | Share our experience with the 12 Steps and talk about Sponsorship. |
| Meeting Types | Explain the difference between an open meeting and a closed meeting, and the different formats of **online meetings**. |
| Direct Help | Answer questions for professionals and students attending presentations. |
| Service | Help Professionals and Students who will work with Alcoholics, fulfilling our 12th Tradition and our Responsibility Pledge to be of service to the suffering alcoholic. |