Alcoholics Anonymous: A Service Synopsis
Most regular A.A. members soon learn the in's and out's of the "Program" within the meeting room--but getting the message to the still-suffering drunk demands much more from us. As an international fellowship, headquartered at the General Service Office in New York City, A.A. members have established certain "Standing Committees" to support the 5th Tradition and our Three Legacies of Recovery, Unity, and Service between A.A. groups.
These standing committees have satellite versions at Area, District, and even Group levels--in each case, trying to best serve the local fellowship and to reach alcoholics in the community.
According to Tradition 9, a Group or District (etc.) may also create boards or committees suited to the tasks of A.A.'s primary purpose and general welfare. On the whole, service committees for A.A. in any given region may include:
C.P.C. or "Cooperation with the Professional Community"
responsible for informing local "professionals" (like doctors, lawyers, court clerks, teachers, therapists, business managers, etc.) about what A.A. is and what A.A. is not.
Corrections
responsible for getting the A.A. message to inmates in jails and prisons (or other lock-up facilities).
Grapevine
responsible for getting members to subscribe to A.A.'s monthly "portable meeting in print," The Grapevine, and for getting it into needy alcoholic hands. Also helps members to write articles for submission to this magazine.
Literature
responsible for keeping track of new A.A. publications, price changes, and other materials published by GSO. Often proposes new topics for publication as need arises.
P.I. or "Public Information"
responsible for keeping A.A. clear to those OUTSIDE the program--people in the community who may misunderstand us, or who may simply not know enough about what we do. Deals with newspapers, general inquiries from schools or clinics, churches, family associations, public nonprofits, etc.
Treatment Facilities
responsible for helping the clients AND staff of rehab-centers to understand how Alcoholics Anonymous works and how to connect with its fellowship.
B.T.G. or "Bridging the Gap"
responsible for helping anyone interested in going to an A.A. meeting to get there--especially those people recently released from jail or treatment.
Archives
responsible for collecting the personal histories of members, helping groups compose their own histories, and for maintaining and presenting materials that relate to the growth of our fellowship over time.
Website
responsible for relaying public information about the fellowship on the Internet, assisting intergroup communication, and for monitoring adherence to A.A. Traditions and principles in this new technology.
Usually, there's no single set of "duties" for someone involved with one of these fields: instead, they represent general areas of A.A. work within a town or city which have a body of experience and material to support them. In other words, what one actually DOES in these sorts of services may range from formal presentations to handing out brochures, from answering phones to talking privately with a newcomer--all of it according to need and a member's own ability. For any given area, there's ALWAYS something to be done.
Commitment and a desire to fulfill the 12th Step is all one really needs to embark in A.A. service. In this effort none of us are alone, nor the first.