Community Groups and Professionals
Alcoholics Anonymous works with community groups and professionals in a spirit of "Cooperation, but Not Affiliation."
Click on the icons below, or use the links to more information at the bottom of this page, to find more about how Alcoholics Anonymous would like to help people within your community group.
Cooperating for Happier Communities
Many community groups, professionals and the media are interested in helping people experiencing problems with alcohol and other addictions. These groups realise that AA can help some of their clients, so AA has put together a range of resources to describe how cooperation is achieved.
AA Seeks Wider Understanding
To reach more alcoholics, understanding of A.A. and public good will towards A.A. must go on growing everywhere. We need to be on still better terms with medicine, religion, employers, governments, courts, prisons, mental hospitals, and all enterprsises in the alcoholism field. We need the increasing good will of editors, writers, television and radio channels. These publicity outlets need to be opened ever wider.
"Twelve Concepts", page 51; "As Bill Sees It" page 255;
Reproduced with permission AA World Service
Nothing matters more to A.A.'s future welfare than the manner in which we use the colossus of modern communication. Used unselfishly and well, it can produce results surpassing our present imagination.
Should we handle this great instrument badly, we shall be shattered by the ego manifestations of our own people. Against this peril, A.A. members' anonymity before the general public is our shield and our buckler.
"Grapevine", Nov 1960
Reproduced with permission AA World Service
Alcoholics Anonymous' Humility
Bill Wilson, one of the founders of A.A. once said, "We of A.A. try to be aware that we may never touch but a segment of the total alcohol problem. We try to remember that our growing success may prove a heady wine; that our own resources will always be limited. So then, will you men and women [of medicine] be our partners, . workers all, in our common cause? We like to think Alcoholics Anonymous a middle ground. the missing catalyst of a new synthesis. This to the end that millions who still suffer may presently issue from their darkness into the light of day!"
Cooperation
Alcoholics Anonymous has a long history of cooperating with outside organisations, and uses the Twelve Traditions to guide how such cooperation is accomplished. Of particular importance: An A.A. group ought never endorse, finance, or lend the A.A. name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property, and prestige divert us from our primary purpose; Every A.A. group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.
Purpose
One of the primary functions of the Auckland Public Information Group of Alcoholics Anonymous is to keep stakeholder groups informed about how AA can help them. We are always interested to learn how we may assist your community group or professional organisation.
More Information about Alcoholics Anonymous working with your community group
Use these links to obtain information prepared specifically for your community group:
- people, such as doctors, police, clergy, lawyers, probation officers;
- organisations, such as hospitals, correctional institutions, and schools;
- other groups such as families, teenagers and people with special needs
Alternatively, please contact us directly with general enquiries.