Meeting sign

The Public Information (PI) committee's purpose is to provide accurate AA information to the public when requested. We serve as a resource to local media outlets as well as developing AA Public Service announcements.


From Bill W.

“Public Information takes many forms—the simple sign outside a meeting place that says ‘A.A. meeting tonight;’ listing in local home directories; distribution of A.A. literature; and radio and television shows using sophisticated media techniques. Whatever the form, it comes down to ‘one drunk carrying the message to another drunk,’ whether through personal contact or through the use of third parties and the media.”


Public Information display

Click to enlarge.



Working with the public

Fair booth image
  • PI visits include schools, local businesses, church and civic groups. In advance of initial contacts, we often distribute a letter describing our availability and how interested persons can make contact for more information.
  • Staffing “A.A. booths” at health fairs and local events.
  • Display and distribution of A.A. literature to the public.



Cooperating with the Media

Video screen image
  • Public Service Announcements (P.S.A.s) provide information about A.A. and are available for video, radio, internet.
  • A.A. Videos serve as an excellent way of telling the A.A. story visually.
  • Their YOUTUBE channel provides an additional platform from which A.A.W.S. produced videos can be easily shared with a broad audience in order to enhance carrying the message to alcoholic, the general public and the professional community

Some links displayed on this page take you to the aa.org website.
Our links do not constitute or indicate review or affiliation.



Informing the Fellowship

Anonymity is fragile

Though the “public” in “public information” refers to non-A.A.s, helping to keep the Fellowship itself informed is also among our responsibilities.


We strive to build wider understanding of the Twelve Traditions among A.A.s, especially as they pertain to online social networking sites.



Interested in helping?


The PI committee can use help from AA members with:

  • Several years of continuous sobriety
  • A willingness to learn more about the traditions and anonymity
  • A willingness to inform AA members in our area about the need to communicate with the public

Committee tasks include:

  • Sending letters to high schools offer them resources for young people
  • Placing ads in local newspapers
  • Placing PSAs with radio and television stations

Detailed committee responsibilities are in the Legacy of Service.



Contact the PI Commmittee at PICPC@district6aa.org



PUBLIC INFORMATION/COOPERATION WITH THE PROFESSIONAL COMMUNITY COMMITTEE SCOPE AND PROCEDURE


The committee provides information about Alcoholics Anonymous to the public, and to those who have contact with alcoholics through their profession. Members might fulfill speaking engagements or place literature in the community


SCOPE:


PUBLIC INFORMATION


The purpose of PI service work is to provide accurate AA information to the public when requested. PI committees visit schools, businesses and community meetings for this purpose. They also serve as resources for our friends in the local media, emphasizing our Traditions of anonymity, singleness of purpose and non-affiliation, as well as offering AA public service announcements to radio and television stations.


COOPORATION WITH THE PROFESSIONAL COMMUNITY


Members of these committees provide information about AA to those who have contact with Alcoholics through their profession. This group includes healthcare professionals, educators, members of the clergy, lawyers, social workers, union leaders, and industrial managers, government officials, as well as those working in the field of alcoholism.


Information is provided about where we are, what we are, what we can do, and what we cannot do.


PROCEDURE:


The PICPC committee chairperson holds monthly meetings to fulfill its responsibilities for the committee. The chairperson gives an oral and written report of committee activities at the monthly district meeting.


The chairperson attends the area 15 quarterly PICPC committee meeting where an oral report and written report the past three months of district 6 PICPC activities.


Each year in April, the committee reviews the conference agenda items for PICPC for the general service conference. The chairperson reports the suggestions of the committee on these items to the district meeting prior to the April area assembly and gets a sense of the meeting. The chairperson also reports the conference item review suggestions at the April area assembly to the area PICPC committee. The area PICPC chairperson presents our views to the delegate for review to take the area committee's recommendations to the general service yearly conference.


The PI committee provides accurate information about AA to the public through print, television, radio, and electronic media. Displays conference approved PICPC literature at health fairs, libraries, hospitals, police stations, hotels, colleges. Places Public Service Announcements with radio and television stations. Responds to speaking requests at non-AA meetings in the district.


Keeps Fellowship informed by building a wider understanding of the Twelve Traditions as it pertains to anonymity.


The CPC committee communicates with the professional community when requested, what AA is and what AA isn't through conference approved literature, workshops, personal meetings and public meetings.


We extend our friendship to those who have contact with alcoholics through their professions including clergy, legal and law enforcement, educators, health care professionals, social workers, mental health professionals, vocational and employment guides, and community business leaders.


Keeps Fellowship informed by building a wider understanding of the Twelve Traditions as it pertains to non-affiliation.


To contact the District 6 Public Information Cooperation with the Professional Community committee please e-mail PICPC@district6aa.org or contact the individual chairperson whose information is on the current District 6 agenda.




GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS AND ALTERNATE CHAIRPERSONS


This page is all of the general guidelines that the committee chairpersons have in common. This page will be in the legacy of service once only and the succeeding pages will be the selective scope/procedures for each chairperson position.


QUALIFICATIONS


The qualifications for chairperson for these committees, per resolution (# 517 02/2014). Individuals must have a minimum of two years of continuous sobriety and one year as a past or present General Service Representative GSR) in any of our ninety three (93) areas within the United States and Canada. An alternate chairperson be appointed as a member of all the District 6 standing committees. The chairperson of these committees will appoint this person pe resolution (# 603 07/2019). The alternate chairperson must meet the same requirements set by resolution as standing district committee chairpersons and be defrayed at the rate set by resolution for attending area quarterly assemblies in the absence of the committee chairperson unless otherwise defrayed. The term of the DCM is two years and generally coincides with the South Florida Area election of officers. Elections are held in even years at the November District Meeting with service to begin the following January.


There will be no waived requirements/qualifications for any of the district officers, committee chairpersons, DCMs and ACMs


COMPOSITION


All of the district standing committees are composed of a chairperson that has been elected by the District 6 body per requirement resolutions. The Current Practice Committee Chairperson position, by resolution, is automatically filled by the immediate past District 6 chairperson when willing and able to serve. If this individual is not available to serve then the Current Practice Chairperson is selected as above. The Finance Committee chairperson is appointed by the current District 6 chairperson. The Finance Committee Chairperson appoints two members from the General Service body with financial backgrounds. An alternate chairperson is appointed by the chairperson also as per requirement resolutions, Other members of the committee are DCM's, ACM's, GSR's and AGSRs. Also, anyone from any of our groups, may be a member of these committees and they do not have to be participating in general service with District 6. The Finance Committee does not utilize volunteers


SCOPE AND PROCEDURE


These two items will be the responsibility of the current serving chairperson for evaluating the committee's business and functioning for the two year panel of service. This reflects the overall duties and activities of each service entity in District 6, Area 15. All of the currently serving District 6 Officers, Committee Chairpersons and the overall DCM Coordinator (alternate district 6 chairperson)


The following items pertain in general to all the above mentioned people


The committee holds a scheduled meeting, when necessary for members. Most communication and work distribution is done via computer

The Chairperson, or Alternate Chairperson in their stead, attends all District 6 business meetings and presents an oral report of no more than 4 minutes, providing a written copy to the Recording Secretary for inclusion in the district 6 business meeting minutes

The Chairperson, or Alternate Chairperson in their stead, attends the quarterly Area 15 committee meeting and the Area Assembly.

Receives defrayed funding, from the district treasurer, for the cost of attending the Area 15 quarterly weekends. This is usually one nights lodging at the agreed quarterly room rate. Or may receive defrayment to and from the quarterly, if they have not stayed overnight as above, at the current IRS reimbursement on mileage

Expenses incurred performing duties of this office must be submitted to the Treasurer, including items, which, you, individually, are absorbing as a contribution. These must be itemized to enable annual budgeting for the district as a whole.

All voting members of district 6, plus the chairperson (a non voter, who casts a vote only in the event to break a tie) have a right to put forth a motion to the body

All district 6 trusted servants refrain from standing on election day for the same position unless they are fulfilling an unexpired term. However after the election day is over they may stand for the same position if they so desire at any time when requests are done to fill empty positions

All District 6 officers, and committee chairpersons will provide, at the October business meeting during their report time, a description of what their position is and what has been done in the past two years This will give anybody a general idea of what each position entails in a general preview of the job description so as to let those interested make an informed decision about standing for the positions

Reviews the scope/procedure of the position listed in the Legacy of Service document and provides a notation of no changes or makes changes and submits the information to the Current Practice Committee Chairperson at the October business meeting at the two (2) year rotation time. In addition, changes needed to be added to the scope/procedure due to motions passed or committee decisions may be submitted, at any time, to the Current Practice Committee Chairperson. The Current Practice Committee Chairperson will be responsible for submitting the changes to the Legacy of Service document and to the Website Committee Chairperson for inclusion in the District 6 Website. These changes will be designed to guide the next chairperson selected for the position.


Website Maintenance Form


© 2010-2023 District 6, last updated October 18, 2023