Public Information (P.I.) in Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) means carrying the message of recovery to the still suffering alcoholic by informing the general public about the A.A. program. If you are sober and have a desire to serve, you can help! When they’ve had enough, we want A.A. to be there in the yellow pages, on the bus signs, etc. – and that’s Public Information.
When anyone anywhere reaches out for help, I want the hand of A.A. always to be there. And for that… I AM RESPONSIBLE.
What We Do
A.A.’s Public Information Committee carries the message by getting in touch with:
- Media
- Schools
- Industry
- Physicians
- Police
- Clergy
- Senior Centers
- Libraries
- Hotels
- Hospitals
- Bus Signs
- General Public
- A.A. Fellowship
Like all of A.A., the primary purpose of members involved with public information service is to carry the A.A. message to the alcoholic who still suffers. Working together, members of local Public Information Committees convey A.A. information to the general public, including the media.
Why We Do It
The first Public Information Committee in A.A. was formed by the General Service Board in 1956. At that time, the following statement of “A.A.’s movement-wide public information policy” was written and approved at the General Service Conference:
In all public relations, A.A.’s sole objective is to help the still suffering alcoholic. Always mindful of the importance of personal anonymity we believe this can be done by making known to him and to those who may be interested in his problems, our own experience as individuals and as a Fellowship in learning to live without alcohol. We believe that our experience should be made available freely to all who express sincere interest. We believe further that all efforts in this field should always reflect our gratitude of the gift of sobriety and our awareness that many outside A.A. are equally concerned with the serious problems of alcoholism.
How We Do It
Favorite Public Information projects in Western Washington:
- Placing Conference approved books, e.g. the Big Book, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, or Living Sober in public libraries.
- Placing literature racks in high schools and libraries and other public locations, and keeping the racks stocked with appropriate literature and meeting schedules.
- Sending letters to high schools, offering A.A. literature and/or a presentation on A.A. -what we do and we do not do.
- Responding to speaking requests at non-A.A. meetings in the district.
- Speaking at A.A. home groups to spread the word about P.I. and how it helps us fulfill our primary purpose.
- Participating with booths and literature at local health, country and state fairs.
- Placing meeting schedules behind the front desks of hotels.
- Speaking at A.A. home groups about our tradition of anonymity.
How You Can Help
The Public Information Committee needs all types of volunteers, from the shy to the bold:
- We need members to help plan events, to stuff envelopes, and to fill literature racks in libraries, schools and other public locations.
- We need members to contact police stations, hospitals, and senior centers about placing literature and schedules in their facilities.
- We need members who would like to learn to speak to groups or as part of a panel, and who are excited at the prospect of going to our high schools and colleges.
Like all of A.A., the primary purpose of members involved with public information service is to carry the A.A. message to the alcoholic who still suffers. Working together, members of local Public Information Committees convey A.A. information to the general public, including the media.
A.A. Guidelines on Public Information published by G.S.O.
Safety and AA: Our Common Welfare (Sept 2021) – Service Material from the GSO
Contact Email: pi@area72aa.org