1 00:00:00,870 --> 00:00:03,360 - The views and opinions expressed during this podcast 2 00:00:03,360 --> 00:00:05,010 are those of our guests. 3 00:00:05,010 --> 00:00:07,550 No one person speaks for A.A. as a whole. 4 00:00:08,660 --> 00:00:10,980 - A.A. members who wanna help other alcoholics 5 00:00:10,980 --> 00:00:13,410 don't do this essential work alone. 6 00:00:13,410 --> 00:00:15,330 They count on the support of professionals 7 00:00:15,330 --> 00:00:17,100 who interact with problem drinkers 8 00:00:17,100 --> 00:00:20,490 to share A.A.'s message of hope and recovery. 9 00:00:20,490 --> 00:00:22,320 In order to educate professionals 10 00:00:22,320 --> 00:00:24,810 and provide them with the resources they need, 11 00:00:24,810 --> 00:00:26,220 service committees called 12 00:00:26,220 --> 00:00:28,800 Cooperation with the Professional Community, 13 00:00:28,800 --> 00:00:31,650 or CPC, have developed. 14 00:00:31,650 --> 00:00:34,140 The CPC work is another example 15 00:00:34,140 --> 00:00:37,058 of how we fulfill our primary purpose. 16 00:00:37,058 --> 00:00:40,928 My name is Nathan and I'm an alcoholic. Welcome to GSO. 17 00:00:42,095 --> 00:00:44,087 (gentle upbeat music) 18 00:00:49,800 --> 00:00:51,690 We begin with a conversation I had 19 00:00:51,690 --> 00:00:54,240 with Cooperation with the Professional Community's 20 00:00:54,240 --> 00:00:56,554 Staff Coordinator, Michael R. 21 00:00:56,554 --> 00:01:00,030 (gentle upbeat music) 22 00:01:00,030 --> 00:01:01,020 Good morning, Michael. 23 00:01:01,020 --> 00:01:03,930 - Good morning. - Thanks for joining us today. 24 00:01:03,930 --> 00:01:04,920 - You're welcome. 25 00:01:04,920 --> 00:01:07,530 - You began working at GSO in 2022 26 00:01:07,530 --> 00:01:08,850 and have held the position 27 00:01:08,850 --> 00:01:12,120 of CPC Staff Coordinator ever since. 28 00:01:12,120 --> 00:01:15,310 Cooperation with the Professional Community, break it down. 29 00:01:15,310 --> 00:01:17,040 - Sure, sure. - Let's talk about that first. 30 00:01:17,040 --> 00:01:19,800 - So, yes, Cooperation with Professional Community, 31 00:01:19,800 --> 00:01:22,080 and I like to say that the word professional 32 00:01:22,080 --> 00:01:26,400 is anyone whose job might put them in contact 33 00:01:26,400 --> 00:01:28,380 with somebody who needs help, 34 00:01:28,380 --> 00:01:30,903 who could use Alcoholics Anonymous, 35 00:01:32,428 --> 00:01:35,280 who has a problem or is looking for help. 36 00:01:35,280 --> 00:01:39,240 And so professionals, traditionally we think of, 37 00:01:39,240 --> 00:01:41,160 medical professionals, doctors, 38 00:01:41,160 --> 00:01:43,290 obviously, people come into their doctor, 39 00:01:43,290 --> 00:01:46,320 the doctor's gonna notice their health is declining 40 00:01:46,320 --> 00:01:48,870 and there's drinking, and that could be the problem. 41 00:01:48,870 --> 00:01:51,930 But also, a professional can be a faith leader, 42 00:01:51,930 --> 00:01:53,940 somebody at the church. 43 00:01:53,940 --> 00:01:56,610 Doesn't always have to be the priest or the rabbi, 44 00:01:56,610 --> 00:01:59,070 it can be somebody who's employed at the church 45 00:01:59,070 --> 00:02:00,690 or volunteer, even, 46 00:02:00,690 --> 00:02:02,760 as the receptionist at the church, 47 00:02:02,760 --> 00:02:05,190 somebody might come into their place of worship 48 00:02:05,190 --> 00:02:08,130 and need help, and that's where they, you know, 49 00:02:08,130 --> 00:02:11,820 we traditionally reach out for help in those kind of places. 50 00:02:11,820 --> 00:02:13,770 - We spoke with Patrick in an earlier episode 51 00:02:13,770 --> 00:02:15,090 about Public Information, 52 00:02:15,090 --> 00:02:19,470 And PI and CPC, sometimes the service commitments, 53 00:02:19,470 --> 00:02:21,930 are joined together and they're comparable, 54 00:02:21,930 --> 00:02:22,950 but they are different. 55 00:02:22,950 --> 00:02:24,420 Can you talk a little bit about the difference 56 00:02:24,420 --> 00:02:25,290 between those two? 57 00:02:25,290 --> 00:02:26,910 - I like to think of it this way, 58 00:02:26,910 --> 00:02:30,210 when I go out and speak in public 59 00:02:30,210 --> 00:02:33,360 to members of the community at large, 60 00:02:33,360 --> 00:02:34,920 that's Public Information. 61 00:02:34,920 --> 00:02:37,020 Whereas professionals, 62 00:02:37,020 --> 00:02:40,623 CPC is working directly with those people. 63 00:02:41,460 --> 00:02:44,880 Again, we use the examples of the medical professionals, 64 00:02:44,880 --> 00:02:48,570 the clergy or faith leaders, as I shared with you earlier, 65 00:02:48,570 --> 00:02:51,087 the football coach at a high school. 66 00:02:51,087 --> 00:02:52,050 - Yeah, tell us that story. 67 00:02:52,050 --> 00:02:54,000 - Yeah, so I received an email 68 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:58,020 that a sports coach at a prep school 69 00:02:58,020 --> 00:03:01,710 had a member of their team, a teenager, high school age, 70 00:03:01,710 --> 00:03:03,090 who had a drinking problem. 71 00:03:03,090 --> 00:03:04,920 And what can they do about it? 72 00:03:04,920 --> 00:03:08,280 So, as with any professional who contacts my desk, 73 00:03:08,280 --> 00:03:12,360 I try to share some information with them about what A.A. is, 74 00:03:12,360 --> 00:03:15,870 I might, if we have literature or pamphlets 75 00:03:15,870 --> 00:03:19,050 that target their profession specifically 76 00:03:19,050 --> 00:03:21,840 or might have an effective message to carry to that person, 77 00:03:21,840 --> 00:03:23,550 I include that in the email. 78 00:03:23,550 --> 00:03:27,450 And I also contact, I reach out to the local CPC committee, 79 00:03:27,450 --> 00:03:30,390 and I inform them that this member of the community, 80 00:03:30,390 --> 00:03:32,240 in this case, this high school coach, 81 00:03:33,090 --> 00:03:35,400 needs to know more about Alcoholics Anonymous 82 00:03:35,400 --> 00:03:37,110 and how can we bring the message to them? 83 00:03:37,110 --> 00:03:38,580 How can we inform that professional? 84 00:03:38,580 --> 00:03:41,790 And so that's where the CPC chair, the local CPC chair, 85 00:03:41,790 --> 00:03:42,780 will reach out to them 86 00:03:42,780 --> 00:03:45,570 and perhaps bring them some literature, 87 00:03:45,570 --> 00:03:47,130 maybe bring them to a meeting. 88 00:03:47,130 --> 00:03:49,410 It might also work with, as we were saying, 89 00:03:49,410 --> 00:03:50,370 with the PI committee, 90 00:03:50,370 --> 00:03:53,550 they might come and give a presentation at that school 91 00:03:53,550 --> 00:03:57,060 or at that job site or wherever it might be. 92 00:03:57,060 --> 00:03:59,940 - There's a lot of people that aren't as familiar with CPC 93 00:03:59,940 --> 00:04:03,273 as far as a service commitment or a committee is concerned. 94 00:04:04,410 --> 00:04:05,730 It certainly was obscure to me 95 00:04:05,730 --> 00:04:07,590 before I started working here. 96 00:04:07,590 --> 00:04:10,170 Is it a popular service committee? 97 00:04:10,170 --> 00:04:12,300 Is there a need for more? 98 00:04:12,300 --> 00:04:13,290 - There is a need for more. 99 00:04:13,290 --> 00:04:17,280 We have areas that don't currently have a CPC chair. 100 00:04:17,280 --> 00:04:18,960 We have many districts 101 00:04:18,960 --> 00:04:21,870 where there are no CPC volunteers at all. 102 00:04:21,870 --> 00:04:23,580 It absolutely is an area 103 00:04:23,580 --> 00:04:26,550 where there is a need for volunteers, 104 00:04:26,550 --> 00:04:31,550 and it's a very effective way of informing professionals. 105 00:04:32,250 --> 00:04:34,980 - What kind of questions do you got? 106 00:04:34,980 --> 00:04:37,860 - The question about sobriety, 107 00:04:37,860 --> 00:04:40,980 some professionals feel like the alcoholic 108 00:04:40,980 --> 00:04:44,910 has to have left treatment already or left detox 109 00:04:44,910 --> 00:04:47,220 and already be sober to attend. 110 00:04:47,220 --> 00:04:49,470 That was a misconception that I wasn't aware of, 111 00:04:49,470 --> 00:04:52,263 because, you know, as we know as A.A. members, 112 00:04:53,250 --> 00:04:55,200 somebody might walk in, still drinking, 113 00:04:55,200 --> 00:04:57,780 still drunk at that first meeting. 114 00:04:57,780 --> 00:05:01,020 And so I had had a chance to explain the only requirement 115 00:05:01,020 --> 00:05:03,780 for membership is a desire to stop drinking. 116 00:05:03,780 --> 00:05:08,780 Also, questions about religion and spirituality. 117 00:05:08,940 --> 00:05:12,960 There is a wide misconception that Alcoholics Anonymous 118 00:05:12,960 --> 00:05:16,260 is a Christian program, and it is not. 119 00:05:16,260 --> 00:05:18,360 It is a spiritual program. 120 00:05:18,360 --> 00:05:22,260 And many people who are atheist and agnostic 121 00:05:22,260 --> 00:05:25,140 who claim no spirituality in their life, 122 00:05:25,140 --> 00:05:28,080 and they still have a program. 123 00:05:28,080 --> 00:05:29,880 They still work an A.A. program 124 00:05:29,880 --> 00:05:33,633 and stay sober using our same spiritual principles. 125 00:05:34,530 --> 00:05:36,660 - I'm curious about some other stories you have 126 00:05:36,660 --> 00:05:39,930 about cooperating with the professional community. 127 00:05:39,930 --> 00:05:42,630 You had one with working with a doctor? 128 00:05:42,630 --> 00:05:44,250 - They were from the Pacific Northwest. 129 00:05:44,250 --> 00:05:47,310 The doctor just wrote an email saying they have a patient 130 00:05:47,310 --> 00:05:49,140 who they believe has a drinking problem. 131 00:05:49,140 --> 00:05:52,800 I reached out to the CPC chair in that area of the country, 132 00:05:52,800 --> 00:05:57,240 and they contacted that doctor a few minutes later, 133 00:05:57,240 --> 00:05:59,910 and they set up a time to meet with that doctor, 134 00:05:59,910 --> 00:06:02,370 to attend an open meeting, to bring them to an open meeting 135 00:06:03,217 --> 00:06:05,040 to see what Alcoholic Anonymous is, 136 00:06:05,040 --> 00:06:06,450 what happens at an A.A. meeting. 137 00:06:06,450 --> 00:06:08,490 And then afterwards, they were gonna have coffee together 138 00:06:08,490 --> 00:06:11,790 and discuss the program and answer questions. 139 00:06:11,790 --> 00:06:14,100 And I was just blown away 140 00:06:14,100 --> 00:06:16,350 by how effective and how quick this happened. 141 00:06:16,350 --> 00:06:18,840 - And that kind of action really encapsulates 142 00:06:18,840 --> 00:06:20,880 what you do at CPC. 143 00:06:20,880 --> 00:06:23,340 You find the need and you get the resources 144 00:06:23,340 --> 00:06:24,300 to the people that need it. 145 00:06:24,300 --> 00:06:27,420 - Exactly, and it varies, 146 00:06:27,420 --> 00:06:30,390 but it's also about establishing a relationship. 147 00:06:30,390 --> 00:06:33,600 The most important thing is for that local CPC chair, 148 00:06:33,600 --> 00:06:34,860 for that committee member, 149 00:06:34,860 --> 00:06:36,570 to then have a conversation with them, 150 00:06:36,570 --> 00:06:39,150 to follow up or to find out what do they need. 151 00:06:39,150 --> 00:06:42,180 Maybe they need a PI presentation in their office, 152 00:06:42,180 --> 00:06:44,460 maybe they need some meeting guides, 153 00:06:44,460 --> 00:06:45,510 maybe they need to be shown 154 00:06:45,510 --> 00:06:47,550 how to use the Meeting Guide app, it can vary. 155 00:06:47,550 --> 00:06:48,990 There are many, many ways, 156 00:06:48,990 --> 00:06:50,580 but it's about getting that relationship 157 00:06:50,580 --> 00:06:53,250 so that those professionals know that we're here, 158 00:06:53,250 --> 00:06:54,750 how to connect with us, 159 00:06:54,750 --> 00:06:57,750 how to send employees or patients 160 00:06:57,750 --> 00:07:00,120 or members of their organization 161 00:07:00,120 --> 00:07:02,640 to A.A. if they should need it or want it. 162 00:07:02,640 --> 00:07:04,110 - It's amazing how all this works. 163 00:07:04,110 --> 00:07:05,430 - Yeah, it is. 164 00:07:05,430 --> 00:07:06,930 - And so on that line, 165 00:07:06,930 --> 00:07:09,810 what kind of projects are you working on from the CPC desk? 166 00:07:09,810 --> 00:07:13,410 - One very interesting and promising development 167 00:07:13,410 --> 00:07:15,933 is the pamphlet to the mental health professionals. 168 00:07:15,933 --> 00:07:18,990 It's the first time we've created anything 169 00:07:18,990 --> 00:07:21,750 that specifically is focused 170 00:07:21,750 --> 00:07:23,280 for mental health professionals. 171 00:07:23,280 --> 00:07:28,200 We interviewed a number of professionals in various fields, 172 00:07:28,200 --> 00:07:33,200 and they shared with us how they can inform their patients 173 00:07:33,660 --> 00:07:37,110 or their clients, or introduce them to Alcoholics Anonymous 174 00:07:37,110 --> 00:07:39,480 in ways that we will be able to share that 175 00:07:39,480 --> 00:07:43,470 with other professionals who don't know as much about A.A. 176 00:07:43,470 --> 00:07:45,870 - There was never a pamphlet like this before? 177 00:07:45,870 --> 00:07:49,560 - No, not one specifically for mental health professionals. 178 00:07:49,560 --> 00:07:50,970 - And why do you think that's important 179 00:07:50,970 --> 00:07:52,290 to have this pamphlet? 180 00:07:52,290 --> 00:07:54,480 - We have professionals, mental health professionals, 181 00:07:54,480 --> 00:07:57,487 inquire about, "Hey, I have a client 182 00:07:57,487 --> 00:07:59,917 "who might have a drinking problem. 183 00:07:59,917 --> 00:08:01,597 "How can we help? How can I help? 184 00:08:01,597 --> 00:08:03,630 "What resources do you have available?" 185 00:08:03,630 --> 00:08:05,220 And it's also written in language 186 00:08:05,220 --> 00:08:07,470 that speaks to those professionals. 187 00:08:07,470 --> 00:08:09,540 We interviewed mental health professionals, 188 00:08:09,540 --> 00:08:12,690 so we use the language and their observations 189 00:08:12,690 --> 00:08:15,630 and what situations they see in their profession, 190 00:08:15,630 --> 00:08:18,360 how they educate future professionals. 191 00:08:18,360 --> 00:08:20,940 - I'm curious about what the response was 192 00:08:20,940 --> 00:08:22,530 from the mental health professionals 193 00:08:22,530 --> 00:08:24,870 when you approached them for help on this pamphlet. 194 00:08:24,870 --> 00:08:26,670 Were they excited about it? 195 00:08:26,670 --> 00:08:29,010 Were they a little bit reserved 196 00:08:29,010 --> 00:08:30,690 about getting involved with something like this? 197 00:08:30,690 --> 00:08:31,770 - They were very excited. 198 00:08:31,770 --> 00:08:36,120 We received several responses immediately. 199 00:08:36,120 --> 00:08:38,850 They were excited to share their experience 200 00:08:38,850 --> 00:08:41,760 and offer their insight into, again, 201 00:08:41,760 --> 00:08:46,170 ways that they see that we haven't connected 202 00:08:46,170 --> 00:08:49,440 Alcoholics Anonymous with those patients and clients 203 00:08:49,440 --> 00:08:51,420 who suffer from these mental health issues. 204 00:08:51,420 --> 00:08:52,710 - This is obviously gonna be something 205 00:08:52,710 --> 00:08:54,210 that's gonna be really beneficial. 206 00:08:54,210 --> 00:08:55,043 - Yeah. 207 00:08:55,043 --> 00:08:57,030 - What kinds of things did you ask the professionals? 208 00:08:57,030 --> 00:09:00,060 - We reached out to many professionals 209 00:09:00,060 --> 00:09:03,870 who were simply familiar with Alcoholics Anonymous. 210 00:09:03,870 --> 00:09:05,910 Maybe they had recommended patients 211 00:09:05,910 --> 00:09:08,190 or they had seen how A.A. works. 212 00:09:08,190 --> 00:09:11,130 And we interviewed them to get their insight 213 00:09:11,130 --> 00:09:16,130 into ways to effectively speak about Alcoholics Anonymous 214 00:09:16,620 --> 00:09:20,460 and how it can help connect those clients 215 00:09:20,460 --> 00:09:23,130 and patients with A.A. in their community. 216 00:09:23,130 --> 00:09:24,030 - That's great. 217 00:09:24,030 --> 00:09:27,030 What kind of professionals are we talking about here? 218 00:09:27,030 --> 00:09:31,680 - I receive inquiries from every imaginable profession. 219 00:09:31,680 --> 00:09:33,990 We, of course, receive inquiries 220 00:09:33,990 --> 00:09:38,400 from professionals in healthcare, doctors, 221 00:09:38,400 --> 00:09:39,660 as we were talking about earlier, 222 00:09:39,660 --> 00:09:42,570 mental health professionals, nurses, 223 00:09:42,570 --> 00:09:45,300 but also students, nursing students, 224 00:09:45,300 --> 00:09:48,300 legal professionals, court professionals. 225 00:09:48,300 --> 00:09:51,543 I've received some inquiries from EMS workers, 226 00:09:52,410 --> 00:09:55,140 a lot of volunteers at various agencies, 227 00:09:55,140 --> 00:09:59,787 social services, church volunteers, shelters. 228 00:10:00,750 --> 00:10:02,370 - Military? - The list goes on and on. 229 00:10:02,370 --> 00:10:04,650 - Military, sure, we've received some inquiries 230 00:10:04,650 --> 00:10:08,520 from professionals who help both active and veterans 231 00:10:08,520 --> 00:10:12,720 from the military and connect them with local A.A. 232 00:10:12,720 --> 00:10:13,650 - HR? 233 00:10:13,650 --> 00:10:17,460 - HR departments, we've had some wide-ranging inquiries 234 00:10:17,460 --> 00:10:21,840 from small businesses to larger companies. 235 00:10:21,840 --> 00:10:25,290 You know, managers directly dealing with their employees 236 00:10:25,290 --> 00:10:26,550 who might have a drinking problem 237 00:10:26,550 --> 00:10:27,727 and asking what they can do. 238 00:10:27,727 --> 00:10:29,947 "You know, I have my best employee, 239 00:10:29,947 --> 00:10:33,000 "but they show up to work drunk, what can we do?" 240 00:10:33,000 --> 00:10:35,640 And so I reach out to the local CPC committees 241 00:10:35,640 --> 00:10:36,660 and connect them. 242 00:10:36,660 --> 00:10:38,100 - Any kinds of professions 243 00:10:38,100 --> 00:10:40,320 that you were surprised to hear from? 244 00:10:40,320 --> 00:10:42,240 - A surprise and a pleasant one. 245 00:10:42,240 --> 00:10:45,930 I received a phone call from a member, 246 00:10:45,930 --> 00:10:50,160 she's a resident at a nursing home in the southeast, 247 00:10:50,160 --> 00:10:52,800 and she put me in touch with their administrator 248 00:10:52,800 --> 00:10:56,310 because while she was an long-term member, 249 00:10:56,310 --> 00:10:58,320 sober for many years, 250 00:10:58,320 --> 00:11:02,610 she observed the need for an A.A. meeting in their facility. 251 00:11:02,610 --> 00:11:05,340 And so I ended up connecting with the administrator 252 00:11:05,340 --> 00:11:06,840 at that nursing home. 253 00:11:06,840 --> 00:11:10,290 And through the local CPC committee, 254 00:11:10,290 --> 00:11:14,100 they set up a meeting to go into that facility once a week. 255 00:11:14,100 --> 00:11:16,110 So in the nursing home, once a week 256 00:11:16,110 --> 00:11:18,420 is now going to be an A.A. meeting. 257 00:11:18,420 --> 00:11:20,640 And it was just, the gratitude 258 00:11:20,640 --> 00:11:22,950 that I received from the administrator, 259 00:11:22,950 --> 00:11:24,217 like, the lights went on, like, 260 00:11:24,217 --> 00:11:27,600 "Oh, wow, we can bring this meeting into the facility," 261 00:11:27,600 --> 00:11:29,430 and that was very rewarding. 262 00:11:29,430 --> 00:11:30,600 - I bet. It sounds like it. 263 00:11:30,600 --> 00:11:32,250 - Yeah, we received several inquiries 264 00:11:32,250 --> 00:11:34,350 from nursing homes around the US and Canada. 265 00:11:34,350 --> 00:11:37,173 So there's definitely a need there, as well. 266 00:11:38,400 --> 00:11:39,780 - Additionally, you've had experience 267 00:11:39,780 --> 00:11:42,540 attending and organizing professional events. 268 00:11:42,540 --> 00:11:43,650 What's that been like? 269 00:11:43,650 --> 00:11:46,380 - Yeah, well, we call it CPC exhibits. 270 00:11:46,380 --> 00:11:48,180 It could be a number of ways that we do this. 271 00:11:48,180 --> 00:11:49,680 And this has been a lot of fun. 272 00:11:49,680 --> 00:11:52,500 We may purchase a booth 273 00:11:52,500 --> 00:11:57,259 where we have a display of A.A. material, 274 00:11:57,259 --> 00:11:59,820 A.A. literature, some A.A. grapevines, 275 00:11:59,820 --> 00:12:02,640 and we have local volunteers that attend this booth. 276 00:12:02,640 --> 00:12:04,980 I like to say it's almost like a trade show 277 00:12:04,980 --> 00:12:06,990 where professionals from any number 278 00:12:06,990 --> 00:12:08,610 of professions might attend. 279 00:12:08,610 --> 00:12:10,110 And they have a chance to interact 280 00:12:10,110 --> 00:12:12,570 with the local committees there 281 00:12:12,570 --> 00:12:16,620 and learn about Alcoholics Anonymous, as well. 282 00:12:16,620 --> 00:12:20,850 And this was very eye-opening and a learning experience. 283 00:12:20,850 --> 00:12:25,710 We attended a professional event last year in August 284 00:12:25,710 --> 00:12:29,250 that was a national event for corrections professionals, 285 00:12:29,250 --> 00:12:32,580 and along with two of our Class A trustees 286 00:12:32,580 --> 00:12:34,440 from the General Service Board, and Class A- 287 00:12:34,440 --> 00:12:35,739 - Let's talk about Class A trustees. 288 00:12:35,739 --> 00:12:36,572 - Sure. 289 00:12:36,572 --> 00:12:39,840 Sure, a class A trustee is a non-alcoholic trustee. 290 00:12:39,840 --> 00:12:43,890 And these two Class A trustees and I together 291 00:12:43,890 --> 00:12:48,630 presented a workshop that was informational 292 00:12:48,630 --> 00:12:51,390 for corrections professionals. 293 00:12:51,390 --> 00:12:54,660 I spoke a little bit about how A.A. works, 294 00:12:54,660 --> 00:12:56,700 I explained that I'm a member of A.A., 295 00:12:56,700 --> 00:12:58,500 that I got sober in A.A. 296 00:12:58,500 --> 00:13:00,360 And then the two professionals, 297 00:13:00,360 --> 00:13:04,170 one from the courts and one from the corrections field, 298 00:13:04,170 --> 00:13:07,260 explained and informed these professionals 299 00:13:07,260 --> 00:13:11,610 how A.A. can work in a facility, 300 00:13:11,610 --> 00:13:15,840 how it can work for those who are freed from a facility. 301 00:13:15,840 --> 00:13:18,870 We spoke about the literature that's available 302 00:13:18,870 --> 00:13:21,720 to go into prisons and jails, 303 00:13:21,720 --> 00:13:24,510 the pre-release contacts 304 00:13:24,510 --> 00:13:29,510 where a member will be waiting on the outside of a jail 305 00:13:30,630 --> 00:13:33,630 or a prison for that inside member to be released. 306 00:13:33,630 --> 00:13:38,630 They talk about how meetings and how recovery happens 307 00:13:39,150 --> 00:13:42,630 inside of facilities, inside of prisons and jails. 308 00:13:42,630 --> 00:13:45,420 It's very eye-opening, very informative. 309 00:13:45,420 --> 00:13:50,190 And so, yes, we presented about a 90-minute workshop 310 00:13:50,190 --> 00:13:51,990 to a number of these professionals 311 00:13:51,990 --> 00:13:53,040 from the corrections industry. 312 00:13:53,040 --> 00:13:56,610 We answered questions, we made a lot of contacts. 313 00:13:56,610 --> 00:13:58,560 We were following up with these contacts 314 00:13:58,560 --> 00:14:00,210 over the next few months, 315 00:14:00,210 --> 00:14:02,160 connecting them, again, with local committees. 316 00:14:02,160 --> 00:14:05,100 That's a lot of what we do is connect professionals 317 00:14:05,100 --> 00:14:08,820 with the local members of Alcoholics Anonymous 318 00:14:08,820 --> 00:14:10,830 who volunteer and serve 319 00:14:10,830 --> 00:14:14,310 on these Cooperation with the Professional Community 320 00:14:14,310 --> 00:14:15,660 or Corrections committees, 321 00:14:15,660 --> 00:14:17,310 or sometimes it's Treatment 322 00:14:17,310 --> 00:14:19,530 and Accessibility committees, it varies. 323 00:14:19,530 --> 00:14:20,910 - Yeah, it seems to be a lot of overlap 324 00:14:20,910 --> 00:14:23,660 between these staff positions and the work that you do. 325 00:14:24,510 --> 00:14:26,910 And besides that, have there been any big surprises 326 00:14:26,910 --> 00:14:29,880 sitting in this position as CPC Coordinator? 327 00:14:29,880 --> 00:14:32,730 - There have, there still is. 328 00:14:32,730 --> 00:14:37,080 And that is the amount of work that we need to do 329 00:14:37,080 --> 00:14:39,420 as members of Alcoholics Anonymous 330 00:14:39,420 --> 00:14:41,460 to connect with professionals. 331 00:14:41,460 --> 00:14:45,060 It seems to be, the example that I use 332 00:14:45,060 --> 00:14:48,960 is that when I hear a doctor, let's just say, 333 00:14:48,960 --> 00:14:50,137 calls me up and says, 334 00:14:50,137 --> 00:14:55,137 "I had one course on recovery and alcoholism 335 00:14:56,137 --> 00:15:00,540 "in one of my first years in college or university." 336 00:15:00,540 --> 00:15:02,587 And they honestly say, 337 00:15:02,587 --> 00:15:05,587 "I don't know much about Alcoholics Anonymous 338 00:15:05,587 --> 00:15:08,010 "or alcoholism or recovery." 339 00:15:08,010 --> 00:15:09,870 And that's where the work starts 340 00:15:09,870 --> 00:15:12,093 and that's where we inform them. 341 00:15:13,411 --> 00:15:16,320 You know, we connect them with local resources 342 00:15:16,320 --> 00:15:17,910 so that they can help the still sick 343 00:15:17,910 --> 00:15:19,350 and suffering alcoholic. 344 00:15:19,350 --> 00:15:20,790 So there's a lot of work to be done, 345 00:15:20,790 --> 00:15:22,260 that's the surprise to me. 346 00:15:22,260 --> 00:15:25,230 - Hmm, yeah. Alright, well, let's get to work. 347 00:15:25,230 --> 00:15:26,077 - Yeah. 348 00:15:26,077 --> 00:15:29,244 (gentle upbeat music) 349 00:15:33,000 --> 00:15:35,340 - Professionals who want to know more about A.A. 350 00:15:35,340 --> 00:15:38,370 can check out the Alcoholics Anonymous World Services page 351 00:15:38,370 --> 00:15:39,243 on LinkedIn. 352 00:15:41,550 --> 00:15:43,590 For more information about A.A., 353 00:15:43,590 --> 00:15:46,450 please visit our website at aa.org. 354 00:15:46,450 --> 00:15:49,320 (gentle upbeat music) 355 00:15:49,320 --> 00:15:52,260 - CPC came into being as a distinct entity 356 00:15:52,260 --> 00:15:56,820 in 1970 as an outgrowth of the Public Information Committee. 357 00:15:56,820 --> 00:15:59,970 Here is one of Michael's predecessors, Phyllis M., 358 00:15:59,970 --> 00:16:02,580 the CPC Staff Coordinator at the time, 359 00:16:02,580 --> 00:16:06,270 speaking at the 1980 Pacific Regional Forum. 360 00:16:06,270 --> 00:16:09,623 - Hi everybody. I'm Phyllis and I'm an alcoholic. 361 00:16:09,623 --> 00:16:11,793 - Hi, Phyllis. 362 00:16:15,630 --> 00:16:19,890 - Maybe we shouldn't have favorite assignments at GSO 363 00:16:19,890 --> 00:16:21,300 and maybe everyone doesn't, 364 00:16:21,300 --> 00:16:24,900 but I guess if I really had to be honest, 365 00:16:24,900 --> 00:16:27,850 my favorite assignment so far has been 366 00:16:28,770 --> 00:16:31,500 Cooperation with the Professional Community. 367 00:16:31,500 --> 00:16:36,450 Probably a third of the people coming to our fellowship now 368 00:16:36,450 --> 00:16:39,840 are people who are coming either through a doctor 369 00:16:39,840 --> 00:16:43,410 or a counselor or a treatment facility. 370 00:16:43,410 --> 00:16:46,110 So the CPC committee 371 00:16:46,110 --> 00:16:51,110 or whatever concerned A.A. member in a community 372 00:16:51,660 --> 00:16:54,600 has an opportunity to help. 373 00:16:54,600 --> 00:16:56,910 So we are dealing with people 374 00:16:56,910 --> 00:16:58,953 who have some knowledge about A.A. 375 00:17:00,900 --> 00:17:05,430 Professional people sometimes call us continuing treatment, 376 00:17:05,430 --> 00:17:08,100 but I don't really care what anybody calls us 377 00:17:08,100 --> 00:17:11,340 as long as they send A.A. people to us. 378 00:17:11,340 --> 00:17:15,480 If we want to continue to fulfill our primary purpose 379 00:17:15,480 --> 00:17:17,340 of carrying the A.A. message, 380 00:17:17,340 --> 00:17:20,970 we've got a fertile field to explain our traditions, 381 00:17:20,970 --> 00:17:23,880 to describe what A.A. can do and what we can't do. 382 00:17:23,880 --> 00:17:25,320 Because we can do a lot, 383 00:17:25,320 --> 00:17:27,360 but if we don't tell other people about this, 384 00:17:27,360 --> 00:17:28,960 we can't expect them to know it. 385 00:17:30,060 --> 00:17:34,170 And I couldn't close without sharing with you 386 00:17:34,170 --> 00:17:37,260 a favorite quote of mine, of Bill's, 387 00:17:37,260 --> 00:17:41,670 that together, we and the professionals can do 388 00:17:41,670 --> 00:17:44,464 what neither of us could do alone, thank you very much. 389 00:17:44,464 --> 00:17:49,464 (audience applauding) (gentle upbeat music) 390 00:17:49,909 --> 00:17:53,076 (gentle bright music) 391 00:17:58,020 --> 00:18:00,870 - To find a meeting near you or a meeting online, 392 00:18:00,870 --> 00:18:03,783 download the Meeting Guide app on your mobile device. 393 00:18:04,836 --> 00:18:08,003 (bright upbeat music) 394 00:18:10,170 --> 00:18:11,520 - Since its early years, 395 00:18:11,520 --> 00:18:14,370 CPC has been solidifying its immense value 396 00:18:14,370 --> 00:18:16,290 in fulfilling our primary purpose 397 00:18:16,290 --> 00:18:18,540 of carrying the message of A.A. 398 00:18:18,540 --> 00:18:20,760 When Wallace R. from Vancouver, BC 399 00:18:20,760 --> 00:18:23,400 shared with us his experience, strength, and hope, 400 00:18:23,400 --> 00:18:26,820 we got to hear how CPC helped him. 401 00:18:26,820 --> 00:18:28,440 - Hi, my name is Wallace. 402 00:18:28,440 --> 00:18:32,580 I'm an alcoholic from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. 403 00:18:32,580 --> 00:18:35,820 I came into the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous 404 00:18:35,820 --> 00:18:39,660 in February of 2011 after a period 405 00:18:39,660 --> 00:18:44,660 of increasing and out-of-control alcohol and drug use. 406 00:18:45,690 --> 00:18:48,240 I grew up in a conservative town 407 00:18:48,240 --> 00:18:50,850 on the east coast of Canada. 408 00:18:50,850 --> 00:18:53,250 I was a very sensitive child. 409 00:18:53,250 --> 00:18:55,710 I felt different as a kid. 410 00:18:55,710 --> 00:19:00,710 And when I was a teenager, I recognized that I was gay. 411 00:19:00,780 --> 00:19:02,580 And in my conservative family 412 00:19:02,580 --> 00:19:06,060 and conservative town in the 1970s, 413 00:19:06,060 --> 00:19:09,450 I really saw no hope for my future. 414 00:19:09,450 --> 00:19:14,450 I began to use alcohol as a means of feeling better, 415 00:19:15,660 --> 00:19:19,410 that that became my spiritual solution. 416 00:19:19,410 --> 00:19:22,980 For me, like many of my friends and Alcoholics Anonymous, 417 00:19:22,980 --> 00:19:27,000 we find that spiritual solution in alcohol 418 00:19:27,000 --> 00:19:29,370 stops working for us. 419 00:19:29,370 --> 00:19:34,370 And I ended up increasing my alcohol and drug use. 420 00:19:34,830 --> 00:19:39,690 Over a period of time, I kept crossing lines and boundaries 421 00:19:39,690 --> 00:19:42,240 that I said I would never cross. 422 00:19:42,240 --> 00:19:44,880 I didn't know what the end was going to look like, 423 00:19:44,880 --> 00:19:48,870 but I felt it was either I was going to lose my job, 424 00:19:48,870 --> 00:19:50,640 I was going to die, 425 00:19:50,640 --> 00:19:52,860 I was going to end up in jail or hospital. 426 00:19:52,860 --> 00:19:57,000 I could just see that that was going to be the outcome 427 00:19:57,000 --> 00:19:59,910 if I didn't stop drinking and using. 428 00:19:59,910 --> 00:20:03,600 One evening in February, 2011, 429 00:20:03,600 --> 00:20:05,520 I walked around my apartment, 430 00:20:05,520 --> 00:20:08,730 I was high again, I had been drinking again. 431 00:20:08,730 --> 00:20:13,730 And weeks of just increasing drinking and drug use, 432 00:20:14,700 --> 00:20:17,190 I was inconsolable. 433 00:20:17,190 --> 00:20:19,297 I walked around my apartment and said, 434 00:20:19,297 --> 00:20:23,010 "Oh my God, I need help, I need help, I need help." 435 00:20:23,010 --> 00:20:26,490 And I really had no idea 436 00:20:26,490 --> 00:20:29,070 what that help was going to look like. 437 00:20:29,070 --> 00:20:32,970 I was a health professional, I am a health professional, 438 00:20:32,970 --> 00:20:36,900 but I didn't know much about what Alcoholics Anonymous was. 439 00:20:36,900 --> 00:20:41,900 It was sort of this mythological organization out there 440 00:20:42,630 --> 00:20:44,550 that helped some people. 441 00:20:44,550 --> 00:20:49,380 I didn't know how it worked, I didn't know if I qualified. 442 00:20:49,380 --> 00:20:51,210 And I talked to a healthcare professional, 443 00:20:51,210 --> 00:20:54,840 she was a counselor in addictions and mental health. 444 00:20:54,840 --> 00:20:56,077 I went to her and said, 445 00:20:56,077 --> 00:20:58,320 "I need help. What am I going to do?" 446 00:20:58,320 --> 00:20:59,153 And she said, 447 00:20:59,153 --> 00:21:03,180 "I think you need to go to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting." 448 00:21:03,180 --> 00:21:06,690 And I could not be more grateful for this program. 449 00:21:06,690 --> 00:21:08,100 - How do you think healthcare workers 450 00:21:08,100 --> 00:21:09,930 are approaching A.A. today? 451 00:21:09,930 --> 00:21:12,870 - There's evidence that Alcoholics Anonymous 452 00:21:12,870 --> 00:21:16,410 is one of the most effective programs 453 00:21:16,410 --> 00:21:20,280 or ways of helping somebody achieve sobriety 454 00:21:20,280 --> 00:21:22,770 from alcohol and drug use. 455 00:21:22,770 --> 00:21:25,110 I think it's kind of changing the way 456 00:21:25,110 --> 00:21:27,390 that health professionals look 457 00:21:27,390 --> 00:21:31,050 at the value of Alcoholics Anonymous. 458 00:21:31,050 --> 00:21:32,610 - Yeah, you've been in A.A. for a while. 459 00:21:32,610 --> 00:21:35,880 What keeps you interested? What keeps you engaged? 460 00:21:35,880 --> 00:21:40,880 - I am very interested in how this program developed, 461 00:21:41,190 --> 00:21:45,870 this program that has helped millions of people 462 00:21:45,870 --> 00:21:48,750 around the world find recovery. 463 00:21:48,750 --> 00:21:50,100 Where did it come from? 464 00:21:50,100 --> 00:21:54,360 It's so wise and so empowering 465 00:21:54,360 --> 00:21:57,360 that I've just been very interested in how it evolved. 466 00:21:57,360 --> 00:22:00,570 So I've just, you know, read some of our literature 467 00:22:00,570 --> 00:22:04,020 in Alcoholics Anonymous that tells the story of A.A. 468 00:22:04,020 --> 00:22:08,070 and those early men and women in Alcoholics Anonymous. 469 00:22:08,070 --> 00:22:10,020 I've read some of the history 470 00:22:10,020 --> 00:22:13,800 of how Alcoholics Anonymous developed in Vancouver. 471 00:22:13,800 --> 00:22:17,490 It's just a privilege, and I just, you know, 472 00:22:17,490 --> 00:22:21,480 I feel, oh, I just feel even more, 473 00:22:21,480 --> 00:22:25,290 I'm fired up for my own recovery 474 00:22:25,290 --> 00:22:27,870 and for helping other alcoholics maintain 475 00:22:27,870 --> 00:22:30,210 or sustain their recovery. 476 00:22:30,210 --> 00:22:34,080 And, you know, excited as well that Vancouver, BC 477 00:22:34,080 --> 00:22:38,580 gets to host the International Convention next year in July. 478 00:22:38,580 --> 00:22:41,190 I know my friends and fellow members 479 00:22:41,190 --> 00:22:43,740 of Alcoholics Anonymous in Vancouver 480 00:22:43,740 --> 00:22:48,740 are excited to welcome the alcoholics from across the world. 481 00:22:48,960 --> 00:22:52,350 Vancouver's a beautiful city, especially in July, 482 00:22:52,350 --> 00:22:57,063 and imagine that I get to be a part of that, 483 00:22:58,740 --> 00:23:02,103 it's just another privilege of being in this program. 484 00:23:03,270 --> 00:23:06,570 - It was so great having you at GSO today, Wallace. 485 00:23:06,570 --> 00:23:08,952 Can't wait to see you in Vancouver. 486 00:23:08,952 --> 00:23:12,119 (gentle upbeat music) 487 00:23:14,010 --> 00:23:15,990 We hope you enjoyed this week's episode. 488 00:23:15,990 --> 00:23:17,040 For more information 489 00:23:17,040 --> 00:23:19,350 on Cooperation with the Professional Community 490 00:23:19,350 --> 00:23:22,530 or the upcoming 2025 International Convention 491 00:23:22,530 --> 00:23:24,330 in Vancouver, British Columbia, 492 00:23:24,330 --> 00:23:27,030 please visit our website aa.org, 493 00:23:27,030 --> 00:23:29,130 and be sure to subscribe to this podcast 494 00:23:29,130 --> 00:23:30,530 so you can keep coming back. 495 00:23:31,620 --> 00:23:34,380 - Thank you for listening to "Our Primary Purpose," 496 00:23:34,380 --> 00:23:37,410 a podcast produced by the General Service Office 497 00:23:37,410 --> 00:23:40,050 on behalf of the Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous 498 00:23:40,050 --> 00:23:41,643 in the US and Canada.