Question
1:
Share
experience on getting articles on AA in the local press and make
suggestions on how the Fellowship can get articles into the national
press.
Background
1. Members are having some success on getting articles on AA in their local newspapers
2. The Fellowship has not succeeded so far in getting articles on AA in the national press.
Background
1. Members are having some success on getting articles on AA in their local newspapers
2. The Fellowship has not succeeded so far in getting articles on AA in the national press.
[See
also: The Traditions, Preamble and Concepts]
Extracts:
“ I
think it is important that individual AA members and groups recognise
that AA public relations have always been sensitive and need careful
consideration. There needs to an authority in AA public relations.
One of the reasons the Washingtonian
movement collapsed was because there was no effective public
relations policy or authority.
“…If there is no authority how can they have any public relations policy at all? That's the very defect which ruined the Washingtonian alcoholics a hundred years ago. They mushroomed to 100,000 members, then collapsed. No effective policy or authority. Quarreled among themselves, so finally got a black eye with the public. Aren't these A.A.s just the same kind of drunks, the same kind of anarchists? How can they expect to succeed where the Washingtonians failed?" Good questions, these. Have we the answers?....” ( Extract, ‘Rules’ Dangerous but Unity Vital by Bill W. The Language of the Heart p 7-8. AA Grapevine September 1945)
"The Washingtonians were confident. . . they scorned old methods." (Too cocksure, maybe. Couldn't learn from others and became competitive, instead of cooperative, with other organizations in their field.)” (Bill W. Extract,“Modesty One Plank For Good Public Relations” The Language of the Heart p 5. AA Grapevine August 1945)
Before undertaking local Public information work I think individuals and groups ought to read the A.A. Service Handbook for Great Britain, section 17 Public Information, and PI guidelines and work within AA traditions and Concepts. Any article written for a local paper ought to be in the style of providing information, rather than promotion. Concept XI, Public Information Committee section, though directed at board level, also gives good advice for anyone involved in PI locally. The section in the concept ends with “It is a critical assignment; a single large public blunder could cost many lives and much suffering because it would turn new prospects away. Conversely, every real public relations success brings alcoholics in our direction.”
Individuals and groups need to recognise that local AA public relations work such as writing an article for a local newspaper is a matter which could concern the welfare of surrounding groups and AA as a whole, and it needs to be carried out with respect to the principle of Tradition Four/ Tradition Four (long form).
“…But when its plans concern the welfare of neighbouring groups also, these groups ought to be consulted.’ Obviously, if any individual, group, intergroup, or regional committee could take an action that might seriously affect the welfare of Alcoholics Anonymous as a whole or seriously disturb surrounding groups, that would not be liberty at all. It would be sheer license; it would be anarchy, not democracy. Therefore, we AAs have universally adopted the principle of consultation. This means that if a single AA group wishes to take any action that might affect surrounding groups, it consults them. Or, it confers with the intergroup committee for the area, if there be one. Likewise, if a group or regional committee wishes to take any action that might affect AA as a whole, it consults the trustees of the Alcoholic Foundation, who are, in effect, our overall general service committee. For instance, no group or intergroup could feel free to initiate, without consultation, any publicity that might affect AA as a whole. Nor could it assume to represent the whole of Alcoholics Anonymous by printing and distributing anything purporting to be AA standard literature.” (“Tradition Four” Bill W. A.A. Grapevine March 1948, Language of the Heart p 81).
The Intergroup public Information liaison officer provides the authority for local AA public relations which is delegated to the service position within Tradition Two and The Twelve Concepts for World Service. Individuals and AA group leaders need to recognise that the Intergroup PI liaison Officer ought to be consulted before public information work is carried out by individuals and groups. Tradition Four states “Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or A.A. as a whole.” This Tradition cannot be broken in two to make “Each group should be autonomous.” With Regard to local AA public relations activity, such as the content of a proposed article for a local newspaper, or other PI work, the intergroup public liaison officer has a qualified ultimate authority over an individual AA group for final decision. This authority is granted to the service position in the Twelve Concepts for World Service; it needs to be respected by individuals, groups and their GSRs. ”
“…If there is no authority how can they have any public relations policy at all? That's the very defect which ruined the Washingtonian alcoholics a hundred years ago. They mushroomed to 100,000 members, then collapsed. No effective policy or authority. Quarreled among themselves, so finally got a black eye with the public. Aren't these A.A.s just the same kind of drunks, the same kind of anarchists? How can they expect to succeed where the Washingtonians failed?" Good questions, these. Have we the answers?....” ( Extract, ‘Rules’ Dangerous but Unity Vital by Bill W. The Language of the Heart p 7-8. AA Grapevine September 1945)
"The Washingtonians were confident. . . they scorned old methods." (Too cocksure, maybe. Couldn't learn from others and became competitive, instead of cooperative, with other organizations in their field.)” (Bill W. Extract,“Modesty One Plank For Good Public Relations” The Language of the Heart p 5. AA Grapevine August 1945)
Before undertaking local Public information work I think individuals and groups ought to read the A.A. Service Handbook for Great Britain, section 17 Public Information, and PI guidelines and work within AA traditions and Concepts. Any article written for a local paper ought to be in the style of providing information, rather than promotion. Concept XI, Public Information Committee section, though directed at board level, also gives good advice for anyone involved in PI locally. The section in the concept ends with “It is a critical assignment; a single large public blunder could cost many lives and much suffering because it would turn new prospects away. Conversely, every real public relations success brings alcoholics in our direction.”
Individuals and groups need to recognise that local AA public relations work such as writing an article for a local newspaper is a matter which could concern the welfare of surrounding groups and AA as a whole, and it needs to be carried out with respect to the principle of Tradition Four/ Tradition Four (long form).
“…But when its plans concern the welfare of neighbouring groups also, these groups ought to be consulted.’ Obviously, if any individual, group, intergroup, or regional committee could take an action that might seriously affect the welfare of Alcoholics Anonymous as a whole or seriously disturb surrounding groups, that would not be liberty at all. It would be sheer license; it would be anarchy, not democracy. Therefore, we AAs have universally adopted the principle of consultation. This means that if a single AA group wishes to take any action that might affect surrounding groups, it consults them. Or, it confers with the intergroup committee for the area, if there be one. Likewise, if a group or regional committee wishes to take any action that might affect AA as a whole, it consults the trustees of the Alcoholic Foundation, who are, in effect, our overall general service committee. For instance, no group or intergroup could feel free to initiate, without consultation, any publicity that might affect AA as a whole. Nor could it assume to represent the whole of Alcoholics Anonymous by printing and distributing anything purporting to be AA standard literature.” (“Tradition Four” Bill W. A.A. Grapevine March 1948, Language of the Heart p 81).
The Intergroup public Information liaison officer provides the authority for local AA public relations which is delegated to the service position within Tradition Two and The Twelve Concepts for World Service. Individuals and AA group leaders need to recognise that the Intergroup PI liaison Officer ought to be consulted before public information work is carried out by individuals and groups. Tradition Four states “Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or A.A. as a whole.” This Tradition cannot be broken in two to make “Each group should be autonomous.” With Regard to local AA public relations activity, such as the content of a proposed article for a local newspaper, or other PI work, the intergroup public liaison officer has a qualified ultimate authority over an individual AA group for final decision. This authority is granted to the service position in the Twelve Concepts for World Service; it needs to be respected by individuals, groups and their GSRs. ”
Cheerio
The
Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)
See
also AA Minority Report 2013
