Public Information

Become a volunteer

The Westchester Public Information (P.I.) Committee furnishes speakers for outside organizations such as clubs, educational programs, including radio and T.V. programs, universities, churches, doctors, the police academy and many other outside organizations who call us requesting speakers because they are interested in the work of A.A.

P.I. Volunteers explain the activities and functions of the Intergroup Office and A.A. as a whole. The P.I. Committee is chaired by a member of the Steering Committee who works in close cooperation with A.A. World Services, handling local public information needs as distinguished from World Services’ wider and more general field, and cooperating on many projects of mutual interest, such as Special Public Meetings, Workshops and radio and TV documentaries. The Public Information Service Activity Chart, also available in Spanish, describes how Westchester GSA works with the other A.A. service entities to assure the public is accurately informed about what A.A. is and does.

Become a Public Information Volunteer

If you are interested in becoming a P.I. Volunteer, please complete and submit a P.I. Volunteer Signup Form (also available in Spanish). There is an Orientation for Public Information Volunteers to prepare them for this service, and to assure they understand what distinguishes a Public Information Presentation from an A.A. talk, provide accurate information regarding what A.A. is and does, as well as give them AA approved literature and information on open A.A. meetings for distribution to their audience. The Public Information Presentation as well as P.I. Volunteer’s Do’s and Don’ts are available for download.


Public Information Committee

P.I. Volunteers Do’s and Don’ts When Doing a Public Information Presentation

The Westchester GSA Public Information (P.I.) Committee (“P.I. Committee”) furnishes speakers for outside organizations such as clubs, educational programs, including radio and T.V. programs, universities, churches, doctors, the police academy and many other outside organizations who call us requesting speakers because they are interested in the work of A.A. P.I. Volunteers explain the activities and functions of the Intergroup Office and A.A. as a whole to assure the public is accurately informed about what A.A. is and does.

Some DO’S Experience suggests that a phone call to the host one week prior to the speaking commitment is important. Please remember that those requesting P.I. speakers have schedules and need to have assurance that A.A. speakers will show up when scheduled. P.I. speakers represent A.A. to non-A.A. groups. When phoning the host we inform the host that the session will include a question and answer period.

We arrive at least five minutes before the scheduled starting time of the commitment. We are enthusiastic, pleasant, and courteous. We dress neatly and try to remember we represent New York Inter-Group and Alcoholics Anonymous.

We may be the only A.A. member that somebody in the audience may ever meet. Therefore, it is up to the P.I.Volunteer to present as attractive a picture of our Fellowship as possible. Thus we: 

  • avoid the use of profanity,
  • avoid the use of profanity,
  • dress neatly and as well as we can, and
  • are early not “just on time.”

After our speaking commitment, we let the Public Information Committee Chair know how the experience was. If appropriate, we suggest ways to carry the A.A. message more effectively. and now, a few DON’TS:

1. We do not talk down to our listeners. When addressing high school students, unless we are under 25 our self, we do not pepper our talk with “teen language.” It will make us and our audience uncomfortable.

2. We do not describe our drinking story in detail.

3. We do not relate statistics or technical data; we are not giving a lecture.

4. We do not over-dramatize our experiences with the program.

5. We do not give false or “guessing” answers to questions. If we don’t know an answer, say so.

6. We do not attempt to answer medical, legal, or psychiatric questions. We are not physicians, therapists or attorneys.

7. We do not engage in debate or argument.

8. We do not allow our talk to be video or audio-taped without assuring that our anonymity will be respected. If our host asks to record the presentation, we suggest a call to a New York Inter-Group staff member for explanation of the anonymity tradition.

9. We do not leave our full name or phone number with the host. If the host wants us to speak to the group again we suggest a call to New York Inter-group for rescheduling.

10. We do not try to sell A.A., Al-Anon, or Alateen. Remember we only “Carry the Message.”

Are you an alcoholic?

Have you or a family member exhibited signs that alcohol might be having a negative impact on your life and that things have become unmanageable?