This phrase, taken from an essay written by AA co-founder, Bill Wilson, describes the philosophy Bill wanted AA to adopt when it came to cooperation with the professional community. Bill understood that for people to find the AA program, AA needed to have good relations with the medical community, law enforcement, religious organizations and the like. This is as true today as it was in AA’s early days.
A few years ago, an AA service entity conducted an outreach workshop with members from the professional community. The purpose of the workshop was to ascertain information on how the invited organizations perceived the program of Alcoholics Anonymous. The workshop organizers wanted to know what AA was doing well and not so well in the eyes of the workshop attendees. It was a bold, courageous and interesting question. AA members and AA service entities frequently take their own fearless and moral inventories, but they aren’t known for asking others from outside the AA organization to do it for them.
Five professionals from various sectors of the professional community agreed to sit on a panel to discuss how their agencies cooperated with the AA program. The sectors represented were the health care industry, higher education, the airline industry, manufacturing and the Armed Forces. All five panel members graciously gave up a weekday evening to discuss with AA members how their organizations worked with Alcoholics Anonymous and how that relationship could be enhanced.
The first question posed to the panel participants was to describe how their organizations cooperated with AA. Their answers varied from organization to organization, but one common theme that emerged from all five professionals was this; of the employees from their respective organizations who had a drinking problem, those who went to AA seemed to get sober faster and stay sober longer.
All five of the professionals in attendance discussed how their programs referred their members to AA. They stressed that attending AA wasn’t required or mandated, but it was highly encouraged to those suffering from alcoholism. They all agreed that those attending AA meetings seemed to adjust faster to their new sober lives and that their work attendance and workplace performance improved dramatically.
Participants were also asked what they would like to see more from the AA community. Their answers varied from organization to organization. However, after a general period of sharing, these were the top ten things the panel agreed upon that they would like to see from the AA community.
1. Panel members asked if it would be possible to make AA meetings easier to find. Panel participants all agreed that they heard repeatedly from employees that finding AA meetings was difficult and cumbersome.
2. Panel members asked AA groups to please ensure the accuracy of AA listings. Panel members all related stories about employees who had sought out an AA meeting only to find that the meeting had moved or had disbanded.
3. Panel members requested that meetings be clearly identified for the newcomer, e.g., Open, Closed, LGBTQ meetings, meetings that are child friendly, etc. Several members described how an employee went to a meeting but was turned away because they couldn’t bring children, or the meeting was a closed meeting.
4. Panel members asked AA groups to ensure telephone numbers were accurate and responsive. One panel member reported on how an employee called an AA assistance line. They said the call went into voicemail, and no one returned the call.
5. Panel members wanted to know if AA online information could be checked for accuracy and updates. Panel members reported searching for AA information and being directed to a treatment center or some other organization.
6. Panel members asked if AA groups could extend a little grace and compassion to the newcomer. A few panel members reported employees being turned away from meetings because they identified as a “drug addict” and not as an alcoholic.
7. Panel members asked the AA community to please be open to people of color or differing cultural backgrounds.
8. Panel members asked the AA community to be more proactive in reducing barriers to recovery and reaching out more to the professional community.
9. Panel members requested more meetings that target certain segments of the recovery community, e.g., AA meetings for veterans, AA meetings providing childcare, etc.
10. Panel members asked if more people in AA could get involved in AA service. Panel members reported that it seemed like 10% of the people in AA were doing 90% of the work.
In summary, the workshop provided valuable insights into how professionals cooperate with the AA program. And perhaps more importantly, the workshop provided valuable information to AA members on how they can build and strengthen their relationship with the professional community. Afterall, it’s like Bill said, “Let’s be friendly with our friends.”
“Let’s Be Friendly With Our Friends” was first published in the AA Grapevine in March 1958.
