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Good evening, I’m Barbara Joss – and I can tell you my surname ecause I’m a “Class A Non-alcoholic Trustee” on the Board of Alcoholics Anonymous Australia.  Tonight I want to explain what a “Class A Non-alcoholic Trustee” is and why AA needs them. Then, because it’s relevant, I’ll tell you a bit about my professional background.

But first I must say how I love the work that I am doing for AA.  I’m getting around the country quite a bit, and have made many valued friends, and many are here tonight.  I’ve even had a marriage proposal – from an AA (very) old-timer. Who, unfortunately, is not with us anymore. He only asked one question: “Are you any good in the kitchen”?  to which I replied, “Yes”. “Good”, he said. “I sacked my last wife because she wasn’t!”

But back to Class A’s

AA was initiated in the US over 70 years ago by Dr Bob (a medical specialist) and Bill W (a stockbroker). When they found their method of, “one drunk talking to another”, was working – over 50 “drunks” had got sober - they decided they needed to get the word out to the wider community.  They thought, and I quote: “But who’s going to believe a couple of drunks?”  So in their wisdom, they created a charity structure and peopled the Board with doctors and lawyers. These “pillars of the community”, who already believed in AA, became the first Class A Non-alcoholic Trustees of Alcoholics Anonymous.

The Australian Board of AA consists of 12 trustees: eight from the program and four, Class A’s, enlisted for their skills. Class A’s, as non-alcoholics, do not have to be anonymous and so, can represent AA and can show their faces in the media.

Which brings me to me

I’ve spent my entire life in the media - since before I was born. My father was current affairs cartoonist on one of London’s three evening newspapers from before I was born into my late my teens.

In London, I performed in the West End, in films and on TV. In Australia, in addition to playing the title role in “Peter Pan”, etc, I was also a reporter on Channel 7 and ABC Radio National, for which I made two one-hour programs, one of them on the subject of male-menopause!

After topping my year in the TAFE three-year Diploma in PR, I became a multi-award-winning media consultant specializing in national media campaigns on medical issues. And hence, AA.

On becoming a Class A, I had another vision - related to the media (surprise, surprise!). But that’s another story…

P.S.

One of my visions for AA since becoming a Class A Trustee, was that AA shows Community Service Announcements (CSA’s) in the media that are made: in Australia by Australians, for Australians.

Having a major Australian media campaign would help AA in two ways: it would not only show the Australian public and professional community that AA Australia is not a secret society, it would also give a massive boost to AA members working in Public Information – what more visible hook could there be on which to hang all manner of PI introductions!

As advertising agencies charges are usually beyond its resources, AA Australia has always used CSA’s primarily from AA in the US and UK.

My vision was that Australian advertising agencies would make Australian Community Service Announcements - known as CSA’s, for AA Australian, for nothing – known as pro bono.

Larger advertising agencies, which can afford to, make a few CSA’s pro-bono, for selected worthwhile charities for their own reasons (thereby complying with the AA constraint that we can’t accept favors). The agencies’ reasons are: to be seen as good corporate citizens; to stretch their creative staff – making an ad on deodorant is not exciting while making one on AA, is! So, CSA’s are often entered in international and other competitions.

Some two years ago, five agencies volunteered to work with us but two had to drop out due to the global financial crisis. Of the remaining: one was the health arm of a multinational in Sydney, one in Perth and, one in Melbourne.

I’ll tell you about the multinational, because it’s an amazing story. At the start, the company stipulated that it would come on-board on the understanding that it would only provide $5,000 worth of creative services. I was concerned. But: One Day at a Time, I knew the answers would come!  The creative director and staff were so enthralled with the project that they have now completed: •  2 CSA’s for TV and On-line •  1 for Radio  •  3 for Newspapers and Magazines   •  2 for Train Stations   •   plus a selection for Shopping Centres and Buses.

Stop Press: Sydney’s Wynyard and Kings Cross are currently the first stations to show AA’s monster billboards on their platforms (one per station).  We also have a fantastic media-buying company looking after getting the material on-air, etc.

I am happy to say that starting with CSA’s and posters by the multinational,

THE CAMPAIGN LAUNCHES NOW!

We require an editor who has a passion for both AA and communicating with professionals.
The current Newsletter for Professionals produced by the GSO in New York has inspired us to produce something similar here in Australia. See http://www.aa.org/lang/en/subpage.cfm?page=9 at www.aa.org.au

Persons who may be interested are requested to view the US newsletter as applicants will be asked their views about that publication.
It is considered that this would be a quarterly or a bi-annual publication. The editor's service requirement would be for one year, on a voluntary basis.
Applicants with appropriate skills and a passion for "carrying the message" to professionals are invited to apply to the Manager, National Office of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Persons interested in applying for this position are asked to set out their relevant experience and to submit their written application by post: 48 Firth Street, Arncliffe NSW 2205 or e-mail to

national.office@aa.org.au

The opportunity exists to serve as the Editor of PI Around Australia, a national quarterly publication which is part of the national quarterly newsletter, AA Around Australia. This is a one-year service position. The Editor will be required to produce one issue ofPI Around Australia per quarter, a total of four issues. The ideal candidate will have computer and written skills and the role will commence immediately, for preparation of the September 2009 edition. This is a wonderful opportunity to get into service andto learn aboutPI&CPC activities being conducted Australia-wide. All enquiries to the National Office on (02) 9599 8866 or by email to national.office@aa.org.au.

“PI” is an acronym for Public Information. "CPC" stands for Co-operation with the Professional Community

Many groups have cards printed, showing their meeting time/s and location, a local contact telephone number (this can be the number of your local Central Service Office) and the national website address, for distribution to local professionals – doctors, police stations, solicitors, churches, etc. The personal approach seems to be more effective than a mail out.

Some groups are worried that getting involved in something like this is ‘breaking Tradition 11’. They worry about anonymity and wonder if it’s promoting AA rather than attracting people to AA. No need to worry – remember our 11th Tradition talks about us maintaining personal anonymity at the level of press, radio and films. This doesn’t mean we can’t go into a local surgery and leave some contact details with a doctor. Also, providing information on AA isn’t promotion – it is simply letting people know how to find us if they want our help.

Some groups have come up with some quite creative ways of providing information. If your group has a good idea, please let us know, so that we can pass it on to others.

This DVD contains 3 stories of sober deaf alcoholic members of AA, questions and answers about alcoholism and other AA related text.

Now that we have this valuable resource we would appreciate your help and hope that you can assist in the distribution of it to the deaf community.

If you require further information please contact the committee by email

OR

National Office of AA in Australia
48 Firth St, Arncliffe NSW 2205
Phone (02) 9599 8866
Fax (02) 9599 8844
Email: national.office@aa.org.au

A great many alcoholics in our part of the world still haven't heard of AA. You and your group can help carry the message by donating to the International Sponsorship Fund.

Each year, the Fellowship distributes the Founders Day brown paper bags to collect money to help carry the message to the still suffering alcoholics in countries in South East Asia and the Pacific. Founders Day (June 10) is the anniversary of the day in 1935 when AA started. The brown paper bags symbolises "what it was like".

Australian members of AA have been keen to shoulder their part of the work in carrying the message in our region. Among our achievements so far we have:

• Helped establish AA meetings in the strife-torn Solomon Islands. They asked for help and we were quick to respond. We are now looking at having various items of AA literature translated for the Solomon Islanders.
• Provided money to the General Service Board in New York to help in translating the Big Book into 52 languages so far.
• Helped fund an Indonesian national forum in Bali and laid the foundation for a fully developed structured fellowship in Indonesia.
• Helped to pay the costs for Cambodian and Indonesian members to come to Australia and attend the Asia Oceania Service Meeting.

What can your group do to help?

Discuss this collection with the members of your group. As a group you might decide to:

• Read this notice out at the meeting
• Circulate the brown paper bag separately to your normal collection
• Announce that all the money collected for that meeting will go into the brown paper bag for international sponsorship
• Invite members to give more than they usually do because this is a special collection to help alcoholics in countries which don't have the huge number of AA meetings and other resources that we have.

Cheques and money orders should be made out to: General Service Board of AA.

Any questions, please phone the National Office on (02) 9599 8866

Please post your brown bag with donations to
FDISF
National Office of AA
48 Firth Street
ARNCLIFFE NSW 2205

The person would need to be willing to attend one four-day meeting and two three-day meetings each year (all costs are paid for by AA) and to contribute on committees or individually throughout the year. They would also be required to develop an understanding of the Twelve Traditions, Twelve Concepts for World Service and the General Service Structure.

The qualities that would be particularly valuable include:

• good communication skills as a writer, public speaker, negotiator, or media personality
• have experience/skills that would be useful to the Board, e.g. media, medical/psychological, legal, accountancy, information technology, etc
• open-mindedness and respect for AA's spiritual path

If you know anyone who might be suitable, please call Valerie at National Office on

(02) 9599 8866 or email valerie@aa.org.au

The General Service Board wants to make the Fellowship more aware that some alcoholics need to take prescribed medication and that AA members should never give advice on this subject, even if asked.

We seek the help of members in producing eye-catching material, such as cartoons, photographs, paintings, etc. which will get this message across in a simple yet effective form.

You will find an article on this subject, written by Class A Trustee Dr. Vanda Rounsefell, here: Giving Medical Advice will provide you with artistic inspiration. You can also get a copy by either emailing valerie@aa.org.au or ringing (02) 9599 8866.

If you have a brilliant idea, but no artistic ability, send the idea in anyway.

There are no prizes, other than the knowledge that you will have provided a valuable service to AA.

Please send your entries in to
National Office,
48 Firth Street,
Arncliffe, NSW 2205
by Friday 19th June 2009.