AREA 58

Oregon Area 58: Cooperation with the Professional Community

For the past decade, my journey within Oregon Area 58 of Alcoholics Anonymous has been a deeply fulfilling experience. Initially involved as a representative for my home group and District 16 in Ashland, Oregon, my trajectory took an unexpected turn when, midway through the Area Committee Chairs rotation, the CPC Chair position needed a new commitment. I gladly accepted the challenge, transitioning from Oregon Area trusted servant to CPC Chair South.

Navigating through a year in the previous CPC Chairs rotation as a trusted servant and then embracing the two-year commitment during the onset of the pandemic, I recognized the need for innovative approaches. With online meetings becoming the norm, I seized the opportunity to enhance our communication with professionals. Introducing a virtual literature application and integrating it into the Oregon Area CPC website streamlined our message. Through numerous online presentations, I connected with various professionals and district business meetings, realizing the power of this online platform in expanding our outreach.

As a CPC Chair, my primary purpose revolves around supporting and strengthening District Chairs, equipping them with tools to carry the message to their local professional communities. The pandemic presented a unique opportunity to leverage the online platform, making my role significantly more effective. Professionals, accustomed to virtual engagements, were receptive, facilitating a broader reach for our message of recovery.

Organizing my focus throughout the year, I targeted different professional sectors each quarter. Law enforcement and judiciary in the first quarter, medical professionals in the second, educational institutions in the third, and clergy in the final quarter. This strategic approach ensured a comprehensive outreach to diverse professional communities.

Engaging in this service is not just a duty; it's a rewarding experience rooted in the fundamental principles of Alcoholics Anonymous. Reflecting on my early sobriety, my sponsor led me into hospitals, institutions, prisons, and various other settings, exposing me to the profound impact of carrying the message. Witnessing the transformative effect on an incarcerated individual affirmed my purpose, fulfilling the promise of not regretting the past.

As the pandemic eased, and in-person meetings resumed, I continued utilizing online platforms while attending District business meetings. In the final months of my CPC Chair tenure, an opportunity arose to staff a booth at the EAPA biannual conference—an endeavor I embraced wholeheartedly.

The Employee Assistance Professionals Program (EAPA) conference at the Hilton in Portland provided a platform to share our message with a specific audience—employee assistance professionals. The four day conference in Portland was so rewarding. There were just over 300 attendees representing professionals from the US and Canada that help employees navigate addiction challenges. There were also ‘around 25 booths set up with representatives from rehabilitation facilities, recovery homes and other services that helped people with addiction issues.

Everyone in attendance was familiar with Alcoholics Anonymous and made an effort to visit our booth to chat and express how grateful they were for our program. Quite a few were actually “Friends of Bill.” I attended a few meetings in the Portland Area with some of the attendees. The EAPA is made up of Human Resource Management, PHD, Physicians, Nurses, Psychologists, Psychiatrists and others in the field of mental health care. Even some of the staff at the Hilton made a point to express their gratitude for their recovery in our fellowship . It was one of the most gratifying experiences in my lifetime.

This engagement marked a meaningful culmination of my service as CPC Chair, emphasizing the enduring impact of Alcoholics Anonymous in diverse professional realms. In essence, my journey in Alcoholics Anonymous, particularly as CPC Chair, exemplifies the transformative power of service, demonstrating that our shared experience, strength, and hope can resonate across varied professional landscapes.