Public Information Committee
The PI Committee is AA’s official contact with non-AA members.
Tradition 11 (Short Form)
“Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion: we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio and films.”
Tradition 11 (Long Form)
“Our relations with the general public should be characterized by personal anonymity. We think A.A. ought to avoid sensational advertising. Our names and pictures as A.A. members ought not be broadcast, filmed, or publicly printed. Our public relations should be guided by the principle of attraction rather than promotion. There is never need to praise ourselves. We feel it better to let our friends recommend us.”
Exerpts Reprinted from (Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p.180 & p.192), with permission of A.A. World Services, Inc.
The Public Information Committee seeks to inform the general public about “what AA is”, “what AA does” and “what AA doesn’t do.” We do not use salacious advertising. We are committed to being friendly with our friends.
AA does not compare itself to other forms of treatment. We simply inform people that Alcoholics Anonymous exists and can be of some help to those who suffer from Alcoholism.
The book Alcoholics Anonymous, our pamphlets and other literature have been published for all to read and see that there is a way out.
Alcoholics Anonymous has also benefited from public review of our program.
We believe that our experience should be made available freely to all who express sincere interest. We believe further that all efforts in this field should always reflect our gratitude for the gift of sobriety and our awareness that many outside of A.A. are equally concerned with the serious problem of alcoholism.
A.A. Guidelines for the Public Information Committee
A Declaration of Unity:
“This we owe to A.A.’s future: To place our common welfare first; to keep our fellowship united.
For on A.A. unity depend our lives and the lives of those to come.”