A.A. is considered by many professionals to be a valuable resource for alcoholics who want help. When there is a good working relationship between A.A. members in the community and paid alcoholism workers, the sick alcoholic is the winner - he or she gets the help needed from both.

We are not in competition with these non A.A.s; we have our separate functions. A.A. is not in the business of education, research, medicine, counseling, treatment, prevention, or funding. We simply have a message to carry about a program of recovery for alcoholics - a program that works for hundreds of thousands who want it.

The professional can help the alcoholic want it - by education, counseling, and rehabilitative treatment - and can also be of aid through making the community aware of and care about the millions still suffering from the progressive illness of alcoholism.

The "Cooperation with the Professional Community" Committee is responsible for providing information about A.A. to the professionals who have contact with alcoholics through their profession. Information is provided about what A.A. does and does not do. The committee members are available to contact and discuss with local professionals (in this case, the Colorado Springs Metro area) how to effectively cooperate so that A.A. can carry the message to the still suffering alcoholic.

Members of this committee provide information about A.A. to those who have contact with alcoholics through their profession. This group includes health care professionals, educators, members of the clergy, lawyers, social workers, union leaders, and industrial managers, as well as those working in the field of alcoholism. Information is provided about where we are, what we are, what we can do, and what we cannot do.