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Public Information Handbook (2009)

1. Cocaine Anonymous World Service Public Information Handbook Suggestions amp Guidelines for Doing PI INCLUDING CORRECTIONS AND OR ADDITIONS FROM THE CAWS CONFERENCE 2009 4 AWS ANY WSs AN PUBLIC INFORMATION CARRIES THE MESSAGE WW C A W S O INC Cocaine Anonymous World Service Office 3740 Overland Ave Suite C Los Angeles CA 90034 Tel 310 559 5833 Fax 310 559 2554 Web site http www ca org Comments or Questions pubinfo ca org TABLE OF CONTENTS FOREWORD From the Beginning 25 Years Later PREFACE This is a workbook Section 1 Before You Begin You Need to Know The PI Traditions e The 11 h Tradition States e Cooperation But Not Affiliation e Non professionalism e Anonymity e Media Interview Policies Protection of Anonymity Agreement C A s PI Statement of Anonymity C A Translation Policy Using the C A Logo amp Other Trademarks Section 2 What is Public Information Why We Need Public Information How PI Work is Done Forming Your Local PI Committee e Directory Committee e Hotline Helpline Committee e Newsletter Committee e Internet Committee N N OURA BPW UUU CO O O O O O O O e Cooperation with the Professional Community Committee e Panel Presentation Committee e Outreach Committee 0 a C A Facts amp Statistics Definition of Cocaine Anonymous C A s Position in the Field
2. Poove wiat e View video PSA You are e Review written PSAs for radio Sending e Note the length of time of each PSA now se Begin with a station that is receptive to community service id ial Contact the person who handles PSAs If requested mail the station material and follow up with a phone call verifying that the person received the material If not then ship or send the material again The station may also accept emailed copy or MP3 files Contact More A C A PSA will work best if distributed among more than one Than One station and more than one media radio TV press In some Station markets TV and radio stations or multiple radio stations may be affiliated or have the same PSA Director Proof of If an Area does not have a proof of non profit status and a radio Non profit or television station requires that proof that Area can request Status the World Service Office to mail the required information directly to the individual stations Call or write CAWSO for more information Things e PSA lengths and accepted formats are subject to change to e Videotapes are available from the WSO on 2 2 or 1 tape Remember e Remember to follow with thank you notes They are valued additions to the station s public service files If you have any questions or suggestions please feel free to contact the World Service Conference Public Information Committee at Cocaine Anonymous World Service Office 3740 Overland
3. members at a meeting or making a 12 Step call the audience is not composed of addicts It is important that the committee personnel keep this in mind It is suggested that all members making contacts or panel presentations complete the house cleaning steps through the 6th Step before attempting to carry the message of recovery to professionals Public speaking isn t the time for war stories it is a time to let them know there is hope and an effective free and confidential solution Considerations some common sense considerations to observe when interacting with the professional community panel presentations or speaking to other non C A groups would be e Remember you are a guest at the meeting and a representative of not for C A e Remember that you have a commitment and make sure that you inform your hosts if you need to change it e Respect the anonymity of others e Be familiar with the 12 Steps and the 12 Traditions of C A e Personal appearance is vital Look as neat as possible e Be very careful to avoid using profanity e Avoid war stories stories of quality and quantity of cocaine and all other mind altering substances State the fact of your addiction without going into details e Never go alone Suggested Some suggested material to present when making a contact Materials might be The PI Powerpoint Presentation What is C A Who is a C A Member And All Other Mind Altering Substances Self
4. 00 0r 00 0s 00 0s 00 09 ul uing 008 luO ysi 6uz cA SHA d S 899 b SHA za od Auen slu ui 52unouuv 3IA1 S 3IIlqnd 00 0r 00 0S 00 0S 00 09 z 48Q0S ue O Hues 104 Sdi L 24 UONOIPpY UIeD0D 104 ISO HOS z SMe OE 1S11q SUL z ISUUOOWSN U OL HO 05 P omad reios od sjajyduieg panosddy 39U9434U0I Anueno W404 19p1O SSIPUBYDIO w104 19p410 UONCWAOJU o Iqnd UOIJEULIOJU D11GNd OSA V 9 OSMV9 Section 5 Conference Approved PI Tools amp Images e Printed Media A selection of available Conference approved PI images The following are posters available to download from www ca org Local groups districts and areas may utilize the white box for meeting details DO YOU THINK YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH COCAINE OR OTHER MIND ALTERING SUBSTANCES COCAINE ANONYMOUS CAN HELP WWW Ca org We re Here and We re Free TROR DU ATT DU HAR PROBLEM MED KOKAIN ELLER ANDRA SINNESFORANDRANDE SUBSTANSER ANONYMA KOKAINISTER KAN HJALPA www ca org We re Here and We re Free DENK JE DAT JE EEN PROBLEEM HEBT MET COCAINE OF ANDERE DRUGS COCAINE ANONYMOUS WIJ ZIJN ER ALS JE HULP ZOEKT www ca org amp RA QO NOTRKS We re Here and We re Free PENSEZ VOUS AVOIR UN PROBLEME AVEC LA COCAINE OU D AUTRES SUBSTANCES QUI ALTERENT LE COMPORTEMENT COCAINOMANES ANONYMES PEUT AIDER www
5. TV or literature to the local PI Chairperson Keep your calls short e Encourage the caller to call 911 if there is an emergency e Keep a log of all calls you receive and find out how they heard of C A if at all possible Don t e Pick someone up at their home agree to meet at a meeting or public facility Phone volunteers are advised not to go to the home of an addict even if it is just to take him her to a meeting Our Sixth Tradition states A C A group ought never endorse finance or lend the C A name to any related facility or outside enterprise lest problems of money property and prestige divert us from our primary purpose e This is why C A phone volunteers MUST NOT recommend any outside treatment i e hospitals doctors treatment centers etc This especially includes referring a caller to any specific hospital institution doctor s treatment center etc with which the phone volunteer may have personal knowledge or experience u J p e We NEVER give other members last names or phone numbers out over the phone remember anonymity Based on members previous experience it is suggested that helpline volunteers do not give out their own last name or phone number If you receive a request to speak to a particular person tell the caller that you can only take a message and then write it on a message pad or call the volunteer e Don t try to persuade the caller to stop using dru
6. as part of Conference approved meeting formats e Discussion of or reference to outside issues including but not limited to religion politics or drug policy must be avoided f No web site may contain advertising even if required as a condition of web service This does not include however the name of a product or service as it might be used in the course of C A business e g a convention hotel s name g Nothing will be posted or linked to by any Area or District which breaks the anonymity of any member of C A with or without their permission h Areas and Districts must not post material that brings C A s name into public controversy i Chat rooms must not be used j Non conference approved audio video files k The proper names of locations must not be used It is recommended that the generic name of a location be used such as restaurant church hospital etc For further information please consult the complete CAWS Information Technology IT Committee Workbook and Guidelines on www ca org Guidelines for Area District Newsletters In an effort to make sure that the respective Area newsletters are reviewed by the Regional Trustees to ensure compliance with the Traditions and other requirements the following guidelines have been developed 1 All newsletters should be reviewed promptly in a timeframe agreed upon between the Regional Trustee and the newsletter editor so that distribution ca
7. 11 Tradition is violated it is a misunderstanding on the part of the individual about the Tradition This can be solved with a simple explanation of what the Tradition is about rather than attacking the individual because of their lack of understanding With the invitation of so many different groups and Cooperation organizations that are associated with cocaine it can But Not become easy to be swept up in the feeling of carrying the wee one message C A cooperates but does not affiliate We will not Affiliation lend the C A name to any group or organization outside of our 12 Step program We can only offer our help and cooperation Non If C A speakers keep the focus of their sharing on how professionalism lives the message of recovery will be carried Our job is simply to carry the message to the still sick and suffering addict We are not professionals s addiction affected their lives and how C A has changed their Anonymity Many of us have broken our own personal anonymity to individuals of our own choosing Going outside the Fellowship to the press radio television or films is stepping over the boundaries of grandeur to grandiosity Personal recognition can only be harmful when you bring your sobriety into the public s eye as a member of C A Media Interview Policies While doing an on camera interview as a member of C A you can be shadowed have your face scr
8. Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from their addiction The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop using cocaine and all other mind altering substances If you would like more information please visit our web site at www ca org or contact our Public Information Committee by email or phone details below our members are available for interview of to speak to anyone who wishes to find out more about C A Cocaine Anonymous is a fellowship of by and for addicts seeking recovery Thank you for letting us be of service and we thank you for your support Sincerely Chairperson Name of Chair CA Public Information Chairperson Email Tel
9. Cocaine Anonymous visible to the large number of still suffering addicts Thank you for your understanding and ongoing assistance to us in this matter Sincerely Hometown C A Public Information Committee x J Power of the Media The power of the media is self explanatory The press that C A has received has always been favorable and beneficial to the Fellowship Today there is stiff competition for airtime and or article space in newspaper and magazines alike because of the increase of public service organizations based on the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous Our honest personal belief in the program of Cocaine Anonymous not only keeps us sober it helps us with our primary purpose of carrying the message The amount of people addicts as well as non addicts that can be reached through the media spreading the awareness of C A is a strong part of Public Information Letting the editors and reporters know that they can conscientiously serve the public by providing their viewers or readers with information about our Fellowship is an important part of your job as a member of a Public Information Committee Writing a Press Release When drafting a press release remember that you re writing to busy editors who receive anywhere from 20 50 press releases a day and who trash 18 48 of them If you learn about each publication its focus and the editor s name you ll be sure to ga
10. To the Public At Large Although there is some overlapping of tools and strategies we believe that defining the focus of PI activities into these three categories will help PI Committees prioritize and maximize their efforts J A To the Fellowship afo c So You Want To Start A Helpline There are different options you may use depending on the financial status and size of your Area 1 Call your local phone company and get a basic phone line with call forwarding Take turns forwarding the phone line to different members of the Fellowship It is best to pass around a calendar and have people write down the times they are available to do this 2 Have an answering service that can field the calls Give out general information such as meeting times and places upcoming events etc If the caller needs to talk to a recovered addict the answering service will call the addict who is on call and give them the number of the caller 3 Instead of having an active phone line you could set up a stand alone voice mailbox system with your local phone company Some have systems where you can press one number for meeting times and locations for each day of the week 4 You can forward the phone line to a pager or cell phone so callers can always reach someone 5 There are some Areas that have computer software that can play meeting information over the phone line 6 Utilize a web based virtual receptionist This can pro
11. and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and provide help to others recovering from their addiction There are no dues or fees for membership we are fully self supporting through our own contributions The C A Public Information Committee s purpose is to inform people that we are here and we are free We are a confidential non profit organization where recovering addicts help other addicts to recover one day at a time We will provide C A literature and speakers to come to your facility or organization to spread the message of recovery Our speakers have demonstrated continuous abstinence from cocaine and all other mind altering substances and are willing to share how it works for those interested in recovery from cocaine abuse and drug addiction To request information and or speakers please call or write today Cocaine Anonymous Public Information P O Box 123 Hometown ST 01234 0123 123 456 7890 Sincerely Hometown C A Public Information Committee s Letter to the Courts This letter is to provide information to the courts and other legal professionals in the community who may come in contact with addicts and alcoholics Local C A Address 123 Street Hometown ST 01234 Presiding Judge Court Officer 120 Street Hometown ST 01234 As you well know by the increase in drug arrests there are many individuals in our community with severe substance abuse problem
12. board d The official C A logo unaltered except for color and size must be present on the home page of the web site The size of the logo must be large enough so that the which indicates a registered trademark is visible and the logo legible This logo as a computer file is available from the World Service Office upon request e The current WSO supplied disclaimer must be placed at the bottom of the home page of the web site which is Cocaine Anonymous is a Fellowship of by and for addicts seeking recovery Friends and family of addicts should contact Co Anon Family Groups a Fellowship dedicated to their much different needs f The current WSO supplied trademark statement must be placed at the bottom of the home page and any other page where the C A logo appears which is This site Copyright 1996 lt current year gt Cocaine Anonymous World Services Inc C A Cocaine Anonymous and the C A Logo are registered trademarks of Cocaine Anonymous World Services Inc All rights reserved g The current WSO supplied copyright statement edited to include the Area or District name and covering all material on the web site must also OO v appear on the home page which is This World Wide Web site lt your web site url Example www yourarea org gt is a publication of Cocaine Anonymous lt you area or district gt Inc All material including without limitation trademark
13. include local information about your local C A Fellowship when you were formed how many meetings and H amp l panels you have etc The presentation is available for download on the PI page of Www ca org Manning a booth or table with C A members and C A literature at health fairs colleges public health organizations etc has been a very effective way of carrying the C A message Remember that for most of the visiting public we will be the only contact they have with Cocaine Anonymous Our program and Fellowship will be judged on both our appearance and how we conduct ourselves Booth Guidelines Outside Meeting Format Public Speaking Suggestions 1 Booth must be staffed at all times N Please arrive at your shift early Expect traffic and crowds and allow extra time to get parking etc 3 Please dress appropriate to the event Remember that you are representing Cocaine Anonymous 4 Please keep the booth neat for the appearance to the public as well as for the next trusted servants 5 Please refer inquires from media professionals or institutions for interviews and or general information about our program and meeting schedules to your local C A helpline or take the information to give to the appropriate Area District service representative 6 Please adhere to all of our Traditions but especially familiarize yourself with and heed Traditions 6 10 11 and 12 There is no one specific me
14. made available to the Fellowship We have many creative people within our Fellowship so ask for their assistance J B To the Public at Large The Media Print electronic and broadcast media are all powerful resources that are available to a PI Committee When dealing with the media it is crucial that our Traditions be upheld Also while we are not a professional organization it is important that we treat representatives of the media with consideration and courtesy Remember that having a good relationship with local media outlets can do a great deal to assist us in carrying the message to the addict who still suffers Here we will explore the different ways to use and cooperate with the media Anonymity at the Media Level of Press Radio Television amp Films This letter is suggested to protect anonymity at the media level Your C A Area Letterhead To all media personnel The most important tradition of our organization is anonymity We ask for your invaluable assistance to preserve the anonymity of our recovering addicts by not identifying them as members of Cocaine Anonymous and by not using their names or full face photographs in any facet of the your media coverage We always welcome any news item in the media concerning our Fellowship but must ask that it avoid mention of specific identities We appreciate the media s cooperation over the years and the essential role it has played in making
15. of Cocaine Anonymous Among these are Employee Assistance Programs EAPs Health amp treatment professionals and their organizations Schools amp universities Law enforcement agencies Trade unions Local amp State government social service agencies Private social service agencies churches charities etc Outside helplines and directories Medical associations How do we cooperate and what do we offer We cooperate through direct contact with professional organizations via mailings and telephone or personal contact We offer our assistance by providing e Literature e Speakers e Outside meetings and attendance at fairs seminars etc What do we want e Mailing lists of associations agencies or any professional contacts e Listings and notices in professional journals and newsletters providing phone numbers to the addict who still suffers e Addict referrals to the Fellowship Guidelines for C P C This committee is responsible for a unique brand of 12 Step work by carrying the message of C A to professionals who in their line of work may have some sort of supervisory capacity or direct contact with individuals who may have a problem with cocaine alcohol or other druos This involves informing the professional s what C A does setting up meetings and above all honoring the commitments you make to them Contacting the professional community isn t the same as speaking to other C A
16. personalities Tradition 12 and the attached Statement of Anonymity if applicable Note Most newspapers will not print a Letter to the Editor unless it is received with a last name although they will print it using just a last initial Irr d o J Letter Mentioning C A to Newspapers This letter is to the editor regarding an article that was related to but didn t mention C A Local C A Logo or C A Trademark Logo Letterhead with address hotline email amp website Date Letter to the Editor Name of Newspaper Address of Newspaper Dear Editor This letter is in response to your article entitled on page of the date issue edition Cocaine Anonymous C A is a program of recovery that is open to everyone free of charge and which protects the individual with anonymity It is a Fellowship of men and women who share their experience strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from their addiction C A can be reached by calling XXX XXX XXXX If someone wants to stop using cocaine or any other mind altering substance contact us we are here to help P I chairperson s name Public Information Chairperson Cocaine Anonymous Area District PLEASE print only my last initial X rather than my last name XXXXXXX This is in keeping with the Twelve Traditions of our program we need always
17. the web site by the C A World Service Conference or the C A World Service Office The information provided within this web site is intended to be a convenience for those who visit our web site Such inclusion does not constitute or imply any endorsement by or affiliation with the lt your local area gt Area or the Districts within the Area Things to be avoided The following items have been found to be in conflict with the Twelve Traditions or otherwise harmful to Cocaine Anonymous as a whole and must be avoided by Area and District web sites a Links to non C A web sites must be avoided including all of the following 1 Commercial web sites 2 Government web sites 3 Any web site containing advertising 4 Non profit organizations web sites whether involved in the field of recovery or not 5 Recovery houses hospitals and alternative treatment providers 6 Web sites of other 12 Step programs 7 Pages posted by individual C A members 8 Any non C A meetings or events a b Web sites may only post literature that is currently approved by the C A World Service Conference for use in C A meetings or C A service work c No web site may post material in violation of copyright law d UNDER NO CONDITION SHALL ANY AREA DISTRICT GROUP OR INDIVIDUAL POST MATERIAL FROM THE BOOKS HOPE FAITH amp COURAGE AND HOPE FAITH AND COURAGE II except for such sections as might be distributed
18. Avenue Suite C Los Angeles CA 90034 Tel 310 559 5833 Fax 310 559 2554 You may e mail us directly at pubinfo ca org P O a Cover Letter for PSAs This is a letter for accompanying public service announcements to be aired Local C A Logo or C A Trademark Logo Letterhead with address hotline email amp website Aug 19 1991 John Q Manager Radio Station Call Letters 1 Big Plaza Hometown ST 01234 Dear Name of Contact Cocaine Anonymous of State Provence name would like to thank you for allowing us the opportunity to share with you the workings of our program and also for considering the placement of our public service announcements on Radio Station Call Letters The crack cocaine problem continues to grow in our community We believe that only through widespread recognition and our combined cooperation will those desperate from drug addiction be able to find the free help and support our organization offers We hope we can be of service to you We will provide speakers for interviews and or information about Cocaine Anonymous for public awareness campaigns that your station may have Thank you for giving us the chance to be helpful Cocaine Anonymous Public Information P O Box 123 Hometown ST 01234 0123 123 456 7890 Sincerely Hometown C A Public Information Committee if applicable Thank You Letter for PSA Time This letter can be used to thank the s
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21. Test for Cocaine Addiction Tips for Staying Clean amp Sober C A Fact File Local meeting directories The C A InfoLine Helpline pamphlet A standard Anonymity Statement see page 6 ff PR Suggested C P C Tools Self Test For Cocaine Addiction Ameen w Nerewen ber te ee hae t OO STF s t Cocaine Anonymous what Is Cocaine C A 7 Anonymous InfoLine Numbers Public Information Fact File We re Mere and We ro Free eee Comer meee W iones bee Cm vr Morts barse ee ta ee ee We re Here and We re Free K Corant Deo oO wa waqu pat wa Om EDO ONG vie BOD few t sa RR sa Wa 6 AC A MINDER Waaa a nane Cocene Ananyasa ar we ah w saa you het Gr popan a na W s EET A Ot Ok lili ny He of steno tear be amyang u tires or ne sis lt het Sah crema r w was emer ard ana sin a ees eet wn n t enema Tred Tonor end Few fap Cacao Anonyme Cocaine Anonymous A Presentation to Professionals Addressing Outside Groups or Organizations This letter is to address educational church and generic groups or organizations Dear concerned person In our community there are thousands of men women and children who are caught in the I CAN T QUIT COCAINE trap We offer hope and help for those who want to help themselves Cocaine Anonymous is a Fellowship of men and women who share their experience strength
22. The members of the Public Information Committee Cooperation with the Professional Community Committee and the entire Fellowship of Cocaine Anonymous extend our thanks for your interest and presence here We believe that many people outside of Cocaine Anonymous are very concerned about the serious problem of drug addiction We hope that you will find this an excellent opportunity to find out how a large and growing number of people have learned to help each other to recover from cocaine addiction and to live a more spiritual happy and fulfilling life one day at a time The WORLD SERVICE CONVENTION is an annual gathering of the worldwide membership of C A to celebrate our hard won sobriety and to share our experience strength and hope with each other so that as a whole we may be better able to fulfill our primary purpose to remain free from cocaine and all other mind altering substances and to carry the message of recovery to the addict who still suffers Anonymity is essential to the continued existence of our Fellowship We require and appreciate your observation of the following guides No full face photography of anyone at the convention Do not use the last name or identify town of residence of anyone here No interviews of any member of the Fellowship as a member of C A without prior notification and the consent of the Public Information Committee If you should happen to recognize someone here who identifies themselves a
23. ack with your friends and now you are the one who can t stop There is help We re here and we re free Call Cocaine Anonymous at XXX XXX XXXX or the Cocaine Anonymous National Referral Line at 1 800 347 8998 or contact us at www ca org Announcement 10 Do you feel like a puppet Is cocaine controlling your moves And no matter how hard you try and pull away the more entangled you become We at Cocaine Anonymous understand what you re going through We ve been there We know what those bonds feel like If you want help call us at XXX XXX XXXX 24 hours a day We can help you break free with no strings attached We re here and we re free Call Cocaine Anonymous today at XXX XXX XXXX or the Cocaine Anonymous National Referral Line at 1 800 347 8998 or contact us at www ca org O O O s Announcement 11 The new lie Crack is not cocaine FACT Crack is cocaine FACT Cocaine Anonymous helps crack users stop We re here and we re free For FREE help contact Cocaine Anonymous at XXX XXX XXXX or the Cocaine Anonymous National Referral Line at 1 800 347 8998 or contact us at www ca org Announcement 12 Are cocaine other drugs or alcohol a problem in your life Cocaine Anonymous can help We re here and we re free For information on free meetings in your area call XXX XXX XXXX or the Cocaine Anonymous National Referral Line at 1 800 347 8998 or contact us at www ca org Announcement 13 Is cocaine no
24. ambled electronically or have your back to the camera As a recovering addict you can do a full camera shot and mention your full name as long as you do not mention C A in your interview That includes mentioning going to a C A meeting If you are going to allow the media into your meeting via a group conscience or if you as a member of C A consent to an interview please have each member of the media sign a statement of anonymity see Protection of Anonymity Agreement on the following page While this doesn t absolutely safeguard the Fellowship it certainly makes members of the media more aware Protection of Anonymity Agreement This document is used for on or off camera interviews It is also suggested for newspaper or magazine stories Protection of Anonymity Agreement Company Name Interview Date Interviewer agree not to disclose the last name place of employment or city of residence of any person being interviewed as a member of Cocaine Anonymous further agree not to use full face photography or any type of photography that will expose that person s identity C A s PI Statement of Anonymity To be distributed to the media regarding their attendance at any public presentation or event sponsored by Cocaine Anonymous TO EDITORS JOURNALISTS AND MEDIA PROFESSIONALS FROM COCAINE ANONYMOUS PUBLIC INFORMATION COMMITTEE SUBJECT ANONYMITY The coverage of any event where anonym
25. ase call the radio station and ask how they want to receive the copy All PSAs should have your Area s local information line included Radio PSA Scripts may also be adapted for video Announcement 1 Have you found out the truth about cocaine and now want to stop using Cocaine Anonymous is a Fellowship of men and women helping each other get and stay clean We re here and we re free For meeting times and information call XXX XXX XXXX or the Cocaine Anonymous National Referral Line at 1 800 347 8998 Or contact us at www ca org Announcement 2 Are you or is someone you love deeply in trouble with cocaine Cocaine Anonymous is a Fellowship of men and women who share their experience strength and hope with each other to recover from their drug problem We re here and we re free For meeting times and information call XXX XXX XXXX or the Cocaine Anonymous National Referral Line at 1 800 347 8998 Or contact us at www ca org Announcement 3 Is cocaine a problem in your life Cocaine Anonymous is a Fellowship of people helping people to recover from cocaine addiction There are no dues or fees of any kind We re here and we re free For meeting schedules and information call XXX XXX XXXX or the Cocaine Anonymous National Referral Line at 1 800 347 8998 or contact us at www ca org Announcement 4 Cocaine Is it using you Cocaine Anonymous is a Fellowship of people who want to stay free of all drugs We re her
26. but does not have or cannot use existing web storage a web hosting account might be a better choice This kind of account does not provide dial up access but just the web space needed In this case since the webservant will be connecting to their existing local provider the company providing web storage can be located nearly anywhere This kind of account often costs 10 month and is most commonly used for web sites Both of the above accounts typically result in web sites with addresses of the form www providersname com localca e g www pcshost com cany A somewhat more expensive solution called domain name service results in web sites with a personalized domain name e g www localca org Some Areas prefer this type of account because 1 there is no inclusion of the ISP s name in the address and 2 the address is portable i e if you change your ISP the address remains the same Domain name accounts that provide both internet access and web space often cost 30 40 per month Domain name accounts alone cost 5 20 per month There is usually an additional set up cost for domain name accounts Examples of domain names currently being used by C A Areas are ca4la org caofmn com and caofutah com The World Service Office has reserved the domain names ca org cocaineanonymous org and similar names for its own use i J When selecting a domain name it is suggested that Areas pick a name easy to rem
27. ca org Nous sommes ici et nous sommes libres The following are examples of media that local PI Chairs and or committees have at their disposal to help get the word of recovery through Cocaine Anonymous out to the general public through public information awareness drives All media are available through the C A World Service Office by using the Order Form in Section 4 by calling 310 559 5833 or e mailing to cawso ca org Escape cocaine Escape cocaine amp all other mind altering substances amp all other mind altering substances Cocaine Anonymous Cocaine Anonymous KE F SA ED amp 800 347 8998 K 800 347 8998 RSE www ca org R www ca org Are you Sick and tired of being sick and tired Cocaine Anonymous can help We ve been there Cocaine Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience strength and hope with each other so that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from their addiction The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop using cocaine and all other mind altering substances There are no dues or fees for membership we are fully self supporting through our own contributions We are not allied with any sect denomination politics organization or institution We do not wish to engage in any controversy and we neither endorse nor oppose any causes Our primary purpose is to stay free from cocaine and all other mind alter
28. ce of the CAWS Phone number We re Here and We re Free Free From All Mind Altering Substances Cocaine Anonymous 1 800 347 8998 This is an example of the CAWSO bumper sticker You may have your own area s district s helpline phone numbers and internet site Below is a flyer used by a local PI committee in their endeavors to get HFC s onto the shelves of libraries prisons treatment centers and various other community projects SPONSOR A BOOK The Public Information Committee are currently sending Hope Faith amp Courage books out into the community AND YOU CAN HELP The books are pre wrapped all you have to do is donate to cover the cost of postage AV PAS Hope Faith amp Please help us let our Courage communities know that We re Here and We re Free Below is an example of a letter enclosed by a local PI committee when mailing HFC s to prisons treatment centers and other community based libraries 25TH ANNIVERSARY Cocaine Anonymous is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2007 and to celebrate this memorable year we would like to donate a copy of our book Hope Faith amp Courage to your facility The drug problem continues to grow in our community We believe that only through widespread recognition and our combined cooperation will those desperate from addiction be able to find the free help and support our organization offers Cocaine
29. ct name Address Station Company Information Station name Contact name Address Would you like a confirmation letter returned to you from the WSO Yes ___ No _ 8002 dy pesiney SUOIINJISU 9 sjeydsoH pue uopewoju 9i qnq se yons sdnoi6 snouen o asipueyoiew p lunoosip Bu Iddns Jo JSO9 y 1409 o djay osje suoeuoqg sis WOOMAU pue s leuuul JO s juduued 3 syooq pue sBu ui m u JO syy Jae s Bul ddns se yons ebessouw y BulAued puemo oB 2IJJO 9IA19S POM JNOA 0 suoil puodq suonguoq BOIM9S BISOd S n 10 SdN s poyjew Buiddiys jensn uno jusudiys saye s ep ss uisnq 04 4 BAWe p nous J piO INO 11di8981 Jo SAEP UIYIIM 9lJjO INO Jo no paddiys pue pesseooid ase S1 p10 y uoljeuils p pue poujewW Bulddiys uodn p seq s w L ANJ 1 uuolsno y Aq pred aq o1 ue 21 9 BulBeyoed jeloads slu uudius Ieuonegui lul sjuawdiys diy GOD se yons sabseyo oIseq y peaoxe yeu sabseyo Bulpuey BuiddiuS si pio ul y eM Ile 0 peppe aq IIIA 82 H 9 S S V 00 S JO DBigu2o ulnuillului ylim e1o siIpueuo18ui JO S SI BuilpueH yg Buiddius SZ 8 pebeyo ase oljjo ye dn payoid suspiO uoneuns p zo junoo y ul XB SEES Jo ayes y ye payejnojeo aq 0 1 xe s eS e o asIpUeYOIOW y o xe s es ppe 1snui suoneunsap Eluuoji e O o Buiddius si piO Xe L Sajes yons se pred q 1snui pue AS2u uno S N u p 1Sl ae saoud y G
30. e and we re free For information on local meetings call XXX XXX XXXX or the Cocaine Anonymous National Referral Line at 1 800 347 8998 or contact us at www ca org Announcement 5 Has the anxiety and depression associated with cocaine or other drug use finally gotten to you Do you want to quit and stay quit Cocaine Anonymous is a Fellowship of people who want to stay free of all druos We re here and we re free For information on local meetings call XXX XXX XXXX or the Cocaine Anonymous National Referral Line at 1 800 347 8998 or contact us at www ca org Announcement 6 Drugs kill people every day This could be your day If you want to live without drugs there is help We re here and we re free Call Cocaine Anonymous at XXX XXX XXXX or the Cocaine Anonymous National Referral Line at 1 800 347 8998 or contact us at www ca org Announcement 7 Is cocaine causing you to lose your job your family your mind Is cocaine killing you There is help We re here and we re free Call Cocaine Anonymous at XXX XXX XXXX or the Cocaine Anonymous National Referral Line at 1 800 347 8998 or contact us at www ca org Announcement 8 If you are powerless over your need for cocaine and your life is unmanageable There is help We re here and we re free Call Cocaine Anonymous at XXX XXX XXXX or the Cocaine Anonymous National Referral Line at 1 800 347 8998 or contact us at www ca org Announcement 9 If you started using cr
31. ember Since many domain names are already in use it is a good idea to have several possible choices in mind when applying for your domain Domain registrars allow online inquiries to see if a given domain name is available It is also suggested that where possible the domain name be registered such that the Area or District is listed as the administrative contact Concerning Webmaster and or Internet Committees The District or Area should take care in selecting the person that will create and or maintain their web site i e their webservant Since the web site will sometimes be the first contact people have with C A in their Area it is important that the web site be presentable Further because web sites are a form of public outreach the webservant should be well versed in the Twelve Traditions It is therefore strongly suggested that the webservant be a member of C A and have experience both in service work and in web site design It is further suggested that a member of the Area or District Board be assigned to monitor the web site so as to maintain a link to the group conscience The District or Area is reminded that the web site needs to be maintained after it is constructed since some things e g events and meeting locations may change from time to time It is suggested that at least two District or Area members including the webservant know all appropriate passwords or access details and any domain names pertainin
32. ersonal recovery and continued sobriety of individual addicts who turn to the Fellowship for help Our Fellowship has adopted a tradition of cooperation but not affiliation with outside organizations concerned with the problems of addiction Cocaine Anonymous never endorses supports becomes affiliated with or expresses an opinion on outside issues As recovering addicts we would like you to know that we re here and we re free Cocaine Anonymous is comprised of men and women from teens to seniors who come from not just major cities but both urban and rural areas and who come from all socioeconomic backgrounds Currently more than 2000 meetings of Cocaine Anonymous are held throughout the world These meetings are available to the addict to help them become happy joyous and free from all mind altering substances We have included a few of our pamphlets for your information If you would like more information you may call our National Referral Line 800 347 8998 or visit us on the World Wide Web at www ca org Cocaine Anonymous is a Fellowship of by and for cocaine addicts seeking recovery Thank you for letting us be of service and we thank you for your support Sincerely ee ee s Public Information Committee Enc CA Literature Friends and family of cocaine addicts should contact Co anon Family Groups O O O Letter Regarding C A Awareness This letter is to the editor of a newspaper mentioning the
33. ess Also we suggest enclosing the brochure What is C A and the reading Who is a C A Member In some Areas billboards and posters have worked well by placing them on all forms of public transportation such as buses and subways Standard size paper flyers posted on public bulletin boards in schools churches libraries and grocery stores are also effective Remember to ask for permission as some cities have fines for littering and we want outside persons to get a good impression of C A Forming Your Local PI Committee When forming a local PI committee being organized helps keep us from duplicating our efforts and helps us to achieve goals that one person cannot accomplish You can follow the guidance of your local District or Area to form your committee You may also wish to investigate what other areas have done and follow their ideas on standing committees In many Areas the Public Information Committee is broken down into different subcommittees Some of these categories may also be standing committees on their own depending on the Area or District service structure Directory Committee Hotline Helpline Committee Newsletter Committee Internet Committee Public Service Announcement Media Committee C cox Keeping a current meeting directory available to your local Fellowship and to the public is one of the most basic PI tools Whether you call it a hotline helpline or
34. eting format that is followed Here is a typical format e Brief introduction by the C A chairperson and welcoming remarks including the meeting format e Anonymity statement see Chapter 9 C A Preamble including the Traditions e Discuss briefly the pamphlet Tools of Recovery and the reading Who is a C A Member e Introduce speaker separately for each person speaking Concluding remarks mention we are only here to carry the message Please keep your response to all inquires fairly general and limited to the program and Fellowship of C A as a whole Avoid telling of personal stories or experiences with drugs and alcohol Should any such questions arise explain that we are here to provide the public with general information about the program and meeting locations only If they are interested the forum by which we share our individual experiences and recovery is in meetings of Cocaine Anonymous and offer a schedule or directions to a specific meeting Speaking to the public is not the same as speaking in a C A meeting It is important that speakers keep this in mind It is suggested that all speakers complete their house cleaning steps through the 6th before attempting to carry the message of recovery Public speaking is not a time for war Stories It is a time to let the public know that there is hope and an effective free and confidential solution Some common sense considerations to obser
35. existence of C A and could easily be adapted to acknowledge a radio or television report Local C A Logo or C A Trademark Logo Letterhead with address hotline email amp website Date Letter to the Editor Name of Newspaper Address of Newspaper City State Zip Dear Editor was pleased with John Goldman s positive portrait of Cocaine Anonymous in Neglected Weapon in Drug War front page April 6 1990 However the following information is necessary to augment his portrait Cocaine Anonymous C A is a program of recovery that is open to everyone free of charge and which protects the individual with anonymity It is a Fellowship of men and women who share their experience strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from their addiction C A can be reached by calling XXX XXX XXXX If someone wants to stop using cocaine or any other mind altering substance contact us we are here to help With gratitude PI chairperson s name Public Information Chairperson Cocaine Anonymous Area District PLEASE print only my last initial X rather than my last name XXXXXXX This is in keeping with the Twelve Traditions of our program we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press radio and films Tradition 11 Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions ever reminding us to place principles before
36. g to the web site A Typical Area Site While there is great variation among Area District web sites nearly all contain most of the following content e The C A Preamble e The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of C A e Current conference approved literature e A local meeting schedule e A local activities and or events page e Area contact information including email telephone and mailing address e Information regarding service committee meetings There is other content such as the C A logo and certain legal statements which are required by CAWSO as a condition of having a link to your web site included on the CAWSO local Area contact page These requirements are discussed in detail in the next section Additional content an Area may wish to include are selections from C A s many pamphlets illustrative graphics links to other local C A web sites convention information and downloadable convention registration forms However this additional content should be carefully considered so that the overall web site remains within C A s Twelve Traditions A later section will outline some things to be avoided f Jj A CAWSO also has some content available for download e g graphics the C A logo approved copyright and trademark statements the current version of this document and other useful information These materials can also be obtained by emailing a request to webservant ca org Any web site
37. gs if they don t want to Do not label them as an addict or state that they have a problem Stick to what you hear how it was for you and what you did about it People can learn a lot by listening to your story Their defenses could come up if you try to tell them their story e Do not engage in prolonged drug a logues or comparison studies of drug use Share in a general way what it was like what happened and what it is like now e Do not use profanity e Don t feel you need to stay on the line with a caller who is in any way abusive or perverse or who is quite simply too loaded to hear your part of the conversation We don t like to turn away from those in pain but sometimes calls can be shocking and traumatic Recovery teaches us that to preserve our own sobriety we must take care of ourselves first and the helpline context is no exception Reach out to another volunteer or Fellowship member if you are suffering from caller distress and give yourself permission to hang up promptly when a call is inappropriate And if someone is too high to talk to right then you can always say you want to talk with them but they need to call you back when they are straight The Fifth Tradition states that Each group has but one primary purpose to carry its message to the addict who still suffers However the way to best help a caller varies with each situation Try to communicate that there is help and that they are not alone Feel free to
38. ht also handle setting up a PI presence at health fairs and clinics etc A committee for doing presentations or C A panels to speak at non C A meetings such as schools and churches or for professional and educational organizations Some local Fellowships have concentrated on doing mailings on a quarterly basis when meeting schedules are updated or when a C A convention or event is being held Information can be sent to the professional community doctors therapists courts probation departments etc or just to sober living homes and the recovery community in general at the Area or District s discretion C A Facts amp Statistics Many of us in PI found it very hard to give facts about C A when we had none Knowledge of our Fellowship is important Every other year the World Service PI Committee conducts a survey which gives us information for the C A Fact File or census which provides information that assists the World Service Office in determining the needs of the Fellowship You may view the complete C A Fact File at www ca org or request copies from the World Service Office The Fact File is now also available in a brochure format C A Founding Date November 1982 stss Founding Location Los Angeles Area Hollywood California Number of Weekly Meetings in North America South America Europe Asia and Australia 2 000 Based on CAWSO information from 2007 Definition of Cocaine Anonymous Cocaine Anon
39. in an edge and be noticed Remember the five W s and the H Does your press release answer the questions Who What When Where Why and How Editors want it straight concise and to the point Give them no nonsense releases Skip the quotes remember the benefits keep packages small and dress up your release with headlines bullets and subheads Also search for typos and other errors Of course don t forget to include a name and phone number to contact for more information To sum it up Remember the five W s and the H Make it sharp Write to inform not entertain Keep it honest and simple Include a contact name and number Be clear and visual Be focused and concise After the information in your release or article is printed or aired be sure to send a thank you note or letter Also get and keep an original copy for your PI files Introducing C A to Your Local Media Introducing C A to your local media outlets is a good way to create awareness The following are introductory letters to the media that you might use to begin building a relationship with local media contacts and personalities Convention Announcement This is a letter to provide information to members of the media and or the professional community who may be attending our annual World Service Convention To All Members of the Media and Professional Community Greetings and welcome to the X Annual Cocaine Anonymous World Service Convention
40. infoline each C A phone line is a lifeline to the addict who still suffers and is a basic PI necessity This is the touchstone of PI work A newsletter for a District or Area can be very helpful in unifying groups Districts and Areas by keeping the Fellowship informed about current local events and news about C A Responsible for creating and maintaining Area and District web sites according to the guidelines of the World Service Conference Internet Technology Committee and keeping information current for easy access by members of the Fellowship Maintains a list of media and PSA contacts with phone numbers and email information for local newspapers radio and television stations They stay in communication with their contacts keeping up to date on any drug related specials that might be airing They research and submit PSA materials according to the media outlet s preference in the format and length requested making sure to follow up and thank the contact Cooperation with the Professional Community Committee Panel Presentation Committee Outreach Committee Professional Community refers to any corporation small business professional person or company interested in information about C A This doesn t cover someone looking for a meeting for himself herself or a family member but PI will want to become involved if someone wants a meeting for their employees at their place of business They mig
41. ing substances and to help others achieve the same freedom Call the your local helpline at XXX XXX XXXX or visit www yourareawebsite org We Can Recover www ca org Cocaine Anonymous www ca org We re Here and We re Free e Here are some examples of various C A business cards Local infoline helpline and web address can be printed on the reverse These C A business cards can also be used as post cards Use the blank space for your local infoline helpline and web address You can customize the back to your liking More translations coming soon COCAINE ANONYMOUS SCAPE COCAINE IS NOT A DRUG SPECIFIC FELLOWSHIP It doesn t matter to us if you drank or what kinds of drugs you used If you have the desire to stop you are welcome We re Here and We re Free EES E Ray A We re Here and We re Free c lt TOA and ALL other mind altering substances Your Information Here En la fraternidad de AL JATE DE LA COCA NA COCAINA ANONIMOS y todas otras sunstancias que no nos importa cual es su droga de preferencia alteran la mente No nos importa si usted bebi cuales drogas uso Si tienes el deseo de no usar aqui es bienvenido Aqui Estamos y Somos Libres Kors w nae Aqui Estamos y Somos Libres The following is an example of a Billboard attraction that was used You may have your own area s district s helpline phone numbers and internet site in pla
42. ion Committee is to carry the message of Cocaine Anonymous to the still suffering addict We achieve this by making our presence known to the individuals community groups and interested parties affected by drug addiction We also have the task of keeping our own Fellowship members informed and up to date on changes with respect to Cocaine Anonymous How PI Work is Done Word of Mouth Letter Writing Billboards amp Posters There are many ways of carrying the message The simplest of course is by word of mouth spreading the word that Cocaine Anonymous does exist to a friend or relative Many of us in the beginning were ready to 12 Step anyone and everyone because of the difference working the C A program made in our lives Yet as time passed in our recovery we became more intuitive regarding who did and did not want our help When they did want help we were ever mindful of our traditions such as anonymity and attraction rather than promotion We also shared no opinions on outside issues and kept our message to what we were like what happened and what we re like now because of C A A proven method of success in spreading the message of C A locally is a cover letter with a business card containing C A information numbers This is sent to hospital emergency rooms probation officers treatment centers etc This method works well because it provides a written reference that can be filed for easy acc
43. is workbook has been proven to be successful The first five chapters are from various resources of C A experience and will hopefully get you on your way to becoming a fully functional Public Information Committee The sixth chapter is an F Y I for your information C A Fact Sheet which will be updated often Please contact the C A World Service Conference Public Information Committee for the most current C A facts The seventh eighth and ninth chapters are a collection of what C A members have either accumulated or created within their area or district P I committees Some items are also products of our very own World Service Conference Public Information Committee s experience over the years All the forms including the form letters can be used as written Each PI committee has the right to customize each letter or Public Service Announcement PSA with its local C A information Please feel free to add and all other mind altering substances as needed in any of the suggested letters or PSAs listed in this workbook Carry the message WSC PI Committee 2009 This is a Handbook We have found it helpful to update and present the information we have gathered over the years in a new format along with new information to assist our now global Fellowship in carrying the message of Cocaine Anonymous There is still much to do We thank you for your patience as we continue to strive to make this document a comprehensive Public I
44. ities and individuals involved with the problems of drug addiction are handled by the Public Information Committee Mutual understanding and cooperation between C A members and others who work with addicts are the concerns of this standing committee of the World Service Conference n t Types of Cocaine Anonymous Meetings Open Meetings Closed Meetings Speaker Meetings Participation Meetings Online Meetings S OS As the term suggests meetings of this type are open to anyone addicts their families friends or anyone else interested in solving a personal drug problem helping someone else to solve such a problem or just wanting to understand the disease of addiction These meetings are open to addicts only They provide an opportunity for members to share with one another on problems related to using patterns and attempts to achieve stable sobriety This type of meeting involves one or two individuals voluntarily sharing their thoughts and feelings This type of meeting involves any or all individuals voluntarily sharing their experience strength and hope The Online Service Area of Cocaine Anonymous conducts 6 meetings on the Internet 24 7 To participate go to www ca online org Variations and combinations of these meetings exist according to a meeting s group conscience Section 3 Carrying the Message To the To the Professional C A Community Fellowship
45. ity is required can prove to be a difficult task especially since the visual aspect always makes a feature more interesting Here are a few tips on how we can work together The most important tradition of our organization is anonymity Traditionally C A members have always taken care to preserve their anonymity at the public level of press radio TV and film We ask for your invaluable assistance to preserve the anonymity of our recovering addicts by not identifying them as members of Cocaine Anonymous using their names or full face photographs in any facet of the media We know from experience that many people with drug problems might hesitate to turn to C A for help if they thought their problem might be discussed publicly even inadvertently by others Newcomers should be able to seek help with complete assurance that their identities will not be disclosed to anyone outside the Fellowship A C A member may for various reasons break anonymity deliberately at the public level Since that is a matter of individual choice and conscience the Fellowship as a whole has no control over such deviations from tradition It is clear however that they do not have the approval of the overwhelming majority of our membership We earnestly request those gathered here to honor the tradition of anonymity We request that no record be made of this presentation either by photography moving or still or by videotape If you should happen to
46. let them know about your background so they are more comfortable speaking freely with you Remember you are not responsible for the results of the call you re only responsible for passing on the message of recovery and hope The purpose of the helpline is to let people know C A exists and to help them get to a meeting WE ARE HERE TO LISTEN AND PROVIDE HOBE Guidelines for C A Web Sites Two basic items that are necessary for a C A Area or District web site are an Internet web site account and a person or committee willing to create and maintain the web site The web site account can be obtained from any number of vendors i e from large national vendors to local mom and pop companies The generic term for these providers regardless of size is Internet Service Provider or ISP Internet accounts come in several forms The basic user account provides an internet connection and use of the Internet It may or may not come with web space storage If this kind of account is to be used for an Area page it must include storage For most Areas 2GB 2 gigabytes storage will be sufficient Areas that use extensive graphics will need more space As of 2009 accounts of this type typically cost 10 per month Because one will be using a modem to connect to this account directly the ISP must provide a local phone number for access If your web person traditionally called the webservant already has ISP access
47. local library for more information Some libraries may also be interested in a speaker presentation literature rack or have a general information board where a C A poster or flier could be displayed Non C A Meetings and Non C A Events This is one area where we truly put our experiences onto these pages What we ve done At one time or another all of us in Public Information ended up at a presentation without a clue as to what to do Some of us used the Tools of Recovery pamphlet as an opening and a closing We introduced a recommended speaker we hardly knew who began getting into one of the most profane war stories that was ever told We cannot guarantee that this will not happen but we will give you our experience with non C A meetings and events and some ideas that worked for us Working Within the Community Using the PI Powerpoint Presentation Health Fairs Working within the community C A has won the respect of many people and organizations as a viable resource for recovery from cocaine abuse and addiction It s important that we keep the relationship with the community positive for the good of the Fellowship Meetings done in schools or with local organizations that deal with the addict strengthen C A s relationships with the local community Many thanks to the UK Area for creating and bringing this powerful tool into our conference approved PI arsenal We encourage all Areas and Districts to
48. maintain personal anonymity at the level of press radio and films Tradition 11 Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions ever reminding us to place principles before personalities Tradition 12 and the attached Statement of Anonymity if applicable Note Most newspapers will not print a Letter to the Editor unless it is received with a last name although they will print it using just a last initial O z Jj Public Service Announcements Placing PSAs on Radio or Television The World Service Conference of Cocaine Anonymous has approved Public Service Announcements PSAs for television These have been produced by the Public Information Conference Committee and are available for a small charge Your area may obtain these television PSAs by contacting the World Service Office in Los Angeles CA The PI Merchandise Order Form is available in the Resources section of this handbook and also at www ca org Most stations devote time to airing public service announcements In seeking to have a PSA aired you should contact the Station Manager or Public Affairs Director and ask how to deliver or send the PSA spot for consideration You can point out that the PSA spots are complete and self contained The station s web site may have the information you seek You will be competing with many other organizations for limited airtime Here are some suggestions that you can use
49. n be made to the Fellowship as quickly as possible after completion of the issue Items to Watch for e Obvious affiliations with any business outside enterprise treatment facility or other Fellowship e Articles or submissions from sources outside the Fellowship itself e Articles or submissions which are copied from some other source which may be included without permission of the copyright holder e References in the articles to issues which C A may have no opinion about e Editorials of any sort should not be included e No last names e Any pictures should be carefully considered if of any person e References to any website which is not C A linked e Reference to events which are not C A sanctioned events e If there is any reference to the AA big book or the 12x12 or the C A Storybooks of any type add the following The AA Big Book AA 12 Steps and 12 Traditions and the books Hope Faith amp Courage and Hope Faith amp Courage Volume II are used with permission e If there is any reference to any other book or any material otherwise copyrighted by someone else it cannot be used quoted or referenced unless that writer or the Area has specific permission to use it for publication This permission is often in writing and the author should have that in the Area files before the newsletter is finalized D a fl 2 The newsletter should have some sort of copyright language such as by Cocaine Anonym
50. nformation service resource Section 1 Before You Begin You Need to Know The PI Traditions Of all the Traditions in C A none is more widely recognized than Tradition 11 not to mention that Tradition 11 is the most widely interpreted and the most harmful to C A when broken Equally important in doing Public Information is the principle of cooperation but not affiliation with outside organizations and programs Traditions 6 amp 7 We freely share only our program of recovery experience strength and hope Also with Tradition 10 we keep in mind that we have no opinions on outside issues such as rehab drug addicts drugs in society or anything outside of our program of recovery As members of our Fellowship we have the responsibility to maintain our principles by learning the Traditions adhering to and living them in our daily lives Our Fellowship needs any and all that are willing to serve Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than The 11th promotion we need always maintain personal anonymity at Tradition the level of press radio television and films States We seek publicity for C A principles not C A members The press has usually cooperated in this regard Personal anonymity at the media level is the cornerstone of our public information policy The 11th Tradition is a constant reminder that personal ambition has no place in C A Experience has shown us that normally when the
51. o If you would like to know more about Cocaine Anonymous the Twelve Steps and the Twelve Traditions please write and ask for C A World Service Conference approved literature at CAWSO 3740 Overland Ave Suite C Los Angeles CA 90034 E Mail to info CA org or by Fax to 310 559 2554 Contact CA by phone at 310 559 5833 The C A World Service Office web page is WWW Ca org Elements of a Successful Flier Day of Week Month Date Time Where name of church park restaurant etc Address City amp Zip Other Pertinent Details Extras amp Graphics e Price if applicable e How to get tickets e Contact Info e What to bring e We re Here and We re Free e Clipart or original art e Conference approved images In the spirit of Tradition Six C A is not allied with any sect denomination politics organization or institution Laying out the flier and presenting the information in a clear and concise way will make people want to read your flier Using colored paper or ink can also make your flier stand out on a literature table You can test the completeness of your flier by having someone not involved with the event take a look at it If they have questions chances are that others may have the same questions so you might be wise to rework the flier to answer them prior to printing and distributing The C A logo can be anywhere on the flier and should be included on all printed materials
52. of Addiction Section 3 Carrying the Message To the Fellowship So You Want To Start A Helpline Suggested Guidelines for Helplines Hotlines Guidelines for C A Web Sites To the Public at Large THE MEDIA Anonymity at the Level of Press Radio Television amp Films Power of the Media Writing a Press Release Introducing C A to your Local Media e Convention Announcement e PI Letter to a Columnist e Letter Regarding C A Awareness e Letter Mentioning C A to Newspapers Public Service Announcements PSA e Placing PSAs on Radio or Television e Cover Letter for PSAs e Thank You Letter for PSA Time e TV and Radio Copy e Radio and Video PSA Scripts Your Local Library e Putting C A Books In Libraries Non C A Meetings and Non C A Events e Working Within the Community e Using the PI Powerpoint Presentation e Health Fairs e Outside Meeting Format e Public Speaking Suggestions 14 15 18 23 25 26 27 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 35 38 39 39 39 40 40 40 C To the Professional Community Cooperation with the Professional Community CPC What is the Professional Community oe How Do We Cooperate and What Do We Offer What Do We Want Guidelines for CPC Suggested CPC Tools Addressing Outside Groups or Organizations Letters to the Courts Section 4 The World Service Conference PI Committee RESOURCES Public Information Registration Form Request for Non Profit Statu
53. oice our attitude our helpfulness and our courtesy or lack thereof could have a profound or devastating effect on the caller We cannot overemphasize that fact Understanding and a sincere desire to help are our principles and guidelines and we should at all times be guided by the Twelve Traditions The C A helpline can literally save the life of the person on the other end of the line As a phone volunteer you are an indispensable part of the C A program At the same time please bear in mind that NO ONE CAN SPEAK FOR C A We share only from our own experience and recovery WE ARE NOT COUNSELORS AND WE ARE NOT QUALIFIED TO ADVISE CALLERS TO TAKE ANY ACTION EXCEPT TO SUGGEST 1 Stop using 2 Attend C A meetings REMEMBER THE PHONE VOLUNTEER S PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO HELP THE ADDICT WHO IS STILL SUFFERING OUR MAJOR OBJECTIVE IS TO SIMPLY GET THE NEWCOMER TO A C A MEETING FOR THIS REASON THE MEETING LIST IS OUR GREATEST TOOL Types of Phone Systems Many Areas of C A have adopted their own guidelines for establishing helplines They have used answering services answering machines voice mailbox systems cell phones and or individual members of the Fellowship If Your Area Uses an Answering Service 1 Provide the answering service with a list of volunteers who agree to take calls or messages 2 Use call forwarding from the service to phone volunteers 3 The initial greeting may be Hello may help you It i
54. ous of insert full legal name of Area entity if incorporated Any unauthorized duplication or publication is prohibited Insert name of newsletter is a monthly bimonthly quarterly publication select one intended solely to provide information to the Fellowship of Cocaine Anonymous We hope to communicate the experience strength and hope of individual C A members reflecting recovery unity and service within the bounds of friendliness and good taste The opinions expressed herein are not to be attributed nor taken as an endorsement by Cocaine Anonymous Cocaine Anonymous World Services Cocaine Anonymous World Service Office Inc Cocaine Anonymous of insert Area name again or insert the name of newsletter here The editors reserve the right to edit any submissions in adherence to the Twelve Traditions of Cocaine Anonymous 3 Preferably the newsletter will be circulated for review and appear on an Area s website in a pdf format so it cannot be altered except by the editor and newsletter committee 4 After approval of the newsletter by the Regional Trustee the Trustee would also forward a copy to the current WSOB NewsGram editor as a possible resource for future articles Definitions Editorial noun an article which expresses the opinions or views of the Publisher A C A sanctioned event displays the C A logo and is approved by the service body of a District Area the WSO WSOB or WS Conference in order to do s
55. recognize someone who identifies themselves as an addict please keep that knowledge strictly to yourself Thank you s C A Translation Policy Please refer all inquiries regarding translations to the World Service Office Using the C A Logo and Other Trademarks The service body granting the use of the C A logo shall be responsible for ensuring that the proper C A logo with applicable trademarks as shown below is used on printed materials and memorabilia The Cocaine Anonymous logo must be used in its entirety as shown below The official logo includes the inner circle of the logo that contains the artistic text CA the outer circle which contains the text HOPE FAITH COURAGE and the registered trademark symbol No other text or design element may touch overlap or show through behind the logo other than a solid color The block letters C A may only be used alone when they bear no resemblance to the inner circle of the official logo We re Here and We re Free is a registered trademark of Cocaine Anonymous World Services Inc and should be presented in all print materials in one of the following manners We re Here and We re Free or We re Here and We re Free For further information please refer to the Statement of Policy on page 12 of the C A World Service Manual Section 2 What is Public Information Why We Need Public Information The purpose of the Public Informat
56. rland Avenue Suite C Los Angeles CA 90034 www ca org Section 4 The WS Conference PI Committee Resources e Public Information registration form e Request for Non Profit Status number e PI Merchandise Order form This section is currently under review by the WSC PI Committee and will soon include e WSC PI Committee Structure e WSC PI Committee Guidelines amp Policy Public Information Registration Form This PI Registration Form will help us maintain communications with your local committee Public Information Registration Form For those groups who wish to be on our World Service Office Public Information mailing list please fill out a copy of this form and mail or FAX to CAWSO Inc WSC Public Information Committee P O Box 2000 Los Angeles CA 90049 8000 Fax 310 559 2554 Mailing Address Contact Name ___ 2 2 Address ____ _ _ Request for Non Profit Status Number For those unincorporated areas that need a non profit status number for PSA placement mail or fax this form to the World Service Office of Cocaine Anonymous to request the WSO to send a letter to any TV radio station or billboard company requesting a non profit number from Areas that are not yet incorporated and or registered as a non profit organization The CAWSO FAX is 310 559 2554 The WSO will send the necessary information to the station company address given below Area Information Conta
57. s Referrals to recovery and drug diversion programs are just the first step Quite often a 12 Step program can offer the long term recovery from addiction desired by the addict and the courts Finding the proper assistance in recovery is a crucial step in a person s recovery from their addiction Our organization offers 12 Step meetings on a regular basis Cocaine Anonymous is a Fellowship of men and women who share their experience strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others recover from their addiction There are no dues or fees for membership we are fully self supporting through our own contributions The Cocaine Anonymous Public Information Committee s purpose is to inform people that we are here and we are free We are a confidential non profit organization where recovering addicts help others recover from their addiction one day at a time Our members have demonstrated continuous abstinence from cocaine and all other mind altering substances and are willing to share how recovery works in their daily lives The Public Information Committee is available to hold panel discussions or presentations at your convenience Enclosed is some Cocaine Anonymous literature and a meeting schedule for this area If you have any questions concerning our program please feel free to contact us Sincerely Public Information Chair Hometown Cocaine Anonymous C A World Service Office Inc 3740 Ove
58. s copyrights and all other rights presented or included herein including all subsidiary pages is registered owned and or copyrighted by lt your area or district gt Permission is granted to download and store this material for individual non proprietary use only All other rights are fully reserved Cocaine Anonymous is not affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous or any other similar organization h Any page containing quotes from copyrighted C A literature must contain the current copyright notice and identify the piece being quoted The books Hope Faith amp Courage and Hope Faith amp Courage II are NOT available for online reprinting and are not covered by this provision The current copyright notice is as follows Cocaine Anonymous World Service Conference Approved Literature Copyright lt year gt Cocaine Anonymous World Services Inc C A Cocaine Anonymous and the CA logo are registered trademarks of Cocaine Anonymous World Services Inc All rights reserved i Area District newsletters personal stories audio and video media must be approved by the Area District and the Regional Trustee before posting on the Area District web site j The following Disclaimer must be included on the bottom of the home page of any C A web site other than the CAWSO website Some of the items contained in these pages are published with permission of C A World Services Inc this does not imply endorsement of
59. s Number PI Merchandise Order form Section 5 Conference Approved PI Tools amp I mages A selection of available Conference approved PI images 49 FOREWORD From the Beginning In the pages that follow rest the words of our experience strength and hope They take their shape as guidelines from the beginning and until the end If you are looking for guidance on Public Information Pl this workbook is the place to begin 25 Years Later The growth and scope of Public Information has and always will be a work in progress The Internet email cell phones texting and social networking sites have presented new challenges and opportunities alike The translation of C A materials into other languages is crucial to the continued growth of C A and our ability to help the addict who still suffers As our diversity expands so must our understanding We are not a one size fits all Fellowship To those of you who are turning to this resource for assistance we hope you find what you need AND if you don t we need you to tell us so we can address your concerns and share solutions The World Service PI Committee is at your service With gratitude Your World Service PI Committee PREFACE This is a workbook This is a workbook containing some guidelines and suggestions on how to carry the message The information gathered here came from many different areas of the U S A and Canada All the information inside th
60. s an addict please keep that knowledge strictly to yourself For your information please find copies of What is CA Who is a C A Member and our Statement of Anonymity Thank you very much Your name xxx XXX XXXX Chairman Public Information Committee O a PI Letter to a Columnist This is a form letter to be sent to local newspapers or periodicals suggesting a possible article regarding C A September 1 2001 John Q Public Health or Public Interest Correspondent Hometown Newspaper 164 Main St Anytown ST 16487 Dear Health or Public Interest Correspondent As the Public Information Committee of Cocaine Anonymous of ___ _ and as former users we understand the devastating effects of cocaine and other drug addiction on our families our friends the community and ourselves We would like to introduce you to us so that you may better understand addicts and help direct those who may need our help to our program of recovery Cocaine Anonymous was first organized in November of 1982 and currently has over 30 000 members Cocaine Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from their addiction The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop using cocaine and all other mind altering substances Cocaine Anonymous is concerned solely with the p
61. s containing C A members names phone numbers or email addresses or displaying C A business reports or financial statements need prior written approval from both the Area District and the affected member s CAWSO s local area contact page contains links to many Area web sites This page can be found at www ca org phones html It is suggested that Areas wishing to develop their own web site first review some of these sites The IT Committee will submit a quarterly report to the WSB Trustee assigned to the IT Committee However web sites change over time and should there be any questions regarding something seen on a C A web site please email webservant ca org Requirements for C A Area District Web Sites All C A Area or District web sites must meet the following requirements in order to be considered for linking by the CAWSO a The Service Committee for the Area or District must have approved the web site and the CAWSO must be contacted by an elected officer of the Area or District with a statement to this effect b A link to the email address of the Area s current webservant must be posted on the web site itself This may be done in a way that obscures the individual s name but the link must allow anyone to send email directly to the current webservant c Contact information for the Area must remain current so that any problem not resolvable by contacting the webservant can be resolved directly with the Area or District
62. s not necessary to answer Cocaine Anonymous 4 Usually a 24 hour answering service will cross connect the calls to volunteers homes Some areas might have an office where volunteers have different shifts and other Areas might have an automated phone service The helpline regardless of the Area is a 24 hour service Anyone at any time should be able to contact a member of Cocaine Anonymous O O tg J If Your Area Uses an Answering Machine 1 Regularly check messages by using a roster to call in for messages 2 If you have a recorded message with meeting times and locations offer the caller a way to request to speak to a recovering addict Phone Volunteer Qualifications Sobriety requirement One year continuous sobriety and six month commitment Phone volunteers need to go through an orientation on how to answer C A phone lines Orientation entails training to work the phone It is the only method we have to provide a standard of quality for the service we provide on the helpline PLEASE DO NOT ALLOW ANYONE TO ANSWER THE HELPLINE IF THEY HAVE NOT GONE THROUGH AN ORIENTATION Do e Remember to be polite you may be the only contact the caller may have with C A Find out the needs of the caller Share your experience strength and hope Encourage callers to attend meetings Try to prevent keeping a caller on hold for too long Refer calls for Public Information i e requests for speakers radio
63. t fun anymore For help call Cocaine Anonymous We re here and we re free For information in your area call XXX XXX XXXX or the Cocaine Anonymous National Referral Line at 1 800 347 8998 or contact us at www ca org Your Local Library Putting C A Books in Libraries Our books are an effective way of getting our message out to the public Many Areas Districts have successfully placed our books into public university and high school libraries Most school districts have a Library Services Director responsible for reviewing books and communicating with libraries directly When making contact be prepared to send an advance copy to be reviewed for content High Schools have a method of distribution set up by the School District they are a part of Contact the district directly to facilitate the distribution You can also include a letter with each book letting the school know that C A members are available to speak at their school in classes or at an assembly The only contact information for Cocaine Anonymous in the books is the World Service Office so it would be a good idea to rubber stamp or sticker books with local information such as Donated by the Area District name Public Information Committee for more information call your local helpline number or log onto your local web address Do not stamp or sticker the inside front cover as this is where most libraries place the book checkout information Contact your
64. tation s media manager for placing C A s PSAs on their TV or Radio station Local C A Logo or C A Trademark Logo Letterhead with address hotline email amp website DATE John Q Manager Station Call Letters 1 Big Plaza Hometown ST 01234 Dear Name of Manager Cocaine Anonymous of District Area State Province would like to express our gratitude to you and Station Call Letters for your support and the cooperation you have shown us by airing our public service announcements You have helped us to make a difference in this community by making known to the public that there is free help and hope for the person who still suffers from addiction to cocaine crack cocaine or any other mind altering substance We hope that you will continue to show our PSAs as often as possible so that we can continue to help people to find recovery from addiction It is important for us to share our gift of sobriety with others so that we never forget what our own addiction was like Please remember that our members are available for interviews or to speak to anyone who wishes to learn more about Cocaine Anonymous We will be more than happy to be of service Cocaine Anonymous Public Information P O Box 123 Hometown ST 01234 0123 123 456 7890 Sincerely Hometown C A if applicable OO a A TV and Radio Copy The following is Conference approved PSA copy When using these announcements for radio ple
65. ve when speaking to a non C A meeting though they would also pertain to a regular C A meeting would be Remember you are a guest at the meeting and a representative of not for C A Respect the anonymity of others Be familiar with the 12 Steps and 12 Traditions of C A Personal appearance is vital Look as neat as possible Avoid the use of profanity Avoid war stories stories of quality and quantity of cocaine and all other mind altering substances State the fact of your addiction without going into details If possible take a friend WE ABSOLUTELY INSIST ON ENJ OYI NG LIFE SO HAVE FUN C To the Professional Community Cooperation with the Professional Community C P C C A has won the respect of many people and organizations as a viable resource for recovery from addiction to cocaine alcohol and other drugs It is important for the good of the Fellowship that all areas establish a relationship with the professional community any professional person or organization that comes into contact with addicts not yet in recovery and is interested in information about C A This committee attempts to establish communication between C A members and the professional community to find productive methods of cooperation not affiliation What is the Professional Community By professional community we mean any organization or individual whose activities could provide additional contacts and exposure for the Fellowship
66. vide you with a toll free number answer calls give meeting times and locations take messages and even give callers the option to be transferred to volunteers in the Fellowship It would be a good idea to call the Cocaine Anonymous World Service Office or the nearest Area for their experience strength and hope on setting up a helpline Once your helpline is established get listed in as many phone books as possible It is suggested that you ask what listings can be made available at no cost It may be possible for your helpline number to be listed in multiple places in the phonebook These may all be available at no charge Suggested locations for publication are in the business white pages in the yellow pages under Cocaine Self Help Addiction etc in the white pages and under the emergency phone list It s a good idea to ask how callers heard about us and keep a log This will help your Public Information Committee track what ads or PSAs are working what agencies are recommending us etc O u Suggested Guidelines for Helplines Hotlines We re glad you re here because its means you ve chosen to be of service working the C A helpline Itis one of the most important commitments a C A member can make As helpline volunteers we represent Cocaine Anonymous We are a direct link to the public and are quite often the first impression that a practicing addict will have of our Fellowship Therefore the sound of our v
67. ymous is a Fellowship of men and women who share their experience strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from their addiction The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop using cocaine and all other mind altering substances There are no dues or fees for membership we are fully self supporting through our own contributions C A is not allied with any sect denomination politics organization or institution We do not wish to engage in any controversy and we neither endorse nor oppose any causes Our primary purpose is to stay free from cocaine and all other mind altering substances and to help others achieve the same freedom C A s Position in the Field of Addiction C A is concerned solely with the personal recovery and continued sobriety of individual addicts who turn to the Fellowship for help Cocaine Anonymous does not engage in the fields of drug addiction research medical or psychiatric treatment education or propaganda in any form although members may participate in such activities as individuals The Fellowship has adopted a policy of Cooperation but not Affiliation with outside organizations concerned with the problem of addiction C A never endorses supports becomes affiliated with or expresses an opinion on outside issues including the legality of drugs or any other public policy C A s_ relations with professional groups agencies facil

Public Information Handbook (2009)

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