Liaison Officers – what they do and who they are
What do Liaison Officers do? Bill W has this to say
To reach more alcoholics, understanding of AA and public goodwill toward AA must go on growing everywhere. We need to be on still better terms with medicine, religions, employers, government, courts, prisons, mental hospitals and all enterprises in the alcoholism field
Put simply then, an AA Liaison Officer (LO) has the role of carrying the message of recovery to the still suffering alcoholic, which is after all, the primary purpose of AA. We do this by getting in touch with the relevant staff in any organisation who is in a position to pass on the knowledge of the existence of AA and what it can do for the still suffering alcoholic.
For more information on all Liaison Officer positions see the AA Service Handbook and the Aims and Structures for Southdown Intergroup
Having knowledge of a sector means the Liaison Officer stands a better chance of being able to effectively carry the message to that sector. Therefore traditionally LOs roles have been split into the likes of Armed Forces, Health, Public Information, Young People and so on.
Southdown AA Intergroup runs a Liaison Officer Committee for all LO officer positions other than Interlink Editor, ECLO, Archivist and Telephone Responder LO. We do this to make it easier for anyone to get involved with LO work and to enable to LOC to respond to requests for help from all sectors. The LOC welcome suggestions from any member of AA with outreach project ideas for any sector.
The other founding principal of the LOC is to drive engagement and service from all members into all sectors. The vast majority of AA members have had experience in the professional world and this experience is invaluable in carrying the message. By moving to a project based methodology, it will allow members to suggest and work on outreach drives for the duration of that project rather than have to run for and be elected as an LO on a fixed term.
Net result means more people in recovery and we need you to make that happen! Please get in touch at cood.southdown@aamail.org with your ideas for outreach projects into any public or private organisation.
Telephone Service
Being a Telephone Responder is one of the most rewarding ways of doing service in AA, and one of the most effective ways in helping the still-suffering alcoholic because we talk to people directly. We maintain a rota of Responders in our Intergroup area and receive calls made to the national helpline number, and our local helpline on a shift basis.
Our local helpline is 02392 580 776, available 24/7
The team is always interested in anyone who would like to put their name forward for a role as a Telephone Responder or to be on our reserve list. The reserve lists are for when current responders are not able to do their shift for some reason so they go through the reserve list in the hope of finding someone to cover for them.
Full training will be given. We run a quarterly meeting for all Responders to keep up to date with the latest developments with the service. Meeting dates and times can be found in the relevant section elsewhere on this website. Meetings are currently being held on Zoom. Anyone is welcome to attend to find out what we do. please contact our Telephone Liaison Officer at telephones.southdown@aamail.org or speak to your GSR.
“12th Steppers”
Supporting the Telephone Service are the ’12th-Steppers’. These are volunteers in the area who receive calls from Responders and contact the original caller to offer help and assistance including house calls, taking them to / meeting them at meetings, and hospital calls. We maintain a ’12th-Step’ list of volunteers which is updated quarterly by GSRs.
If you are interested in becoming a 12th Step Volunteer or need to update your contact details please get in touch with our 12th Step List Coordinator at 12step.southdown@aamail.org
Interlink – the magazine for your Intergroup
Interlink is a quarterly magazine that connects us to Intergroup. From regular reports from our Chair and Liaison Officers, to interactive Q&As to upcoming events and meetings, it’s an opportunity to check in with those doing service across the Southdown and to learn more about how we spread the message.
Published in February, May, August and November each year, Interlink is available on the website, at Intergroup Assemblies, via your GSRs and might even be found on the literature table at some AA meetings.
Fancy getting Interlink fresh off the press and into your inbox every quarter? Simply email interlink.southdown@aamail.org to subscribe
Interlink articles can be submitted by anyone, so if you’d like your words to be included in the next edition, or have any thoughts or questions about Interlink, please email interlink.southdown@aamail.org