Public Information Coordinator

The elected Officers and the appointed Coordinators (3-year term) are the Service Panel members of the Southern California World Service (SCWS) Assembly. The Coordinators act in accordance with the spiritual principles of Al-Anon Family Groups while conducting the duties of their position for the Area. The Coordinators accept additional demands on their time and possess some special skills relevant to their position. Members of Al-Anon in SCWS who also are members of A.A. are ineligible to hold Al-Anon service positions that vote in matters affecting another group or Al-Anon or A.A. as a whole.

Eligibility and Qualifications

  • Must reside in the Southern California Area during their entire panel term.
  • Must be in good financial standing with the Area.
  • Past or current Group Representative experience is preferred but not necessary.
  • Active member of Al-Anon in CA(S) with good organizational skills and ability to pay attention to detail. 
  • Suggested prior experience with Al-Anon/Alateen public outreach projects.
  • Should have a thorough understanding of the 12 Steps, Traditions, and Concepts, current Al-Anon/Alateen Service Manual, Knowledge-Based Decision-Making (KBDM), Area and World Service structure, SCWS Policies and Procedures Handbook, and SCWS Bylaws. 
  • Must maintain confidentiality of non-public information.
  • Able to communicate effectively, including planning and preparing public presentations to carry the message.
  • Able to prioritize and work independently and as a team member. 
  • Willing to work cohesively with other Service Panel members.
  • Able to separate opinion from facts and remain impartial and neutral.
  • Can support and effectively communicate Area and World Service Conference (WSC) decisions and their implementation objectively, even if not in personal agreement with the group conscience.  
  • Is accessible, available, responsive, and flexible.
  • Comfortable representing Al-Anon in public with full name while maintaining anonymity at the level of Press, Radio, Films and TV, and Internet. 

Official Duties and Responsibilities

  • Carry the message to, and inform the public about, Al-Anon/Alateen Family Groups in the Southern California Area.
  • Disseminate information received from the World Service Office (WSO), typically in four parts: 
    • Familiar with WSO’s many Public Outreach (PO) resources including Guidelines (see list below) to build awareness in the community about what Al-Anon/ Alateen is. 
    • Use AFG Connects for Public Outreach as a continual resource.  
    • Obtain latest Public Service Announcements (PSAs) created by WSO (from AFG Connects) and work with Districts to distribute those to local TV and Radio stations. Advise WSO when PSAs are placed.
    • Inform the local media of how Al-Anon/Alateen can help families and friends of alcoholics by maintaining a list of Radio and TV stations that have received the latest PSA from the WSO. Identify TV Stations that have not been contacted, and work with appropriate Districts to provide PSAs to local stations, then advise the WSO of the results.
    • Oversee one or several PO project ideas that the WSO asks Areas to adopt or carry out (as announced on AFG Connects), if relevant. Coordinate inquiries forwarded by the WSO from people in our Area or that we receive from local organizations and pass them onto the appropriate District, and report results to WSO. 
    • Participate in WSO conference calls to share experience with other Area Public Outreach Coordinators around the country.
    • Facilitate distribution of Al-Anon/Alateen information and Conference Approved Literature (CAL) directly to the public via several means:
      • Obtain local media coverage of Al-Anon/Alateen through our PSAs, press releases, community calendar listings, and personal interviews.
      • Facilitate easy access to Al-Anon/Alateen— through phone listings, community calendar listings, and other local public directories.
    • Gather information on District and Intergroup PO projects, current and ongoing, to avoid duplication of effort. 
    • Support all PO projects carried out by Districts and Al-Anon Information Service (AIS) offices/Intergroups.
    • Initiate phone contacts and assemble volunteers for specific projects.
    • Initiate Area-wide  Public Outreach (PO) projects.
    • Display PO banner at Assembly meetings. Coordinate the use of PO banner throughout the SoCal area. 
    • When invited, speak about Public Outreach activities at Groups and District meetings. 
    • Cooperate with the Spanish Coordinator to staff Al-Anon booth/table at public events, as appropriate. 
    • Regularly and actively cooperate and consult with the other two SCWS Public Outreach Coordinators (i.e., Institutions and Cooperating with the Professional Community/CPC) to fulfill requests from public entities. Various requests may overlap between Coordinator positions. 
    • Serve as the primary point of contact with WSO for Public Outreach matters and AFG Connects. Communicate with Area Officers and others about these matters, as appropriate.
    • Comfortable initiating phone contacts with personnel at TV/radio stations, scheduling PSAs, etc.
    • Present oral report for each SCWS Service Panel meeting, AWSC meeting, and Assembly, and include written report in  SCWS Bulletin.
    • Attend all SCWS regularly-scheduled and/or special Area meetings (i.e., Service Panel, AWSC, Assemblies, Sharing of Service (SOS), see schedule below) both in-person and/or virtual formats. 
    • Reply to all emails within 48 to 72 hours. Participate fully and promptly in any phone calls, email discussions, assignments, and other conference calls or Zoom meetings.

Equipment, Technology, and Skills Required

  • Computer, printer, scanner, high-speed internet access, and use of appropriate software and Google apps. (Software provided by Area, as needed.)
  • Must be adept with email (especially handling attachments); creating and modifying documents using Google apps.
    • Prepares written reports and meets deadlines.
    • Protects security and confidentiality of documents and information.

Anticipated Time Commitment of this Position

Respond to email (> 2-3 times / week) and routine processing

3-5 hours/week

Participate in outreach events and workshops, as needed

3-8 hrs/monthly

Attend Service Panel, AWSC meetings, Assembly, SOS (6 to 7 hours each + travel time)

8 times/year

Special projects

As needed

Preparation

Reimbursements

  • Mileage incurred in travel to required Area meetings (see table below) are reimbursable at current approved mileage rate (with required documentation).
  • Needed supplies and materials reimbursed by Area, with required documentation.
  • Reimbursement requests are due within 45 days after the expenditure and must include all receipts and appropriate documentation, using the Expense and Mileage Reimbursement Request Form.
  • May claim reimbursement for one approved service event outside the SCWS Area during three-year term. The form for requesting a service panel event is on the password-protected section of the scws-al-anon.org website. (Makes own travel arrangements within budget guidelines.) Written report of experience must be submitted with reimbursement form.

Mandatory Area Meeting Attendance

Meetings Months Days Time
SCWS Service Panel January, May, July, October Saturday 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Area World Service Committee (AWSC) February, August 3rd Saturday 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Area Assemblies May, November 3rd Saturday 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Encouraged Area Meeting Attendance

Meetings Months Days Time
Sharing of Service (SOS) January 3rd Saturday 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Longtimer's Event Last Year of 3-year Panel 3rd Saturday 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Revised: 08/2026

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