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CPC – Co-operation with Professionals Minutes for September 2026

OIAA Cooperation with the Professional Community (CPC)
Committee Meeting Minutes
September 6, 2026


Member Attendees:

Leila B. – Chair
Pato – Alternate Chair
Naterena P-C – Secretary
Susan R. – OIAA Board Chair
Jan B. OIAA Alternate Chair
Bartolo
Andresa
Jeremy W.
Terry G.
Diana
Dave
Victor A.
Lurdes M.
Ginger C.
Eddy
Doug Hendron
Victor
Melisa – Interpreter

 

Call to Order

The meeting was held at approximately 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time via Zoom. Leila chaired the meeting.

The meeting included English and Spanish-speaking participants. Due to technical difficulties with the Zoom host code and simultaneous interpretation settings, participants worked together to ensure information was communicated in both languages. Susan agreed to assist with obtaining the updated host code and interpretation setup for future meetings.

Members introduced themselves and briefly shared their location and interest in CPC service.

Leila reviewed the purpose of CPC and the committee’s role in helping professionals understand AA, how AA may serve as a resource for their patients and clients, and how CPC members can cooperate with professionals without affiliation.

Announcements

  • CPC resources: Leila reviewed the committee’s available resources, including the CPC charter, CPC kit, outreach materials, and the reorganized shared Drive.
  • Drive access: Victor and Lurdes requested access to the CPC shared Drive. Diana will also need access as she becomes more involved with committee service.
  • Secretary service position: Naterena reviewed the responsibilities of the CPC Secretary, including preparing meeting minutes and agendas and supporting committee communications. Her current Secretary term will conclude in October.
  • Secretary volunteer: Diana expressed interest in helping with CPC service, including the Secretary role and responding to incoming CPC emails. Leila will provide onboarding and training.
  • Translation support: Mauricio is still committed to helping with translating resources to Spanish. Andresa offered to assist with Portuguese and French translation of workshop materials.
  • The Zoom host code did not work, and attempts to reach the Tech Chair during the meeting were unsuccessful. Additionally, the Interpreter was only scheduled for 60 minutes. Consequently, simultaneous interpretation was unavailable. Live consecutive English–Spanish interpretation was provided instead, but only for one hour, and the additional time required non-simultaneous translation meant that only half of the planned agenda could be completed.

Service Updates

Andresa reported that she has made contacts with addiction specialists and other professionals, including contacts in Mexico and France. She planned to meet with contacts in Paris in person to discuss the proposed healthcare professionals workshop, their availability, and whether French interpretation would be needed.

Pato reported that he has developed a base invitation letter for professional outreach. He has contacted professionals, including psychiatrists with experience in addiction treatment and referring individuals to AA. Potential participants are awaiting additional information regarding the final workshop date and agenda.

Members continued discussing ways to develop relationships with professionals internationally while remaining consistent with AA principles and CPC guidelines.

New Business

Healthcare Professionals Workshop: The committee continued planning for a virtual workshop focused on introducing healthcare professionals to AA, specifically as a potential resource for patients and clients.

The proposed audience includes:

  • Psychiatrists
  • Psychologists
  • Therapists
  • Addiction specialists
  • Other similar professionals

The committee discussed a proposed 90-minute format that would include a CPC presentation explaining AA, available resources, and ways professionals may refer individuals to AA. The possibility of including a brief presentation from a non-alcoholic healthcare professional was also discussed. Jan agreed to bring the concept to the OIAA Board for consideration. The final portion of the workshop will be Discussion and Q&A.

Workshop Scheduling: The committee continued discussing a January 2027 target for the workshop. Several January dates were identified as potentially available on the OIAA calendar. Members noted that scheduling an international workshop requires consideration of multiple time zones, particularly for participants in North America, South America, and Europe. Andresa recommended first contacting potential professional participants to determine their availability and preferred times before confirming a date. The possibility of moving the workshop to February or March was discussed if additional planning time is needed. The committee agreed to continue gathering availability before establishing the final workshop date.

Workshop Attendance Documentation: A committee member providing some sort of documentation acknowledging participation in the workshop for the purposes of continuing education credits for certifications. The conversation was tabled for further investigation. Later in the meeting, Jan noted concerns regarding AA providing professional certificates or credentials because AA is not a professional credentialing organization. The committee discussed the distinction between professional certification and a simple acknowledgment of attendance. Jan said she would discuss the matter further with the Board and report back to the committee.

Professional Participation: The group discussed the potential benefit of including a non-alcoholic professional as part of the workshop program to share a professional perspective on working with individuals affected by alcohol use and referring individuals to AA. Jan agreed to bring the idea to the OIAA Board for consideration.

International Outreach and Language Support: Because the proposed workshop may include professionals from several countries, the committee discussed possible interpretation needs. Spanish interpretation is expected to be needed. Andresa will determine whether French interpretation may also be necessary based on her conversations with professional contacts, and Lurdes will help identify potential Portuguese language needs. Andresa also offered to translate the workshop outreach letter into Portuguese and French. The committee noted that interpreter costs will need to be considered as part of the workshop budget.

Workshop Budget: Leila will begin developing a proposed workshop budget. The budget may include interpretation services for up to three languages and other expenses associated with conducting the event. However, Spanish translation is most likely the only need (Andresa and Lurdes will confirm). The goal is to have the budget prepared for submission by December.

CPC Email and Drive Access: The committee continued expanding participation in responding to CPC inquiries. Diana volunteered to assist with incoming CPC emails. Leila will provide her with access and conduct an individual onboarding session to review the committee’s email and response process. Victor and Lurdes also requested access to the shared CPC Drive.

Committee Agreements and Follow-Up Items

  • The committee will continue planning an international healthcare professionals workshop.
  • January 2027 remains the target timeframe, but the final date will not be selected until additional availability information is gathered.
  • Professional contacts will be asked about their preferred dates, times, and language needs.
  • The workshop will primarily target psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists, addiction specialists, and other healthcare professionals.
  • The committee will explore whether a non-alcoholic professional may participate as a speaker.
  • Jan will research whether an acknowledgment of attendance may appropriately be provided.
  • Andresa will assist with Portuguese and French translation of workshop materials.
  • The committee will identify interpretation needs before finalizing the workshop budget.
  • New volunteers will receive access and training for the CPC email and shared Drive as appropriate.

Discussion and Motion Summary

Discussion: The committee discussed healthcare professional outreach, international workshop planning, workshop dates and time zones, professional participation, attendance documentation, interpretation needs, workshop budgeting, the Secretary transition, email coverage, and CPC Drive access.

Motion: No formal motions were made or voted on during the meeting.

 

Next Steps / Action Items

Leila (Chair)

  • Provide Diana with access to the CPC Drive and email.
  • Conduct an onboarding session with Diana regarding CPC email procedures and committee resources.
  • Begin developing the workshop budget, including potential interpretation costs for up to three languages (if needed).
  • Continue coordinating planning for the healthcare professionals workshop.

Andresa

  • Meet with professional contacts in Paris and discuss the proposed workshop.
  • Gather information regarding participant availability and possible French interpretation needs.
  • Translate the workshop outreach letter into Portuguese and French.

Diana

  • Begin onboarding to assist with responding to CPC email inquiries.

Jan

  • Research whether an acknowledgment of attendance may appropriately be provided to workshop participants.
  • Bring the proposal for including a non-alcoholic professional speaker(s) to the OIAA Board.
  • Include the healthcare professionals workshop planning and scheduling discussion in her upcoming Board report.

Naterena P-C (Secretary)

  • Send the September meeting minutes to the committee.
  • Add Diana, Victor, and Lurdes to the appropriate CPC email list and shared Drive access.

Pato

  • Send the most recent workshop invitation letter to Andresa.
  • Continue communication with professional contacts.
  • Confer on the final workshop date with Dr. Ibáñez and other potential participants once confirmed.

Susan (OIAA Chair)

  • Obtain the updated Zoom host code and assist with ensuring simultaneous interpretation is available for future meetings.

 

Committee

  • Continue identifying healthcare professionals who may be interested in the workshop.
  • Gather feedback from professional contacts regarding preferred workshop dates, times, and language needs.

Closing

The meeting concluded with continued enthusiasm for expanding CPC outreach to healthcare professionals internationally for the purpose of helping professionals understand AA, how AA may serve as a resource for their patients and clients. The committee agreed that additional information regarding professional availability, time zones, interpretation needs, and technical requirements should be gathered before finalizing the workshop date.

Members were encouraged to continue identifying service opportunities within CPC, including email response support, translation, outreach, and the upcoming Secretary position.

 

Prepared by: Naterena P-C, Secretary, CPC Committee

Next Meeting: The next CPC Committee meeting will be held on the first Sunday of the month, October 4, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time via Zoom.

 


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