Joint Committee on Safety

Mission Statement

The Joint Committee on Safety was founded to provide support and resources to groups concerned with issues relating to the physical, emotional, and spiritual safety of their members. It is the purpose of this committee to research, collect, and present information from the G.S.O. or other bodies on member safety to any groups that are in need of support.

The Joint Committee on Safety Business Meeting is held every 4th Thursday* of each month at 6PM on Zoom: Meeting ID: 892 3730 0658 Passcode: 857738. *Except during the November-December holidays, when we meet on the 3rd Thursdays. Contact safety@aasantacruz.org with questions.

Why the Safety Committee Began

The issue of safety can be puzzling and nuanced. This committee arose out of the needs expressed by the AA community as a whole; to honor the traditions set forth by our predecessors, to address the evolving needs of AA members and groups on issues of physical, emotional, and environmental safety within the AA community.

How We Work

We do this by meeting monthly with group safety liaisons, providing information and support to individuals and groups who express safety needs, sponsoring events, and connecting with other service bodies throughout AA to share information and resources. Our committee is made up of group liaisons and members-at-large from AA members in Santa Cruz County.

Purpose/Intention

“It is hoped that our common suffering as alcoholics and our common solution in A.A. will transcend most issues and curtail negative behaviors that could jeopardize the safety of anyone attending an A.A. meeting. Nevertheless, Alcoholics Anonymous is a microcosm of the larger society we exist in. As such, problems found in the outside world can also make their way into the rooms of A.A. For this reason, groups and members discuss the topic of safety — to raise awareness in the Fellowship and to seek through sponsorship, workshops and meetings, to create as safe an environment as possible to carry A.A.’s message of hope and recovery to the still-suffering alcoholic” (Safety Card from G.S.O.)

Resources on Safety in A.A.

Digital Safety Packet – A collection of AA literature on safety from GSO that groups can use to help carry the message of recovery to all who suffer.

AA Guidelines – Safety & AA Groups – Key literature on various topics related to Safety in A.A., to help groups and members develop workable solutions and help keep our meetings safe.

Safety Card – An optional statement to be read at meetings, this card asks members to refrain from any behavior that may compromise another’s safety and encourages all members to take any necessary precautions to ensure their own personal safety.

Traditions Illustrated – An illustrated version of the Twelve Traditions.Santa Clara – District 4 Safety Website – an excellent, comprehensive collection of experience, strength, and hope on safety issues from AA groups across the US and across the world. Note: Clicking on this link will take you to an external AA website that is not hosted by Santa Cruz County Intergroup.

Audio Recordings of Safety Workshops & Forums:

Note: at all Safety forums and workshops, participants consented to being recorded before the recordings began. In accordance with AA traditions, including anonymity, participants were reminded that they did not have to give their name when speaking. Those who provided their first name did so with the full understanding of and consent to being recorded. Recordings are audio only. 

An AA Delegate on Safety in AA: The forum in May 2023 features Eric L., then General Service Panel 73 CNCA Delegate. He shares about AA history on safety and inclusion issues, viewed through a General Service lens. 

July 2023 – Safety Forum: a panel of AA members shares experience, strength, and hope about how working together on safety issues helps support carrying AA’s message of recovery in Santa Cruz county. 

August 2023 – Safety Forum: a panel of speakers addresses questions such as: What is ‘safety’ in AA? What does it mean to be ‘safe’ in AA meetings? How does member safety affect group unity? The topic of “Predatory Behavior in Meetings” was also discussed.

Safety Forum: Awareness: A workshop focused on raising awareness of safety issues in Santa Cruz AA meetings. Small groups worked together to review AA safety literature and chose a group inventory question for discussion. The two handouts utilized for the workshop are linked below. The recording was made of the groups coming back together afterward to share what they learned. Held in January 2024. 

Jan. 2024 Forum Handouts:

Safety Forum: Acceptance and Our Common Welfare: A workshop on the topic, “Acceptance and Our Common Welfare.” The discussion prompts for small groups were “How do we react when we hear a safety issue? What can we do to support members who feel unsafe in AA meetings? How do you relate our principles of unity, love, and tolerance to the issue of safety in AA meetings?” The recording was made of the groups coming back together afterwards to share what they learned. Held in February 2024.

Safety Forum: Unity in Action: A workshop on the topic of “What is the next right action when encountering safety issues? How can we preserve group unity while protecting all members? What traditions apply?“ The recording was made of the breakout groups coming back together afterwards to share what they learned. Held in March 2024.

Safety Forum with Area Accessibilities: This Workshop was held in conjunction with the California Northern Coastal Area 06 (CNCA) Area Accessibilities Committee, Santa Cruz County Intergroup, and Santa Cruz District 3 General Service in January 2026. The topic was the “AA Guidelines on Safety and AA Groups” literature by GSO.

For more information on Safety in AA in Santa Cruz County, please contact safety@aasantacruz.org.

Have a drinking problem? Give us a call at (831) 475-5782