IDAA Organization

• IDAA History and Objectives
• IDAA Executive Director
• Steering Committee
• IDAA Bylaws (PDF -- requires Adobe Acrobat Reader).
• History of the Local Arrangements Committee Flag

IDAA History and Objectives

Founded - 1949

International Doctors in Alcoholics Anonymous had its origins in the garage of Dr. Clarence Pearson in upstate New York in 1949. Dr. Pearson, a recovering alcoholic and practicing physician, and his wife Polly invited other physicians and their families for an AA retreat at their summer home near the Canadian border.

Attendance at that summer meeting totaled 34. Doctors from the United States, three from Canada and the presence of a psychologist as well as physicians, made the meeting both international and interdisciplinary. Hence the organization International Doctors in AA was founded.

Since that time, annual meetings of IDAA have been held in early August in various locations around the country. The format has changed to some degree from the early years, but the core remain the same - good fundamental AA meetings. Al-Anon and Teen fellowship meetings have been added through the years. IDAA meetings are truly a family affair for many.

Attending the annual IDAA meeting and interacting with many other recovering healthcare professional helps greatly in dealing with professional issues involving recovery and living clean and sober. There are also cosponsored scientific presentations, carrying CME credits, addressing the state of the art in the field of alcoholism and allied diseases.

International Doctors in AA is a fellowship of doctors and their families whose primary purpose is to support one another in recovery from alcoholism and other drug addictions. There are no dues or fees to join. We are self supporting through our own contributions. The only requirement for membership is the doctor's desire to belong.

Since its inception in 1949 in Dr. Clarence Pearson's garage in upstate New York, the following outstanding and dedicated doctors have guided IDAA:

• Clarence Pearson, MD 1949 -- 1960
• Luke K. Reed, MD 1960 -- 1987
• C Richard McK., MD 1987 -- 2002
• Gordon H., MD 2002 -- 2008

IDAA is eternally grateful for their many years of service to the organization.

IDAA Executive Director (current)

Dale Syfert MD, Executive Director
2616 NW 25th Place
Gainesville, Florida 32605-2826
Phone: 352-375-0240
Fax: 352-376-0240
Click here to send a confidential email to the Executive Director.

Steering Committee

The Steering Committee of International Doctors in Alcoholics Anonymous is the governing body of the organization. Each chairman of the annual meeting becomes a member of the steering committee and serves for six years. Other voting members are an Al-Anon representative and members-at-large.

The Steering Committee is divided into three distinct components.

• Site Selection Subcommittee
  • Chairman from last annual meeting - Chairman
  • Chairman of current annual meeting
  • Trusted Servant

• Administrative Subcommittee
  • Committee member in third year rotation - Chairman
  • Committee member in second year rotation
  • Trusted Servant

• Finance Subcommittee
  • Committee member in fifth year of rotation - Chairman
  • Committee member in fourth year rotation
  • Trusted Servant

The Trusted Servant is the Steering Committee member in the sixth year of rotation.

The Al-Anon member is selected by the Al-Anon Advisory Committee to serve a three year term, renewable once, and rotates on subcommittees each year in sequence outlined.

The Chairman of the next annual meeting is a voting member of the Steering Committee but has no subcommittee assignment.

The Secretary-Treasurer and the Executive Director are elected each year and are non-voting members of the Steering Committee.