What is the role of sponsorship?

[MajestyJo]

How should a sponsor deal with slips?

It can be most discouraging to work with a newcomer who gets sober for a period, then has a relapse, or slip, and starts drinking again. This can be a delicate, difficult time for both the sponsor and the newcomer. The sponsor may be tempted to consider the newcomer ungrateful or even to give up. Here, we sponsors need to look carefully into our own attitudes, to steer a middle course between harsh criticism that would only build up the newcomer's remorse, and maudlin sympathizing that would add to self-pity.

The newcomer, of course, may be even more discouraged and bewildered, and may find it extremely difficult to return to the sponsor and the group for a fresh start. (For this reason, many sponsors believe it important to take the initiative and call the newcomer.) In order to make the return truly a new beginning, it may be wise at this point to avoid postmortems on the reasons for the slip. Instead, the sponsor can help guide the newcomer back to the simplicity of the First Step and the prime importance of staying away from the first drink just for the day at hand.

Later, the newcomer may want to check the kind of thinking that possibly led to the slip, in order to guard against its recurrence. Here, the sponsor's role depends completely on the two people involved. If the sponsor was aware of the danger signals beforehand, one new- comer may say, "If only you had told me!" - but another may rebel at the idea of having been "watched. "

Regarded realistically, the slip can become a learning experience for both the person sponsored and the sponsor. For the sponsor, it may serve as a push toward humility, a reminder that one person cannot keep another person sober and that the Twelfth Step says, ". . . we tried to carry this message - - ."

Chiefly, most good sponsors emphasize to returning newcomers that people who have slipped continue to be welcome in A.A.. Successful sponsorship activity depends to a large degree on the understanding and love that the individual and group offer to a newcomer who may have one or more slips despite sincere efforts to make the program.

Can a member sponsor more than one newcomer simultaneously?

A.A. members differ in their enthusiasm for sponsorship work, in their ability to handle it effectively, and in the time they can give. Members who are willing and able to sponsor several newcomers simultaneously should certainly not be discouraged. At the same time, it should be kept in mind that sponsorship is, in a sense, a privilege to be shared by as many members as possible and an activity that helps all members to strengthen their sobriety.

Further, members who do too much sponsor- ship work may get exaggerated ideas about their abilities, may even risk their own sobriety. As in so many phases of A.A., common sense is the best guide.

"When and how does the sponsor let the newcomer go?

Usually the relationship does not really end at any definite point. Without any discussion, it just changes gradually as the newcomer grows in A.A. A wise sponsor is delighted when the new member begins to take initiative in making a widening circle of friends, becomes active in the group, and extends the hand of welcome to the latest newcomers.

A successful sponsor-newcomer partnership is a special sort of bond, remembered gratefully on each side, even if the two no longer are close. But it may also develop into a lasting friendship, and when it does, both partners have been heard to say, "Now we sponsor each other."

For groups planning sponsorship activity

How does sponsorship help a group?

The primary purpose of an A.A. group is to carry the message of the recovery program to alcoholics who want and ask for help. Group meetings are one way of doing this. Sponsorship is another.

In some groups, the idea of sponsorship is broadened to include working with alcoholics in nearby institutions and, through correspondence, with isolated Lone Members and Internationalists (seagoing A.A.'s).

Active sponsorship programs within a group remind all members of the group's primary purpose. They serve to unite a group, keep it mindful of "First Things First."

What procedures can a group set up to sponsor new members?

Carefully planned sponsorship activity within a group is often likely to produce better results than sponsorship left to chance.

A typical pattern of planned sponsorship within a local group might include the following:

A regular committee on sponsorship or a Twelfth Step committee, with members rotating frequently. If there is an Intergroup or central office that keeps a fist of local groups and the members available for Twelfth Step calls, such a committee may check to see whether the group has enough of its members on the office fist to fulfill its responsibility.
Regular beginners meetings (also called newcomers meetings) - particularly in larger communities where there are many newcomers. A Guide for Leading Beginners Meetings may be ordered from GENERAL SERVICE OFFICE
Regular assignment of members to greet newcomers at meetings and introduce them around. In large groups, people on a hospitality commit- tee may wear badges for the benefit of the newcomer. In smaller groups, the secretary may, during the announcements, simply ask newcomers to come up and make themselves known after the meeting, so they may be introduced to other members.
Another suggested announcement. "If any person here does not have a sponsor and wants one, please see the secretary, who will arrange a temporary sponsor." Where this practice is followed at each meeting, members say, it reminds the group of the value of sponsoring and being sponsored.
Closed-meeting discussions of sponsorship problems and opportunities. Some groups schedule meetings especially for this purpose.
A file of; names, addresses, and phone number of newcomers (who wish to volunteer the information), with notations showing sponsor or sponsors for each one.
Table display of Conference-approved A.A. literature on recovery (including this pamphlet). - Review of newcomers list by steering commit- tee (or Twelfth Step or sponsorship committee) -with follow-up activity where it seems needed. - Study of Chapter 7 in the Big Book ("Working With Others").
Regular procedure (carried out by the secretary or the sponsorship committee) for welcoming newcomers who have just left institutions, treatment centers, or halfway houses. For instance, the secretary may receive word from the secretary, of a prison group that a newly released person is about to attend a meeting, and the "outside" group is then alerted to the arrival of this newcomer. If it is feasible, a member of the group may even offer to meet the person immediately upon release.
How may "outside" A.A. groups help groups and members in institutions?

This subject is fully covered in the pamphlets "A.A. in Correctional Facilities" and "A.A. in Treatment Facilities." Also see Guidelines on Correctional Facilities Committees and Guidelines on Treatment Facilities Committees, Treatment Facilities Workbook and Correctional Facilities Workbook, all available from The GENERAL SERVICE OFFICE.

Service Sponsorship

Sponsorship in A.A. is basically the same, whether in helping another individual's recovery or in service to a group. It can be defined as one alcoholic who has made some progress in recovery and/or performance or service, sharing this experience with another alcoholic who is just starting the journey. Both types of service spring from the spiritual aspects of the program.

Individuals may feel that they have more to offer in one area than in another. It is the service sponsor's responsibility to present the various aspects of service: setting up a meeting; working on committees; participating in conferences, etc. In this matter, it is important for the service sponsor to help individuals understand the distinction between serving the needs of the Fellowship and meeting the personal needs of another group member.

The service sponsor begins by encouraging the member to become active in their home group; coffee, literature, cleanup, attending business meetings or Intergroup meetings, etc. The service sponsor should keep in mind that all members will not have the desire or qualifications to move beyond certain levels and, thus, the service sponsor might help find tasks appropriate to individuals' skills and interests. Whatever level of service one performs, all are toward the same end-sharing the overall responsibilities of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Eventually, the service sponsor encourages the individual member interested in this form of service to attend district meetings and to read about the history and structure of Alcoholics Anonymous. At this point, the individual beginning this work should begin to understand the responsibilities of service work, as well as feel the satisfaction of yet another form of Twelfth Step work. Such individuals should be encouraged to take an active part in district activities and consider being elected to alternate positions in the district so as to learn about the responsibilities of various jobs in the service structure.

During this process it is important for the individual to continue to learn about the three Legacies - Unity, Recovery and Service, and to understand that the principle of rotation not only allows them to move on in service, but also gives newer members the privilege of serving. Rotation also allows them to under- stand that no one should hold on to a position of trust long enough to feel a proprietary interest and thereby discourage newcomers from service.

Now, through knowledge and experience, the newer member is aware that service is our most important product after sobriety. With this knowledge, the individual is able to share their vision with others and ensure the future of Alcoholics Anonymous.


In the final analysis, It is between me and God; It never was between me and them anyway.

Not just a newcomer, we all need that person to confide in and share our thoughts and feelings with. Just because you have been in recovery for several 24 hours doesn't mean you still can't hurt.