A Wonderful Organization
September 1, 2020
Writing the 12 Steps
September 29, 2020
Sponsorship in the Age of Zoom and the Pandemic
What is sponsorship? Alcoholics Anonymous began with sponsorship. When Bill W., only a few months sober, was stricken with a powerful urge to drink, the thought came to him. “You need another alcoholic just as much as he needs you.”
He found Dr. Bob, who had been trying desperately and unsuccessfully to stop drinking, and out of their common need A.A. was born. (Questions & Answers on Sponsorship)
Chapter 7 of the Big Book Working with Others starts out with “Practical experience shows that nothing will so much insure immunity from drinking as intensive work with other alcoholics. It works when other activities fail.”
How to find an AA sponsor online or on Zoom:
- Set up a Sponsorship Chairperson and have new members talk to that person after the meeting.
- Make sure you ask for new people.
- Make sure you ask who in the Group is willing to sponsor to raise their hand.
- Let people know they can call the A.A. Office and we will try to help them find a sponsor.
Support can come from people other than a sponsor. If you cannot find a sponsor, the next best thing is to get the phone number of an A.A. member that you can get support from.
Staff
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of the AA Cleveland District Office.
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7 Comments
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Dean H. says: We suggest going to as many AA meetings as possible, and then asking someone who has the type of sobriety you want. Face to face is best but also, you can ask online as well by messaging the individual before or after the meeting.
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David E says: I worked steps 1-7 with a sponsor at inpatient treatment facility. I lived in Phoenix, Seattle, Fort Collins, now I’m in a small town of 2500 people. I can’t find a sponsor that I trust or is willing to work with my fluctuating schedule. My choices of sponsors here can’t relate to me, are judgmental towards NA (which I also attend), and some are just straight up ignorant. (Sorry but I do know what ignorant is) I need a sponsor so I can move forward with step 8 and so on. I’m willing to review the previous steps and I need a sponsor that believes that God can come quickly and Profoundly to some of us. My relationship with God is the only reason I haven’t relapsed. I’ve been in the program several times throughout my 48 years but currently I only have 4 months since my last and final bottom.
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Dean H. says: It might be best to find an NA sponsor rather than AA. If you’re attending NA, finding a sponsor from that fellowship would probably be a better fit.
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Dean H. says:
We suggest going to online meetings (https://aa-intergroup.org/meetings/) and asking about sponsorship at the meeting of your choice. There are meetings at all times online there and you can narrow the search in many ways.
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Jesse D. 
Chris B. 
John G. 
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