Pyramid sponsorship

An extract from the aacultwatch forum (old)

“'Pyramid sponsorship' is simply a way of describing the way in which the cult groups operate their so-called “group consciences” or “steering committees”.  These groups are based on a hierarchy of sponsors with the local guru at the top, and then a descending “cascade” of his sponsees who in turn have their own sponsees and so on with  newcomers forming the base of the structure (by the way it is not unusual for a cult sponsor to have sponsees in double figures). Furthermore based on the central cult principle of “do exactly what your sponsor says” this means that when it comes to conscience meetings the group is run essentially by the guru (or perhaps a very small clique of sponsors) with any decisions made finally by them and then simply rubber-stamped by their “clones”. In this way the Joys of Recovery was effectively controlled by David B and his inner circle, the Road to Recovery in Plymouth by Wayne P and his little gang (that is before his fall from grace) and so on. Similarly the cult tactic of encouraging people to have two or more home groups means that this “pyramid” or “cascade” system can run across a number of groups e.g. some members of the Strood cult group (West Kent) also name the Tankerton group (cult – East Kent) as their home group.  By these means the cult have developed a network (and hierarchy) of groups not only in Kent and London but right across the country.  These groups also spread when dissent occurs within their ranks  (which happens quite frequently).  Control freaks can't really abide each others' company for too long and eventually there is a “break out” and the formation of “splinter groups” (these sometimes being more extreme than the original), and each with their own respective gurus.  This certainly happened with the Joys of Recovery (London), Eaton Square (London), Strood (West Kent) and so on.  (I even heard with the Tankerton cult group that a guy was refused sponsorship because he smoked (ie. ordinary cigarettes – not “wacky baccy”) and this rendered him “unsponsorable”).  After David B bit the dust David “The Icon” C (a sponsee) took over the helm and carried on with the system.  The whole thing is “rationalised” under the guise of “trusted leadership” which is supposed to ensure that the group is “guided” by its wiser, more experienced and “trusted” heads.  In fact there is little to be found here that falls under any of these categories and certainly even less that might be be trusted (witness again Wayne P in Plymouth, David B (Joys), David C (Joys), Mark M (Strood),  Tooting Dave (Tankerton), Blonde Dave (ex- of Kearsney – East Kent)  all of whom have been caught out lying to or misleading their groups, or whose private life is (how shall I put it?) is seriously at odds with their public “image”; their “walk” rarely if ever matches their “talk”.  A more alarming characteristic of this particular system is the practice of discussing a sponsee's Step Five within the hierarchy.  So for example it is by no means uncommon for someone's very private disclosures to be subsequently circulated within the “cascade” (again under the guise of seeking wiser counsel) and not necessarily with their full consent  (such sponsors as these hardly fall within the category of a “close-mouthed acquaintance” – as it's put in the Big Book).  A friend of mine (who used to be a cult member) even reported that his sponsor attempted to blackmail him by threatening to disclose some of the events he had revealed in his Step Five.  My friend was made of somewhat sturdier stuff perhaps than the average newcomer and told him to f*** off! Be warned!”

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)