Extract:
“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 Corrections Committees and Guidelines on Treatment
Facilities Committees, Treatment Facilities Workbook and Corrections
Workbook, all available from G.S.O.
Service
Sponsorship
.
. . A.A. service is anything whatever that helps us to reach a
fellow sufferer — ranging all the way from the Twelfth Step itself
to a ten-cent phone call and a cup of coffee, and to A.A.’s General
Service Office for national and international action. The sum total
of all these services is our Third Legacy of Service. — The
A.A. Service Manual/Twelve Concepts for World Service, page S1.
Sponsorship
in A.A. is basically the same, whether helping another individual’s
recovery or service to a group. It can be defined as one alcoholic
who has made some progress in recovery [ie.
you don't have to be “recovered” nor do you HAVE TO HAVE a
sponsor] and/or performance in 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.
A
service sponsor is usually someone who is knowledgeable in A.A.
history and has a strong background in the service structure. The
A.A. member is introduced to a new language: G.S.R., D.C.M., area
assembly, minority opinion. They will become familiar with the
Traditions, Concepts and Warranties, as well as The A.A. Service
Manual/Twelve Concepts for World Service, Alcoholics Anonymous Comes
of Age and other A.A. literature.
The
service sponsor begins by encouraging the member to become active in
their home group — coffee, literature, cleanup, attending business
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 — Recovery, Unity 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
[ie. it's NOT a right] of serving.
Rotation also allows them to understand that no one should hold on
to a position of trust long enough to feel a proprietary interest
and thereby discourage newcomers from service.
Co-founder
Dr. Bob said, “I spend a great deal of time passing on what I
learned to others who want and need it badly. I do it for four
reasons:
1.
Sense of duty.
2.
It is a pleasure.
3.
Because in doing so I am paying my debt to the man who took time to
pass it on to me.
4.
Because every time I do it I take out a little more insurance for
myself against a possible slip.”
The
basis of all sponsorship is to lead by example [this
will exclude cult sponsors by definition. They work on the basis of 'Do as I say, not what I do']. Service sponsors can
impart to their sponsees the pleasure of involvement in the work of
Alcoholics Anonymous. This is best done by stressing the spiritual
nature of service work and by pointing out the usefulness of simple
footwork and faith.
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.
Summary
Most
present members of Alcoholics Anonymous owe their sobriety to the
fact that someone else took a special interest in them and was
willing to share a great gift with them.
Sponsorship
is merely another way of describing the continuing special interest
of a seasoned member that can mean so much to a newcomer turning to
A.A. for help.
Individuals
and groups cannot afford to lose sight of the importance of
sponsorship, the importance of taking a special interest in a
confused alcoholic who wants to stop drinking. Experience shows
clearly that the members getting the most out of the A.A. program,
and the groups doing the best job of carrying the A.A. message to
still-suffering alcoholics, are those for whom sponsorship is too
important to be left to chance.
By
these members and groups, sponsorship responsibilities are welcomed
and accepted as opportunities to enrich personal A.A.
Experience and to deepen the satisfactions that come from working
with others.”
(our
emphases - our comments in red)
Comment:
By and large sensible advice although this section fails to point out
the obvious danger. A singular presentation of what service involves
means that bad as well as good perspectives might be passed on to the
newcomer. Over-reliance on a single individual (such as will be found
all too often amongst the cult membership with their sponsor
'fetishist' approach) always entails this risk. As broad a range of
experience should always be sought combined with a greater emphasis
on the study of AA conference approved literature.
This
brings to an end our survey of this piece of AA literature.
But
remember: a sponsor is NOT ESSENTIAL to recovery. And NO sponsorship
is better by far than BAD sponsorship!
Cheers
The
Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)
