Many Enter AA Unsponsored

By: J.W. | New York, New York

In these days of rapid growth and broader public enlightenment, a fair proportion of newcomers enter Alcoholics Anonymous unsponsored. This is especially true of the large cities, where a member is often lucky to know the man sitting next to him, let alone some suffering cave-dweller two miles and 900,000 people away.

And, of course, a sponsor is not necessary. A man is as much and as good a member of A.A. who weaves his lonely way into his first meeting, admitting only that he has an alcoholic problem, as his neighbor who is endorsed and shepherded by three group chairmen and the man who passes the plate.

Still and all, there is much to be said for the sponsorship system. It’s friendly, for one thing, and unselfish. It strengthens the ideal of brotherhood within A.A. Moreover, it’s just plain common courtesy.

How many prospects do you know, who got to the door of their first meeting and then turned away, terrified to face so many strangers?

How many newcomers rush from their first meeting to a bar, because they are confused and nervous and, in spite of what has been said from the platform, friendless?

How many questions are left unanswered by even the best meeting?

Among the many true things that Bill has said, perhaps the truest is that the most important guy at any meeting is the guy who is just coming in the door for the first time. He should not be alone.

It makes little difference if the sponsor and newcomer are not acquainted, if they come from different walks of life, if they have little besides alcohol in common, or even if their contact does not ripen into companionship. The sponsor has his sobriety to offer, while the newcomer offers the opportunity of a 12th Step job. The score is even.