Group Sponsorship

Rather Than Individual Sponsorship

The Big Book promises that when a newcomer becomes an active supporter of the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous, he taps into a source of power much greater than himself (page 163). The newcomer's recovery is all but guaranteed if he becomes a responsible member of the group. Initially, of course, the group provides a substitute for his addiction. But more importantly, through active support of the group, the newcomer is released from care, boredom, and worry, and he becomes happy, respectful, and useful. (pages 152, 153).

The How It Works Group program confirms the wisdom of this focus on the fellowship, focusing the attention of the newcomer on how they can be in active support of the group hastens the transition from a self-centered person "getting help" to a recovered person, "giving help." Through group sponsorship the alcoholic has been given the opportunity to become a responsible member of the group.

Group sponsorship ensures every newcomer that the program of recovery comes directly from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous. The program is presented in a straightforward, consistent manner that is not dependent upon individual interpretation. Printed step sheets have been prepared for use by members of the Group. They consist primarily of questions that are taken directly from and/or summarize the treatment of each step in the Big Book. The step sheets approved by the How It Works Group’s group conscience, offered a unified approach to how each of the 12 steps is to be taken. Indeed, once a member has taken this step, he can at once show another member how to do so. All members are, in the sense, equal when it comes to guiding newcomers through the steps. Every member is to participate in the group support process, without regard to seniority or years of sobriety. There are no privates, sergeants, or generals. We are all equals. In this way the newcomer quickly becomes a responsible member of the fellowship and part of the group solution.

Approaching the 12-step recovery process in a unified manner removes the potentially destructive power of individual personalities and cliques. As one member put it: "The idea that there should be individual sponsorship, that one member had a special relationship with another, often created problems. Different members had different ideas about the correct way to take a specific step. These differences by themselves created divisions within the group. Newcomers asked around to find who the 'Big Book thumpers' were. Alternatively, some sought out easier softer sponsors. In many cases, newcomers had multiple sponsors and played them off against each other." A unified, group approach gets rid of the influence of personalities. With group sponsorship rather than individual sponsorship, if someone who is taking a newcomer through the steps becomes unavailable for whatever reason, any other member of the group can and shouldpick up the ball and run with it.

The How It Works Group found that placing responsibility on an individual sponsor had the unintended outcomeof de-emphasizing the newcomer's dependence on a Higher Power. The group process in contrast removed the emphasison "human power" and placed it directly on the willingness of a newcomer to seek a spiritual solution.

The solution is to allow individual personalities to take a back seat. "We are to place principles before personalities; that we are actually to practice a genuine humility." (page 566). By replacing individual with group support, the new person could make mistakes without reflecting on a specific sponsor. The new person could better hear from all those with many years of experience and in the process gained from the collective wisdom of the entire group. Supporting the club room by helping others, attending meetings, and putting money in the basket became as much a partof the newcomer's sobriety as "doing the reading" and "taking the steps."