6-26-03

[rosie readandpost]

From "Leadership in A.A.: Ever a Vital Need:"
"Every sponsor is a leader. The stakes are about as big as they could be. A human life and usually the
happiness of a whole family hang in the balance. What the sponsor does and says, how well he estimates the reactions of
his prospects, how well he times and makes his presentation, how well he handles criticisms, and how well he leads his
prospect on by personal spiritual example -- these qualities of leadership can make all the difference, often the
difference between life and death."
c. 1962, Twelve Concepts for World Service by Bill W., page 42

[Robert McGregor]

"rosie readandpost" <readandpost@REMOVETHISyahoo.com> wrote in message
news:C87La.55641$fe.1170053@twister.rdc-kc.rr.com...
>
> And yet, what assurances does AA offer the newcomer that
> > a sponsor is qualified to act as such, or even comprehends the first
> > Step? That's right, none!
> >
> > --
> > Blue Moon
>
> your right, there are no assurances.
> i was taught to look for someone who had "what i wanted" and ask them to
sponsor me.
> that sponsor, guided me through the steps, and helped me immensely!
> to this day in my sobriety, i still use a sponsor, as a very important
tool in my life.
> it works for me.............
>
> rosie
>
Oh yeah, it works for you, 'till reality sneaks up on your drugs, and you
are "pooped" again.

Bob

"rosie readandpost" <readandpostREMOVE@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:Z0Sxa.60832$dl6.3522826@twister.rdc-kc.rr.com...
> ATTRACTION, NOT PROMOTION is what we in AA are suppose to remember, and
abide by

[Blue Moon]

On Sat, 28 Jun 2003 02:34:10 GMT, "rosie readandpost"
<readandpost@REMOVETHISyahoo.com> wrote:

>
> And yet, what assurances does AA offer the newcomer that
>> a sponsor is qualified to act as such, or even comprehends the first
>> Step? That's right, none!
>>
>> --
>> Blue Moon
>
>your right, there are no assurances.
>i was taught to look for someone who had "what i wanted" and ask them to sponsor me.
>that sponsor, guided me through the steps, and helped me immensely!
>to this day in my sobriety, i still use a sponsor, as a very important tool in my life.
>it works for me.............

My own sponsor was certainly invaluable for me also. But sometimes
the things that some sponsors come out with can be shocking! It's
also difficult for a newcomer to find a sponsor in the first place -
given that my alcoholic thinking got me into such a state in the first
place, I don't see how my judgement could then be reliable enough to
pick a sponsor. Clearly my judgement was still awry, because the
first sponsor turned out to be much sicker than I was.

--
Blue Moon

[rosie readandpost]

> But sometimes
> the things that some sponsors come out with can be shocking!


those would be the folks i would have and did avoid.



i spoke at an open meeting last night (not bragging) and after the meeting a women came up to me, and shared with me
that she HAD a sponsor who told her to STOP her antidepressants!

the women who was sharing this with me was an RN, her husband a doctor, and her psychiatrist/addictionologist, a
recovering alcoholic.
i asked her what she did, and she said she left that meeting, and found another home group and a new sponsor.

then she took her complaint to CENTRAL OFFICE and sent a copy to GSO!



>it's
> also difficult for a newcomer to find a sponsor in the first place -



why is that?
in the meetings i attend, we ask if anyone needs a temporary sponsor, and also have potential sponsors names on our
phone lists.


> I don't see how my judgement could then be reliable enough to
> pick a sponsor.


i guess then, yours couldn't!