What is the Role of Sponsorship?

[MajestyJo]

What does a sponsor do?

A sponsor does everything possible, within the limits of personal experience and knowledge, to help the newcomer get sober and stay sober through the A.A. program:

Shows by present example and drinking history what A.A. has meant in the sponsor's fife.
Encourages and helps the newcomer to attend a variety of A.A. meetings - to get a number of viewpoints and interpretations of the A.A. program.
Suggests keeping an open mind about A.A. if the newcomer isn't sure at first whether he or she is an alcoholic.
Never takes the newcomer's inventory except when asked.
Introduces the newcomer to other members, particularly to those who may share the new person's occupational or social interests.
Sees that the newcomer is aware of A.A. literature, in particular the Big Book, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, and Grapevine, As Bill Sees It, Living Sober, and suitable pamphlets.
Is available to the newcomer when the latter has special problems.
Goes over the meaning of the Twelve Steps, and emphasizes their importance. Never tries to impose personal views on the newcomer. A good sponsor who is an atheist does not try to persuade a religious newcomer to abandon faith, nor does a religious sponsor argue theological matters with an agnostic newcomer.
Urges the newcomer to join in group activities as soon as possible.
Impresses upon the newcomer the importance of all our Traditions.
Does not pretend to know all the answers, and does not keep up a pretense of being right all the time.
Tries to give the newcomer some picture of the scope of A.A., beyond the group, and directs attention to A.A. literature about the history of the Fellowship, the Three Legacies, the service structure, and the worldwide availability of A.A.
wherever the newcomer may go. Explains the program to relatives of the alcoholic, if this appears to be useful, and tells them about Al-Anon Family Groups (AFG) and Alateen.
Does not hesitate to help the newcomer obtain professional help (such as medical, legal, vocational) if assistance outside the scope of A.A. is needed.
Quickly admits, "I don't know" when that is the case, and helps the newcomer find a good source of information.
Finally, the sponsor encourages the newcomer to work with other alcoholics as soon as possible, and sometimes begins by taking the newcomer along on Twelfth Step calls.
In all work with a newcomer, the sponsor underscores the fact that it is the A.A. recovery program - not the sponsor's personality or position - that is important. Thus, the newcomer learns to lean on the program, not on the sponsor. A sponsor who has been truly putting the program first will not take it as a personal insult if the newcomer decides to change sponsors or to go to other A.A.'s for additional guidance.

To be continued...