How to Find an AA Sponsor Online

Alcoholics Anonymous (or AA) is an organization dedicated to supporting men and women in their battle against alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is the desire to quit drinking. There is no cost to be a part of AA, though they rely on donations and to function, AA does not require dues or fees from their members. In addition to support meetings, AA members often rely on the help of "sponsors." In fact, according to AA's "Questions and Answers On Sponsorship" booklet, Alcoholics Anonymous began when a member named Bill W. felt a powerful urge to drink and sought out another alcoholic. Finding an AA sponsor is done informally by approaching another, often more experienced AA member, and can easily be done online. Online sponsorship is not the traditional method of finding an AA sponsor, but it can still be a way to find support when you need it most.

Instructions

Establishing an Online AA Sponsorship

• 1

  Visit an online community like aasponsor.ning.com. It is important to note that though many members of online support communities like "aasponsor.ning.com" are members of AA, these sites are not affiliated with nor officially endorsed by Alcoholics Anonymous.

• 2

  Sign up for an account ID by entering basic personal information. In this case, you will be creating a "Ning ID." You will be asked to enter your birthday and email address before clicking the "Sign Up" tab. An email will be sent to confirm your email address.

• 3

  Check your email and verify your membership with the online community.

• 4

  Click on the link in your email. You will be sent to another page to complete your application. You will be asked to create a personal profile by adding some personal information, most of which will only be visible to administrators. Your profile must include a full name and "sobriety birthdate." Other information such as a profile picture, gender, an "about yourself" section and your favorite AA saying are optional. Complete your membership by clicking the "Join" tab at the bottom. You will be sent to the AA Sponsors online homepage.

• 5

  Find the toolbar near the top of the page and click on the "Forum" tab.

• 6

  Click on the "Add a Discussion" tab located just below the "Forum" button.

• 7

  Write a description of your situation of who you are and the kind of sponsor you are looking for and finish by clicking on "Add Discussion" at the bottom of the page.

• 8

  Check back for replies. Before long, other members will begin discussions with you and someone will sponsor you.