[Boleo]

Where would AA be today if Dr. Carl Jung had not been humble, honest and frank enough to tell Rowland Hazard “I’m sorry, I can’t help you. You need to seek a solution elsewhere”?

Not only would Rowland Hazard have filed to get sober but so would Ebby Thatcher and Bill Wilson. Bill W might not have found any other solution and AA probably would not have gotten started. There would be no NA, CA or any other 12 step programs for that matter.

It is every sponsors right and obligation to be this open and frank with the newcomer seeking his help. If the sponsor fails to be up front with the sponcee he is not only hurting that persons chances of finding the right solution but the sponsor is doing a disservice to AA as a whole.

Even though it is not specifically mentioned in the 1st tradition, Bill Wilson spent a great deal of time talking about “Singleness of Purpose”. Not only must “Unity” come first but AA should stick to what it knows best – real alcoholics helping other real alcoholics.
When this was AA’s only purpose it had a 50% – 75% success rate (see page Forward to 2nd Edition).

History has showed us that when the Immanuel Movement was helping alcoholics back in the 1900’s it had a great deal of success. When it attempted to branch out and help all kinds of people with all kinds of mental problems it gained a reputation for failures and fell apart.

This is what is happening today. AA is getting a reputation of having a “NEAR ZERO” success rate and is being rejected by those who look at the numbers first. I myself would not have stepped into my first AA meeting if I knew that my chances would have better elsewhere.