i have heard of people who never attended AA and are sober.
i've heard of people who attend AA regularly throughout their sobriety.
i have yet to hear of anyone who once attended AA with vigor and zeal, worked the program and the stopped going to meetings who stayed sober, long term.
the most important person in any meeting is the newcomer....
not the old timer. the old timer is still there to carry the message to the newcomer. to acknowledge and share the gifts of sobriety, to show that it can be done, but always to remember from whence they came. because they are exactly ONE drink away from being that newcomer and they hope AA is still there for them.............