My sponsor suggested that I periodically follow up with the professionals to give them an update on how the Fellowship is doing. Sometimes, this meant calling them again to give them a verbal update, but often it meant sending them an email update. I use the BCC line for these group emails. Again, I give permission to share these emails with anyone who needs them. I have gotten calls from potential newcomers in other parts of the state who were referred by a professional who had my email forwarded to them. 

Occasionally, I do the same kind of outreach in parts of my state where there are currently no SA meetings. In one case, I was reaching out to therapists and clergy in a town about 45 minutes away. By the time I got to the bottom of my list, they were expecting my call. One actually said, “I was wondering when you were going to call.” When I do this outreach, I emphasize the availability of virtual options for participating in meetings. As I mentioned in the previous article, many meetings in Nebraska had phone conference lines long before I made it to SA. These are a good way for loner newcomers to connect with the Fellowship. 

Since 2017, our local fellowship has continued to grow. Others have seen that starting a meeting and working with newcomers has kept me sober, so they have started meetings as well. We now have five meetings a week. 

Recently, my sponsor has suggested following up with professionals who refer newcomers to us, to thank them for their ongoing support. Without breaking the anonymity of the newcomer, I would do this by sending an email that says, “We recently had a newcomer who said they were referred by you. We really appreciate this, because helping others is an indispensable part of our individual and group recovery.”

Over the past year or so, I have done outreach with clergy members in my faith tradition within my region of the country, to try and help overcome any barriers individuals might have to trying a Twelve-Step program because it is not a part of our faith tradition. In these instances, I use my personal email address and town, in case they might want to follow up with my religious leader. I have also given my religious leader permission to discuss his perspective with his clergy friends. This outreach work got me invited to carry the SA message to a men’s group within that faith tradition. 

I am currently a delegate representing the North Midwest Region. Part of my delegate responsibilities is serving on two Trustee committees. I am serving on the Global Outreach Committee, which exists to serve meetings and intergroups outside of the current service structure. Part of my role there is trying to network with individuals and groups across the Asia Pacific Rim. 

I am writing this article as the Chair of the Support for Institutions and Professionals Committee. Our mission statement: “The mission of the Support for Institutions and Professionals Committee is to carry the message of recovery from sexaholism to hospitals, treatment centers, and helping professionals. We facilitate meetings, distribute SA-approved multimedia materials, and serve as a hub to connect local SA groups with the professional community.” While my experience is mostly one-on-one contact with clergy, many members of this committee are experienced with outreach to professionals and institutions in a group setting. While many groups and intergroups use the mass letter or blast email approach to professionals, our committee’s collective experience suggests that one-on-one works best, even when it comes to inviting them to a group setting, like a panel or group presentation.