MWO sponsors

[Caper]

This is probably a dumb idea but has it ever been tried on MWO... that someone - I mean some "one" acts as a sponsor to some "one" else... I guess I'm throwing this out here because it seems lately that there are just so many threads that are "dedicated" for lack of a better word to certain members.... I'm thinking that there might be a lot of newcomers that feel hesitant to join in on established threads. Most of the time they are directed to the Newbies Nest but often fade off because of the huge crowd over there that seems to come and go. Maybe they'd feel more comfortable if they had one person to act as their sponsor... not a big fan of AA but using their term, again, for lack of a better one.

[jenniech]

MWO sponsors

I think it is a great idea but it would be hard to sort out. I have never really found a thread that I belonged to.....so I tend to stick with the newbie nest which is very crowded!

[Siren136]

MWO sponsors

I belong to a triathlon forum and every quarter there are 'Mentor' groups for newbies to tris. The Mentor decides if he/she is going to have a group and how many people can join the group. Sometimes 2 or more mentors team up and have a group.

I just recently did this with the 311 gang here on MWO (unofficially) and it seemed like it worked great. Some of them are still going strong. I think it could be beneficial. Great idea!!

[kuya]

MWO sponsors

I wonder if it kind of happens in a roundabout way already.

I have a member who has been my support and to whom I turn to first if I feel shaky.

There are newer members who PM me for support, it is informal though.

I reckon it must be someone we respect and trust, but one of the problems can be time zones........often my low times are the evenings when my support person is asleep.

[Caper]

MWO sponsors

I think you may be right, Kuya, in that there does seem to be members that do establish an immediate connection with other new people here. But on the other hand, I see so many new people that come and go in just a few days.. what if one person was assigned to "grab" onto to a new inquiry... person...say you decided to take on a newcomer as your own personal "friend" and say, Hey, Pal, you've been assigned to me, and I am going to follow up with you, come hell or high water... I think those "new" people might think that they matter to someone... what do you think?

[InChains]

MWO sponsors

I personally thing a sponsor system would be great, I personally would love to see a situation like that, just wonder if any older members would want to participate? As a lover of organizing stuff would be happy to keep track of sponsors n arrange the situation if it comes about.

[Caper]

MWO sponsors

Thanks for the feedback, Jenniech and Siren136... I actually wanted to join the 311 group but didn't because I had more days than they did.. How dumb is that? And, Jennie... that's what I was saying.. I'm with you in that I've never found a group that I felt comfortable with.. but wouldn't you feel better with just one person? A sponsor?

[kuya]

MWO sponsors

This is worth discussing......people do get lost I fear.......even longer term members who are less confidant may get missed.

Sometimes I feel really bad when a person comes back to the nest and I realise I haven't seen them for months.......it is so hard to keep track of quieter folk.

The problem still becomes one of personality and assignment......how to decide......or maybe it doesn't matter initially as long as the new person has someone.

I am sure this thread will get plenty of feedback.....thanks for starting it

[kuya]

MWO sponsors

InChains;1483015 wrote: I personally thing a sponsor system would be great, I personally would love to see a situation like that, just wonder if any older members would want to participate? As a lover of organizing stuff would be happy to keep track of sponsors n arrange the situation if it comes about.

It would take a good organiser and for older members to 'sign up'......otherwise it is a nonstarter cos we need decent numbers of longer term abstainant folk.

[InChains]

MWO sponsors

I can be a good organizer, but we need older members for sure

[Caper]

MWO sponsors

Kuya and InChains... thanks so much for responding... I agree with what you've both said.. people are getting lost here.... I've felt that way myself.... We need older members or new members... it doesn't really matter, does it? As long as someone arriving at this site can feel that they have someone to latch on to.. who won't disappear next week in a sea of new threads... I do appreciate all the responses from the "oldsters" here but sometimes, and I hope they won't get mad at me for saying this, it seems that I'm seeing the same old answers to the same old questions, over and over. I know that it made me feel like I was just another face in the same old crowd... but that's why I started this thread.. to say maybe if one person were to latch onto one other person... I don't know; just saying, I guess.

[kuya]

MWO sponsors

I know exactly what you mean......I get severe d?j? vu sometimes thinking 'haven't I just said this ?!? :H:H

[Caper]

MWO sponsors

kuya... you do so much good here... maybe you have said it before.. but most of what you say, bears saying again...

[kuya]

MWO sponsors

Thanks Caper..... I know I can be a bull in a china shop but I am so passionate that this problem is solvable with the right mindset and I get impatient cos I want people to be happy.

[Oneredshoe]

MWO sponsors

I love this idea....I thought and still think the 311 group is great. It is sometimes very very full over in the nest and is at times difficult to keep up with everyone.