When a Twelfth Step call is received, we begin with the assumption that another human being’s life is at stake — literally. This means that, without delay, this call is to be answered at once.

1. Arrange for another AA member to go with you.
2. Have a quiet time, read Chapter Seven in the Big Book.
3. Maintain anonymity.
4. Talk to the prospect alone, if possible. (That is, without his family and friends there.)
5. Congratulate him on wanting to do something about his drinking problem.
6. Give him some AA literature.
7. Note well what the Big Book says at the bottom of page 94: “On your first visit tell him about the Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous. If he shows interest, lend him your copy of this book.”
8. Each of you tell him “what you used to be like, what happened, and what you are like now.”
9. If he wants to talk, let him.
10. At the top of page 95, it advises, “Give him a chance to think it over… Sometimes a new man is anxious to proceed at once, and you may be tempted to let him do so. This is sometimes a mistake. If he has trouble later, he is likely to say you rushed him… If he is sincerely interested and wants to see you again, ask him to read this book in the interval (at least ask him to read the first 164 pages). After doing that (reading the book), he must decide for himself if he wants to go on.
11. When you are ready to leave, tell him you will call on him the following day if he wants, and he will have had time to read the first 164 pages, or had time to think about your conversation. Note that the second paragraph on page 96 says, “Suppose you are now making your second visit to a man. He has read this volume, and he is prepared to go through with the Twelve Steps of the program of recovery.” At this point you review the Twelve Steps with him, and arrange to bring him to your group meeting. If he does not want to go on, or feels that he can do it some other way, pick up your copy of the Big Book and invite him to call on you again if he changes his mind and decides that AA can be of help.
12. Finally, note how the Big Book, at the top of page 96 says, “We find it a waste of time to keep chasing a man who cannot, or will not, work with you. If you leave such a person alone, he may soon become convinced that he cannot recover by himself.”

By AA Grapevine, March 2007

Twelfth Step Calls

What are Twelfth Step Calls?

The first Twelfth Step Call occurred in May of 1935 when Bill, a recovered alcoholic businessman, met an active alcoholic physician to discuss how he had recovered from alcoholism. The physician, known as Dr. Bob, first agreed to meet with Bill for no more than fifteen minutes. However, the fifteen minute meeting turned into a six hour conversation! Dr. Bob credited the success of their first meeting to Bill “speaking his language” and allowing him to identify with another alcoholic for the first time in his life. Three weeks after their initial contact, Dr. Bob drank again. However, this would be Dr. Bob’s last bout with liquor. He had finally hit bottom and thanks to the message of hope from Bill, he knew of a way out from under the grips of alcoholism.

June 10th, 1935 was the day of Dr. Bob’s last drink and the day that marked the beginning of Alcoholics Anonymous. From that day forward, the two co-founders, Bill and Dr. Bob, would carry A.A.’s message to countless more alcoholics by practicing the same principle that both of them experienced in their first meeting. This principle would later be known as the Twelfth Step Call.

Twelfth Step Calls occur when an AA member has a conversation with a newcomer about how they recovered from alcoholism. When an alcoholic gains the confidence of another by having this conversation, both the newcomer and the AA member benefit. For the newcomer, they are learning about a possible solution to their alcoholism. For the AA member, they are taking out an “insurance policy” against a future slip by passing onto the newcomer what was passed onto them when they first came to AA.

Twelfth Step Calls today are no different than they were in 1935. They are still two (or more) alcoholics coming together to have a conversation about recovery from alcoholism. While many Twelfth Step Calls are still conducted through face to face conversations, some may also be conducted by phone or virtually.

What is the Twelfth Step Call Committee?

The Twelfth Step Call Committee is a group of AA. Volunteers who are available to talk to individuals about recovery from alcoholism as it pertains to working the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. Individuals who would like to talk with an AA member about our fellowship can either call the AA Helpline at 510-893-8900 or email the Helpline Chair at Helpline@eatbayaa.org
Please note that while our AA Helpline volunteers are available to answer basic questions about AA, they may not be available to talk to you at length since they need to be available for other hotline callers. Therefore, we encourage individuals wanting to have a longer conversation about recovery from alcoholism to request a Twelfth Step Call.

How Can I Volunteer for the Twelfth Step Call Committee?

AA members are needed for the Twelfth Step Call Committee. In order to answer questions about our fellowship, we suggest that volunteers have at least one year of sobriety, a sponsor, a home group, and have worked all Twelve Steps at least once. You can volunteer to meet newcomers for face to face conversations, talk to them on the telephone, or both; whatever you are comfortable with. When meeting a newcomer for a face to face meeting, the Chair will pair you up with at least one other AA member. Because the success of a Twelfth Step Call is based on the newcomer identifying with the  AA member, the Chair will attempt to pair the newcomer with AA members of the same gender, age, and location.