The purpose of these workshops is to support Arizona Al-Anon members by making healthy sponsorship more accessible and less mysterious.
Newcomers and other members often feel anxiety and confusion about sponsorship. Reliable, flexible sponsorship has a direct effect on regular participation, effective recovery, service, and retention of members. Sponsored members sponsor others sooner.
Sponsors help us better understand the Steps, Traditions, and Concepts, and they teach us application of the spiritual principles ourselves. Solid sponsorship is the key to a flourishing fellowship. It helps us conquer many challenges, both individually and collectively.
This series of workshops covers topics from the purpose of a sponsor and how to choose one, to how to guide someone else through the 12 Steps, to service sponsorship. Please see the Agenda tab for a list of all the topics.
Part One: Having a Sponsor – September 2019 to November 2019
Segment One – The purpose of having a Sponsor / Why do I need a Sponsor? – September 2019
- How can a sponsor help?
- What does a sponsor do/not do?
- Making a commitment to myself
- Being accountable
Segment Two – The Twelve Steps and working the program – October 2019
- What does it mean to “work” the Steps or the program?
- How can the Twelve Steps help me?
- Benefits of working the Steps with a sponsor
- How do I know who’s working the Steps?
Segment Three – Choosing a Sponsor – November 2019
- How do I choose a sponsor?
- What are the minimum requirements for a sponsor?
- Considering long distance sponsorship
- What qualities am I looking for in a sponsor?
- How do I ask someone to sponsor me? / What if the answer is no?
- What are my responsibilities in the relationship?
- Expressing my needs, expectations, and boundaries
- What if my needs are not being met?
- Conflict Resolution
- Talking things out
- Saying goodbye
Part Two: Being a Sponsor: December 2019 to August 2020
Segment One – Purpose and Responsibilities of a Sponsor – December 2019
- Resources available to me (CAL, the example of my own sponsor)
- How much available time do I have to commit?
- What does a sponsor do/not do?
- Providing guidance vs. giving advice
- That first meeting: how do we decide if this might be a good match?
- Establishing a relationship – expressing expectations and boundaries, understanding the needs of a sponsee
Segment Two – Spiritual Principles – January 2020
- What are the spiritual principles?
- How do I apply them in all my affairs, including my sponsorship relationships?
- Sharing the principles with my sponsees and setting the example
- Encouraging service
Segment Three – The use of the Traditions and Facing Challenges – February 2020
- Ways in which the Traditions apply to a sponsor/sponsee relationship
- Maintaining boundaries
- Considering long distance sponsorship
- How do you talk to Sponsees about moving on in the Steps — or not?
- Handling challenges and having those difficult conversations (ex. Person is not working the Steps, bringing in outside issues)
- Sponsoring dual members
- Considering gender and attraction when talking about sponsorship
- Checking in: Are things working for both sponsor and sponsee?
Segment Four – Panel shares and discussion on Steps 1, 2 and 3 – March 2020
- Techniques for working these Steps
- Literature used
Segment Five – Panel shares and discussion on Steps 4, 5, 6 and 7 – April 2020
- Techniques for working these Steps
- Literature used
Segment Six – Panel shares and discussion on Steps 8 and 9 – May 2020
- Techniques for working these Steps
- Literature used
Segment Seven – Panel shares and discussion on Steps 10, 11 and 12 – June 2020
- Techniques for working these Steps
- Literature used
Segment Eight – What comes next? – July 2020
- Traditions
- Concepts
- Working the Steps again
- Studying literature
- Evaluating or Ending a Sponsorship Relationship
Segment Nine – When a Sponsee begins to Sponsor – August 2020
- How can a Sponsor encourage a sponsee to begin sponsoring?
- Supporting new sponsors
- Keeping boundaries and confidentiality
- Other tips for new sponsors
Part Three: Service Sponsorship: September 2020
Segment One – Having a Service Sponsorship – September 2020
- What brought you to get a service sponsor? What qualities do you look for in a service sponsor?
- How is your service sponsor different from your personal sponsor?
- What kinds of matters do you bring to your service sponsor?
- What are some of the most important lessons you have learned from your service sponsor?
- What literature have you studied with your service sponsor?
Segment Two – Being a Service Sponsorship – September 2020
- What is your understanding of the role of a service sponsor?
- In what ways can and do you offer support as a service sponsor?
- How do spiritual principles enter a service sponsor/sponsee relationship?
- What CAL resources do you commonly reference when serving as a service sponsor?
- What do you most enjoy about being a service sponsor?
Purpose of having a Sponsor 9.5.19
Purpose of having a Sponsor 9.21.19
Working the program 10.3.19
Working the program 10.19.19
Choosing a Sponsor 11.7.19
Choosing-a-Sponsor-11.16.2019
Purposes-and-Responsibilities-of-a-Sponsor-12.5.192325.pdf
Purpose-and-Responsibilities-of-a-Sponsor-12.21.192335.pdf
Spiritual-Principles-1.2.20.pdf
Spiritual-Principles-01.18.20.pdf
Traditions and Facing Challenges 2.15.20
Steps-One-Two-and-Three-3.5.20
Steps-1-2-and-3-3.21.20
Steps-Four-Five-Six-and-Seven-4.18.20.pdf
Steps-10-11-and-12-6.4.20.pdf