Decorations/Preparations

  • Decorations: Bowls with colored stones and tiny ladder, with people glued on walking up the steps.
  • Silent Auction: Tables with baskets for the silent auction need to be set up a half-hour prior to the start of the workshop to give attendees time to browse and bid on baskets. Each group brings a basket to donate to the silent auction fundraiser.
  • Materials: Notepads and pens for attendees to write Ask-It Basket questions, plus two sets of “puzzle pieces” and markers as described in the workshop exercise.

Registration

On name tags use dots:

  • Red = willing to sponsor
  • Blue = not currently available
  • Green = looking for a sponsor

Opening (10 minutes)

  • Greetings from leader
  • Serenity Prayer
  • Readings: Our Invitation to You, Twelve Steps, and Twelve Traditions
  • Pass Ask-It Basket

Speakers (60 minutes, 15 minutes each)

  • Speaker One: Sponsor speaks on topics in A Guide for Sponsors.
  • Speaker Two: Sponsor speaks on how to choose a sponsor, whether there is a right or wrong way to sponsor, and/or what a good sponsor does for their sponsee.
  • Speaker Three: Sponsor speaks on the different types of sponsor: food sponsor, Step sponsor, spiritual sponsor, others.
  • Speaker Four: Sponsor speaks on members questioning whether they are “good enough” to be a sponsor, as well as Temporary Sponsors: Newcomers’ First Twelve Days.

Exercise: Puzzle Pieces for Sponsorship

Attendees break into two groups according to the designations on their name tags: red, blue, and green. Red is one group, and blue and green is the other. Each group receives a set of puzzle pieces made of paper and markers to write with and is told to write characteristics of a good sponsor on the puzzle pieces. As they put the puzzle together, attendees discover that the puzzle forms a person.

Afterward, the groups come together to discuss the characteristics they chose, and the workshop leader goes over the characteristics discussed by the speakers, which turn out to be the Twelve Principles.

Ask-It Basket

Sponsor pick questions from the attendees and rake turns answering them.

Silent Auction

Announce winners of silent auction.

Seventh Tradition

Closing/Positive Sharing (15 minutes)

Readings: The Ninth Step Promise from  Alcoholics Anonymous, Fourth Edition (Big Book), the OA Promise, and excerpts from the pamphlet A Guide for Sponsors.

For additional workshop materials, see A Sponsor’s Toolbox in the Document Library.

Download the PDF in English

OA Board-Approved.
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