SERVICE SPONSORSHIP
Service Sponsorship is a concept in Cocaine Anonymous that works the same as sponsorship through the 12 step program of action. A service sponsor is a member that has engaged in sufficient amounts of service work and has been taught the material in a workshop like this one, by their service sponsor, that can pass that on to the newcomer in service to allow them to become effective service members. A Service Sponsor will also teach about the history of Cocaine Anonymous in your local District, Area and the fellowship as a whole. It is important to understand where we come from and what has worked or not worked to engage in effective service work.
Like the 12 steps, it is important that the newcomers be taught how to perform service work effectively and in line with our traditions so that they will be able to place principles before personalities and be comfortable interacting with our fellowship in a business meeting environment.
A Service Sponsor teaches the service sponsee about the 12 traditions, the 12 concepts, how business meetings work, how Roberts’s Rules of Order work and all other aspects of service.
A Service Sponsor supports and guides the service sponsee in getting into service, getting service positions and fulfilling the roles of those positions.
There are some things that make an effective Service Sponsor that the sponsee should look for when trying to find one;
- Experience: Has the Member engaged in enough service work in Cocaine Anonymous to have learnt the knowledge needed to pass it on to the newcomer?
- Knowledge: Is the Member’s knowledge grounded in our Traditions, Concepts and Steps?
- Image: Does the Member present as a calm rational service member that can keep a level head and conduct service in a respectful manner. Do you see them doing this during service work in Cocaine Anonymous. Is there knowledge recognizable by members of the fellowship? Image is different from that of reputation. Reputation is about what people think of someone, image is how they present themselves.
- Reputation: Do members of the fellowship respect the persons knowledge in regards to service work. Do members turn to them for help in solving issues or for experience in service?
- Willingness to learn: A service member is never done learning how to do service work, about our traditions, concepts or other aspects. Does the person maintain a willingness to continue to learn more from their service members and other service members with more experience?
- Practicing: Are they currently involved in active service work, and are they practicing their knowledge and actively passing it on to newcomers?