As a newcomer, you will generally want to look for a sponsor who has been sober for a good amount of time and who is available to work with someone in early recovery. A sponsor is someone who you will exchange phone numbers with, talk to regularly, and use as your guide to working the steps. It is common for sponsors to ask sponsees in early recovery to call or text them frequently, meet with them regularly, to read 12-step literature, and do step-work. Tonight, we talk about Sponsorship Our generous Recovered Podcast Community allows us to be self supporting and not rely on outside contributions.  If you would like to join us, there are three ways. Episode Sponsorship  We will recognize you by first name only at the top, mid, and end of the episode.  Any amount will qualify. Premium Membership  This is the single most effective way to support the show.  Watch the video in its entirety and learn how to become Premium Sustaining Partners  We have three ways in which you can participate in this 12-step mission We invite you to be a partner is this work. Call Us Now  http://recoveredcast.com/speakpipe email mark@recoveredcast.com So, listeners, join us at The 2020 International Convention of AA in Detroit. If you are coming into town for the convention, the Recovered Podcast wants to meet you! If you would like to get all the information regarding the Recovered Podcast at the 2020 International Convention, just email me and we will get you on our google group. Just email me at mark@recoveredcast.com To get on our 2020 International Convention Google group This google group will be notified with all the Recovered Podcast Plans for the convention and will have all the information about how to find our tailgate party.  Right now, our google group has been provided with maps and general information about Detroit. Email me at mark@recoveredcast.com if you want these kinds of updates. It might feel strange to ask someone to sponsor you for the first time, but this act is seen by those in 12-step recovery as an honor. Even if someone is not available to sponsor you, they will appreciate that you asked them. Sharing experience, strength, and hope with newcomers is viewed as one of the foundations of staying sober in 12-step recovery, so being a sponsee is just as important and helpful as being a sponsor. What comes first to mind on this topic? What is Sponsorship? Why is it important? What to look for? What to watch out for? How do you develop trust? How do you get a sponsor? Does changing sponsors mean giving up on the program? Is Changing Sponsors a bad thing? What might be a bad reason for changing a sponsor? May a newcomer change sponsors? How do you know when to change sponsors? What if you are not clicking with your sponsor? How do you break up with a sponsor? Is sponsorship different between fellowships? Has your understanding changed over the course of your membership? Should sponsor and newcomer be as much alike as possible (such as drug of choice, age, family situation)? What if the sponsor is unavailable when needed? May a newcomer have more than one sponsor? Is it ever too late to get a sponsor? How does sponsorship help the sponsor? Can any member be a sponsor? How do you get a sponsee? When is a member ready for sponsorship responsibility? What does a sponsor do and not do? What if you are asked for advice? Is there any one best way of sponsoring a newcomer? What would you say to the new guy? ______________________________________________________ We asked our listeners about this topic. Now, listeners, If you would like to participate in these weekly surveys, just email me for an invite request. Email me at mark@recoveredcast.com And I will send you an invite to our Recoveredcast Google group. This group receives the show notes for the upcoming show. You will also receive an invite to participate in the weekly survey. You will also receive a link to call into the show so you can share you experience with the recovery topi