Sponsoring Guests

We grow as a community through members sponsoring wonderful new people to join us. If you are a member considering sponsoring a guest into Sacred Connections - thank you! Below are a few guidelines and tips.

Why to sponsor

Sponsoring means inviting somebody to become a permanent member of our community (if there is mutual agreement at the end of the sponsorship process), not just inviting somebody to attend a time or two. So the reason to sponsor somebody is because you think they will be a good match with Sacred Connections, both contibuting to and benefitting from the community.

Who to sponsor

Sponsor people you know well who you believe will be good with and for the community, whether you are present or not.

A member who agrees to sponsor a new person should know them fairly well. For example, they should know who their intimates are, have observed them in a number of situations, understand many of their weaknesses as well as strengths, etc.

A member who is considering sponsoring a new person should ask themself, "Is this person going to contribute to my personal experience at Sacred Connections events? Is this person going to add to other people's experience at Sacred Connections events, even when I am not around?".

In sponsoring a guest, you are agreeing to take responsibility for choosing this person and orienting them to Sacred Connections' unique culture. By doing this, you are supporting and enhancing the community.

How to begin the process

• First - read this page and the membership guidelines page yourself, so you are familiar with the process and can help guide your guest.
• Discuss Sacred Connections with your friend. Have the potential member read over this website, particularly the first 5 items in the menu, from "What IS it?" to "Sponsoring Guests". Answer any questions and get their impressions and decide if they and you still think there's a good fit between the guest and the community.
• If so, then please download the questionnaires and fill them out - one for you and one for your guest. (See below)
• Be sure to submit the questionnaires well in advance of the first event your guest wishes to attend - preferably at least two weeks, although some exceptions can be made.
• You can register yourself and the potential guest for an upcoming event in order to reserve space - but be sure that you let the registrar know that your guest has not yet been approved.

The Membership Team will let you and your guest know when they have been approved for their first event.

Their First Event

You will attend with your guest the first time. (Sometimes arrangements have been made to have a cosponsor or substitute sponsor attend with the guest if you cannot do so; check with the Membership Team about that.)

Introduce them around and help them fit in. It can be overwhelming for some people to encounter such a long standing intimate community the first time. Help them get to know members, and members get to know them. It's usually good to be in the same welcoming group with your guest.

Answer any questions the guest has, or if neccessary give some gentle coaching. Help resolve any conflicts. However, remember that you won't neccessarily always be present then they are, so your goal is to help them find their own wings for the future.

Let the membership team know how you think it went; others in the community may also give their input to the team. You can withdraw sponsorship by contacting the Membership Team.

After collecting feedback, the team will follow up directly with your guest (and you) to let them know when they are approved for a second event.

By the way, we ask that members sponsor no more than two first time guests at any given event, so they will have enough time and attention to help integrate their guests.

Their Second Event

Remember that your guest is not yet on the members-only SC email list, so you need to invite them to upcoming events announced on that list.

It's great if the sponsor can also attend with the guest on the second visit, but not required.

If you attend, let the Membership Team know how you think the second visit went, and whether you would now recommend them for membership.

If feedback on the guest is good, the Membership Team will invite the guest to become a member in their own right; most people accept but this is a real choice to be made.

Sponsor and Guest Questionnaires

As part of our membership process, we ask sponsors and their guests (potential new members) to each fill out the appropriate questionnaire below. The guest questionnnaire can be downloaded by the guest or by their sponsor. Please email the edited documents to memteam (at) sacredconnections dot org

The questionnaires are in Microsoft Word format, and can be edited by MS Word, Wordpad (included with Microsoft Windows), or some other word processors. If you have trouble editing the Microsoft Word document, contact us at the same address for alternative formats.

Sacred Connections Guest Questionnaire

Sacred Connections Sponsor Questionnaire

(To download, right click on a link above and choose "save ... as" - or the equivalent on your browser)