************************************************************
November 22nd, 2024
401-438-8860
************************************************************
Unity
Tradition 12- Long Form
And finally, we of Alcoholics Anonymous believe that the principle of anonymity has an immense spiritual significance. It reminds us that we are to place principles before personalities; that we are actually to practice a genuine humility. This to the end that our great blessings may never spoil us; that we shall forever live in thankful contemplation of Him who presides over us all
***************************************************************
Group Anniversaries
Fri. Nov. 29th Woonsocket-ST JAMES– St James Church, 24 Hamlet Ave., 8PM. 56th Anniversary
Sun. Dec 1st Providence-DAY AT A TIME– Butler Hosp. (Ray Hall), 345 Blackstone Blvd.,10AM. 57th Anniversary
Thu. Dec. 5th Pawtucket- PAWTUCKET #1– Epworth Methodist Church, 915 Newport Ave. 75th Anniversary
Sat. Dec 7th Lincoln- PEACE OF MIND– St James Parish Hall, 57 Division St. 10:30 AM 52nd Anniversary
Sun. Dec 15th Coventry – SIMPLE– Cornerstone of Faith UMC, 1081 Main St., 7PM. 44th Anniversary
Fri. Jan. 3rd East Greenwich- FRI. Women Study The Steps-St. Lukes Church, 99 Peirce St., 33rd Anniversary, 10AM Speakers -Potluck to follow
Sat. Jan 4th No. Kingstown- FIRESIDE– First Baptist Church, 44 Main St. Breakfast Buffet: 9AM , Guest Speaker/ Discussion 10AM – 48th Anniversary
Sun. Jan. 12th Lincoln-REMEMBER WHEN-Christ Church in Lonsdale, 1643 Lonsdale Ave. 7PM. 40th Anniversary
Mon. Jan. 20th South Kingstown/Wakefield- I CANT / WE CAN- Church Of the Ascension, 370 Main St., 7PM, 70th Anniversary
NEW GROUPS
Warwick- WARWICK BIG BOOK STEP STUDY- Closed Big Book Step Study. St Paul’s Lutheran Church, 389 Greenwich Ave. Tuesdays from 7PM-8:30PM
East Greenwich- 11th Step Meditation- St. Lukes Church, 99 Peirce St. Mondays at 7PM. First Meeting Monday Dec. 2nd
Providence- PROMISES- Open Big Book enhanced Step Meeting. Providence Community Church, 372 Wayland Ave., Saturdays at 9AM. First Meeting Saturday Jan. 4th
NEEDS SUPPORT
Middletown- WE HAVE TO LIVE IT(Women)- Open Big Book Step. Y.A.N.A. Club, 770 Aquidneck Ave. Thursdays at 6PM
ONE DAY ONLY
Providence-AGAPE- First Unitarian Church,1 Benevolent St., will not meet on Friday Nov. 29th
Middletown– WED. BIG BOOK AWAKENING – Y.A.N.A. Club, 770 Aquidneck Ave., will not meet on Dec. 25th Christmas Day
Cranston– Washington Park, Edgewood Congregational Church, 17 88 Broad St will not meet on Tuesday Dec 24th Christmas Eve or Dec. 31st New Years Eve
Johnston- NEW DAWN– St. Bellarmine Church, 1804 Atwood Ave. Wednesdays at 7AM. will not meet on Dec. 25th Christmas Day or Jan. 1st New Years Day.
Providence- MUSTARD SEED– First Unitarian Church, 1 Benevolent St., will not meet on Wed. 12:15PM on Dec. 25th Christmas Day or Jan. 1st New Years Day.
Providence- AGAPE– First Unitarian Church, 1 Benevolent St., will not meet on Fri. at 12:15PM on Dec. 27th or Jan. 3rd.
CHANGES
Narragansett- SPIRTUAL AWAKENINGS– will meet at St. Peters by the Sea, 72 Central St. at 7AM Mon Thru Fri. for the winter months. Sat and Sun Morning will continue to meet on the Beach. They are also now a Hy-Brid Meeting. Zoom ID : 548 26 2249 Daily at 7AM
DISBANDED
East Providence- RUN TO RECOVERY– Haven Methodist Church, 200 Taunton Ave. Thursdays at 6PM
Narragansett- RED ROAD TO RECOVERY- Indian Longhouse, 4425 South County Trail, Wed. at 7PM
Newport- ALL AGES– Channing Memorial Church, 135 Pelham St. Wed. at 7PM
BOOKIES MEETING
The DESIRE TO STOP group will host a Bookies Exchange Session the last Saturday of each month at 11:30AM (Prior to the OLD TIMERS MEETING) Cameron Recovery Center, 68 Falmouth St., Attleboro, MA
**************************************************************************
Christmas and New Years Alcathons
Woonsocket- District 1 will host a Christmas Day Alcathon, Holy Family Church, 414 South Main St., Woonsocket, Wednesday, December 25th 9AM to 9PM Meetings every hour – Food & Literature Donations Welcomed
Attleboro MA– DESIRE TO STOP will host a Christmas Alcathon, Cameron Recovery Center, 68 Falmouth St., Christmas Day-9AM ending at 5PM.
Narragansett–Avice St. Groups – Anchor Church, 32 Avice St., Christmas Eve- 6PM-11PM, Christmas Day–12PM-6PM, and New Years Eve–6PM-12AM. Bring A Dish If You Wish
Providence-UNITED IN SOBRIETY– St Martin’s Church, 50 Orchard Ave. will meet on Christmas Day at 12 Noon.
Providence –DAY AT A TIME– Open Speaker, Butler Hospital, 345 Blackstone Blvd., will have a Meeting on Christmas Day and News Day at 10 AM
East Providence- DISTRICT 2/4 EAST BAY groups are hosting a NEW YEAR’S ALCATHON Riverside Congregational Church, 15 Oak Ave., East Providence. Tuesday 12/31/, 6PM to 1AM and Wednesday 1/1/25 7AM to 2PM with Breakfast. Dishes and Snacks accepted. Meeting Slots are Available email Gary D at [email protected]
Westerly- AA IN THE AM will host a New Years Eve CRUISE SHIP ALCATHON Tuesday Dec. 31st at 6PM till Midnight 2025 Westerly Senior Center 39 State Street, Westerly, wear cruise clothes speakers and raffles throughout the event donations gratefully accepted either prior to or at the event kindly bring a dish, dessert or delectable delight
************************************************************************Service
ATTENTION ALL GROUPS and INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS
RI CENTRAL SERVICE Treatment & ACCESSIBILITIES Committee will once again provide AA meetings for both the Detox Unit and the Dual Diagnosis Unit at Roger Willams Hospital. Any Groups or Individual member willing to provide AA Speakers for a monthly commitment please contact RI Central Service
RI Central Service is always in the process of up-dating our 12-STEP LIST. Anyone willing to be added to the list should contact their Group Secretary or call Central Service. “When anyone, anywhere, reaches out for help, I want the hand of AA always to be there and for that I am responsible
The next regular meeting for Central Service Delegates will be held Via Zoom on Wednesday, December 18th , 2024, at 7:00 PM Zoom Meeting ID: 312 255 2726 – Password : RICS1. Meeting ID and links will be sent to all registered Central Service Delegates and will also be available on website
We need volunteers to help with our monthly mailing – takes less than one hour. The next mailing will take place at Central Service, 1005 Waterman Ave, E. Providence on Monday ., December 23rd , at 9AM.
“The Area 61 Treatment and Accessibilities Committee (TAC) is looking for groups to share their experience, strength and hope across RI in various treatment and detox facilities. Please visit the “Treatment and Accessibilities” sub-committee page on AAinRI.com (found under the “Area 61 Subcommittees” button in the main navigation bar) and click the “Submit Group Interest in Facility Commitment” button to see facilities in need of commitments. Please complete the required fields in the form and submit. A TAC member will respond within 72 hours with available day/time openings for the facility.”
So RI Intergroup is always looking for members willing to volunteer to do 12 Step Work. Manning the Office, Answering Phones, Rides, as well as people wanting to become involved in Committee Work. There are several Opportunities for Service Available Contact So RI Intergroup at 401-739-8777 for more information
***Please note the deadline for submitting any information for the next today is Friday, Nov.22nd, 2025
**Please note the RI Central Service Office will be closed on Thursday, November 28th to observe Thanksgiving Wednesday, Dec 25th to observe Christmas Day and Wednesday, Jan 1st to observer New Years Day
***Please note the deadline for submitting any information for the next today is Thursday, December 19th ****
***************************************************************
RECOVERY
RI Central Service will host an Open House Celebrating Gratitude at your Central Office, 1005 Waterman Ave, East Providence, Saturday December14th from 9AM to 1PM Continental Breakfast at 9AM and AA Speaker meeting at 11AM. Come and See your Central Service Office and tell us how We Can Better Serve the Groups
RISCYPAA will host an Holiday Event – Saturday, December 21st at St Pius Church, 55 Elmhurst St. in Providence Meeting 5PM-6PM, Activities- 6PM -8PM, Movie 8PM to 10PM Gingerbread House Building, Ugly Sweater Contest, Ugly Singing Contest , Hot Cocco, Eggnog, and Snacks will be provided
So RI Intergroup/RISCPAA will host a NEW YEAR’S EVE DINNER/DANCE at St. Lukes Church, 99 Peirce St, East Greenwich Buffett 7PM, Speaker Meeting 8PM, Dancing 9PM to ???? Tickets $20.00 each, available at So RI Intergroup Call So RI Intergroup for more information 739-8777
Come one, Come all! Our 49th Annual RI State Convention will take place at the Newport Marriott Feb 7th- 9th, 2025. A wonderful weekend of Unity, Recovery and Service with great speakers from around the country, entertainment, marathon meetings and so much more. Don’t miss out! Register today at aainri.com – you can also buy meals and book rooms through the registration page.
RICS will sponsor a virtual “OPEN MIC NIGHT NITE” Saturday Feb 1st Starting at 8PM. Zoom Meeting ID: 856 8703 0297 Passcode:891419 Anyone interested in performing or needing more information should contact Austin D Email: [email protected]om
**************************************************************“
It must never be forgotten that the purpose of Alcoholics Anonymous is to sober up alcoholics. There is no religious or spiritual requirement for membership. No demands are made on anyone. An experience is offered which members may accept or reject. That is up to them. Bill W
***************************************************************
***************************************************************
Tradition Twelve
The spiritual substance of anonymity is sacrifice. Because AA’s Twelve Traditions repeatedly ask us to give up personal desires for the common good, we realize that the sacrificial spirit–well symbolized by anonymity–is the foundation of them all. It is AA’s proved willingness to make these sacrifices that gives people their high confidence in our future.
But in the beginning, anonymity was not born of confidence; it was the child of our early fears. Our first nameless groups of alcoholics were secret societies. New prospects could find us only through a few trusted friends. The bare hint of publicity, even for our work, shocked us. Though ex-drinkers, we still thought we had to hide from public distrust and contempt.
When the big book appeared in 1939, we called it “Alcoholics Anonymous.” Its foreword made this revealing statement: “It is important that we remain anonymous because we are too few, at present, to handle the overwhelming number of personal appeals which may result from this publication. Being mostly business or professional folk, we could not well carry on our occupations in such an event.” Between these lines it is easy to read our fear that large numbers of incoming people might break our anonymity wide open.
As the AA groups multiplied, so did anonymity problems. Enthused over the spectacular recovery of a brother alcoholic, we’d sometimes discuss those intimate and harrowing aspects of his case meant for his sponsor’s ear alone. The aggrieved victim would then rightly declare that his trust had been broken. When such stories got into circulation outside of AA, the loss of confidence in our anonymity promise was severe. It frequently turned people from us. Clearly, every AA member’s name–and story, too–had to be confidential, if he wished. This was our first lesson in the practical application of anonymity.
With characteristic intemperance, however, some of our newcomers cared not at all for secrecy. They wanted to shout AA from the housetops, and did. Alcoholics barely dry rushed about bright-eyed, button-holing anyone who would listen to their stories. Others hurried to place themselves before microphones and cameras. Sometimes they got distressingly drunk and let their groups down with a bang. They had changed from AA members into AA show-offs.
This phenomenon of contrast really set us thinking. Squarely before us was the question, “How anonymous should an AA member be?” Our growth made it plain that we couldn’t be a secret society, but it was equally plain that we couldn’t be a vaudeville circuit either. The charting of a safe path between these extremes took a long time.
As a rule, the average newcomer wanted his family to know immediately what he was trying to do. He also wanted to tell others who had tried to help him–his doctor, his minister, and close friends. As he gained confidence, he felt it right to explain his new way of life to his employer and business associates. When opportunities to be helpful came along, he found he could talk easily about AA to almost: anyone. These quiet disclosures helped him to lose his fear of the alcoholic stigma, and spread the news of AA’s existence in his community. Many a new man and woman came to AA because of such conversations. Though not in the strict letter of anonymity, such communications were well within its spirit.
But it became apparent that the word-of-mouth method was too limited. Our work, as such, needed to be publicized. The AA groups would have to reach quickly as many despairing alcoholics as they could. Consequently, many groups began to hold meetings which were open to interested friends and the public, so that the average citizen could see for himself just what AA was all about. The response to these meetings was warmly sympathetic. Soon groups began to receive requests for AA speakers to appear before civic organizations, church groups, and medical societies. Provided anonymity was maintained on these platforms, and reporters present were cautioned against the use of names or pictures, the result was fine.
Then came our first few excursions into major publicity, which were breath-taking. Cleveland’s Plain Dealer articles about us ran that town’s membership from a few into hundreds overnight. The news stories of Mr. Rockefeller’s dinner for Alcoholics Anonymous helped double our total membership in a year’s time. Jack Alexander’s famous Saturday Evening Post piece made AA a national institution. Such tributes as these brought opportunities for still more recognition. Other newspapers and magazines wanted AA stories. Film companies wanted to photograph us. Radio, and finally television, besieged us with requests for appearances. What should we do?
As this tide offering top public approval swept in, we realized that it could do us incalculable good or great harm. Everything would depend upon how it was channeled. We simply couldn’t afford to take the chance of letting self-appointed members present themselves as messiahs representing AA before the whole public. The promoter instinct in us might be our undoing. If even one publicly got drunk, or was lured into using AA’s name for his own purposes, the damage might be irreparable. At this altitude (press, radio, films, and television), anonymity–one hundred-percent anonymity–was the only possible answer. Here principles would have to come before personalities, without exception.
These experiences taught us that anonymity is real humility at work. It is an all-pervading spiritual quality which today keynotes AA life everywhere. Moved by the spirit of anonymity, we try to give up our natural desires for personal distinction as AA members both among fellow alcoholics and before the general public. As we lay aside these very human aspirations, we believe that each of us takes part in the weaving of a protective mantle which covers our whole society and under which we may grow and work in unity.
We are sure that humility, expressed by anonymity, is the greatest safeguard that AA can ever have.
BILL W. Copyright © The A.A. Grapevine, Inc. April 1953
***************************************************************Click Here to Print a PDF of this Article.