Area 61 relies heavily on your contributions to provide many essential services (listed below). Perhaps your group hasn’t contributed to Area 61 because it didn’t realize all the vital services the Area provides. By sending a Group Contribution to Area 61, PO Box 9342, Providence, RI 02940 your group will help ensure that all of the committees listed below will be able to continue their very important and very spiritual work.
If you’re an individual who wants to help by check, see the PO Box address above. Also, as an individual, you can set up a one-time or a recurring (monthly) contribution ($2, $5, $10 etc., or whatever amount you feel comfortable with) by following this link:
It is important to note that according to our Seventh Tradition “Every AA group ought to be fully self supporting declining outside contributions”. Because of this Tradition we cannot accept contributions from non-AA members.
Our group contributions are the lifeblood of AA. Of course, each group must first be responsible to its members by collecting enough money to cover group expenses, such as rent, coffee, literature, and a prudent reserve.
The second responsibility of each group is to contribute anything above their prudent reserve to other levels of service in AA. Without this continuing 12th Step support, our service offices would close and the alcoholic seeking help would have nowhere to turn.
If you would like to make a group contribution please follow this link to do so:
HERE IN RI, WHEN YOU (INDIVIDUALLY) OR YOUR GROUP CONTRIBUTES TO AREA 61, YOUR MONEY GOES TOWARD:
- Carrying the message of recovery to those in prison by maintaining a Corrections meeting list, arranging for clearance of individuals to bring meetings into correctional facilities, and bringing literature to prisons (Wyatt and the ACI) through the Corrections Committee
- Carrying the message of recovery to those in treatment centers by maintaining an institution meeting list, bringing meetings and literature to treatment centers all over the State, and arranging to help those leaving institutions through the Bridging the Gap Program, which provides a local AA point of contact for those leaving treatment facilities. This is provided by the Treatment and Accessibilities Committee, which also provides support to those who are visually impaired (through braille Big Books) physically impaired, or homebound.
- Carrying the message of what AA is and what AA isn’t, to professionals who encounter us in their daily work. When invited, (by clergy, social workers, medical personnel, teachers, etc.) this committee speaks at schools, colleges, or to any other group about our experiences with alcoholism. Whether it’s the printed word (an ad in the paper or an article concerning sobriety), public media (a Public Service Announcement on TV or the radio, or an ad on a bus), or a community presentation, the Cooperation with the Professional Community / Public Information (CPC/PI) Committee is there with the help of your contributions.
- Preserving RI’s rich AA history, group records, and conducting events such as Long-Timer meetings (which are taped), which will continue to tell the story of our Fellowship to those who come after us, through our Archives Committee. Our Area Office (located at 3649 Post Rd in Warwick) is a treasure trove of local AA history.
- Getting the word out about The AA Grapevine Magazine/La Vina, our beloved monthly meeting in print. It is a valuable tool of recovery to AA groups and individuals. The Grapevine Committee also operates a Pass the Book Program whereby groups provide Grapevine subscriptions to each middle school and high school library in the state.