The Wilson House celebrated Bill W. Day on June 11, 2011, an annual event. This year’s keynote speaker was Ron P., a long time friend of Bill W., and a sober member of AA since October 1961. With his colorful stories and crackly voice, Ron P. delivered an interesting and moving account of his sobriety, encounters with Lois and Bill, and an account of how he continues to be a lively member of the Fellowship to this day (he is the founder of the Sunrise Group meeting at Jones Beach).
Click on the audio links below to download Ron’s keynote speech:
Ron P. segment 1 [MP3]
Ron P. segment 2 [MP3]
Ron P. segment 3 [MP3]
Ron P. segment 4 [MP3]
Ron P. segment 5 [MP3]
Ron P. segment 6 [MP3]
More on Ron P.
Ron got sober in October 1961 at the Freeport Group on Long Island. At three months sobriety, he went to the “Bill W. Dinner” and shook hands with Bill in the thank you line. He met Bill and Lois more personally at the annual Al-Anon picnics each year at Steppingstones.
Ron was instrumental in the Freeport Hospital opening up to and caring for AA patients, a venture led by Iv Gardner and Mary Mann. He became a member of the institutional committee of the N.Y. Intergroup. This brought him back into contact with Bill Wilson, and they continued their friendship for the remainder of Bill’s life. Ron had the honor of being an usher at Bill’s memorial service.
Ron started the Jones Beach Sunrise Group 23 years ago. The Jones Beach Sunrise Group holds an annual fund raising event on the first Sunday in November that has raised tens of thousands of dollars to benefit the AA founders’ homes, including the Wilson House.
The audio for Ron P. is property of The Wilson House. For permissions to reproduce, please contact them directly.
Special thanks to Ed C. for making these MP3s available.
