Stepping Stones, home to AA/Al-Anon founders, hosts annual picnic

The 74th annual Lois’ Family Day Picnic for Al-Anon, Alcoholics Anonymous and Alateen members, their families and supporters will take place Saturday, June 7, at Stepping Stones in Katonah, NY.

Stepping Stones, a national landmark, was the home of Bill and Lois Wilson, co-founders, respectively, of Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-Anon, from 1941 until their deaths. 

The Dutch Colonial Revival home in a quiet suburban neighborhood was home base for both 12-step organizations during formative periods that saw the programs grow into a worldwide movement with millions of members. 

The home contains thousands of writings, mementos and artifacts related to the recovery movement, and the Stepping Stones Foundation has digitized tens of thousands more.

The picnic, now a free hybrid event held in person and virtually, includes speakers from Al-Anon, AA and Alateen, other recovery-related programs, and delves into the home’s history and ongoing preservation efforts.

The in-person event takes place on the grounds of the 8-acre homestead from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and includes tours of the house and garden, and a talk by producers of “Bill W.: Conscious Contact,” a new documentary tracing the AA founder’s spiritual journey.

Beverages are provided but guests bring their own lunch. The picnic takes place rain or shine under a large tent. There is no parking at the site; guests must park at the Bedford Hills train station where free shuttle service is provided. Accommodations are available for visitors with mobility impairments.

Those attending via Zoom from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. will enjoy presentations about Stepping Stones and view items from the foundation’s vast digital collection. The live feed will include speakers from the picnic.

The programs, which will be presented in English with Spanish Interpretation, are free, but advance registration is required. In-person visitors should note that attendance is capped at 500 people. Visit steppingstones.org/visit-events/events/ for details.

The picnic offers a message of hope and recovery from the disease of alcoholism.  An estimated 178,000 people die from excessive drinking each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

The foundation is seeking volunteers for the event, who don’t have to be part of a 12-step program. Sponsors and donations of supplies and refreshments are also needed. Visit.steppingstones.org for information.

Robert Brum is a freelance journalist who writes about the Hudson Valley. Contact him and read his work at robertbrum.com.