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History Sections: Nothing happens without a purpose The first club house Moving, growing, moving Sobriety in a winery Settling in and disaster Hard times get better Here we go again No more rent Ready or not, here we come Troubled waters Wham, bam A new beginning Kitchen Menu Informational Brochure Application The 2008 Alano Classic The Alano Club of San Jose 1122 Fair Ave. San Jose, CA. 95122 Tel: 408.297.1878 Fax: 408.297.4100 Directions |
MOVING, GROWING, MOVING Behind every good man stands a woman. Alcoholics aren't always good and women seldom 'stand' for things that aren't good. So moving to a better place where the men could learn a little more about being good (staying sober) seemed the only reasonable thing to do. A few more meetings, a little less cards and more time to spend with their wives. The meetings this group attended were held at the Women's Club, while the wives met in each other’s homes. So, when Jim H. and Carl M. located three rooms above the Padre Theater on South First Street, the stage was set for a better way. Not all the members of the group liked the idea, but those who did pitched in to make it worthwhile. A long chesterfield and a few chairs from Los Angeles (connections and a better price) made the lounge warm and friendly. A recreation room and a combination meeting and card room rounded out the new 'place to be'. An artist in Los Angeles painted the Twelve Steps of AA and the spirit of the program began to grow. The first organized place dedicated to sobriety. Roy M. was active in the club, and his wife, Eva, was making sandwiches and good coffee (at last). Bob B., his wife Vivian, Lloyd S., his wife Jean (Jean started the first Al-Anon group in San Jose), Chet M., Dorothy B., and several others, frequented the club, taking an active part in the going's-on, making it much more than merely a refuge from drinking - it was becoming a new way of life. This new life began attracting more and more to the point that three rooms no longer provided the comfort it did when they first moved in. Sam H., a prominent attorney, filed a club charter and the club had a formal name –“ The Alano Club of San Jose.” A new name and a need for more room. Time to move again. The need to move was different than before, and the obstacles were different as well. Johnny B. loved to dance, so the new place should have room for that. The meetings were getting larger, so more room was needed for them. Card games were a must, and of course, a bigger lounge was needed for a break from all the other activities. Some members, however, weren't convinced. The Board of Directors of this new club didn't know what they wanted, or how to go about it. They'd get started, get opinions and if they couldn't have their way, there'd be problems. At one point, all the Board Members resigned leaving Johnny, President. He was proud of that responsibility. The old-timers (8, 9 and 10 years at the time) said that a clubhouse would create resentments. Johnny thought that alcoholics are full of resentments anyway, so a club couldn't make many more. Martin K. had a set mind, and said if there was no gambling, a club would be O.K. Johnny said O.K., Al C. didn't think that was a good idea because the card players were the only regulars they could depend on, and the gambling was one of the few ways to raise money. Martin was always saying at the meetings "We have to learn to stand on our own two feet!", yet the members would say "If Martin goes along with it, we'll go along with it". Johnny would say, "If we have to stand on our own two feet, why does it depend on what Martin says?". Another thing Martin liked to say was “Whenever I have a problem like that, I always take it to my Higher Power". Johnny took it to his Higher Power, and the answer came back "Go For It!" The Twelve Steps painted by an artist in Los Angeles are the same Twelve Steps that survived the fire which destroyed the next clubhouse, and the same ones that hang in Duncan Hall at the Fair Avenue Fellowship today. Continue... |