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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 |
WHAM, BAM January 1975 started on a somewhat positive note. Harold P. was back, Al B. was re-elected president of the new board, a clean up committee was formed and a cuss box with a five cent penalty was put at the coffee bar. Pathways was allowed to bring 10 people to dances and NA was allowed to have a dance at the club on January 25th. Estimates were being obtained for a fence around the property and Al was continuing to serve as manager in addition to his duties as president of the board. In his report at the January 25th board meeting, he suggested "caution should be exercised so we remain in black ink." By July, the club had been painted on the outside, the restrooms were being remodeled, the parking lot was being considered for paving and Bingo was improving, showing a profit. The financial statement had been modified, combining some revenue items, poker income from the card room was low and a small deficit was showing up from bad checks. In August, cases of steak and grapefruit were reported stolen, and Andre L. suggested it be recorded in the P & L statement. He also requested an audit to determine the extent of the loss. A lock was put on the back room door, and things settled down. By the end of the year, dances were being held every Saturday night, live bands the 2nd and 4th Saturdays and jukebox dances the remaining Saturdays. The board had voted in November to raise dues to $5.00 per month effective January 1st, 1976, to help pay for the growing costs of business, management and the several major improvements planned for the club. The December newsletter included a "Special Thank You" to Al for the fine job being done. 1976 began as usual, activities planned, improvements progressing and things generally going well. There was nothing much different than the past year, until one mid-year morning the club wasn't opened at the normal time. When someone with a key to the office finally arrived, the bad news began to unfold. The floor safe was open, all the cash was missing, and no sign of forced entry. As the day progressed, a call to Security Savings & Loan found a dry savings account. That was bad enough but as the days passed, checks began showing up at the club marked "insufficient funds". Al and the clubs money had disappeared. Panic set in and an emergency board meeting was called. The first priority was to keep the club going, so volunteer help manned necessary posts, creditors were called to explain the problem and keep essentials coming in and the whole club was stunned. Except for AA meetings, not much else was talked about for some time. Several members had gone to the board asking for their resignations, feeling they had neglected their duty in not paying closer attention to financial reports and the like. None resigned, but each felt a greater sense of caution in any actions of the board. Law enforcement agencies and bonding companies began their tasks in taking care of such unpleasant matters while another group began to hold discussions outside the club. After the club moved from Minnesota Avenue in 1962, a church group rented the property for use as children’s bible school. Coincidental to the disaster at Fair Avenue, the Minnesota building was now vacant. A word here, a word there and before long a large group held a meeting at the vacant building. Topics ranged from the recent theft to the foul language and abuse from addicts to what do we do now. Hard as it was to swallow, the only thing that seemed right was to give up the club many of them had worked hard to build, and start again. A board of directors was elected, volunteers offered help and support and a name was chosen: Alano Club West was born. The doors opened for business in October 1976. Meanwhile, a new manager was hired back at the Alano Club of San Jose, and Tony B. rolled up his sleeves. Continue... |