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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

NOTHING HAPPENS WITHOUT A PURPOSE The Big Book begins with Bill W's struggles with alcohol, relating in Chapter Eleven, “A Vision For You”, how he met Dr. Bob, thus forming the beginnings of Alcoholics Anonymous. One man on an unsuccessful business trip far from home, forming a strong friendship with another man through a random selection from a church directory in a hotel lobby, while searching for relief from his own suffering and temptation, would seem to go against most odds in itself. But, for that chance meeting and subsequent friendship to grow into a powerful miracle bringing relief to sufferers throughout the world, would seem to be against any odds that even the greatest of odds-makers might conjure up. A chance meeting? Consider the events six years later, when three men, one in Kansas City and two strangers living two blocks apart in Willow Glen, began a journey that would extend this miracle, forming a fellowship that has endured for over thirty years and still grows. This is the Heritage of the Alano Club of San Jose, California. Although the club itself did not receive its charter until 1951, the foundation was being laid ten years earlier, a year that brought the United States into a world wide struggle that lasted until 1945. In 1941, Jim H. first joined Alcoholics Anonymous in Kansas City, seeking to end his own struggle with alcohol. That same year in California, Mickey C. wrote to AA in New York seeking help from this new organization and was advised by return mail of group meetings in Oakland. After attending meetings for 2 or 3 months, he met Jim R., who had sought help in the same way, receiving the same response and following the same road to Oakland. They met at these meetings and started meetings of there own in Jim R.'s home - just two blocks from the home that Mickey C. shared with his wife. The meetings continued and expanded as the principles of AA to help yourself by helping others brought more alcoholics into the fold, sharing their experiences and growth in their quest for sobriety. Mickey C. became the first AA member in San Jose to become sober through the program. The war interrupted Jim H.'s membership in Kansas City, bringing him into the service to aid in the national struggle for peace. After the war, Jim returned home to Kansas, to be transferred to San Jose in 1945 as Depot Agent for the Southern Pacific Railroad. In 1946, he re-joined AA in San Jose, becoming very active. Jim was a joiner, and at the time, Alano Clubs were being recommended for people like that. Jim approached Bob S., Dean Mc., John D. and others, and John D. said "If you can raise the money, we'll start a club of our own." Carl T. and Bob S. were among the first to contribute their $50.00, and the move was on. Heritage has many definitions, but one stands out above all others, as we would apply it to our own Fellowship: “something transmitted by or acquired from a predecessor”. These brief summaries are part of a larger effort to record for posterity the heritage that our predecessors have begun. Our past should always be remembered, for that is the foundation for our future. Continue...