Redding Alano Club
About
What is the Alano Club?
Our Mission
Our mission is to establish a secure environment that fosters fellowship within the recovery community. The Redding Alano Club serves as a nurturing community, offering support and resources to assist individuals in making healthy life choices that enhance their overall quality of life.
What we do
At the Redding Alano Club, we are dedicated to facilitating growth, healing, and recovery through a variety of supportive activities and services. Our efforts are focused on providing a comprehensive support system that caters to the diverse needs of those on their journey to recovery. Here's an overview of what we do:
Provide a safe and supportive environment for individuals in recovery
Offer a variety of recovery meetings and support groups
Host social events and activities that promote fellowship and community
Provide resources and support to help individuals achieve their recovery goals
Our history
One of our long-time meeting attendees was generous enough to share his story of the Alano Club's history. Gary has been a member of the Alano Club for over 40 years and has seen the club through many changes. Here is his story:
In 1974, during the Super Bowl, three men—Wallace P., Richard (Dick) Lawry, and Dick Henry, affectionately known as "Rabbit Dick"—discussed the need for a dedicated space to hold meetings. They had previously helped a man in recovery who owned a building on Locust Street. This individual generously rented out the space to them for $275 per month, showing leniency with rent payments in the early days when funds were often short. This man, referred to as "The Pigeon", believed deeply in the Alano Club's mission, hopeful that it might one day save his life.
From the outset, several individuals played pivotal roles in establishing the club, including Joan A. from Central Valley and Fawn, an Al-Anon member. One notable incident from the club's early days involved a board meeting where Wallace highlighted the necessity of adopting bylaws for the Alano Club to achieve nonprofit status. Dick Henry, vehemently opposed to the idea, expressed his anger openly. Wallace, undeterred, suggested settling their disagreement outside after addressing the club's business. Ultimately, the vote favored the adoption of bylaws, 5-1, with Wallace authoring them.
Adjacent to the Alano Club, a member initiated an auto repair business, aptly named AA Auto Repair, a nod to Andy Anderson. Jim B. joined the team as a mechanic. The group would gather in the "half-measures room" at 7 a.m. for coffee before starting their day. Over time, this ritual attracted more individuals, including attorney Ted and Erick C., leading to the establishment of the 7 a.m. meetings.
In 1988, during my incarceration for a DUI offense, the Alano Club relocated to its current address on State Street. Upon my release, I experienced confusion when I found the original Locust Street location closed. After a call to Intergroup from Buzz’s Crab’s phone booth, I learned of the new address. Initially, the Intergroup office was located at 1313 and a quarter Court Street, but it was later moved to the rear of the new Alano Club location.
By 1993 or 1994, a rental house on the property was demolished to make way for a parking lot, facilitated by a generous grant from the McConnell Foundation. This grant, aimed at paying off the building, came with a stipulation prohibiting further rentals, a significant change given the property's history of housing individuals in recovery.
Throughout the years, I've joined the Alano Club on three separate occasions—twice while it was on Locust Street and once around 1990. I have now been a continuous member for over 25 years. The Alano Club remains a crucial first step for many seeking sobriety. Regrettably, some members stop attending meetings after achieving a certain level of recovery. My hope is to never forget the place that played such a vital role in my journey to sobriety.