ALANO CLUB STORY

Written by Hub 1997

THE ALANO CLUB OF THE EASTSIDE, INC.
12302 N.E. 8TH STREET, BELLEVUE, WASHINGTON
FOUNDED 1973

By 1970, as the Eastside grew, a small, but growing number of recovering alcoholics on the Eastside had a cherished dream of an Eastside Alano Club. A place where people with the disease of chemical dependency could meet, relax, visit, have a cup of coffee, a sandwich -- or attend an AA Meeting and share their experience, strength and hope. This dream began to come true in March 1973 when these pioneers raised the required $4,500 down payment to buy the property which would become THE ALANO CLUB OF THE EASTSIDE, INC.

Now, 23 years later, their dream is, and has been since April 1973, the full-fledged, exciting, operating ALANO CLUB, the salvation for countless thousands.

Beginning with the original donated $4,500, our wonderful, generous recovering members and guests have made it possible to pay off, in full, over $135,000 in original property acquisition costs, plus many, many additional thousands of dollars in continuing repairs and remodeling costs. But, wonder of wonders: THE ALANO CLUB OF THE EASTSIDE, INC., has accomplished this remarkable achievement without ever asking for, or accepting, one penny, not one red cent, from any city, county, state or federal agency. We do, however, recognize -- and with great and heartfelt thanks! -- A matching gift, dollar for dollar, approximately $15,000 from the Boeing Company about 10 years ago when we desperately needed to remodel our kitchen and lunchroom. Other than that matching gift, the ALANO CLUB has always paid in full and on time all expenses -- salaries, utilities, maintenance, repairs, and remodeling, operating costs.

THE ALANO CLUB owns its property free and clear, with no mortgages, encumbrances, or debts, and over the past 23-plus years it has been the first-meeting experience, the very-first-introduction-to-sobriety, the haven, the salvation for thousands, as well as the continuing weekly, often daily, Home Group Meeting location for additional thousands of recovering chemically dependent persons. And today it is almost impossible, by a casual inspection, to know just who are the suffering, shaky "New Comers“ or the steady, long-term "Old Timers."

There are nine (9) A.A. meetings daily at the ALANO CLUB, Monday through Friday, eleven (11) on Saturday and nine (9) on Sunday. The CLUB is open seven days a week from 6 AM to 12 PM, and the only requirement is a desire to stop drinking or using. The ALANO CLUB welcomes visitors any time, day or night, drop in for a cup of coffee! A cookie, or a sandwich! Or, how about a meeting?

Statistics 1997

Reprinted from successful fund raising proposal in January 1997. At that time we were able to upgrade the heating, plumbing, electrical, and handicap access bathrooms and many other upgrades.