Not sure what an AA meeting was and did not think I belonged. I never talked at any meeting cause later remember I went to a CMA meeting for that white rock threw me to the ditch. It is so important to talk to other addicts after, before and between the meetings and think that Rodney let me charge my phone and got me to guy for HIV testing and eventually Robert T who found me housing just thanks God to the Alano Club.
I am told that this Club doesnt get tax revenue and depend on grants. It is hard for me to believe that is basically volunteer driven. It is clean and they hold like 4-6 meetings a day, some virtual and some hybrid. What can I say, I appreciate Robert and Michael G for all their hard work. Yadem and Laurra are the tops and only working part-time, I believe. Thanks for the comrades and the stories that help me feel not alone.
Thanks for the Club as it prob saved my life. It is weird that I never listened to the lies folks told me in bars when I was drinking. Now that I am sober, it is amazing how clearly I understand myself cause I don't feel alone. Thanks for hosting some 46 meetings (Codependents, Marijuana Anonymous, Medication Assisted Treatment, Heroin Anonymous as well as the normal Crystal Meth, Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous.
I am a retired clergyman and therapist. It is clear that no non-profit stays afloat for more than a few years without a great purpose and volunteers. This Alano been here for 38 years without any full-time staff and it is because they care and help 45,000 people annually.
Wow.. It is hard to believe that a few of their Board Members, volunteers, care about junkies. I think the Medication Assisted Recovery Anonymous meeting is great and the SMART meeting. Harm reduction for us young opiate recovery addicts is the key. I am staying clean, in my view, on My Suboxone and Naltroxone.
Just amazing to me that they are spending so many hours to help the "New Addict or alcoholic..still suffering" as Bill Wilson pointed out in the Big Book. The Zoom meetings with folks at the Club sound and work great. This hybrid format lets everyone be in a safe environment as only about 36 people in the Club. It was once 120 patrons in one meeting.
I am here for the MARA meeting as I am on Suboxone for past heroin use and I found Robert and the Club through this youtube video that he put up.
Early on when I first got sober/clean, this was and is now a safe sober place to be! Early in my recovery, this place gave me the ability to volunteer. Which helped me to realize I was worthy of something more than just being a strung-out addict on the streets. Went to meetings there when I knew of no other place to go! Friendly atmosphere, some friendly people, and even meetings to attend. This facility has gone through major changes and issues but, has continued to thrive despite all of it! And continues to be an awesome place to go! Over the years, it has become a better place for recovery-related issues and sources that we as a community may need. During the pandemic, it's still a good source for meetings and fellowship with fellow addicts and alcoholics. With safety guidelines in place. Check their website at lllac.org for information. Thank you Live and let live for being there for so many including myself!
I immediately went to the LLLAC when I moved here in 1998. I met wonderful people a variety of meetings and it helped me connect to the gay, lesbian, trans recovery community in San Diego. It’s still a great place of community and needs to exist in San Diego. All these years later it is still a safe place for us newcomers to old timers. We need to keep the doors open for future generations.
I found a new way of life because of the Live and Let Live Alano Club. At the LLLAC, I discovered recovery and gained lifelong friends who I consider family. Through the LLLAC, I learned to have fun without alcohol and drugs, which were ruining my life. I had the privilege of serving on the Board of Directors there for 3 years, and as a volunteer behind the coffee bar for 4 years. I attended numerous sober dances/parties and holiday gatherings there. They are an integral part of the LGBT and recovery community. They are open and welcoming and accepting of everyone, no matter your race, creed, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, etc. The Live and Let Live Alano Club saved my life, as well as the lives of countless others.
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This place has played a huge part in my recovery. I met my sponsors here. I found the fellowship here. I've been able to serve on the Board of Directors, and I just completed my 3-year term. It was such an honor and joy to be of service here. I will continue to volunteer here weekly. This place is very warm, welcoming, and is open 365-days-a-year. Parties, dances, and social events are held on every major holiday and throughout the year. This place is the best! :)
I’m new to the clean sober world and trying to get to meetings in this Zoom world....wow. I showed at Alano and helped put this Board member..forgot his name and he gave me some good and took time to print our meetings called hybrid and then gave me the ins and outs of each meeting. To be blunt..I relapsed and blamed it on the Virus. I do remember sitting in the living room atmosphere of the Club and just identifying with others. I do Heroin and when I tell people that I’m AA meetings I get a lot of crap. This lllac.org site is amazing and still don’t know how they survive to help we addicts. Thanks for your loving compassion!
"The scrappy little Alano Club that could". USUALLY a warm and inviting place for twelve-step and other support meetings, and fellowship at the coffee bar afterwards.
Currently, still staffed with warm and caring volunteers and part-time staff, but the "inviting" part is limited by County Health regulations to a fraction of the previous capacity, and unable to stay open for fellowship.
Even with that, we're open (as of this writing), and pioneering "Hybrid" in-person and on-line meetings. Call ahead (619-298-8008), and I hope you get a seat!
I am continually amazed how well this club performs to survive 'no matter what!" I remember when an illegal 'pot' dispensary opened above the Club where a weekly Marijuana Anonymous meeting was held and the dispensary closed and they stayed open every day..365 days a year. When their rent more than doubled at their University Heights location after 25 years, they moved with 14 days notice and stayed open with like 45 twelve step and other Recovery meetings weekly. Now they are set to move to long term location and even host a New MAT 12-Step meeting to serve the opiate addiction crisis.
The care & attention provided to our fragile community is outstanding. The Alano Club goes above & beyond what it means to provide services for the sober & recovering community, but actually takes to heart the vital role of building just that, "community," and thereby creating larger safe spaces, safety networks & more reliable support systems. The Alano Club helps me feel connected to something larger, that my participation matters and that I am not alone on my recovery path. Thank you Alano Club!
This place gave me a safe place to get and stay Clean and begin my foundation in Narcotics Anonymous after being asked to leave and not come back at another Alano Club the Live and Let Live Alano Club gave me a safe place for me to be me in 1993 and today at 26 yrs Clean I do as much as I can to ensure that we are around in the same way as the club was then now
Conveniently located Alano club, has more than fifty different 12-step, SMART, and MARA meetings a week. Very likely to find a sympathetic ear whenever you drop in.
They're in a temporary location, so cannot do much with the acoustics at the moment. Other than that, the people are lovely, and that's the important part.
I attended the Live and Let Live Alano Club on January 19, 2006 and as a result of that club and the meetings it hosts, I am now a person with long-term recovery and for me that specifically means I am alcohol, drug and smoke free since January 19,2006. They are open every day of the year including all holidays. They also provide holiday potluck dinner for anyone to join in. For me in early sobriety that was amazing as i had no family in the area and also had no money for food so it help tremendously. What a great community and fellowship I stumbled into.
The Alano Club is such a wonderful nonprofit, whose service in the community is so very important.
I have witnessed my brother transform his life for the better, from being a victim of addictions, to becoming a leader in his community and a mentor for others struggling with additions. And it’s the Alano Club that was key to his recovery and transformation. Before connecting with the Alano Club, I felt quite hopeless about my brother and his struggle, so I am eternally grateful to this organization. Also, I’ve met and heard stories from him of other people whose lives have been transformed through the support they received by connecting with the Alano Club. With the growing problems of addictions in our country – the Alano Club’s role in the community is more essential than ever.
This is the greatest non-profit there is. I have known many. The courageous people who put their heart and soul into this organization do so with no expectation what's the weather. Other than to help the alcoholic who still suffers the work they do is phenomenal truly phenomenal and they deserve an award
Every meeting that I have attended at the LLLAC.org has a phone list and offers for Sponsorship. Both my counselor at Out-Patient and my Probation officer want me to get a Sponsor. I don't understand how inconsistent AA and SMART recovery meetings are! When I discovered the Alano Club, I was HOME! I don't like the Church meetings that are too 'Preachy". I think attended a variety of meetings now including Sex Ann, over-eating, CODA, Adult Children of Alcoholics as well as AA and NA with the same group of people provides me a stable network of new sober friends. I'm impressed that all of the meetings have a locker to handle the secretary's funds from 7th Tradition. I can't wait for the Labor Day BBQ coming up Monday, 9/2/19. I am not sure I have ever had a chance to celebrate a Holiday with folks that don't drink or use drugs. Thanks Robert and Rodney and Richard.
This place helped save my life! I was court ordered to attend 12-step recovery meetings back in 2006. This is the place I chose to attend my meetings. I found recovery here. I've been attending meetings here ever since.
In addition to over 49 weekly mutual aid support meetings, the Alano Club offers other recovery resources, like mindful meditation classes, the Presence Process in conjunction with a New Age Metaphysical Spiritual Center, seminars on topics like brain chemistry and addiction and relationships and recovery, and regular workshops on topics ranging from recovery advocacy to mindful-based relapse prevention. The Alano Club also hosts large-scale sober social events, like our upcoming Oct 31 Halloween Dance and Sobriety Village at the San Diego Price and New year's Eve Dance and Recovery Talent Show and holiday community dinners.
Our Mission
I have asked my Sponsee's to find a Sponsor and this club of 12 step and Smart Meetings really helps the Newcomer. Each Newcomer is offered a phone list of participants and an Announcement asking for those willing to Sponsor is made which really helps the 'Shy Newcomer'. Each Newcomer is offered the Newcomer packet of AA Meetings in the area. Statistics indicate that a Newcomer is 3 times more likely to stay sober with a Sponsor. A Australian study shows that folks find a Sponsor more often in a Clubhouse (Live and Let Live Alano Club) or Step Study meeting than a once a week meeting at a church or other location.
49 free Recovery meetings a week serving nearly 50,000 folks without tax payer support -volunteer driven. .thry are open 365 days a year! Wow, Rodney is the most amazing guy and so helpful. I’m on wait list for Stepping Stone and Family Health care. Peter, who is a volunteer, talked to me and helped me find other sober people and now a sponsor. They specialize in coda, crystal meth, SMART and Sex addiction meetings as well as A.A.
It is hard to express how much help the lovely folks Robert and Rodney helped me. Rob is an alcohol counselor and Rodney has the hard knocks background. Other meetings didn’t gel with me as I’m overweight and a little shy. I’m looking for someone I can relate to as a sponsor. Great fellowship between 50 12-step meetings weekly helped me talk to other recovering folks that I could relate too. Now I have 103 days and a Sponsor and more hopeful. I have not dressed up in 15 years at Halloween but the ghost is me. “This is me” like the song is my chance at authenticity in many years without booze or drugs to self-medicate!
I have never attended a Gay A.A. meeting and it made it clear to me how much dishonesty I felt when switching ‘him’ to ‘her’ etc in my shares. I’m grateful that Lllac provides sober pot lucks and dances and seminars so my recovery includes safe fellowship opportunities.
Well great energy, compassion and help. I’m new to not drinking and shy. I went to 6 meetings without anyone talking to me! Today I had a yummy coffee Americana and a pastry after my meeting and got three phone numbers of new friends. I feel loved and appreciated. Thanks Rodney and Ron. Great bookstore with literature and tokens as well. Nice not to feel alone as girl finished 7 years in AA and I’m at 6 weeks In CMA meth addict. Birthday girl shared her cake and story with me. Maybe a new Spobsor awaits. Brandon.
Wow, this group is amazing. I have never been to a place that holds a lot of AA and other Recovery meetings like they do. Everyone is friendly and helpful. I am in treatment and we are supposed to get a Sponsor but no clue what that meant. I heard a secretary announce at my meeting for a call to anyone willing to Sponsor and I now have a Sponsor. They have a cool coffee cart with all kind of yummy mochas and other drinks and pastries. Thanks Rodney and Rob as I celebrate 90 days.
I was unhappy with the treatment that my son got in a local treatment center and they made fun of him. He ended up at the Alano Club and thought he read between the lines that it was an LGBT friendly sober clubhouse. I have not thought it was important for him to be around other gay men quite frankly to get sober. Perhaps I blamed the bars for letting my underage son into the bars. Eventually, My son talked to a part-time manager named Rodney and eventually a Board member called Robert and he just completed 90 days of sobriety. We just found out there is a new Stepping Stone outpatient treatment and Ron may attend there. I am shocked and amazed that nobody "hit on my son or tried to take advantage of him." The Club has various types of meetings throughout the morning and evening so our son has learned through the mentorship of some many new friends. The free legal clinic and HIV testing at the Club have also benefited my son. Thanks, Robert and Rodney for looking out for our son and saving his life.
I don't believe I am saying this but the clubhouse variety of Recovery meetings offers the same fellowship and support as my treatment facility 12 years ago. The CLUB has zero FULL TIME employees and like 15% overhead for Administration... which compares very favorably to others in the community resources, GLBT or addiction field.
The primary purpose of the LLLAC is to provide a safe and healthy environment for individuals "seeking recovery" from drugs and alcohol, and other negative influences in order to maintain individual sobriety and improved mental health. Our primary focus is serving the LGBT community, its friends, and families. LLLAC also offers Intervention services which include information and resources for food, housing, and shelter to the homeless, drug-addicted, and mentally challenged people, seeking to improve their circumstances.
The Live and Let Live Alano Club (LLLAC) has existed in San Diego for 33 years. It has been highly successful in becoming a critical component in providing a safe, clean and sober environment for individuals in twelve-step and other recovery programs. The LLLAC is currently building on this success by adding enhanced recovery related programs and outreach services to further help those in or seeking recovery. Although the LLLAC has an online presence, the main point of contact between LILAC and individuals occurs at the club. We are seeking to improve services at the club by requesting a grant of $2,500 to finance the implementation of a Point of Sale (POS) system. A POS System will provide operational improvements through increased functionality as well as the technology infrastructure to facilitate the addition of expanded programs and services by providing the following:
1) Ability to take registrations including attendee information at the LLLAC coffee bar during club hours for all expanded services workshops, classes, and offerings
1. Ability to easily report on attendance of workshops, classes, and offerings
2. Ability to create and maintain an attendee database allowing LLLAC to follow-up for feedback on expanded services facilitating program improvement efforts and providing the ability to communicate future programs and offerings to prior attendees
3. The ability for the LLLAC to support other recovery related organizations (Spring Roundup, GMSR, Feeling Good Roundup, Lambda Recovery Weekend, etc.) by having the means to easily and accurately sell and track tickets to their respective recovery events. The LLLAC currently is a hub of recovery in our community and this would greatly support these organizations.
The goal of the LLLAC is to become part of and connect with other like-minded individuals, seeking to obtain a better way of living.
This new Outreach and Point of Sale System will facilitate greater grassroots/volunteer synergy within the Alano Club. The tracking of volunteer hours, demographics and statistics measurement for future grant applications. If a new location for the club, which might include co-location with other GLBT recovery entities, then this system requires immediate implementation.
Only a Needs Study and Marketing Plan can help the Live and Let Live Alano Club fulfill the niche within our community to survive and thrive in our effort to eradicate and / or lesson the effects and incidence of: HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, addiction, behavioral problems and homelessness.
Outcome / Policy: General
Intended outcome / policy goal:
Answer:
Demographics: General
Please tell us the total number of persons served by your funded project annually. If possible, please provide us with an unduplicated count of persons served. If you cannot give a specific number, please estimate the number of persons served by your project. Please do not leave this question blank if you provided direct services.
8. Is the number above duplicated or an unduplicated count? Duplicated
9.
10. What Specific racial/ethnic group(s) will your project target?
11. AA - African American
12. API - Asian/Pacific Islander
13. CAU - Caucasian/White
14. LAT - Latino
15. NA - Native American
16. All Groups
17.
18. If you wish to elaborate on or clarify the racial/ethnic group you selected above, please specify the group below.
19. If you selected "OTHER" for the racial/ethnic group you will target, please describe it below. (N/A)
20.
21. Which specific age group does your project primarily targets
22. All age groups primarily: (18 to 65)
23. What specific sexual orientation(s) will your project target?
24.
Answer: All orientations. The initial GLBT focus of our recovery community has broadened as assimilation into mainstream society evolves. Initial data indicates a significant number of heterosexual domestic violence survivors.
25.
26. What specific HIV status of individuals will your project target?
27.
28. Answer: All statuses
29.
30. Collaboration: General
31. Will you be collaborating or coordinating with other agencies/organizational entities in order to attain the project goal(s) and objectives?
32.
33. If Yes, please list the name of the agency/is and the purpose of your collaboration:
Long-term solution is collaborative partnerships to form a wrap around solution to addiction
among the GLBT populatiion in order to prevent and treat HIV, AIDS, STDs and homelessness :
34. Stepping Stone – Family Health Care for Out-Patient Recovery Treatment
Wow, this club rocks and my best friend is straight and she can't get to talk at Straight run- AA meetings but the club rocks for all of us.
The Live And Let Live Alano Club (LLLAC) is a not for profit 501(c3) corporation that is open to the public every day of the year and provides community and meeting space to 40,000 participants annually in over forty 12-Step recovery meetings weekly.
OUR FACILITY, MEETINGS, AND EVENTS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
The LLLAC provides meeting referrals, recovery literature, and information about local drug-and-alcohol recovery services in San Diego. We also produce clean and sober dances, dinners, and events on holidays and througout the year to foster community and enjoyment in a safe, and welcoming, drug and alcohol free, environment.
Over one thousand paticipants utilize our facility each week. The LLLAC is a place one can drop in anytime and enjoy the fellowship and community of others practicing sober living.
The Live and Let Live Alano Club is one of San Diego's oldest continuously operating LGBT non profit service organizations. Since it's founding in Hillcrest in 1983 the LLLAC has been there for thousands of individuals, many of which have stayed sober many years and today live productive, happy and useful lives. Many of those same individuals have quietly kept the LLLAC going serving the public for over 30 years with donations, and service, in gratitude, for what they received.
The LLLAC is not a treatment or rehab facility. Instead our mission is for the ‘long haul support' of those beginning and sustaining sobriety as an ongoing way of life. Accessibility to a consistent and experienced recovery community of examples and mentors is proven to greatly enhance an individuals success in achieving and sustaining recovery long term.
Chronic Alcoholism and drug addiction are often accompanied by isolation and hopelessness. The LLLAC provides a safe place and community for individuals to come out of thier isolation, rejoin society and witness examples of others who 'have been there' overcoming thier addictions and hopelessness and returning to useful, happy and productive lives. We are open every day of the year including all holidays so no one has to go it alone on difficult days.
Over the years The Alano Club has expanded it's focus from just AA and Alanon to include a great variety 12 step groups to stay abreast of the needs of our local LGBT community. With three rooms used for meetings, social events, and educational sessions, LLLAC provides a welcoming environment for the following recovery groups:
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
Cocaine Anonymous (CA)
Crystal Meth Anonymous (CMA)
Al-Anon (ALANON)
Narcotics Anonymous (NA)
Sexual Compulsives Anony(SCA)
Co-Dependents Anonymous (CoDA)
Overeaters Anonymous (OA)
Gamblers Anonymous (GA)
etc.
In order to honor and balance 12 step traditions of anonymity, humility, and 'attraction not promotion', the LLLAC has intentionally maintained a humble profile among local LGBT service organizations. Despite our low profile we have been fortunate these 30 years to receive needed support when requested, and recognition by many organizations, businesses and individuals in the LGBT community as a vital San Diego LGBT resource. We hope to continue and build this support so we may serve long into the future.
We invite you to join our fellowship either as a member or community sponsor and help us continue to carry the message that LGBT persons can and do recover from addiction and that life in recovery is a new adventure to be enjoyed!