In 1972 and 1973, the only AA Group in Sierra Vista was meeting at a small house located at 120 Whitton Street behind the Baptist Church. The Church owned the house and the group rented it for three nights a week, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, at 8:00 p.m. In 1972 there were about four members of the group with only one woman who consistently went to the meetings and stayed sober. In 1973, there were approximately six to eight members who were staying sober and making the meetings on a regular basis. During 1973 and 1974, there were some problems with the Church regarding AA’s tenancy, such as the Church’s wishes to use the house at their discretion, parking around the Church on meeting nights, etc. The Group at that time felt AA needed a permanent home, but with no money or assets, the idea of a Serenity Club was born. Shortly thereafter, the Group had just about outgrown the 120 Whitton house; new members were coming and Alanon had started having meetings there also, and the Group eventually left 120 Whitton in 1974 or 1975 and moved to the St. Stephens Episcopal Church on Cardinal Drive.
Meantime, preparation work for forming the Serenity Club was in process. Guidelines concerning formation of Clubs was received from GSO in New York and were used in commencing the groundwork for the Club. One of the most important guidelines was the fact that AA per se cannot own property; therefore, a non-profit corporation should be formed to manage and direct the Club’s activities. Articles of Incorporation for a non-profit organization were drafted, finalized and filed with the Arizona Corporation Commission in 1975, and were approved. The Serenity Club must make annual reports to the Arizona Corporation Commission to remain a valid corporation. By-laws were drafted and finalized. The first meetings of the Board of Directors were officially held in 1975, although prior to that time there were many meetings concerning formation of the Serenity Club. So the Serenity Club was in effect with no building. Considerable effort was made to find a place within the city limits of Sierra Vista, but the general consensus of the “Powers that be”, joked that there was no need for such a building since there were only two drunks known in town and one of them had left.
Eventually, through donations and due’s paying members even though there was no building, a member of AA sold the Serenity Club the land where it is now located for a minimum amount. Monthly payments were made of about $93.00. There was no money to buy building materials, so the Club started having barbecues where Cactus Corners is now located. A tent was borrowed from the Army and pit barbecue was prepared with all the trimmings. Everyone from all over the County came and enjoyed the day. There were speakers during the afternoon and lots of fellowship and fun. As money became available, the concrete for the flooring was poured. An AA member dug out a place for the septic tank with a back hoe he owned. Several members spent weekends throwing rocks in the spetic tank hole until it was ready. Almost every weekend was partially devoted to commencing another phase of the building process.
A businessman in town donated blocks for the walls and other block was purchased at cost. Most of the building itself was done by volunteers. One of the most expensive mistakes made was the A frame for the roof, which was built by volunteers. It turned out to be too short so, in frustration, it was finally purchased. Somehow, the original plans got changed around. The bathrooms were supposed to be where the kitchen is now and the kitchen was to be where the bathrooms are now. Someone else decided it would be a good idea to have a wall between the bathrooms and the meeting rooms – someone else decided that was a lousy idea and that night tore down the wall and it has stayed down since then.
Eventually, little by little, piece by piece, the building was almost ready to move into. And in 1978, the first meeting was held in the building in October. There was no hot water, so the hate was passed and several members threw in $10 and $20 and there was enough to purchase a hot water tank. One of the ladies who was a member and noted for her “dish washing chores” refused to wash another dish until she had some hot water. There was a split between the AA members when moving time came over who would stay in town to be part of the Sierra Vista Group and who would go to the Serenity Club at the Highway 92 Group – and who would get the big coffee pot!!
NOTE: The Highway 92 Group is not the Serenity Club. The Serenity Club is the landlord and the Highway 92 Group is the tenant. The Highway 92 Group pays rent to the Serenity Club for use of the facilities.
In order to keep some money coming in, a Ways and Means Committee was put together and they were very active with having dinners, social nights, raffles and the Arts & Crafts was started which held a Bazaar every year to raise money for the Club. Every Saturday, AA and Alanon members gathered to knit, crochet and contribute their talents to making gift items for sale. Most of the proceeds were given to the Serenity Club for the next building project. By this time, a Building Fund Savings Account had been established and any extra money was put into that account to accumulate. Every year there was a Thanksgiving dinner which was free (donations gladly accepted) although members brought a covered dish and the Serenity Club and Highway 92 Group donated turkeys. And then there was the Thanksgiving that all the food was prepared, on the table and everyone was gathering around to get in line when one of the tables with food warmers/burners collapsed and a fire almost started. The fire was extinguished, the food was retrieved and Thanksgiving Dinner was served! Eventually the Alcathon was started over the holidays and is still being done during a time when a lot of alcoholics have no place or family to spend time with.
In the late 1980s, the Building Fund had grown to approximately $12,000 from donations, work parties, dinners, barbecues, raffles and any other activity that might raise a few dollars. The Board of Directors decided at that time to go ahead and build the Alateen room on the back of the building.
I don’t remember the years, but the drywall was done by a member of AA and the Serenity Club using his own work crew at no cost to the Club. Rewiring was done by AA and Club members with knowledge of electrical work with no cost to the Club. Painting was done by AA and Club members with no thought of reimbursement for their time.
The Serenity Club was formed because it was felt that at least AA would have a permanent home and would not be forced out by churches or other organizations who, of course, put their own needs ahead of any scheduled AA meeting. There were times when AA members came for the meeting and the Church had pre-empted the meeting without notice for some reason. The Club was meant for the use of everyone and any group function. The Serenity Club is and was formed for use by Alcoholics Anonymous and all its family groups, including Alanon and Alateen. The Articles specifically state tat and therefore it has always been the policy not to rent to any other organization. The Board of Directors is the caretaker of the day-to-day operation, and members of the Serenity Club should be encouraged to participate and should be kept informed of the activities and projects.
Over the years many AA and Club members have been connected with an a part of the Serenity Club, with no though of what could the Club do for them but rather what they could do to keep the doors open for the sake of AA. The Responsibility Creed of AA comes to mind – When anyone anywhere reaches out for help, I want the hand of AA always to be there and for that I am responsible. If keeping the doors of the Serenity Club open for the benefit of sobriety of any AA group or AA member has been accomplished, then AA as a whole has benefitted.
Written 1993
By: Cara F