Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of people who come together
to solve their drinking problem. It doesn’t cost anything to attend A.A. meetings. There are no age or education requirements to participate.
Membership is open to anyone who wants to do something about their drinking.
A.A.’s primary purpose is to help alcoholics to achieve sobriety.
It was during the 1963 fishing season when Jack along with Nels, had his last “Big Drunk”. By October Jack hit his bottom and reached out to AA in Port Angeles. After returning to Friday Harbor, Jack got in touch with two other sober alcoholics in town, Cliff and Jake.
Cliff had joined AA in Seattle back in 1946, while Jake had been sober since 1950 by reading AA literature on his own and meeting occasionally with Cliff. Between 1964 & 1965, Jack stayed sober by visiting Jake daily at his barber shop and occasionally meeting with Cliff.
It was during this time that Nels was trying to stay off the booze. By November of 1965, Jack found out that John, a music teacher at the High School, was also a member of AA. Together, they decided to start a group on the Island.
The first AA meeting was held at Jack’s house in December 1965, attended by John, Cliff, Nels and Jake. Father Benson of St. David’s Church, who himself had a great understanding of alcoholism, offered the use of St. David’s Parish Hall for their meetings.
On Friday, January 14, 1966 the first meeting was held at the church. It is this very meeting that we all know today as the “Friday Night Old Group” of AA.
The group got a boost when a new member, Al joined in April 1966. Bill from Orcas had first joined AA in Seattle in 1946, but had slipped away from the program. He came back to AA by attending the Friday Night meeting in November 1966 bringing the groups size to 7.
During the summer of 1967, Dr. John from the University of Florida was doing research at the
University of Washington Labs. He made a big impact when he became a regular visitor to AA on Friday Harbor, contributing much wisdom to the Friday Night Group.
Winnie, the first “gal” member of AA joined the group in September 1970, followed by Warren, a Prosecuting Attorney in December. Warren was a beloved member of the group and helped carry the message of AA until his death in October 1975.
The size of the Friday Harbor group continued to grow. In June 1970, Chuck went to Sundown Ranch, followed by his sons Jerry in July 1970 and Mike in October of the same year. Chuck’s son Brian followed in February 1972.
The group struggled the first years, sometimes with only one or two people showing up at the meeting. But the door was always open on Friday night for anyone who had the desire to stop drinking. Jake always encouraged the other members by saying “someday the group will grow.” And JAKE WAS RIGHT!
In 60 years, AA on San Juan Island has grown from 5 members and one meeting to over XX members and 18 meetings a week. Jake certainly was right!