USA, idaho, nampa

25 ANS DU "ALANO CLUB" 

in "Idaho Press Tribune" 25 février 2011

The Nampa affiliation of the national Alano Club organization celebrates 25 years helping alcoholics in the community this year, which a founder said makes it the longest-running Alano Club in Idaho.

Nellie and Jerry Labrum were two of several people who founded the Nampa Alano Club in the 1980s.

“It’s a safe haven for recovering alcoholics to come in spend the day,” Nellie Labrum said. “Anyone can come in off the streets and buy a coffee.”

Open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. the clubhouse in downtown Nampa is associated with Alcoholics Anonymous and AA holds three meetings there each day.

The club began with a small number of members and has grown over the years to 32 members today. About 40 to 45 people attend daily meetings at noon, 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. All meetings are open to alcoholics who would like to stop drinking or reinforce their sobriety and the late meeting is open to spouses, family and friends also.

The club began in an old building on 3rd Street South in Nampa and moved to the new, bigger facility on 1st Street in 1999.

Founders pass on help

All those who work at the Alano Club are alcoholics who have been through the help the club offers.

“I’ve been sober 33 years, I just got my 33-year chip,” Nellie Labrum said. “When I got sober there was one AA meeting in Nampa, downstairs in the police department.”

She said that location was not desirable for addicts and so founders decided to start a local Alano Club.

Many people come to the club after serving jail time for driving under the influence offenses. She said those who attend meetings are more likely to stay sober.

“I think it’s very important that they know that recovery is an essential thing for life,” Labrum said. “I just can’t believe the people that have turned their lives around, due to the Alano Club.”

• The Nampa Alano Club invites the public to an open house Sunday from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. at 1712 1st South., 83651 Nampa.   (208)461-1842