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HERE'S TO ANOTHER 30 YEARS!
The Castro Country Club was founded by entrepreneur Steve Harris on April 1, 1983 as a coffee shop and social club for gay men and lesbians in recovery. Initially a sole-proprietorship managed by Joe Healy, the Club has gone through many changes over its first three decades. Initially, there was a $1 daily membership fee just to get in the front door!
Popular from the beginning, and staffed entirely by volunteers, everyone saw the Club as an important alternative to the bar scene in the Castro, but no one knew how critical the Club would become to so many people. As a community, we survived the worst of the AIDS epidemic by pulling together and doing whatever it took to support each other as we valiantly fought the disease with dignity and in sobriety. At the same time, we've been there to welcome newcomers who've hit bottom with the never-ending epidemic of alcoholism and addiction.
That's not to say it's been easy. Many times, the Club has been threatened with closure over the years, and did in fact close for a time in the late 1990s after Steve passed away and Joe left to go to seminary. People were dismayed to find the Club shut down even as they continued to gather on the fabled front steps. Fortunately, in response to community demand and with the help of Baker Places, the Club was reopened on Pride weekend in June 2001.
Most recently, the Club underwent a tempestuous period after the 2009 deaths of beloved manager Dan Cusick as well as the building's longtime landlord. Once again, the community had to come together to save the Club, and we set out to raise the funds to purchase the building or secure a long-term lease and to remodel the space to suit the community's growing needs.
Today we do not have "members," but the Club is perhaps more popular than ever. Some thirty-five 12-step groups now meet at the Club each week, and there are approximately 17,000 visits to the Club every month. About 50 volunteers staff the Peet's coffee bar every week, and many more have service commitments at events and meetings.
"I've been coming to the CCC for twenty years. Has always been a great anchor for me in the Castro. Happy Birthday CCC. Love the CCC!!!!" says Chuck D.
As most readers know, the building sold to a supportive new owner last year and the Club's Advisory Board has worked out an agreement with the landlord for a long-term lease. Construction is expected to begin very soon to retrofit the building, and the Club space will be completely remodeled this year with the building funds raised over the last few years.
Dozens of Club supporters have become recurring donors through our website (castrocountryclub.org) to help us achieve our goal of becoming entirely self-sustaining through our own contributions. This fiscal year, our total operating budget is $225,000. (The Club is now fiscally sponsored by the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, but the Club is required to pay its own way.)
Our mission: "The Castro Country Club is a clean & sober gathering place for all people and a home for the queer recovery community. We endeavor to be a space where all can seek wisdom, serenity, courage and joy."
We hope you share our dreams for the future of the Castro Country Club, and on behalf of all who have climbed those steps, we thank you for thirty years of support. Please join us at our 30th anniversary celebration as we look forward to many years of recovery to come!
SOBERLICIOUS SOBERFEST: 30 YEARS OF RECOVERY
At noon, SOBERLICIOUS SOBERFEST kicks off at the Eureka Valley Rec Center on Collingwood with a VIP Soiree featuring gourmet treats from JJardine Catering, surprise performances and guests, advance silent auction bidding, archival exhibits and more! $30 Advance / $35 at Door
At 1pm, the party opens to general admission with Mistress of Ceremonies SISTER ROMA and food by JJardine Catering. Performers include the THRILLPEDDLERS performing excerpts from their new Cockettes revival "Tinsel Tarts in a Hot Coma", TV personality and stand-up comedian JAN WAHL, San Francisco-based CASTLES IN SPAIN performing from their new CD "Reminiscing Chapter Five", drag performance artist TRAUMA FLINTSTONE, DAZIE GREGO RUSTIN performing excerpts from his upcoming one-man show "I Am a Man", CHEER SF, a raffle and silent auction, and surprise guests! $15 Advance / $20 at Door
At 4pm, don't miss the 4TH ANNUAL MISS CASTRO COUNTRY CLUB PAGEANT hosted by U-PHORIA of MASCARA, featuring outgoing MISS CCC 2012 ALEXIS VON FIERCE and celebrity judges CLAMMY FAYE, STU SMITH and ZACHARY DAVENPORT. This event is always a hoot! $15 at Door Only (separate admission).
For tickets, please call 800-838-3006 anytime 24/7 or visit the CCC or
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12 PSALMS - THE GRAPHIC DESIGN OF PAUL EULALIA
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 | Opening reception Saturday April 20 at 11am.
All sales support the artist and the CCC. |
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FREE RAFFLE TICKETS THROUGH APRIL 21 @NOON
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 | | Partial list of cool prizes available at CCC |
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CONTRACTORS SOUGHT
The Castro Country Club is seeking bids from licensed general contractors for the planned makeover of the Club space. To request a complete bidding package, including detailed architectural drawings, please write to info@castrocountryclub.org.
CCC ARCHIVES PROJECT
We plan to include a display of our archives, including photos, videos, documents and posters at the Soberfest 30th anniversary celebration on April 21. We have also started an online event for people to post their own photos and remembrances. Check it out on our Facebook page here.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
We need volunteers for the April 21 Soberfest, to plan our 4th Annual Memorial Day High-heeled Drag Race, for Sober Stage and the CCC parade contingent at SF Pride, in addition to volunteer baristas and barbacks. Inquire at the Club or write to info@castrocountryclub.org.
CCC ADVISORY BOARD
The CCC AB meets the second Monday of each month at 6:30pm. Next meeting is Monday April 8, 2013 at 6:30pm at the CCC. All are welcome. Check out notes from monthly meetings at castrocountryclub.org.
For a complete listing of meetings and events, visit our website or
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Make a recurring donation today for as little as 33 cents a day!
 The Castro Country Club is fiscally sponsored by
the San Francisco AIDS Foundation.
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