THE FOUNDING OF NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS IN CALIFORNIA IN 1953

(handwritten minutes)

August 17, 1953

A Committee of 6 including Guilda Krouse, Pant Rosenbluth, Jimmy Kinnon, Steve Ryan, Frank Carnahan and Doris Carnahan got together at 10145 Stagg St. at PM for the purpose of organizing an AANA Group.

The name "San Fernando Valley Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous" has been voted on and accepted.

Nomination of Jimmy Kinnon for Chairperson - Voted and accepted

Nomination of Doris Carnahan for Secretary - Voted and accepted

Nomination of Frank Carnahan and Guilda Krouse for six months period of time on a rotating Committee for leadership - Voted and accepted

Nomination of Paul Rosenbluth and Steve Ryan for three months period of time on a rotating

Committee for leadership with Jimmy Kinnon as alternate - Voted and accepted

By-laws

The following By-laws entered and accepted as of this date, August 17, 1953, in effect as long as the group is active. Any suggested changes by four or more people active in the group call the Secretary and request a committee meeting.

August 19, l953

Second Committee meeting met at 8 PM at 10146 Stagg St. for the purpose of continuing drawing up the By-laws..

Term of Office - Secretary and Chairman will be active one year and may be selected to serve a successive term.

Duties of Chairman - the duties of the Chairman shall be to preside at all meetings of the governing committee, to appoint Committees whenever such are required. In the absence of the chairman, or in the event of his inability to act, the committeeman next in seniority shall act as chairman in his stead.

Duties of the Secretary - The duties of the secretary shall he to keep a full and complete record of the business transactions of the governing Committee and of the group. To supervise the keeping of the books and accounts of the Group, and to discharge such other duties as may be prescribed by the governing Committee. The secretary shall also receive and safely keep all funds or the Group and deposit the same in such bank or banks as may be designated by said governing Committee, and such funds shall be paid out on the check of the group signed by the Secretary and counter signed by the Chairman. The Secretary shall he an ex-officio member of the governing Committee.

Any Committee member who is in continual disagreement with the majority voice in committee affairs to the point of departure from the traditional and accepted welfare of the group may be asked to resign from such committee. On refusal to resign such member may be removed by a majority committee vote.

August 24, 1953

Third Committee met at 8 PM at 10146 Stagg St.

the Regular Meeting of the Group shall be held at 8:30 on every Monday Evening

The Governing Committee will meet the first Wednesday of every month at 8 FM. In case of a Holiday, the meeting shall fall on the following Wednesday.

Following Tradition Seven, it shall be the policy of the San Fernando Valley AANA to make payment for facilities provided.

All meetings shall be closed except the first meeting of the month.

Speakers must be alcoholics and Narcotic Addict's or one with both addictions.

August 26, 1953

The Fourth Committee Meeting held at 8 FM at 10145 Stagg St.

Resignations of Paul Rosenbluth and Steve Ryan have been received and accepted. Replacement on the Governing committee made this date of Pat Hand and Bud Craig.

For Twelve Step work in institutions and hospitals the recovered Narcotic Addict should have one year or more abstinence from narcotics alcohol and barbiturates, and will be screened to protect AANA as a whole.

For Twelve Step work in institutions and hospitals the recovered alcoholic should have one year or more abstinence from narcotics, alcohol and barbiturates and will be screened to protect AANA as a whole.

August 31, l953

The Fifth Committee meeting held at 8PM at 10146 Stagg St.

Our Purpose has been taken from "The Key".

All laws or amendments there to pertaining to the organization as a whole, all business matters, publicity. etc. must require a majority vote of the Steering Committee for enactment.

No member shall hold office in this Group or serve as a committeeman for this group simultaneously with the holding of an office or serving as a committeeman in another group of this kind.

September 14, l953

The sixth Committee Meeting held at 8 PM at 10146 Stagg St.

"S.F. Valley AANA" changed to "Narcotics Anonymous".

Tommy Moore voted in as alternate to relieve Jimmy Kinnon to fulfill souly his duties as Chairman

Doris Carnahan voted to procure a suitable building

September 21, 1953

The Seventh Committee Meeting held at 8PM at 10146 Stagg St.

For purpose of forming last minute details for handling first group meeting.

Guilda Krouse voted and accepted to print "Our Purpose" and contact all newspapers.

Doris Carnahan to contact at! heads of Narcotics Div. of the Police Depts.

Tommy Moore to have signs made up.

Miscellaneous to be distributed among all committee members.

The Salvation Army building's use donated by the Dad's Club of Sun Valley accepted as a suitable meeting place. The Dad's Club giving responsibilities to Frank and Doris Carnahan for care of the building and the key.

October 5, l953

Accepted absence of Pat Hand until such time as is convenient for his return.

October 24, 1953

Accepted resignation of Mud Creig.

November l5, 1953

Accepted resignation of Guilda Krouse and Tommy Moore.

December 16.1953

Resignation of Doris and Frank Carnahan accepted.

Accepted resignation of Jimmy Kinnon.

December 18, 1953

Nomination of Bud Pantsar for Chairman. Accepted

(end of minutes)

(handwritten sheet - parts are difficult to read)

First Meeting

Joanne Pantsar 10121 CoIwell Dr. Chase 7-4203
Manuel Candillo 3326 E. 6th St., L.A. 23 AN 1-7680
Jane Von Hentschel 13472 Louvre St., Pacoima EM 9-2276
Jess Loya 3572 Beswick A.N. 5962
Gil Von Hentschel 13472 Louvre St., Pacoima EM 9-2276
Ellen Pantsar 10121 Colwell Cr. Chs. 7-4203
James H. Shears 505 Olive View, Cal.(?) EM 1-7311
James (?) D Croweley 6049½ Tujunga, S. Valley SU 3-2647
Frank M. Celusta (?) Jr. 6049½ Tujunga, S. Valley SU 3-2647
Paul J. Rosenbluth 6049½ Tujunga, S. Valley SU 3-2647
E. (?) Romels (?) 2709 (?) Onterio St., Brent.
A. J. Ross 12507 Wicks St., Sun Valley
M. Stewart 10551 Nettelton, Sun Valley
Guildia (Guilda?) Krouse 8217 Fair Ave., Sun Valley
F. (?) Sherman 8496 Glenoaks Blvd., Sun Valley
Charles Dolce 14903 Victory Blvd. ST 0-5211
Jimmy Kinnon 10717 Sherman Pl., Sun Valley
 

(news release - statement of purpose)

NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS OUR PURPOSE

This is an informal group of drug addicts, banded together to help one another renew their strength in remaining free of drug addiction.

Our precepts are patterned after those of Alcoholics Anonymous, to which all credit is given and precedence is acknowledged. We claim no originality but since we believe that the causes of alcoholism and addiction are basically the same we wish to apply to our lives the truths and principles which have benefited so many otherwise helpless individuals. We believe that by so doing we may regain and maintain our health and sanity.

It shall be the purpose of this group to endeavor to foster a means of rehabilitation for the addict, and to carry a message of hope for the future to those who have become enslaved by the use of habit forming drugs.

STARTING MONDAY NIGHT OCT. 5, 1953 EACH MONDAY NIGHT THEREAFTER

AT 8:30 P.M.

CORNER OF CANTARA & CLYBOURN, SUN VALLEY, CALlF.

DIRECTLY BEHIND SUNLAND LUMBER COMPANY

(old business card - meeting list)

NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS

CANTARA & CLYBOURNE - P.O. BOX 54

SUN VALLEY, CALIF.

MONDAY 8:30 P.M.

BY-LAWS, AUG. 17, 1953

1. This Society or Movement shall be known as Narcotics Anonymous and the name may be used by any group which follows the twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of Narcotics Anonymous.

Service Committee shall consist of five (5) members and secretary. Eligibility is based on seniority (abstinence) and activity in the group.
A. One of five to be selected to serve as chairman.

B. Terms of office: Chairman and secretary to be active one year and may be selected to serve successive terms.

C. Two members to serve for three months period of time on a rotating committee and serve as meeting leaders

D. Two members to serve for six months period of time on a rotating committee and serve as

meeting leaders. Chairman to serve as alternate leader in absence of others.

E. Committee replacement through seniority and activity in Group, committee members C and D may serve again on next rotation if no others wish to serve. No one is obliged to serve on the committee.

F. DUTIES OF THE CHAIRMAN: The duties of the chairman shall be to preside at all meetings of the service committee, to appoint committees whenever such are required. In the absence of the chairman or in the event of his inability to act, the committeernan next in seniority shall act as chairman Pro Tem.

C. DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY: The duties of the secretary shall be to keep a full and complete record of the business transactions of the group and the service committee meetings, supervise the keeping of the books and accounts of the group, and to discharge such other duties, as may be prescribed by the committee. The secretary shall also receive and safely keep all funds of the group and deposit same in such bank or banks as may be designated by said committee. Such funds shall be paid out on the check of the group, signed by the chairman and countersigned by the secretary. The secretary shall be an ex-officio member of the service committee.

3. Any committee member who is in continual disagreement with the majority voice in committee to the point of departure from the traditional and accepted welfare of the fellowship may be asked to resign from the committee. On refusal to resign, such member may be removed by a majority vote of the committee. This in no way affects membership and acceptance of such member within the fellowship.

4. The regular meeting of this group (San Fernando Valley Narcotics Anonymous) shall be held at

8:30 P.M. on every Friday evening. Subject to change for welfare of group.

A. The governing or service committee shall meet on the second Wednesday of each month at 8:00 P.M. In case of Holiday the meeting shall on the following Wednesday.

Following Tradition Seven, it shall be the policy of the group to pay for facilities and refreshments provided.
All meetings shall be closed except the last meeting of the month. This may be waived by the chairman to convenience guests who wish information or who may be beneficial to the movement or the group. The chairman shall always remember Step Five of our Traditions in the waiving of this rule.
Speakers shall be Narcotic Addicts, Alcoholics, or non-users who can be informative to us in our rehabilitation.
For Twelfth Step work in institutions and hospitals, the recovered member should have at least one year or more abstinence from narcotics, sedatives and alcohol, and will be screened to protect N.A. as a whole.
6. A. All laws or amendments thereto pertaining to the society as a whole, all business matters, publicity, etc., must require a majority vote of the governing committee for enactment.

Any suggested changes pertaining to the fellowship or amendments to the By-laws shall require a two-thirds (2/3) majority.
C. Any suggested changes by four or more members active in the fellowship may be presented to the committee for consideration, by requesting a committee meeting through the service group secretary.