Published: Sunday, February 13, 2011
Alcohol-free 449 club finds temporary digs
Last summer it was an idea. Now it's a date. People wanting to dance without drinking will soon have a chance to step out at a new club.
I wrote about the 449 Club in August, when organizer Coyle Jefferson II was planning to start an alcohol-free dance and social club. The Lake Stevens man has been a recovering alcoholic since 1988.
After months of seeking a location, music and volunteers, the club's first dance is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. Saturday at Everett's Normanna Hall. That's a temporary venue as Jefferson and others work to find a permanent home for a club he hopes will become a gathering place as well as a dance hall.
“What we'd like to do is have dances every weekend, and different events,” Jefferson said. “We've got a long way to go, but it's just really coming together. The right people showed up at the right times.”
Jefferson said the club is still in the process of filing for 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. At the dance, he'll offer information about memberships in the club. For now, he's happy to offer — for $10 at the door, or $7 in advance — a place for people to enjoy music and dancing without the presence of alcohol. He hopes more than 100 people show up.
The club takes its name from the book, “Alcoholics Anonymous.” In some editions of what's known as “The Big Book” by those in the 12-step program, page 449 covers the concept of acceptance. Jefferson makes clear that the club has no formal ties to AA.
Reama Hayden, 52, has known Jefferson for more than 20 years. They were active in a north Seattle 449 Club years ago. “It's a good, clean, supportive environment of recovery,” said Hayden, who now lives in Everett. “It would especially assist people in early recovery. You need to cut loose of the old, and acquaint yourself with new ways of entertaining yourself.”
Hayden, who said he's been sober five years, has a strategy for going out without risking his sobriety. “I operate under the banner that I can go anywhere I choose to go if I have a purpose. That's my guideline,” he said. “But sometimes people don't want to be involved where there's drinking. This will give that opportunity for a clean environment.
“I think Everett would be a great place for it,” Hayden said.
For disc jockey David Anderson, providing music for Saturday's dance with his business DA Productions is more than work. “It matters to me,” said Anderson, of Everett. “I have had struggles with alcoholism.”
Anderson, 46, said he has “enjoyed a sober, free life” since 2008, when he underwent inpatient treatment for alcoholism.
“It worked very well for me, and was life-changing,” he said. “I believe that whatever works for a person to make sure their life becomes healthy and happy is the most important thing.”
The bulk of his DJ business is in wedding music, but Anderson has worked in alcohol-free venues both here and in California.
“I love it,” Anderson said. “I think it's necessary that people have other outlets to enjoy and express themselves in an environment that's safe.” He said it's unfortunate there aren't more social events for people in 12-step groups.
For Saturday's dance, he'll play a “best of” mix of music “from the '80s and'90s with some new stuff mixed in.”
Barbara Kane, 61, plans to be at the dance although she said she has no problem with alcohol herself. After reading about Jefferson's effort, the Everett area woman was drawn to participate. She said she has had family members with alcohol issues. And she thinks adults in our area need a new kind of venue.
“It tremendously appeals to me that adults — grown-up people over 30 — have somewhere to go that does not involve alcohol. The library is the only place I can think of where I can go. It's hard,” she said.
Kane has offered to help Jefferson on Saturday. “I'm making cookies for him to sell,” she said.
“It's coming together. We have about 12 volunteers now,” Jefferson said. “It's being driven by forces bigger than me.”
Julie Muhlstein: 425-339-3460, muhlstein@heraldnet.com.
Clean and sober dance
The alcohol-free 449 Club is putting on its first dance, “Off the Wall Music and Dance,” from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday at Normanna Hall, 2725 Oakes Ave. in Everett. DJ David Anderson will play a mix of R&B music, old and new hits. Tickets are $7 in advance or $10 at the door. The club needs volunteers and will have membership information at the dance. Information: 425-445-5224 or www.the449club.com.
I wrote about the 449 Club in August, when organizer Coyle Jefferson II was planning to start an alcohol-free dance and social club. The Lake Stevens man has been a recovering alcoholic since 1988.
After months of seeking a location, music and volunteers, the club's first dance is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. Saturday at Everett's Normanna Hall. That's a temporary venue as Jefferson and others work to find a permanent home for a club he hopes will become a gathering place as well as a dance hall.
“What we'd like to do is have dances every weekend, and different events,” Jefferson said. “We've got a long way to go, but it's just really coming together. The right people showed up at the right times.”
Jefferson said the club is still in the process of filing for 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. At the dance, he'll offer information about memberships in the club. For now, he's happy to offer — for $10 at the door, or $7 in advance — a place for people to enjoy music and dancing without the presence of alcohol. He hopes more than 100 people show up.
The club takes its name from the book, “Alcoholics Anonymous.” In some editions of what's known as “The Big Book” by those in the 12-step program, page 449 covers the concept of acceptance. Jefferson makes clear that the club has no formal ties to AA.
Reama Hayden, 52, has known Jefferson for more than 20 years. They were active in a north Seattle 449 Club years ago. “It's a good, clean, supportive environment of recovery,” said Hayden, who now lives in Everett. “It would especially assist people in early recovery. You need to cut loose of the old, and acquaint yourself with new ways of entertaining yourself.”
Hayden, who said he's been sober five years, has a strategy for going out without risking his sobriety. “I operate under the banner that I can go anywhere I choose to go if I have a purpose. That's my guideline,” he said. “But sometimes people don't want to be involved where there's drinking. This will give that opportunity for a clean environment.
“I think Everett would be a great place for it,” Hayden said.
For disc jockey David Anderson, providing music for Saturday's dance with his business DA Productions is more than work. “It matters to me,” said Anderson, of Everett. “I have had struggles with alcoholism.”
Anderson, 46, said he has “enjoyed a sober, free life” since 2008, when he underwent inpatient treatment for alcoholism.
“It worked very well for me, and was life-changing,” he said. “I believe that whatever works for a person to make sure their life becomes healthy and happy is the most important thing.”
The bulk of his DJ business is in wedding music, but Anderson has worked in alcohol-free venues both here and in California.
“I love it,” Anderson said. “I think it's necessary that people have other outlets to enjoy and express themselves in an environment that's safe.” He said it's unfortunate there aren't more social events for people in 12-step groups.
For Saturday's dance, he'll play a “best of” mix of music “from the '80s and'90s with some new stuff mixed in.”
Barbara Kane, 61, plans to be at the dance although she said she has no problem with alcohol herself. After reading about Jefferson's effort, the Everett area woman was drawn to participate. She said she has had family members with alcohol issues. And she thinks adults in our area need a new kind of venue.
“It tremendously appeals to me that adults — grown-up people over 30 — have somewhere to go that does not involve alcohol. The library is the only place I can think of where I can go. It's hard,” she said.
Kane has offered to help Jefferson on Saturday. “I'm making cookies for him to sell,” she said.
“It's coming together. We have about 12 volunteers now,” Jefferson said. “It's being driven by forces bigger than me.”
Julie Muhlstein: 425-339-3460, muhlstein@heraldnet.com.
Clean and sober dance
The alcohol-free 449 Club is putting on its first dance, “Off the Wall Music and Dance,” from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday at Normanna Hall, 2725 Oakes Ave. in Everett. DJ David Anderson will play a mix of R&B music, old and new hits. Tickets are $7 in advance or $10 at the door. The club needs volunteers and will have membership information at the dance. Information: 425-445-5224 or www.the449club.com.
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