Contents:
- RIP Clancy Imislund 7/7/27 to 8/24/20
- COVID-19/Coronavirus Era PG ZOOM Meeting Directory
- About The Pacific Group
RIP Clancy Imislund
- RIP Clancy Imislund
- Pacific Group ZOOM Meeting Directory
- About The Pacific Group
- The Pacific Group Meeting in Brentwood on Wednesdays at University Synagogue
- Bellflower Big Book Speaker Meeting (Pacific Group) in Bellflower on Mondays
- Sunday Night Speaker Meeting (Pacific Group) in Newport Beach on Sundays at Newport Beach AA Club
- MORE INFO ON SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AA
“We are heartbroken at the passing of our managing director and beloved friend Clancy Imislund. He has been the heart and soul of The Midnight Mission since joining the organization in 1974. Clancy’s profound impact and influence have transformed the course of countless lives worldwide. For 46 years, he worked relentlessly helping disenfranchised people in Skid Row find a pathway to self-sufficiency. As a leader in the 12-step community for more than 61 years, Clancy’s legacy has reached the farthest corners of the world. Today, we grieve this enormous loss with his family and friends and pray for their comfort. RIP Clancy. Thank you for your love and service”. #themidnightmission #themidnight #thisistheday #thisistheday #clancyimislund”
From: The Midnight Mission on Facebook.
Pacific Group ZOOM Meeting Directory
During this unprecedented COVID-19 era, The Pacific Group, ever organized and dedicated, has their own online meeting directory: www.ZOOMPG.com. Be well and happy hunting!
About The Pacific Group
As I write several entries covering some of the good meetings and clubs of Alcoholics Anonymous in Los Angeles and Orange County, I couldn’t help but want to start off by featuring The Pacific Group.
The Pacific Group is a tightly knit group of recovering adults who are typically professionals and take recovery very seriously. The “Group” is filled with those who genuinely are practicing a program of recovery that is founded upon helping others. Members of the Pacific Group are typically incredibly active in AA, and will be a great resource for help getting started. They typically go to meetings several times a week and participate in AA related “social” functions like celebrating members’ sobriety milestones by going to a “watch” the night before. A “watch” typically consists of members who are having an annual sobriety milestone gathering the night before some members’ sobriety “birthday” milestone and spending time together until 12:00 AM (often at a restaurant like Norm’s!) This is one of many social activities arranged by Pacific Group members outside of actual AA meetings.
Connection to Clancy Imislund
Clancy is an AA “celebrity” for dedicating so much of his life to the community of AA and helping men and women recover. Clancy was very active in the Pacific Group in the past but I think attends sporadically at best due to age and health (as of my last knowledge in the mid 00’s). Members of the Pacific Group have a weekend ritual of spending the day playing softball nearby and then actually going to Clancy’s house (on the West Side of Los Angeles) for food and fellowship.
Clancy and his wife have been helping people for decades, inspired by the program of AA. I think of him as an influential figure in the AA community. Clancy’s method of working with newcomers is a “hardline AA” approach with strict requirements and lofty demands upon the newcomer’s who seek his help. I remember hearing that Clancy’s family of sponsees were required to dress formally for meetings and also were strongly pressured to participate regularly. I also remember that Clancy would work with “low bottom drunks” from places like the Midnight Mission, which is admirable. It’s possible his regimented demands upon his sponsees were borne out of experience trying to get very desperate people back on their feet and living an upstanding, legal and rewarding life.
I’ve gotten some surprising vitriol in response to this post which I completely didn’t expect, and apparently Clancy is a controversial figure outside (and inside) AA. But from my personal experience, I was able to participate in the below meetings and there were never any expectations foisted upon me. I was exposed to some pretty inspiring people and heard a lot of people living the solution of recovery. I also know that if you are involved in the Pacific Group, there is a recovery related gathering happening within your support system literally every day and night of the week. Anyone who understands the first 90 days of cold turkey sobriety will understand the obvious benefits of this. No AA group is for everyone, but there’s a lot of thriving people in this community.
The Pacific Group Meeting in Brentwood on Wednesdays at University Synagogue
(11960 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles)
Arrival time for the Pacific Group Wednesday night meeting is 6:30 pm. Parking is available across Sunset Blvd at the Catholic Church ($2 per car).
This AA meeting is what I consider the true “home group” for the Pacific Group. I always enjoyed this meeting greatly because filled with so much long term sobriety and the birthday milestone celebration was almost glamorous with many people dressing up for the occasion. However, this isn’t the easiest meeting to get to or park near. I think the size of the congregation and formality of the affair somewhat make it less accessible to the newcomer. Also, this is a “speaker” meeting, not a “discussion” meeting, so the therapeutic opportunity to “share” in the group setting is not available. Many of the same people can be found at other meetings throughout the week and I would almost recommend starting at a meeting like one of the below before attending this Brentwood meeting. “Pretty good” for the newcomer.
Bellflower Big Book Speaker Meeting (Pacific Group) in Bellflower on Mondays
(9603 Belmont St, Bellflower)
This is great meeting for anyone at any stage of recovery. I also consider this a Pacific Group meeting although it’s not labeled as such in any directory. According to the current online meeting directory, there is a beginner Q&A and discussion that begins at 6:15, but the speaker meeting that I am familiar with begins at 7:30 and there is a great group of people who attend are dedicated to recovery. I feel this group of people are passionate about AA and the setting is less formal than the other Pacific Group meetings that I will discuss in this post. It is an excellent place to get inspired by a ton of thriving people in recovery. Great for the newcomer.
Sunday Night Speaker Meeting (Pacific Group) in Newport Beach on Sundays at Newport Beach AA Club
(414 32nd Street, Newport Beach)
I consider this meeting a Pacific Group meeting, although it’s not referred to as such in the meeting directory. Many of the people attend the other meetings listed here. I recommend this meeting to the newcomer, it is a speaker meeting, allowing someone who is shy to quietly observe without pressure to share. There is great socializing before and after (and during the break). Some people might criticize this meeting for being a distraction from recovery due to the social nature and mixed company. Others might be put off by the “Newport Beach” factor: it’s a little bit more glamorous and could be tacky, superficial, or even exclusionary to many in need of recovery. If you are a “tough guy” tattooed biker, probably wouldn’t enjoy the crowd at this meeting. (You would probably like most definitely enjoy the Bellflower Big Book meeting above or either “Soup Kitchen” meetings in Newport Beach on Tuesday). Pretty good for the newcomer.
MORE INFO ON SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AA
-
- The Pacific Group of AA in Southern California
- Dog on the Roof – Militant Alcoholics Anonymous Group in Anaheim, CA
- The City of Orange Alcoholics Anonymous Has the Right Meeting for Just About Anybody
- LA and Orange County AA Meeting Locators
- AA Meetings in Anaheim (Orange County, CA)
- Charle St: Powerful Drug Rehab in Costa Mesa, California
- Gay and LGBTQA Friendly AA Meetings in Orange County, CA
The Pacific Group and leader god Clancy is a fast track gateway to serious mental illness. How could it not be? You are exposing yourself to every kind of degenerate, scammer and predator constantly refreshed from the great downward spiraling metropolis. Healthier to go it alone. Especially if you have anything of value left in your life. Common sense.for one. God “luck”.
Hitler Clancy came to the log cabin and yelled from his podium-“SHAVE” to handsome bearded men after they complimented him for his talk.(He’s an ugly little worm.)
Wow. Yeah, I believe that. I’ve heard him speak twice…and to me he was an average speaker….but he did do a lot for a lot of people. Oh, yeah, and I believe Jesus had a beard, too.
HOW MANY PEOPLE HAS CLANCY KILLED-HE PLAY DOCTOR AND HE IS NO DOCTOR .THERE ARE MANY MENTALLY ILL PEOPLE THAT NEED MEDS WHICH CLANCY WILL KICK OUT ANYBODY WHO ARE ON MEDICATION-HOW MANY MAN AND WOMEN HAVE COMMITTED SUICIDE -ITS WELL KNOW THAT THERE IS MANY OVER ALL THESE YEARS.
I was there for 8 years still sober 28 years later. Where you there ? Nobody committed suicide. He kept people sober. Snowflakes don’t apply. When people had respect for authority they were offended when told something they didn’t like. Yes he was old school and it wouldn’t work with the soft liberal minded weak people that live in Cal
I can relate 🙏❤️
YES. He killed my friend thru his anti-antidepressant rhetoric. It’s a shame he didn’t die sooner. How many lives would have been saved??????
Clam up and calm down..for heaven sake.qiut judging the man…Maria ouospensyia or rafealla ottiano would be more forgiving towards the man be they here
Well I got sober in 1985 in PG. Clancy was tough but people stayed sober. The group wasn’t for pussys that get offended when getting put in there place. I was in cal for 7 years. Being a drunk and having rules helped because most alcoholics have no discipline that’s what got them there. I guess for the weak minded liberal youth of today that want to be cuddled and told sweet stories the group Is not for them. Clancy saved my life and many others. RIP Clancy !
thank you-the man changed my life-got 28 yrs-cant beleive all this critical shit-the man’s dead for God sake..all these snowflakes couldnt handle what we did-so the numbers show-and the ‘medication”what BS…Sponsored a few numbed out women-briefly-its not possible-they cant hear us…no compassion/no empathy-and many were 300 lbs…..some are holding mtgs in hteor homes here..its off the charts nonsense-petty bully BS….sad….no positions, no sponsors, no sobriety…..
If not for Clancy and the Pacific Group I would be dead. Went to other meetings for years to no avail. It took the hard line approach to get me sober. 34 years my life has been good.
RIP Clancy
If it keeps people sober, and helps make people’s lives better, who fucking cares?
I used to be a member of this group (~4 yrs). Yes, it keeps people sober, but it also destroys people’s lives. I’ve seen people be pressured into stopping taking their prescribed meds for bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and depression. (They say that it’s just ‘untreated alcoholism’ and if the person does AA hard/well enough, they will be cured.) I have seen people relapse, become homeless, or go to jail after they stopped their meds. I have known 3 people to have committed suicide after stopping their meds or refusing to take prescribed psychiatric meds because of this group, and one of my friends almost did. The worst part is, the group BLAMES THE MENTALLY ILL PERSON for relapsing/becoming homeless/going to jail/dying. They say “oh [he/she] didn’t do AA like we told [him/her] to.” The leader of the group, Clancy, used to sexually harass women. He made a disgusting comment to my newly-sober sponsee and she was mortified – almost didn’t come back to meetings. I have heard him use homophobic slurs. I have heard of him using racial slurs as well. It is a dangerous place. Unless you fit the mold and do everything they say, the way they say to, when they say to, you are shamed and it wreaks havoc on a person. I finally left the group when they told me to ignore my doctor and stop my bipolar meds after I was honest about it. It took me as long as it did to leave because they also tell you things like “if you don’t go to PG, you will probably relapse and DIE.” It’s a psychologically damaging place for a lot of people.
I was 10 years sober when I ended up in Clancy’s office
He changed my life forever … I Will be forever great full
for what he thought me about my illness called Alcoholism
Today I am 33 yrs sober and I miss him more than anybody … R.I.P Clancy
Not surprised to hear of this group. In fact, if I didn’t know better-and who says I don’t- I would say this was the brainchild of an ex of mine. Predatory, serial sport fucker, and last I saw, militant AAer. I just assume “Clancy” is as fake as it sounds. J. Jerkoff
thinks he’s ALL GOOD!!
Hitler Clancy imislund dictator of the Nazi pacific group clones ridicules people on how they look from his power-addicted podium. He yelled at handsome bearded men at the log cabin-“shave” after they complimented him.He’s an ugly snake. The midnight mission does make up for his [email protected]
Hitler,trump,and Clancy-the same.
Really hitler and tying both clancy and a duly elected president to nazis…use facts not your brainwashed feelings. Besides, if you don’t like a meeting, walk and find another one.
His message, experience, strength and hope had a huge imprint upon the quality of my recovery, depth of faith and inspiring vigor for life in general. He had a particular wit that brought anyone, who would listen, to the forefront of confronting the disease of alcoholism. I heard him speak many times in Hawaii and Socal. The most inspiring talk he gave was at the Blaisdell Arena at Naval Station Pearl Harbor, where he was keynote speaker for the U.S. Navy’s new treatment facility there back in 1986. Clancy said “The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous is one of two books inspired by God”.
yes before you ask I have many years in aa and while I had many years as a psyc nurse and I can honestly say that I never forced you’ve caused and thank god ill never4 anyone to give up their psyc meds without ever not having I only hope whatever god you pray to forforgives your sorry sass sorry but ill never refer to you as the big chappy to leave my name dean c
How many strokes did you have while typing this comment you wackadoo?
28 years later, I have a strong foundation & I still like to meet Clancy I, Anthony H, Chuck C., etc on AA grounds. I want to speak & greet. Are these folks Log Cabin AAers as well…
I’ve met Clancy a couple of times. First time was at my 3rd aa birthday where he embarrassed me. I was so mad that I stayed sober to get a 4 year chip. The next time we talked was when I was sober 26 years. I was in Thailand at a round-up and there was Clancy still sharing the message as the featured speaker, I think he had 46 years. It was one of the thrills of my life. Maybe I was a low bottom drunks, but I think he’s always spreading the message of service and sobriety.
Arrival time for the Pacific Group Wednesday night meeting is 6:30 pm. Parking is available across Sunset Blvd at the Catholic Church ($2 per car).
Free Parking is also available on any of the residential streets near the meeting. It’s a very safe area in Brentwood. There are no restricted parking signs.
Ditto on the FREE and EASY parking anywhere south of sunset on the residential streets. I suggest coming up from the south (not via Sunset) to avoid traffic. I never have trouble finding parking. Sometimes they have people from the meeting assigned to patrol the streets and ask “where did you park? and “are you going to the meeting?” I just tell them I’m going to a friend’s house or going for a walk :) They are not parking enforcement, but they pretend like they are. Lol.
Also I don’t know why this guy ^^ is saying arrival time is 6:30 pm. Huh? The meeting starts around 745 or 8:00.
If AA members are actually preventing people From attending meetings, who take depression or bipolar medicine. They are in violation of the third tradition. It is one thing to refuse to sponsor someone on “meds”. It’s a whole nother thing to ban them from going to a meeting. I doubt if Clancy did that.
hitler Clancy kills
I first met Clancy after I’d been around AA perhaps18 years in Jesseville, AR where my parents had retired. I was the out-of-towner at one end of the table, Clancy I the other at the opposite end in this Fellowship single-wide trailer for all who needed some hope. Glad I”m now all-in in SO CAL, sponsor is member of PG group, I get to keep all my established meetings, just asked to add one of hers. No problem…grateful I have no desire to drink or drug today, no medical need for mood stablizers, happy in my skin! I’ll even dress up if it means I hear the message I need any given day! My life’s not always perfect, but SO MUCH BETTER….just for today!
Beautiful. Thank you for an inspiring message.
Thank you! :-)
The bottom line …. No one can make anyone sober. There are many methods used., i.e. Intervention, AA, “white knuckling it”, sober living houses, ad infinitum. An alcoholic has a spiritual, physical, mental disease that will kill him/her, and/or ruin the lives of family members, friends, and others who become their unintentional “victims”.
If the alcoholic IS NOT WILLING, OPEN, HONEST enough to admit to himself and others he is an alcoholic and
His life has become completely unmanageable, most efforts at helping him don’t work.
There are no rules in AA. There is no cult. People from all walks of life are welcome. AA does not discriminate. There are as many different personalities in AA as there are people on this earth.
That said, no one is forced to do or follow any certain person, group, or club house. Some people become circuit speakers because their message attracts followers. The people of AA decide amongst themselves, of their own free will, who they want to listen to, if anyone, and, where they choose to go to their meetings. If a certain person, such as Clancy L., has a gift of speaking that attracts multiple members, then why is anyone bothered that Clancy L. has been determined by the group as a whole to be a speaker, a sponsor, and a leader?
If “it” works for even ONE person, the world is a better place because of “it”, ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS.
Actually there ARE rules in AA-The Twelves Steps, Twelve Traditions and Twelve Concepts are 36 separate spiritual principles. Principles are defined in The Oxford Dictionary as : rules or codes of conduct.
Not really rules. 12 Traditions uses “should” and “ought” and 12 Steps are “but suggestions only.” The word principle is not defined as you say it is, nor does anything in AA suggest a strict rule. In fact, all that’s required for membership is a desire to stop drinking. You can be drunk as a skunk at every AA meeting you go to and still be a full-fledged member.
Yes the only requirement for membership it’s a desire to stop drinking. But in the big book, it does state that certain requirements need to be taken in order to live happy productive lives.
…though only one requirement to be a member of AA; “a desire to stop drinking”.
If the shoe fits wear it. I appreciate structured discipline of Pacific group and have only gone to them a few times. Staying sober is difficult if your a real alcoholic. 1 in 10 approximately make it when you statistically follow a group of drunks try their hand at sobriety. People have their best intentions while trying to maintain sobriety and help others stay sober. Program is designed that way. I’m by no means any authority on this subject. I’ve had many relapses in my 11 years of attempted sobriety. This time around I have 6.5 months sober. God willing I get it this time. I believe AA can help me stay sober if I let it. Please help me God. I will do footwork through AA and VA. I know where my best thinking gets me. I’ll try your way God, AA and VA. Adios internet. Thanks for letting me post. Jack P
Just for today dude … you are my hero!
Lisa thames has been arrested on 20000 bail
For stealing 60000 worth of merchandise including a 9
Mm glock
Her sponsor is being fooled by a sociopathic liar and thief her boyfriend joe is in a halfway house using
My credit card to stay at the Stanhope during the day to
Fuck lisa. I have reason to believe he has the gun and has charged 1400 on
Uber
On my credit cards. Someone is going to get hurt
I know of three crystal meth addicts who use the pacific group for sexual and financial victims. One was recently convicted of a grand theft felony served 60 days at county jail has 3 year probation and 30 days of cleaning freeways. She has a sponsor after being fired by 3 non pacific group sponsors. The people who run this meeting thinks all is fine if they wear suits and dresses. I meet Clancy who is a mean rude narcissistic sociopath.
Clancy is ugly.
hitler Clancy imislund is the most evil dictator in the universe…insidious
Clancy is a pig and that is an insult to pigs everywhere. Holy shit are these Stepper disciples brainwashed! Keep coming back!
In my opinion the pacific group has more active drug addicts than any other AA group. It’s one humongous fraud
I know of 3 members who are active crystal meth users with sponsors etc who use AA to find sexual and financial victims. One of who was convicted of a felony 3 months ago served 60 in county jail has 3 years of probation and 30 days of cleaning highways. The idiots who run the machine think their ok if they wear suits and dresses. When in fact they are looking for victims
AA is a religious cult and Clancy is one of the cult leaders. AA only has a 5-10% success rate for alcohol. It is so low for opioids that it is probably a reason for the growing opioid crisis. Someone is more likely to die of an OD immediately after getting out of a 12 Step rehab than if they had continues to use on their own.
Despite whar Aa teaches, MAT medication assisted treatment, what is often called the Sinclair method has a 70% success rate of alcohol. And methadone and even more so newer similar drugs have a 50% success rate for opioids.
In addition there are non-cult self-help programs for addiction, such as HAMS, SMART, LifeRing, and Women for Sobriety.
Yes, the religious cult of being told one is powerless and needs to turn one’s will and life over to a Higher Power, which often means turning one’s will over to a cult leader like Clancy, works for some people, but for obvious reasons it doesn’t work for most people and, therefore, most people should avoid it.
Hahaha- what an idiot. You have NO idea what AA is or isn’t. But ignorance is bliss.
I’m not an AA member. I’ve been a psychiatrist for 32 years and would NEVER prescribe meds to a pure alcoholic. I send them to AA and watch more than half RECOVER not just get sober. From what I’ve heard from them is sobriety sucks. That’s why they drink. And as far as opioids go- they shouldn’t be in AA. That’s why it’s called ALCOHOLICS Anonymous.
thank you for responding to that ignorant rant from teh above person!
Weird, you sound too uneducated to be a psychiatrist.
The Sinclair method is effective. You conveniently neglected to mention that it requires extensive psychotherapy at a cost of thousands of dollars for most people. AA is not a cult. There are some idiots in AA who behave as if it were a cult. The low success rates you quote were established by interviewing people who went to an initial AA meeting and then interviewing them again about a year later. If you were instead to track people who ACTUALLY WORK THE PROGRAM, you would find that people who make it past the 5th step have a far higher success rate, over 50%.
There are many different ways to achieve sobriety and lots of different programs, as you note. Addicts who wish to be clean and sober should find one that works for them. But I see nothing to be gained from making negative remarks about programs I have never tried.
This is an excellent post. Thank you. I’ve been a PG member and sober for 30 years.
Who’s your sponsor?
Wow. I was 22 when I came to AA. My last drink was 6/6/74. Yes, I am a first-nighter and am coming up on 44 years. I started with the Welcome Group in MD. Sober in Maryland, Minnesota, and MD again. My home group now is Living Sober in Crownsville, MD. Thank you AA!
I had the most productive time in my life when I was a member of the Pacific Group.. All of the people that have slammed Clancy gave more than likely have never been to a Pacific Group meeting or ever met him.. His fifty plus years working in Downtown L.A.at The Midnight Mission gave Clancy the perfect opportunity to help with the gnarly drunks that nobody else would take on. His meetings, service work and the Midnight Mission, he has personally helped over 75,000 alcoholics get sober.
. That is more than anyone of us will ever do. His lifetime of experience and his no-nonsense approach is not for everybody, but I was loved by people in PG. I had a structured life based in recovery and service and my life changed dramatically as a result.
Just sitting in random meetings talking about my problems worked for some years. But PG taught me how to be a grown up girl with great manners, and build a solid foundation that includes being of service to other individuals, and finally able to then go out into the world to reach my dreams. .Clancy is a gifted, interesting and intuitive man with deficits as well as character assets, as we all do, However, on the other side of the coin, you have a man that has been of service to more alcoholics than anybody I’ve met. His sponsor was Chuck C; a revered and humble man who influenced Clancy .
If anyone wants to take their sobriety, or needs to make some fundamental changes for the better, – This group of special folks will be willing to help you change, go thoroughly, through the steps get better and go out into the big world and pursue my dreams. If you feel you need a more structured home group, than give PG a visit.
Lastly, I’m sorry to report that Clancy suffered a small stroke while in Canada and is recovering at his daughter’s home at this time.., I send my heartfelt thoughts and prayers for Clancy and his family.as he recovers.
Thank you for a very lovely and positive update on Clancy and the PG.
And yet he defended someone who basically encouraged sexual exploitation of young vulnerable women.
Just my personal experience, both good and bad.
I got “sober” in NJ in 1992, but white knuckled it for 3 years because I didn’t believe in God, didn’t work steps or want anything to do with the Big Book. I kept sober one cigarette at a time (2 pack a day smoker) out of sheer spite as my home group had a box pool going on when I’d go out.
After three years of living like this, I told my gf I was going to kill myself as 3 years of all my fears, resentments and shame without drugs and alcohol were a worse bottom than losing everything which drove me into the program in the first place. My gf at the time begged me to at least try the fellowship side of the program before killing myself (I was kind of an isolationist). so I promised her to try the Fellowship for 7 days and would then blow my brains out.
On day 4, I went to a meeting on the campus of Princeton U out of sheer orneriness – I was homeless with a GED and hated yupipes. I put up my hand and gave my tired speech that I was 3 years sober but had never gotten a phone list and if people wanted to give me their phone numbers great, if not fine too. I went back to the welfare hotel I was living in and called the first number on the list.
A gentleman by the name of Bill S. answered and asked me if I was the guy with the living problem at the meeting earlier. I bristled at that and said I had a drug and alcohol problem, not a living problem. He told me that people who live in welfare motels, stink from not bathing or brushing their teeth and wearing clothes that look they haven’t been changed in weeks definitely had a living problem and if I wanted help, he could provide it. I admitted he had a point and with nothing left to lose I asked for his help. He then told me he was my sponsor and would be at my motel in 10 minutes to begin my Big Book Boot Camp as he called it.
From that point on we completed a step a week in the Big Book, except my 4th which took 6 weeks for a 44 page comprehensive spreadsheet on fears, resentments, harms cause others and sexual harms caused others. In this time I acquired a relationship with a God of my own misunderstanding, cleared the wreckage of my past and was able to move forward in life without self-loathing.
For the next 6 years I was a Big Book Brownshirt telling people they were working the program wrong and if they didn’t do it strictly by the Big Book they wouldn’t stay sober. I ordered all newcomers to take the cotton out of their ears and shove it in their moth and shut up. I derided people for telling warstories and wanted to only hear and speak about the Big Book and the steps. I was an insufferable bastard.
Right after my 10-year Anniversary my wonderful job in Manhattan transferred me to St. Louis. I tried my AA Nazi ways there and was received with bemused skepticism and love and tolerance. Over time I realized there was more to AA than Bill S Sobriety. If you have not guessed by now, Bill S was a sponsee and disciple of Clancy I. I learned that most of the AA tradition in the midwest came from Dr. Bob and was more about the heart and spirituality and love and tolerance.
In 2004, I called Bill S to tell him I was getting married and would be honored if he would come to Princeton for my wedding. My bride to be was from NJ and would move out here after our honeymoon. He called back and left me a message that he wanted nothing to do with NJ AA, he had moved to NYC and didn’t want to hear from me or anyone from NJ AA again. At first I was terribly hurt and called him back and left a nasty message full of resentment. After calming down, I realized the man had saved my life and I have respected his wish to not be bothered since.
The following year, Clancy I came to St. Louis for the Spiritual Homecoming. After his talk, I shook his hand and thanked him for his sponsee that saved my life. He probably didn’t know what I was talking about, but it felt good for me.
So now, 26 years years sober, I can think back to the man from the tree of Clancy I that saved my life and taught me the Big Book in depth. I can discard the toxic elitism and one size fits all as well. I currently run a Big Book Study in downtown St. Charles where we share our experience strength and hope with all the newcomers that drug court throws at us. I share with them the Big Book as it was taught to me, but also the joy and loving embrace of the Fellowship. We are not a glum lot and enjoy the path of sobriety together.
Sobriety has taught me to take the good and leave the bad.
Man. Thank you for sharing your story. Really touched my heart. Changed my perspective of C.I. And also God way of using people to touch others hearts is so beyond my intellect.
I don’t think anyone has a right to say anything about Pacific Group unless they went there, immersed themselves completely and spent years there. I did, so I could say with honesty pacific group is a cult, it’s members follow their sponsors directions because they believe God speaks through them and if you go against anything they demand they stop talking to you.
If you’re lucky you just come to your senses and move on. Unfortunately, I bought so hard into what they sold I ended up killing my only child I would ever have because my sponsor “directed” me to have an abortion because her sponsor said I was only a year sober and decided I wasn’t ready to be a mother.
At the time I was young and was in deep need of psychological help they prevented me from seeking and listened to them.
I’m only grateful My case wasn’t the same as a few others I knew who were forced (sponser directed) to stop taking their medication or else they couldn’t be considered sober and they killed themselves.
My only prayer is that PG collapses upon Clancy’s death and another desperate unsuspecting person doesn’t fall prey to this cult
Well maybe if you considered thinking for yourself and realized people have different opinions, just like the world around you, you would’ve done differently. There’s no such thing as an AA mandate. I’ve never found it necessary to have anybody actually run my life. Perhaps you did it and need someone to blame because that’s easier than taking personal responsibility and feeling guilt, remorse and shame.
Oh, for Pete’s sake! Clancy was my sponsor for a decade. Spoke with him every day. Best decision I ever made in my life. He is not a monster, not a bigot, not on an ego trip. He is passionately dedicated to AA and his sponsees. Everything he asks of sponsees is predicated on his belief that peope should come to AA and have the best possible life experience they can imagine. His attitude seems to be that if he is going to help you, he wants you to be able to go ANYWHERE in society and feel comfortable, from Capitol Hill to Skid Row. That’s the point about the dressup. And it works.
BTW, I am gay, and have had to take psychiatric drugs. Never a problem with Clancy or the PG.
And, yes, the PG has had its share of creeps and exploiters. Still has some of the best AA around.
I live in Malibu where the Pacific Group should start a meeting. People from the many rehabs here go on forever, never put a dollar in the basket and poach speakers like me to be the main speakers at their Saturday Night Meeting. Malibu has lost so many great meetings because we didn’t put out cans for people who smoke, didn’t guard the parking lots, etc.
We ended up being counciled by Clancy who helped us adapt his Wednesday night meeting into our Saturday Night Meeting because we were losing it. Thank God for Clancy. He has helped treat over 75,000 alcoholics for his 55 years of sobriety.
The only people who do not like the Pacific Group are the people who don’t go there.
If you take medication, find yourself a sponsor who does not follow some of those rules. I take medication for depression and my sponsor has no issue with it at all. I just do not share my medical issues on a group level.
When you have helped over 75,000 of the most hopeless variety of drinker, then I will listen to Clancy’s haters. Until then, good luck with your sobriety and be of service every single day. Also, take a commitment at every meeting you go to.
I have never been as loved as I have been in the Pacific Group.
Correction, “if you take medication there are sponsors there that do let you do that. Find one of them.”
Clancy was a hypocrite. He did not have a sponsor and he spent years cheating on his wife with a “sponsee” he is a jerk and would yell at people and belittle them. Always made sexual jokes to women and talked about his viagra use. Sad he was seen as an idol. He was just a drunk. Should have been humble
I hate that. Some of these old timers are PIGS.
I understood from one of Bob E.’s books that Clancy was referred to , by women, as ‘he with the wandering hands’. This is useful information as is his obvious ability to be a circuit speaker.
Parking for Wednesday night Pacific Group meeting in Brentwood. You can park on any of the residential streets in the neighborhood. Sometimes they have people standing around on corners to discourage people from parking there, but they are not parking enforcement officials. I would avoid the $2 lot because it fills up pretty fast and it is “stack parking” which means if you have an emergency you will not be able to leave because your car will be blocked in until after the meeting. There are usually free cookies & coffee at the break – the break usually starts right around 8:15pm, which is a fine time to arrive.
Clancy was my sponsor and Iam 34 yrs sober. Clancy also donated his computers to my center in south central, LOS Angeles A Place called home. Most incredible man…I am so proud to say Clancy was my sponsor and that if all goes well in May I will be sober 35 yrs. thank you Clancy. Thank you for your yard on Saturday. Softball In the park. Thank you for all the men and women you sponsored that have gone on to help thousands
I got sober in So California in 1981. Loved the many times I heard Clancy speak. He is definitely a giant among men. I do hope that he is doing well. The last I saw him was at the Palm Springs round up about eight years ago… He was one of the Speakers and was fabulous.
Thanks, Darryl. I took your advice by parking on a residential street (no parking restrictions whatsoever) near the meeting. There were plenty of parking spots just South of Sunset Blvd. It’s actually a shorter walk than the parking lot. I arrived around 8:15 just before the 15-20 minute break. I listened to ALL of the main speaker then exited before the birthdays, beating all the Pacific Group traffic A few people snarled and gave me dirty looks as I left early (before birthdays), but I smiled back like I’m taught to do in AA. Next time I plan to arrive closer to 830, then maybe I will slip out a little bit before the speaker finishes. We all know how these talks end :)
Shave! Lol! I would translate that to… ‘If you want to recover from your alcohol addiction, work on not looking or smelling like a gorilla so you can be of service to others’… {full stop}.
hi if a message can save alcoholics i do not see a problem I live in Australia but have tapes and cd’s from lots of your meetings in the US. Including PG. I am just over 29 years and 7 months and have met Clancy a number of times when he has arrived in Australia to speak. I am sober enough to hear the message of the steps he exudes in his being and take that to my sponsees. Not sure where all the haters and neg ravers are from. but guys listen for the message not the messenger. Thats all he is a gifted messenger. my sponsor complete opposite in personality but message the same. different delivery but same message.
Alcoholics Anonymous for alcoholics only not for drug addicts or anyone else. read the book. written primarily for alcoholics. Does mention drugs in Bill W story but that’s all. But he just mentions it that’s all.
I understand Clancy is a man people seem to love or hate. Our program teaches love and tolerance. Thus rather Taman being a producer of chaos i will contribute to the good. Regardless of a personal impression of Clancy he is one I owe my sobriety to. I got sober in Omaha Nebraska 1/1/81. On my year sober one of Clancy’s sponsees help me in ways to many to explain. His name was Dick M and his wife is in AA also. Dick and Clancy talked weekly till Dick passed sober. Anytime I heard Clancy speak I always thanked him for having played an important role in my sober life through his sponsee. My sponsor did not like Dick M but thank God for principles before personalities. I owe Clancy a huge thanks Dick.allowed me to believe I could stay sober the rest of my life. But there is a caught you can only do it one day at a time. Thank you Clancy I for helping me stay sober through your helping others all over the world. Laurie Koenig
I understand Clancy is a man people seem to love or hate. Our program teaches love and tolerance. Thus rather Than being a producer of chaos i will contribute to the good. Regardless of my personal impression of Clancy he is domeone I owe my sobriety to. I got sober in Omaha Nebraska 1/1/81. On my year sober, one of Clancy’s sponsees help me in ways to many to explain. His name was Dick M and his wife is in AA also. Dick and Clancy talked weekly till Dick passed sober just a couple years ago. Anytime I heard Clancy speak which was many, I always thanked him for having played an important role in my sober life through his sponsee. My sponsor did not like Dick M or Clancy. but thank God for principles before personalities. I owe Clancy a huge thanks. Dick M.allowed me to believe I could stay sober the rest of my life. But he said, there is a catch you can only do it one day at a time. Thank you Clancy I for helping me stay sober through your helping others all over the world. Laurie Koenig
I first met Clancy on one of his tapes in early recovery. I then met him in person when i was 4 yrs sober at an AA convention in Brisbane Qld Aust.
After i brought a newcomer to him who was scared to approach him, and watched him welcome this newcomer with pure Love and Joy for this alky. He told me that i had a heart of Gold, Cold Hard and Yellow.
I am now 27yrs sober and have been from my first meeting.
Thank God that there are still people in AA who care and carry the message of Alcoholics Anonymous, instead of the watered down Rehab and psyche bullshit.
There are two types of people in AA.
1 The ones who carry the message.
2 The ones who criticize these people.
I am Grateful that Clancy sticks to his strict AA principles for he and countless others in AA who took time out of their experience to pass the AA message to me.
Although i am 27 yrs sober i also know that i have a daily reprieve contingent on my spiritual condition which i keep healthy by living this way of life.
Don’t let your alcoholic brain take you away because you don’t like the messenger. If you don’t like Clancy’s approach you can always join the half measures balcony meetings. there are big crowds there.
I have been to many meetings all over the place and if anything is going to make me drink again it would be some of these so called AA meetings.
Good luck and may your god go with you..
I had occasion to go to PG meetings and met many PGers in the 90s including the controversial figure mentioned herein. My experience there and everywhere else in AA has been this: when there’s a central or revered figure in a cloister or group, it’s over already.
Personalities have transcended principles, which in itself goes against the very foundation of what is supposed to work for AAs.
AA is about one drunk talking to another… not one drunk talking to many about what they should wear and how they should conduct themselves. While this may work for some, it’s a subsect and really isn’t AA at all.
Someone here said if the PG has helped even one person stay sober it’s worth it. I hope that’s true but I think PG and groups like it have driven many more people off the true principles and ideology of AA than it has saved.
I applaud anyone who finds a way to string together moments of sobriety no matter how they do it, so I don’t wish to be too critical, but the PG is only for a select few, and “special sobriety” is an oxymoron.
Whatever happened to humility and anonymity?
Exactly! Thank you
I just heard that clancy died. Thats a bummer. He helped countless people. He will be missed but his legacy will live on in all the people that he helpped and things like online speaker tapes.
I heard Clancey speak in Santa Barbara in 1987 when I was newly sober. He was a great speaker who carried the message. Years later I was able to visit him at the Midnight Mission.
God bless you, Clancey. You were a good and trusted servant to us.
Mike W
April 8, 1987
RIP Clancy
Thank you for it all
A great messenger; a great message
In 1970 I began my recovery and heard Clancy speak at the Brentwood Newcomers Meeting. My impression of him was that he knew how powerful addiction was and that alcoholics had strong egos that did not like following rules. It appeared his intention was to break down that resistance and opposition to suggestions, by offering rules and requirements for sobriety, setting up the benchmark for “willingness” to go to any length for sobriety. He did not present a soft mattress to fall on. Recovery would require hard work and willingness to follow those who had gone before. No doubt he was a taskmaster. He once asked me after I had spoken at Brentwood why I had never joined the Pacific Group and I replied, “I know what you require and frankly I’d get drunk” … He paused, looked at me and said, “yes. You’re right.” … and we both laughed. He was a different sponsor for many thousands he helped, but they are still carrying the message so I think it worked for them. I am sober 50 years now through different meetings. There’s something in AA for everyone.
I GOT SOBER IN THE PACIFIC GROUP IN 1977, 43 YEARS OF SOBRIETY NOW.. CLANCY I, IS A GOOD EXAMPLE FOR MANY SUFFERING ALCOHOLICS .HE AND THE PACIFIC SAVED MY LIFE. THEY INSTILLED STRUCTURE IN MY LIFE AND I LEARNED SELF DISCIPLINE, ATTRIBUTES THAT WORK INTUITIVELY IN MY LIFE EVERYDAY. I’MA GRATEFUL RECOVERING ALCOHOLIC WHO MOURNS THE LOSS OF CLANCY I.
RIP Clancy. You have been and will continue to be an inspiration in my journey.
My sobriety date is 2-13-98. I am sober through the loving grace of a higher power, the fellowship of AA, good sponsorship guiding me through the recovery process, and the willingness to focus many hours on loving and serving others to the best of my ability.
I only met Clancy in person and attended the PG a couple times, but as I traveled the country on business, I spent hundreds of hours listening to recordings of AA speaker talks, many of which partially credited their sobriety to exposure to PG influence.
I have a large home group of over 100 members, but was astounded and a bit discomforted by the mass congregation of 800-900 members in my visits to the PG main group. My discomfort was about me and the huge crowd and the different meeting formalities, not about them. They still had plenty of coffee, a bunch of smokers outside for me to hang with, and a strong focus on 12 step principles.
Many meetings in the country observe different formalities, both regional and meeting specific. When I visit meetings outside my familiar area, it is important that I keep an open mind, filtering out my perceived negatives (“they ain’t doin it right”) and focusing on the message of recovery. My higher power is in attendance. I just have to listen for him (and maybe invite him along when I attend).
I am not perfect and Clancy was not perfect. We are just human beings. But, I encourage anyone to snag a couple recordings of Clancy I. and listen for the basic recovery message. It is there as clearly for him as it is for me: As the result of taking the 12 steps and making the process an ongoing part of my life, I have had an awakening. I’ve changed. And I no longer have to live in the shame and guilt and negative attitude that perpetuated the cycle of active addiction.
Thanks Clancy. I hope to see you and many others when I get to the “big meeting in the sky”.
When I think of AA I feel safe and loved. When I think of PG and AG I think Branch Davidians or nazis. Clancy was an nasty dry drunk devoid of humanity and bitter till the end. Abusing the easily abused creating monsters along the way. Thank god I found the real AA when I got sober 22 years ago in nyc.
Hmm, the makeup of the proud Pacific Group as “mostly professionals” would stop me dead in my tracks: as a 41 year sober woman, my meetings of choice still remain the “Yale to jail/Park Avenue to a park bench” kinda gal.
It’s great that, like me, you started from the top and ended up on the bottom. It’s a totally different way of seeing things, just like everybody’s experience helps them to see things differently. I remember one of my first meetings at PG I was reminded not to swear if I’m sharing. I was kind of shocked at that, along with the shaving policy and all that. But the thing is, there’s no reason to write things off just because they don’t 100% align with how you like things. Every time I went to PG I heard things that applied to me and I heard things that didn’t apply. Somebody told me, after hearing my complain about the meetings, “If it don’t apply, let it fly.” Meaning if it applies to you then wonderful, what a great moment. But if it doesn’t apply to you then just let it be.
Writing off an entire meeting opportunity just because they are professionals just seems like a shame to me. I understand wanting to have “your crowd” at your meeting but there’s something to learn from the irregular.
Stay healthy :)
I just wanted to extend mt post a little bit if thats okay. I was going to this AA vs anti AA debate group and a few of the comments on Clancys passing were gratitude that maybe the pacific group will break up. It seems the anti AAers have always got something to complain about. Hardly any condolences for Clancy until there com0laining about the group and wishing for its failure. Ive been to the pacific group several times and I beleive they run a good group. They have alot of long term sobriety and there seriousley interested in helping the newer members to get involved and work the program. If you fall in with them your probably gonna stay sober. I feel that anyone in the group that might suggest someone not take doctor prescribed medications is out of line and not play doctor. Alot of AA groups have different feels to them and one my feel overly rigid and another might seem overly flakey or laid back. It is kind of up to the newer member to check out a few different groups and get a feel for what feels good to them. As far as Clancy is concerned I dont think ive seen or ever will see a more active and dedicated member to alcoholics annonymous. Guys like him get some bad press at times but its usually from ex members who have there own personal gripes and issues with the program. Some take years to move on and quit holding AA hostage for their upsetting experience. Thats not to say some people dont have a legitimate gripe with the program. I thank Clancy for being an inspiration to members like me and I feel he will be discussed and thanked for years to comr. Anyone wanting to hear any of Clancys talks can go to xa speaker tapes on you tube. Thanks for listening to my share.
Some bonkers comments in here, let the man rest. If he helped you or a love one, take a moment to reflect. If you think that his rules and him telling you to shave somehow caused you to relapse and fall deeper into despair, take a moment to reflect. In both cases, the only thing that matters is how you react to it. In all cases, in everything in this life, how you choose to react to something is 100% on you.
I went to PG for a few months while I was a participant at the Midnight Mission. It wasn’t for me but I could see all the good and all the bad at once. In a perfect world every group would be hunkydory and no scandals would ever occur. This isn’t a perfect world.
AA didn’t work for me but I can appreciate and be grateful that it has worked for others. Whatever gets you to tomorrow, without hurting others or yourself, that’s a win.
You’ve earned your rest.
A lot of hate on here. Sad. Like him or not he helped a lot of people and did some great work at The Midnight Mission.
Reading through all these comments and i bet 75% of the people bad mouthing Clancy aren’t even sober, and you guessed it Clancy died sober….. have respect for your elders and quite viewing controversy everywhere you go. May god bless all of you, He was an awesome man and i personally have stayed sober for 20 years as have multiple friends and family members as a result of finding Clancy and the Pacific Group.
I have mad respect for what this man set out to do and accomplished however I do not respect how a married man is told to treat his wife! How a married man is told to support these under f- – – -Ed hags from the Mission Streets and over f- – – – Ed young sluts and treat his wife like the ex renegade whore she was before she got clean! Using young black teases to entice and keep the money in the group via social media when the real money has mad porn skills and made more money than all these abortion sluts put together! There was so much jealousy that they used a homeless woman from Unit A at a young people’s meeting btw to dump her black ass off at an ER and get her drugged! She stayed sober and didn’t bite and they ostracized her! If you’re looking for 7th and Fig, Sepulveda Blvd. & deep ho antics and behaviors you’re at the right place at the right time! From AA legacy to check your hoes!
PLEASE NOTE: THIS MAN AND THIS WOMAN ARE NOT EXAMPLES OF RECOVERY OF ANY SORT! THEY ARE NOT EXAMPLES OF CLANCY AND THE PACIFIC GROUP! NO MARRIED MAN TAKES OFF AND ABANDONS HIS WIFE DIRING DIFFICULT TIMES! NO MARRIED MAN TAKES HIS WIFE TO VEGAS ON THEIR ANNIVERSARY AND HAS HER WALK EVERYWHERE IN BEGAS OF ALL PLACES WHILE HE DRIVES AROUND EVERYWHERE! THIS DUO IS AN EXAMPLE OF AN EXTREME CASE OF UNTREATED ALCOHOLISM!
If you want high class whores….this is your place. I used to want to fuck the married black chick (which I’m sure would’ve been okay with the upstanding group fat or skinny she’s a fuckin dyme piece) but she’s set on being a size two so not my thang! Even though she didn’t bounce her snatch everywhere like the rest, I’m straight!
is it true at Pacific group meetings when they read chapter 5,the ABC’s they read;
A) We admit we’re powerless over alcohol
B) No human power could relieve us of our alcoholism EXCEPT CLANCY
C) CLANCY COULD AND WOULD IF SOUGHT! (God could and would if sought)
“hardline AA” approach with strict requirements and lofty demands upon the newcomer’s who seek his help.“
This approach has always smelled of membership requirements to me. If someone asks me to be their sponsor I really don’t think it’s my place to fire them, barring something egregious. If they don’t contact me or do any work, that’s their biz
I actually enjoyed his talks when I heard them though, RIP
And if people pacific group are making getting off meds a requirement, that is just infuriating
Yes, I’ll have to weigh in here.
Clancy was dedicated to recovery from ALCOHOLISM (a tricky disease that requires diligence and complete dedication to its tenets to have a successful long-term recovery). Sure Pacific Group has those who misunderstand it, even hate it. But pound for pound you will find that it (as a group) demonstrates all that is GOOD about AA. Willingness, Commitment. Compassion, and Service. PG(ers) will be found all over the world carrying the message of recovery.
In its early days, “yes” they did ask incoming men to be clean shaven. A signal of one’s willingness to “do whatever it took” to get and stay sober. Ofcourse, that also helped young men who were coming in from years of addiction to learn to make themselves presentable to ordinary working people, hopefully increasing the work prospects for the same youngmen. People who don’t like to take direction probably really have a hard time with PG. But taking direction in the beginning is exactly what alcoholics must learn to do: take direction even when it doesn’t make sense to you.
I have had the great honor of meeting the man, attending meetings at PG, and being sponsored within his extended family of sponsees. He will be missed by thousands and I assure you PG will carry on. The Midnight Mission will also carry on; The Yard will carry on.
God Bless his soul, (Clancy I. 1927-2020).
Well I have no respect for this group! Last week I saw a black woman walking on Las Vegas Blvd! I recognized her from Pacific Group meetings once I drove up on her. I asked her, “Where’s your husband?” She replied I don’t know??? I watched her walk into the back of the Cancun Resort. I sat and watched a couple hours and I see her “man” drive up in a grey car around 1am closer to 2am digging in his trunk! This could be your sister, daughter, mother or whatever! This group has lost my respect because I don’t know if it’s Pacific Group or Pimp Game! Don’t sent your female family to this Group! The woman was SOBER none the less! Are your members struggling that fucking bad????
Interesting! The owners of the Exis Recovery/Next Steps Houses with the girls and all the different addresses In Santa Monica live in Vegas! Highly doubt she is slanging ass for her ‘man’ because she ain’t balling like the women in PG! Her tits and ass ain’t on Social Media like that! I’m in the street life. From what I understand all those women he be hittin up on Social Media did what they did for money and were inexpensive and low Maintanance with some male energy! When a man is used to being used, he doesn’t know how to act! Some of those sistas in PG got sum money and dates too! What happened to the one that powered a couple years ago which signs she been fucked by?
It’s evidently easy for some to sit at their computer and lambast Clancy. Truth is no one here could remotely do what he did in his lifetime to help alcoholics find and maintain a sober life all around the world. I personally witnessed and experienced his years and years of dedication to service. So stop complaining about him and his legacy and go find someone to help and try to do it without patting yourself on the back.
Like all people with long time sobriety, Clancy when through different stages of his development. AA hasn’t changed with the times, how could it. The new literature is all about the old days. It works well for people with drinking problems. In this day and age people have access to numerous 12 step groups. And yes medication to help with mental issues. As far as recovery go’s since the start Alanon in 1951 they have continued to update the books and pamphlet to deal with the effects of alcoholism and drugs in families. I have been sober in the 44 years living in the Midwest,I have attend both programs I was 6 month sober when I heard Clancy speak at the Nebraska Cornhusker Roundup he returned 30years later., I guess if something doesn’t work for everyone they need to blame. He put himself out there so that’s the price you pay. A friend of mine said that we must remember it Alcoholics Anonymous not Well Peoples Anonymous.
I have never seen so many clowns denigrating the greatest AA member our fellowship has ever known. Unlike you phony clowns and drug addicts posing as AA members, I knew him very well and he was my grand sponsor.
Addiction is merciless with no known cure.
You have a higher chance of recovery from many cancers than addiction.
Decades ago I was In a number of other 12 step fellowships, not qualifying as an alcoholic.
One of the members there shared with me a set of 12 step tapes produced by the Pacific Group. Those tapes saved my life over and over and over again throughout the years.
I sought the same very serious program with all of the love and support and service that group offers for decades until finally finding one principally close, that works for me.
Thank you Clancy and the Pacific Group.
You never knew me but I knew you and I will never ever forget you.
If I ever get to visit I will thank you all in person.
Press on, the real alcoholic (and addicts like me ) needs you.
Mark I Toronto