Jimmy K And NA

[LuckyV2]

In the late spring of 1953 the Los Angles Police Department, through Captain Hamilton, contacted a member of A.A. who was involved in A.A.'s Institutional committee. He asked about starting a recovery group for addicts. The L.A.P.D. sent a number of people to these first meetings. The person asked was not an addict and soon found that he didn`t understand them. He didn't understand why the attendees were falling asleep. He asked them if he was that boring and they told him that they were just "on the nod." Since he knew nothing of being on the nod, he knew that he had done as much as he knew how to do and was ready to quit. After the third meeting he asked other members of A.A. for help. Sy M. had been at the first two meetings, Jimmy K. attended the third.

As in many gatherings of people to help addicts, there was a difference of opinion between Jimmy and Sy from the beginning of their involvement. Sy wanted to open the meetings up to people with all types of problems, Jimmy didn't. Jimmy suggested seeking guidance from A.A. As far as we can tell, these first three members were not as involved with illegal drugs as theaddicts whom they would be carrying the message to.

This group continued to meet for about another month.

Jimmy and others used to go down to skid row, and meet addicts there who couldn't identify with the alcoholic in AA Jimmy believed in the steps, and was three years clean when he and some others began to have preliminary discussions about a fellowship foraddicts . Around July of 1953, they actually started getting serious about it, and on August 17th, 1953, the first formation meeting for NA as we now know it was held.

There are copies of the original handwritten minutes available.

The first participants were Doris Carnahan, Frank Carnahan, James Kinnon, Guilda Krause, Paul Rosenbluth, and Steve Ryan. In the minutes from the first meeting, they decided on their name, which was to be San Fernando Valley Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. From Jimmy's own words, at the 20th anniversary of NA dinner in Los Angeles, he was opposed to this:

"The first big order of business we had when we got together was the name. I was the first Chairman of what we then called ah - nothing. AANA, that's what it was called and I said "You simply can't do that ". You made me your chairman, we're gonna have to find another name, we can' t call Ourselves AANA or NAAA. And the committee who voted me the Chairman immediately vetoed what I said . Right, that's a good way to start. They vetoed everything I said the first night, so I thought I was off to a pretty good start. I wasn't going to get away with any horse shit from these people. They were going to find out what was right to do. And so the first order of business was to contactAlcoholics Anonymous to find out if we could use their name; and found out that you couldn't do it. So I got the satisfaction, at least, of being right on the first thing that they vetoed."

So they came to be known as Narcotics Anonymous. Jimmy was elected Chairman, Doris was elected Secretary, Frank and Guilda were elected to a six month term on a rotating committee for leadership, and Steve and Paul were Elected to a three months rotating committee for leadership, with Jimmy as alternate.

So, as has been mentioned before, this movement was setting a different course than those that had tried this previously. They were planning the creation of a fellowship, not just meetings.

A total of seven meetings were held, and they planned the first NA meeting for October 5th, 1953. A total of 17 people attended, and here is the text from the announcement about the first meeting:

"NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS - OUR PURPOSE"

"This is an informal group of drug addicts, banded together to help one another to renew their strength in remaining free of drug addiction. Our precepts are patterned after those of Alcoholics Anonymous to whom all credit is given, precedence is acknowledged. We claim no originality but since we believe that the causes of alcoholism and addiction are basically the same, we will to apply to our lives the truths and principles which have benefited so many otherwise helpless individuals. We believe that in so doing we may regain and maintain our health and sanity. Which shall be the purpose of this group to endeavor to foster a means of rehabilitation to the addict, and to carry the 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 5:30 P.M.

CORNER OF CANTARA & CLYBOURN, SUN VALLEY, CALIF.

DIRECTLY BEHIND SUNLAND LUMBER COMPANY"

A publication of the Lexington Public Health Hospital had text similar to this as their "Purpose Statement". Apparently, this newsletter had subscribers in every state, and the founding members acquired one, and used their purpose statement as NA's.

Our first Recovery Meeting happened in a place called the Dad's Club, on the corner of Cantara and Clybourn. It is rumored that the first format was an "Architects of Adversity" meeting, or 5th and 10th step meeting. They held weekly meetings in that location for about a year, then moved to another location.

Ironically though, while we started as a service committee in a sense, by the end of 1953, everybody who had been elected in this committee had resigned, including Jimmy Kinnon. They all had their different feelings but the meeting continued.

Here are Jimmy's words describing the first meetings:

"It was very hard to find a place to meet; after we got together and agreed what we were going to do. You couldn't find a hall to meet in. Nobody would allow us in. They didn't trust us in any way, shape, or form. And it's pretty sad when you go from one place to another after you've got something real good going and nobody will let you use their hall. You know! Eventually we did find a Salvation Army hall and they allowed us to use it for five dollars a month. You know, that's pretty good, but there were no facilities there. There was one little restroom with a hand basin and a bowl in there, and that was it. There was no kitchen, so we had to go out and buy a little electric stove and some coffee pots, some cups - which I still have at home. I found them just this week; I've had them all these years. We used to give them to each other because this week you might meet at my place - which is the second picture up there - and next week we might meet at your place. So you took the cups with you so everybody would have a cup to get their coffee in. You know, not many of us had more than a couple of cups in our houses then; in tact, not many of us were working. But that's the way it was. I still have those things."

"I got news for you, the Sunland Lumber Company is now defunct, but we're still living. The Salvation Army hall is still there - there are 2 pictures if it up on the top line - it is now a Spanish church. Some of the other pictures up there are where we had some of our "Rabbit Meetings". We called them "Rabbit Meetings" then because we never knew where we were going to meet. If there were 5 or 6 of us at a meeting tonight we decided then whose apartment or whose house we'd have the meeting in next week. And you would take the cups and sugar bowls and the format with you, you know, and then we'd meet at your place next week.

It wasn't that we who were getting into the program then were so afraid of the law but the newcomers were scared to death. I made a sign and we put it outside of the front door of the church there (about twice the size of this - three times the size of that) that said NA Meeting tonight at 8:30. And then we opened the door for business and we'd get about a dozen alcoholics in there who came to help us. And then a car would pull down around the comer slowly and they'd look at the sign and then they'd split. Nobody trusted nobody - you know they thought it was staked out. They wouldn't believe us when we told them there was no surveillance. And we weren't just too sure in the beginning ourselves."

As Jimmy described, the first meetings were not attended by many newcomers, as they were afraid of being arrested. At that time, there were laws in effect that would criminalize addicts merely by association. The Rockefeller Laws, as they were called, made it illegal for two or more addicts to be in one place at any time. The founders' solution was to go have a face to face discussion with the police department, and here, in Jimmy's words, is what happened:

"Because as a group we decided we were going to get right with the law at least and we went down to the Narcotics Division. And we told them, we didn't ask them, we told them we were going to have a meeting of addicts. And they raised their eyebrows a little bit when we first mentioned it. But there were 5 of us down there. A Miller, I forget if he was a Lieutenant or a Captain then, he listened and he said: "It's about time something like this happened, I've been trying to help addicts for years and with no success; I can't help anybody". And so he called in a lieutenant to listen in on our conversation and see what he thought. And he was a hard-nosed, old style, hope-to-die cop who knew for sure (who knew for sure) that none of us could recover, you know. And he listened and Miller was saying: "I like that idea", "I'll go along with that idea", "I buy what you have to say", "I'll do everything I can to help you". All the way down the line he was all for us. He kept his word, by the way. And he said to this lieutenant "what do you think?" (lieutenant): "Ain't gonna work, once a Junkie always a Junkie, you know that, God Damit. There's never any of them gonna get any better. I don't care what you say, I don't care what these people say, it ain't gonna work." So he looked back at us and I didn't know what the Hell to say, you know I'm only one of the group. I looked at Doris and she didn't know what to say. And Frank didn't know what to say. And old Pat, who was sitting back there with his mouth shut all this time and never opened his mouth says: "Lieutenant, my name is so-and-so, I was born and raised in such-and-such a place, I got arrested the first time for such-and-such a thing, and I was sentenced such-and -such a time for so many years; and starting there I want you to go back and check my record all the way through. I've been in every God Damned Federal Pen., except Danamora, in the country. I'm the last of the Petermen, and I haven't had a bit of Junk for 18 years. I haven't been in Jail for 18 years; and this program works for me. Now you look it up and prove it to yourself because I was never out of jail from the time I was a kid until the time I found this program." And the guy didn't know what to say. Pat said: "Now I mean it, check it out."

Whether the guy ever checked it out, I don't know; but I know that the police department and the Narcotics Division kept their word to us. And they never staked us out , they never busted us in any way, shape, or form - never rousted us coming or going to meetings. And so, we in turn kept our word, we policed ourselves and we followed the Traditions as best we knew how. And this is what has made us basically begin to grow in the past 12 years."

December 16. 1953, Jimmy Kinnon, Doris and Frank Carnahan all resign from the founding committee.

Sometime in this period the Steps and Traditions were adopted to what we still use today. This was done by Jimmy K. This was to have a major effect on addicts all over the world. The changes were addition of the word "we" in all the steps and what has been called the ten-strike of N.A., changing the word alcohol to addiction in the first step. The changing of the word alcohol to addiction changed the approach from one of substance focus to one of behavior awareness.

The meetings moved around a lot and became known as the Rabbit Meetings. As with the earlier attempts, it was very word of mouth, almost a secret where the next meeting would be. A coffee pot and depression glass cups were carried from meeting to meeting. Meetings were held in members homes. Addicts would cruise the meeting places and check for surveillance. The prevailing sentiment was fear for most addicts who weren't already members of AA.

There are some interesting things in this original 1954 literature. First off it has 20 questions. "Do you lose time from work due to using? Is using making your home life unhappy? Do you fix because you are shy with other people?" They really cut to the bone here. Some of the other chapter titles are "What can I do about it?" and "What is the Narcotics Anonymous Program?" The 12 Steps are in here and it talks about being powerless over addiction and the word "we" is in every one of the other 12 Steps. The "Just for Today Prayer" is here, from 1954.

Here is the original text of the Just For Today Prayer:

Tell yourself:

JUST FOR TODAY my thoughts will be on my recovery, living and enjoying life without the use of narcotics.

JUST FOR TODAY I will have faith in someone in Narcotics Anonymous who believes in me and wants to help me to recovery.

JUST FOR TODAY I will have a program. I will try to follow it to the best of my ability.

JUST FOR TODAY, through Narcotics Anonymous, I will try to get a better perspective on my life.

JUST FOR TODAY I will be unafraid. My thoughts will be on my new associations, people who are not using and who have found a new way of life. So long as I follow that way of life, even for today, I have nothing to fear.

There are some interesting differences from the "Just For Today" reading that we have in our meetings today- first of all, the use of the word "Narcotics" in place of the word "drugs". All drugs were known as "narcotics" at that time, and this seemed to fit their purpose. Another difference that is prominent is the last stanza, where it says, "So long as I follow that way of life, even for today, I have nothing to fear." When it was changed to what we have now as the Just For Today, I am not sure.

Two addresses were shown on the back of the pamphlet. They were:

NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS P.O. Box 1043 Studio City, Calif. NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS P.O. Box 13023 So. Eastern Station San Diego, Calif.

There are few surviving copies of this booklet. The practice was to just send one to the printer. The printer would typeset and print. Rubber stamps were used a lot. The San Diego address could have been a rubber stamp on a booklet that was actually copied in the 60's.

From 1954 to 1959 there was basically one regular meeting and rabbit meetings. The one regular meeting took place at a Doctor Shrier's detox center. They nicknamed it "Shrier's Dryer" where people could go and dry out. Now Jimmy actually had a real problem with this particular meeting because you see they would go to the meeting and they would raise hands. All the alcoholics would raise their hands and then all the addicts would raise their hands. If there were more alcoholics it was an AA meeting and if there were more addicts it was an NA meeting. Jimmy was really big on the Traditions and he had a real problem with the way that meeting was different each week depending on who was there. But you have to also consider that the community of people that were attending was very small and had to hang very close together. A lot of the meetings that also took place were in people's breakfast rooms and kitchens and so forth and they pretty much just kept each other going one day at a time.

The other fellowships that I was talking about like in New York and so forth, we also know that they started waning sometime after 1956. Danny Carlson died in 1956. There wasn't anyone in New York to pick up the ball and continue the meeting he had started. So the best we can tell somewhere after 1956, the New York Narcotics Anonymous just sort of faded away.

In 1959, NA was dwindling because of the fact that you couldn't know if you were going to an AA meeting or a NA meeting like Shrier's Dryer on any given night because some of the people had gone out. It was harder to find new people, and various personalities were starting to have some conflicts. NA dwindled and in 1959 for about four months there were no Narcotics Anonymous meetings of any kind. It broke Jimmy's heart and in late 1959 we're not sure whether December, '59 or March, 1960, Jimmy K. determined that this couldn't be allowed to happen. Jimmy, Sylvia Wexler, and Penny Kennedy restarted Narcotics Anonymous and the vow they made was that they would follow the Traditions more closely. They felt that the reason it had faded away, the reason there had been personality conflicts was because there had been big shots and big mamas, I guess Betty Thom (who was the person behind Habit Forming Drug groups) was the big mama and Si Malos (who was the person behind Addicts Anonymous in Southern California) might have been the big shot. The only way that they could survive as a fellowship is if they scrupulously followed the 12 Traditions, particularly the anonymity part.

Here is how Jimmy describes this:

"For awhile after we formed -- A lot of things happened that I'm not going into tonight ---- but due to some things that happened and due to the nature of the addict, the nature of our illness, some people were put in a position where they became the leaders again, the Great White Father. You know, we can't have a Great White Father or a Big Momma, you know, it doesn't work in this organization. And NA died once more, and the friends of ours in AA helped to pick us up, and said "Don't let it bother you". These were the real friends we had in the beginning; members of AA who believed in us, members of AA had themselves a dual problem at that time and recognized that -- they came and helped us get started again. But again and again this happened in this organization. One person would try to dominate the whole movement. And every time it happened we began to die."

By now, you've probably noticed that Jimmy Kinnon's name keeps popping up in the history of NA. Jimmy was a driving force behind our organization, and cared deeply about addicts. He believed in the twelve traditions and in the spirit of anonymity. He never wanted to be given any credit for the creation of NA as we know it, but his unflagging commitment to Narcotics Anonymous helped ensure our survival. For most of us, it is hard to believe not being able to go to an NA meeting, but for those first members, this was a reality. Jimmy believed the steps could help addicts, and set about proving it. Fawn M., a close friend of Jimmy's, described him this way: "There was something very magical about the way Jimmy carried the message- when people got close to him, their natural inclination was to recover."

Here is Jimmy's vision for NA, in his words:

"You know that I've said many times, a long time ago, that a man without a dream is only half a man, and a fellowship without a vision is a farce. And I still believe that and know damn well that we can find fulfillment in living a day at a time here. And a day at a time our vision and our Fellowship can become a greater reality. They're the things that I'm still interested in. Two years ago at the convention, when I had just regained my voice, I said then that as long as I live I would use what voice and what strength I have to further the efforts of Narcotics Anonymous and that other beautiful fellowship I belong to, Alcoholics Anonymous; and I intend to do that. But it's going to take all of me, and it's going to take all of you, and all the people that you're going to talk to, and all of the people you're going to carry the message to, to make this a greater reality."

This man made it his life's work to help NA grow in whatever capacity he could. For that reason, he is an important part of our history- not THE founder, but one of the FOUNDERS. Not the man who started NA, but a man who believed in NA so strongly that nothing would or could stop him from helping make the recovery we have today a reality.

So, in early 1960, NA restarted. The meeting that was held at Shrier's dryer was moved. Jimmy wanted to get away from the old influence and they moved to what was then a Unity church on Moorpark Street, in Van Nuys. That is the location of what later became known as the only NA meeting in the world and favorite story of a lot of us (I found the only NA meeting in the World). There were also rabbit meetings that took place at people's houses but in 1960 there was one basic meeting of Narcotics Anonymous.

Also in 1960, Jimmy K. apparently listed Narcotics Anonymous in the local phone book and we call that the first answering service that was ever established for Narcotics Anonymous.

In 1962, our first Little White Book appeared. This is the Little White Booklet that has evolved into the Little White Book today.

In 1963 the first H & I meeting was held. It was held at Tahachapi State Penitentiary. Bob B. happened to be one of the people they were bringing the meeting to, he was in Tahachapi at the time. He got the message and it sunk in this time, he got out in '63 and he started attending meetings from mid-1963 on and that's where he dates his clean time. I mention Bob because he is also a person who has poured his life into NA, and he is still a member- He lives in Los Angeles, and I had the opportunity to meet, and talk to him recently. And guess what- he gives out his phone number just like any other addict. It was neat though, to meet someone who has more years clean in Narcotics Anonymous than I have been alive.

In 1963 a letter was written from the Mother Group to the other meetings being held. The request was for all groups to send representatives. Soon after, in order to insure unity of purpose, the general membership in California established a Board of Trustees. A literature subcommittee was established as part of the service arm of the Board of Trustees. The main purpose was to see that N.A. doesn't die again. Remember, in 1960 Jimmy said they'd stick to the traditions! The role of our Trustees being the guardians of the Traditions comes from this early era: The early experience that if we didn't stick to the Traditions we'd disappear. [there still isn't a clear idea of who was on this Board. It looks like a group of 4 to 6 and it may have included Dr. Q. a psychiatrist, and a probation social worker named Dorothy G., who were not addicts.] I have some copies of Jimmy's handwritten notes in which the formation and guidelines for the trustees is written about.

[LuckyV2]

If ya don't mind I think this one should be a sticky so we know how we got our identity or should I say our hope from AA and the Program that it offers as well.