Chilliwack – This editorial is from Greg Hassell, former Board member of the Chilliwack Alano Club and does not reflect any views from FVN Fraser Valley News Sports and Entertainment.
An opinion piece calling for transparency, accountability, and the protection of Chilliwack’s recovery community.
The Alano Club of Chilliwack is more than a building. It is a place of fellowship, hope, connection, and recovery for people who need support and a welcoming community.
Today, concerns are being raised about the club’s direction, governance, and the future of the services that have made it meaningful to so many.
What Is Happening to Our Recovery Community?
Greg Hassall has reportedly been barred from the club and had his membership suspended for one year following disagreements about the proposed direction of the organization, including the future of the kitchen and concerns about prioritizing profit over community service.
Questions have also been raised about the president’s decision to hire security, restrictions on members’ access and participation, and the handling of new membership applications.
These concerns deserve clear answers. Members should be able to understand how decisions are being made, how membership is being handled, and what opportunities they have to participate in discussions and votes.
Security should support safety, while governance should allow eligible members to express their opinions and participate in decisions according to the society’s bylaws.
There are also concerns about whether two directors have sufficient sustained recovery experience to support major decisions affecting a recovery-focused organization.
Leadership decisions of this significance deserve thoughtful consideration of recovery experience, service, and the impact on the people the club exists to support.
The Kitchen Is the Heart of the Club
The kitchen is about far more than food. It is a place of gathering, friendship, connection, and belonging.
The Lichen Chef has given more than 20 years of service to the Alano Club. Her contributions extend beyond the kitchen to welcoming newcomers, connecting people with meetings, answering phone inquiries, offering encouragement and support, and helping oversee daily operations, cleanliness, and security.
She has helped create the friendly, supportive environment that makes the club approachable for people seeking recovery.
Closing the kitchen risks losing more than a service. It risks losing an important gathering place and opportunities for connection that cannot be measured by revenue alone.
The club must remain financially responsible, but its financial decisions should support its nonprofit mission—not overshadow the recovery and community support at its heart.
Transparency and Accountability Matter
Members deserve clarity about the future of the kitchen, the reasons for Greg’s reported suspension, security arrangements, new membership applications, and opportunities to participate in meetings and votes.
These matters should be addressed openly and in accordance with the organization’s bylaws and applicable law.
The Alano Club’s future should be shaped through responsible governance, transparent communication, and meaningful consideration of its members and the community it serves.
Protect the Mission. Preserve the Heart.
This is not simply about one member, one kitchen, or disagreements among directors. It is about the future of a recovery community that has provided connection and support to people in Chilliwack for years.
The kitchen chef’s decades of service deserve recognition. Members’ concerns deserve to be heard. Major decisions deserve careful consideration of their impact on recovery services and the community.
The Alano Club should be a place where recovery comes first, service is valued, members are treated fairly, and decisions protect the organization’s purpose.
Chilliwack deserves an Alano Club that remains welcoming, accountable, and committed to the people who need it.
Protect the mission. Respect the membership. Keep the heart of the Alano Club beating.
Greg Hassell, former board member , Chilliwack Alano Club
