Genesis Club - Appleton, Wisconsin

Ross B.

Great people here 🙏 literally saving lives

Rebecca R.

TRIGGER WARNING: mentions of verbal and psychological abuse, sexual harassment, and harassment of disabled individuals.

Go to the Alano Club in Wrightstown. This is no longer a place of heeling, and redemption.

I once deeply loved coming here in the evenings- but lately, the aesthetic has become shallow and a gross disappointment. The double standards allowed/enforced by board members is staggering: one is to be welcoming while working the counter and encourage sales; yet we are greeted by a board member and their puppeteer with absolute disdain and an unwillingness while coupled with a lack a desire to accumulate more sales for the funds of the club. These two individuals have all but pushed out the paying evening crowd who come for sober camaraderie and to play hands of cribbage. The second, and frankly a despicable instance of hypocrisy, this board member approaching and demanding tolerance to allow vagrancy to perch itself within the club; telling fellow paid members of the club that we are to tolerate this double standard, which is disallowed as written in the bylaws. There are two people that are in place as voted positions for running the canteen counter. There is a third, a rather benighted individual, who by posturing as a member of leadership, narcissistically and willfully intimidates, all while they mansplain, and insult those around them. This solipsistic individual was witnessed, both verbally and via digital correspondence, intimidating and controlling an intimate partner, thus cruelly abusing a board member within the club premises. The disparaging comments made by this egotistical individual, have affected members of the club, and this behavior has been condoned, despite numerous complaints. The handling of complaints against this individual is contemptible, and a stark example of what awaits females and meeker individuals who seek a reprieve from this tyrant’s projections of self-hatred.
The treatment of more feeble individuals, and the handicapped has all but solidified the atmosphere in this hell hole of untrained and unqualified individuals, who seek to use a volunteer position as a position of power to lord over club members instead of putting the clubs interests first.
Everyone’s journey to sobriety is different, but a board member telling a newcomer and a sponsee to live as they do, clean and free of all substances, while then showing signs of use and confirming said suspicions by revealing to other members their illicit use of illegal substances is deplorable and hypocritical. Ironically, their behavior is comparable to a politician- self loathing and dishonest.
The deepest form of their hypocrisy is the laughable 12 tenants they claim to live by: they preach their dogma and in the same breath, completely disregard their program while alienating newcomers, or placing them in comprisable positions; risking the sobriety of others by placing their own power hungry personal interests ahead of the 12 tenants they egregiously claim to have changed their ways.

Holl E. H.

[NOTE: THIS IS NOT A HALFWAY HOUSE. It's a Sober Club!]
A good place to go to spend time away from isolated or negative environments that could lead to drinking or using for many who are struggling. Not everyone is perfect and none are ever turned away or discouraged to be there as long as everyone is amicable and not overly obnoxious.
You don't have to go to meetings if that makes you uncomfortable, many come just to spend time together and sip coffe or soda and play friendly games of cribbage (great place to learn it!).
They have drinks, snacks and pizzas; a TV with an antenna (at present) and the folks that come in for the early part of the day are some of the best though good people come in at all hours. Keep in mind you can't always get along with everyone...
This is also a good place to hang out by yourself if you'd rather. No time limit (stay as long as you want!) and the food, snacks and drinks are pretty cheap. If you need a break and want a sober place to hang out, this is a pretty good one. It could be a great "second home" and it *is* to a lot of folks. They could almost always use volunteers (with enough sobriety time under their belts)!
One of the best Sober Clubs in the Fox Cities!

Alfie G.

I called them yesterday asking for help with someone who is having a problem drinking. This person does not believe in a higher power and they told me that they are doomed to be an alcoholic forever and that I'm a bad support system if I can't help them believe in a god. I don't think someone who needs help should have to compromise their beliefs to get it. If I told a Christian the only way they can get help is if they denounce god that would be wrong.... same with not offering to help because we do not believe.... so horrible

Magic M. G.

Awesome place to go when you're clean and sober or you need to be in a safe environment. Favorite recovery club.

dorothy D.

Always good to volunteer my time. I clean my purse out.😉

Joseph S.

We are a meeting place for 12 step groups NOT a treatment center or live in program

Jeffrey P.

A place of healing and learning strenght and hope..