billie lemon. >> good afternoon commissioners. thaupg very much. billie lemon and executive director of castroconry club. about 10 years i was also a drug addict. i found recovery and became a volunteer and i then was grateful to become the manager of the country club and about 3 months ago they trusted me with the role of taking the club into the future. we are one of those places that is on the second half of a aket year lease. we are in the process of trying to raise fund for capital campaign. we struggle to make ends meet but we work very hard to keep this place in the castro. it is a absolutely essential part of the community right in the castro district. we are the only place like it. yes, there are 20 or cochy coffee houses that sell $5 coffees and we still manage to sur vive. i like to differ the last time i have to someone who was there in 1983 when the place started, is thereat okay? >> you have your own two minutes. yes, in 1983 when the cuntsry club opened i was in my first year of sobrayty and clean and sober from drugs and alcohol and

billie lemon, i'm the executive director of castz row country club mpt since 1983 we are a non-profitand serve the lgbtq community folks looking to get sober. we started a a oasis for people struggling to sur vive and deal with the effects of hiv/and aids. now we serve about 40,000 people a year. we have about 40 meetings a week that cover the entire spectrum of is so brity and recovery. everything from crystal methto alcoholism to food adam squz oveater jz even have a buddhism based group. i am one of those people who's life was changed. i was addicted for 10 year jz started as a volunteer and became a manager and through hard work and diligence and support from a community that knows what it is like to recover, i was named executive director so absolutely blessed to be able to be here today and i think my time is running up so thank you very much. >> awesome, thank you very much and congratulations. [applause]. next up. >> hi, my name is kimberley [inaudible] executive director of the cartoon art mew soom. want to thank you for having the hearing for the small businesses here. um, w

billie lemon. >> good afternoon commissioners. thaupg very much. billie lemon and executive director of castroconry club. about 10 years i was also a drug addict. i found recovery and became a volunteer and i then was grateful to become the manager of the country club and about 3 months ago they trusted me with the role of taking the club into the future. we are one of those places that is on the second half of a aket year lease. we are in the process of trying to raise fund for capital campaign. we struggle to make ends meet but we work very hard to keep this place in the castro. it is a absolutely essential part of the community right in the castro district. we are the only place like it. yes, there are 20 or cochy coffee houses that sell $5 coffees and we still manage to sur vive. i like to differ the last time i have to someone who was there in 1983 when the place started, is thereat okay? >> you have your own two minutes. yes, in 1983 when the cuntsry club opened i was in my first year of sobrayty and clean and sober from drugs and alcohol and