Foot Notes

In this week’s Footnotes:

The World Almanac lists hundreds of national and international organizations headquartered in the United States.

And the San Fernando Valley is home to several--some familiar, some not. Here are a few:

* Sons of the Desert, P.O. Box 8341, Universal City91608, is an organization dedicated to the appreciation of film comedy duo Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. The organization was founded in New York in 1965. Stan Laurel gave the Sons his blessing and even suggested the club’s motto: “Two Minds Without a Single Thought.” The club’s name is taken from the 1933 Laurel and Hardy film. Each local chapter is called a tent. Currently there are more than 200 tents worldwide.

* Narcotics Anonymous, 19737 Nordhoff Place, Chatsworth 91311, is the international headquarters of the 12-step program organization. This fellowship of substance abusers was founded in 1953. Narcotics Anonymous has thousands of chapters worldwide.

* UFO Society of America, 10799 Sherman Grove Ave., Sunland 91040, is a relatively new organization. Edson A. Johnson started this loosely knit group in 1997. Johnson, who said he saw a UFO in 1982 in La Canada Flintridge while looking for a lost cat (“It wasn’t scary, it was awe-inspiring,” he says), runs the society out of his home in a mobile home park. Johnson’s group allows people interested in UFOs to share information and experiences. Johnson hosts walks at Descanso Gardens every Sunday at 9 a.m. There are no dues; donations are accepted but not solicited.