In l988, Phil Owen's nephew, Mike Huber, had a 40th birthday. Phil made a cane for him as a joke since Mike was now "going down hill". Along with the birthday greetings, Phil said, "you are hereby appointed President of ANCC." ANCC stood for AMERICAN NATIONAL CANE COLLECTORS which was later changed to the AMERICAN NATIONAL CANE CLUB to include makers not just collectors. Phil volunteered to be the Secretary/Treasurer so they had two members. This correspondence became the original publication of "The Twisted Stick". Some of the original publications are still in existence.

Sometime later Phil made a cane for a Navy Veteran. The Veteran's son-in-law wanted to give Phil a web page. The web page included some pictures and an application information on membership to the ANCC. The club began to get responses from the early web site. The Pennsylvania chapter first met in Phil's home, later in Jim Herb's shop and presently meets in Manheim, PA. According to Phil's records, the club has had 179 members since starting in 1988.