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Editor:
Rarely do I lower myself to say "I told you so," but after reading Bob Bolyard's weepy letter to the editor in last month's issue of OITM, I felt it was my duty to make everyone aware of the truth about Pride.
Bob stated that for the second year in a row Pride "failed to collect enough money...to pay for the expenses of the day." Surprise! Also, he stated that the majority of the attendees "didn't do a darn thing to support it."
Other interesting quotes: Samadhi Singers did a benefit for Outright Vermont, not for Pride (did Pride even bother to ask them to do a benefit?); Kick-Off Pride Week event with Yolanda and Noel didn't get a "kickback" (he forgot to mention that each performer only received $20 for the night -- were they supposed to give it right back, after having to fight for it? Also, the band members and Noel's accompanist had to be paid regardless); Interfaith Pride Worship Service and Pride Ball at City Hall gave no money to Pride from their events. Did any of these events even state they would give money to Pride?
Also, Bob stated that the Pride guide ad revenue went to print the guide. Why didn't he bitch about RBA giving money to Pride?
What Bob purposely forgot to mention is
1. About a year ago I searched through thousands of pages of grants to pick about a dozen grants that would fund Pride. Not one grant foundation was approached. Their reasoning: "We don't know how to write a grant." Solution given: Contact Volunteer Connections through United Way to help. To the best of my knowledge the phone call was never made;
2. United Airlines donated two airline tickets to raffle off to help raise money to get the nationally known a capella group Men Out Loud here for pride. The committee never pursued it.
3. Various vendors wanted tables at Pride, including a couple of video retailers and a t-shirt company as well as the Human Rights Commission from Washington and the Gay Financial Network (GFN) from Florida. To this day I don't believe any of them were even contacted.
4. The committee turned down trying to get Greg Louganis, Chasity Bono, and the cast from the NBC hit show "Will and Grace" to appear. Note: No money would have had to changed hands for this to happen. Instead, they decided against it.
5. The committee also slammed Yolanda and Cherie Tartt at the first meeting last summer then in the same breath said they wanted to have them perform. Then they expected because they were gay and Vermonters that they should perform for free and were upset when Yolanda turned them down to go to Portland and get paid and promote her new CD. Would anyone of you turn down a paying job?
Also, I'm curious (and I mean no disrespect to him) to find out how much they paid Craig to DJ.
Pride cries about being poor yet they turned down free money. I think most of the current members should pay the debts (since they are not a non-profit organization, the committee members are solely responsible to pay for any debts incur) and let another group who will run the organization as a business (not as a party, like Bob likes to loudly state) take over.
And isn't it surprising (maybe not) that after telling them to have a theme this year (the 30th. year of Stonewall), they refused that, too.
Dean Pratt
Burlington VT
