Communtiy Compass
Community
Compass
Community Compass is a service of OITM. GLBT organizations from around the state are invited to provide briet — 200 words or less — descriptions of recent or upcoming activities and events. Send your submissions to us by email by the 15th of the month.
Brattleboro Area AIDS Project
The Brattleboro Area AIDS Project and the Make-A Wish Foundation of Vermont will host the third “Ride & Drive for Wishes & Lives” on Saturday, September 9, 2000. The Ride will be held at the Winchester Stables in Newfane and will offer either a 5, 10 or 15 mile loop.
Riders are asked to gather pledges in support of the Brattleboro Area AIDS Project and the Make-A Wish Foundation of Vermont. Pledge sheets are available at the AIDS Project office at 67 Main Street, or by calling (802) 254-4444. The funds raised by the “Ride & Drive” provide direct services to people with HIV/AIDS, a wide variety of HIV prevention education programs, and to fulfill the special wishes of children under the age of 18 with terminal or life-threatening medical conditions.
Riders and their horses will assemble to register their pledges at the Winchester Stables at 8:30 am and the “Ride & Drive” will begin at 9:00 am. Prizes will be awarded to the three riders who raise the most money in pledges. For more information, call 254-8263.
Mountain Pride Media
Mountain Pride Media continues to travel the state with our Green Mountain Tour. This tour brings Mountain Pride Media to your neighborhood to talk about what we are working on, to meet board and staff members, to talk about what we could be doing better, and to teach you some great media writing skills.
We would like to thank Bev Youree and Joy Griffith of Hummingbird Hill in Richford for hosting our tour on August 6. We will be in Orleans County on September 23 and Windsor County in November 5. Be sure to check the ad in this issue of Out In The Mountains or our on-line Community Calendar at mountainpridemedia.org for more details.
Mountain Pride Media would like to thank Dan, Doug, and Brian for helping us get the August issue mailed out. We always welcome people to stop by our Richmond office the last Thursday of every month between 5 and 8pm to help get Out In The Mountains out into our community. We also have a multitude of other ways you can help out. To find out about our current volunteer opportunities check out our Volunteers Page online at mountainpridemedia.org/volunteer.htm.
Mountain Pride Media held its annual Board of Directors retreat in late July. We have a very exciting year ahead us. Mountain Pride Media has several committees that work throughout the year to accomplish the organization’s goals and objectives as well as implement grant-funded initiatives. If you are interested in applying your skills in support of the GLBTQ community in Vermont, send us an email at mpm@mountainpridemedia.org to find out more about participating on a MPM Committee.
We also want to remind everyone that through an affiliation with TLA Video and 10% Productions, Mountain Pride Media receives a portion of every sale you place with these two companies via our web site. Simply log onto www.mountainpridemedia.org, click on the TLA Video or 10% Productions banner ads located throughout our site, and place your order. You can also check the Community Calendar, learn more about VTPRIDEnet (our listserv), subscribe to Out In The Mountains, and much more when you log onto mountainpridemedia.org. Stay connected – log on today!
Outright
Outright Vermont, a resource organization for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, questioning, and allied (GLBTQA) youth is seeking volunteers to become youth group facilitators for our on-going Friday night mixed gender support group. If resources and volunteers are available, we will seek to add additional support groups to our calendar. Priorities include developing more support programs for transgendered and trans-questioning youth and adding facilitators to our roster with specific experience dealing with racism and issues affecting youth of color.
Since 1990, Outright has offered social/support groups for youth up to age 22. Groups are facilitated by two trained adults, age 25 or older. Groups provide opportunities for GLBTQA young people to learn and practice social skills, share and exchange information, develop healthy relationships, find positive role models, and have fun. The role of the facilitator is a hybrid that combines the skills of a good host, chaperone, and moderator.
New facilitators are required to attend a training session and commit to volunteering with Outright for at least one year. Additional training is provided for facilitators on a quarterly basis. The next training for new facilitators will take place on Saturday, September 30 from 9:00-4:00. Lunch will be provided.
For more information and an application form, contact Christopher Kaufman, Direct Services Coordinator, at Outright Vermont, (802) 865-9677 or at Christopher@outrightvt.org. People of color, bisexual and transgendered people are encouraged to volunteer.
Vermont CARES
On Monday, September 11, Vermont CARES, along with the Vermont Hepatitis Support Network and Schering-Plough Pharmaceuticals will co-sponsor a low cost hepatitis vaccination clinic and free testing service. The series of Hepatitis A vaccines are available for $40 and Hepatitis B vaccines are $65. Free testing will be available for Hepatitis C. An informational session will be held at 6:00 PM with vaccinations and testing to follow at 6:30 PM. Both events will take place at the CARES office located at 361 Pearl St. Those interested should call Amy Livingston at 1-800-649-2437 or 863-2437 to register by September 5. Refreshments will be provided.
Later in the month, CARES is holding its fifth annual AIDSWalk to raise funds and awareness in support of Vermonters living with HIV/AIDS. Do you know more people in Vermont died of AIDS in 1999 than in 1998 and 1997 combined? Want to do something to change that statistic? Join us for the day. Join us for the fight at AIDSWalk 2000. Join us as we say, loud and clear, with our feet and our contributions, that AIDS is not over. That Vermonters are still being infected by HIV.
AIDSWalk 2000 occurs in four locations around the state. They are on Saturday, September 23 in Montpelier starting at 10:30 a.m., Sunday September 24 in St. Johnsbury starting at 12:30 p.m., Wednesday September 27 in Rutland starting at 6 p.m., and Thursday September 28 in Burlington at 6 p.m. Registration for all walks begins an hour before the walk. In addition, this year we’ve added a friendly competition for teams for best theme or who can be the loudest. For more information or to register for the walk, please call 1-800-649-AIDS.