Community Compass
Community Compass is a service of OITM. GLBT organizations from around the state are invited to provide brief — 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.
Men’s Resource Center.’s Autumn Schmoozefest Big Success
On November 10, the Men’s Resource Center (MRC) of Western Massachusetts and Tapestry Health Systems co-sponsored the first of four events called Autumn Schmoozefest. Eighty-six gay, bisexual, and questioning men from six states – MA, VT, NH, NY, CT, and FL – gathered in the elegant Garden House at Look Park in Northampton, MA, to enjoy catered hors d’oeuvres and desserts, punch, and cappuccino, to appreciate a variety of art by GBQ men from the Pioneer Valley, and to schmooze about everything under the sun.
Our next event will be at the same location on Sunday, February 9, from 3-5:30 pm. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door; reduced-fee tickets will also be available at the door. Join us at the Winter Schmoozefest for delicious catered treats, scintillating art, music, and an opportunity to interact with lots of interesting GBQ men. If you can’t participate this time, you’ll have two more chances on April 13th and June 1st. Anyone wishing information about the next event and any GBQ artists who are interested in displaying their art at the gathering should contact Allan Arnaboldi at the MRC by calling (413) 253-9887 or emailing aarnaboldi@mensresourcecenter.org.
Samara Readies for New Grants
Samara Foundation is pleased to announce its sixth annual grantmaking cycle. Samara's 2003 grant applications start with a Letter of Intent due on March 3, 2003. Full grant applications are requested only after letters of intent have been reviewed. For complete grant application information, application forms online, and a list of previous grants awarded by Samara, go to www.samarafoundation.org or call Ted at 860-6236.
Grant Information Sessions
Start your year off by attending a free session offering basic information on writing letters of intent and full proposals for Samara Foundation and other funders. Grant Information Sessions will occur on January 15 in Brattleboro from 6:30pm – 8:30pm at a location to be announced, and January 16, 2003 in Burlington from 6:30pm - 8:30pm, at the Samara Foundation office located at 90 Main Street in Burlington. Attendance at this session is offered to potential grantees but not required. Pre-registration is appreciated. Contact ted@samarafoundation.org at Samara for more information or to register.
Samara Scholarships
Samara Scholarships for Year 2003 will be processed through the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation (VSAC). Samara Scholarships are listed in VSAC’s Scholarships (for the College Year 2003-2004). For a copy call 1-800-642-3177.Information about applying is also included at www.samarafoundation.org, along with a link to VSAC’s website, www.vsac.org. Applications must be postmarked by April 1st.
The Samara Scholarship was established in 2000 as an investment in the future of Vermont students who oppose discrimination and prejudice and who stand for the elimination of of homophobia in our society.Visit www.samarafoundation.org to read about the outstanding Vermont high school students who have been past Samara Scholarship recipients.
Help Save OITM!
Mountain Pride Media would like to thank everyone who responded so generously to our year-end appeal. Although the final numbers were not in at press time, we know that we will end the year with a substantial loss. As we look to 2003, the MPM Board of Directors will be implementing some significant cost cutting measures (such as limiting the size of the paper to 32 pages instead of our usual 36) while continuing to look for ways to increase advertising and subscription revenue which directly support Out In The Mountains. Your direct involvement as a donor and/or a volunteer does make a difference. We encourage you to contact us if you are interested in getting more involved in 2003.
MPM is excited to welcome our newest member of the Board of Directors, Fran Moravcsik of South Burlington. Fran has previously been serving on our Outreach Committee and is a regular volunteer at our monthly “stuffings.” We also welcome several new committee members including Brenda, Deb, Peter, Daryl, Jack, and Rick. Mountain Pride Media has 6 committees made of community and board members. Community member participation is key to the success of MPM and a great way to get involved. You can read more about our committees on our web site (www.mountainpridemedia.org) by clicking on the “About MPM” link.
Each month, Mountain Pride Media acknowledges the individuals who help get Out In The Mountains out into the community by coming to our monthly stuffing night. This month we send out our thanks to Roland, Tania, James, Michael, Stephen, George, Yves, Rob, Fran, Heidi, David, Bill, and Dan. Also an extra special thank you to Michael and James for delivering the packages to the Richmond Post Office for us. We also thank all our distribution volunteers for all their work each month in delivering the papers to our distribution points.
We currently have two routes that are in need of distribution volunteers: St. Albans and Plattsburgh, NY. We bid a fond farewell to David, our previous Plattsburgh volunteer and thank him for all his help. We are also looking for couriers to deliver papers throughout the state to our distribution volunteers. For more information please contact us at circulation@mountainpridemedia.org or call 802-434-6486. The January “Stuffing” will be held on Thursday, January 30th starting at 5 p.m. at our offices above The Daily Bread in Richmond. Please feel free to stop by, say hello and help out.
Mountain Pride Media is pleased to announce our Think Spring Raffle with loads of fabulous prizes. Look for our ad and entry form in this issue of OITM or download one from our web site. Tickets for a chance at major travel and accommodations prizes are just $25 each or five for $100 and only 300 will be sold (so far, the minimum value prize is $50!). The prize drawings will be held on the first day of spring, March 21st.
VCLGR is Now Equality VT
Thanks to our “What’s in a Name” Campaign, the Vermont Coalition for Lesbian and Gay Rights has adopted a new name: “Equality VT.” Our new name reflects the more inclusive nature and mission of our organization – commitment to social justice and equality for the glbtqa community. Thanks to all who submitted name suggestions. We appreciate your participation!
Equality VT is pleased to announce that we now have our website up and running! It’s located at www.equalityvt.org. You can also e-mail Equality VT at info@equalityvt.org. The website was designed with the help of Mountain Pride Media. Thanks to our membership, we have raised enough money so that we are online. You will be able to view the latest news, links, and events that are of interest to our community. This site is still under construction, but should be fully operational soon. If your organization would like to be on our Links page, please contact us.
If you have a commitment to our issues and would like to become more involved, without a major time commitment, why not become a board member of Equality VT? Like our new name, we are striving to have a more inclusive board.
Please mark your calendar for this year’s Visibility Day – Friday, January 31, 2003. This is our annual day at the Vermont State House where queer organizations spend the day at the State House. We will introduce ourselves to legislators and educate legislators about our issues. We will set up an information table in the “cardroom” on the second floor, so bring information about your organization. If you plan to attend, please contact Virginia Renfrew at 802-496-4333 or email us at info@equalityvt.org.
Outright Has a Library
As always Outright has been busy as bees keeping youth active with events, programs & support groups.For details on January events check us out online at: www.outrightvt.org or give us a ring at the office: 865-9677.
We hold true to our commitment to educate Vermont on queer youth issues while supporting & outreaching to youth around the state. Our staff is available for workshops & trainings on a variety of topics relating to issues facing queer youth in Vermont. For more information contact BJ Rogers at Outright, (802) 865-9677.We also have the Cliff Rivers Memorial library available for additional information for youth & their allies located here at our office at 187 St. Paul Street. All events at Outright are FREE & confidential for youth ages 22 and under.