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.
Vocal Minority Sings Out
The Vermont Gay Men's Chorus, "A Vocal Minority," will perform two concerts in June. This is the Chorus' 7th year together!
The first is Friday June 10 at 8:00 PM at the Unitarian Universalist Church on Main Street in Montpelier, VT.
The second is on Saturday June 11 at 7:30 PM at the Congregational church on Hill street in Danville, VT.
Under the Music Direction of the Northeast Kingdom's Mark Violette, "A Vocal Minority" will perform classic songs, humor and end with a compilation of music from the Broadway musical Hairspray, accompanied by some of Mark's present and former music students. Tickets will be by suggested donation at the door the night of the concert with dessert reception to follow.
For more information contact Rob Larabee or Yves Morrissette at 802-633-3605 or by emailing robnyves@hotmail.com
Chrysalis Summer Retreats
Chrysalis Community, an environment for people living with HIV to learn and practice holistic methods for healing the mind, body and spirit, has announced its Summer 2005 retreat schedule. Healing Weekends will take place June 17-19, July 22-24, and August 19-21.
Located on a 108-acre farm on a hilltop in Pownal, Chrysalis Community exists to help people living with HIV live long, happy, healthy, and full lives and to build healthy, open, compassionate communities. Chrysalis Community is a 501c3 non-profit organization.
During Healing Weekends, Chrysalis Community delivers a program designed to provide people living with HIV the knowledge and skills that support a healthy lifestyle. These include: practicing self-love and self-care, taking a proactive role in wellbeing and wholeness, learning techniques to minimize stress and depression, and participating in activities which boost the immune system.
"I came here feeling very desperate, hopeless, rushed, and stressed. I came here feeling like I didn't have time for this weekend. I came here wondering if it would do me any good," said one Healing Weekend participant. "I leave here feeling hopeful, light, and energized. I leave here feeling like I needed this weekend. And, I'm glad that I came here. I leave here feeling more prepared to live my life – not just to survive it."
For more information, call 802-893-9309, email info@chrysaliscommunity.org, or visit www.chrysaliscommunity.org
WRCC Seeks Volunteers
The Women's Rape Crisis Center will offer orientation sessions for anyone interested in volunteering on Tuesday, May 31st, from 5:30pm-7:30pm, on Wednesday, June 8th, and on Thursday, June 9th, from 6:00pm-8:00pm at the agency's office in Burlington. Potential volunteers need attend only one orientation session before attending training. The Women's Rape Crisis Center is currently seeking volunteers to serve on our 24-hour hotline and to assist with community education. We desperately need the support of generous volunteers from our community, as we have seen a dramatic increase in call to our hotline and have lost many volunteers for the summer. To find out more about volunteering or to register for an orientation, call the Women's Rape Crisis Center at 864-0555.
We will be offering training for new volunteers beginning on June 13th, and we desperately need the support of volunteers to provide our comprehensive services.
If you or someone you know needs support after a sexual assault, call our 24-hour confidential hotline at 863-1236 or 1-800-489-7273.
Champ Riders
Welcome to Champ Ride 2005! This is a spectacular ride with a great route and great views all in support of Vermont CARES. Call all your friends & family, ride by yourself or form a team! Champ Ride is on Saturday, June 11, at Kingsland Bay State Park, with a catered picnic from 12pm-6pm. Don't forget your camera!
Through JustGiving.com you can create your own fundraising webpage at www.justgiving.com/ChampRide Upon registering for Champ Ride, you will receive a 15% discount coupon to the SKIRACK in Burlington, good for bicycling apparel and accessories!
Contact me directly at matt@vtcares.org or 800-649-2437 with any questions. Join us for a great ride that makes a difference. "Be a Champ – Do the Ride!"
Show Your Colors for Pride!
Here comes the 2005 P.R.I.D.E. in Vermont Celebration! In response to community input and feedback, we've made the celebrations in Burlington this year more colorful and visible by moving up to downtown! On July 9, come show your colors in the March and Speakout, and enjoy all that Vermont has to offer with information tables and the *NEW* Community Garden, which will bring together all corners of our wonderful, proud state!
How will you participate: in a speak-out; do you intend to "float" around Burlington that day; and above all, what colors will you show for Pride? We are looking for volunteers to make this year's event a success! For information on volunteering, table space, or our *NEW* Community Garden, please check out our website at www.pridevermont.org We're looking forward to seeing you there!
Queer Outdoor Games
The Upper Valley Men's Project, based out of West Lebanon, NH serves the community of gay, bisexual, transgendered, questioning, closeted, and curious men in the Upper Valley. We are hosting a Queer Outdoor Games Day June 4 in the White River Junction area.
This event is open to all members of the LGBTQCC community as well as friends, family, and allies. There will be soccer and softball games, a purse toss, a drag race (this ain't NASCAR!), and much more. There will even be board games! There will be BBQ-style food served.
This is a FREE event, though if you can afford it, we ask for a $7 donation. Festivities start at 10 a.m. For more information (including directions), go to our webpage: www.uvmp.net or please contact Tin Barton-Caplin at jcbc@dartmouth.edu or via 603.298.9977.
We hope to see people from all over Vermont and New Hampshire. Note: This is a family friendly event – kids are welcome and alcohol is prohibited. This event has no rain date and will be cancelled in the instance of major rainstorms or possible lightning (this will be posted online or on our answering machine).
LGBTQCC Support Group
The Upper Valley Men's Group (UVMP) has changed the focus of its support group that was previously for closeted men or those men who had recently come out. The new lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, questioning, closeted, and curious support group is open to ALL members of the community who may need a safe space to talk. So whether you're a man or a woman, still closeted or been out for 20 years, our door is open! The group is currently facilitated by Tin Barton-Caplin and by Kylie Fauth. The next support group is on June 6 (Monday) @ 6 p.m. at the UVMP site. Sessions start promptly, so please plan to arrive a few minutes early. Please go to our website for directions: www.uvmp.net or email Tin at jcbc@dartmouth.edu or call 603.298.9977.