Letters to the Editor
No
Pay for ex officio Notaries, but Registration OK
That was a nice story on my spouse, Mary Schwartz, running for re-election
as a JP in Franklin County.
But there was one point to be clarified,
not about Mary, but about Justices of the Peace. You wrote that Justices
of the Peace "may receive pay for holding civil unions, marriages,
and as notaries."
Justices of the Peace are considered
ex officio notaries public. But that part of the office is not
activated until the JP (or any other adult resident) applies to be so
licensed with their county clerk. Being an elected JP gets you an exemption
from the $20 fee, but you must still apply and be appointed (and sworn
in). And ex officio notaries may not charge a fee for their "notarial
services."
Most importantly, notaries and Justices
of the Peace can both register voters.
There is much more information contained
in "A Short Guide for Vermont Notaries Public 2006" available
online at http://vermontarchives.org/notary/,
which I used as a resource.
Euan Bear
Bakersfield
Duped by "Biggest Hair" Contestant
For last month's issue, I very proudly submitted a press release and picture
commemorating the selection of Miss Lucy Belle LeMay of Beaver Pond, Vermont,
as first runner up for Miss Biggest Hair at this summer's annual Carnival
Week in Provincetown. I am ashamed to say that I, and therefore your readers,
were victims of a vicious hoax.
Apparently Lucy Belle not only didn't get
recognized as first runner up, she received no recognition at all, therefore
being a complete loser two years in a row.
Rather than accept her defeat as a true
lady of Beaver Pond, she not only lied to me, but apparently convinced
(threatened?) the rest of her P-town entourage to go along with this sham.
I sincerely apologize for misleading you
and your readers in this matter.
Sincerely (I can't say it enough).
Amber LeMay
Beaver Pond, Vermont
PS: AND the caption of the picture indicated that Taudry Hepburn was a
"Manhattan socialite"... hell, she's from Queens!
Volunteer Now for Pride 25
Maybe it's getting (a lot) colder, but I'm still thinking about summer,
particularly July 9, and all the fun I had with all of you at Pride 2006.
We really couldn't have asked for a better day: beautiful weather, talented
entertainment, a powerful speakout, and lots of fabulous queers to celebrate
with!
I'm hanging on to those great memories,
and now I'm gearing up for Pride 2007!
You might be wondering why I'm already
ranting about Pride, it being a good ten months away. You might be saying,
"Chelsea, you have better things to worry about: putting snow tires
on your car before February, for example."
But here's the thing: 2007 marks the 25th
anniversary of Pride celebration in Vermont, and I am determined to make
this celebration the biggest, baddest, best one yet.
But I need some help - I need your help,
actually.
There are so many ways to help with Pride.
You can write grants, meet with potential sponsors, plan a fundraising
event, find great entertainers, coordinate volunteers, track down vendors,
take photographs... the list goes on (and on, and on).
Whatever Pride may be to you: a celebration,
a reunion, a reason to dust off your glitter tights and get down with
your bad self - why not get involved in planning?
Come to R.U.1.2? (34 Elmwood Avenue, Burlington)
on Tuesday, October 17 at 7 pm. Come to hear about how you can get plugged
into Pride planning! Come to meet other people who care about their community!
Come to hang out with me and eat free pizza!
If you have any questions at all about
Pride, how we work, who I am, what we need - please feel free to contact
me at Chelsea@pridevermont.org. I can't wait to work with you this year!
Chelsea Sullivan
Co-chair, Pride Vermont 2006
Burlington
Corrections
Our apologies to readers who looked in vain on page 5 for the continuation
of our page one story ("Gay Games or Outgames," Sept. '06 OITM),
which was actually continued on page 17. Also, the front page headline
may have been misleading, as Vermont actually counted six participant-winners
in both Gay Games and Outgames this summer (five went to the Gay Games
and one competed in the Outgames).
In "Reflections on 'He That Once
Seemed Invisible' (Sept. '06 OITM), there was an error in the
next to the last paragraph.
The sentence should read "This
is why I am transitioning, or changing my sex from female to male."