RU12? Community Center celebrates, educates and advocates with and for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) Vermonters.

September 02, 2010

Pulling for Dollars!

Images We’ve got the team, we’ve got the will but we ain’t got the money yet! 

Outright's Seventh Annual Fire Truck Pull is on September 18, 2010 and each team needs to raise $1,500.  Let’s show Outright that the RU12? community can pull together and support our youth.  Every dollar counts, so if 150 people gave $10 or 75 people gave $20 we could meet our goal.  Of course if you can give more don’t let us stop you!  We need your support.  If you would like to support the RU12? team, please go to the team fundraising page at: http://www.firstgiving.com/ru12  All proceeds go to Outright and are tax deductible.

 

September 01, 2010

Todd’s Peek In Review: “Solstice” by Joyce Carol Oates, A Novel to Surrender Two

Todd's Peek  Some writers send us alarming, unrealistic signals when they write.  Joyce Carol Oates, as a writer does just the opposite for me, she makes everything seem relative to the context of understanding we all live in.  That always points to the need for relationship and understanding between two people, as in Solstice, this novel to surrender two.  The story is about the developing relationship between two women, who need each other as friends and lovers.  However, there is an effusive quality to their relationship which makes their love for each other difficult to pinpoint, as impelling and compelling to the need for one another. Monica Jensen and Sheila Trask are the sole protagonists of the novel to surrender two, needing to be grounded in love, past, present and future with themselves, as told in this hauntingly beautiful novel.

Joyce Carol Oates is a telling author.  She has the gift for sharing emotional content in the quality of her writing. What is so telling and so beautiful about Joyce Carol Oates is the emotive quality to her work, and specifically to the way she uses her own emotive  style of writing to portray and depict the characters in her novels.  As the basis also for the story and the story lines of each novel, she shows us time and time again how the characterization of  her writings are so important to the meaning and content to each novel. 

That is what the novel Solstice is all about.  For Solstice is not to be simplified but to be imagined by the joys and heartaches in this novel as adage, To Surrender Two.  The basis of understanding to the novel is both Monica Jensen and Sheila Trask are interesting women with  evolving lives.  Monica has accepted a teaching position in a small rural town in PA and Sheila Trask is a brilliant artist, who has lived in the community for quite some time.  They both have previously been married to men, Monica Jensen is divorced and Sheila Trask is a widow, having been married to a very eccentric and demanding artist. Each woman is alluring and beautiful on all fronts: spiritually, emotionally and on the physical side of life.  They are also exemplary women, with true feminism as their own point of view in action and content. They are totally captivated by one another and that is how the story enfolds and develops with the definitive poignancy to the characterization of both Monica Jensen and Sheila Trask.  This is backdrop to my need in surrendering two, in to the beauty of this story and Joyce Carol Oates’ writings, that is!

To read this love story is to read Solstice by two.  For these women are so beautiful in their own rite. Their rite of passage, that is; in making their meeting become such a telling emotive process to read on about  and to discern for yourselves.  The book is available at the Center.  Don’t miss out on Joyce Carol Oates, as a writer and novelist for our generation and future generation to come by. Because it is in this telling, evocative style and how that reading of Solstice is for you; that opens my heart as a reader to not only the story itself, but to the love between Monica Jensen and Sheila Trask. In seeing their needs as women enfold, we see their ongoing, mutual sense of attraction, as Solstice by two, a novel to surrender two in my estimation. For the love of God and her novel, Solstice, this September Review 2010, Ciao, Todd

August 17, 2010

RU12? Community Center Team for Fire Truck Pull....

Hello all!  The RU12? Community Center is forming a team so that we can compete in the 7th Annual Burlington Fire Truck Pull to benefit Outright Vermont!!!  

We want YOU......are you interested in joining our really fun, kooky and wild team???  We have to admit we are pretty committed to winning SOMETHING this year....maybe best costume, maybe FASTEST pull?  Who knows.....what we do know is this - if you are interested in being on the RU12? Community Center team we are interested in hearing from you!  

The PULL is happening on Saturday, September 18th on Church Street in Burlington - we would arrive at 11:00 to get ready, pulls will start at noon.....

Call Ann at the Center - 860-7812 if you are interested in joining us...


August 13, 2010

GLAMflix

Join GLAM tonight at the RU12? Community Center for some scary films in celebration of it being

Friday-lent-b

Meet at the new space in Winooski at the Champlain Mill, starting at 7:30p tonight.

To enjoy some snacks and scares!!

Equality always wins!

Stay lifted -- California marriage equality will resume Wednesday!

California's cities and towns can begin issuing marriage licenses for same-sex couples on Wednesday, August 18 -- assuming no stay is granted by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals or the U.S. Supreme Court.  Today's decision by Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker, the judge who concluded that California's Proposition 8, banning same-sex couples from marrying, violates the U.S. Constitution, was greeted with celebration and tears of joy.


As Vermont Freedom to Marry cofounder Beth Robinson wrote, "On one side, we have real families living lives of integrity who are just seeking the same legal security that their neighbors enjoy. On the other, we have anxieties unsupported by actual evidence or reason. The U.S. Constitution doesn't allow unfounded fears to defeat citizens' basic rights."

Flag So what now?  The process continues.  Equality opponents may immediately seek to appeal Judge Walker's decision NOT to stay his ruling on Prop 8 pending appeal.  That issue may or may not go up the chain in the court system. 

Regardless of whether the Court's decision takes effect right now, opponents are appealing the underlying court decision to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.  The losing side at that level can ask the United States Supreme Court to review the Ninth Circuit's ruling, and the Supreme Court can decide whether or not to do that.  And California voters may well repeal Prop 8 at the ballot box in 2012, which would be fantastic news and would render the Perry case (in which Judge Walker overturned Prop 8) moot.

In the meantime, two important cases challenging the constitutionality of the federal government's refusal to provide federal protections to legally married same-sex couples are working their way through the federal courts here on our own coast.  The judge in those cases ruled that this aspect of the federal "Defense of Marriage Act" is unconstitutional.  If asked to do so, the judge in those cases is likely to "stay" the effect of the court's rulings pending any appeal.  Like the California case, these cases are at a critical juncture. 

Meanwhile, the American Bar Association (ABA) has announced its support for equal marriage rights.  Other states are on the way to adopting marriage equality laws.

Stay tuned:  It's a long road and we are well on our way.

August 11, 2010

HIV Testing Update

RU12? is able to provide HIV Testing on Tuesday's and Thursday's from 11a-5p.

However for the next couple of weeks we will not be able to run the rapid test. You are still able to come in and get an anonymous test at the center but it will be using the OraSure test. We will keep up posted as soon as the rapid testing is available, but we can still give you a test if you come in.

August 09, 2010

SafeSpace Update....

Hello everyone....Here is a look at what SafeSpace has been up to...

Brenda, the SafeSpace Direct Services Advocate, and Ella Kaplan, co-facilitator, and Outright Vermont's Program Manager continue to facilitate the "survivors of violence" support group each week.  This group has been meeting weekly for two years.  If you or someone you know might benefit from group support please give us a call in the SafeSpace office to talk more about it.  

Damien, another one of our volunteer facilitators continues to host the support group for male survivors of violence as well, this group meets weekly.  If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about Damien's group please give us a call at the SafeSpace office.  863.0003

SafeSpace is planning its second annual conference...we met on Tuesday with a fabulous group of dedicated individuals from various agencies interested in promoting a conference around the health care needs of the LGBTQ community.  Our planning stage has just begun, however watch for updates and the big reveal of the details coming soon!  

We LOVE our new space.  If you have not come to the Center, now located in the Champlain Mill in Winooski, we hope you will consider visiting us.  The SafeSpace office (the only Center really) is an absolutely beautiful space that serves the needs of the LGBTQ community really well!  It serves our needs as well, as it offers a beautiful view of the Winooski River and is so quiet, yet open, airy and comfortable!

If you or someone you know is in need of SafeSpace services, advocates are available Monday through Friday from 9AM until 6PM.  All services are free and confidential.  We recognize the difficulty in reaching out for services and are here to help in any way we can.  Our number is 863.0003 or you can call the RU12? Community Center at 860.7812.  

August 04, 2010

LA Based Photographer Seeking Vermont Subjects

Greetings.  I am a photographer who grew up in Shelburne, VT and now lives in LA. 

 

I’m seeking subjects for a sequel photography book who are gay (men or women), live in Vermont and have either a truly unique living space (quirky, odd, unusual), or live in a pastoral Vermont setting, even a farmer would be ideal.


I’ll be back in VT around August 21st and was hoping to locate a subject or two.  

 

The series features portraits of gay men and women at home including John Waters, Todd Oldham, Edward Albee, Joel Schumacher, George Takei, Tommy Tune, Christopher Ciccone, Don Bachardy, Tab Hunter, Barney Frank, Bruce Vilanch, Ross Bleckner, Simon Doonan, Michael Cunningham, Ned Rorem, Junior Vasquez, John Ashbery, Carson Kressley, David Del Tredici, Edmund White, John Bartlett and others. 

 

The series seeks to highlight positive role models for our nation’s GLBT youth.  The first book reached people on national television and radio, as well as in over 150 publications in over a dozen countries including The New York TimesThe Los Angeles Times, The San Francisco Chronicle, The New YorkerElle, Out, The Advocate, The Art Newspaper, Artforum, Art Ltd., Photo Life, Photo Selection and The Photo Review. 

 

Photos from the series also won first place in Portraiture from London's Worldwide Photography Gala Awards, first place in Portraiture in the Prix de la Photographie Paris competition, as well as additional awards from the Griffin Museum of Photography, the Center for Fine Art Photography, Manhattan Arts International, Artrom Gallery Guild (Rome), Kodak,CameraArts Magazine, Photo Life Magazine, Photographer's Forum Magazine, Graphis and Applied Arts.

 

The series, Kings in Their Castles, can be previewed at:

http://www.tomatwood.com/kings.php

 

If you’re aware of any subjects, feel free to reach me at this email or 310-503-7800.  Of if you know of anyone who might know or know of a VT newsgroup where this message could be posted, feel free to forward this to them or post this.

 

Thanks so much. 

 

Tom

 

August 03, 2010

Congratulations to Outright!



751221191_fdb8eae75c  Outright Vermont, has received a federal earmark 
  worth $100,000!  
 
Outright is the first Vermont LGBTQ organization to ever 
receive a federal earmark. The money will allow Outright to expand its anti-bullying work, which currently accounts for one-third of the small nonprofit’s $240,000 annual budget, to parts of the state that don’t typically get the message.

“This grant will help Outright Vermont provide critical support services to young Vermonters and help stamp out bullying for good,” Rep. Peter Welch says.  Click here to read the full Seven Days story: http://bit.ly/fpf0721

August 01, 2010

Todd's Peek in Review: “Jeffrey” by Paul Rudnick, Philosophical and Funny

Todd's Peek  Paul Rudnick is a very funny writer, and Jeffrey was written by him and performed  back in the early 90’s.  It’s a play about our belief in being romantic, and gay in our times. The character of Jeffrey is central to the play set in New York City. The play speaks to the overall message of the fight against the Aids epidemic in our times.  We have nothing greater to fear than fear itself, and that includes living out our lives with the fear of Aids devastating lives.  The play, Jeffrey also speaks to the philosophical vantage point of being funny and romantic in trying times as the character, Jeffrey does so well.  To conquer something as deadly as Aids, we need to see the humor and romance in ourselves to make sense of life.  


As the play opens up, Jeffrey has decided not to have sex because he is bored with his life and life as a generality of concern.  However, he is not bored with being gay or wanting to find love.  As a  professional waiter in New York City in the 90’s, he has always found life creative and enduring, but somehow now feels inert about romance and feeling a sense of purpose to life.  In New York City terms, living there is aptly described as wild and crazy with the sense of diversity for the hubbub of it all!. 


He meets Steve who is HIV+, and does not know this about Steve at first.  They are immediately attracted to one another and are trying to decide whether or not to develop in romance as friends and lovers, based on   Jeffrey’s indecisiveness for wanting sex and Steve reluctance to show candor about being HIV+.  So much of the play is about Jeffrey seeing his gayness in “quasi terms”, which is really unexplained because he is not uncomfortable with being gay, yet feels disillusioned by the world. Life for Jeffrey and Steve is the backdrop to the play, being central to the paradox of two fundamental questions:  Is there life after sex?  More specifically, is there life after Aids or for that matter having sex after becoming HIV+ , or not?  That is the paradox, which we, the reader must face at times; in trying to come to terms with this parody on being gay in America.  


There is no truer context of understanding than what Jeffrey grapples with in the unexacting realm of Jeffrey’s World.  Jeffrey’s hopes and dreams as a gay man is also relative in essence to his life in New York City which can feel desensitized by the minutes.  There is always a need for being tenacious, as a means to an end and an end to a means. To be human is tellingly tenacious, no matter how big or small it feels to you! The play, Jeffrey is a metaphor for just that.  That kind of tenacity is self-fostering  to being human, as Jeffrey himself is in funny sketches and scenes throughout this very wry and fast moving play.  That makes the character, Jeffrey and the play Jeffrey, in and of  itself, funny and clearly real to me as such!


So give the play, Jeffrey the true romance it deserves by picking up a copy of it at RU12? and reading it for yourself.  This is a good play  to read and critique for September 2010 by seeing the funny and philosophical  “love connection  ringing out true to form”.  For the notion of the play itself resonates for me as well, as a gay man, knowing the feeling of needing to be on my own. Three cheers to Jeffrey, alas my friend for the goodness the play evokes in me, this September Review 2010 for RU12?!  Ciao, Todd

July 26, 2010

Thank you for an amazing Pride and Open House!

RU12? wants to thank the hard working group of volunteers who organized another awesome Pride this year! From the week of fun and educational events to the parade, festival and evening events on Saturday - we had an amazing time celebrating our beautifully diverse LGBTQ community and we hope you did too!

IMG_4516

We also want to thank everyone who attended our Open House on Sunday, especially Winooski Mayor Michael O'Brien and Winooski City Manager Deac Deccareau (seen below) who gave us a warm welcome to our new home city. Thank you to everyone who attended, brought the yummy food and gifts even! We had a great time and now the new Center is officially broken in - thank you so much for all your support!


Also check out this Burlington Free Press article about our Open House:

 http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/201007260600/NEWS02/100725017

IMG_4534

July 21, 2010

Join us at Pride on Saturday and at our new space on Sunday!

Lots happening this weekend for Pride, hope to see you at one of these events:

Come March with us on Saturday! It's so much fun to show off the diversity of our community by marching through downtown Burlington in the Pride parade with lots of other groups, organizations and community members. We hope you can join RU12?! The Parade is at Noon, but decorating the float begins at 10:30 at the Hood Plant off S. Winooski and King.

Visit our Table at the Festival from 1-4pm at Battery Park on Saturday! Buy a cool RU12? shirt and/or water bottle, pick up a calendar, and visit with staff, board and volunteers!

Come see our new digs on Sunday from 2:30-5pm Champlain Mill, Winooski! Read the press release below for more on our new space and the press conference and open house this Sunday...

HAPPY PRIDE!

Continue reading "Join us at Pride on Saturday and at our new space on Sunday!" »

July 19, 2010

Primary Candidate Forum Tonight!

July 19, 2010

July 15, 2010

SafeSpace participates in the release of the National Hate Crime Report.....

NCAVP Logo with Tagline 2010.jpg

 

MEDIA RELEASE

                                                

July 13, 2010

 

Media contact: Roberta Sklar 917.704.6358 

*Regional Media Contacts Listed Below                           

 

Report of hate violence against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) commuinities released today

 

·         Murders at second-highest rate in a decade;

·         Spike in anti-LGBTQ violence at time of federal hate crimes law passage;

·         Economic crisis depletes resources for LGBTQ survivors of violence

 

NATIONAL— The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP) today released its report on Hate Violence against the LGBTQ Communities in the United States in 2009.  Anti-LGBTQ hate violence continues to be a pervasive social problem at the same time as vital resources and support for hate violence survivors are at risk amidst economic crisis.  This year, 22 victims of hate murder were reported by NCAVP, the second-highest rate in a decade, reflecting a pattern of severe and persistent violence against LGBTQ communities.  Notably, NCAVP saw the highest spike in reported incidents of violence in October 2009, coinciding with the passage of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act.  This statistic seems to reflect a correlation between increased visibility and increased vulnerability and targeting.  Despite these disturbing trends, financial support and much needed services for hate violence survivors have only declined due to ongoing economic conditions. 

 Of the 22 reported hate murder victims in 2009, 79% were people of color, and most were transgender women or were feminine-presenting.  As evidenced in this report, members of traditionally marginalized communities continue to be disproportionately targeted for severe violence.  “These facts are deeply disturbing as these are the same people who are more likely to face discrimination, criminalization or further violence when interacting with criminal legal and social service systems.  What we see is that they are less likely to seek and access support from these institutions,” said Maria Carolina Morales, Intervention Director of Community United Against Violence (CUAV) in San Francisco.

 During the past year, NCAVP member organizations lost crucial staff and programming in the wake of the fiscal crisis.  In a survey of members participating in this report, 50% of respondents laid off staff (at an average decrease of 56% of all positions), 70% reported budget decreases, and others could not expand positions, staff hours or programming, despite a demonstrated need for such growth.  We believe that this drastically limited the ability of LGBTQ people to report violence and access vital support and services in 2009,” said Lisa Gilmore, Director of Education and Victim Advocacy at Center on Halsted in Chicago.  “While the total number of reported incidents of hate violence declined slightly in 2009, we suspect that this represents a decrease in reporting, not in actual violence.”

 “For many people, acts of hate violence come to be an expected part of being lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer,” said Kelly Clark, Community Safety Director at the Gay Alliance of the Genesee Valley in Rochester, NY. “Hate violence exists in many forms, ranging from hate speech to sexual assault and murder.  All can be traumatic and have life-long impact.”

 Many of the incidents reported to NCAVP, such as intimidation, harassment and other forms of discrimination (62%), may not fall in the category of criminal acts.  Ann Atkins, Program Director of SafeSpace at the R U 1 2? Community Center in Winooski, VT, states, “Hate violence can be challenged by everyone, on all levels, by working with and reporting even what seem to be the slightest acts to local anti-violence programs.  This sort of reporting supports efforts to prevent the escalation of incidents as well as document the scope of anti-LGBTQ hate in our communities.”

 NCAVP’s report strongly recommends that the federal and state governments and criminal legal systems support anti-violence programs by ceasing cutbacks, releasing allocated funding and increasing funding for prevention, education, and data collection.  Most critically, NCAVP calls upon these institutions to end discriminatory practices that further promote anti-LGBTQ hate violence.

  “Ending anti-LGBTQ hate violence will require nothing less than a profound cultural shift supported at all levels of society,” said Crystal Middlestadt, Director of Education & Advocacy at the Colorado Anti-Violence Program.  “Educators, lawmakers, service providers and the general public must support the work of anti-violence programs and LGBTQ people to transform a culture of hate into one that is inclusive, healthy and safe for all.” 

 

NCAVP-HVR09-map2

 

 

This report  is a product of the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP), a coalition of 40 anti-violence organizations that monitor, respond to, and work to end hate, domestic and sexual violence, HIV-related violence, and other forms of violence affecting LGBTQ communities.  As demonstrated in the above map, fifteen NCAVP member organizations from the Pacific Coast, the Southwest, the Midwest and the Northeast collected data for this report.  No programs reported from the Southeast or the South, due to a highly limited number of programs and resources.  NCAVP member organizations are found in 22 states throughout the country and many are the single resource in their entire state.

 While this report covers hate violence in 2009, NCAVP would like to acknowledge an important report published today by New York City Stands in Solidarity with the Puerto Rican Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community on more recent incidents.  This network of non-profit organizations and elected officials in New York City and State organized in the spring of 2010 to monitor and respond to recent heinous and ongoing acts of hate violence affecting the Puerto Rican LGBT communities.

 To download a complete version of the report, visit: http://www.avp.org/ncavp.htm.

 

July 09, 2010

One step closer to federal marriage equality...

From our friends at GLAD (Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders):

July 08, 2010

Today, U.S. District Court Judge Joseph L. Tauro ruled that Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is unconstitutional with respect to claims brought by seven married same-sex couples and three widowers from Massachusetts. Under the ruling, the plaintiffs are entitled to the same federal spousal benefits and protections as every other married couple.

The ruling stems from GLAD's lawsuit Gill et al v. Office of Personnel Management et al, filed in March 2009.

"Today the Court simply affirmed that our country won't tolerate second-class marriages," says Mary Bonauto, GLAD's Civil Rights Project Director, who argued the case. "I'm pleased that Judge Tauro recognized that married same-sex couples and surviving spouses have been seriously harmed by DOMA and that the plaintiffs deserve the same opportunities to care and provide for each other and for their children that other families enjoy. This ruling will make a real difference for countless families in Massachusetts."

July 08, 2010

Primary Candidate Forum July 19th 6:30-8pm

Hello folks! As the Executive Director of RU12? and member of the planning committee for the upcoming candidate forum I wanted to share this message from the planners and also to say I am thrilled that there is so much interest in the candidate forum! Having never planned a candidate forum before our organizations weren't sure what the interest level would be, so it is great to see how many people care about electing officials who care about our community. The forum is taking place on Monday, July 19th 6:30-8pm at the Champlain Auditorium at Champlain College in Burlington. So thank you for being engaged and thank you for voting, it does make a difference, Kara

Dear Community Member,

Thank you for your interest in the gubernatorial candidate forum on July 19th.

We would like clarify that this forum is for those candidates who are facing a primary on August 24th. We apologize if there was confusion about the purpose of this event. Before the general election please look for a notice about an event to which all gubernatorial candidates will be invited.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Batsford, Samara Foundation Deputy Director

Kara DeLeonardis, RU12? Community Center Executive Director

Melissa Murray, Outright Vermont Executive Director

Peter Jacobsen , Vermont CARES Executive Director

Sheryl Rapee Adams, Freedom to Marry Taskforce Field Director

 

July 05, 2010

Todd’s Peek at: Augusten Burroughs "Magical Thinking, True Stories"

Todd's Peek  I have never read Augusten Burroughs before now.  He is a contemporary satrical writer in America today.  Magical Thinking is a book in expose form as a cross-section to his writing.  His writing include: Running with Scissors, Dry, A Memoir and Possible Side Effects, for example.  He writes with his own biographical sketch as a literary device.  This really and truly adds to the parody on life he shares with us the reader! 

I read a cross-section of stories from Magical Thinking.  I decided to skip around through the various chapters and not read them in any particular order.  My favorites to this collection are: “Commercial Break”, “Transfixed By Transsexuals”, “Magical Thinking”, “Ass Burger”.  They speak of parody on life in America  in particular.  There is also a definitive vantage to writing from his life as  biographical sketch. It’s  the proverbial parody the reader sees, the adage we are all part of the bigger picture whether we like it or not!  His stories are vignettes with social message.  Within each short story,  multi-dimensional attitudes on life give the emotional content we see Augusten Burroughs create as discerning truth.  The satire is in the writing and the writing is so crisp and clean, so funny and well-versed! 

Hereto there are eccentric moments which span Magical Thinking.   He is deliberate in the way he writes and thinks.  Magical Thinking is a real page turner and so is Augusten Burroughs one might say, as euphemistic.  I laugh with the delivery of these eccentric stories.  They espouse life and the need to understand signifying the meaning to his own biographical sketch as a part of the writing.  Augusten Burroughs himself  is a gay man and the characterization of being gay for him is a part of the much bigger parody to life on the planet as we know it.  Therein lies the multi-dimensional awareness to the read, which the reader also sees through his clear, crisp writing as satire about Life on the Planet, imagine that!  

The notion of Augusten’s writing (to me) refers back to being human in a Doggie Dog World.  To me, it’s also the satirical weave for having the conscious of being gay, whereas the world’s culture and society itself is overripe with its own social morays and social attitudes!  Being human is an expose for us all to understand as satire! In America, we need to reflect on life more readily, to see that the reflexive principle is in each of us,  and to move forward in and out of The Parody we are all a part of, without feeling too ingrained. To live out are lives on the planet in truth to the existence of Life as is, whether we are to be gay or really smart, black or white as notion, if you will.  We innately do the best we can do, especially when our intent and actions speak to That Need!  We cannot expect what we believe in or about ourselves to be the only truth as the Soul Collective!  In the scheme of life itself, there is always the adage  to life, Life is  Parody that is!   Thus there will always be the need for the proverbial relationship, to always satirize the  nature of things, as real and funny too! The Collective Soul is then the ultimate means to end as well as ends to a mean; for the making of this doggie dog World we all live in.  That’s  funny as  prospectus to the real world and Augusten’s  Magical Thinking as the point in case to this review, imagine that!

We have a number of Augusten Burroughs books, so dare to challenge yourself by heading on over to “our new digs” and “dig in” to a worthy Augusten Burroughs read for yourself.  As always!  Ciao, Todd

July 01, 2010

Our new home!

It's official! We are Winooski residents!IMG_4419

Thank you so much to the fantastic volunteers who provided brawn and support in our move this week to our new home! The windows are open, we're listening to the falls outside, and are busy setting up networks, phone lines, and the community spaces. We can't wait to show it off to you on July 6th, when we reopen to the public!

And please join us Sunday, July 25th 3-5pm for our post-Pride Open House!

Here's how to find us... 

From the rotary in Winooski, take Winooski Falls Way to the Champlain Mill (visible from the rotary). Free two-hour parking is available directly outside the building. While facing the Mill, head up the ramp on the left side of the building. You will be on the 3rd floor. An elevator is on your left upon entering the building, or you can take the staircase down to the River level (1st floor). We are in the south-eastern corner of the first floor, and have our sign up in the window!

We're not on the directories yet, but we will be soon! Our official new address is 20 Winooski Falls Way, Suite 102, Winooski, VT 05404.

Can't wait to see you here!Ru12atMilledited

Kara, Hannah, Brenda, Mike and Ann 

June 23, 2010

Save the Date: July 19th Gubernatorial Candidate Forum for LGBTQ Community

 
 
Help kick off Pride Week with us! Flag

Join Outright Vermont, Pride Vermont, RU12? Community Center, The Samara Foundation, Vermont CARES, Vermont Freedom to Marry, and Vermont TransAction at a Gubernatorial Candidate Forum on Monday, July 19th, from 6:30pm-8pm.

Hear from the gubernatorial candidates about why they deserve to be the next governor of Vermont. Bring your questions and learn about the candidates’ commitment to LGBTQ issues.

This event is open to the public and will be held at the Alumni Auditorium at Champlain College, 375 Maple Street, Burlington.
 
Please submit your questions for the candidates by July 9th to Kara@ru12.org.
 

June 21, 2010

Please join the VT Migrant Farmworker Solidarity Project for the premiere of our new documentary film "Silenced Voices"

The VT Migrant Farmworker Solidarity Project kicks off a state-wide tour on July 1 in Burlington with the premiere of its new documentary film Silenced Voices, as the recent Arizona law draws national attention to the issue of immigration.

View the trailer here:            http://www.vtmigrantfarmworkersolidarity.org/node/72

When migrant farmworker José Obeth Santiz Cruz was killed in a farming accident in December 2009 the VT Migrant Farmworker Solidarity Project organized a delegation to return his remains and bring back the story of his family and community coming to terms with his death. Silenced Voices shows that this small and rural indigenous village in Chiapas, Mexico is deeply interconnected with VT and highlights the hardships and challenges of this invisible community as they work to sustain Vermont’s struggling dairy farms.

This film and tour are timed to raise awareness about the vital yet invisible role migrant farmworkers play in Vermont’s food systems while drawing attention to the conditions and economic policies that force migrants from their homes.

Venues:

Thursday July 1st at 7pm, Burlington Black Box Theatre at Main St. Landing on the Waterfront (bottom of College St.). Contact Brendan O'Neill at vtmfsp@gmail.com

Tuesday July 6th at 7pm, Montpelier Unitarian Universalist Church. Contact Gustavo Terán at gateran51@yahoo.com

Wednesday July 14th at 7pm, Hardwick Town Hall w/ Meredith Holch who will show her animated film 'Neighbors' also about Vermont's migrant farmworkers. Contact Robin Cappuccino at wmtnfarm@together.net

Sunday July 25th at the Fairfield Community Center showing continuously throughout the "Jig in the Valley". Contact Naomi Wolcott at nwolcott@uvm.edu

***Contact us to host a viewing in your community by emailing vtmfsp@gmail.com***

The film will be followed by a discussion and dialogue with the VT Migrant Farmworker Solidarity Project and film makers Sam Mayfield, Brendan O'Neill and Gustavo Terán.

More information at: www.vtmfsp.org