RU12? Community Center for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Vermont

RU12?'s LGBTQ Community Dinner Tickets Now Available!!

RESERVE TICKETS

Please join us for RU12? Community Center’s 15th Annual LGBTQ Community Dinner: Emerald. Our signature event, this year’s dinner celebrates fifteen years of RU12?’s commitment to LGBTQA community building across Vermont.

RU12’s Annual Dinner brings together community members and allies for a fabulous evening of dinner and entertainment in support of our vital health and human rights programs as well as our social and educational events. It is a time for us to recognize community leaders, organizations, and businesses dedicated to building and strengthening our community.

The Annual Dinner begins at 5:00PM

The Sheraton Hotel, Burlington

in the Emerald Ballroom  

Happening Soon In St. Johnsbury.....

Womyn to Womyn Lesbian Potluck Group
Saturday, April 6^th at 6:00pm

Unitarian Universalist Church

47 Cherry St., St. Johnsbury

The Womyn to Womyn Lesbian Potluck Group meets bimonthly on the first Saturday of the month at the Unitarian Universalist Church in St. Johnsbury.  Contact Vickie at vickieinbarnet@myfairpoint.net for more information.

Interested in meeting people in a social setting that you identify with?  The Intergenerational Subcommittee in St. Johnsbury is looking for suggestions and individuals to participate in the planning of community social events.  Contact jryan@nevaaa.org for more information.

Happening Soon in St. Johnsbury.....

Womyn to Womyn Lesbian Potluck Group
April 6^th at 6:00pm

Unitarian Universalist Church

47 Cherry St., St. Johnsbury

The Womyn to Womyn Lesbian Potluck Group meets bimonthly on the first Saturday of the month at the Unitarian Universalist Church in St. Johnsbury.  Contact Vickie at vickieinbarnet@myfairpoint.net for more information.

Interested in meeting people in a social setting that you identify with?  The Intergenerational Subcommittee in St. Johnsbury is looking for suggestions and individuals to participate in the planning of community social events.  Contact jryan@nevaaa.org for more information.

Leunig's All-Day Benefit for RU12?

Come to Leunig's on April 7th and support RU12? Community Center

On Sunday, April 7th, Leunig's Bistro and Lounge will donate 10% of the food and bar sales to support the programs of RU12?. 

Starts at 9am until closing.

Bring your family, friends, and colleagues. Tell everyone you know! 

Buy a Community Partner card for $50.00 and you will receive 20% off of your food tab throughout the year. Half of the cost of the card goes directly to RU12?. Or, renew your Community Partner card from last year and the entire cost goes to RU12?. 

What could be better than being a part of providing award winning direct services and advocacy for the LGBTQ Community while enjoying delicious food in the middle of the hustle and bustle of Church Street?
Also, Leunigs will hold a raffle 1 ticket for $5 or 3 for $10 for a chance to win Dinner for Two including Two Appetizers, Two Entrees & Two Desserts! All of the money raised in the raffle goes to RU12!!!

Facebook Event

Killington Winter Pride Weekend: February 1st-February 3rd

 

 

With one of the most popular nightlife scenes in the East, along with 140 trails spread across 70 miles of mountain terrain, Killington’s got something for everyone – and then some. Whether you’re an avid snow sport enthusiast or just making the trip out to party, we’ll provide you with everything needed for an amazing experience.

As a part of this initiative, G.N.A.R. is proud to support RU12? Community Center as the principle non-profit beneficiary of this year’s event. RU12 Community Center celebrates, educates, and advocates with and for LGBTQ Vermonters. They offer a wide range of programs from social and educational events, to health and wellness programs, to direct services and advocacy.

=====================================

EVENT PASS OPTIONS:
- Gold Pass ($129)
- Gold Pass + Full-Day Lift Ticket ($169)

Pride Passes may be purchased at www.GnarWinterPride.com.

=====================================

FEATURED EVENTS:

RU12?'s Bring a Bottle Wine Auction

Please join RU12? Community Center on Monday, December 3rd at Burlington City Arts for the RU12? Wine Auction. From 6PM to 8PM, guests will mingle, hear fabulous music by accomplished cellist Mo Citro, enjoy tantalizing hors d'oeuvres from Catering by Dale, and catch up with friends at Vermont Creamery's cheese table. 

Need some wine for gifts or dinners in the coming holiday season? Are you adventurous about trying new wines? Want to build up your wine cellar?This is the event to attend. 

Guests are asked to bring a bottle of your favorite red or white. At the end of the evening, two lots of wine, the table of reds and the table of whites, will be auctioned. We also plan to have a couple other wine related auction items for those who may not want to bid on an entire table of wine! 

All proceeds will benefit RU12? Community Center, which celebrates, educates, and advocates with and for LGBTQ Vermonters. 

For more information, contact RU12? and speak with Kim Fountain at 802-860-7812 or email her at kim@ru12.org. 

Facebook Event

Bluebird Barbecue Supports RU12? on Weds 9/26

**This Wednesday, September 26th** Enjoy a great meal with friends while strengthening your queer community! This Wednesday at Bluebird Barbecue's "Community Night" 10% of all proceeds benefit Vermont' LGBTQ Community Center! Bluebird Barbeque is located at 317 Riverside Ave, Burlington   FACEBOOK EVENT

GLAM Meeting Every Wednesday

* Every 2nd Wednesday of the month the meeting is held at a restaurant or coffeehouse downtown.

 

We're looking for young gay, bi and queer guys who are interested in putting together great events, meeting new people, and reaching out to other guys!  We want your help! If you're a young gay, bi, or queer man who would like to get involved, email us at glam@ru12.org , check out our webpage (http://www.glamvt.org) or friend us on Facebook.

GLAM Meeting on Location: Nectars

*NEW* We're taking GLAM Core Group on location. The Second Wednesday of every month we'll be meeting at Nectar's. Join us for some tasty appetizers (our treat!) while we plan social events and adventures for GBQ guys in VT.

GLAM Core Group Meets every Wednesday 6:30pm. We're looking for young gay and bi & Trans guys who are inte’rested in putting together great events, meeting new people, and reaching out to other guys! Core Group runs our program, and we want your input!

If you're a young gay, bi, or queer man who would like to get involved, email us at glam@ru12.org or friend us on facebook

RU12? 15th Annual LGBTQ Community Dinner May 4, 2013

Please join us for RU12? Community Center’s 15th Annual LGBTQ Community Dinner: Emerald City. Our signature event, this year’s dinner celebrates fifteen years of RU12?’s commitment to LGBTQA community building across Vermont.

RU12’s Annual Dinner brings together community members and allies for a fabulous evening of dinner and entertainment in support of our vital health and human rights programs as well as our social and educational events. It is a time for us to recognize community leaders, organizations, and businesses dedicated to building and strengthening our community.

The evening will beging at 5:00PM and take place at the Sheraton Hotel, Burlington. 
 
The Vermont Pride Awards
RU12? Vermont Pride Awards are given to individuals and groups that truly stand out in their efforts to improve the lives of LGBTQ individuals and communities. Their tireless efforts are an inspiration to us all.  
 
The Vermont Pride Award for Business of the Year will be presented to TD Bank for being out in front of as a strong supporter of their LGBTQ employees.  Through creating LGBTQ affirming policies TD fosters a workplace climate where LGBTQ employees can be out and proud.  They have received numerous awards at the national and international levels for their LGBTQ work, including offsetting the additional federal and state taxes of LGBT employees in domestic partnerships, relative to heterosexual married couples. Their support of Vermont’s LGBTQ community clearly reflects their company policies. From TD Bank Foundation grants and sponsoring RU12?’s Annual Dinner to volunteer hours by their employees, TD Bank is an admiral example of a business that understands and supports the true meaning of LGBTQ equality.

 
The Vermont Pride Award for Individual Activism will be presented to community activist David Frye, the coordinator of RU12?’s LGBTQ Disabilities Rights Network.  Two years ago, David began the LGBTQ Disabilities Group at the Center to foster the health, safety, and well being of this remarkable group of people.  From creating the support group and setting up a chat line to endless hours of outreach, David is in the process of connecting LGBTQ individuals with disabilities across Vermont. This innovative and tireless work has earned him several accolades including a Green Mountain Self Advocates Award to an invitation to speak at the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force’s activist conference, Creating Change. His dedication is bringing much needed attention to this very marginalized group. 

The Vermont Pride Award for Community Service will be presented to the Pride Vermont Committee. Each year, Pride takes tremendous amounts of time and energy by a group of individuals working together for a full year. Filing all the correct city permits and finding and signing festival performers to contacting and coordinating marchers and vendors, requires hundreds of hours of planning.  Members of this committee give their time to ensure that we have an amazing Pride Festival, Parade, and events. They bring their various skills to the table and work through hours of details and produce events throughout the year. Through this award, RU12? hopes bring much deserved recognition to this dedicated group of individuals whose tireless efforts bring us the most recognizable tradition in LGBTQ culture.

The Live and Silent Auctions
This event is our biggest fundraiser of the year and there are fabulous items to be bid on in our live and silent auctions. We have amazing items generously donated from businesses and individuals across Vermont and beyond. You will be able to bid on everything from an in-home dinner for eight prepared by Leunig’s Donnell Collins and her amazing staff, to bowties and gardening supplies, to those thank you cards you always wish you had handy. Proceeds support the Center’s social gatherings, educational events, and direct services for the LGBT community.

The link for tickets will go live on April 10th. 

Join the Action Team!!!

Join the RU12? Community Center's Development Committee Action Team (DCAT). DCAT is designed to produce events aimed at fundraising and/or 'friendraising' for RU12?. 

This is not your ordinary volunteer opportunity. Whether you want to lead the organizing, participate in only one particular aspect of the organizing such as advertising or outreach, or you only have time to show up at the event and help take care of logistics, we have the need for your time, energy, and commitment.

Help organize a Summer Semester of community classes, Yard Sales, Dinner Parties, Wine Auction, Bingo Nights and more!!!!

 

"The great thing about the Action Team is that I don't have to make a long term commitment and attend regular meetings. I can check in when I have the time and energy to help with an ongoing project or create a new project of my own. It's an amazing way to connect with my community and help support the important work that RU12? provides to strengthen our communities."

- Meg Tamulonis, Action Team Member

"RU12? is working hard to provide social and educational programs and events for all LGBTQ Vermonters and our allies. I am very excited that the Action Team has so many dedicated volunteers to ensure our success. The more people who get involved, the more we can do for our community." 

Kim Fountain, Executive Director

To join the Action Team please email DCAT@ru12.org or call 802-860-7812

  

It's Friday, Friday, Friday!!

 

Don't miss out on some amazing events happening in our community tonight!

 

Twisted Munch - 6pm - St. John's Club Burlington

 

Come try something new in February - Twisted Munch is going to be a potluck in a private function room with our own bartender on Friday, February 3rd!

This is going to be a fun event with dirty games and the chance to
sample some of the culinary talents of our friends!

(Please bring a notecard listing the ingredients of your dish so
people can choose what is appropriate for their dietary restrictions.)

There is a room fee, but if you're able to donate $5, we'll be able to
cover it. Seems like a decent trade-off for the advantages of a
private room!

We'll have dinner from 6-9p in the downstairs function room of the St.
John's Club. We offer 6-7p as a Newcomer's Hour for folks who are new
to munches or our area - regulars of Twisted are welcome to come then
as well to greet people & they promise not to bite unless asked :)

St. John's Club is at 9 Central Ave, which is just off Pine St in
Burlington.  There's plenty of free parking and is close to the bus
routes.

Twisted is ALWAYS open to people of any gender identity & orientation,
as long as they are 18 or older.

 

Bob Bolyard's Karaoke 8-10pm.

Friday nights get a little rowdy at the St. John's Club, a squat brick building in the old working-class Lakeside neighborhood in Burlington's South End. Club member Bob Bolyard hosts karaoke, which is free and open to the public.

 

 

First Friday at Higher Ground

Join Pamela Means, DJ Llu, DJ Precious, Fonda LaCox & Spice Celestial for February First Friday. Get your gay on...

8pm – 10pm: Pamela Means “one of the fiercest guitar players and politically-rooted songwriters in the music industry today,” (Curve Magazine) is a Brooklyn-based, internationally-touring singer-songwriter and jazz musician. http://pamelameans.com

10pm – close:
DJ Precious & DJ Llu

 

Facebook Event Page

This isn't your ordinary volunteer opportunity!

_______________________________

_______________________________

Facebook Event

When: Sunday, January 29th, from 11am-12:30

Where: RU12? Community Center, 20 Winooski Falls Way, Winooski, VT

If you are interested in joining us at this session, please contact Kim Fountain:DCAT@ru12.org or 802-860-7812

If you can't make it to the session, but are still interested in volunteering with DCAT, there will be another session on Monday, March 27th at 6:00 pm.

__________________________________

Do you know someone who you think would be perfect for DCAT? Download the DCAT and pass along to a friend!

_________________________________

Events that you could help create:

 

Summer Semester

One of RU12? Community Center’s first programs is back! Summer Semester offers the opportunity for LGBTQ community members to draw upon the skill, ability and knowledge of our talented peers with short series of classes throughout the summer. Potential classes to be offered include: Basic Car Maintainance, Yoga, Financial Planning, Photography, Zumba, Resume Writing, Home Ownership and more!

Family Bowling!

When you host a bowl-a-thon, you recruit people to bowl on a designated day for your special event. Each participating bowler solicits a flat rate pledge among neighbors, friends, and relatives. This could be a fun way to get families to engage in supporting RU12? as well as having a great event for families to enjoy together.

Grab a Bite with Friends

Help introduce the community to RU12? by working with your favorite local restaurants to host benefit nights.

 

 

House or Garden Party

Team up with a friend or neighbor to put together a fabulous event for your friends. Let them know how much you care about your community and ask them to support a organization you believe in.

Tee Off With RU12?

Hosting a golf tournament can be a high-profile, and often very lucrative fundraising event. A great advantage of hosting a tournament is the connections you make with local businesses and celebrities that support the RU12? Community Center. Plan a whole day event with lunch and prizes.

 

Pitch us your own idea!

Contact Kim Fountain: DCAT@ru12.org or 802-860-7812

 Make a Difference in Your Community 

Join the RU12? Community Center's Development Committee Action Team (DCAT). DCAT is designed to produce events aimed at fundraising and/or 'friendraising' for RU12?.

On January 29th, we will be hosting our first DCAT volunteer recruitment. This is not your ordinary volunteer opportunity. Whether you want to lead the organizing, participate in only one particular aspect of the organizing such as advertizing or outreach, or you only have time to show up at the event and help take care of logistics, we have the need for your time, energy, and commitment.

The recruitment session will introduce you to RU12's plans for 2012, outline the DCAT structure and present you with opportunities to get involved.

_______________________________

Winter Rendezvous Gay Ski Week in Stowe

The annual Winter Rendezvous is back and has an amazing line-up for 2012! You can REGISTER HERE for any part of the festivities from January 18 - 22.  Those who plan to ski are especially encouraged to register- the discount is amazing and you must register to receive a discount voucher for a lift ticket. Otherwise, anyone with a valid VT photo ID will receive $10 off the listed ticket price at the door.

BELOW IS A  MESSAGE FROM VARLA JEAN MERMAN ABOUT 2012 WR  

Click below for the full list of events!

Thanks To Our Donors

GLAM (a program of RU12?) would like to thank Small Dog Electronics for their fabulous donation (over $100 worth!), which is being raffled off to all the guys that attended Sex Talks throughout the year. Our hats off to them!

Keep posted- we'll be having one more of our fun, interactive Sex Talks this year! For more information, email glam@ru12.org or call Mike or Jean-Denis at 802-860-RU12.

GLAM held two fun Sex Talks just last week, where attendees received gift cards from the following awesome (and generous!) local businesses:

The Skinny Pancake

Stone Soup

Don Pedro's Taqueria

Dobra Tea

Plato's Closet

Purple Shutter Herbs

Sneakers Bistro

Cupp's Bakery

Pure Pop Records

Apple Mountain Gifts

 

Thanks again!!! Let's support the businesses that support us!

 

Thursday Night Roving LGBTQ Pinochle

Each Thursday we meet at someone's house and play Pinochle from 7-9 with a break at 8 for a dessert (provided by that week's host) and to switch tables and/or partners.

At the end of the evening, someone volunteers to host the next week and this is where we all go the next Thursday to their house to play. (card tables and chairs can be brought/shared if need be) Ideally you need at least 4 to play, but any number of people can show up and play. You don't need to know how to play, we'll teach you!

For additional information call Matthew at 802-735-5362 or Cathy at 802-922-4550

 

Check out our temporary new space!

‎**IMPORTANT UPDATE**

The elevator in the Champlain Mill is out of service for the next several weeks. In order to remain accessible, all public meetings, support groups and HIV testing services will now occur in the RU12? Community Center Annex located on the second floor (accessible from the 2nd fl ramp) The temporary space that the staff affectionately calls "Narnia" is located one floor above our current space, on the left side of the building if you are facing the entrance from the outside. Stay tuned as we will provide more detailed information developes.

We still have use of the full community center but the accessible 2nd floor location will be the entry point for almost all center activities. Please call if you have questions: 802.860.7812

Check out the video to see where the RU12? Community Center Annex is located. 

 

 

 

RU12? Needs Volunteers to join GLAM Core Group!

6pm this Sunday: GLAM Core Group Meeting **Free Pizza**

GLAM is a group of gay, bi, queer and trans guys who are coming together and enjoying the connections we make. GLAM is a great way to meet friends, build community, meet that someone special, or just someone who wants to make out. We will feed you yummy dinner too!

What events do you want to see? Help plan our weekly events. Help plan fun events that build a stronger queer men's community in Vermont!

Help make it happen and have fun doing it!


For Guys, By Guys, Who Like Guys

RSVP on Facebook so we know how much pizza to order.

 

FMI about GLAM visit www.GLAMvt.org 

Email: GLAM@ru12.org

Call Jean-Denis Couillard or Mike Bensel at 802-860-7812

Community Calendar Spotlight: Gay Men of Rutland, Friday Oct 28th 6:30pm

GMOR (Gay Men of Rutland) holds its monthly cash bar gathering (the last Friday of every month 6:30 to 9 p.m.) at the restaurant/bar, Kelvin's (formerly *Tapas)*, 128 Merchants Row, Rutland VT 05701. For directions contact donaldmcintyre@mac.com

Community Calendar Spotlight: VGSA's Out of Bounds 10/22

 

Share a meal on the town with the great folks from VGSA! 

Join friends on Saturday October 22 - 7:00 PM for dinner at LaVilla Bistro

La Villa offers casual dining including gourmet pizza, pasta, panini, and grill entrees. This small owner operated restaurant, a Vermont Fresh Network Partner,  serving locals and tourists for more than fifteen years in Shelburne Vermont. “All of our food is hand crafted and made to order with as many local and farm fresh ingredients as possible.”owners Jill and Adam Spell note: “dinner options include day boat ocean fish, local veal, pork and beef and made to order pasta dishes. All this accompanied by our award winning wine list.” Larry R of Burlington says: “This place, in an unassuming shopping center, has food that rivals nearly every downtown Italian eatery (and is better than most of them).”  FMI, menu and directions: www.lavillabistro.com. 

Seatiing is a bit limited and reservations are required, so please e-mail or call me as early as you can:bobessman@comcast.net — 802-878-1290.