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

RU12? Family Program Play Group This Morning!

LGBTQ Adoption Group: 6pm, Weds, 3/13

KUAC (Kind, Understanding Adoption Circle) is a peer support group where 21+ members of the adoption triad (adoptees, birth parents, adoptive parents, and people considering adoption) who are LGBTQ-identified or Allies can come together to share stories, give and receive support, and talk about feelings/thoughts related to the adoption experience. KUAC offers an understanding, confidential community-minded environment where participants can share their feelings and stories with others who can relate.

The name is significant of the connections made between and among those who share the common thread of adoption. Participation is encouraged (but not required), so that each individual gets the most out of group time, and every KUAC member has a multitude of opportunities at their disposal: to learn more about other triad members’ lives and feelings and thoughts, to be heard, as well as to educate others about the adoption experience—and to do so without the fear of judgment!

KUAC peer support group meetings will be held on the second Wednesday of every month @ 6pm at the RU12? Community Center for LGBTQ Vermonters in Winooski. For more information, please contact RU12? at 802.860.7812 or email thecenter@ru12.org.

FACEBOOK EVENT

New Gay and Lesbian History Award

The Vermont Historical Society's Vermont History Day is a program open to Vermont students in grades 5 - 12.  The newly established Gay & Lesbian History Award will be added to the Vermont History Day's list of Special Prizes, and described as follows:

Gay & Lesbian History Award
Sponsored by the Vermont LGBT History Project
The Vermont LGBT History Project will award a prize for an outstanding entry presenting research recognizing the role of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people within Vermont history, United States history or world history.  The prize for a winning individual entry will be $100; the prize for a winning group entry will be $200, with money divided equally among group members.

Full information about Vermont History Day guidelines for exhibits, web sites, documentaries, performances or papers, as well as information about application and submission deadlines can be found at this direct weblink:  www.vermonthistory.org/historyday.   Introductory information is listed below.  A full listing of Special Prizes for Vermont History Day entries is available at the website.

Vermont History Day

Vermont History Day is an exciting education program that encourages students to study history and expand their knowledge. It also provides the opportunity to share the knowledge they have gained from their historical research by creating projects for the state contest. Vermont History Day is affiliated with National History Day.

The program is open to Vermont students in grades five through twelve and home study students ages 10 to 18.

Working individually or in small groups (up to 5), students choose a topic related to the National History Day annual theme, which in 2013 is"Turning Points in History: People, Ideas, Events." The topic can relate to Vermont history or US history or world history.

Students conduct research in libraries, museums, and historical societies, and interview experts on their topic. Using their new knowledge and incorporating primary sources, the students develop their projects in the format of their choice: exhibits, web sites, documentaries, performances or papers.

The entries are then judged by local historians, educators, and other professionals at the state program. Through their work, students gain a deeper understanding of how people, cultures, and events affect the course of history. This year's state contest will take place on Saturday, April 6, 2013 at Spaulding High School in Barre.

Franklin County: RU12?’s Rainbow Reading Hour Tonight!

Franklin County: RU12?’s Rainbow Reading Hour Tonight!

*This event will be taking place every 1st and 3d Mondays 5:30 to 6:30, starting January 7th.

Come join us for RU12?’s Rainbow Reading Hour! We want to welcome children of all ages to gather and read a story, and then do an activity together. This is a chance for LGBTQA families to meet and find community at the Bent Northrop Memorial Library in Fairfield.

Feel free to bring a favorite book or friend to join the fun! If you have any ideas, would like to volunteer, or need more information, feel free to email me at Sam@ru12.org

Facebook Event

First Ever Rainbow Reading Hour at the Bent Northrop Memorial Library!

Kind Understanding Adoption Circle (KUAC) Weds 12/12/12 6-8pm

KUAC (Kind, Understanding Adoption Circle) is a peer support group where 21+ members of the adoption triad (adoptees, birth parents, and adoptive parents) who are LGBTQ-identified or Allies can come together to share stories, give and receive support, and talk about feelings/thoughts related to the adoption experience. KUACoffers an understanding, confidential community-minded environment where participants can share their feelings and stories with others who can relate. 

The name is significant of the connections made between and among those who share the common thread of adoption. Participation is encouraged (but not required), so that each individual gets the most out of group time, and every KUAC member has a multitude of opportunities at their disposal: to learn more about other triad members’ lives and feelings and thoughts, to be heard, as well as to educate others about the adoption experience—and to do so without the fear of judgment!

KUAC peer support group meetings will be held on the second Wednesday of every month starting Wednesday, June 13^th, from 6-8pm at the RU12? Community Center for LGBTQ Vermonters in Winooski. For more information, please contact RU12? at 802.860.7812 or email thecenter@ru12.org. 

Family Program Halloween Potluck Rescheduled

Who says Halloween has to only be one day a year?

Due to the impending tropical storm Sandy, and the fact that winds are expected to begin peaking around the time tonight's Halloween potluck was scheduled to begin, we are postposing our LGBTQA Family Halloween Potluck celebration at the RU12? Community Center until this Saturday, November 3, from 11am-1pm. 

Bring a dish to share, enter the Champlain Mill Building through 3rd floor ramp entrance or 2nd level by the library., and come have some Halloween fun! (Prizes for best costumes, and treats for all!).

Any questions/comments/concerns, please contact mailto:jean@ru12.org or call the Center at 802.860.7812. Check out this event on RU12?'s Facebook page.

Also, please note that the Estate Planning with Pride event scheduled for tomorrow, Tuesday 10/30, has been cancelled.

October (Domestic Violence Awareness Month) SafeSpace Happenings

It's DVAM (Domestic Violence Awareness Month) and our SafeSpace program interns have been busily tabling at local colleges. Community College of Vermont (Winooski), St. Michael's and Champlain College happily welcomed our program for community outreach, education, informal discussion and at two of the three sites, the showing of an impressive art exhibit produced by our commuity partners Women Helping Battered Women (WHBW) titled, "A Survivor Stands Beside Me". The exhibit consists of powerful life-size photos viewing domestic violence as an issue that crosses into all ages, cultures, and socioeconomic statuses. At St. Mike's campus, we joined WHBW and HopeWorks (formerly Women's Rape Crisis Center) for the Abuse Awareness Project, a statistics and awareness event that highlighted the number of survivors served by WHBW, HopeWorks and SafeSpace with purple, white and rainbow flags. These events were a great success. Our interns were not only able to make some new friends and allies, but raise awareness out about an important issue in the LGBTQ community (and our culture at large), as well as spread the word about RU12?'s SafeSpace anti-violence program and the work it does with LGBTQ survivors.

In solidarity with local agencies working to end domestic and sexual violence, SafeSpace advocates and supporters will have a presence at WHBW's Candlelight Vigil and Survivor Speak Out at 6pm on Thursday, October 25th in front of City Hall on Church Street. This will consist of a candle-lighting ceremony in honor of those who have lost their lives as the result of domestic and intimate partner violence, followed by a silent march to the Unitarian Universalist Church at the top of the Marketplace, where survivors will be able to share their stories in a healing space. We hope you will spread the word about this incredible event, and that we will see you there!

If you or anyone you know has experienced domestic, intimate partner, sexual, transgender, hate violence or discrimination, SafeSpace advocates are available to offer support and advocacy services by calling 802.863.0003, or you can report violence anonymously to SafeSpace. If you'd like to make a donation to SafeSpace in honor of your own or a loved one's survival experience, you can donate here and make a designation for the SafeSpace Program.

 

Pride Vermont “Equality Equinox” -Sept 22nd

Parade & Festival Registration Information

In order to offset the costs for the event, Pride Vermont now has suggested donation fees for the parade and festival. You may request a fee waiver by emailing director@pridevt.com if it would otherwise prevent your attendance. Don’t forget that you get the most benefit by being a Sponsor!

Please register by September 15th, 2012.

To register for marching in the parade only, please fill out the Parade Registration Form so we have your correct contact info then make your donation on the Payment page.

A la carte Parade donations: 

• • Non-profit organization: $30
  • Community group**: $50
  • Business: $75
  • Political candidate or 501(c)4: $100

To register for vending at the festival only, please fill out the Festival Registration Form so we have your correct contact info then make your donation on the Payment page.

A la carte Festival Table/Booth:

•  
  • Sheltered table for non-profit organization or community group: $45
  • Sheltered table for Business: $75
  • Political candidate or 501(c)4: $100
  • Sheltered Booth: $200

To apply as a performer in the festival, please fill out the Performer Registration Form. We cannot guarantee space for all performers but the committee will be in touch with you!

To sign-up for BOTH parade space and festival vending space, please fill out the Sponsorship Form so we have your correct contact info then make your donation on the Payment page.

Parade & Festival Combo: (Parade space and Sheltered Table)

•  
  • Non-profit organization: $60
  • Community group**: $75
  • Business: $100
  • Political candidate or 501(c)4: $150

**Performers or groups selected for the festival bandshell are exempt from the fee. Please complete the appropriate form for contact use.

To secure an ad space in the Pride Guide, visit the Sponsorship page.

Day-of event information will be provided to the contact person listed on the registration form. Please be prepared to arrive at the parade staging area (Hood Plant parking lot) by 10:30am and have your festival booth (Battery Park) set-up by noon.

 

Questions?  Please email director@pridevt.com.

UVM Babysitter Mingler Sunday September 23rd

Do you struggle to find a babysitter when you need one? Are you looking for a sitter who has a flexible schedule and lives close by? Are you a UVM student who is an experienced babysitter that is looking to earn extra cash?

Come to the UVM Babysitter Mingler! A chance for parents and kids in need of babysitters to meet and mingle with UVM students who want to babysit!

Babysitter Mingler

Sunday, September 23

Students: Arrival time is 10:00 am

Families: Arrival time is 10:30 am

The event lasts until 12 noon.

Davis Center, Livak Ballroom *free parking available on site

To sign up and attend, please email oscr@uvm.edu Children welcome and encouraged to attend - when registering, please include the number of adults and children attending. (And please tell all your friends!)

PLEASE NOTE: As UVM affiliates, we cannot take on the role of holding, exchanging, or advertising the particular babysitting needs of parents in the community, or the particular babysitting availability and/or qualifications of our students. We can host Babysitter Minglers where we bring students and parents together so that they can meet face to face and exchange information if they so choose. We do recommend that parents check references of the students who attended the Babysitter Mingler and use whatever screening process they would normally use when hiring a sitter.

Thank you for a successful Field Day!

They say it takes a village to raise a child. Geography aside, community certainly does make a difference. And last Saturday, September 1, RU12? had the great fortune of hosting a strong showing of LGBTQHA-identified families at Hubbard Park in Montpelier for a successful inaugural Family Program Picnic Potluck and Field Day event, this despite a long holiday weekend and competing end-of-summer events across the state. Faces were painted, water balloons flew, eggs were dropped, sponges were bucket-brigaded, soda bottles went flying, and hoops were hulaed--not to mention all the good food! A good time, it seems, was had by all. Thank you to all our volunteers (Heather, Crystal, Cat, Hannah, Corey, Alan, Jeffrey, Geoffrey, Jamie, Ashley, Corrine, Leigh and Bianca) and all the participating families for making it an event to remember! See our Facebook page for photos from the event, and see you all next year for the Second Annual!

RU12? Family Program Potluck Picnic and Field Day Event Saturday, September 1!

Just a reminder that this Saturday is RU12?'s first annual Family Program Picnic Potluck and Field Day Event!

The weather is slated to be beautiful (77 degrees and sunny--don't forget your sunscreen!)

We are still looking for a few volunteers to run the children's events (list below). If you have any interest in helping out (10am-4pm), email jean@ru12.org or call the Center at 802.860.7812.

Tentative list of kids' events will include Balloon Pop, Hula Hoop Marathon, Water Balloon Toss, Tug o' War, Beach Ball Race, Soda Bottle Bowling, Egg on Spoon race, Egg Toss, Long Jump, Face Painting, Toe-Marble Grab, Sponge Relay, Red Light Green Light, Rest/Relaxation Station and an all-participant Scavenger Hunt! Mini-awards and prizes will be offered at the end of the day.

Event will take place at Hubbard Park's Old Shelter (by the soccer field). Plenty of nearby parking, as well as outhouse facilities (no running water). Click here for a map of the park.

Directions from 89: Go R on State Street from the highway to Elm Street. Take a L on Elm until Winter Street. Go L on Winter Street to the junction of Parkway Street/Parkway Avenue. Follow Parkway Street into the park and look for signs for parking. (~1000 feet past the frog pond is a R-turn towards the Old Shelter where the event will take place.)

Things to bring:

• Suggested donation of $10/family for RU12?'s Family Program (to defray the cost of the event and raise funds for future endeavors), but no one will be turned away for lack of donation.
• A dish to share
• Non-alcoholic beverages for you and yours
• Picnic blankets
• Sunscreen
• Overlayer in case it gets cold
• Change of clothes/shoes in case of getting eggy (egg toss, egg on spoon) or wet (water balloon toss)

For more info on any of the above, please contact jean@ru12.org.

LGBTQ Fiber Arts Group: Sunday @ Noon

The Fiber Arts Group meets 2nd and 4th (and sometimes 5th) Sundays of every month at RU12? Community Center. Knitting, crochetting, weaving, ebroidery and more for people of all ages, gender identities, sexual orientations, and skill levels to come together in a queer space. If you have questions or you'd like to join the group please contact RU12? at 860-RU12 (7812) or email TheCenter@RU12.org.

Join our online Fiber Arts Group!

RU12? Family Program at Owl's Head Berry Farm: Thursday, August 9

Please join our RU12? Family Program at Owl's Head Blueberry Farm on Thursday, August 9 from 5-7:45pm for an evening of music and berry-picking! $12 per person, includes 2-quarts of pick-your-own berries, and kids/families are welcome! RU12? meet-up at 5:30pm, look for RU12?'s Pride Flag! For more information, see the Owl's Head website, call the Center at 802.860.7812 or contact jean@ru12.org. 

RU12? Family Program Summer 2012 schedule!

We hope you'll join us! Please contact jean@ru12.org with any questions, comments or if you would like more information, to be added to the RU12? Family Program email announcement list or email discussion group.

Children's Fair Trade Series: Fair Trade and the Environment

Thursday, July 19th at 10am, Peace & Justice Center, 60 Lake Street, Burlington

This fair trade event for children will emphasize the importance of fair trade and the environment. We will read stories about the Earth and explain deforestation and clear cutting in a kid-friendly way. We will also play with bird whistles, plant our own seedlings, and make environmentally friendly snacks. Come join us!

Facebook Event

Queer Invasion of the Dog Park

 

Join RU12? as we invade the Dog Park with our furry friends! Come together to visit with old friends and make new ones while our pooches get n excellent dose of exercise and socialization. 

 When:     Friday, June 22nd at 6pm

Where:    South Burlington Community Dog Park, Kirby Rd

Afterwards we can head over to the creamee stand!

Facebook Event

KUAC- Kind Understanding Adoption Circle

KUAC (Kind, Understanding Adoption Circle) is a peer support group where 21+ members of the adoption triad (adoptees, birth parents, and adoptive parents) who are LGBTQ-identified or Allies can come together to share stories, give and receive support, and talk about feelings/thoughts related to the adoption experience. KUAC offers an understanding, confidential community-minded environment where participants can share their feelings and stories with others who can relate. 

The name is significant of the connections made between and among those who share the common thread of adoption. Participation is encouraged (but not required), so that each individual gets the most out of group time, and every KUAC member has a multitude of opportunities at their disposal: to learn more about other triad members’ lives and feelings and thoughts, to be heard, as well as to educate others about the adoption experience—and to do so without the fear of judgment!

KUAC peer support group meetings will be held on the second Wednesday of every month starting Wednesday, June 13^th, from 6-8pm at the RU12? Community Center for LGBTQ Vermonters in Winooski. For more information, please contact RU12? at 802.860.7812 or email thecenter@ru12.org. 

 

RU12? Family Project: Kid's Day, Burlington Sat 5/12

When: Sat., May 12, 10:45 a.m. 
Phone: 860-7812 
Email: jean@ru12.org 
Price: $1.

Facebook Event

 

Please join LGBTQ families from RU12?'s Family Program and the Central Vermont GLBT Parents Group (vtglbtparents@gmail.com) at Kids Day 2012 (May 12, 10am-3:30pm). Come for an hour or come all day, admission is only $1! 

Meet-up will be at 10:45am (after the parade) outside the exhibition tent where the RU12? Family Program will have a table. Look for the rainbow pride flag!

Any questions or comments, please feel to email Jean at RU12? (jean@ru12.org), and feel free to spread the word to anyone else who might enjoy the Kids' Day event! Also, please stop by the RU12? Family Program table to say hi to Jean, Crystal and the gang--we'll be making egg-carton bugs!

For more info:

From Burlington Parks and Rec's Kids Day website: (http://www.enjoyburlington.com/Programs/SpecialEvents/KidsDay.cfm)

For Kids of ALL Ages!!

 

Mark your calendars for Kids Day in 2012. Don't miss the fun! It's our 27th year!!