serving the 7 Rivers Region
for 4 years

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Accomplishments

2008

The Center begins collaborating with other LGBT Centers around the state and the Board began working toward paid staff.

• January:
  1. The fourth annual meeting with elections of new board members was even better attended than last year's meeting.
  2. In addition to regularly scheduled meetings, the Board held a restructuring meeting to implement steps to achieve the goals that were developed in the October 2007 strategic planning meeting.
• February:
1. The Center learned that we will be part of a statewide grant from UW School of Medicine and Public Health, collaborating with the other lgbt Centers in the state on a three-year project to address health issues among lgbt people.
2. The Board begin exploring the feasibility of hiring an executive director for the Center.
• March:
  1. An AA meeting for lgbt people was organized and will meet at the Center.
• April:
  1. In conjunction with Our Saviors Lutheran Church, the Center sponsored a showing of the film: For the Bible Told Me So.
  2. The Center was represented on a panel at Western Technical College dealing with lgbt issues on campus.
  3. Pride got its own domain name and can be found at: http://lacrossepride.us
• May:
  1. The Center posted the Executive Director postion and began receiving applications.
• June:
  1. Interviews were conducted by the hiring committee and a community representative, Dorothy Lenerd
• July:
  1. Rosanne St. Sauver becomes the first Executive Director of the Center
  2. A successful Pride Ride was held on July 19, 2008
• August:
1. The annual Center garage sale was held raising money donated to the Center.
2. Once again, Center board members lead the way in planning a successful La Crosse area Pride 2008 festival.
• September:
1. The Director's fund is at nearly half way to our goal of $10,000.
2. The Center participated in the Macy's Shop for a Cause Fundraiser.
• Ongoing throughout the year:
  1. Speakers Bureau: presentations at area colleges, high schools, and civic groups.
  2. A Gender Queer/Transgender discussion group began meeting in October and meets monthly at the Center.
  3. LGBT AA group meets weekly at the Center.
  4. LGBT parents meetings on Wednesday mornings began in October
  .
  5. A drop-in group on Thursday evenings began in October.

2007

The Center begins to build on the work of the last three years to extend our services.

• January:
  1. The third annual meeting with elections of new board members attracted quite a crowd of members who participated in the board meeting and heard our yearly report from Cindy Killion, our board president. Then members and nonmembers alike danced and enjoyed themselves for the rest of the evening.
  2. The Christa Matter Memorial Library at the 7 Rivers LGBT Resource Center opened with books and videos available for checkout.
• February:
1. The Center showed the first in a series of lgbt videos at the Center. The series continued through May.
2. New board members received an orientation session.
• March:
  1. The Center continued to show lgbt videos at the Center through May.
• April:
  1. Michelle Coen and Chris Olson, 7 Rivers LGBT Resource Center members, used their Center for a 25th anniversary party. This not only allowed friends and family to celebrate with them, but also made the Center more visible in the area, as well as raising $1000.00 in donations to the Center.
• May:
  1. The Friends and Allies Committee, in conjunction with other groups in our region, organized a hugely successful event honoring June Kjome, one of our staunchest allies and an activist in many arenas in our area.
• July:
  1. The Center announced a challenge grant of $2500.00
  2. The Center blog began highlighting lgbt resources on the web as an ongoing series of posts.
• August:
1. The annual Center garage sale was held raising money donated to the Center.
2. Once again, Center board members lead the way in planning a successful La Crosse area Pride 2007 festival.
• September:
1. The Challenge Grant donor campaign ended very successfully with donors matching the challenge and more!
• October:
1. The Board completed a two-day strategy planning session and created the timeline for growth of the Center in 2008.
• November:
1. The Center began exploring ways to collaborate with GALAXY to implement a mentoring program for lgbt youth.
• December:
1. The Center co-sponsored a Candlelight Vigil as part of World AIDS Day
2. The Center co-sponsored a workshop: Acceptance And Success As A Minority Within A Minority Community
3. The annual Center open house and art show was held and was a success!
4. Subscriptions to our eNewsletter, The LGBT News, are over 245.
• Ongoing throughout the year:
  1. Speakers Bureau: presentations at area colleges, high schools, and civic groups.
  2. A Gender Queer/Transgender discussion group began meeting in October and meets monthly at the Center.

2006

This marks a year of growth and change for the Center.

• January: The second annual meeting with elections of new board members. More than twice as many people attended this board meeting and celebration dance as compared to 2005.
• February: A board sub-committee began organizing Pride 2006
• May
  1. New space for the Center was found with more visibility and square footage.
  2. The Center entered the blogsphere with the advent of its own blog.
• August
1. The first issue of the Center's e-newsletter was published in August 2006 and emailed to over 170 subscribers.
2. In August 2006, The Center successfully revived the La Crosse area Pride festival.
• Through August and September, the Center sponsored the Love Makes a Family photo exhibit which toured the area and was displayed at 5 locations, reaching a large audience of viewers.
• October: Board retreat produced goals and a detailed timeline of tasks and events for 2007.
• December
1. The Center held an Open House and art exhibit/sale to introduce the community to the new space.
2. The LGBT Resource Center for the 7 Rivers Region and UW-L's Eagle Equity Committee sponsored: A Fairer Wisconsin Starts with La Crosse, a Thank You event for all of those who worked and voted against the amendment
3. Subscriptions to our eNewsletter, The LGBT News, are over 200.
• Ongoing throughout the year:
  1. Speakers Bureau: presentations at area colleges and high schools.
  2. A social support group for young adult lgbt people, meets weekly at the Center.
  3. GALAXY, the area lgbt youth group, meets weekly at the Center.
  4. A Gender Queer/Transgender discussion group began meeting in October and meets monthly at the Center.

2005

During this year, the Center became more visible.

• January: The first annual meeting was held and the first board was elected.
• February: The Center's fledgling library was organized and became the Christa Matter Memorial Library as a result of a donation. More books and videos are added every month.
• March: The Center's lgbtnews list reached 160 subscribers.
• October: Board strategic mapping meeting produced a detailed timeline of tasks and events for 2006.
• October: The Center organized an LGBT Film Festival in conjunction with National Coming Out Day.
• November: The Resource Center coordinated a Summit Meeting of area LGBT activists and organizational representatives to discus ways to connect and cooperate.
• Ongoing throughout the year:
  1. Speakers Bureau: 10 presentations at area colleges and high schools
  2. The 20-30 Group, a social support group for young adult lgbt people, meets weekly at the Center.
  3. GALAXY, the area lgbt youth group, meets weekly at the Center.

2004

The Center became a nonprofit entity.

• April: the Advisory Board participated in a strategic mapping session.
• May through July: Bylaws and articles of incorporation were written. The application for nonprofit status was filed.
• June: The first physical space for the Center was rented.
• July: A website was created for the Center.
• August: A news list for Center members and supporters was created.
• September:
  1. Connections were made with a local health care organization. The medical library will serve as the repository for books and materials on lgbt health issues recommended by the Board and others.
  2. The Center applied for and received a half time AmeriCorp member.
• October: A grand opening celebration was held at the Center.

2003

This was the inaugural year for the Center.

• An Advisory Board was chosen and began exploring needs of the community and steps needed for creating a Resource Center.
• In September the Advisory Board organized a gathering of approximately 50 lgbt community members who expressed a range of unmet needs.
• The Advisory Board began defining the mission of the Center.

LGBT Resource Center for the 7 Rivers Region
PO Box 3313
303 Pearl Street
La Crosse, WI 54602-3313
608-784-0452
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