Report from the Center
Happy Spring! It's April already and I'm sorry to report (no April Fool's) that our Americorp volunteer Lindsay Caldwell has left her position with Americorp. She accepted a Program Director position at Camp Winnebago which started immediately. We are sorry to lose Lindsay but wish her well in her new job. Her last day was March 24, 2008 and volunteer Johnnie Schmeckpepper has been helping us and filling some of the hours. I have already been in contact with the Americorp Director to discuss finding a replacement and will be meeting with a prospective candidate this week. Unfortunately I'm not sure this candidate can cover 15 hrs. a week, so we are looking for volunteers to help out. If anyone is interested please call the Center at (608) 784-0452 and leave a message and I will call you back.
Speaking of volunteers. We will need help at 2 scheduled fundraisers selling brats and such at Festival in Onalaska on Saturday July 19, 2008 and August 9, 2008. We will sell all day and need about 10 people each day (3 people for 3 or 4 hr. shifts). If you can't volunteer then buy a brat and a pop!
We are also really excited to announce our first annual signature event. Celebrate NATIONAL COMING OUT DAY Saturday October 11, 2008 with us at the Radisson for a sit-down dinner and dance. There will be lots happening at this event, so watch for more details to come about in the months ahead.
Our Center continues to provide space for group meetings. The PRIDE Committee meets at the Center every other Monday evening (see the Center calendar on the website) and is working hard planning the next scheduled PRIDE celebration on Saturday August 23, 2008.
Other groups using our Center space are the Transgender support group that meets the first Wednesday of each month. A new support group for LGBT people recovering from drug and/or alcohol addiction will have its first meeting Friday April 4, 2008 from 7:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. at the Center. If anyone has an interest in this recovery support group please call Michael at (608) 498-3515.
I spent some time recently at the Center doing some organizing and light cleaning. I think we are so lucky to have this space! There is so much work to do at times it gets a bit overwhelming but our Center and all our efforts are so worth it! The Board of Directors is working hard with new fundraising ideas and the details of hiring a full-time Executive Director. It's an exciting time! If you have any desire to get involved, we'd love to talk to you!
Leslie Scheld
Center Manager and Board Member