Local News

Pride Picnic update and volunteers needed!

Things are progressing well for the 2005 Erie Pride Picnic. Our next meeting will be on Sunday, May 15 at 2 PM at the Rotary Pavilion at Presque Isle in Erie PA, which is where the picnic will be. Contact us to find out more about other details.

We really need some volunteers this year for the Pride Picnic on Saturday, June 25 at the Rotary Pavilion at Presque Isle. The picnic itself lasts from 1 to 6 PM, but we will also need a few folks earlier to help with set up, and a few folks later to help with cleanup. (Probably a half hour in either direction.) We will be serving food from 2 to 5 PM and taking the Family Portrait at 4 PM. Tasks that we need help with include keeping soda stocked; kitchen - servicing and setting out food; cooking; and transporting food from the grill to the serving area. We will also need help with staffing the check in table.

VERY IMPORTANT! This year we are asking for volunteers to serve 1 hour shifts in the kitchen and at the registration table! If everyone pitches in, then everyone gets to enjoy the day and not be inconvenienced. Please contact Mike Mahler about volunteering. It's also a great way to meet people and make friends.

You can read more about the Pride Picnic at http://www.nwpapride.org

We are also encouraging folks to preregister online for the Pride Picnic at www.eriegaynews.com/pride/register.php. You can sign up whenever you like. (We have already had a few folks register.)

We have had someone volunteer to coordinate a Pride Weekend in the fall, but we do not have very many folks to work on that. If you want to help out with that, please get in contact ASAP. If we don't have sufficient staff/organizers, we will skip fall Pride this year.

For more info, contact Michael Mahler at (814) 456-9833 or info@eriegaynews.com

—by Mike Mahler

Toronto Pride Bus Trip - June 24 -26

The Erie GLBT Community Center is planning a Bus Tour to Toronto for the entire Pride Weekend from Friday, June 24 through Sunday, June 26. This year is the 25th Anniversary of Toronto Pride and we will be in for a great time!

The weekend includes deluxe Motor Coach leaving from Cleveland and picking up passengers in Erie and Buffalo on the way, plus 2 nights at the Delta Chelsea Hotel. VIP Room at hotel. Shop at duty free store on the way home. Cost is only $249 per person/double occupancy. If you're traveling alone, we can pair you up. SPACE IS LIMITED Deadline May 11, 2005. Travel is being handled by Carlson Wagonlit Travel. For more information or reservations, call Jack at 1-800-786-8728 ext 222.

—From Brian

"Art in the Park" submissions

Two Dimensional Regional Artists: (excluding photography) are invited to participate in "Art in the Park" art show July 1-4 to be held in the Waterwheel Overlook Building. This art show will kick off a summer-long program of weekly art shows and the Findley Lake Art Walk. The purpose of this event is to showcase the talent of our region and attract art buyers.

For information please contact (before May 13th 2005) Chuck Gallagher, Village Frame Wright, 2809 Rt. 426, Findley Lake, NY 14736 (716) 769-7474.

—Merchants of Findley Lake, New York

Erie GLBT Community Center 1st Annual Gay Cruise Fundraiser

Exclusive Atlantis 15th Anniversary Caribbean Cruise on board the Celebrity Millennium March 5, 2006. Travel is being handled by Carlson Wagonlit Travel. For more information or reservations, call Jack at 1-800-786-8728 ext 222.

—From Brian

Resource Directory update

Please note that we are updating the GLBT Resource Directory. Currently, www.eriegaynews.com has an online directory of GLBT and GLBT friendly resources. A letter requesting directory updates is going out with this issue to business and organizations currently listed, but we would also like to invite businesses and organizations that do not receive the letter to send their info to us. We are looking for resource name, address, city, state, phone, contact person, email, website and hours/meeting schedule where applicable. Resources can also request that we forward their info to national listings, such as the GAYELLOW Pages.

We are also asking about distribution of copies of the print edition of Erie Gay News. If you are currently carrying print copies of Erie Gay News, or would like to carry them, please let us know the number of copies desired per month.

We will be updating the resource directory online as we get each entry. The Erie Networking Group is also planning on producing a print version of the Resource Directory.

We are asking that resources send in their new/updated info by May 15. Even if there are no changes, we ask that you return your form so that we can be sure that we have current and correct info.

You may either mail the form to 1115 W 7th St, Erie, PA, email info@eriegaynews.com or fill out the online form at www.eriegaynews.com/resaddreq.php