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Festivus For The Rest Of Us!Maureen Mollahan looks back on a TCC holiday tradition “I do love Festivus,” says friend, member, former board member/vice president, and past Festivus co-chair, Maureen Mollohan, who looks back with fondness on the history in a guest appearance in this issue of News & Views. Festivus for the rest of us! Could the writers of the Seinfeld show have any idea of the impact one episode would have? There are Festivus books, more than a few websites and parties across the country. They might also be surprised to know that “Festivus for the rest of us” has gone on to become one of the most successful fundraisers for the country’s fi rst suburban LGBT community center, the Triangle Community Center. In 2001 John Branley, then the TCC Board Vice President, launched the Festivus theme. The “Festivus for the rest of us” slogan of course spoke to “us,” though we have taken liberty with the details of Festivus. We leave out the The following year Joe Guttdaurao and I signed on for Festivus duty. The idea was he would handle the party and I would handle the auction. As the years proceeded we always seem to blend in on both sides. With the efforts of so many, particularly Todd Wagner who spends hours creating and building the look of the auction every year, Festivus just exploded! In the last few years the TCC Festivus Party and Auction has become a must attend event in December. Picking up all sorts of great PR in the local media and into NYC (who knew?), and generosity among local and national merchants in donations to the auction. Last year’s auction had over 75 items, ranging from restaurant gift certificates, to designer fragrances, massages, airline tickets to sports and theater tickets and so much more. Someone once pointed out that the auction did not just raise money it is a great conversation starter too! But frankly I am proud that over the years Festivus has evolved from a great social event to a key fundraiser for the center, having raised thousands of dollars for the Center. I love Festivus! Because there is plenty to drink and eat and it is loud and crowded. The auction is spirited, the music is festive and you meet up with people you have not seen all year and new people too. Festivus is an opportunity to see what we are talking about when we ask people to become TCC members. The center is a hub to so much throughout the year. It is a home base for individuals to connect with other LGBTQ individuals and for groups that reach out to the community, like Outspoken does to the high schools and PFLAG to our friends and families. It’s important to show it off. I love Festivus! The end of the year holiday season encourages everyone to get together with family and friends; and TCC’s Festivus is our LGBTQ family gathering. So touch base, meet some new folks, see some old friends, it is a great way to connect and wonderful opportunity to support a great service to our community. Frankly this year I feel a little out of step not being part of the creation of Festivus for the rest of us; but I am looking forward to being there and looking forward to seeing you! Happy Festivus! FESTIVUS SILENT AUCTION WILL LEAVE YOU DAZZLED!
Don’t forget to bring your checkbook (only cash and checks can be accepted)! There will be plenty to bid on, from dinners at fine area restaurants, salon services, theater tickets, career counseling service, to-die-for wardrobe items, and a pair of JET BLUE AIRLINE TICKETS to any of their destinations. Also, you can purchase tickets to this year’s TCC raffle. The prize, to be drawn in April 2007, is an exciting international travel package including airfare and hotel. Tickets are $5 each. (Members joining or renewing at Festivus will receive one complimentary raffle ticket.) FESTIVUS TO SERVE AS COLLECTION SITE FOR ANNUAL HOLIDAY LIVE DRIVEThe Triangle Community will serve as a collection site for this year’s Annual Holiday LIVE Drive, the gift-giving project of The LIVE Foundation. There will be a collection box at the Festivus Annual Holiday Celebration & Auction for those who wish to donate an unwrapped gift for adults or adolescent children living with or affected by the HIV/AIDS virus. Gifts ranging from $10 - $20 can include scarves/gloves, books, perfumes/colognes, jewelry, manicure sets, and so on. For this time of year, consider gifts that people would want to receive, not necessarily what they would need to receive. Clothing is discouraged, as appropriate sizes cannot be predicted. Bring a LIVE Holiday gift and receive one complimentary ticket to this year’s TCC raffle.
TCC Upcoming EventsUnless otherwise noted, all events are at Triangle Community Center, 16 River St., Norwalk.
Womyn’s Social & Men’s Network Go to Festivus!! Friday, December 8, 2006 8:00 pm TCC Womyn’s Social Game Night Friday January 5, 2007 - 7:30 pm at TCC MY PRIDE MY SOUL Resumes in January! Saturday, January 6, 7:30 PM Fiction Writing Workshop Wednesday, December 27, 7:30 PM Lesbian Literature Group Wednesday, December 20, 7:30 PM Wednesday, January 17, 7:30 PM To receive notifications and to discuss books, join the online group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TCCLitGroup/
In the neighborhood, LGBTQ activities and Events Beyond TCCOTHER AREA GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS
SLAPHAPS (Senior Lesbians At Play Happily)
Volunteer & Career Opportunities at TCC
HERE ARE SOME OF THE AREAS WHERE WE CAN USE A HAND: Special Events and Programming Committee – Help plan and execute the events sponsored by TCC. Work with the committee to create new programs. The opportunities range from event planning to ticket taking. Contact brianschwartz43@optonline.net. Communications Committee – Help create and disseminate information about TCC. Work with the committee to assure complete, accurate and consistent branding in all of the Center’s materials, including newsletter, website and correspondence. The opportunities range from writing to media relations to production to mailings. Contact brian_klecatsky@hotmail.com Membership and Member Relations Committee – Help care for our members, whether it is reminding them of a soon to expire membership or greeting them at events. It matches volunteers to opportunities. Contact jenabbott@optonline.net Wealth Committee – Help assure the financial health and growth of TCC. The opportunities range from corporate sponsor development to collecting donations at TCC events. Contact dff208@optonline.net News & Views – Be a contributor to the TCC newsletter. Guest columns, topical letters and features are welcome. All contributions are subject to editorial approval and inclusion is at the discretion of the TCC Board of Directors.
Upcoming Meetings PFLAG Mission TRUE COLORS IS MAKING A DIFFERENCEAt the November Southwest Connecticut PFLAG meeting we were fortunate to have Robin McHaelen from True Colors speak. True Colors, Inc. is a Sexual Minority Youth and Family Services non-profit organization that combats homophobia, gender bias and racism by providing support, education and advocacy to those responsible for the health, education and well-being of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Intersex (LGBTI) Youth and Families. Their mission it to combat homophobia, gender bias and racism through support, education and advocacy. Last fall, more than 100 stakeholders from across Connecticut participated in True Colors’ visioning sessions. With their invaluable help and input, they identified current gaps in services and prioritized the areas in which True Colors should focus its energies. They set up programs, goals, and objectives, including Youth Mentoring, Foster Parent Recruitment, The Safe Harbor Project (involvement with True Colors is working on housing for LGBTI youth who need temporary and/or permanent out-of-home care -- a primary issue for most stakeholders. Other projects underway are Family Support Programming, Middle School Programming, and Transgender Youth Health Care. I have just “touched” briefly on what True Colors does. It is a wonderful organization and is having much success in Connecticut. Their next annual conference - FAMILY MATTERS; A – Z will be held Friday, March 23 and Saturday, March 24th, 2007 with a pre-Conference institute for professionals on Thursday, March 22nd. The conference will be held at Central CT State University in New Britain. For information call 888-565-5551, or visit their web at www.ourTrueColors.org It is a heart-warming experience to attend one of these conferences and see so very many youth and adults working together to help our children. The workshops are many and very interesting and informative. Please do contact the above phone number and website for more information. Sandy Johnson, Southwest Connecticut PFLAG Equality Moves Forward in Election – But Not Enough to Rest PFLAG Responds to Election Night ResultsWashington, D.C. – As voting machines from the 2006 midterm election are returned to storage for another Congressional session, members of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) are celebrating key accomplishments in the race and identifying and focusing their efforts on the many obstacles that still lie ahead. “The people of Arizona are the heroes of the night,” said Jody M. Huckaby, executive director of PFLAG. “They made a monumental effort to defeat the movement to turn their state constitution into a tool for discrimination against our gay and lesbian loved ones. Arizona residents saw that equality is a family value too, and brought that belief to the ballot box.” The night, however, was not without its losses. In seven other states – Virginia, Wisconsin, Tennessee, South Dakota, Iowa, South Carolina, and Colorado – anti-equality amendments did pass, albeit by smaller margins than expected in some areas. Colorado also saw an effort to authorize domestic partnerships defeated. The evening dealt losses to some of the most anti-equality fixtures on Capitol Hill, including Rick Santorum (who once said marriage equality is “harmful to our society”) and John Hostettler (who helped write the Federal Marriage Amendment). These legislators were sent home by voters who gave the nod to more mainstream candidates with campaigns not based on anti-gay politics. “PFLAG is already talking about how these new legislators will move equality forward for our gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender loved ones,” said Huckaby. “Will they support basic equal rights? At the capitol and in the states, PFLAGers in our more than 500 chapters will be watching and working for fairness.”
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TCC board members are busy soliciting fantastic items for this year’s silent auction. Plan to attend the 2006 FESTIVUS Holiday Celebration & Silent Auction Friday, December 8, 8:00 PM.
Are you interested in getting more involved with GLSEN Connecticut? Come to one of our regular monthly board meetings to find out what you can do for LGBT youth! GLSEN works to create safer schools for all students regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity/expression. Contact Leif Mitchell at 
TCC has any number of ways for its members and the community to get involved. Please email 
