March, 1990

GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE

Page 7

5¢ Decision wins volleyball crown

by K.D. Mahnal

The North Coast Volleyball League (NCVL) has concluded their fall season, crowning 5 Cent Decision as champions.

5 Cent Decision captured the title by a commanding five matches over closest rival Over the Rainbow. No playoff system was in effect during the fall season, but has been added for the winter season, now in progress. This is the first time in the NCVL's eight year history that a playoff system will be employed.

Under the new system, each of the leagues' six teams will compete head to head twice, to determine playoff seeding. Then, the last three weeks of the season will be a double elimination tournament to crown the winter season champs.

NCVL Commissioner Alex Bruchac is optimistic and excited about the playoff system. "It's going to be very close again, we try very hard to maintain a balance, it will be competitive, but fun," says Bruchac. Indeed, blending competition and fun is a major objective of the NCVL. All players are evaluated on skill level and placed into three categories: skilled, average, and new players, during a pre-season orientation. A lottery

THE GOOD NEWS

This space has been donated to MCC by the Chronicle, and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Chronicle staff or management. by Susan Tabell

HIV support group. An AIDS seminar, sponsored by MCC, will be held by Reverend Kathleen Williams on Tuesday, March 13, 1990, at 6:00 p.m. at the church. She will be discussing her experiences at the Houston conference. The seminar is open to the public and is free of charge. The discussion will deal with the long term effects of people living with AIDS and will announce MCC's formation of a Christian-centered HIV support group. The group will begin meeting Thursday, March 8, 1990, at 7:00 p.m. and will be held every Thursday night.

The group is open to any person, male or female, gay or non-gay. Everyone is welcomed to attend regardless of their religious or non-religious beliefs. Even is you have never experienced the all-inclusive love of God, being a part of this group will have positive effects on your life. The organizer and facilitator is a person living with AIDS.

MCC would like to thank the Western Reserve AIDS Foundation for their generosity of a grant which enabled Reverend Kathleen Williams to attend the Houston conference in January.

We're growing. Our church in its continued growth and development has recently acquired new pews. We also have purchased 45 new hymnals and more vestments. You are welcomed to come and share in our services. They are held Sunday mornings at 11:00 a.m. and Sunday evenings at 7:30 p.m. You do not have to be a member of MCC or any church to worship at Emmanual.

Homecoming Dance and Potluck. A correction needs to be made to last month's announcement concerning MCC's Homecoming Dance. The new date and time is Saturday, March 31,

process places an even number of players from each skill level on teams.

Growth continues for the NCVL, not in terms of the number of teams, but in total player participation. The league has added eight to ten players in the last year. This expansion is spurring ideas of a dual division league for the 1990 fall season. The league would have a skilled power volleyball division with four member teams and a novice division.

The NCVL plays at the Cudell Recreation Center, at West Blvd, and

Detroit Ave. on Fridays from 9:00 p.m. to midnight, and encourages the community to come out and watch some exciting volleyball.

For players that enjoy volleyball, but not necessarily competition, a social volleyball group meets at the Estabrook Recreation Center, 4125 Fulton Road, on Sundays from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. The first session is free and $3.00 per session, thereafter. Approximately 30 people participate in this group.

Gay Games: a philosophical view

by K.D. Mahnal

The Celebration '90: Gay Games III and Cultural Festival registration deadline is fast approaching on May 31. Celebration '90 will be hosted by Vancouver, British Columbia, August 4 through 11, 1990.

With a philosophy built upon the principle of inclusion-any person of any age, race, ability or sex may attempt any event-the Gay Games have continued to grow. From 1,300 athletes at Challenge '82, the Metropolitan Vancouver Athletic and Arts Association anticipates 9,000 participants and at least 10,000 spectators.

The Gay Games were conceived as an opportunity for thousands of individuals with their athletic skills at various levels of development to have the thrill and joy of international competition. The Gay Games are so named because the event was formed as a celebration for this minority group, many of whom have experienced exclusion, due to sexual orientation, during earlier athletic involvements. "To do one's personal best is the ultimate of all human achievement," stated Games founder and former US Olympian, the late Dr. Tom Waddell.

Dr. Waddell's founding principles created some challenges for the Vancouver organizers, particularly his refusal to ban South Africa from either Games I or II, on the grounds it was a political issue rather than a gay one. "MVAAA was pushed for a South Africa position even before we had been awarded the Games (in 1982)," explains MVAAA Director Barry McDell. "We were faced with the inclusive principles

1990, at 8:00 p.m. and will last until midnight. A potluck will follow the morning service on April 1, 1990. If you have ever attended MCC, or are interested in attending, please come and meet your family at Emmanuel. It will be like coming home again. Tickets are available at the church and will require a $5 donation in advance or a $7 donation at the door. Refreshments will be offered and a DJ will be spinning disks.

An Easter Cantata will be presented by MCC's Choir and is planned for the evening service on Sunday, April 8. This is the Choir's second cantata, the first being a Christmas concert presented last year. Come and experience the joy of Christ in music.

Gospel concert. On Sunday, March 25, during the evening service, a special concert will be presented by Love, Inc. MCC's Minister of Music, Larry, will be presenting his gospel group, Love, Inc. for a special night in music.

This is such an exciting time of year, with trees budding and flowers blooming all around us. Everywhere we look we see signs of life and hope. Let us all continue to choose life in all of its fullness.

of the Games and also our stated opposition to racism. It was like having to choose which social evil we would address first," continues McDell.

Prepared to meet any challenge, the MVAAA's Jackie Larkin conducted five months of research, which lead to Vancouver banning South Africa from any aspect of Celebration '90. "We realized we couldn't claim to be a world class event and not accept some responsibility for political conditions in the world," states McDell.

Celebration '90 will feature 27 sporting events and numerous cultural activities. Fees are $54 per athlete, per event.

Continuing our breakdown of individual sports requirements:

Soccer: Governed by the 1988 edition of the Federation Internationale de Football Associations (FIFA) with one modification: substitution will be unlimited. There are four divisions; higher level teams should enter the Premier or first divisions, recreational teams should enter second or third divisions. Rosters allow a minimum of 11 and a maximum of 22 players, all players must sign a liability waiver prior to final registration. Practice balls are the responsibility of each team and each team may be required to provide an official.

Softball: Amateur Softball Association rules will apply. A complete uniform is not required, however all members of a team must wear the same jersey, with clearly defined numbers on the back. Rosters limited to 15 members per team with a maximum of three men per women's team and three women per

う

NCVL final fall standings:

Team

5¢ Decision

Over the Rainbow Alex's Aces Memoirs U4ia

Keys

Won

Lost

PE223

287665

Send all sports inquiries and scores to: The Chronicle, K.D. Mahnal, P.O. Box 556, Edgewater Branch, Lakewood, OH 44107.

men's team. Tournament will be roundrobin with playoffs.

Squash: International Squash rules will govern play. Categories of play will include: levels A, B, C and D for both the Men's and Women's divisions, a Novice level for beginners or purely recreational players and a Masters division for players 40 years and over. Competition is restricted to singles play only and protective eyewear is mandatory.

Swimming: Current Federation Internationale de Natation Amateur (FINA) and Canadian Amateur Swimming Association (C.A.S.A.) rules will apply. Competition open to all 1990 Masters Registered Swimmers 19 years and older as of the first day of the meet. Swimmers under the age of 25 years are advised they might jeopardize their amateur status under FINA Rule GR-1 if they participate in master competition. Masters numbers must accompany application; entries are limited to five individua. events plus relays. No false start or deck entry rule in effect. Entrants may choose only one of two freestyle events, the 800 meter or 1500 meter. Relay age groups are determined by the total age group for the team entered. There will also be a fun event, the Pink Flamingo Relay, and costumes are required.

For registration forms, rules and information, contact: Celebration '90, 1170 Bute Street, Vancouver, B.C. Canada V6E1Z6. Phone: 604-683-3303 or Fax: 603-683-2276. ▼

There is life on the West Side

by Mistinguette Smith-Malone

"I keep coming back to welcome women who are as scared as I was to come to a lesbian group for the first time."

"But we also have folks who have been coming for years.

"That's true. It's a good way to make good friends."

These women are talking about Life on the West Side, the three year old Friday night lesbian group at the West Side Women's Center.

Just what is Life on the West Side? "We are a social group, but the support is in the things we do," says group facilitator Denise Jackson. "Our schedule includes a discussion group where we sometimes have a speaker; a monthly potluck; a game night; and, when we can get them organized, outings." What kind of outings? "We had a lot of fun at our bowling night, and our summer picnic... and then there was the field trip to Body Language!"

What is most impressive about Life on the West Side is the diversity of the group. Women from all over the west side, and as far east as Lake County, attend regularly. On any Friday night you'll find women of a variety of ages, races, economic backgrounds and political persuasions, together enjoying chemfree lesbian-only space,

Many women new to the lesbian community have found Life on the West Side an important bridge in coming out, personally or in the service to the community. "I wouldn't be as 'out there' as I am without the group. That's how I got involved again with the Mothers Group," says Jackson. The Women's Coffeehouse is an outgrowth of the group, filling the need for chem-free womenonly space. Several other women have networked to form Sistahparty!, a new social group for lesbians of color. Members of the group agreed that Life on the West Side's offspring have become centers of lesbian community because of the group's diversity.

"I feel like there are a lot of women we could still reach," says Jackson, "because they don't know what Life on the West Side is all about. We invite you to join us. We also want to invite our old members back too, those who haven't been here for a while", to remind them that Life on the West Side is alive and kicking.

Life on the West Side meets every Friday from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the West

Side Women's Center, 4207 Lorain Ave. For more information, call Denise Jackson at 631-7114. ▼