November, 1990 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE
Benefit pays off debts, off debts, Pride looks to 1991 event
The Cleveland Gay and Lesbian Pride Committee announced that it has covered all its debts and made a small amount of seed money for its Pride '91 Celebration from the Heart's Desire benefit at the Cleveland Playhouse on October 28.
More than $1,500 was raised from the sale of tickets to the special performance. The money was used to pay outstanding debts which totaled almost $1,200.
The Pride executive committee, which consists of Martha Pontoni, Susan Schnur, Jeri Zabarauskas, Keith Wigman, David Lanshaw, Douglas Braun, and Sue Lacey (consultant) will continue meeting this month to take care of administrative tasks which
would make the Pride committee a more smoothly functioning organization and make plans for next year's celebration.
The executive committee is charged with administrative tasks only. Final decisions about the Pride '91 celebration and related events will still be made by a general committee who will start meeting in late January. Pride '91 co-chairs will be elected at the February general meeting.
One of the tasks the executive committee took up was the establishment of a mission statement and purpose for the Pride committee. The mission statement is:
"The Lesbian and Gay Pride Committee of Greater Cleveland is dedicated to in-
Five re-elected to Center board; police cadet training shown
by Stephanie Dlugon
The Lesbian-Gay Community Service Center held its annual meeting on October 23. The agenda was full and encompassed several topics including a shortened version of the gay-sensitivities training recently given to Cleveland police cadets by volunteers of the Maryann Finegan Project. The Project, named for a woman murdered because she was lesbian, assists victims of anti-gay hate crimes. Living Room staff members Kyle and Sharon also spoke, and elections were held.
About 50 people crowded into the Center's Art MacDonald meeting room and many stood, spilling into the hall.
Bob Laycock, president of the board,
did an excellent job of keeping the activities running smoothly.
The elections were the last piece of business for the evening. Five positions on the board were voted on, including one officer position.
Because the five incumbent members ran unopposed, the motion was passed to vote for the group on a single slate. The members were re-elected in a near unanimous vote.
The re-elected board members are Lynn Dilworth, Nick Palumbo, Ray Schultz (secretary), Geno Taylor and Martha Webb.
There are currently 14 members on the board, serving three-year terms. The Center's bylaws allow for between 12 and 19 board members.
creasing visibility, encouraging individuals to come out and to establishing a greater political presence within the metro Cleveland area. The Lesbian and Gay Pride Committee will place special emphasis on men and women working together and participation of all cultural, racial and ethic groups. The Pride events are also intended to develop leadership within the lesbian and gay community, and to celebrate our shared culture in an alcohol-free environment."
The executive committee also worked out a budget for the 1991 event which exceeds $27,000. Last year's co-chairperson, Martha Pontoni, said "The budget represents a bigger commitment to the celebration and reflects the addition of a paid organizer to help committee chairs work more effectively. But to do this we will need more help from the community, more volunteers, and more help raising money. We know that there are businesses and individuals in this community who are not yet involved and our goal is to get everyone to do something. This is the biggest event of the year; no one should be left
out."
The Pride committee will continue to use the Lesbian-Gay Community Service Center as fiscal agent until next year when non-profit status for the committee itself can be obtained. The committee is hoping to rent space in the Chronicle offices and put in their own phone lines and desks. "A permanent location would be excellent for us. The Pride celebration is such an enormous task, and we need space," said Pontoni. "We are asking for donations of office supplies and equipment, so please remem-
ber if you have any extra items."
Page 5
Related events planned for the Pride '91 celebration include another march down Euclid Ave, a 5K run and a week-long film festival.
Final expense report for Pride '90
Cash Receipts Balance
Donations
Concessions
Admissions
Heart's Desire (as of 10/17)
Total Receipts
Insurance
$663
3,757
987
5,253
1,464
$ 12,124
Cash Disbursements
Advertising Buttons
$690
238
Chair & Table Rental Electrical Services
606
283
Entertainment
2,127
Interpreters
295
877
Meetings
52
Office Supplies
505
Permits
100
Postage Printing
417
1,320
Printing: T-shirts
2,605
Sanitation
310
502
50
447
72
$ 11,496
$628
Security Telephone Travel Miscellaneous
Total Disbursments
Cash Balance (10/17/90)
130 enjoy first annual 'Living Color' picnic
A new tradition was started this year for lesbians and gay men of Cleveland, in spite of rain and a late start. The first annual "In Living Color" picnic, organized and sponsored by David Kennedy and "Pappy" Mitchell, was held on September 9 in cooperation with Porky's Nightclub and Uncle Vinny's Le Cabaret. The picnic was at Squaw Rock Reservation of the Cleveland Metroparks, a beautiful setting with a huge pavil-
David Kennedy states that his goal for this picnic and other events is to "try to bring all the colors (of our community) together. Things don't have to be so black and white"
time, with plenty of food and live entertainment. People who performed that day included (in no particular order) Isis, Yofreakka and Company, La Diva's, Deception, Coco Star, and Kesha. Representatives from Health Issues Taskforce were also present to distribute "Safer Sex To Go" kits to all the women and men there. After the extensive show, people indulged in all kinds of food including spaghetti, barbequed chicken and ribs, plus other picnic fare.
This was the first of hopefully many events that "In Living Color" Productions would like to plan. David Kennedy states that his goal for this picnic and other events is to "try to bring all the colors (of our community) together. Things don't have to be so black and white."
As people danced into the twilight, with house music spun by David and his friends, it was obvious that it was a success. Thanks are extended to Uncle Vinny and his staff, Michael Davis and the folks from Porky's, all the entertainers, Tim Jackson and John Beres from Health Issues Taskforce, and everyone else
ion and plenty of grassy areas for who cooked, cleaned up, hauled stuff,
volleyball or other games.
Being the first year for the picnic, David Kennedy had his work cut out for him. But the approximately 130 people who turned out had a great
DJ'ed or helped in any way. Look for nore events from David and "In Living Color" in the future, and, of course, next year's picnic.
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