14 GAY PEOPle's ChroNICLE SEPTEMBER 15, 1995
COMMUNITY GROUPS
North Coast delegation inspired by GALA conference
by John Dellamanna
The North Coast Men's Chorus is going places. In both the literal and figurative sense, we are going places. This past weekend, five members of the chorus attended the 1995 Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses (GALA) Leadership Conference. This is the second time our chorus has been represented at this conference.
This year's Leadership Conference was held in St. Louis, Mo., and the theme was "Voices and Visions: The Gateway to Progress." This largest GALA conference yet saw the attendance of 370 directors and administrators.
ARE YOU READY
FOR
WINDOWS 95?
UPGRADE YOUR PC MEMORY FOR $29.95
[Hardware & Sales Tax not included]
Call: 871-5530 or 789-6883 Fax: 871-5446 Internet:
kmreboot@ix.netcom.com
ReBeet! Computing & Besign
Suite #147
30628 Eritralt Food
Westlake, Ohio 44145-6203
Our Cleveland contingent consisted of President Neil Giewont, Vice President Steve Kessler, Director Tim Robson, Marketing Chairman John Reardon, and GALA V coordinator Don Ferencz.
On Friday, September 1, there was an administrators' institute about setting a vision for the future of a chorus.
Afterwards, del-
with a myriad of workshops from which our delegates chose.
The broad scope of the leadership conference becomes evident when one notes work-
NORTH COAST MEN'S CHORUS P.O. BOX 15181 CLEVELAND OHIO 44115
egates were treated to a joint concert given by the men and women's gay choruses of St. Louis. Both Saturday and Sunday were taken
ATTORNEYS AT LAW
CALL FOR FREE CONSULTATION
781-0734
JENNIFER A. KRIAUSKY D. SCOTT KALISH YOUNG AND AGGRESSIVE.
LET US FIGHT FOR YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS:
shops such as Sign Language Interpreting, Public Relations, Producing a Compact Disc, Mcdia, and Grant Writing. The diversity of the gay choral community also becomes evident when one learns that each of these workshops were taught by other GALA members willing to share their expertise with their fellow choristers.
Many well-known queer artists and entertainers were also present for the conference, enriching the experience of those attending. The keynote speaker following the Saturday night banquet was Donna Red Wing, the national field director for GLAAD, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. Red Wing spoke of the role of gay choruses in reaching out to the gay community, and representing our community in a positive light. Entertainers Bill McKinley, Holly Near, and Paul Phillips, of Romanovsky and Phillips, were among just a few of the celebrities present.
After the election of the GALA officers, and a day of sightseeing and a night of “gay abandon" on the streets of St. Louis, our weary but inspired group returned to Cleveland. These North Coast representatives have certainly gleaned much information from the GALA leadership conference which they will then use for the betterment of the North Coast Men's Chorus. We thank them all for so generously giving of their time and energy
for the good of the chorus. It is dedicated leaders like ours that will help move the chorus into its rightful place as one of the country's foremost gay men's choruses.
We also proudly announce that the North Coast Men's Chorus was the recipient of a $500 matching grant towards the commissioning of a new musical work. Thank you, GALA!
Since we are “going places,” please watch for us in Akron, where our concert will be entitled, oddly enough, “A Little Traveling Music." Mark your calendars, especially Akron folks, Saturday October 14 at 8:00 pm at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Fairlawn.
As for our biggest road trip still to come, keep reading this column for details about the North Coast Men's Chorus' participation in GALA V, in Tampa, Florida July 6 to 13, 1996.
Last, we would like to thank all those who auditioned for the chorus. Our auditions were a huge success. As you sit poised on the edge of your seat, just aching to know who the newest additions to the North Coast Men's Chorus are, we ask you to wait. Please see our next column where we will properly greet and learn something about each of the new members to this elite "Chorus on the Move."
To the northeastern Ohio gay community, we make the following invitation: Whether it is in the literal or figurative sense of the word, we ask each and every one of you to travel with us! To Akron in October, to Euclid Avenue Congregational Church in December, to Gay Pride in June, or to GALA V in July, come and be a part of the chorus that is going places! The North Coast Men's Chorus ... "We Sing the Dream!”
PASSALACQUA & SEIFERT Attorneys at Law
Edele Passalacqua
• Personal Injury
• DUI • Criminal
• Domestic Partnership Agreement
• Family Law
• Real Estate Transaction
of Health Care P
ation issues
Keep it in the Community!
696-0040
Call for a Free Consultation. Evening & Weekend Hours Available 2206 West Superior Viaduct ▼ Suite 404 ▼ Cleveland, Ohio 44113
Victoria's Mystical World Occult Shoppe Emporium
Books, Candles, Oils, Incense and More!
Psychic Fair Saturday, Sept. 23 Readings by Victoria!
(216) 251-5125
Hours: Wed-Sat 10am-5pm
16600 Lofain Ave. Cleveland, Ohio 4411|1
Friday Benta
Presented in co-opera
10630 Bergs Rd. • Clevela
For All of Your Insurance Needs...
Michael D. Farmer, CLU, ChFC, CPCU Agent
·
27025 Knickerbocker Road Bay Village, Ohio 44140 (216) 835-1969