Tucson Observer

Please join Reveille for their production of “Our Holiday Memories.”

Sit back and relax as Reveille takes you on a sentimental journey to the holidays of years gone by. Reveille members will share their photos and memories from their own personal holidays growing up, intermingled with songs of the season, sung in that gorgeous Reveille style. There will be laughter and tears as they travel down memory lane. Make Reveille’s holiday concert one of your holiday traditions.

Our Holiday Memories – Saturday, December 5 at 8:00 p.m., Sunday, December 6 at 3:00 p.m. Grace St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 2331 East Adams Street, Tucson.

Tickets are $15 in advance, $10 students with I.D. or $20 at the door, and may be purchased from any Reveille member, online at www.reveillemenschorus.org, Antigone Books or by calling Reveille at (520) 304-1758.

TUCSON (Observer Update) – There are still tickets available for the upcoming Desert Voices November 14 and 15 performances (season tickets as well), so it’s not too late to get great entertainment by your favorite non-profit chorus at a gonga price – one ticket for $15/two for $25 – and you will be supporting a local business, important in difficult economic times. (Season tickets are one for $50/two for $100 – also a gonga deal!)

Check out the website at desertvoices.org to purchase your tickets on line through Brown Paper Tickets (a very secure internet site), call the Desert Voices Box Office at 791-9662 to purchase via mastercard or visa, or mail your check (made out to Desert Voices) to PO Box 270, Tucson 85702-0270. See how easy it is?!

Performances will be held at the Proscenium Theatre, West Pima Campus, 2202 W. Anklam Road – 7:30 pm on the 14th and 3:00 pm on the 15th. Join Desert Voices as the chorus pays tribute to memorable musicals from Broadway and Tinseltown in Upstaged! Divas and Mis(s)Leading Men. See you at the theater!

Since Wingspan had to relocate to new premises, the Tucson chapter of GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian, Straight Educators Network) has moved their meeting location.

Until further notice, GLSEN-Tucson will be meeting in the Martha Cooper Branch Library, 1377 N. Catalina Ave, in Meeting Room B.

Even though the meeting location may have changed, the date and time have not. On the first Thursday of each month, these meetings will take at 4:30 p.m. For more information, go online to chapters.glsen.org/cgi-bin/iowa/tucson/home.html.

“Turnabout for TIHAN” is an annual show put on by Tucson’s GLBT clubs and their bar staff.

Each club and bar’s staff request donations from their friends and customers in order to do a “turn-about” from male to female (or vice versa) and put on a fabulous show to benefit the work of TIHAN, the Tucson Interfaith HIV/AIDS Network (tihan.org)

So get ready for the glitz and glamour, the pumps and passion for this year’s “Turnabout for TIHAN” benefit show, one of the biggest drag shows of the year, and takes place on Sunday, September 6 at the Doubletree Hotel at Reid Park (445 South Alvernon Way, Tucson, Arizona). The doors open at 5:00 p.m., and the show starts at 6:00 p.m. Tickets are only $10.00 in advance or $15.00 at the door. The evening also features a raffle with some great prizes.

Join us for Turnabout, featuring emcees Bunny Fufu and Janee Starr, along with your favorite bar staff in drag from your favorite participating bars: Woody’s, IBT’s, Coyote Moon and Colors.

Tickets are on sale now through the TIHAN office (credit card orders can be taken – (520) 299-6647), or at participating bars. For more information about the event, or to volunteer, contact Scott Blades at scott@tihan.org.

T-Squares, Tucson’s GLBT square dance club, is celebrating their 25th anniversary with a dance on Saturday, August 29 at the Therapeutic Recreation Center at Reid Park, 1000 S. Randolph Way.

The T-Squares club is a member of the International Association of Gay Squares Dance Clubs (IAGSDC) and the local Square & Round Dance Association of Southern Arizona (SARDASA). T-Squares’ diverse membership is open to all regardless of age, race, gender, religion, ethnic background, or sexual orientation.

The T-Squares club dances every Tuesday evening at the Cornerstone Fellowship Social Hall at 2902 N. Geronimo Ave from 6:30 to 9:00 pm with a crash course slated for September 15th for anyone interested in taking square dance lessons with a uniquely Gay flair. For more information about T-Squares, email them at T-Squares@azgaydance.org, or visit azgaydance.org and click on “Tucson, AZ”

Welcome to OZ, Tucson’s newest LGBT/LGBT-friendly mixed bowling league had a wonderful inaugural summer season with 39 bowlers (thirteen teams), and are looking to carry the momentum forward and expand for the upcoming winter season.

Welcome to OZ is housed at Tucson Bowl, 7020 E. 21st Street (22nd & Kolb Rd) and will bowl on Thursday nights, practice at 6:45 p.m. and bowling at 7:00 p.m. The Winter league will begin on Thursday, September 10 and is a 34 week leaguer ending on Thursday, May 20, 2010 with a banquet held on Thursday, May 27, 2010.

A league meeting will be held on Thursday, September 10, 6:00 p.m. with our season beginning at 7:00 pm. Teams will consist of three bowlers each. Come as a team of three, a double or a single, we will assist in making teams. Let’s continue the fun, so for more information contact us at: welcometoOZ09@gmail.com.

Auditions for The Laramie Project will be held at 6:30 p.m. on August 17-18, at the Community Performing Arts Center rehearsal hall, 1250 W. Continental Road in Green Valley. Performance dates are October 7-10.

A compelling docudrama, The Laramie Project tells of how the people of Laramie, Wyoming, reacted to the shock and stress of the Matthew Shepard beating death. The play covers the year from his death to the trial of two young Laramie men. Told in the words of individual Laramie residents, a number of points of view are expressed. We are looking for actors of all ages and orientations. Each member of the cast will play multiple roles – there are over 75 Laramie residents portrayed in the show. The cast will have 4 women and 8 men.

Scripts are now available for review. Call D.D. Jay (520)777-4478 The Santa Cruz Shoestring Players, santacruzshoestringplayers.com/ is a non-profit community theatre and we welcome all who wants to participate – there are always many things to do. Rehearsals and performances will be at the Community Performing Arts Center in Green Valley, 1250 W Continental Rd. Note from DD: anyone interested is encouraged to come to auditions. You need not be an experienced actor – experience won’t be held against you however.

Fellow Citizen Blogger Carolyn Classen, a straight ally extrordinaire reported the initial news of Wingspan, Tucson and Southern Arizona’s LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) community center that is moving due to financial circumstances in lieu of the current economic situation Tucson as well as the nation faces, and faces closure, something that would be tragic for Tucson’s LGBT community but for everyone in general.

(Claussen gave the link for the letter but in the sake of Wingspan, a link doesn’t do the letter, the appeal and the inherent need, justice. So from Wingspan Board President Cynthia Garcia her open letter to the community re: Wingspan, it’s Executive Director and its current financial straits it is facing. So please read and please donate, because the organization serves so many and this town doesn’t need to face another closure, such as this 21 year old organization. Thank You – Mark Kerr.)

Times are tough. We’ve all felt the effects in our pocketbooks and portfolios.

Your LGBT community center is no exception. Wingspan is making some big changes. We must take these bold actions now to preserve our core services.

I wanted to tell you what’s happening and ask for your help.

First Wingspan is moving.

Beginning this weekend, the Wingspan community center and staff offices will consolidate buildings with the EON Youth Lounge. This is a smaller building just across the street from Wingspan. Wingspan will be open Saturday July 18 and then close Sunday, July 19. Wingspan will remain closed next week (July 20—24) during the transition and reopen Monday, July 27 in the new space.

I’ve listed further details at the end of this letter about new hours and what this will mean.

There are more big changes ahead.

I want to also let you know that as part of a strategic plan to conserve resources by cutting all staff positions that are not grant-funded, Wingspan’s Executive Director Jason Cianciotto has offered his resignation. When Jason saw that his resignation was a necessary part of cost-saving measures to preserve core services, he came to the board to recommend that he resign. We reluctantly accepted.

Jason has volunteered to continue as executive director, with only a $1 salary until July 31. Jason will write to you soon himself. Jason has given complete devotion and passion to his leadership of Wingspan over the last 18 months. We are grateful for his service, leadership, and generosity.

And finally, in place of the annual community dinner held in September, we are going to do something different this year. At this time when every dollar counts, we don’t want to spend any money that doesn’t go directly to support our programs and staff.

Various activities are being planned in the coming months for the community to gather and support Wingspan. We will continue to keep you informed and encourage your participation in these events.

I realize that this is a lot to take in. And it’s happening fast.

It’s been difficult for the board to make these changes. We are available to answer your questions and hear your concerns and ideas.

Now more than ever Wingspan needs you. This is our community. It’s our center.

We’ll need volunteers to do many things that paid staff used to do. We’ll also need your financial support to ensure that Wingspan continues.

Wingspan has a strong history of community involvement and leadership. Wingspan began as an all-volunteer organization. Wingspan’s roots actually go back to the late 1970s, when local community members offered their homes for a weekly youth support group.

In the late 1980s Wingspan rented a tiny office space. And in 1998 Wingspan hired its first paid staff. It wasn’t until 2000 that Wingspan had an executive director.

Now, it’s time to return to our roots.

In the very first newsletter of Wingspan, published in the late 1980s, the volunteer leaders wrote why they chose to call the community center Wingspan:

“The word Wingspan represents the enfolding of wings around us, cradling us in our struggle for survival,” they wrote. They went on to explain that, “It expresses our desire for freedom; the freedom symbolized by a bird in flight. And it represents the spreading of our own wings, as each of us reach beyond our limits.”

It’s time to spread our own wings. To reach out. To stretch beyond what we thought was possible.

Your gifts of time and leadership are needed now. And your financial support is imperative.

For Wingspan to continue we must raise $125,000 by October 31, and find 1,000 new monthly donors who commit to giving $25 or more each month. And we need your help to do it.

Every donation counts. Nothing is too small. We need every person who cares about Wingspan in Southern Arizona to stretch and do their part.

Giving online is the quickest and easiest way for us to process your gift. Please go online today to www.wingspan.org and give as much as you can. Ask your friends to do the same.

Times are tough for everyone. But I know that we have an amazing community. The board of directors have already personally pledged $20,000 toward our $125,000 goal.

This is it. This is the critical moment to offer your skills and support to Wingspan. Wingspan needs you to continue offering critical, life-saving services and to speak loudly and proudly on behalf of the freedom and equality of the LGBT community in Southern Arizona.

Thank you in advance for your sacrificial giving. And for all that you will do to ensure that Wingspan continues.

Sincerely,

Cynthia Garcia

Wingspan Board President

P.S. If you have questions or ideas please feel free to email me directly at canngarcia@gmail.com or the board vice president Karyn Prechtel at kprechtel@mac.com.

We’ve tried to anticipate some of your questions below. But please contact us if you have more questions.

What will the transition be like next week?

The anti-violence hotline will remain available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week during the transition. The number is 520-624-0348 and toll-free 800-553-9387.

The EON Youth Lounge will remain open next week during its regular hours, 3 to 8 pm  for youth ages 13-23.

Staff email is currently down due to the transition. We hope to have this back up and running smoothly by the close of business Saturday, July 18.

The Wingspan website will remain up during the transition. The web address is www.wingspan.org.

The new combined Wingspan center and EON Youth Lounge will be open at its new location July 27.

What will the new center be like?

The new center hours will be Monday — Friday. Wingspan and EON will be closed on the weekends. From 11 am until 2 pm the community is welcome to come and use the cyber center, library, and the one available meeting room.

Wingspan will be closed each weekday from 2 pm to 3 pm to allow for a daily transition to an all-youth lounge.

EON Youth Lounge will remain a youth-only safe space from 3 pm until 8 pm Monday—Friday. Only youth, SAGA and some Wingspan committees will be able to use the space from 3 pm to 8 pm.

What will the new Wingspan look like?

Wingspan’s outreach, support and advocacy will continue with paid staff through the following programs: EON Youth Lounge, Anti-Violence Programs, and the Southern Arizona Gender Alliance.  Wingspan’s community education programs will also continue with leadership by volunteers. These programs have been the crux of Wingspan’s 21-year legacy of providing national leadership in LGBT education and advocacy.

Wingspan’s finances will remain professionally administered through a financial management contract.

Volunteer teams of community leaders will take the lead on organizing volunteers, fundraising, and Wingspan’s public advocacy. Already volunteers completely run many of Wingspan’s work such as our community Senior Programs. Wingspan began as a volunteer organization. By engaging the many gifts and talents of our community and returning to our roots as a volunteer organization, Wingspan will continue to promote the freedom, equality, safety, and well-being of LGBT people in Southern Arizona.

My group used to meet at Wingspan: Where else can we meet?

Tucson’s public libraries and city council offices have free meeting spaces for the public. Both have offered their spaces for groups that used to meet at Wingspan.

See these websites for more about reserving rooms at a library near you:

http://www.library.pima.gov/services/meetingrooms/
http://www.library.pima.gov/about/policies/meetingroompolicy.pdf

http://www.library.pima.gov/pdf/MeetingRoomApplication.pdf
I want to help. What can I do?

If you can help pack boxes, come to the center Saturday, July 18, starting at 9 am.

If you’d like to give a donation the easiest way is to go online to www.wingspan.org and donate online.

If you have ideas or would like to volunteer to write grants, do data entry, sweep floors, answer phones, host a fundraiser, or lead a new outreach program for instance, contact board president, Cynthia Garcia, canngarcia@gmail.com or the board vice president, Karyn Prechtel at kprechtel@mac.com. Jason will also be available until July 31.Thank you. Together we are Wingspan. This is our community. And our center.