It’s a wonderful opportunity to holiday shop and give back to an important cause.

Bohemia offers a unique shopping experience for those on the hunt for great handmade gifts, an accent for a wall or table, a unique home accessory or just some fun kitsch. Bohemia works with over 200 different local and regional artists and crafts people to create a diverse inventory that will inspire your senses and color your soul.

Bohemia, an Artisans Emporium was rated: Best Place for Gifts, 2009, Tucson Home Magazine and Best Art/Artisan Jewelry, 2009 & 2005-2007, Tucson Weekly.

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.

Lambda Legal represents 10 state employees – including from the Arizona Highway Patrol, the State Department of Game and Fish, and state universities – who rely on health benefits from their employers to keep their families safe.

“This is an issue of equal pay for equal work,” said Tara Borelli, staff attorney for Lambda Legal. ”By stripping away these vital benefits from loyal state employees, the state isn’t just paying them less for the same work than their heterosexual colleagues — it’s pulling away a vital lifeline that all workers need. This is simply cruel and saves the state next to nothing.”

State lawmakers voted over the summer to eliminate the state’s domestic partner benefits, which were adopted with the leadership of former Governor Janet Napolitano, now Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. Current Arizona Governor Jan Brewer signed the budget bill with the provision revoking the health insurance coverage for domestic partners.

Arizona Highway Patrol Officer Tracy Collins is lead plaintiff and relies on her work-provided health benefits to protect her partner of 11 years, Diana Forrest, and their family. ”I put my life on the line every day for the people of Arizona just by going to work,” said Collins. ”Though the stress of working a dangerous job takes a toll on my family, I’m proud to be a public servant. But losing Diana’s health coverage will put us in a desperate situation.”

“This discriminatory elimination of vital health benefits denies equal pay for equal work to a small, politically vulnerable group of dedicated public workers who perform valuable services and pay equal taxes. By stripping Gay and Lesbian state employees of health coverage for a domestic partner, the new law unfairly and unconstitutionally inflicts severe hardship upon a targeted group of Arizona families,” added Borelli.

EAA continues the work of achieving full federal equality for LGBT Americans in all matters of civil law.

Please bring your ideas, passion, and a friend! This meeting will focus on creating a sustainable organization and outreach to allies and allied organizations. For more information visit: www.eaatucson.org.

Join us for talks and slide presentations from Linda and Dick Buscher, authors of Historic Photos of Arizona (Turner, $39.95) and Roger Carpenter, editor of 2 volumes of Letters from Tucson (1925-1927 and 1933-1942). The Buschers’ book is a photographic journey depicting the unique history, culture and natural beauty of Arizona captured in nearly 200 black and white images. The authors have been writing and teaching the history of Arizona for more than 35 years. Roger Carpenter’s two volumes comprise a treasure trove of letters written by his mother in the first years of her life in Tucson, starting in 1925. In truly charming words and fascinating photos, they give an intimate portrait of Tucson from the point of view of an enthusiastic and very observant young biology teacher at the U of A. The wonderful 2nd volume, beginning during the depression and continuing into World War II, has just been released.

Please join in for an event at Antigone Books on Friday, November 27, 7:00 p.m., for a discussion of the art world with art dealer Richard Polsky and listen to live music by local legend Al Perry.  Richard Polsky will discuss his new book, I Sold Andy Warhol (Too Soon) (Other Press, $23.95), a fascinating look at the art world told by an art dealer who was pleased to sell his Warhol painting for $320,000, seven times its original price, only to discover it might have sold for $70 million a few years later.  In this instructive, irreverent and often uproarious memoir, Polsky explains the capricious functioning of the art market and the economic and cultural forces that have transformed it in recent years.  Local legend Al Perry will celebrate his newest CD, “The Three Track Session,” by playing a short solo acoustic set.  Perry has taken home the “Hall of Fame” award in the Tucson Area Music Awards (or TAMMIES), as well as Critics Choice for Album of the Year.

The reading will be followed by a question and answer period. Refreshments will be served.  For more information, call (520) 792-3715.

This year’s event will take place at the University of Arizona, Student Union Grand Ballroom, 1303 E. University Blvd., Sunday, November 22, 4 – 7:30 p.m.

“Every year the attendance at this event is wonderful. This year we’re hoping that it will be even greater. SAAF’s local programs and services are depending on increased holiday giving during this challenging time. I can’t say enough how much raising funds right now means to the stability and sustainability of the local services and outreach that the community needs and SAAF gives, so that we can address HIV and AIDS in a comprehensive and effective way.”, says Wendell Hicks, the organization’s Executive Director.

Tickets to the event are on sale now by calling (520) 628-7223 or you can purchase them online at festivalforlife.org.

“We’ve lowered ticket prices this year in hopes that even more people will enjoy the event. Last year ticket prices were $60 and $75 at the door. This year the tickets are $25 in advance and $35 at the door. More people at the event means the possibility of raising more funds to help support programs and services. Most of the funds raised at this event are from the live and silent auction.”, says Hicks.

This year’s event aims to increase attendance and giving by making the evening more affordable and attractive to all. Auction items vary from unbelievable donated fine art from local and well-known artists, travel packages, and jewelry, to items like lunch and dinner gift certificates, personal services, pet baskets, and local attraction passes so that people of any income level can enjoy bidding and purchasing items. For more details about this event, please visit festivalforlife.org or contact (520) 628-7223.

Ethica with the support of The Alliance Fund is holding an informational meeting on November 15, to release theirr recently published “Navigating LGBT Adoptions: Pitfalls, Protections on the Road to Parenthood”.

The event details will be held November 15, 2-4 pm at the Lighthouse YMCA at 2900 N. Columbus Blvd.  There will be a panel discussion about adoption issues in the LGBT community with adoptive parents, adults, and prospective parents.

For questions contact Melissa at (520) 975-0385. …

The November breakfast meeting Tucson Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Chamber of Commerce of the will take place Thursday, November 19, 7:30 – 9:00 a.m., at the Hotel Tucson City Center Conference Suite Resort (formerly Inn Suites), 475 N. Granada Ave.

The program, is a Town Meeting: An Action Plan to Promote Economic Development in Our Community, Chair: City Councilman Rodney Glassman. The Tucson GLBT Chamber of Commerce Advocacy Committee is putting this forum together as part of its mission to provide leadership in the business community on local government issues.

RSVP by Monday, November 16, noon (any member who RSVP’s after this day will be charged $20), 615-6436 or info@tucsonglbtchamber.org. …

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 theatre! …

Tucson Interfaith HIV/AIDS Network (TIHAN) will be holding our volunteer orientation on November 12 from 5:15 to 9:15pm. The orientation will take place at First Congregational UCC which is located at 1350 N Arcadia Ave, Tucson. TIHAN is a volunteer driven organization with a commitment to providing compassionate, nonjudgmental care to those living with HIV/AIDS. Visit us at tihan.org to learn more. Here are some of our volunteer positions:

Care Team Member – Make someone’s day brighter by visiting them, running errands with them, or helping them get to their doctors appointments. Care Teams provide compassionate nonmedical support to people living with HIV/AIDS.

Link Specialist – This position was rated the second most important to wellbeing by the people living with HIV that we serve. Link specialists provide referrals and well calls to our CarePartners.

Administrative Support for TIHAN Staff – The TIHAN office seeks fun-loving people to help with a data entry and administrative tasks.

Grants Team Member – Looking to keep your grant writing skills fresh? Looking for experience in grant writing, editing, or research? TIHAN is searching for both experienced and inexperienced-but-interested volunteers to join our grants team. We are a small, but dynamic nonprofit and your skills will make a huge difference here!

To sign up for orientation, simply contact Katelyn, Volunteer Resources Coordinator at (520) 299-6647 or email her at katelyn@tihan.org. We hope to see you there!

In the letter, sent by Gutier’s Deputy Director, Matthew Derr, (August 6) singled out only City of Tucson Contracts out of the thousands of yearly contracts, just months before the Tucson City elections, showing the real intent of this correspondence. One of the allegations, dated April 14, 2009, occurred during Gutier’s watch.

There was no wrong-doing or fraud involved at all. If an agency had any particular problem with a grant proposal, Richard Fimbres was then advised by that agency that there was a concern, then he was updated by his staff on the grant application and the issues and questions were dealt with in a timely manner. This was the operating procedure for the thousands of grant applications which were processed by the GOHS staff during the six plus years of his tenure.

“The office’s procedures, documentation and files were periodically reviewed and approved by NHTSA (National Highway Traffic and Safety Adminstration) and the State Auditor General during my tenure as GOHS Director,” Fimbres said.

“Many accomplishments were achieved during the six plus year tenure, including the reduction of highway fatalities by more than 25% in the past two years alone,” he went on to state.

“These accusations are a political hit, right from Karl Rove’s playbook,” Fimbres said, especially coming a week before Tucson voters go to the polls.

(NOTE: Mark Kerr is the volunteer campaign manager for Richard Fimbres.)

Tickets are now on sale for Kate Clinton’s YES on K8 show, Sunday, November 8 at 7 p.m. at the Temple of Music and Art, 330 S. Scott Avenue.

This performance benefits The Alliance Fund, a special project of the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona.

This year YES on K8 will tour the US and Canada. Clinton has said, “Our long mental curfew has been lifted! It’s time for some restoration comedy.”

From ponzi schemes to stimulus packages, from Obama to Rick Warren, nothing is sacred and Clinton will bring her unique levity to some of today’s most controversial topics. Last presidential year, Kate’s show Hilarity Clinton ‘08 toured nationwide. It followed her 2007 show, Climate Change. In 2006, Kate Clinton celebrated her 25th Anniversary of performing with a 50-city It’s Come To This! tour.

As an actress, humorist, panelist and host, Kate has worked with some of the great writers and performers of our time. Kate participated in a staged reading of Tony Kushner’s play, SLAVS, with Olympia Dukakis, Tracey Ullman and Madeline Kahn at the Walter Kerr Theatre in New York.

Kate was a panelist in a public discussion Satire in America and hosted an evening at The Kennedy Center when Richard Pryor received the first-ever Mark Twain Award. Kate has performed nationally since 1981 from Joe’s Pub in New York City to the Park West in Chicago to the Herbst Theater in San Francisco, and back to New York for several off-Broadway runs, with hundreds of comedy club dates in between. She has come a long way from those first performances in Unitarian Church basements.

Tickets are $30 balcony, $50 main floor, $100 VIP Main Floor and can be purchased at the Temple of Music and Art Box Office or by calling (520) 622-2823. …

The November breakfast meeting of the Tucson Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Chamber of Commerce will take place Thursday, November 19, 7:30 – 9:00 a.m., at the Hotel Tucson City Center Conference Suite Resort (formerly Inn Suites), 475 N. Granada Ave.

The program, is a Town Meeting: An Action Plan to Promote Economic Development in Our Community, Chair: City Councilman Rodney Glassman. The Tucson GLBT Chamber of Commerce Advocacy Committee is putting this forum together as part of its mission to provide leadership in the business community on local government issues.

RSVP by Monday, November 16, noon (any member who RSVP’s after this day will be charged $20), 615-6436 or info@tucsonglbtchamber.org. …

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 theatre!

TIHAN is a volunteer driven organization with a commitment to providing compassionate, nonjudgmental care to those living with HIV/AIDS. Visit us at tihan.org to learn more. Here are some of our volunteer positions:

Care Team Member – Make someone’s day brighter by visiting them, running errands with them, or helping them get to their doctors appointments. Care Teams provide compassionate nonmedical support to people living with HIV/AIDS.

Link Specialist – This position was rated the second most important to wellbeing by the people living with HIV that we serve. Link specialists provide referrals and well calls to our CarePartners.

Administrative Support for TIHAN Staff – The TIHAN office seeks fun-loving people to help with a data entry and administrative tasks.

Grants Team Member – Looking to keep your grant writing skills fresh? Looking for experience in grant writing, editing, or research? TIHAN is searching for both experienced and inexperienced-but-interested volunteers to join our grants team. We are a small, but dynamic nonprofit and your skills will make a huge difference here!

To sign up for orientation, simply contact Katelyn, Volunteer Resources Coordinator at (520) 299-6647 or email her at katelyn@tihan.org. We hope to see you there!