Community News Letter September 2002

There is to be a further meeting of Switchboard to finalise arrangements following the withdrawal of the telephone service. The meeting is to be on 24 September.

Switchboard operated for nearly 10 years offering a once per week telephone befriending and information service. It is hoped it will continue with an answer phone information service and the web site. Latterly calls had fallen in number and it was difficult to recruit and train volunteers. The records are in safe custody, the furniture has been given to Victim Support with which Switchboard shared premises for the last 3 years, the accounts are being drawn up and there should be funding to meet ongoing expenses of phone charges and web hosting for a couple of years. Thank you to all the volunteers who have given their time and skills and to everyone who has helped fund

Community Organisation

There is to be a meeting of the Community organisation at Rons on Thursday 26^th September at 7.30 pm to discuss the programme of events for the next 12 months.

We need as many people to turn up as possible with ideas for functions and to volunteer to help organise.

In addition we will be discussing what we can do post switchboard phoneline to make it easier for new members on the scene to come out without being intimidated and how we can promote and distribute safer sex information and materials.

We will be looking at what we can do to help with World Aids day and next years Pride event will be entering the planning stages. We need a new venue and other ideas for bar, entertainment etc

Last but not least we will be discussing new arrangements for Dining Club events, gay films, walks, trips out to favourite hostelries for Sunday Lunch but we need input and suggestions from all of you. Hopefully all to be revealed in an October newsletter and an updated web site

If you cannot attend but have ideas tell Steve Moore or John Wright

WHAT’S ON

Calendar of Events to Christmas

SEPTEMBER

24^th Switchboard Meeting

26^th Community Meeting at Ron’s at 7.30 pm

28^th Mannin Hotel Drag Show with “Ophelia Balls” £5.00 entry. Doors Open 9.30 pm

OCTOBER

26^th Mannin Hotel Disco £4.00 entry Doors open 9.30pm

NOVEMBER

2^nd Halloween Night at Extension 2 Party games/fancy dress £4.00 entry Doors open 9.00pm

9^th Blind Date at Extension 2 hosted by Gareth £4.00 entry Doors open 9.00pm

WORLD AIDS DAY EVENTS

29^th 7.30.pm Sing a long a Sound of Music at the Gaiety Tickets 315.00 from JW on 611999 includes Supper at Extension 2 and Show by Ida Barr music hall superstar. Admission to Rons and Ida Barr show separately £4.00

30^th Mannin Hotel Tina C cross-dressed Country and Western Star £5.00

DECEMBER

21^st Mannin Drag with Kitty Litter entry £5.00 doors open 9.30pm

28^th Extension 2 Rons Xmas Disco entry £4.00 doors open at 9.00pm