September – Issue 12
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NETWORKNEWS VOLUME 28 ISSUE 12 - SEPTEMBER 2014 The Newsletter of First City Network—Georgia’s oldest LGBT Organization, Founded 1985 Savannah to Host LGBT Economic Kickoff Cookout Empowerment Symposium Join FCN and PRIDE as we kickoff a great September The U.S. Small Business Administration Georgia District - the 29th anniversary of FCN and the 2014 Savannah Office and other local partners will host an economic Pride Celebration! The event will be on Sunday, empowerment symposium for the LGBT community, September 7 from 12 noon until 4 p.m. in Daffin Park Wednesday, September 3, 2014, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 in Savannah. Beer, soft drinks, hot dogs, burgers, and p.m. at the Savannah Civic Center. Registration is required. all the trimmings will be served. It is sponsored by First Admission is $15.00. (To register and make payment which City Network and Savannah PRIDE as a benefit for includes refreshments see link below.) both organizations. Tickets are $10 per person, or $5 for FCN members, and can be purchased on the FCN The symposium will cover: website and at the park that day. From Themes to Dreams – Getting the Right Start Yes, You Do Need a Business Plan Strategies for Building Capacity Financing for Growth Federal Contracting and Certifications – Is this Strategy Right for your Business How to Market Smart and Master Social Media For additional information see article on page 10; for special assistance or auxiliary aids to accommodate a disability, please contact Liz Overstreet, 912-651-3200 and visit http:// www.savannahsymposium.org to register. Inside This Issue A special treat awaits FCN members who visit our always festive tent at the Pride celebration, Saturday September 13. Members can receive a free bottle of water, a cold soft drink,a White Party Info. ....................................Page 2 snack and a great free gift. Additionally, anyone who joins FCN while at Pride will receive the same freebies. While at our tent be sure and put your name in the hat for the chance to Letter to the Editor .................................Page 3 win one of several great prizes that will be given away during the afternoon. Make your plans to support FCN and Pride. We Socials - Recent & Upcoming ................Page 4 look forward to seeing you! Members Tie the Knot ...........................Page 5 Board Candidates ............................ Pages 6-7 th Happy 29 Birthday Maison Spa Donates Office ...................Page 8 First City Network! Savannah Pride Details .......................Page 10 Local LGBT Business Guide .................Page 11 FCN Commentary Chair’s Report By Billy Wooten This month marks the 29th anniversary of FCN. Our survival Later that same year the first issue of the Network News was has been unique for sure; most start-up nonprofits don’t last. published. The first editor was “Emma Ware”, a nom de plume But we had strong leadership and determined people. Let’s for Pat Gallagher! go to the video tape…uh…can’t do that…have to rely on the written records of that era (no video, no floppy disk, no CD, no By a miracle, our organization has copies of almost every FCN DVD; all pencil and paper!) News ever published. People had the foresight to save them; they cared about the history they were making and preserving The first organizational meeting was on September 29, 1985; here in Savannah. They were faithful to the mission. hosted by Lawrence Marley, there were 12 men and one woman in attendance. The founding fathers of FCN, Kings and Queens Yep, in September of 1985 12 brave locals decided to establish if you will, were: FCN, a group that would meet to share ideas and provide Lawrence Marley, Patty Latham, Dennis Haggard, Bill opportunities for socialization, education, advocacy and Price & Ed Kosotsky, Greg Mullins, Keith Zarkadas, Frank mutual support. Since then, thousands of our LGBT “family” McDonald, Steve Masterson, Jim Royce, Mark have benefited from that mission, and Savannah became a Krueger, Michael Kessler, Herbert Brito, and Richard Tuttle. better place to live, work, and love. 30 years, here we come! Letter to the Editor Happy Gay Pride Savannah! by Pete Halpern It’s wonderful that Gay Pride is celebrated in Savannah’s premier downtown park. It’s a terrific opportunity for the LGBT community of southeast Georgia to come together and promote their self affirmation and dignity. Mark Hill and his team have done a stellar job organizing Savannah’s Gay Pride! The first Gay Pride celebrations occurred as marches in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago at the end of June, 1970. They marked the first anniversary NETWORK NEWS of the Stonewall riots in New York, a seminal moment in gay liberation history. The following year, that anniversary First City Network, Inc. is a local, private, non-profit community service was celebrated with marches in Boston, Dallas, Milwaukee, organization charted in 1985 by concerned citizens seeking a gay and lesbian London, Paris, West Berlin and Stockholm. By 1972 marches positive community. First City Network serves as a forum to share strengths were also held in Atlanta, Buffalo, Detroit, Washington, DC, and ideas, stimulate personal growth and provide social activities. We provide Miami and Philadelphia. national, state and local information and referral services for health care, counseling, education, advocacy and mutual support. But, there’s a whole lot more to Gay Pride than a march or one day festival in the park. A sense of ones own proper NETWORK NEWS - Production Staff dignity, value and self-respect should extend year round. Publisher AlphaGraphics In the State of Georgia: Contributors FCN Membership 1) There is no hate crimes law protecting LGBT individuals Billing Dawn Phaneuf 2) There’s no law protecting LGBT individuals from Ad Manager (Interim) Billy Wooten discrimination in employment, housing or public Distribution FCN Board of Directors Photography FCN Membership continued on pg. 8 To submit articles or letters to the First City Network, Inc. P.O. Box 2442 | Savannah, GA 31402 | (912) 236-CITY (2489) editor to the Network News, email firstcitynetwork.net | Look for us on Facebook! [email protected] NETWORK NEWS - First City Network - VOLUME 28 ISSUE 12 - SEPTEMBER 2014 - 3 FCN Socials It’s Never Too Darn Hot for the FCN Social Friends and family partied into the early morning hours at a raucous August First Saturday Social, hosted by first-timers Tim & Cody Joe at their tidy midtown home on Springhill Road. Lots of scrumptious food, various drinks, including homemade sangria, and a table full of sweets welcomed the more than 100 attendees, who filled two rooms and an outdoor seating area. Board members and leaders of FCN, Stand Out Youth, and PRIDE were in the crowd, taking the opportunity to compare notes and talk about the future. Several first-timers were welcomed and new members were congratulated. Have you thought about being a first-time Social host? Tim & Cody Joe jumped in and a good time was had by all. This could have been you! Contact us if you are interested in being a host for 2015 by emailing [email protected]. Upcoming First Saturday Socials – 2014 Socials are all from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. unless noted otherwise September 6, 2014 Host: Travis Sawyer and the fine staff at Creative Approach 408 MLK Jr Blvd, Savannah, GA 31401 October 4, 2014 Host: Scott West Address: 1801 E 32nd St., Savannah, GA 31404 November 1, 2014 Host(ess): Gia Hall Address: 1554 Bacon Park Dr., Savannah, GA 31406 Halloween-themed—costumes welcome! December 6, 2014 Host: Michael Story, Dallas Adams, and Dwight Blackburn Address: 410 E 58 Street Holiday social and annual food drive If you would like more info on a First Saturday Social, or if you’d like to host one, please email us at [email protected] 4 - NETWORK NEWS - First City Network - VOLUME 28 ISSUE 12 - SEPTEMBER 2014 FCN Member News Bernhard-Manley Vows Exchanged FCN members Jusak Bernhard and Jeffrey Manley were married July 26, 2014 in Los Angelos at East-West Players Asian American theatre. Forty invited guests attended the ceremony. Afterwards, the newlyweds and the wedding party attended Obon, a Japanese celebration of ancestors held at a local Buddhist temple. The happy couple has been together 15 years, and run TailsSpin pet supply stores here and in Pooler. Congrats, guys! Great turnout for Family Guys Bowling Night! After more than 40 years together, Bob and Bobby got officially married on June 3 in New Fun Times in an alley Jersey—congrats! By Michael Ploski Thursday Nights at 7pm $10.00 buys you a couple of hours of fun and games with friends. A small group of LGBT bowlers are looking for others to join us each week as we score strikes, spares, gutter balls, and other assorted numbers. Our mini league currently known as “Family Guys” meets every week at the AMF Bowling Alley on Tibet Ave off of Abercorn on the South Side. We usually bowl on lanes 47-50. We bowl for fun so your skill level does not matter. Friendly advice and tips given on request. Please feel welcome to join us on Thursday evenings and experience what great fun you can have with friends. For more information: [email protected] NETWORK NEWS - First City Network - VOLUME 28 ISSUE 12 - SEPTEMBER 2014 - 5 FCN Board News Time for Board Elections! The qualifying period has ended. Ballots for the 2014/2015 FCN Board of Directors election are being mailed to all members in good standing. You have until September 15 to mail or return your ballot. If you do not receive a ballot and you believe you are an active member, please contact a member of the board.