SPECIAL PRE PRIDE EVENTS

Capital Pride 2012 officially begins on May 31st with our annual Kick-Off BBQ, but we’re so excited about Pride this year we’ve added a whole new week of events to help you get in the spirit.

Tuesday, May 15th, 2012 5pm – 8pm: LGBT Networking Happy Hour at CREO Stuyvesant Plaza, Albany

Join us at the fabulous Creo Restaurant in Stuyvesant plaza for an evening of specialty cocktails, complementary appetizers and lots of friends for this terrific networking event. Bring your business cards, make contacts, and get all the latest information on Capital Pride 2012. We’ll have Pride Guides and At-A-Glance schedules and information on all the upcoming Capital Pride 2012 events. Co-sponsored by L&P Media and Tri City Rentals, this is a Pride Center Business Alliance Event.

Thursday, May 17th, 2012, 6pm – 8pm Special Annual Awardee Announcement and Pride Countdown Reception, Hilton Garden Inn, Hoosick Street, Troy

At our Annual Awards Gala every October we honor individuals and organizations who have worked tirelessly in support of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community. This year we’ve invited our 2012 awardees for a special pre-pride announcement reception. Join our Awards Gala Master of Ceremonies and WTEN morning anchor Steve Ammerman at the Hilton Garden Inn on Hoosick Street in Troy as we congratulate our awardees at a fun a festive cocktail reception. The Gala will be on October 12, but you’ll get a chance to meet this year’s honorees and get in the spirit for Capital Pride 2012!

All this is followed by a weekend of great events leading up to Capital Pride 2012.

Friday, May 18th, 2012, 10pm – 2am: DJ Swayy @ OH Bar, 304 Lark St., Albany – DJ Swayy, aka Mike Bear, calls his style “Throwwback Push Forwardd” playing your favorite tracks from the 70s, 80s, 90s, and 2000s.

Saturday, May 19th, 2012, 10pm: Capital Pride drag Off, Waterworks Pub, 76 Central Ave, Albany – Come join the fun as Capital Region Drag Queens vie for a spot on the Capital Pride stage! Hosted by Penny Larceny.

Sunday, May 20th, 2012, 5pm – 8pm: Miss ROCKS 2012 Pageant, ROCKS, 77 Central Ave, Albany – Join hosts David Dobbs and DJ Juan, with special appearances by Miss Clinton Street Pub 2011 and Miss ROCKS 2010 Anastasia Lovless and Miss ROCKS 2011 Ivanna Douche’.

Monday, May 21st, 2012, 9pm – 11pm: Chardonnay LaTease, Tony’s Terrace, 720 Central Ave., Albany – Chardonnay LaTease & Co. will be doing a fun & flirty show to get you ready for Capital Pride 2012!

Get in the Spirit of Pride at any of these great COUNTDOWN-TO-PRIDE EVENTS!

This year will see the return of some of our most popular events like Capital Pride Bowling at Playdium bowl in Albany, or Mini-Golf at the Funplex in East Greenbush. We’ve also added a number of new and exciting events to the schedule like our LGBT Gaymer night at Pastime Legends Video Games in Troy, or “Cabaret for Kids” featuring Carmie and Freida, a fun, family-friendly event right here at the Pride Center.  We also have the return of our Wine and Cheese event, a panel discussion on LGBT health issues moderated by Benita Zahn, an LGBT Netowrking Happy hour at Schenectady’s Van Dyck Restaurant, and the Walgreens Run for Pride 5K. Be sure to join us on Thursday May 31^st for our kick-off BBQ, also here at the Center, and check out our newly renovated Rainbow Café .

Whether this is your first Capital Pride or you’re a seasoned vet, we hope you’ll come out to help make this year’s Pride better than ever. By attending the party, you’ll get a sneak peak of Capital Pride 2012, sign up for fun volunteer jobs taking place throughout the two-week Pride celebration and enjoy free refreshments!

Capital Pride is made fabulous every year by dedicated volunteers such as yourselves! So come out and sign-up for what we think is going to be the best Capital Pride yet!

Invite your friends! Please RSVP to James Shultis at jshultis@capitalpridecenter.org. You can also check out the Facebook event here.

Do you know someone in the Capital District who does outstanding work for the LGBT community? If so, please review the award categories and submit your nomination today! The nomination deadline is April 23, 2012.

To nominate an individual, business or organization, please download and complete the Nomination Form found here

and return it to the Pride Center Board of Directors:

Pride Center Board of Directors
332 Hudson Ave
Albany, New York 12210

Fax: (518) 462-2101

Email: nyates@capitalpridecenter.org

Awards will be selected at the discretion of the Pride Center Board of Directors. The Pride Center reserves the right to limit the number of awards and may not give awards in every category. Final selections will be made by the Pride Center Board of Directors.

Applications can be downloaded at www.capitalpridecenter.org. If you are a student who is going to be entering your first year of college, don’t forget to complete an application packet!

The Joshua Dunning Powell Scholarship is the largest scholarship fund for LGBT youth in the Capital Region entering their first year of college!  Last year, the scholarship fund awarded cash grants to 10 local LGBT students in honor of their achievements and to help defray the costs of their college education. Since 2010, sixteen awards have been given to local LGBT students, ranging in geography from Glens Falls to Hudson, and entering a range of colleges from Skidmore to SUNY Plattsburgh.

Again, the deadline is TOMORROW, April 13th.

If you have any questions about the scholarship, please don’t hesitate to call the Center at (518) 462-6138 or email James Shultis, jshultis@capitalpridecenter.org

To nominate an individual, business or organization, please download and complete the Nomination Form found here

and return it to the Pride Center Board of Directors:

Pride Center Board of Directors
332 Hudson Ave
Albany, New York 12210

Fax: (518) 462-2101

Email: nyates@capitalpridecenter.org

Awards will be selected at the discretion of the Pride Center Board of Directors. The Pride Center reserves the right to limit the number of awards and may not give awards in every category. Final selections will be made by the Pride Center Board of Directors.

“Here’s Guffman” – by Patrick White

Cohoes Is Ready For a Close-Up

There is a glamorous beast tucked away in the precious music box on Remsen Street known as the Cohoes Music Hall. She’s stretching her legs, running her vocal lines, sharpening her talons and putting on her war paint. Is it a ghost story or a monster under the bed tale? C-R Productions is preparing “Sunset Boulevard” for its opening April 5 running thru the 15^th.

This, of course, is the musical adaptation of the much lauded, 11 times nominated 1950 Billy Wilder classic film composed by none other than Andrew Lloyd Weber who supplied C-R with their first smash of the season, “Cats” (Full disclosure: I was favored with being cast in their Christmas production, “A Wonderful Life”).The book and lyrics are by Don Black and Christopher Hampton.

The story is of a reclusive film star of the Silent Era (What is it about silent movies this year?), Norma Desmond whose world is crashed by a young screenwriter, Joe Gillis whom she enlists for her uses-professional and romantic. The idea for the story was born, perhaps appropriately at a funeral with an obligatory requiem given by the co-screenwriter Charles Bracket. “When you’ve had what he had, what you want is the chance to make more pictures, unlimited budgets to play with, complete confidence behind you. What does a man full of vitality care for the past? It’s the present he wants, and the future. There was no solution for Griffith but a frenzied beating on the barred doors. He lies here the embittered years forgotten, David Wark Griffith, the Great.”

Brackett’s co-screenwriter and the film’s director, Billy Wilder  changed the  lead character brilliantly  from a director to a movie star and the stunning creation Norma Desmond was born. 60 years later the film retains its power and fascination because it touches on themes that will never leave us-image versus substance, work’s value, living with meaning and purpose and the legacy of what we leave behind. The glamorous setting and iconic characters attracted many Broadway Musical professionals. Just two years after the film Gloria Swanson, the film’s star was touring in a musical version called “Starring Norma Desmond”. Later the film would be worked on by no less than Sondheim and Prince and Kander & Ebb. Andrew Lloyd Weber premiered his in 1993 in London with Patti Lupone. Fittingly enough, the musical has generated it’s own share of diva stories of  backstabbing, lawsuits and smashed dressing rooms when Glenn Close starred in the Broadway premiere rather than Lupone.  Lupone devotes a delicious chapter in her memoir last year to the show.

“I have loved this score since I saw the show on Broadway.” Enthuses Jim Charles the director of the current production and the C in C-R productions. “I knew the audience would love ‘Cats’. They are in for a real musical treat with ‘Sunset’. The score is stunning.” Starring in the show and making their area debuts are Catherine Fries Vaughn as Norma, Michael Torey as Joe, Christina King as Betty, Kyle Downing as Artie and returning as Max is the company’s most valuable player, Jerry Chistakos. Joshua Zecher-Ross returns after his duties on “Cats” to once again Music Direct.

“I was and continue to be amazed by the story. Norma is a reflection of the change of time. She was a huge star and not able to make the transition to talkies, forcing her to become a recluse and surrounded by memories of what was. All she wanted was the love from the many fans she once had. When Joe Gillis comes into her life, I feel it was the lifeline she so despearately needed at that time. The ending is so tragic. She just wanted to be loved!” says Charles.

Only in a theatre can you truly challenge the great Hollywood lie that film is forever, that once you’re in a movie-you’re eternal. You’re only immortal if someone watches. As the musical puts it “This time I’m staying for good; I’ll be back where I was born to be. With one look, I’ll be me!”

C-R Productions is having no problem dealing with change, in fact they are thriving in these current times, amid an atmosphere which might be called hostile towards the arts. They’ve built a loyal following and are celebrating their 10 anniversary with expansion and growth! This season which opened with “Cats” which Michael Eck called  “flat out wonderful” and one of his favorite moments of 2010 as a critic also had what Paul Lamar of the Daily Gazette called a “Brilliant” production of “Pirates of Penzance”. Other superlatives heaped on that show were “Delightful”-Eck, “Fabulous”-Larry Murray and “Side splitting” Berhardt of the Free George. On top of their busy mainstage season they also offer the tuition free opportunity for local teenagers to shine in their C-R Kids productions  with an awesome production of “Legally Blonde” starring Kelly Swint as Elle and a star making performance by Darcy Schacher (She’s in “Hairspray in May at SLOC, don’t miss her!). Finally and most significantly, their work with C-R Center Stars which just produced a weekend of performances of “Charlotte’s Web” by this cast of people from the Center for Disabilty Services was awe inspiring. Their mission is to “enrich the lives of people with disabilities” but no audience member watching one of their productions can honestly say that they haven’t just witnessed one of the most courageous, committed and beautiful performances they are ever likely to see. When asked what he’s proudest of Jim responds ”Hands down the growth of C-R Center Stars. Tony has done and continues to do an amazing job with this program”. Tony being Tony Rivera the director of “Charlotte’s Web”, C-R Center Star’s previous productions and the R in C-R.

If you’ve never been to a C-R production at Cohoes Music Hall, you really need to discover this Capital Region treasure. As Jim told me “Once people see our work here they always stop to see us and mention they are so glad they found out about us. It is thrilling for Tony and me to meet new people who appreciate the arts in our community. I was surprised when we did ‘La Cage’ and ‘Hairspray’ that we didn’t have a stronger gay audience. The difficult aspect is that many perceive us as a community theatre. They are amazed to find out once they see a show that we are ‘The Capital Region’s Professional Musical Theatre’” Enjoy!

 “Sunset Boulevard”

4/5-4/15

Cohoes Music Hall

237-5858

www.cohoesmuichall.com

Another Ghost In The Making

Also opening in April is “Circle Mirror Transformation by Annie Baker at SUNY’s Arena Stage directed by the Capital Region’s most acclaimed actress and adjunct professor Yvonne Perry. Fresh off her hilarious, heartrending performance as Gorgeous in “The Sisters Rosensweig” at Capital Rep, Ms. Perry directs the last class of Theatre Majors at SUNY Albany in Ms. Baker’s play which centers around, coincidentally enough an acting class.

The play is a touching, comic collection of scenes by this writer of exceptional grace and power of a disparate group of adults getting together in a Vermont community center to explore what makes theatre the most human of all arts?

 “Circle Mirror Transformation”

4/27-5/15

SUNY Arena Theatre

442-3997

www.albany.edu/theatre

Patrick White is a Capital Region actor who will next be seen in “The Real Thing” at Schenectady Civic Playhouse. He can be reached at white.patrick68@yahoo.com

The Pride Center’s Joshua Dunning Powell Scholarship was created in partnership with local supporter Joshua Dunning Powell, who wanted to instill pride in LGBT youth and empower them throughout their lives. Since 2010, sixteen awards have been given to local LGBTQ high school seniors, ranging in geography from Glens Falls to Hudson, and entering a range of colleges from Skidmore to SUNY Plattsburgh.

Spread the word!!

If you have any questions about the scholarship, please don’t hesitate to call the Center at (518) 462-6138 or email James Shultis, jshultis@capitalpridecenter.org

The event, and Academy, is focused on “honoring New York State and Northeastern United States leadership and dedication to the vision and mission of fostering positive character development in our schools and communities.”

The Academy for Character Education was established in 2000 to help foster the character traits of responsibility, civility, respect, honesty, fairness, trustworthiness and citizenship in students throughout the educational spectrum as well as in families and communities. While its primary goal is to help school districts integrate the concepts of Character Education into their formal and informal curriculum the Academy pursues a comprehensive approach to character development reaching out to all sectors of the larger community including the family, civic organizations, businesses, and government

The Academy, which operates within Sage’s School of Education, provides training institutes, in-service days for teachers and staff, leadership training for students and specialized programs for other sectors of the community.

Thank you so much!

The Pride Center’s Youth program is over 27 years old, and hosts weekly peer support groups for LGBTQA youth ages 13-18, as well as works with over 30 schools around the Capital Region, and over 20 Gay Straight Alliances. This year, we were able to launch our Center Youth Action Team, which trained six student leaders to travel to schools all over the area and train teachers and staff to be more welcoming for LGBTQ youth!

For a fun-filled summer day of roller coasters, water slides, rides and attractions, Capital Region residents need look no further than a short drive up I-87 to The Great Escape and Splashwater Kingdom. Once again, they’re partnering with the Pride Center of the Capital Region for “Coasters for a Cause”!

You can enjoy all the fun of the Great Escape, celebrate your pride, and support the Pride Center. Tickets are only $22.50 and a portion of the proceeds benefits the Pride Center. A full day of unlimited rides and attractions at such a terrific price and an incredible 18 days to choose from make this a deal you won’t want to pass up!

You can purchase tickets on line by clicking here, or calling Aaron at (518)462-6138. These tickets can only be purchased through the Pride Center, and you DO NOT need to choose the day you’d like to attend at the time of purchase. These tickets can be used on ANY of the following days:  May 19, 20, 25-28, May 30 – June 3, June 6 – 10 and June 13 – 17.

Whether you go every year, or haven’t been since it was “Storytown”, don’t miss out on this great opportunity to save money AND support the Pride Center!

Where:
The Pride Center of the Capital Region
332 Hudson Avenue, 3rd Floor
Albany, NY 12210

When:
6PM-7PM

We ask that you please RSVP to James Shultis, Youth Program Assistant at jshultis@capitalpridecenter.org or (518) 462-6138

Also feel free to visit our Facebook page and “like us”!

 You’re invited to check out the new film from filmmaker Stu Maddux, “Gen Silent!” Exploring the lives of LGBT elders, the film examines the lives of six LGBT seniors and the challenges and hurdles they face as they age. Taking place Sunday March 25th, at 1pm, “Gen Silent” startlingly discovers how oppression in the years before Stonewall now affects older lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people with fear and isolation.

 This film screening will be followed by a panel discussion featuring local and statewide advocates, and LGBT seniors, discussing the realities in the Capital Region for seniors.

 We hope you’ll join us for this important film and topic! Tickets are $10 and can be purchased online here or at the door before the film.

 More about the film: Gen Silent shows the disparity in the quality of paid caregiving from mainstream care facilities committed to making their LGBT residents safe and happy, to places where LGBT elders face discrimination by staff and bullying by other seniors.  Their surprising decisions are captured through intimate access to their day-to-day lives over the course of a year. It puts a face on what experts in the film call an epidemic: gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender older people so afraid of discrimination by caregivers or bullying by other seniors that many simply go back into the closet. 

Job Opening – Finance and Administration Assistant

The Pride Center of the Capital Region seeks a part time Finance and Administration Assistant beginning immediately.

The successful outgoing candidate for this entry-level position will possess an Associates Degree, and 2+ years professional, bookkeeping experience, primarily working with QuickBooks. Strong finance and data entry skills necessary, including excellent written and verbal communication, including phone, are a must. This position requires experience using personal computers, electronic office systems including e-mail, desktop publishing, and Microsoft Office, as well as web-based social networking sites like Facebook. Friendly, a “can do” attitude and a sense of humor are essential. Familiarity with LGBT issues, as well as the greater Capital Region, are always a plus.

Compensation: Hourly salary dependent on qualifications and experience.

Send letter of application, resume, and list of two professional references to Nora Yates, Executive Director, at nyates@capitalpridecenter.org.

Or mail them to:
Nora Yates
Pride Center of the Capital Region
332 Hudson Ave
Albany, NY 12210

Please no phone calls.
If advanced to the interview phase of the hiring process, additional materials may be needed.

Applications accepted until position is filled. The Pride Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). Women, people of color, and LGBT individuals strongly encouraged to apply.
…………………

Job Description:
The Finance and Administration Assistant is a crucial member of the staff of the Pride Center. The Finance Assistant reports to the Executive Director and supports the finance aspects of the organization.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Enters all A/R and A/P into QuickBooks and prepares payments/invoices;
• Follows up with vendors on payments;
• Work with bookkeeper on monthly reconciliations;
• Prepares daily check and cash deposits;
• Manages petty cash and supporting paperwork;
• Manages and ensures compliance to all finance policy and procedures;
• Administratively supports the Executive Director and all staff as needed;
• Prepares for and attends monthly Finance Committee meeting;
• With Executive Director, prepares all grant vouchers and reports;
• Prepares for the annual audit and responds to requests from the independent auditor;
• Regular Pride Center duties as necessary.

  Expectations:

•  Enter and manage all financial information with a high degree of detail;
• Ensure that all policies and procedures are adhered to, including but not limited to the conflict of interest policy;
• Work in a detail-oriented and organized manner and in conjunction with the Executive Director ;
• Perform as a team player, working with other Pride Center staff, the Board of Directors and others, as needed;
• Maintain a high degree of confidentiality in regards to finances, donor information and staff data;
• Communicate in a professional and organized manner with staff, donors and the community;
• Understand and support the mission, goals and objectives of the Pride Center;
• Commitment to issues of diversity and inclusion, including race, class, gender, and sexual orientation and gender identity.
• Some nights and weekends required.

• Receives visitors and answers the telephone; screens calls and callers; respond to the requests for assistance and service from community members and the professional staff, in a timely, professional and efficient manner;
• Maintains office schedule and building calendar and other scheduling needs;
• Processes credit card payments and prepares supporting paperwork;
• Manages finance files accordingly;

• LGBT people are at increased risk for certain forms of cancers (including lung, cervical, breast, and anal cancer) due to an increased rate of smoking, and inadequate risk assessment and medical screenings.
• LGBT people have increased risk of stress-related mental health problems and substance abuse due to their status as an underserved minority group.
• LGBT couples are more likely to be uninsured or underinsured, partly because many insurance companies and employers do not provide domestic partnership benefits.

LGBT Health Month was designed to educate health professionals on the necessity for cultural competence and to remind people to stay informed on the health concerns within their communities. The Gay and Lesbian Medical Association has information on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender specific health needs to talk with your physician about. To learn more about LGBT health concerns please visit www.glma.org or http://http://www.lgbthealthinitiative.com/healthconcerns.html or http://www.cdc.gov/lgbthealth/about.html.

For the new year, the Pride Center of the Capital Region is introducing it’s brand new Center Friends Network, an innovative new way to show gratitude to those who support the Pride Center and to connect the community to LGBT friendly businesses throughout the Capital Region.  As a Center Friend, you’ll get exclusive access to Center Rewards, including great offers from local businesses, invites to special Center Friends events, and you’ll receive CommUNITY mailed directly to your home.

By making a tax-deductable contribution to the Pride Center of $25 or more, you’ll be automatically enrolled in the network. You’ll be notified of new deals every month and upon request, given special access codes to take advantage of those deals. Throughout the year we’ll feature specials from restaurants, professional services, auto maintenance and many more! And you’ll have the comfort of knowing that you’re supporting an LGBT friendly business, as well as the many vital programs of the Pride Center.

To make a contribution, simply clip the coupon on the facing page, and return with your contribution. Or, visit our website at www.capitalpridecenter.org and click on Donate!We’ll be adding new Rewards every month. You can find out about them on our Facebook fan page (Pride Center of the Capital Region) as well as listed in CommUNITY. To gain access to the Rewards, simply send us an email at friends@capitalpridecenter.org  and we’ll send you the codes to use. It’s that simple.

“The Pride Center is always looking for new ways to keep our community connected,” says Pride Center Development Coordinator Aaron Holbritter. “To do that, and at the same time show gratitude to those who support the Pride Center, is a win for everyone.”