Pinkboard Graffiti Wall - Community Graffiti Wall 2

New Wall New Wall woo hoo !!!

New wall yay !!!!

After months of much anticipation, Adelaide’s first Queer Film Festival has been launched to much fanfare with a showcase of films that will excite, stimulate and even shock at the Mercury Cinema over the first weekend in September,

The Adelaide Queer Film Festival will showcase an eclectic selection of feature films, short films and documentaries from Australia and around the world that is of interest to and or about gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.

AQFF Executive Producer Rohan Shearn says “These exciting and engaging films showcase a range of competing identities and ideals that impact on people’s sexuality, family obligations, and the difficulty of finding true love.”

The program has something to appeal to everybody including the Australian premiere of Tom Gustafson’s WERE THE WORLD MINE as the Opening Night Feature. Award winning South Australian short film MY LAST TEN HOURS WITH YOU directed by Sophie Hyde, will also screen as part of the opening night program.

Many of the films selected are South Australian premieres including AFFINITY, directed by Tim Fywell and based on the 1999 novel by Sarah Waters of Tipping the Velvet and Fingersmith fame. XXY directed by first-time Argentinean filmmaker Lucia Puenzo, an emotionally powerful story of a teenager’s painful journey of identity. A JIHAD FOR LOVE is a daring documentary filmed in twelve countries and nine languages by Muslim gay filmmaker Parvez Sharma.

Presented earlier this year as part of the Official Selection of the Mardi Gras Film Festival 2008 and recently at the Melbourne International Film Festival, OTTO; OR, UP WITH DEAD PEOPLE is a gay zombie thriller directed by veteran film-maker Bruce La Bruce.

Paul Oremland’s SURVEILLANCE is a fast-paced political thriller, shot in a style akin to that of investigative programme-making. BUTCH JAMIE is a quirky, gender-bending comedy by director Michelle Ehlen, about an out-of-work lesbian actor willing to try almost anything for a role.

Closing Night of the Festival will see drag icon RuPaul return to the silver-screen as a secret agent in STARRBOOTY. Directed by Mike Ruiz and jam-packed with delicious dialogue, insane characters, outrageous costumes and gratuitous hair, STARRBOOTY is sexy, sassy and salacious.

There are films for boys and films for girls and some for both! There is high camp fun and romantic tales of queer love. Throw in a few fairies, some glitter and a Zombie or two as Adelaide’s queer community comes together for three days of celluloid fun.

The Adelaide Queer Film Festival opens at the Mercury Cinema on Friday 5 September 2008 with the full program available at the AQFF website: www.aqff.com.au

www.lowrezmelbourne.com
=LOW REZ= is a brand new male pop choir in Melbourne.
Check out our website and send us an email if you'd like to know more.
First meeting Nov 10th.
xx

Hi all,
Recently received the following in my inbox (Clover Moore's circular). It's an open forum and will concentrate on community safety. I think it will be a great opportunity to make sure your opinion is heard and find out what the City is doing about it. I'm going to go - does anyone want to meet up before hand?


THIRD GLBT FORUM

The City's third Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Community Forum on Tuesday 11 November, will focus on community safety and include updates on current City projects, including plans for returning public art to Mary's Place in Surry Hills and the City's Oxford Street Cultural Quarter Strategy. The forum is open to everyone
with an interest in GLBT issues.

The forum will also include a presentation on GLBT NSW 2020 by Mark Orr, ACON President. This project seeks to involve the GLBT community in determining the kind of future it wants in 2020. An initial summit with GLBT organisations was recently held and a steering committee set up to guide the project. Mr Orr will speak about the outcomes of the initial discussions, plans for community consultations and the opportunities to complement the City's Sustainable Sydney 2030 vision.

Suzie Matthews, Manager of Social Policy and Community Support and Superintendent Donna Adney of Surry Hills Police will give a joint presentation on community safety. Pip Ditzell, the City's GLBT Project Coordinator will report on the City's work with the GLBT community.

Time has been set aside for discussion and questions. City Officers will also be available to answer any questions about the City's Late Night Trading Development Control Plan and development applications for licensed premises.

Information
* Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Community Forum, Tuesday 11 November, Reception Room, Level 3, Town Hall House (enter via Kent Street), 7-9pm.
* Pip Ditzell, GLBT Project Coordinator, 9265 9333 or email

AUNTY MAVIS
STOCKING STUFFER
TURKEY PLUCKER
A CAMP CHRISTMAS CABARET

Cream magazine called her "an absolute legend in her own lunchtime" and after sell out seasons with her shows "Tea and Timeless Advice", "Scones and Songs" and "Silence of the Lamingtons", the satiric wit of Aunty Mavis is packaged for Christmas in her new cabaret show
"STOCKING STUFFER, TURKEY PLUCKER".

Mavis has been making a list of what was hot and not so hot and she is ready to take Rudolf by the antlers and fly through the year that was. Before sugar plum fairies dance in your head join Aunty Mavis and her musical director, the fabulous Bev Kennedy and their dancing elves, as they wrap up camp humour, songs and tap numbers into a Christmas Spectacular.

Thursday 11th December 2008 9pm
Friday 12th December 2008 9pm
Saturday 13th December 2008 9pm
Sunday 14th December 2008 8pm

The Butterfly Club, 204 Bank Street, South Melbourne
www.thebutterflyclub.com

TICKETS $27 / $22

FOUR NIGHTS ONLY BOOK NOW

Hi everyone, the Ausytralian Sailing and Cruising Club ascc.org.au is a club for gays, lesbians and their friends. You don't need to be a boat owner or experienced to join our club and join in the fun. We have a number of upcoming events you can join in, meet the members and get out on the water.

1. Onshore Picnic - Sunday 7 Dec 08

ASCC are having an on-shore picnic (free event) on Sun 7 Dec 08 at Milk Beach in Vaucluse, just below Strickland House at 52 Vaucluse Rd, Vaucluse. The event is accessible by both road and water and runs from 12pm to 4pm. BYO picnic and drinks. You can also get there by bus from Elizabeth St or Kings Cross.

2. ASCC Christmas Party at the Taxi Club, Tues 16 Dec
Come and Sit On Santa's Knee!
The Annual Christmas Party will be held on Tuesday December 16 at the Top Floor of the Taxi Club, 40 Flinders Street, Darlinghurst. The party starts at 7.30pm. For $20 you will get finger food, a chance to whisper in Santa's ear and a present

3. Boxing Day Cruise to watch Sydney to Hobart Race Start - 26 December 08

This is a 4 hour cruise with lunch included. Here are the details:

When - Fri, December 26, 10am – 2pm
Where - king St Wharf, Sydney

Come out to see the big race-start with like-minded G&Ls and their friends. Tickets $65 (members / $75 (non-members), available online - www.ascc.org.au/events Full BBQ included. Drinks available on-board (no BYO).

We hope to see you soon !

Cheers,
Daniel Philps
Publicity Officer
ASCC

www.ascc.org.au

Are you a skiier or boarder? Do you enjoy skiing with other GLBT people? Pop over to www.gay-ski.com and choose from the smorgasbord of gay ski weeks available. Keep up with the latest from all the weeks. Join in the discussion.

The Blue Note Piano Bar, 213 Mair St invites all gay and gay friendly people to their premises on Friday evening, from 8:00 pm. We feature live piano music and background music, a relaxed but buzzy atmosphere and a sophisticated but friendly environment where the music is never too loud to talk!
SEE http://www.bar-ballarat.websyte.com.au/

FYI

The 1st release of Surry Hillsong early bird pilgrim parade entry tickets
are on sale for $25 from the 30th January at the Clarence Hotel until sold
out. This is the fee that will guarantee you a place in our Mardi Gras 2009
parade entry.

Further allotments are as follows:
- 2nd release - $35
- 3rd release - $45
- 4th release - $55

As you can understand your support is vital to fund this venture since we
need to raise in excess of $10,000.

The 1st allotment of tickets will be available at our MANACLE/OUTbar
fundraiser on the 30th January, then will be on sale at the Clarence Hotel
until sold out.

The fundraiser is entry by donation which will put you in a raffle draw for
some fabulous prizes. On this night we will also be revealing details of our
parade entry. More information:

http://www.yarwood.com.au/SurryHillsong

Tell your friends!

Regards,
Ethel

Dear Friends of Ethel,

Just a reminder for our MG2009 Parade Entry Collection Plate Fundraiser and Recruitment Drive at The Clarence Hotel on 30th Jan, 9pm ~ 3am.

http://www.yarwood.com.au/mg2009/fundraisers01.html

Please tell or forward on to your friends.

We would also like to thank our generous sponsors who donated items/services. We have over $3,000 worth of prizes for the night. The prize list can be viewed here:

http://www.yarwood.com.au/mg2009/images/DoorPrizeList01.pdf

Also below is a video retrospective of 20 years of ethel yarwood enterprises parade entries (1988 ~ 2008):

http://www.yarwood.com.au/mg2009/video01.html

Thank you Atlas Worx!

http://www.atlasworx.com

Regards,
Benny Factor/fundraising for ethel yarwood enterprises

Surry Hillsong
proudly supported by MANACLE & OUTbar
http://www.clarencehotel.com.au

Not sure where to post this, so here will do.
---
Soychemist writes "Some people have a mutation that makes them highly resistant to HIV, and scientists think that they can give that immunity to anyone with a new type of gene therapy. The first human trials will start at the University of Pennsylvania this week. Researchers will draw blood from people with drug-resistant HIV, clip the CCR5 gene out of their T-cells with a nuclease enzyme, grow the modified cells in a dish, and then return 10 billion of them to the patient's bloodstream. Those cells will be immune to the virus, and they will keep the patient's T-cell count up even if the rest are destroyed. 'We will see if it is safe and if those cells inhibit HIV replication in vivo,' said the lead researcher. 'We know they do in the test tube.'"

We are conducting our 2nd Surry Hillsong fundraiser at the Clarence Hotel, 13th February.


More information at the link below:

http://www.yarwood.com.au/mg2009/fundraisers01.html

The 1st allotment of the $25 Early Bird pilgrim passes were sold out at our fundraiser on 30th Jan. The 2nd release pilgrim passes are now available for a limited time at The Clarence Hotel for $35. Once this allocation is exhausted the fee will rise to $45. Call Olivia at The Clarence (+61 2 9560 0400) for info.

Please tell your friends!

Email ethel@yarwood.com.au for more information.

Surry Hillsong is proudly supported by:
MANACLE and OUTbar @ The Clarence Hotel
450 Paramatta Road (cnr Crystal St), Petersham
http://www.clarencehotel.com.au

Would you like to be part of this year’s Parade?

The team that brought you puppet dancing Thunderbags and giant handbags in the 2008 Parade is back to present the Enmore Pool Synchronised Dressage Team performing its gold medal winning routine in this year’s Mardi Gras Parade.

The entry will be a small marching group performing a simple routine. The costumes combine elements of dressage - top hats, jabots (a bit like a cravat), boots and crops - and synchronised swimming – goggles and swim rings. The routine combines cantering and go-go swimming routines with a bit of crop action performed to the hits of Motown.

You will be issued a unique Synchonised Dressage Team uniform so you won’t have to worry about what to wear to the party! You do not need to be able to dance (or ride) to participate. You just need to be willing to have a bit of fun with the idea.

If you are interested check out our Thunderbags are Go! Facebook group or email thunderbags09@yahoo.com.au

Dear Friends of Ethel,

ethel yarwood enterprises has a very special fundraising event scheduled. This is a unique opportunity to acquire artworks by two of Sydney's preeminent artists, Jozef Szekeres and William Yang.

These artists have generously donated signed artworks to be auctioned, the proceeds of which will assist in funding our 2009 Mardi Gras parade entry Surry Hillsong.

The artworks are post here:

http://www.yarwood.com.au/mg2009/fundraiser03.html

and will be available for viewing from Friday 20th February at:

Tap Gallery
278 Palmer Street
Darlinghurst, 2010
http://www.tapgallery.org.au

The auction will be conducted at Tap Gallery on Saturday 28th February. 4:45 to 6:00pm with the auction commencing at 5:30 pm sharp.

Please enter this function in your diary and advise your fellow art lovers and collectors.

Proxies and telephone bids will be accepted.
For more information email: ethel@yarwood.com.au

Bentstix Gay & Lesbian Hockey Club are hosting their 4th annual Pink Hockey Championships at Kyeemagh Hockey Field on Sat 28 February.

It’s a fun social day, starting at 12:00 noon and finishing around 5:00pm. Players can register a team or as an individual (we’ll find a team for them). Teams must be mixed – at least 3 women (or 3 men) must be present. Bring the usual paraphernalia – stick, boots, shinguards, mouthguard – plus a white t-shirt and a coloured t-shirt. Cost is $40 per player. The playing field is right next to the Kyeemagh RSL club, with cheap drinks and food available all day.

For more details, go to – www.bentstix.com.au – or to register, contact the secretary - secretary@bentstix.com.au .

The following is more detail about our parade entry. If this appeals to you please contact: ethel@yarwood.com.au

Concept

http://www.yarwood.com.au/SurryHillsong/

Parade Choreography and Audio

2 instructional videos for the Parade Choreography are now available on-line. There is a verbal description in "Instruction" and a demonstration in "Dance".


dial-up

http://www.yarwood.com.au/mg2009/choreo01.html

broadband

http://www.yarwood.com.au/mg2009/choreo02.html

or on YouTube

http://www.yarwood.com.au/mg2009/choreo03.html

The latest and almost final Parade Audio is available at:

http://www.yarwood.com.au/mg2009/audio01.html

This is interesting - Stonewall Hotel wants to extend its Pride Week celebrations into a citywide week long event:

http://sxnews.e-p.net.au/news/push-to-reinstate-sydney-pride-5292.html

Good on them. Please support them. This year is the 40th anniversary of Stonewall, the riots in New York after which the hotel here is named.

Guildford Lane Gallery is calling for submissions for their Charity Art Auction in support of the Gay and Lesbian Switchboard. Sponsored by Trouble, Arts Hub and Joy FM, at Guildford Lane Gallery Friday 31st July, and entries close 7th July 2009.

For further info please see their website or request an artist registration form from mailto:exhibitions@guildfordlanegallery.org

Saturday 1st August, 2009 • 12pm • Town Hall

This year we plan to gather at Town Hall at 12pm then march to the National Labor Conference, being held at the Sydney Convention Centre, Darling Harbour - where alongside our Melbourne brothers and sisters, we will stage the nation's largest 'illegal' same-sex wedding!

Chances are your relationships won't be formally recognised on the day, and you'll still be considered a second-class citizen long after you've consumated your marriage... so, what the hell... grab your partner, shine your ring, and invite your friends - we're getting hitched!

For more details and to volunteer visit

www.caah.org.au/nda

http://www.equallove.info

Running a NEW ASIAN Night every Thursday 9pm-Late at CHASERS NIGHTCLUB 386 Chapel Street SOUTH YARRA.

We are looking at holding Performances by a variety of Entertainers Singers, Dancers, Circus Acts, Drag Performers.

If interested in performing please e-mail me am1971@hotmail.com Also looking for DJ's.

Vale, John Yakalis
Written by Peter Hackney
Monday, 29 June 2009 13:43
http://sxnews.e-p.net.au/news/vale-john-yakalis-5687.html


Sydney gay community stalwart John Yakalis has passed away at the age of 50.

Yakalis was found deceased in his Glebe apartment on June 15.

The cause of death is yet to be determined, however SX understands he had been suffering from Crohn’s Disease, an intestinal condition.

His death has seen him hailed as a much-loved member of Sydney’s gay community.

New Mardi Gras (NMG) chair David Imrie rued the passing of the ’78er – a marcher in the first Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, in 1978.

“We are always saddened to hear of the passing of anyone closely involved with Mardi Gras, particularly from its earliest years,” he told SX. “It’s a generation that made a massive difference to the rights enjoyed by gay and lesbian Australians today.”

In the late ’70s, Yakalis was integral to gay social group Camp Inc. and its ‘Phone A Friend’ line, a forerunner of today’s Gay and Lesbian Counselling Service (GLCS).

In the 1980s, he was immortalised in several photos by legendary photographer William Yang. One of them, John’s Bedroom, became emblematic of gay Sydney life in the early ’80s.

“It was taken in a terrace house in Ann Street, Surry Hills that had a long history of gay tenancies,” Yang told SX. “It encapsulates John and life in Gay Sydney at the time.”

Yang remembered Yakalis as “a sexy, unique person with a great sense of humour – very droll”.

Filmmaker Con Anemogiannis, director of A Hidden History of Homosexual Australia, also paid tribute.

“John was an extremely quirky, interesting character who never quite saw things the way others did,” he said. “He was an original; a true eccentric in the positive sense.”

Anemogiannis recalled: “At one stage, he was part of the furniture at Dawn O’Donnell’s nightclub, Patches. He had a New York/Andy Warhol thing going on; his own little ‘Factory’.”

Friend and former partner Brian Woodward concurred, describing Yakalis as “a one-off”.

“I’ll never, ever forget him,” he said.

In more recent years, Yakalis volunteered at ACON’s Client Services Network (CSN), doing household chores for people with HIV/AIDS from 1999 until his death.

ACON President Mark Orr paid tribute to a man who will never be replaced.

“ACON is saddened by the passing of our volunteer John,” he told SX.

“John joined CSN in 1999 and was one of our longest serving volunteers. He was a quiet, gentle man who was client-focused, always offering to do more for our clients.

“His unique talent won’t easily be replicated.

RIP, John Yakalis.

good god burns is at it again bitching about Bruno!

When is this guy going to stop getting publicity for not having a sense of humour?

The Same-Sex Marriage Campaign is calling on Same-Sex couples to participate in the biggest ever “Illegal” Same-Sex Wedding. A mass Same-Sex wedding demonstration will be held as part of the National Day of Action for Same-Sex Marriage in Sydney on Saturday August the 1st.

Pastor Karl Hand from Crave MCC will be officiating over the ceremony and stated that: “The so called progressive governments in America and Australia have been really slow in recognising the equality of queer people. And have stalled on so many of the promises that they have made. It’s time for queer people to stand up and take their future into their own hands.”

Hand also stated his hopes for this years National Day of Action for Same-Sex Marriage “My hope for NDA this year is that we will make it really clear to the Rudd Government that human rights are not optional and that our community will not tolerate them being delayed. It would be amazing if lots of people could come to the NDA this year to help us to make that point.”

Participants on the day will be presented with an official “illegal” Australian Marriage certificate and are invited to write their own vows if they choose to do so.

The Same-Sex Marriage Campaign is fast gaining momentum. “With recent polls showing 6 out of 10 Australians now support Same-Sex marriage and with the introduction of the Federal Same-Sex Marriage bill into parliament last Wednesday now is the best time to stand up and show support for full equality for same-sex couples and create real change” - Emilia Lawonski Community Action Against Homophobia Co-Convenor

Mass wedding demonstrations will also be held as part of the National Day of Action for Same-Sex Marriage in Melbourne and Canberra.

Willing participants can now register online at: www.caah.org.au/nda or e-mail: caahsydney@gmail.com.

It seems that no one else if capable of posting on this wall, so I will start the thread. Please use this wall for discussing any issues around the New Mardi Gras AGM and elections. If there is enough interest I will split the discussion onto a separate wall.

This year there will be an election for the board of New Mardi Gras. This is in contrast to last year where there were not enough candidates to fill all the positions nor enough people to form a quorum at the AGM.

Well with all the mismanagement recently you would hope there would be an election and quorum.....

This ought to get the conversation started....

there are certainly lots of questions for the board to answer at the AGM. It would have been good if they could have started it at 7pm rather than 6pm as there will be many people that can't get away from work to go to Kensington by 6pm.

All the mismanagement?

One episode of inadequate consultation does not make mismanagement. Maybe you should justify your position.

The extent to which the new schedule reduces stakeholder's ability to participate is very significant and points to mismanagement. How could Mardi Gras so dramatically misunderstand the wishes & even basic requirements for these groups to continue participating as they have for so long: visitors to Sydney, Arts Festival participants & audiences, and majority of the 15,000 after parade party goers. How is slicing off the participation of these people going to lead to an improvement in Mardi Gras?
Furthermore the festival had been an effective lead in to the Parade/Party creating a sense of anticipation & greater excitement on the night which became the climax of month long community events.

Maybe the right question should be asked about whether a deal was done to secure a sponsorship and then covered up?

Seems the Chair is not fronting the AGM and the members.

from the NMG newsletter:

"Effective August 3rd, 2009 David Imrie has resigned from the position of Chair, and the board of NMG. Up until the election of the new board at the AGM, the primary point of contact for the organisation will be the CEO, Anna McInerney.

As a result of David’s resignation a current member of the board will now be delivering the Directors report at the AGM. We hope to see you on the 19th at 6pm."

Shame, Shame, Shame.....

Just read the candidate statements on the SSO website - some interesting ideas from a few of them and good to see the enthusiasm of many of them.

The most interesting suggestion come from Michael Douglas - a 78er I think - who wants to change the Parade. He says he wants to "Move the Parade to William St — after all the first Mardi Gras in 1978 ended up marching up William St to Kings Cross — and finish at Rushcutters Bay Park...".

Wonder if that will get support?

Ahhh ... that explains the email my mate got from ex Board Member Di Minnis at the wweekend asking for support for Michael Douglas. As I recall Ms Minnis was very successful at getting lots of proxies at the last election in 2005(30 or more from memory), and so I guess it has the support of the 78 marchers.

Not sure the rest of the community will like this though - the Cross is pretty wild on Saturday nights these days so safety would be a big concern.

Sounds like a piece of nonsense to me. What are these people thinking ? As an idea I predict it will go nowhere and anyone organising proxies around promoting the idea is well away from community sentiment and should be told as much. What a red herring! There are real issues to discuss for the board election. Does anyone want to provide their views on the competing claims of the candidates based on the material published. So far the best information has come from samesame, far more revealing than SSO. I hope that SX throws in interviews with the candidates this week. The more coverage the better.

NMG board member Michael Douglas seems to be indicating in his interview published on the SSO website that the reasons given out about how the board made the decision to split parade and party have been a facade.
"What mistakes do you think have been made by the board in the past, and how can they be corrected?
No one is perfect or immune from mistakes. While I am privy to many things from my three years on the hoard, here is not the place to discuss that information re past actions."(but it seems it was hard to resist saying the following nugget of truth)
"The current decision ........to have Parade and Party a week apart is ludicrous. ....... means a lot of regional and interstate community members will not attend or limit attendance to either Party or Parade.
Perhaps the real reason for the split of Parade and Party can be provided at the AGM by one of the existing board, rather than leaving us with the feeble attempt to suggest it was because it would allow more Parade volunteers to attend." (to quote the SSO website)

Yes Mardi Gras board, out with the truth and make it earlier than the night of the AGM board election too.
It seems that first a mistake was made but the greater mistake was in covering it up.....passing strange was pretending that it was a considered long term reform to the MG line up. Without the outcry the booboo may have become permanent.

http://www.starobserver.com.au/news/2009/08/11/imries-agm-no-show/15071

If potential board members are reading this wall, I am interested to hear what they think about the two motions that are being put at the meeting. I am still undecided about who to vote for so am keen to find out a little more detail that what is in the SSO about how these potential board members think

Michael Douglas is not a current member of the NMG board (to correct the "Bombshell Alert"). If he was a current member of the board and had said what he said in the SSO & samesame interviews he has given then the bombshell would have gone off already.

However he was on the board 2005-2008 and his comments to the SSO are very interesting in that context. The organisation can only suffer from the insufficient and untimely release of information about how the parade & party split for 2010 was arrived at. A release of the information now being speculated about would clear the air and allow for the organisation to move on.

I think this letter to the editor in this weeks Star from David Imrie all but confirms a mistake was made...

Letter reads:

FINAL WORD

When New Mardi Gras members vote for a new board this month, I hope they will take a broad view and not be unduly influenced by the decision to separate the Parade and Party, when this decision was not made in normal circumstances.

I am aware that members and the broader GLBT community have been critical about the lack of member and community consultation about this decision. The current board has responded by proposing a constitutional amendment which will guarantee member and community consultation before any future decision to change any of the fundamental elements of the Mardi Gras season. I hope this amendment receives the necessary support when it is discussed at the AGM.

I regret we did not fully explain the reasons why we decided to hold the Parade and Party a week apart. An oversight left us with little choice. This left us with limited options in relation to dates and venue availability. NMG proceeded to conduct a series of surveys, and consulted with various stakeholders. This research led us to the conclusion that the most palatable and prudent option was to schedule the Parade and Party on separate weekends. Coincidentally, the possibility and potential merits of separating the Parade and Party had been canvassed by NMG boards over some years.

The directors seeking re-election have a strong commitment to Mardi Gras and have an excellent track record. The Festival that was delivered by the board, staff and volunteers of NMG this year was community-focused, exciting and profitable. Many people do not realise these outcomes are dependent on board members being prepared to commit much of their time and energy, particularly during the months leading up to and immediately following the Festival. Few would realise just how demanding the role is.

None of the directors receives any form of remuneration. Being a director of NMG, although rewarding in many ways, is hard work, voluntary and often thankless.
The current directors deserve the support of the members so they have the opportunity to deliver an equally good, if not even better, Festival in 2010.
­— ­David Imrie

"An oversight left us with little choice"

Wish this had been stated in the first place so there was none of the bitching that was going on and all the bullshit about it had been surveyed.

Lets hope this "oversight" doesnt affect numbers.

Anyone who thinks that tourists are going to hang around for another week to do the party are deluding themselves.
Some countries only get 2 weeks leave and these people cram as much in as they can. They will have to choose which to do.

My gang will be doing the Party but will pass on the Parade as some come from interstate and cannot do the 2 weekends in a row.

And this is where the problem will lay . Which weekend will the inter-staters and international tourists choose ?

And the feeling you get from the Parade , the buzz , the hype will be lost when heading to the Party. Will just feel like any other party as you get ready at home and just straight to the venue.

I am glad that someone from NMG has finally come clean about what seems to be a monumental stuff up. I would have admired Imrie more if he had stood up in front of the membership and said it in person, but that is not to be.

I don't think that saying it was an oversight is sufficient explanation. Its a bit like saying 'oops'. And I don't doubt that being a NMG director is hard and often thankless work. However, the fact that you are a volunteer is not an excuse for poor leadership and governance. I would like to hear from current directors who are restanding about why I should vote for them and therefore entrust them with running this organsiation given their record of poor management and dishonesty in their time as directors to date?

Someone will need to come clean with NMG members about the details behind this statement from David Imrie's letter:
"I regret we did not fully explain the reasons why we decided to hold the Parade and Party a week apart. An oversight left us with little choice. This left us with limited options in relation to dates and venue availability. NMG proceeded to conduct a series of surveys, and consulted with various stakeholders."
If he regrets not fully explaining the reasons behind that decision why not give us the full explanation now? Why are members & the community still left hanging, wondering what really went on?

It does seem that Richard Cobden was right when he told samsame on 1/6/09 : "the separated dates were the result of a combination of an undisclosed commercial obligation and a plain and simple oversight. Any suggestion that it is by design is an attempt to cover it up.”

NMG has been covering up all this time and only now do we hear from David Imrie an edited version of what happened, with one week until the board election. This minimises the impact that this fresh information can have on the election result because it is now too late for fresh further nominations for the board of directors and further motions for consideration by members to be placed on the agenda. The board candidates have already given interviews to the gay press without this extra info being part of the questions. The candidates should be questioned about whether they want to continue the schedule changes beyond 2010 and just how much of MG's capital they are prepared to risk attempting to make the awkward, less popular schedule work during the 2010 season.

An apology would help too.

"The candidates should be questioned about whether they want to continue the schedule changes beyond 2010"

There's actually a motion being mooted at the AGM to write into the constitution that any future changes to the parade route and/or spilting apart the parade and party will need to be voted on by members. If this gets up then they wont be able to continue it past 2010 unless a majority of members agree.

The AGM motion mooted would make it compulsory to call a Special General meeting of members if the board wants to change Mardi Gras in a number of ways that could alter the fundamental character of the events, including separating Parade and Party. However the vote of the Special General meeting will not be binding on the board. A vote against the changes the Mardi Gras board wanted to proceed with would be an indication of the community's lack of support and would make it unlikely that the board would proceed with the changes.

I particularly dislike:
*the changes to the schedule, cutting out the ability of many to participate as they have in the past and wrecking the dynamic of Parade night as a climactic celebration
*the process the board went through to arrive at their decision,
*the lack of appropriate disclosure of the administrative error that prompted their decision,
*and the facade put in place that this was a fully considered and consulted upon decsion made by the NMG board.

For these reasons I especially want to be reassured that I won't be voting in board members who have their heart set on the 2010 changes continuing. They were originally announced as reforms intended to stay rather than as temporary measures for 2010 and so far no-one has said that they will only apply to 2010 despite all the ruccuss.

The "reforms" are dreadful and still aren't killed off.

what was the result of the election at the AGM ?

The 6 remaining members of the board were voted back in plus Lynn Obrien and Michael Douglas (apologies if I have misspelt names).

The motion to investigate the protection of the Mardi Gras IP was successful.

The motion to force the consultation with members for any major changes to key Mardi Gras events was defeated.

Plus the old board admitted that splitting the dates of the parade and party was the result of a scheduling error.

Now its time to get behind the new board and support the 2010 season as best we can.

THE NEW BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
All board members who stood for re-election were successful: Steph Sands, Kirk Muddle, Nicholas Parker, Rob Partos, Joshua Keech and Tony Knight. Voters had to elect 8 members and the two additions to the board were
Lynne O'Brien and Michael Douglas.

THE RESOLUTIONS:
The Special Resolution was defeated. It would have created a rule that if NMG were to change any of the central features of the G & L Mardi Gras it had to first call a Special General Meeting of the membership to facilitate consultation.

Another resolution was passed which called for further investigation of placing NMG's Intellectual Property Rights into a separate entity to protect them in case of NMG going bankrupt. A number of possible entities had been already considered and of these it was decided by the board that an incorporated association was the best option. The resolution means it will now receive detailed investigation to check on it's appropriateness before the decision on placing the IP rights in the new entity is made by the membership.

SOME ANALYSIS/COMMENTARY:
Michael Douglas was the only person voted onto the board not on the unofficial "ticket" of the incumbent board members. He had run on his success as treasurer 2006-2008 and sounded an independent voice in the statements he made in the lead up to the AGM, criticising the separation of Parade and Party and questioning some of the board's financial decisions.

Proxy votes played a very important role in the election outcome: of the 241 votes 135 were proxies, 28 by post and 78 voted in person.

It was revealed that Josh Keech had sent emails soliciting the votes of members using NMG's member database. Apparently NMG's constitution allows for this to be done by all nominees for the board although Josh Keech was the only one to take advantage of this. As it turns out members were also able to assign their proxies by email.

The Special Resolution which would have made it impossible to change the main features of Mardi Gras without consultation in the form of a Special General Meeting of NMG's membership failed to get the required 75% of votes to be written into NMG's constitution. It failed on the floor of the AGM on a show of hands and then went to a formal secret ballot alongside the board of directors election ballot. While the vote on the floor had been more evenly split the formal ballot result was more like 75% against the resolution: 42 voted for it while 135 voted against. It seems that the proxies which had re-elected the NMG board were overwhelmingly against the Special Resolution. This was an unusual outcome since the Special Resolution had been brought on by the board. It seems the board themselves were pretty unenthusiastic about taking that little dose of medicine despite putting it on the table.

It was a memorable and dramatic AGM. The candidates each gave a 2 minute speech about why they should be elected. There was lengthy debate and questioning about the two resolutions. At the end of the proceedings, after the vote had already been taken, there was a question and answer session between the encumbent board and the members present.

As the encumbent board members one by one gave their speeches Steph Sands and Nicholas Parker made a case to the organisation for the encumbent board as a whole to be re-elected. This along with the way that the encumbent board nominated each other made it an unofficial "ticket" running for the board. Most of the encumbent board was always going to be re-elected given that 8 board members would be chosen. On the day only four other board nominees were present to speak to the members.

Nominee Mohamed Duar gave an incendiary speech criticising NMG for failing to consult and becoming out of touch with the community.

Steph Sands showed leadership in appologising for NMG's mistake: " we made a mistake. I’m sorry we did, but we made a mistake". The reason for splitting the Parade and Party to separate weekends was due to a scheduling error with commercial partners and sponsors. A communication strategy was settled upon to sell the changed season, one which left out any admission of the scheduling mistake. A former board member, the one no-one would name during the AGM on advice that defamation might easily be an issue, had stepped outside the agreed communication strategy by actually denying the scheduling mistake had been made.
Although she said :“I’m just going to speak really honestly about what happened because there was a big chain of events,” she fudged on disclosing full details of the error for "commercial in confidence" reasons (probably quite rightly methinks) and if you read over her wording carefully she has also failed to enlighten about who within the organisation made the original error or indeed whether it was a staff member or a member of the board. "We had signed contracts and the board takes full accountability to the fact that we did not have the appropriate checks in place to ensure those contracts married off with each other."
"It was a genuine mistake.”
(The mistake was discovered in February)
The board is taking responsibility for not checking sufficiently, but does that mean not checking a staff member's admin work sufficiently? We don't know. The board may be protecting the staff through this exercise. There is a potential problem with lack of independence from the board, vital to its oversight of the organisation, if that is the case.

"The motion to force the consultation with members for any major changes to key Mardi Gras events was defeated."

That's what got them into all this mess. They need to be transparent and serve the gay community and not the holy dollar. When they can demonstrate this, then maybe the community will get behind them.

"The motion to force the consultation with members for any major changes to key Mardi Gras events was defeated."

This was defeated, but not because the meeting didn't want it. It was for a number of reasons, such as being difficult to get the descriptions of the events that needed to be protected right and whether this prevented the board from acting where time frames were short.

"It was revealed that Josh Keech had sent emails soliciting the votes of members using NMG's member database. Apparently NMG's constitution allows for this to be done.."

Firstly, I believe at least one other candidate did this. Secondly, I think they should ban the practice.

The Special Resolution failed even without the help of proxies. Members I spoke with voted it down because it removed all reasonable flexibility and the ability for Mardi Gras to grow, change and adapt. We don't need to inscribe this into the constitution - we just need a board who understands they are there to represent the best interests of members.

And I think we have one.... now

"we just need a board who understands they are there to represent the best interests of members" "And I think we have one.... now"
The NMG board this year had shown some worrying signs of
independence from community sentiment and without the outcry here on pinkboard and elsewhere they may have made these 2010 schedule changes permanent.
So you think that this particular NMG board has what it takes to gauge what the community wants, but what about any future board which may want bring in changes? What would stop another board exercising their power to dramatically change NMG away from the model the community wants? What will tell NMG what consultation should involve?

Have you seen the questionaire they sent out on the pretence of consultation before this years change? The questions are very vague & general and the specific answers which would have given the majority agreement should have been seen as highly ambiguous and likely to be an inaccurate guide to what the community's response would be to the changes. The questions read as if they have been designed by a PR company to obtain a desired survey outcome, an outcome which could only be seen as meaningless if you had access to the actual questions asked.

If the Special Resolution had been passed the NMG board would have still been able to institute change to the things listed therein but only after non-binding consultation in the form of a Special General Meeting. For any change to succeed it needs to garner community support and with major changes that can achieved through meaningful consultation.

The person who wrote the Special Resolution first put it out into the community through Pinkboard on Party Graffiti Wall 62 on 2/6/09, signing as Sam and it was also a comment on the SSO website. The argument they used in that posting for it's adoption is sound but wasn't used by NMG at the AGM. Its still on Pinkboard if you would like to read it. The following is the list of potential changes that the resolution covered, they're not the sort of changes that will come up very often:


"The Board must convene a General Meeting before adopting a resolution to:

(a) alter the primary focus of any of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade, Mardi Gras Party, Mardi Gras Festival or Mardi Gras Fair Day as gay, lesbian, transgender and bisexual events;
(b) change the nature of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade as a street event;
(c) not hold the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade;
(d) hold the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade at a location other than Oxford and Flinders Street, Darlinghurst;
(c) not hold the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade at night;
(d) hold the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade at any time other than on the last Saturday in February or the first Saturday in March;
(e) other than in 2010, hold the Mardi Gras Parade and Mardi Gras Party on separate nights;
(f) not hold a Mardi Gras Festival prior to the Mardi Gras Parade; or
(g) not hold a Mardi Gras Fair Day within in the four weeks prior to the Mardi Gras Parade."

Keep watching the skies! The truth is out there.

Well...perhaps it could be a perennial issue..though not necessarily in the form of a repeat of the special resolution. Something that went under the radar of the gay media's coverage of the AGM were the comments made by Steph Sands about the form that the after Parade Party will take for 2010. It seems that the wishes of GLBTQ parents are being taken into account and the party, despite beginning at 11pm, will be something they can bring the children to. Now a G or PG rated party will be a change .. forget about their earlier bed time and traditions of party ribaldry. I had also thought the Parade this year was rated at somewhere between G and PG.
The community is a-changing perhaps with more of us opting to bring up children into the world..but I hadn't realised that the change had gone so far that you could justify altering the focus of these community events... held after 8pm and 11pm.
Don't they have fair day?
Or perhaps the changes are in part a response to the need to have stable sponsorship arrangements with people like the state government .... but we wouldn't be told about that would we, it's commercial in confidence.
You can watch the skies if you like but I prefer a healthy debate any time. We're not all space cadets.

Join us for a memorable night as Freedom 2 b[e]celebrates four years in style at

RYDGES WORLD SQUARE
7pm to Midnight

Special Guest Speaker
STEVIE CLAYTON
"The Challenges Ahead for the GLBT Community"


Stevie will speak from an enormous amount of experience in the GLBT community

Nine years CEO of ACON, Australia's largest HIV and LGBT health organisation.

Served on many boards including the NSW Council of Social Services, the Human Rights Committee of the Law Society of NSW and the NSW Equal Opportunity Tribunal
Served in organisations such as Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras and the National LGBT Health Alliance.
Co-convenor of the NSW Gay & Lesbian Rights Lobby for five years

In 2003 Stevie was awarded an OAM, the first person in Australia to receive an award in the Order of Australia for service to the LGBT community.
We will also launch our new website

Cost is only $50 per person thanks to the generous sponsorship of
Proteus Leadership Centres and includes:

Free drinks on arrival
Two course meal
DJ - Dance the night away

GLBT/STRAIGHT FRIENDS & FAMILY WELCOME
(100 Places only)
Avoid disappointment book online NOW
Bookings close on Friday 27 November 2009
Use this link to book

https://www.proteuscentre.com/events/2009-12-04/f2b-e-dinner

For further information contact

Shane shanecathcart@gmail.com
or Nick nick.muljadi@gmail.com

Hello,


This coming Saturday November 28 is the Launch of the National Year of Action for Same-Sex Marriage.


We here at the Equal Love team in Adelaide are hoping you could please send our rally information below in a message to your facebook group, Pink Board


I really hope you can help out and I look forward to seeing you on Saturday at 11am.


Thanks heaps,


Jason.



Rally message:


In the past week we have made strong progress on the road to marriage equality. In the A.C.T a bill has passed creating Civil Unions for same-sex attracted couples, in Victoria the State Labor party has passed a motion urging Rudd not to ban the Civil Unions in the A.C.T and here in South Australia our Human Rights Commissioner has made clear her support for Same-Sex Marriage and recognised that marriage is a civil right of all people no matter their sexuality.


But we have a long way to go, we need everyone straight or queer to stand up on November 28 and make their voices heard for equality!



Please bring your mates and meet at Parliament House, on the corner of North Terrace and King William St, Adelaide, at 11am this Saturday November 28^th .



We will listen to a variety of speakers then march down King William Street and end at the Hampshire Hotel on Grote St.


So on November 28 come along to Parliament House and stand up for gay civil rights.


Say ¡®I do¡¯ Mr Rudd! - The Adelaide Equal Love team



RSVP and invite your mates to the facebook: www.tinyurl.com/equalitySA <http://www.tinyurl.com/equalitySA>

For more info check out: www.equallove.info/adelaide <http://www.equallove.info/adelaide>

On February 14, Community Action Against Homophobia (CAAH) will hold an event at Taylor Square Darlinghurst, Sydney to celebrate Valentines Day and show that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex (LGBTI) love should not be second class.

Valentines Day is a symbol of loving couples, loving relationships and dedicated partners, yet the day sidelines queer couples, especially so when Australia is the only country in the Western world to have banned same-sex marriage, and continues to deny the community equal marriage rights.

CAAH believe Equal Marriage Rights is a basic Human Right that should be available to all couples of all sexes and sexual orientation... and so, CAAH will be asking LGBTI couples to show us there should be

"No More Forbidden Love on Valentines Day"

Join us for a fun day of events... come along and celebrate your love, share your stories, and let everyone know your relationships are NOT second class. Tell Australia why Equal Marriage Rights are Human Rights!

The Valentines Day event is part of the National Year of Action for Equal Marriage Rights.

And is Strongly supported by the Oxford Hotel! They are not only generously donating their space for the event, they will also supply a romantically affordable dining option for after!

Come and enjoy and celebrate our love!
Starts Midday Feb 14th 2010
check out the website: www.caah.org.au

ethel yarwood enterprises is again planning to stage a spectacular Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras parade entry this year entitiled -


The Future of the World:
Buzz RightsYear
presents
"TO EQUALITY AND BEYOND..."


You can view our concept and artwork at:

http://www.yarwood.com.au/mg2010


If you are interested in participating in the parade group as an Little Green Man/Woman you can apply and pay your fee in Alien Registration:

http://www.yarwood.com.au/mg2010/AlienRegistration


It is through the generous support of businesses that we can afford to stage our projects. Our goal is to raise $2,000 to fund the "LASER BEAM". We will be running an on-line raffle for the prizes donated by the "Friends of Ethel" and your business will be promoted during the month of February at this web page:

http://www.yarwood.com.au/mg2010/raffle


and listed on the "Friends of Ethel" web page in perpetuity and beyond:

http://www.yarwood.com.au/mg2010/FriendsOfEthel


If you are interested in supporting this worthwhile endeavour as a prize donor, we would appreciate if you are able to provide some product or service to the value of a specific amount to include in our raffle prizes. Please provide the following applicable details to be listed on the raffle page:

1. description of prize

2. value of prize

3. business name

4. web address

5. street address

6. contact phone number

Please do not hesitate to contact me either by ethel@yarwood.com.au or +61 (0)~~~ ~~~ ~~~.

Thank you for considering our request and please forward to anyone who may be interested in the above.

Regards,
Ethel Yarwood

Strangely this happened in "Central" Newspaper yesterday which is a local Inner City Sydney newspaper. The relevant quote comes from Steph Sands:
“We look forward to seeing how this new structure works out. Our board will be holding an EGM after the season to consult, review and look forward to how we will organise 2011.” The link is:
http://sydney-central.whereilive.com.au/news/story/cruise-company-blamed-for-sydney-mardi-gras-parade-party-split/

___----Attention ARQ Night Club --- WTF Are you doing about all the straight people turning up there and telling people to put their shirts back on and calling us Fags etc ---__ Arq is Our Home Remember __ We Will Not Stand For this Crap ... Remember Arq We Are The Life And Breath Of Your Club .. I tHink You Need To Address This ASAP... Or Your Gonna Have an Unhappy Club/Community ....

Attention you_________

Arq nightclub does NOT read Pinkboard's Community Graffiti wall and as such you're wasting your fingers typing your complaint here.

Why didn't you report them to staff at the club on that night and say you're being harassed?

Better yet, go to the website and send an email

An Extraordinary General Meeting time & place has been announced although it seems members haven't been notified by email. The meeting will consider the Parade/Party split being continued for future Mardi Gras seasons.
A formal legal notice has appeared in the pages of SX. It was in their March 4 edition, Page 18, to quote it :

"Notice is hereby given of a general meeting of New Mardi Gras Limited to be held Sunday, 28th March 2010, commencing at 2pm at the NIDA Playhouse theatre, 215 Anzac Parade Kensington.....The following business will be transacted :
1. Season 2010
2. Board recommendation on IP Trust.
In relation to item 2 the board will move the following motion:
That the issue of transferring the intellectual property rights New Mardi Gras Limited to another entity be resolved by keeping the intellectual property rights within the ownership of New Mardi Gras Limited and that this matter be closed."

NMG is still leaving it's options open for which format it will use for the 2011 season. If, like me, you don't like the Parade /Party split it's best to get in contact with them and say so and if you are a member to attend the upcoming EGM.

Yes, despite all the negative feedback and the poor 2010 MG Party sales it seems it's still possible NMG could opt to repeat this year's Parade/Party split.