Open house announced
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Regional AIDS Interfaith Network’s board of directors and staff invites the community to celebrate the opening of their new offices to the Children and Family Services Center on Feb. 12, 5 p.m., at 601 E. 5th St., Suite 470.
This soiree will honor the network’s beginnings as it promotes its future.
Guest parking is in the gated lot immediately adjacent to the building. Tokens will be given to attendees to allow for ease of departure.
RSVP is due by Feb. 10 via email to info@carolinarain.org.
info: carolinarain.org.
Film fest features ‘Dark’ story
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Charlotte Jewish Film Festival, in collaboration with the Gay Charlotte Film Festival, will present “Out in the Dark” on Feb. 20, 7 p.m., at the Regal Ballantyne Village Stadium 5 theater, 14815 John J Delany Dr.
The show centers around Nimer, an ambitious Palestinian student in the West Bank who dreams of a better life, and Roy, an Israeli lawyer who meet in Tel Aviv, Israel.
Subsequently, the two fall in love, but they are confronted by the realities of a Palestinian society that does not accept Nimer’s sexual identity. Additionally, the Israeli society does not accept him either based upon his nationality. He, eventually, has to choose between his love of Roy or the life he had wanted prior their meeting.
Michael Mayer directed the film. It won Best Picture in the Haifa International Film Festival 2012.
Tickets are $10 and are available online at brownpapertickets.com/event/540694.
info: charlottejewishfilm.com.
Center to host block party
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The LGBT Community Center of Charlotte, 2508 N. Davidson St., will open its doors to the community as it hosts a Back to the Block party on Feb. 8, 8 p.m.
The event will feature music by DJ Q. Michael, spoken word performances and live musical performances by Red Jesse and jocElyn ellis.
The event will celebrate the 11th anniversary of the center’s first physical location, which opened on Central Ave. in 2003. The event will also mark one year of residence in NoDa.
In the lead up to the event, the center is also unrolling its 2014 membership drive for community members who would like to financially partner with the center as a supporting member.
Admission to the event is $10/non-members and $5/members.
Annual membership levels are: supporting/$24; trailblazer/$60; and sustaining/$240, along with corporate sponsorships.
Benefits of membership include discounts on programming and events, a membership newsletter and more.
For more information on the center’s new membership structure, see our news story at goqnotes-launch2.newspackstaging.com/27134/.
info: lgbtcharlotte.org.
‘Monologue’ returns to the Queen City
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Chi Psi Omega Fraternity, Inc., will present “The Vagina Monologues” as a part of VDay 2014 Charlotte on Feb. 16, 8 p.m., at Brief, 1426 S. Tryon St.
This Eve Ensler staple will feature the members of the fraternity, along with guest host Jewel Carter, on air personality with V101.9.
Proceeds from the event will benefit the Battered Women’s Shelter of Charlotte.
General admission is $12. VIP tickets are $15 and entitle the holder to a reception at 7 p.m. prior to the performance.
info/tickets: Tan, 704-839-4945 or Sam, 704-606-1466. chipsiomegafraternity.org.
Guild gears up for new year
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Charlotte Business Guild is positioning itself with a new vision and direction for 2014. Their board met on Jan. 11 and created a strategic plan for the upcoming year.
It is encouraging members with lapsed memberships to renew and for those who have never belonged, to consider joining.
They are also surveying its members and prospects to learn more about what they want and need. Their hope is to provide a more focused organization that engages the community in volunteerism, encourages networking and training, provides a place for meaningful and lasting charitable contribution rewards, and more.
The LGBT chamber’s objective is to gather the community to gain mutual benefit. They also welcome attendance at meetings, input and suggestions, too.
And, some of the things that they have earmarked for this year are to create a 501(c)(3) foundation for training, business development and community involvement; secure affiliation and accreditation with the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce; produce a regional Business Expo; provide quarterly educational and training sessions; create a more user friendly and social media driven website; create and adopt a business code of ethics; secure relevant speakers and clinicians for its events; and provide marketing efforts for its members and their businesses through its website and social media.
Membership comes with benefits, including discounts at local and national companies. The organization will provide LGBT business certification beginning in February; educational opportunities; local employment postings; event and program discounts; membership directory listing; cross-promotional opportunities; and more.
info: charlottebusinessguild.org.
Have news or other information? Send your press releases and updates for inclusion in our News Notes: editor@goqnotes-launch2.newspackstaging.com.
Share your news with us
Does your organization or special interest group have events or great information to share with our readers? If so, be sure to send in your information to specialassignments@goqnotes-launch2.newspackstaging.com. In the upcoming months, we’ll feature one of you in our news notes section in each issue. Are you a part of a Meetup, Yahoo or Google group and do you do something that’s really newsworthy? Do you provide a service for the community or hold fundraisers for worthy causes? Do you educate the public about LGBT issues or concerns? Of course, this is only a sampling of things we are interested in. It’s the aim of these pieces to inform, enlighten and educate our readers about what we’re doing here in the Carolinas to champion LGBT rights, as well as offer resources for those who may be interested in what your group is doing.