Charlotte
QC calls it quits
CHARLOTTE — TheQC, based on Carolina Rainbow News (CRN), has decided to “stop before it got going,” said Publisher Jeff Schmehl.
Citing the lack of time, energy and financial support, the listserv battled against a plethora of other web alternatives. Schmehl had a successful run between 1997-2004 with CRN, when there was a smaller pool of resources.
He is currently working on another project that he expects will kick off in the near future.
The domain name is up for grabs. Interested parties should contact Schmehl at QCN@theQC.net.
Triad
Steppin down
GREENSBORO — Gary Palmer, who 11 years ago helped to organize Gay Straight Advocates for Education, has decided to vacate his position, stating that he felt it was time for the group’s leadership to have a change.
Taking over for him will be Annette Green and Dara Nix-Stevenson.
For more information, visit www.gsafe.org.
Yard sale for charity
GREENSBORO— After a four-year break, family-friendly Replacements, Ltd. is bringing back one of the biggest yard sales of its type in the U.S. The world’s largest supplier of old and new china, crystal, silver and collectibles will discount more than 100,000 pieces of inventory for a bargain hunter’s paradise at its Woodstock for Tableware Yard Sale. The sale will run Sept. 20, from 7 a.m.-7 p.m., through Sept. 21, from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. The company is located at exit 132 off I-85/40 at 1089 Knox Rd.
“Our last yard sale drew more than 7,500 visitors from 38 states — that’s more people than the population of some nearby towns,” says Replacements’ founder and CEO Bob Page. “We really want to turn this into a big community event, rather than making it just about Replacements. That’s why we’re inviting area antique dealers, artisans and even local charities to set up booths and participate.”
Rather than take the traditional yard sale approach of pricing items by the piece, this year Replacements will sell cardboard boxes for $5 dollars each and allow customers to fill each box with as much yard sale merchandise as it will hold. Admission is $5.
“We don’t want folks to get scared off by the fact we’re expecting big crowds, so we’re taking steps to make the event convenient for everyone who wants to come out,” says Replacements’ Showroom manager Keith Winkler. The event will be handicapped accessible, with plenty of parking areas and shuttle services available. New merchandise will be brought out every hour throughout the two-day event so shoppers won’t have to worry about “missing out on great finds if they can’t get here early,” Winkler added. Carts or wagon usage is encouraged due to the potential weight of each box load.
Purchasers will be assisting in a great cause. A portion of the proceeds from the sale will be donated to Children of Vietnam, Winston Salem, N.C., (with offices in Da Nang, Vietnam), a charity providing direct aid to poor and handicapped children in Vietnam.
Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Door prizes will be awarded throughout the two-day event and they will raffle off an estate china set from Replacements, Ltd. collection. Proceeds from the raffle will benefit the New Garden Friends School, Greensboro, an inclusive, innovative educational community guided by Quaker beliefs and committed to honoring and developing each student’s special gifts.
Free tours of the facilities, showroom and museum will be available.
On the front lawn other vendors will display housewares, crafts and jewelry, as well as china, crystal and silver. Replacements also expects representatives there to provide information on personal health, education and animal adoption agencies. Admission is free.
For more information, call 800-737-5223 or visit www.replacements.com.
Triangle
S.O.N.G. requests …
DURHAM — Southerners on New Ground (S.O.N.G.) will celebrate its 15th anniversary with a Homecoming Weekend on Sept. 19-21. “What We Know For Sure: 15 Years of LGBTQ Living, Loving, and Organizing in the South!” is the theme.
For 15 years, S.O.N.G. has partnered with LGBT people in the South working to vision a new world, transforming to make that world possible, struggling for justice and persisting in hope when freedom seems impossible.
The organization is hosting parties across the country, as well as doing a quote-collecting project to document the wisdom of members.
Participants are encouraged to attend if they are “feeling isolated from other LGBTQ folks who believe Another World Is Possible; are longing to be with LGBTQ family who desire us all to feel whole and be free from all oppression; are inspired by S.O.N.G. and our awesome members and want to celebrate the 15th Anniversary with other LGBTQ folks and allies; and want to meet other wonderful LGBTQ folks of color, immigrants, and working class folk of many ages, abilities, and persuasions!”
For more information on attending, submitting a quote, making a contribution or other queries, visit www.southernersonnewground.org.
Western
Raise your awareness
WEST JEFFERSON — NC Outings will host a creating concepts of consciousness weekend retreat from Sept. 12-14 at Spirit Winds Ranch.
This is the first of a series of classes that are designed to broaden one’s ability to consciously create reality. Like-minded participants are encouraged to attend.
Concepts to be discussed include: Cultural beliefs, and erroneous beliefs, about reality and God; the principles by which this Universe is structured; the purpose of life — why we are here; the mechanics of Creation — “How you get what you got;” understanding your beliefs and how they are the key to your creations; the significant role of fear, attachments and addictions; and exploring victim consciousness — victim and victimizer.
Additional planned activities slated are: Toning; laughing meditation; Oneness Blessing (Deeksha); stretching and breathing exercises; drumming; and channeling Archangel Michael around the campfire.
Cost for the retreat is $111 and pre-registration is required. Lodging and meals are not included. Accommodations are available at Spirit Winds Ranch and other area motels. There is convenient, free onsite tent camping at Spirit Winds. A limited work-exchange program is offer for fee reduction.
For registration, directions or more information, call Joanne Sobeck at 336-877-9633 or email innkeeper@spiritwindsranch.com.
Want to know more about the teaching model for this retreat? Then visit College of Christ Consciousness at www.trans4mind.com/mother_mary.
Calling panel participants
HICKORY — October is HIV/AIDS Awareness Month and the AIDS Leadership Foothills-area Alliance (ALFA) will be holding panel discussions throughout the community to share personal testimony about how the virus has impacted the lifes of those who are living with or have been affected by HIV/AIDS.
ALFA is currently looking for volunteers to sit on one of the panels, which will be held at locations throughout the month. A question and answer session will be held to allow the audience to gain insight and information about the disease.
For those who are interested in being part of this endeavor, either as a panelist or an attendee, call Hilda R. Cook at 828-322-1447, ext. 233 or Shasta Burton at 828-322-1447, ext. 232 for more information. They can also be reached by email at gettested@charter.net or prevention@charter.net.
In other news, ALFA has spent the summer working on AIDS Quilt panels in remembrance of a number of their clients. Despite their efforts, there are still a few names unclaimed. Quilting bees have taken place on Thursday evenings from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Once squares are completed, the task of assembling them takes place.
For more information about joining this group, call Andie Brymer at 828-332-1447, ext. 229. Volunteers, community members, clients and staff are welcome.
Statewide
Q-Notes needs you!
STATEWIDE — Want an opportunity to win an iPod or roundtrip airline tickets? Then click on through to the annual Community Marketing Lesbian and Gay Consumer Survey.
Q-Notes has partnered with Community Marketing, Inc. (CMI), the San Francisco-based gay and lesbian research, marketing and communications firm, to produce the most comprehensive LGBT market research report ever conducted, the Gay Consumer Index™ and the Lesbian Consumer Index™.
Taking just 10 minutes out of your day to complete this survey will help Q-Notes and countless other LGBT news publications and Community Marketing serve your unique consumer interests better and more fully.
By completing the survey and providing an accurate email address at the end, you’ll be entered in a drawing for one of five iPods or the grand prize of two round-trip airlines tickets.
To complete the survey and be qualified for the prize drawings, you must participate by Sept. 14.
Visit Q-Notes Online at www.q-notes.com/survey to participate.
Carolinas rank in Center top 10
CAROLINAS — According to the GLBT National Help Center, North Carolina and South Carolina are among the top 10 originating states for calls to the group’s two national hotlines.
The 24-hour hotlines, the GLBT National Hotline and the GLBT National Youth Talkline, are confidential resources offering support, counseling and community information.
Last year, according to the group, 55 percent of all callers to the hotlines were in their teens or 20s. Another 25 percent were in their 30s. The remainder were in their 40s or older. The group also notes that in 2007, they spoke to a total of 30 individuals who said they were age 12 or younger. Eighty-eight percent of all calls were individuals seeking peer-counseling. Of those, the majority were individuals looking for support for coming to family and friends.
North Carolina had the eighth most calls to the GLBT Help Center’s hotlines. The Tar Heel State is usually seen as being more moderate on LGBT issues and has managed to keep an anti-LGBT, anti-family marriage amendment off the ballot for five years. It remains the only state in the South to have accomplished such a feat.
South Carolina, with about half as many residents as its northern neighbor, was ranked 10th. The Palmetto State is home to the arch-conservative Bob Jones University. Its voters passed a marriage amendment in 2006.
Other top 10 originating states included Massachusetts, which was listed first; Maine; New Hampshire; Nebraska; New Jersey; Connecticut; Kentucky and Maryland. Only four of the 10 were Southern states. Five were New England states.
For more information, visit www.glnh.org.
Carolinas pubs say yes to gay nups
NEW YORK — The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation announced Aug. 18 that 72 percent of all U.S. newspapers now have in place inclusive policies for recognizing same-sex relationships in wedding, commitment and other union announcements.
The 1,049 newspapers include the majority of all the major newspapers in North and South Carolina. That includes 34 daily newspapers in North Carolina and nine in South Carolina. Among those Carolinas publications listed include The Charlotte Observer, The News & Record (Greensboro, N.C.), The Sun News (Myrtle Beach, S.C.), The News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.) and The Winston-Salem Journal.
The State (Columbia, S.C.), the largest daily newspaper in the Palmetto State, was not among those papers listed.
For a full listing of newspapers, visit www.glaad.org/AnnouncingEquality.
Survey participants sought
STATEWIDE — Are you African-American and in a long-term gay or lesbian couple relationship with another African-American? You might qualify to participate in research exploring Black gay and lesbian couples.
Valerie Q. Glass, marriage and family therapist from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Va., is conducting this important one-of-a-kind research. No other study has looked at Black gay and lesbian couples.
Glass is involved in a bi-racial lesbian relationship and curious about Black families and gay life. She is passionate about presenting the positive side of Black gays and lesbians and their families through research.
Criteria for participants include: Both members in the couple would be willing to participate; both members in the couple identify as gay or lesbian; and the couple should identify as a committed couple (be in their relationship for at least a year).
If you meet the criteria are interested in participating, you will receive a $30 gift card in appreciation for your time. The study involves an interview with the couple that takes about an hour.
This research study has been approved by the Institutional Review Board of Virginia Tech.
To participate or for more information, call 540-355-6516 or email vqglass@vt.edu.
info: Announce your community event in NC News Notes.
email: editor@q-notes.com or fax 704-531-1361.