Committee Work

7 present; Gus chaired the meeting.

Action items are in purple

1. Sharing and Connection à wonderful time of sharing what is going on in our lives
2. Review of most recent events
   1. Status of Queer Conference: Good responses anecdotally from participants; more conferences are being planned (see 5 e and f)
   2. All Ages Dance Party:125-150 in attendance; lots of families and children in attendance
   3. espressOUT in the Augustana Forum: continues to be a good place to host espressOUT
3. Financial statement: will be updated when the bills for the Dance Party are paid; a small grant will be received from CDSS for the upcoming year; CDSS is willing to continue being the banker
4. Upcoming Events
   1. Expressions of Community on November 27 @ 6:30-9:30
      1. Preregistration required – 11 confirmed; Jen will contact the facilitator with the preregistration numbers
   2. Family and Friends Support Group: local support groups will be listed on the new parent support website that altView is launching soon (see 5d)
   3. espressOUT in the Augustana Forum Nov. 20 5:00 – 6:30 pm
   4. Holiday Potluck and Family Dance Party Dec. 4 @ 6:00 pm
      1. Invite family and friends – spread the word!
      2. Planning
         1. Potluck helpers-Liz will be the kitchen supervisor
         2. Program helpers-Box game: Gus
         3. Decorations-Keep it simple; tablecloths; twinkle lights: Margaret and Carol will be responsible; borrow small tree and lights from Carl
         4. Music for Dance Party-Gus and Jordan will work on a playlist
5. Other items for discussion
   1. Pride Week at Augustana and in the Community
      1. Who is willing to work on planning committee for this? Wayne
      2. There is an LGBTQ+ Council has been formed to plan Pride Week; they will be meeting in December
      3. Pride Week will be held from February 26 to March 2; the Bailey Theatre has been booked for March 2 for So You Think You Can Drag
   2. Pursuing Not for Profit Status-Use the template from the Corporate Registry; Margaret will get the paperwork collected; we will start simply and then modify and revise from there
   3. Other items from the group

• altView will be launching a new website to support parents in supporting their LGBTQ+ children; this has transpired out of their work with the Government on Bill 24! Way to go altView!
• altView is planning another conference in May in Edmonton with ISMSS and the Government of Alberta focused upon supporting parents
• The next Status of Queer Conference will be held somewhere in rural Alberta in the third week of September 2018; location to be determined
• Jen has been working on the resources section on the website and has the links working; test out the links and report any problems with links
• The Google Calendar will be uploaded to the website.
• Thank you notes for those who helped with the All Ages Dance Party will be sent shortly; Carol will write them and Jen will deliver them
• There is a new doctor in town at the Smith Clinic who is accepting new patients of all ages and sexual orientations! Dr. Charley Boyd is now practicing medicine in Camrose!

6:00-8:00 pm. Camrose United Church Parlour

1. Sharing and Connection
2. Review of most recent events
   • Status of Queer Conference
   • All Ages Dance Party
   • espressOUT in the Augustana Forum
3. Financial statement
4. Upcoming Events
   1. Expressions of Community on November 27 @ 6:30-9:30
      • Preregistration required – how are the numbers?
   2. espressOUT in the Augustana Forum Nov. 20 5:00 – 6:30 pm
   3. Holiday Potluck and Family Dance Party Dec. 4 @ 6:00 pm
      • Invite family and friends – spread the word!
      • Planning
        • Potluck helpers
        • Program helpers
        • Decorations
        • Music for Dance Party
5. Other items for discussion
   1. Pursuing Not for Profit Status
   2. Pride Week at Augustana and in the Community-Collaboration with AQUA
      • Who would like to work on this planning committee?
   3. Other items from the group

10 members attended

We met in the Augustana Forum after the Human Library presentation

Chaired by Gus and Wayne; Meeting notes by Carol

1. Sharing and Connecting

2. Upcoming events

1. October 4, 2017 2:00-3:30 p.m. Michael Phair presentation for Health Care workers and others concerned about LGBTQS2+ Seniors at the Rosehaven Auditorium
   • Co-sponsored by the Camrose Seniors’ Coalition and Camrose Pride Community
   • Preregister with Margaret at 780-672-0141
2. Status of Queer Conference: October 14, 2017 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Augustana
   • Register at www.statusofqueer.ca
   • Registration is $30 and includes 3 meals
   • Set up volunteers needed to meet at 7:00 a.m. on Saturday to help
   • Take down volunteers needed at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday after conference
3. All Ages Dance Party: October 14, 2017 Doors at 7:00 p.m. at the Bailey Theatre
   • $5 per person or $10 per family Cash at the door
   • Volunteers needed
4. espressOUT on October 16, 2017  5:00-6:30 p.m. in the Augustana Forum

3. Planning for Future Events

1. Expressions of Community
   • November 27, 2017 6:30-9:30 p.m. at Camrose United Church
   • Preregistration required to determine numbers by November 6
   • Free expressive arts workshop
   • Send suggestions for the workshop
2. Holiday Potluck Social on December 4, 2017 at Camrose United Church
   • Committee needed for planning
3. Pride Week Dates to be determined
   • Committee needed for planning

4. Other items from the group

• Invitation from the Camrose Chamber of Commerce to Camrose Pride Community to become members
• Discussion about how to make that work and advantages of accepting this invitation

5. Next regular connection and planning meeting on Monday, November 6 at Camrose United Church 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Camrose Pride Community May 1, 2017 Meeting
Camrose United Church, 6 – 7:45 pm

Number in attendance: 14

Introductions and Sharing: How are you doing this week?

Safety Presentation: Liz Carter-Morgan joined to lead a discussion on Biblical-based claims against same sex relationships. The discussion was helpful and folks indicated an interest in continuing to discuss this and related issues of community response/homophobia on a regular basis. Take-aways:
• It is less challenging to engage with practicing Christians who study Scripture than others who ‘use’ Scripture
• There are six Clobber Texts that are generally used to support homophobia. Liz highlighted a few.
• Three points to diffuse confrontational conversations using Scripture:
o Ask the person to be specific about placing the chosen passage in the context of the story
o Ask the person how they currently live Biblically (ie, Leviticus)
o Note that judgement is better left to God: “my orientation/identity is between me and God”.
• Use discretion when opting to engage as it can risk escalation of the other person’s reaction.
• Liz added that the Bible is not a singular text, but a library written over many years. Biblical study is essential when selecting specific passages to make specific points.
• In the end, everyone agreed that the primary message of the Bible is one of love.

Jaywalker’s Jamboree on June 2 and 3: Wayne provided an update.
• The Chamber of Commerce has now disallowed our face-painting fundraiser as there are other face-painters who have ‘invested lots of money’ and they now have a limit as to numbers of face-painters.
• Alternative: a children’s fishing pool, with prizes.
• Amber has supplies for fishing pool as well as the booth, including a new tent and sandwich board.
• Everyone agreed to continue with Jaywalkers and offer the fishing pool. We will also have buttons and rainbow flags, which Carl has purchased.
• Action Items:
o Pride members will drop off cash donations (as affordable for them) to Gus at House of Hair Design.
o Sammy will check to see if AQUA has some funds they can donate (to Jaywalkers and/or Parade Float)
o Amber and Jen will take care of the fishing pool, including purchasing the supplies.
o Jen will email reminders re donations and the volunteer schedule.

Another All-Ages Dance in the Fall: There is still interest in organizing this, although it was a bit of work and fairly costly. Expenses are not in this year’s budget, but perhaps Jaywalkers, BBQ and other donations may help. We would not have access to the same DJ, who was paid an honorarium but also donated a lot of time, so would need an alternative DJ. We would probably ask Thomas to MC and Robin Banks to perform. Re-visit at June meeting.

Community BBQ on June 24: This will be a priority item at the June meeting. To note:
• Home Hardware BBQ will be delivered.
• Jonathan won’t be here to help BBQ; Amber’s father may be able to help.
• Rebecca is helping/donating food.
• Will purchase burgers from M & M Meats as pre-cooked.
• Carol may have more details to share at June meeting.
• Other volunteer tasks will be shared at June meeting.

Pride Float, BVJ Parade on August 3
• Julie at Starbucks may support; Starbucks is a Pride Parade supporting business
• Folks on the float need to be secured: tethered or a rail? There are hooks on the flatbed.
• Discussed design of float; tree with rainbows hanging from branches, and rainbow panels along the bottom.
• Action Items:
o Gus contact Sharon at Chamber of Commerce to find out what they mean by ‘secure’ riders
o Sammy find out availability of Augustana folks to participate (incl. Vikings & International Students)
Summer Camp-fire and/or Camp-out
• At Ferintosh Bed & Breakfast; there is room to camp if folks want to
• Probably in September
• Deferred to a later meeting

Altview Update
• Edmonton Pride Parade: Individual wavers not needed this year. Camrose Pride members who want to walk with the Altview float send names to Altview via Jen for inclusion in the group waver.
• Camrose Pride T-Shirts: Altview again printing. Background will be pink. Now using trans colours as have used all the rainbow colours. 2018 will be blue. Let Jen know if wish to order a shirt. Will cost no more than $20, and possibly less. Available for Jaywalkers (by mid-May or thereabouts)
• Action Items:
o Email Jen if you want to walk – fairly soon as the parade is June 10.
o Jen will then connect with Michael/Altview.

Adjournment and Next Meeting: The meeting adjourned at 7:50. Next meeting is June 5, 6 pm, United Church.