Minutes from September 5, 2007

Ground Rules (to honor everyone’s contribution to this subcommittee):

It is important that everyone contributes their voice.
Please be aware of varying comfort levels (i.e. “being out) related to identifying as being LGBTQ.
Respect all people at all times. This includes NO racism, classism, heterosexism, ableism, ageism, and other forms of discrimination.
It is okay to ask questions about an issue that may be bothering you. If you feel uncomfortable speaking about the issue in the group, please contact R.E. or Sheryll.
Assume good intentions as we learn from each other. Provide & accept feedback.
New rules can be added to this list as participants feel necessary.
I. Introductions: name, pronoun preference

Present: Pat, Talia, Nic, Susan, R.E., Shana Folkerson, Gustavo, Sheryll, Chico.

Unable to participate in call: Antonio

II. Blog update: Sheryll www.lgbttalks.blogspot.com

Blog contains: reminders about meetings, introductions, meeting notes…

A lot of names still didn’t get on it. Contact Sheryll…

III. MySpace update: E

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=184618449 Link on Summit website. http://www.lgbttobacco.org/summit.php

Susan: It looks very cool. I like playing the music. I’m excited about youtube. Addition. Not real thrilled w/ “Kicking Ash & Taking Names” as the name. Like the badvertising… something more positive and less negative. Also, age says 38… might be discouraging to youth, esp if they have a filter.

Name suggestions…

IV. Timeline: R.E.

OUR MEETINGS UNTIL THE CONFERENCE.

7pm EST / 4pm PST / 1pm Hawaii

Phone number: 1-877-791-3294

Passcode: 77350

✓August 22

✓September 5

September 19

October 3

October 10

October 17

Susan: Anything we want to include in the packets for all conference participants need to be received by the folks in Minnesota by September 14. Would love to see buttons that we could wear for our committee… or a sticky label.

Nic will work on a design.

V. Ball Planning:

a. Categories

R.E. hasn’t gotten much feedback on the categories.

Gustavo… we should look at folks who have status in Minneapolis who might be interested in participating & get their feedback. What are the houses there already doing? Has been sending emails to community & not getting any response.

Susan: Antonio works with one person who does HIV prevention through the ball communities.

R.E. Not sure how to engage the communities there if we don’t already have the contacts.

Susan: Go through Antonio & his friend.

Gustavo: Create a mini-focus group sheet with the categories & space for suggestions to get feedback. Will create that sheet.

Talia: Search on MySpace for profiles, to network that way?

Gustavo was doing this already by doing a gay search by zipcode, but haven’t really gotten a response and haven’t found houses on myspace. Is there a list of the houses?? Try to get people to respond who don’t know us that it’s a legit show.

R.E. Any contacts in your own town?

Gustavo: has been working w/ some of the queens he knows. Or could search the gay bars and ask the management. Did someone create a paragraph description of the ball and why people should participate, why it’s important?

Susan: Colorado once a month drag free drag show.

Shana will write something up really quickly & send it.

Gustavo: Start creating the buzz on Minneapolis MySpace pages.

Chico: www.walk4mewednesdays.net is a site where drag houses register. Click shade board, then ballroom forum. Gustavo will check that out and ask Nic what his timeline will be.

b. Logistics: Tuesday, 8-11pm InterMedia Arts

Update from Antonio: Space reserved. Cost = $450 (more than expected).

NAME suggestions:

Transformations 2007

Smoke & Mirrors

Drag Without Puffs

Drag Without Drags

Drag-free Drag Show

Smokin’ Hot, But Not Smokin’

Shana: Colorado… different theme each month with a related name, signing a pledge to be tobacco free.

Transformations 2007: Drag-free Drag Ball

c. Budget update

Sponsorship from Legacy? – Gustavo: will have the general funds for the Summit, but nothing additional at the moment.
Funding committee update.
Susan: Logo is giving the Summit $3000.

What should we do about prize money & prizes?

$50, $100, $150?

Susan: Yes, there will be prizes. We’re not sure how much. Working w/ friend to have creative trophies – like a glass paperweight.

Chico: trophies can be what you want them to be.

Scholarship deadline for Summit is SEPTEMBER 16.

d. Flier update- E, Chico will help.

Update from Antonio:

Anyone want to work on designs & images?? Also to be used for the trophy. Nic will work on this & solicit feedback next week.

Image suggestions: no smoking, drag, overt reference to sexuality (freedom rings, rainbow, triangles / clearly LGBTQ, something that symbolizes drag: makeup, stiletto, beauty queen, shiny jewelry… but want something that appeals across gender

Word suggestions: girly font, Kristin, text = title, Tue oct 23, 7-11, InterMedia Arts, refreshments provided, novice to expert, prizes, first-timers encouraged.

e. Event Roles: Damon

emcee
commentator/s
judges – there should be at least one youth
??
Working with houses / troupes / youth in Minneapolis. (There are 13 houses in Minneapolis.) What’s our strategy? Who wants to be the main contact/s?

VI. During the LGBTI Anti-Tobacco Summit

Action Room – workshops, zines, buttons, fliers, blogging, videos, letter-writing, badvertising… Youth-related workshops will also be held in this room during the 2 breakout session times.
i. Materials needed:

Markers
Posterboard
arts & crafts stuff
Big paper to cover parts of the walls.
Canvas to draw & write on… to hang as a backdrop for the ball.
Button maker, button making supplies
Pre-made buttons – as advertising for ball?
Sheryll: List is on the blog.

We need to know:

What supplies are available in Minneapolis, either through the summit or Dist 202?
Who can donate?
Sheryll will ask some people.

ii. Consent forms – Youth & Adult versions – to go out to youth before summit – Kristin

iii. Youth co-supervisors of the Action Room: E and Sheryll

iv. Name for the room?? (R.E. kinda stole Cascade AIDS Project’s name for it.)

Name ideas: Be Creative – doing your own kind of thing

Breaking Barriers – queer friendly & open

Taking Action… One Youth at a Time

Creative Queer Expression

Expression Session – REAL

Creative Command Central

Maybe something that could also be a name for the myspace.

Workshops
How to approach friends who smoke. (Peer to Peer Prevention & Cessation) (Hope & Colorado Youth)
Tobacco industry marketing to LGBTQ community. (R.E. and E)
VII. Next Meeting: Wednesday Sept 19: 7pm EST / 4pm PST / 1pm Hawaii

Phone number: 1-877-791-3294

Passcode: 77350