Oak Park Area Lesbian and Gay Association
Since its inception in 1989, OPALGA has become one of the largest community based, multipurpose lesbian and gay membership organizations in Illinois.
25 For 25 Charity Drive!
Marking Tracy Baim’s 25th anniversary in Chicago LGBT media, the 25 For 25 Charity Drive is her very own economic stimulus for the Chicago LGBT community!
How does it work?
People can write their check to any registered non-profit serving the Chicago-area LGBT and HIV/AIDS community, and her suggested list includes the Oak Park Area Lesbian and Gay Association!
What to do!
Tracy is asking for you to donate some multiplier of 25 ($2.50, $25, $250....) to your favorite LGBT or HIV/AIDS charity for our community. Write out a check to your favorite charity’s name (Example: Oak Park Area Lesbian and Gay Association) and send that check to:
Tracy Baim
1900 South Prarie Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60616
Tracey will bundle the checks into “buckets” of bucks and present the charities with their funds during Pride Month.
DEADLINE FOR PARTICIPATION IS JUNE 5, 2009
The charity with the most donations will receive an extra $250 donation from an anonymous donor!
OPAL GALA 2009 Is Right Around the Corner!
Can you feel it? OPALGA is turning 20, and we are all looking forward to celebrating our organization’s 20th anniversary this spring!
Elsewhere in this issue, we have tried to explain our strategy for this year’s pricing. While we know that times are hard, we hope that you will find it in your hearts to once again show your support for all of our vital programs. We are grateful that you have shown your support in the past, and we are hopeful that you will be able to show your support in the present as well as in the future.
At this year’s Gala, we will be “Celebrating Our Past, Anticipating Our Future.” We hope to honor many of our original founders this year, those who started this organization and who were instrumental in getting us to where we are today. We have had many accomplishments during the past 20 years as well as many challenges. But we can be very proud of all of our efforts. Pride is what it is all about, isn’t it?
Therefore, we ask you to join us at the Hyatt Lodge in Oak Brook on Saturday, May 2, 2009. We count on and need your support; plus, it will be a great party! Cocktails, dinner, dancing, live and silent auctions, and raffle prizes—who could ask for anything more?
For more information about our 20th anniversary Gala, please call The OPALGA Center at 708-848-0273. We look forward to seeing you there for “the one evening you don’t want to miss!”
Civil Unions Bill Update
Civil Unions Bill Passes Illinois House Committee and Moves to House Floor
On Thursday, March 5, 2009, the Youth and Family Committee of the Illinois House of Representatives approved House Bill 2234. House Bill 2234 creates the Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Unions Act and would establish civil unions in Illinois. The Bill will now go before the entire House. The Bill passed Committee 4–3.
Voting yes was State Representative LaShawn Ford (D-8). The eighth congressional district covers a part of OPALGA’s service area. Please call Representative Ford’s office at 773-378-5902 to thank him for his continuing support.
It is most important that all OPALGA members and friends continue to contact our State Representatives in support of the Bill. State Representative Deborah Graham (D-78), whose district also covers a part of our service area, has not taken a formal position on the Bill. We encourage you to contact Representative Graham at 708-445-9520 and urge her to support HB 2234.
Message From the Co-Chairs
Spring means many different things for each of us. For most, it marks the end of another too-long Chicago winter, another painful deadline with the IRS, another hour of lost sleep as daylight savings time begins, and so on. Yet the negatives always seem to be swallowed up by all of the positives—the heavy clothes go away for several months, our gardens start to bloom in all of their glorious colors, and the Cubs and Sox begin their yearly tug-of-war with our emotions. At OPALGA, spring has always been a little more special because this is the time of year for our Gala, when we put all else aside for one night and come together to celebrate the special work that our organization does and to thank those who mean so much to us.
How particularly cruel, therefore, that this spring finds us in the midst of some very difficult times. The economy is at its lowest point in decades, and it has affected virtually every one of us; unfortunately, some have truly suffered. Planning this year’s Gala, in the midst of all of this, has been extraordinarily difficult. Last year, guests at the Gala were nearly unanimous in their overwhelming praise of the Hyatt Lodge as a venue for our event. Feeling the same as our guests, we met with the Hyatt the week after our party. We were amazed to learn that May 2 was the only Saturday available between April 15 and October 15, and we grabbed the date, congratulating ourselves on our good fortune.
Twelve months later, the picture is markedly different. However, the Gala Planning Committee and the Board of Directors had few options available. The signed contract gave us no out, nor did we want one. If we were a private organization or corporation, we could simply have canceled the party and delayed it for 12 months. At OPALGA, that was unthinkable because the Gala represents our biggest fundraising event of the year, and it accounts for approximately 40% of our organization’s annual revenue. Moreover, we already had been planning to use the 20th anniversary of our founding as a special opportunity to thank those who have been instrumental in getting OPALGA to where it is today. It is no small understatement to say that the various struggles faced in the past 20 years were no less challenging than those we are facing today.
So, we move ahead. But, we wanted to share with you our thinking behind the ticket prices. The May 2 date by itself added $3,000 to the cost of the evening, since we were now in the middle of the hotel’s prime season. Added to that, the vast majority of food and beverage prices at the hotel are up 12 percent. The bottom line is that the hotel’s average cost per person this year has risen approximately $21. To allow for any additional costs, and hopefully to raise some extra funds, we raised the early bird price from $135 to $165, which was as close as we felt we could cut it. We hope that this year, as in the past, the majority of our guests will take advantage of the early bird discount. If not, the cost of a ticket rises from $150 to $190. This difference is greater because we again wanted to reward those who bought their tickets early. As an accommodation to some, we also agreed not to institute the two-tiered pricing system for this event so that more nonmembers could attend, as they have in the past. On a brighter note, the hotel felt that it had much more leeway in the room prices, and guests at the Gala can stay over this year for only $94, as compared to $115 last year.
One suggestion to our table captains and to our members is as follows: If you know someone who attended the Gala last year but cannot attend this year because of the price increase, let us know their names. There remains a possibility that one or two anonymous donors will be willing to pick up the difference so that as many OPALGA members and their guests as possible can attend this very special evening. Another option is that any table captain can pay the amount of the difference for any of their guests and receive a tax deduction for the additional donation(s). This can work out well for a business owner, for example, who may want to entertain some guests.
In closing, however, let us all attempt to stay positive and remain focused on the main purpose of the evening: it is to raise funds for this amazing organization. Can’t each of us challenge ourselves to pay the extra $30 by making some small sacrifice? For approximately $2.50 a month, we will allow our small but dedicated staff to continue working with “out” and questioning youth, sponsor HIV testing, and perform other valuable services for members of the LGBT community. The struggles depicted in the film Milk are no less relevant today. Please do your part to join your table captain in helping us to put on the best Gala ever as we look back on our first 20 years.
We have shared this information in the hope that getting the facts out will allow everyone to know exactly what we are dealing with. These times are not easy for any of us. While the members of the Board of Directors recognize this, we also recognize our duty to put on a successful Gala. We hope that we will see you on May 2 for “the one evening you don’t want to miss.”
Around the OPALGA Center
Welcome Eduardo Gonzalez!
The OPALGA Center has welcomed a new staff person! Eduardo “Eddie” Gonzalez has been hired into our newly created Special Events and Volunteer Coordinator position. Eddie is a resident of Cicero and currently is a student majoring in English at Morton College. He has hit the ground running with the 2009 Gala as his first directive, but he will be working with us for all upcoming events and volunteer management. You may be hearing from Eddie soon with requests for volunteer assistance and to let you know about upcoming events. Eddie can be reached by calling The Center at 708-848-0273 or by e-mailing volunteer@opalga.org.
New Testing Site at Rumors
OPALGA will be providing free, rapid, anonymous HIV testing at Rumors, 2433 S. DesPlaines Ave., North Riverside, IL 60546. We hope to be there every Saturday night from 9:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. Testing dates may be subject to change, so please visit the calendar section of our Web site at http://www.opalga.org to confirm our testing dates. Remember, we are always available for testing by appointment, as well. Please call 708-386-3463 to make an appointment.
Chicagoland Gay and Lesbian Singles Meetup
The Chicagoland Gay and Lesbian Singles Meetup, which is cosponsored by OPALGA, meets the first Monday of every month at 6:30 p.m. at the Velvet Rope, 728 Lake St., Oak Park, IL 60301. All gay and lesbian singles are welcome. The group now has more than 400 members and has regularly scheduled monthly activities. Please visit http://www.meetup.com/gaypros-321/ to sign up for the group, to RSVP for an event, and to automatically receive information about future events.
Book Club
The OPALGA book club has decided on our selection for April.
We encourage anyone who loves to read to join us for the upcoming meetings of the book club. The discussions are informal and enjoyable, and we always have a lot of laughs. So, if you want to find out what you’ve been missing, check out the OPALGA book club!
Following is the April selection:
April 19, 2009 Tales of the City: A Novel by Armistead Maupin
Centered on 28 Barbary Lane in San Francisco, Tales of the City chronicles the day-to-day life of Mrs. Madrigal and her assorted tenants along with their friends and colleagues. By a remarkable series of coincidences, the lives of residents, friends, and acquaintances connect and interweave to comic effect.
The book club meets every third Sunday from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at The OPALGA Center unless otherwise specified. All books are available through http://www.amazon.com. In addition, copies can be requested from the Oak Park Public Library (834 Lake St., Oak Park) or ordered from The Book Table (1045 Lake St., Oak Park). Remember, OPALGA receives a charitable donation from The Book Table for each book purchased there (regardless of whether it is a book club selection). Please let them know that you are purchasing your book as a member of OPALGA.
Recipe Corner
Several years ago, OPALGA talked about putting together a cookbook containing our members’ favorite recipes. Now, in celebration of our organization’s 20th anniversary, we have decided that the time is right for this tasty project!
Talk to your family, your friends, and your neighbors to find those recipes that you really enjoy and want to share with other OPALGA members. Please feel free to submit any of your favorite recipes, and be sure to give a credit for the originator of the recipe, if applicable.
All recipes should be submitted to jeziebarth@comcast.net. Please include the word “RECIPE” in your subject line, and be sure to attach your recipe to the e-mail as a Microsoft Word document. Thank you!
In the meantime, we plan to publish a few of the recipes that we have already received in upcoming issues of Empower. Bon appétit!
Maple Jack Pork Chops
Submitted by Ray Johnson
Prep. time: 5 minutes
Slow cooker: 4–5 hours
Servings: 4
1 large sweet onion, peeled and sliced
4 boneless, thick-cut pork-loin chops, rinsed and patted dry
½ c. pure Grade A maple syrup
¼ c. Jack Daniel’s whiskey
2 tbsp. Grey Poupon (Dijon mustard)
1. Place onions in the bottom of a 4- or 5-qt. slow cooker.
2. Season pork chops with salt and pepper. In a small bowl, whisk together maple syrup, whiskey, and Dijon mustard. Dip each pork chop into the syrup mixture and place in slow cooker on top of onions. Pour remaining syrup mixture over pork chops.
3. Cover and cook on low setting for 4–5 hours.
Save The Date!
OPALGA Gala 2009—Celebrating Our Past, Anticipating Our Future will be held Saturday, May 2nd! Click the OPAL Gala Benefit link to the left for more information.
OPALGA Gala 2009—Celebrating Our Past, Anticipating Our Future
Turning 20 is such a special occasion! The same is true of OPALGA, as 2009 marks 20 years that the organization has been in existence. Much like any other nonprofit organization, the two decades have been marked by highs and lows, budget struggles, policy discussions, great social events, and the usual ups and downs that characterize a new association. Unlike many other new nonprofits, however, OPALGA has been remarkably successful at growing its membership, strengthening its programs, and accomplishing many things in furtherance of its mission to improve life for members of the area LGBT community.
To recognize the significance of this milestone, the Gala planning committee has chosen this year to forego the selection of an annual theme for the party. Rather, the committee wants the focus of the night to be a look back at some of the people and events that have made the past 20 years so memorable. Thus, the title of this year’s Gala is “OPALGA Turns 20—Celebrating Our Past, Anticipating Our Future.”
One thing that will not change this year is the location of the party. Based on the comments of attendees at last year’s Gala, it was a no-brainer to decide to again hold the Gala at the Hyatt Lodge at McDonald’s Campus in Oak Brook. Hoping to get even better weather for the evening, the Gala has been moved from April to May—Saturday, May 2, to be exact. The popular raffle, silent auction, and live auction will again be held as at past events. And, most important, the focus of the evening is still on throwing a great party that guests will enjoy and talk about long after. Our DJ will play amazing music all night long, and “OPALGA Turns 20” will truly be “the one evening you don’t want to miss.”
There will be some changes this year, though. While table captains will once again play a pivotal role in filling the room, the committee did listen to those who said they could not attend a table captain event on a Sunday. So, this year, Greg Raub, table captain coordinator, will hold two separate meetings at The OPALGA Center, one on a weeknight and one on a weekend, in an attempt to accommodate everyone. These meetings will give table captains a chance to meet with Greg in a less chaotic atmosphere and go over their plans for their table(s).
Increased prices at the Hyatt, because of both the date of the event and the increased cost of food and beverage, have necessitated a price increase. Gala 2009 tickets will be priced at $165 (the early bird discount) and $190 (regular price). The only requirement for receiving the early bird discount is to purchase and pay for your tickets by the early bird deadline of Friday, April 10.
Winter of 2009 continues to linger with us, much longer than most of us would like. The Gala planning committee, however, is turning up the heat for Saturday, May 2. Mark your calendars now and plan to join us for “the one evening you don’t want to miss!”
For additional information about the 20th anniversary Gala, call Jan at The Center (708-848-0273).
Gala Table Captains Needed
Do you have friends, family, or coworkers who have never attended the annual OPALGA Gala? Would you like to show them a great time at a gorgeous venue while giving them an opportunity to support our area LGBT community? That’s what being a table captain for the Gala is all about. It’s a chance for you to step up and provide a valuable service to OPALGA while bringing together a group of friends for a fun-filled evening. Table captains are critical to making OPALGA’s largest fundraiser of the year a success.
What would your responsibilities be as a table captain? It’s simple: You would select friends to invite (tables are typically 10–12 people), mail preprinted and preassembled invitations to them, and collect RSVPs and payments.
If you are interested in serving in this important role for OPALGA’s 20th anniversary Gala, contact Greg Raub at gpr@comcast.net or 708-763-0818 for more information. Invitations will be printed and ready for mailing starting in early March.
