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.
February Book Club
On February 18, book club members will discuss Running with Scissors, a memoir by Augusten Burroughs. Burroughs shares his survival story after his eccentric mother left him in the care of her shrink, a man who might have benefited from a little therapy himself. Critics rave that this book is both horrifying and hysterical. A must read!
Upcoming selections include Zami: A New Spelling of My Name by Audre Lorde in March and The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros in April.
We will decide on book selections for May through July at the February meeting. Hope to see you there! Visit www.opalga.org for updates.
The book club meetings take place on Sundays from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at The OPALGA Center, 947 Garfield, Oak Park. All books are available through www.amazon.com. In addition, copies will be made available at the Oak Park Public Library as well as at The Book Table. Remember, OPALGA receives a charitable donation from The Book Table for each book purchased there. Please let them know that you are purchasing your book as part of the OPALGA book club.
Queer Eye for the Pampered Chef?
Rev. Betsy Ritzman and Dr. Cheryl Haugh are hosting a hot-hot-hot pampered trip to the tropics, with not-just-a-little sultry pampered chef consultant Nancy Mullen—and if you are very lucky, maybe even a guest appearance by Nancy’s partner, who we hear is a professional chef herself.
Come join us for the fun on Sunday, February 25, at 1:00 p.m., 328 N. Ridgeland Ave., Oak Park.
Learn how to make a mojito and jerk a chicken. You know what we mean! Then, load up on kitchen gear to keep your hearth heated up this winter—part of every purchase will be donated to OPALGA’s youth drop-in programs. Please, please, please don’t be a chicken or a jerk—RSVP by February 20 to (708) 848-0273 or .
If you can’t attend, shop ahead of time at www.pamperedchef.com, and notify Nancy at of your order so that it can be assigned to this party. Orders must be submitted by March 2.
February Coffeehouse Cancelled
The Coffeehouse scheduled for Friday, February 16th has been cancelled. Please join us on Friday, March 16th for the powerhouse singer/songwriter duo of Brianna Lane and Emily White. They have toured the country and will be at the Buzz Cafe 905 S. Lombard, Oak Park at 7:00 P.M. for the return of OPALGA’s Coffeehouse.
January Message From The Co-Chairs
As we begin a new year, and one in which we will celebrate our 18th anniversary as an organization, we must look back on 2006 with a sense of both joy and sorrow. During the last year, two of our dear friends passed away. We continue to miss both Ethel Cotovsky and Rob Ward. They both gave tirelessly to the association and were passionate about our work. Their passing has reminded us of the importance of those who give their time, talent, and treasure for this organization. We also owe tremendous gratitude to all of our general organization and to the Youth Program volunteers, as well as all of the participants in our various programs and events throughout the year. We must also thank our professional staff, Susan Abbott, our Youth Program Director, and Jan Hannigan, our Office Manager.
We also appreciate the work of our Board of Directors, including Treasurer Mike Cochran, Secretary Sherrie Wolfe, and members-at-large Anita Csuk, Lee Latham, Rick McVey, Lisa Pearson, Liz Stallone, Davida Williams, Michael Williams, and JoAnn Ziebarth. In February of 2006, the Board of Directors met to establish its priorities for the organization. They were:
• Membership Development: Recruitment, encouraging broad involvement and retention;
• Organizational Development: Building future capabilities;
• Marketing of the Organization: Building public relations capabilities and identifying appropriate strategies;
• Fundraising: Develop appropriate strategies for diversifying funding sources and approaches;
• Increased and Diversified Programming: Lay groundwork for the future and develop niche programs applying to a variety of subgroups within the organization.
These priorities have driven both the direction and the work of the organization.
Last, we must thank you, our members and supporters, for your continued support. We look forward to serving you in 2007, and we ask you to continue your support and participation and that you introduce others to OPALGA. Together, we can continue to do great things for our community.
January Book Club
The selection for the upcoming OPALGA book club meeting is Fall on Your Knees by Canadian playwright and actor Ann-Marie MacDonald. This novel is a sprawling saga about five generations of a family from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. This epic tale of family history, family secrets, and music centers on four sisters and their relationships with each other and with their father. Set in the coalmining communities of Nova Scotia in the early part of the twentieth century, the story also shifts to the battlefields of World War I and the jazz scene of New York City in the 1920s.
The book club will meet on Sunday, January 14, 2007, at 2:00 p.m. at The OPALGA Center, 947 Garfield, Oak Park. Copies of the book are available at http://www.amazon.com, the Oak Park Public Library (834 Lake St., Oak Park), and The Book Table (1045 Lake St., Oak Park). Please join us for a lively and interesting discussion!
Two Special Events Coming Your Way
If you are thinking that January is a month during which the busy holiday social season quiets down and you can recover from all of the revelry and good cheer, think again! OPALGA reminds you of two upcoming, exciting events that will be the talk of the town as winter really settles in!
OPALGA Jazz Brunch
On Sunday, January 21, 2007, OPALGA invites old and new friends to relax after the holidays at a brunch at Cucina Paradiso, 814 North Blvd., Oak Park. The brunch will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and will feature jazz music, a holiday gift, and an assortment of delectable dishes. A cash bar will also be available.
Tickets for the brunch are $18.00 in advance or $23.00 at the door. To purchase tickets in advance, call The OPALGA Center at 708-848-0273. We look forward to seeing you there!
Brunch with Hemingway
On Sunday, January 28, 2007, OPALGA and the Center on Halsted are joining forces to present a truly special event. At 11:00 a.m., we will partake of a scrumptious brunch at Hemmingway’s Bistro, 211 N. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park. During the brunch, you can socialize with old and new friends, and you’ll have an opportunity to learn more about OPALGA and the Center on Halsted.
Following the brunch, at approximately 1:30 p.m., you will be treated to a tour of the Ernest Hemingway Museum (200 N. Oak Park Ave.) and the Ernest Hemingway Birthplace Home (339 N. Oak Park Ave.). The Museum includes temporary and permanent exhibits compiled of rare photographs, sample writings, letters, and unique memorabilia collected from the Hemingway family. The Birthplace Home has been meticulously restored to its turnof- the-century grandeur. One of the greatest writers of the twentieth century, Hemingway spent the first six years of his life in this grand house. Authentic period carpeting, light fixtures, and some furniture owned by the Hemingway family, as well as family artifacts and treasures, are featured in this guided tour.
Tickets for Brunch with Hemingway are $35.00, which includes brunch and admission to the Museum and Birthplace Home. To purchase tickets, call The OPALGA Center at 708-848-0273 or visit the Center on Halsted Web site at http://www.centeronhalsted.org. You won’t want to miss this outstanding event!
Queer In The New Year
Okay, so the holidays have passed and you’re trying to figure out where to put all of your loot, who you forgot to call, and how you’re going to make up for those little faux pas. Well, OPALGA has a way to Queer in the New Year. You can start by taking a friend or two to the jazz brunch on Sunday, January 21, at Cucina Pardiso (see enclosed flier). Unwind with your friends, reflect on the holidays, tell a good story or two, and partake in a champagne toast for the new year.
If the budget is tight after all of your generous gift-giving, join us for the start of our 2007 Coffeehouse season on Friday, January 19, at 7:00 p.m. at the Buzz Café (905 S. Lombard, Oak Park), featuring Andrea Bunch and Aerin Tedesco, a mesmerizing duo with tantalizing harmony. They hail from the Old Town School of Folk Music, and they are guaranteed to bring down the house Then, you can join us for an educational workshop at the Oak Park Public Library in February. The topic will be finance and investing for “people like us”; how to invest your hard-earned money, lower your taxes, and make sure that your partner and children are provided for, plus other legal aspects of our finances and our lives.
What’s next? March Madness, OPALGA style. That’s right, we’re not talking college basketball, we’re talking a theater outing, potluck, coffeehouse, and drag show. Are you a friend of Dorothy’s? Well, kick off March Madness with some of your friends and ease on down the yellow brick road for the opening performance of “The Wiz” at the Theatre Building, 1225 W. Belmont, Chicago. Lions and tigers and city life, oh my! (Saturday, March 3, 7:00 p.m., ticket price TBA.) Then, we have our monthly potluck, the second Friday of the month, and we are happy to announce a lot of new potluck hosts for 2007, so don’t miss these monthly gatherings, all year long. And, finally, there’s the 6th annual OPALGA Dragmania Show. We’re back!!!!!! Your friends and pals Monica Marlowe, Mike Hawk, Johnny E., and other queens and queers are going to don the drag and gay apparel and dance the light fandango. Check the next Empower and our Web site, http://www.opalga.org, for updates on these events. Hope to see you there!
Message from the Co-Chairs
November was a big month! The winds of change spread far and wide across our country as voters cast ballots in the midterm elections. As you have no doubt heard or seen, the Democratic Party will take control of both the United States House of Representative and the Senate in January. We hope that there will be a friendlier ear for LGBT issues and concerns in the new Congress. We also certainly hope that you were able to get out and vote on election day. It is a right that we cannot afford to waste.
The LGBT community continued to be used as a punching bag for those set on restricting our rights as Americans to participate fully in society. Going into the elections, we had hoped that the citizens of Wisconsin would turn back a constitutional amendment to enshrine discrimination into their state constitution, but the amendment passed despite the work of many dedicated citizens who opposed it. The bright spot among the states where marriage amendments were on the ballot was in Arizona. There, the citizens defeated a marriage amendment proposal. This defeat was not by a large margin. It was actually similar to the margin that sustained a domestic partnership registry in Oak Park in a vote in the late 90s. A victory, no matter how small, is a victory nonetheless. The significance of the Arizona amendment defeat cannot be overlooked. Nor can the fact that the electoral margins in many of the other states were not as overwhelming as in previous years. We may be seeing a slight shift. Let us hope that attitudes will continue to evolve and one day we will be working to remove constitutional amendments that restrict our rights to marry across the country as opposed to fighting to keep these restrictive amendments out of state constitutions.
We were also excited about the victories of Debra Shore and Mary Colleen Roberts. Debra won a seat on the Metropolitan Water Reclamation Commission and is the first from the LGBT community to win countywide office. Debra and her partner live on the North Shore, but she spent a tremendous amount of time in the area cultivating support for her candidacy. Debra attended this year’s annual OPAL Gala and is committed to becoming a friend of the organization. Mary Colleen Roberts, along with her partner Alison, are active members of OPALGA. Mary was elected to the 11th Judicial Subcircuit of Cook County. Although anticipating a stint as a new judge in Traffic Court (which is the traditional assignment for new judges), Mary is looking forward to serving the needs of the people of Cook County.
Last, we would be remiss if we didn’t thank those who attended our annual meeting in early November. We had a wonderful turnout, and we hope that the meeting was informative. OPALGA is doing great things, and we want to make sure that you know what is going on within the organization on your behalf. We hope to send out our first formal annual report in February. We also want to congratulate Dr. Cheryl Haugh, who was reelected as Female Co-Cair, and Sherrie Wolfe, who was reelected as Board Secretary, and the four Board Members-at-Large were who were also reelected: J. Lee Latham, Rick McVey, Liz Stallone, and Michael Williams. We look forward to their continued commitment and vitality.
Thank you for your continued support of OPALGA.
Holiday Passion Inspires Christmas House Collection
You are in for a special treat at the December Potluck. It is not a delectable treat, but rather the home itself. This month’s host is Jerry Ehernberger. Some of you may remember when Jerry last hosted a potluck in January of 2005. It was a tremendous pleasure.
In the December 2004 issue of Empower, Jerry wrote, “My passion for Christmas includes a collection of decorations from the 1880s to the 1950s, some being featured in the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Sun Times, Americana, McCall’s, Better Homes and Gardens, and the Museum of Science and Industry. Twenty-five years ago, I started “The Golden Glow of Christmas Past,” an international club and major network for hundreds of avid collectors, many of whom are “family” and also my adopted family. Struggling with my displays and lights is a labor of love but very rewarding when enjoyed by visitors. You’re welcome to wander both floors and encounter something you might remember from Grandma’s tree!”
If you would like a sneak peek, visit Jerry’s Web site. You will certainly not want to miss our December Potluck. For more information, please see this month’s calendar.
Annual Meeting Recap
On November 1, OPALGA held its annual meeting at Holley Court Terrace. Approximately 35 attendees enjoyed a lavish spread of delicious hors d’oeuvres, desserts, and beverages. Co-Chair Brad Bartels welcomed OPALGA members to the meeting and then introduced members of the Oak Park-based American Opera Group, who treated attendees to two selections from their current production of “Die Fledermaus.”
After the musical entertainment, Bartels gave a presentation on the state of the association, including a review of our mission and goals, accomplishments, and programs. Board Treasurer Mike Cochrane reported on the 2006 budget and year-to-date income and expenses.
Youth Program Director Susan Abbott spoke about the sometimes surprising results she encounters on her educational outreach travels, this time at a recent visit to 75 students at Concordia University Chicago in River Forest.
Nominating Committee member Susan Anderson announced the results of the recent Board of Directors election. Dr. Cheryl Haugh was reelected as Female Co-Chair, and Sherrie Wolfe was reelected as Board Secretary. Four Board Members-at-Large were also reelected: J. Lee Latham, Rick McVey, Liz Stallone, and Michael Williams.
An OPALGA Annual Report will be mailed to the membership in February, 2007.
