Susan Arnoffat (197 ''S
Life", Provincetown, MA

Avermont
Swim for Life?

BY BENNETT LAW

A full 225 swimmers
joined the 1997 Swim_for Life
in Provincetown, 50 more than
last year. The response was so
unexpected that organizers ran
out of wet suits and bathing
caps. Even in its 10th year, the
Swim for Life keeps growing.

More and more, Ver-
monters seem to want their
own version of this AIDS
fundraising event. Initiation of
a Vermont Swim for Life on
Lake Champlain, or Lake
Elmore has captured the
imaginations of a handful of
Vermont swimmers. Susan
Aranoff, a two—ti_me partici-
pant in the Provincetown
event, believes this idea ”is tre-

mendously yiable. There are so.

many.Verm,ont swimmers who
have done other swims and
raised funds through their par-
ticipation - this tells me that
there is a huge potential here.”
Aranoff has discussed
this possibility with Swim for
Life coordinator, Jay Critchley.
Critchley has already spun off
his event to a half-dozen other
locales, including a swim in
Chesapeake Bay, and is even
working internationally now,
having founded ‘I Swim,‘ the
International Swim for Life.
In exchange for his tech-

nical assistance, which in- 4

cludes the names and ad-
dresses of regional swimmers,
help with the timing mecha-
nisms, provisions for safety of
the swimmers, measuring dis-
tances, and securing the sanc-
tion of the US Masters Swim-
mers Association, Critchley re-
quires a percentage of the gross
funds raised or, alternatively, a
flat fee. Aranoff's early budget
projections suggest that
Critchley's compensation
would be the largest up front
cost, perhaps as high as half of
the total budget. Ironically

- enough, payment of this fee

represents another instance of
fundraising dollars flowing
out of state.

Anyone with an interest

. in participating in the organiz-

ing of a Vermont Swim for Life
may contact Bennett Law in
care of this paper, or at (802)
234-9344. All interested will be
heartily welcomed to partici-
pate in a planning session later
this fall!

 

COALITION NOTES: 1
Can we tawk?— it's been ages!

Coming together is something we rarely get a chance to «

do in the Vermont GLBT community. For those who were able
to make it to Burlington Pride this year, walking together with
friends, kids, parents, scheming and screaming with pride about
gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender lives, lives of women and
men, differently-abled lives, white lives, Dominican lives,
French—Canadian lives, feminist lives, Black American lives, and
Jewish lives, we were reminded of what it is to be together. In
most every sense of the experience, it was worth the trip. _

On November 8th, the annual statewide VCLGR confer-
ence will be another of these shared locations among us. Vet-
eran queers, gay men, bisexuals, transpeople, queer youth, les-
bians, parents, college queers are all where this thing is at. Our
Family Reunion: Embracing all Shades of Lavender extends an
invitation to your life, your family, your needs, and yes, your
politics. '

Be with us for nationally—known lesbian and African-
American comedian Karen William's keynote presentation on
sex awareness, humor, and social justice. Throughout the day of
the conference, local healers, vendors, craftspeople, and com-
munity non—profits will have tables for folks to explore and con-
nect with. The range of workshops will include the following
subjects, and more: Let's laugh about sex, Queer youth speak-
out, the Freedom to Marry in Vermont, obtaining domestic part-
ner benefits in your company, adoption, building a queer com-
munity, revolution and relaxation, gays in the Holocaust, OlTM’s
role in the gay community, second-hand religion to first—hand
spirituality, Radical Faeries, gay activism and AIDS activism,
and healing in lesbian relationships. Karen William's first
VCLGR ‘appearance will take place the evening before the con-
ference, on-stage at Middlebury College, half-way between
Burlington and Rutlan_d. (FMI, call David, 388-0750)

The afternoon Town Meeting will reintroduce the work of
the VCLGR and its Board of Directors for 1996-1997. Also at this
time, the one- and two— year terms of service on the Board will
be open for nomination and election. Pleasetconsider nominat-

ing yourself or a friend (18 years of age or older) to be a 1

Boardmember for 1997-1998, and be a part of VCLGR's continu-
ing missions and changing visions. Nominations for the Board,
as well as nominations for the VCLGR couirage, leadership, and
volunteer of the year awards are welcome at 623-6131.

Coffee and muffins will be served at 8:30 am on the 8th.
We realize the significant travel involved for many Vermonters
in attending the conference, and we would like to make men-
tion of the special confe'rence-rate of $49/ night at the Rutland
Holiday Inn. For people coming to Karen William's pre-confer-
ence comedy show at Middlebury College on Friday evening,
the Holiday Inn (802-775-0113) might be a good place to ca_tch a
full nine hours of sleep. ’

The VCLGR would like to express its gratitude to the
people and organizations who have supported us in prepara-
tion for the 5th annual statewide conference. We're looking for-
ward to seeing you.

/COME EARLY, GAY, ALONE, AND TOGETHER.

Please pre-register with Charlotte Gladding. (438-2023)

In Pride,
Vermont Coalition for Lesbian and Gay Rights

OUT IN THE MOUNTAINS — OCTOBER 1997 - 7

    

ons/dining

100 Acres 0 Pool
Hot Tub 5 Trails

6.56‘
‘H1

20 Charming Rooms
Peace 8: Privacy

Claude; ‘Inn

PO. Box ll8
Bethlehem, NH 03374
(603) 869-3978

A LESBIAN PARADISE

   
  
  
 

Seafood
and Slmk Tnzzem

LUDLOWS PREMIERE DINNER HOUSEE

 

Route 103 - I.,udIow, v.:mu§n: - 802-228-5(i22
V"isiI Our \*\/cl) l’uge: hI'tp:/  wu«"w.sovei‘.net  »-sL’rnI‘oruIl

 

.’~\I‘Cil(lI2l Ilouse V Elegzmt. Accomnioclzuions
PO Box 520 V Hyde I’;n'k, VT 05655 V 802-888-9147'
john 'l'o\\-‘nu V Ed Pepe V Innl-zccpcrs

    

 

(802) 524-6135

 

g Feesn SEAFOOD, LUNCHES. Omneas. SPECIALTV Fooos. CATERING
65 NORTH MAIN Smear ST. ALBANS. VT 05478

 

One way to facilitate the
involvement of a broader

Eagle Group Soars at IBM

population of Vermonters in

community fundraising is to
create opportunities for indi-
viduals to engage their per-
sonal interests, talents, and en-
thusiasm; the importance of
developing fundraising events
that spark real interest in its
participants is crucial to their
success. As the AIDS Rides
have demonstrated, there is a

continued from front page

EAGLE hopes to promote a sense of community among mem-
bers, to serve as an information resource on lesbian and gay is-

and/ or for lesbian and gay employees. Other goals of EAGLE
are to be a resource for IBM in identifying and maximizing busi-
ness relationships in gay and lesbian markets and participate in
corporate, location, and community projects. The Burlington
Chapter was formed in ]uly. The question of who can be a mem-
ber of is best expressed in the first article of the by-laws: ~

sues, and to recognize and communicate contributions made by

 

parties.

population likely to be in-
tensely interested in undertak-
ing a border-to-border bike
ride, say from Canada to Mas-
sachusetts. Are there folks in- _
terested in developing this as
a community fund—raiser, per-
haps as a PRIDE event, or to
benefit Out in the Mountains
or Outright Vermont? Let us
know here at OITM, and we
will help connect interested

other guests.

representatives listed here.

I ‘EAGLE/eagle.ht_ml).

”Membership in the EAGLE for IBM Employees — Burlington Chapter shall be defined as
those members of EAGLE for IBM Employees working in the Burlington area, as well as those
working in nearby areas that do not have their own local Chapter. Regular members include IBM
US employees who are full-time, part—time, on a flexible work leave of absence, supplemental, or
retired and vendors or subcontractors who work for IBM US. Guest members include commu-
nity constituents, IBM customers, the partners and family members of regular members, and

IBM employees interested in becoming a member of EAGLE may contact one of the group

\

For EAGLE information, Contact either Mary Alice Schatzle at (802) 769-4835
_(maschatz@us.ibm.com), or Jim Leavens at (802) 769-4413 (jleavens@us.ibm.com). For IBM em-
ployees with intranet web access, check out the EAGLE web site (http:/ /pdcarey.pok.ibm.com/

I