forefront of countless Gay Pride pa- rades, using the power of collective ‘human voices to celebrate and affirm our joy at who we are, and to impart this sense of joy and fun to others. in order that our new chorus may more hilly take advantage of this “Hallelujah! Vermont Finall has enough harmonious homos to "tart a chorus.” strong world-wide movement, the Board of Directors has voted to apply for membership in GALA Choruses, lnc., located in Washington, DC. This organization provides excellent re- sources and opportunities for net- working among it’s over 170 member- choruses, which consist of over 10,000 gay and lesbian singers. The current member-choruses range from a live-voice group to a 252 member chorus. The motto of GALA Choruses is “Our Voices Win Freedom”. For anyone who’s interested, mark your calendars for the week-long Festival 2000, to be held July 22-30, 2000 in San Jose, California, itwill bethe larg- est gathering (and group sing- 6,000+ voices) in the history of gay and lesbian choruses. lf prior GALA events are any indication, this one’s going to be extraordinary. On Sunday, September 13, at the UU. Church at 134 Main St. in Montpelier, the first general meeting of The Vocal Minority will be held from 4 to 7 p.m.. All interested parties are cordially invited to attend. The gen- eral meeting will be preceded by an open Board meeting to be held at 3:30 p.m. Anyone interested in joining the Board or offering input is welcome to attend. Those wishing to be consid- ered as performing members of the chorus are asked to be prepared for private auditions with the Director. The choice of audition music is up to the participant. The gathering will also include an opportunity for group singing. Ac- companiment and sheet music will be provided. Attend- ees are encour- aged to bring along music and/or sug- gestions for the group-sing portion of this gathering as well. The organizers welcome ad- ditional input trom all comers (even non-singers, since there are a lot of tasks off-stage as well, includ- ing fundraising, scheduling, etc.). For those unable to attend this meeting, future auditions are planned which will be announced in these pages. it is an- ticipated that future auditions will take place in various areas of Vermont, to accommodate as many prospective member as possible, times/places to be announced. To participate in the perform- ing arm of the Chorus, individuals will be required to demonstrate a degree of musical/vocal talent, however, no formal musical training is required. Some musical notation skills will be expected on the part of members as the Chorus grows in size and reper- toire, but those with even rudimentary 1 1‘. 1 musical notation skills will not be ex- . cluded. The organizers plan to pro- vide some remedial and basic train- ing in this area as needed. For further information or to offer inputl suggestions/donations, interested parties can eitherphone us at 802-2292 160 mm Tavcar, Director), or contact us via email at robynyves@together. netor, itpretened, via snail mail: Tim Menk, PO Box 69, South Flyegate, VT05069-0069 Celebration of Mutual Aid.Set For September 26th BY NEIL HEIMS In a time when most social, sexual, economic, political and moral thought is shaped in terms estab- lished by a conservative agenda, it is essential for all of us who long for and are working towards a life governed by voluntary cooperation and dedi- cated to human liberation to gather ourselves together to inspire each other by our strength and vitality, by the breadth of our thought and the depth of our vision and by the authen- ticity of our dedication. The Institute for the Develop- ment of Cultural Awareness and Change. — an activist organization dedicated to reconceptualizing our social, sexual, institutional, moral and economic axioms for the purpose of creating a society governed by Mu- tualAid rather than Coercion, Punish- ment and Competition - is organizing a Festival to mark this time for rededi- cation and a new beginning with a Festive Celebration, Saturday, Sep- tember 26, 1998, in Burlington, Vt. The Festival will start at one in the afternoon in Burlington City Hall Park. There will be live music and panels focusing on issues of control and liberation. Panelists will include Grace Paley, Will Miller, lren Smolarski, Chris Moes, Orin Langelle, Peggy Luhrs, Marc Estrin Oak LoGalbo and John Douglas. The evening program, beginning at seven forty-five in Contois Auditorium, will in- clude a performance piece by Steve Ben Israel, whose show non-violent executions recently played at The Theater for the New City in Manhat- tan. Following him Judith Malina, co- founder, with the late Julian Beck, of The Living Theater will speak. There will be a break between altemoon and evening events for a community meal at the Food Shelf at 228 North Winooski Avenue at five thirty. Admission to all events is free. For further information, please call 802.658.6862 or e-mail idcao@together.net. 9 WEDNESDAY Montpelier - Central Vermont Free- dom to Many Task Force meeting on Sept. 23, 7 p.m., VT CARES office. 73 Main St. a} THURSDAY Middlebury - Food and fun at Neil and Otto’s Pizza Cellar, Merchant's Row, 6:30pm. Everyone welcome. Board games kids of all ages and the chance to just hang out for those who cant take the competition. FMl: Barb - 388-8298 or wordsrus@together.net % FRIDAY Montpelier ~ Ham Reduction Over- view Course: Taimg Drug Users Se- riously. 9am-4pm (will begin PROMPTLY at 9am). Registration will begin at 8am Capitol Plaza Confer- ence Center, State Street, Cost: $25, includes lunch and CEUs. Featured speaker Edith Springer is a nationally known speaker and trainer from the New York- based Harm Reduction Training Institute and has spent her career working with marginalized populations in the areas otdrug treat- ment, HIV prevention and care, and harm reduction. For more information: Contact Rachel Lurie at 1-800-244- 7639 or 651-1534. Email: rlurie@vdh.state..vt.us , SATURDAY . Albany, NY -Albany Pride Event: 5-8 pm, A family potluck for parents and children sponsored by Lambda Fam- ity Circle. FMi CDGLCC, PO Box 131. Albany. NY12201 516-462-6138, ext. 32. Burlington - OITM stuffing, 10 am. Come help mail out your community paper, some ocializing is allowed. Outright Otlice, Corner of inooski Ave. and College St. above Nan Patrick. Burlington - Mountain Pride Media Board Meeting,1 pm. Open to the public. FMI: 865-294 Burlington - The institute for the De- velopmentofCultural Awareness and Change presents A Celebration of Mutual Aid. Afternoon in City Hall Park from 1 to 4245, live music; Panels on the drug war, ecology, pacitism, me- dia, anger and depression. Evening from 7:45 to 11 :30, in Contois Audito- rium Katherine Quinn, folk singer. Steve Ben Israel, NYC performing artist, Judith Malina, co-founder ofThe Living Theater. A community meal from 5:30 to 7:00 at the Food Shelf at . 228 North Winooski Ave. Admission to all events if free. For further info call 802.658.6862 or e-mail’ idcac.@.toge.tt1er.n.et. - I. St Johnsbury - 12:30pm, AlDSWalk. Starts and ends at Courthouse Park. FMI: l_1ttpJlhomepage.s.toge.ther.net! :rwoldlAlD_SVllalk98.htm W SUNDAY Albany, NY -Albany Pride Event: 6-8 pm, Cabaret Show. FMl: CDGLCC, PO Box 131, Albany, NY 12201 516- 462-6138, ext. 32. Burlington - The First Congregational Church, 11am, Vermont Freedom to Marry Task Force representatives will be speaking following the Churchrs regular service. FMI Wendy Belnner 802 652-0723 Q MONDAY Albany, NY -Albany Pride Event: Gay Teens Straight From the Heart: a panel discussion on teen FMl: CDGLCC, PO Box 131, Albany, NY 12201 516-462-6138, ext. 32. Albany, NY - Albany Pride Event: 7 pm, Healing celebration at Emmanuel Baptist Church Social Hall. FMl: CDGLCC, PO Box 131, Albany. NY 12201 516-462-6138, ext. 32. ‘ CALENDAR CONTINUES, 18 — 1€"§% e%%j§f_fi-$Ifl&%%S§f.§%%P!£FEiHlE§!‘§Efl¥E§E'Z‘l3ZWlS5'§§fl2B§'E?.\A"Z€E2EZt'2."L’£&WI-*&555$BIEi%§i%SiE2Y‘%J