Pride Picnic recap

By Michael Mahler

The 16th Annual Pride Picnic held on June 28 was a wonderful success! We had about 300 people join us, which ties with the all-time record for a local GLBT event that was open to the general public.

For their very generous donations, we would like to thank Zodiac Dinor, Zone Dance Club, Craze Night Club, Wal-Mart, Wegman’s - Peach Street, Body Language, Papa Joe’s Pepperoni Cafe, Say What? Productions, Papa Joe’s Pepperoni Cafe West, Pepsi Bottling Group, Erie Sisters, Pie in the Sky Cafe, Jr’s Last Laugh, Laughing Duck Bookstore and Coffee House, Erie County Department of Health, Crime Victim Center of Erie County, Inc., Two Friends Italian Market, Keva, and Max & Erma’s for their very generous donations! Please support the people who support us!

Media coverage was by WICU TV 12.

Organizations represented at the picnic included Community Health Net, Erie Safe Kids Coalition, Erie County Department of Health, Drenched Fur, Pittsburgh Prevention Project, LBT Women of Erie, Erie Gay Pride, Inc, PFLAG, Erie Gay Business Alliance, the Obama ‘08 campaign, Planned Parenthood, American Civil Liberties Union, Kathy Dahlkemper for Congress, and the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Erie.

Thanks to the Pride Picnic planning committee, that included Garry, Mary Lou, Jeremy Snyder, Gary Snyder, Jeff Hill, Michelle, Mike from the Zodiac, Dave Martin, David Shaffer and Brian.

Mary Lou did a fabulous job of organizing for children. We had a big jump in the number of people who brought their children, compared with last year.

Thanks to Jeff Hill, Garry, and Michelle for their terrific help with shopping and transporting. Thanks to Deb Spilko and James von Loewe for taking photos. Kudos to Erie Gay News graphic artist Mike Lipiec for designing the flyer not only for the picnic, but also the handout for the LBT Women’s group. Many thanks also to Joe Totleben for help with securing donations and promoting the picnic.

Gary and Jeremy did an excellent job of running the kitchen the day of the event. Special thanks to Raven McClain and Paul who spontaneously helped out for most of the day, as well as Pat Rowley.

We believe one of the most important aspects of the picnic is creating a friendly and welcoming environment. Huge thanks to AJ Sementilli, Michelle, Bryan Atwater, Mike Kohler, Don Craig, Renee, Mark H, and Bruce Shrout for volunteering at the registration table and greeting folks with smiling faces. Thanks to Season, Chris, and Maureen Koseff for taking the face photos.

Huge thanks to Brian Lonyo for making the silent auction such a phenomenal success.

Performers included David Shaffer, Devin Redinger and Lottie Hatfield. Huge thanks to DJ Jason G and DJ J-Roc for running karaoke which was a delightful addition, as well as for providing equipment. Many thanks to the Laffans as well as the Covenant of Brighid’s Haven for the use of the easy-up for the performer area.

Comments

 

Add your comment

Please note! You must fill in a name to display (example, John Smith, John, or Erie Dude), as well as a valid email address. To guard against spam, we also require that you fill in your real name and address. We will not display that or give it out; it is for internal use only.

You will need to reply to the email that we send for your comment to be displayed. If you do not reply, then your comment will be discarded.

Want to get a free sample copy of the most current issue of Erie Gay News mailed to you? Just check off the Send Sample checkbox in the form below!

The issue will arrive in a plain white envelope, with only

1115 W 7th St
Erie PA 16502-1105

As the return address. There will be a specially discounted subscription form inside.

Display your name as:	This can be either an alias or your first name or real name.
Email:
Display Email:
Comment:
Website:	This should begin with http://
First Name:
Last Name:
Address:
City:
State:
Zip:
Send Sample Copy

Email Lists	(Separate from posting your comment, there are several email lists to which you can subscribe. Choose which lists you would like to subscribe to.
Erie GLBT News/Events:		GLBT news, events and announcements for the Erie PA region. This is the largest list we maintain.
Erie Gay Business Alliance:		Networking for professionals and those working for a better Erie.
Menspace:		Monthly social group for Gay/Bi men that moves in a different location each month. The attendees are a broad range of ages, backgrounds, demographics, etc. Although the dates for Menspace socials are listed on the calendar, some guys prefer not to list their home address. Join this list to find out where to meet new friends!
Womynspace:		Discussion/Event group for gay/bi womyn
GLBT Voters:		GLBT people and their supporters who want to volunteer to get out the vote.
Picnic:		This is the planning committee for the annual Pride Picnic that happens in June each year. If you want to be in on making this happen and helping out, join up!
Monthly Reminders:		Do you plan events or have news that you would like included in the print and online version of Erie Gay News? Join this list, and we will send you a reminder once a month before our deadline to send in news/events/etc.

Enter Security Code:

We reserve the right to edit/delete comments that are offensive, mean-spirited or inappropriate.

Time left for George W Bush Presidency

Erie Gay News
1115 W 7th St
Erie PA 16502
(814) 456-9833
info@eriegaynews.com
Co-editors Michael Mahler and Deb Spilko