Happy Monday fellow Halifeminists!!

The sunshine is finally here (woooooooo!!) and I have a LIST of events that are perfect for making the most of this beautiful weather!! (And some other notices and updates as well).

1- The Big Gay BBQ
2- Radical Cheerleaders!
3- All-Female Breakdancing Crew
4- Free Store
5- Womyn's Centre Board Meeting
6- Volunteer Office Hours Schedule
7- Womyn's Centre Zine
8- Sexual Health in Nova Scotia
9- A Guide to Cunnilingus: Workshop at VenusEnvy
10- Club 200 Camping Trip
11- Pride Committee Planning meeting
12- FemFest Planning Committee
13- Atlantic Waves Conference Collective


1- The Big Gay BBQ!!

The Queer Positive Community is scheduling a BBQ/ potluck for Sunday, June 25th. Georgia and Lorah have graciously offered the use of their awesome new house on Yukon St. for the occasion, and the event is open to anyone who is interested (queer/queer-friendly being the only stipulation).

For more information and updates on this QPC event, as well as others, you can check out the QPC page @ www.myspace.com/queersunite, or reach the QPC by E-Mail @ queerpositivesmu@hotmail.com.

It's gonna be a great time! So come on out, and bring your Barbeque-ables and beverages for some patio chillin in the sun, (VEGGIE)burgers, PRIDE planning, and cool queer company.

Hope to see lots of you there!!


2- Radical Cheerleaders!

This is a shout out to anyone who has ever wanted to be a cheerleader (:P), anyone who wants to be involved in active protest against injustice of various sorts, or who just likes to perform, be crazy and have fun!

What I'm envisioning is a group of feminist individuals (not necessarily all female) that will perform radical cheers at different events- protests, take back the night, Femfest?... the possibilities are endless!

If you want to see what radical cheerleading has been about for other squads, or learn about the origins of radical cheerleading, you can check out the following link- but every group is unique, and we'll go with whatever works best for us!

http://radcheers.tripod.com/RC/

So anyone who is interested, please let me know! This is so exciting- I'm already writing radical cheers! haha


3- All-Female Breakdancing Crew

This is open to all womyn, regardless of skill level. It's an opportunity to meet and learn from one another- even if you've never breakdanced before.

Jen is in the process of trying to secure a venue for us to use; so for anyone else who wants in- you haven't missed out on anything yet! Get in touch with Jen @ jennifer.crawford@smu.ca and let her know you'd like to take part!


4- Free Store

We're planning a clothing swap for sometime next month, so hang onto those Value Village donations for a couple more weeks!

All you have to do is donate the clothing that you don't wear, and then you can go shopping at the "Free Store".

I'll post the date and time here once it is set.


5- Womyn's Centre Board Meeting

Current board members: Please let me know what your availability is for the last week of June/ first week of July so that we can schedule a board meeting for that time.

Also- if there is anyone interested in sitting on the board this year, we certainly welcome new faces, so please either let me know by E-mail @ GrrrlyGirl@Animail.com, or by joining us at the board meeting :)


6- Volunteer Office Hours Schedule

Current volunteers: Please let me know by the end of next week if you are able to continue your current office hours schedule during the second summer session, or if you would like to change your hours, etc.

If anyone else has time they'd like to donate, we would love to hear from you too!!


7- Womyn's Centre Zine

If anyone is interested in playing a larger part in the creation/production of the zine that I mentioned last week (if you would like to write a regular column, edit articles, or help us create a design/ logo for the zine- anything!), please contact:

Vanessa @ vanessa_mk@hotmail.com,
or Holly @ grrrlygirl@animail.com.

Once we get a team together we can set a date to meet up and discuss our ideas! And again- we're looking for articles about issues that are relevant to womyn, so if you have something you just want to share, but would rather not participate in the organization process; that's perfectly ok! You can drop off any submissions at the centre, or send it by E-Mail.

I know you all have beefs, ideas and insights that you're dying to share- and this is your opportunity! Let your voice be heard!


8- Sexual Health in Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia’s seven Planned Parenthood offices invite you to come review the highlights of the past few hundred years of Sexual Health in Nova Scotia, see where we are today, and discuss where we might be going as a province. You will also witness a small-but-vital piece of (her)story as each Planned Parenthood office drops its “Planned Parenthood” name for one that better reflects the future of sexual health care needs in their communities.

Who: Dr. Pam Brown, M.D., Planned Parenthood Metro Clinic Clinic co-founder & Sexual Health Care Specialist, Arlene MacDonald, President, Planned Parenthood Nova Scotia, Rhonda Phillips, Executive Director, Planned Parenthood Metro Clinic

When: Wednesday June 21, 2006

Where: Seasons Bistro – lounge area, Holiday Inn Select, Halifax, 1980 Robie Street at Quinpool Road, Halifax

Time: 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Refreshments will be served.

Please confirm your attendance by June 19 by e-mail (admin@pphalifax.ca) or call PlannedParenthood Metro Clinic reception at 902-455-9656 ext 0.


9- Going Down: A Guide to Cunnilingus: Workshop at VenusEnvy

This workshop will cover anatomy, technique, communication skills and tricks to please your lady with your lips. And tongue, and teeth, and hands, and then some!

Date: Sunday, June 25th

Time: 7:15pm

Cost: $20.00 (limited income $10.00)

Please pre-register by calling 422-0004 visit www.venusenvy.ca for details

10- Please Note:
The Club 200 Camping Trip has been CANCELLED

11- Pride Committee Planning meeting
*reminder

This is your invitation to come and help plan for the fabulous-est Pride in Halifax ever in 2006 @ YouthProject, 2281 Brunswick

When: Thursday, June 22nd

Time 6:30pm

12- FemFest Planning Committee:
Our next meeting is (tomorrow) Tuesday, June 20th @ 12:00

13- Atlantic Waves Conference Collective:
Our next meeting is Thursday, June 22nd @ 12:oo in the Womyn's Centre

*Make sure you watch for the Atlantic Waves Conference 'call for submissions', which will be available by the end of this week. I hope everyone is as excited as I am about this because it's shaping up to be quite the "Halifeminist Extravaganza", as Jen put it ;)

Hello Again!

Just wanted to let everyone know about some events that are coming up!
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LADIES SKATE NIGHT

The first night was such a success that the ladies have decided to keep it on the schedule, for Tuesday's at 7. We'll just meet up at The Westin and then skate it up :DSkill level isn't important- all skater gals are welcome!BUT... be forewarned that June is "Safety Awareness Month"... which means $128. fines for not wearing a helmet. Just so you know ;)
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WORKSHOP AT VENUS ENVY
SEX TOYS 101
FOR QUEER GIRLS

cost: $20.00 (limited income $10.00)

"We've modified our very popular Sex Toys 101 workshop to make this class specific to women lovin' women. We've taken out the boy toys and added info about harnesses, double dils, and safer lesbian sex. Open to all women who have sex (or want to have sex) with other women, regardless of your identity".

Tuesday, June 13th @ 7:15pm $20.00 (limited income $10.00) Please pre-register by calling 422-0004 visit www.venusenvy.ca for details
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*HEY MAMI!

"A Queer Dance Party"

Tuesday, June 13th @ 9pm-2am @ The Aqualounge (Downstairs at the Argyle on Argyle street)

Hot Femme DJ's Make your Dreams Come True Heart-o-matic and Francesca drop the best Hip-Hop Retro and Electro all night! Drink Specials $5 cover at the door
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LESBIAN GAY & BISEXUAL YOUTH PROJECT ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING BBQ

Thursday, June 15th5:00 pm Meeting - 7:00 pm at 2281 Brunswick Street (902) 429-5429 mailto:youthproject@youthproject.ns.ca
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WHO'S YER DADDY??

Saturday, June 17thGirl-ish Productions presents Who's yer Daddy? A party for lesbian/bi/queer/trans women and their freinds. Stage 9 (Corner of Grafton & Blowers) 8pm-2am Tickets $6 in advance at Venus Envy, $8 at the door. DJ Dover & special guest DJ Heart-o-matic will be spinning tunes all night and we have a fantastic line-up of local performers appearing on-the-hour.
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PRIDE COMMITTEE PLANNING MEETING

6:30 ~ "This is your invitation to come and help plan for the fabulous-est Pride in Halifax ever in 2006 @ YouthProject, 2281 Brunswick" Thursday, June 22nd
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GOING DOWN

Workshop at Venus Envy: Going Down: A Guide to Cunnilingus cost: $20.00 (limited income $10.00) "This workshop will cover anatomy, technique, communication skills and tricks to please your lady with your lips. And tongue, and teeth, and hands, and then some"!7:15pm Sunday June 25thPlease pre-register by calling 422-0004 visit www.venusenvy.ca for details
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CAMPING TRIP~ WOMYN ONLY WEEK-END

~Club 200~
From Friday June 30 to Sunday July 2/06, Location: Chester, GRAVES ISLAND, provincial park. Cost; $5.00 per day per person. Children and pets are welcome! Please book with Karen or Sue by June 22/06, Phone 499-0335 or mailto:sueandrews1964@hotmail.com Come have fun and meet new friends! :)
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ALSO: Just a reminder for the members of the "Atlantic Waves" conference collective; our next meeting is scheduled for Saturday, June 17th @ 2 @ Uncommon Grounds on South Park St.
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AND: The next meeting for the Femmefest planning committee is scheduled for Tuesday, June 20th in the SMU Women's Centre.
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And last but certainly not least- this Tuesday is election day!! So don't forget to vote and make your opinion matter!
If you are unfamiliar with the party platforms, you can view each of them by clicking on the following links:

Liberal: http://www.liberal.ns.ca/campaign/Platform/index.html

NDP: http://www.ns.ndp.ca/?page=commitments&PHPSESSID=494a1f759cd23ff890c8111bb6a41e76
Progressive Conservative: http://www.rodneymacdonald.ca/content/view/66/55/

Green Party: http://www.greenparty.ns.ca/index.php?action=policy_index

And if a candidate comes to your door, make sure you ask questions, and let them know which issues are important to you!

Happy Voting! :)

Hello Everyone!

For those of you who don’t know, my name is Holly Taylor and I’m the incoming coordinator for the 2006/2007 school year. Jen passed last year’s e-mail list from the women’s centre on to me, so if there is anyone who would rather not be on the list this year, just let me know :)

Seeing as how this is my first week, I thought it would be a good opportunity to thank Jen for the amazing work she’s done in the women’s centre over the past two years, and all of the outstanding contributions that she has made toward the fight to create a fair and equal campus for women and men alike… you’re awesome Jen!!

This is the first year that we have been granted summer funding by the university, so we have to make the most of it! …and on that note, we need volunteers, so that we can have the door at the centre open as often as possible. In the interest of students who are taking summer classes, I’m going to create a schedule for each summer session. The following times are spaces that are still open during the first session:

Monday-Thursday: 9-11:30
Monday: 3:30-5
Tuesday: 4-5
Wednesday: 3:30-5
Thursday: 1-5
Friday: 9-12 and 4-5

So if anyone is able to devote some time (no matter how little), please let me know!

Atlantic Waves!

The theme for this student-led conference, which is to take place at Saint Mary's in the fall is “feminist activisms and academias”, with a specific focus placed on the Atlantic region, and how our challenges and projects both intersect with, and differ from the experiences of our Western allies. Furthermore, we will explore the question of how our own Atlantic experiences, challenges and successes differ from, and mirror one another. The conference will be an opportunity for women engaged in both the academic as well as activist communities (undergraduate and graduate students, professors, Women’s Centres, activists, community members…) to assemble and share their experiences and insights with each other. The conference will provide an opportunity to integrate our work, establish connections and partnerships and ultimately, create an Atlantic Feminist community.

Anyone interested in submitting papers should do so by August 4th.
200-word abstracts may be submitted on the following themes as they relate to personal, academic and/ or activist Atlantic experiences:

• Rural/urban feminist identities/ intersections
• Work, labour, class identity and women
• Experiences of femininity/ masculinity
• Fertility/ non-fertility
• Post-human bodies
• Mothering
• Education experiences
• Naming academia: Women/ Gender Studies
• Aboriginal women
• Women in business/ feminist economics
• Disability
• Protests, vigils, community activism
• Local feminist histories
• Trans-sex/ trans-gender identities
• Violence and peace
• Women of colour
• Whiteness and privilege
• The body/ the sick body/ the aging body
• DIY feminism- zines, postering, stickering
• Atlantic community and home
• Cyber-feminisms
• Creative protest- spoken word, art expression
* If you have suggestions for other themes or topics, we would be happy to hear your ideas too!

Email your abstract as a Microsoft Word attachment, with no identifying features on the abstract itself (only the title and abstract content- no name in the header/footer/elsewhere in the document).

In the body of the email, please write a maximum 50-word bio, titled with your name and organizational affiliation, if any (university, collective, etc.). When the abstract review is complete we will send out the registration information.

We are also happy to accept submissions for workshops or art displays. If you are interested in facilitating a workshop on any of the above-listed items, or on a topic outside of those themes, please contact us with a description of the potential workshop.

Women’s Centre Zine

In an effort to give more voice to the women of Saint Mary’s University,the centre will be releasing a monthly(?) zine this year to showcase a diverse array of women-oriented ideas and perspectives. The first zine will be included in the orientation packs during frosh week, and will be distributed at the society expo. Anyone interested in submitting articles for publication in the zine is encouraged to do so, either by emailing Vanessa MacKinnon at Vanessa_mk@hotmail.com, or myself at GrrrlyGirl@Animail.com, or just drop by the centre.

This is going to be a great summer for the women's centre, and an even better school year! I look forward to meeting and working with everyone,and welcome any questions, comments or suggestions :)

I hope everyone is having a wonderful summer thus far- you'll be hearing from me again soon!

Holly.