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LGCCNO Board Attempts
Rape of Building Fund
The Lesbian & Gay Community Center of New Orleans Board is attempting to rape the Center Building Fund. In a letter signed by Co-chair Crystal Little and Treasurer Linda Bush, "...the reason for the Building Fund no longer exists by virtue of Dr. Kearby's generosity and intent to bequeath us her building, the Board of Director of the Lesbian and Gay Community Center requests that you consider re-directing your Building Fund Contribution." We find it odd that a letter of this magnitude was not signed by Co-chair Michael Olivas. Does this perhaps mean that Olivas did not endorse this plan of destruction?
With vision and farsightedness, the Building Fund was set up by the 1995-96 Center Board of Directors explicitly and could only "be used for the purchase of a building, or to renovate a structure donated to the Center as its permanent home." The fund was placed in yearly cds and all interest earned was to remain in the Building Fund in order for maximum growth potential. If the Center should close, all funds were to be returned to individual donors and businesses who donated the funds.
The '95-'96 Board included Co-chairs Renee Parks and Rip Naquin-Delain, Treasurer Edward Domingue, Jr., Recording Secretary Brad Robbert, Corresponding Secretary Alvin Collins, III, Board Liaisons Joan Ladnier and Larry Best, At-Large Members: Clark Broel, Stewart Butler, Kory Chatelain, Johnny Chisholm, Susan Clade, Gregory Curtis, Baron Detro, Crystal Little, Dee Martin, Suzie Montero, Sharon Parker, Toni Pizanie, Dianne Ranna, Bill Rose, Scott Tierney, Lou Voltz, Leo Watermier and Penny Young.
The '95-'96 Board worked closely with the business and professional community to insure the success of the Center. It also cherished and worked along side the Center's volunteers, with many Board members volunteering at least 2-4 hours each week to keep the Center open and operational. The Board first tackled the General Fund by hosting Summer Safari II in Aug., 1995 raising $9,000. It also benefited from White Party II hosted by Oz Apr. 5, 1996 raising $3,300.
The Rainbow Crusade: Building Fund raised over $25,000 in less than four months from Nov. 25, 1995-Mar., 1996. Fund-raisers included: The Crystal Ball/Oz/Nov. 25, 1995-$2,300, Under Construction: Building For The Future/Bourbon Pub & Parade/Jan. 29, 1996-$1,500, King Cake Queen III Smurf Murphy Coronation/Ambush Headquarters/Feb. 6, 1996-$7,000, One Nation Under Goddess/MRB/March 7, 1996-$900, Gay Comedy Jam/House of Blues/Mar. 7, 1996-$250 and Renee Parks-Lidia Pollard Bash/March, 1996-$6,870. Additional donations came from individuals and businesses. The Rainbow Crusade had the Gold [$1,000] Level and the Silver [$500] Level. Each donor at these levels or above were to be honored with a gold or silver plaque to be displayed as part of the Center's permanent collection.
Since 1996, subsequent Center boards have diverted the Building Funds' interest payments into the General Fund, supposedly to borrow against until the funds could be replaced. Obviously, these funds have never been replaced. The 1998 Center board even went so far as to hire a paid executive director bankrupting the General Fund, the very funds needed to keep the Center's doors open. This same board also ran off one of the best volunteers it ever had who was responsible for keeping the Center's doors open 7 days a week 6-8 or more hours per day.
We urge all Building Fund donors to keep the Building Fund intact, the '95-'96 board's vision for the future. It is time for the community and Center members to demand better accountability and stop the current and future Center Boards from raping its Building and General Funds.
The current 1999 Board of Directors includes Co-chairs Crystal Little and Michael Olivas, Corresponding Secretary Mimi Jalenak, Recording Secretary Jeanne M. LeBlanc, Treasurer Linda Bush, At-Large Members: Rick Henderson, Martha Kegel, Kay Madary, Liz Simon, Diane Tanner and John [Jay] Wharton.
World AIDS Day Dec. 1
The 12th annual observance of World AIDS Day will take place on Wed., Dec. 1. In New Orleans, events for World AIDS Day will include an interfaith service at St. Louis Cathedral from 12:30 to 2pm, where Sen. Paulette Irons will serve as keynote speaker. New Orleans City Councilman Troy Carter will present a proclamation declaring Dec. 1 as World AIDS Day in New Orleans, and Angela Shiloh-Cryer, Director of the Mayor's Office of Health Policy, will present a proclamation declaring Dec. 1-8 as New Orleans AIDS Awareness Week.
Following the interfaith service, a celebration walk with music by a local brass band will proceed from St. Louis Cathedral through the streets of the French Quarter. The celebration walk will end at Armstrong Park on Rampart St., where the winners of an AIDS awareness poster and speech contest for New Orleans area school children will be announced. The top 3 contestants in both the poster and speech contest will be selected by Kate Shindle, Miss America 1998.
This year's World AIDS Day theme, "AIDS - End the Silence; Listen, Learn and Live," was chosen to encourage people around the world to open new lines of communication concerning the AIDS epidemic.
In Louisiana, 18,670 persons have been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS to date - 7,093 of those persons have died. Louisiana ranks among the top 15 states in the number of HIV/AIDS cases per capita, and AIDS is currently the third and fourth leading cause of death, respectively, for African American men and women between the ages of 25-44 in Louisiana. In the greater New Orleans area, more than 9,300 people have been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS.
All are invited to join in New Orleans' World AIDS Day activities. For additional information, contact James Swire of the NO/AIDS Task Force at 504.821.2601, ext. 255, or Andie Lee of the Louisiana Office of Public Health at 504.568.5512.
GAA Public Voting:
Did You Make the Top 5?
In the largest balloting drive in its history, the Gay Appreciation Awards announces the top 5 choices in each awards category by the general public. The Voting Ballot appeared in the last issue of Ambush and on-line at archive.ambushmag.com/gaa.
The Top 5 includes Hair Salon - Arthur's House of Glamour, Hair Art, Headquarters, Salon Millennia, Warlocks; Newcomer of the Year [new drag or entertainer/male or female]: Bianca Del Rio, Sheba Fredricks, Hattie Onetomany, Felina Colby Shane, Sy'ria Synclaire; Neighborhood Bar of the Year: Footloose, 4 Seasons, Phoenix, TT's, Voodoo at Congo Square; Buzzy Fanning Fight Against AIDS Award [individual whose work in the HIV/AIDS arena is outstanding]: Joyce Alberts & Lou Theriot, Larry Bagneris, Ursuline Burgundy, Christian Kean Johnson, Billy Warr;
Bitch of the Year: Glenn Fonte, Tony Langlanais, Princess Walter, Billy Warr, Todd Wemhoner; Show Bar of the Year: Angles, Corner Pocket, Footloose, Mint, Oz; GLBT Friendly Business of the Year [non-GLBT business friendly to the GLBT community]: Andrew Jaeger's House of Seafood, Cajun Grill, Tyler's, United Cab, Wash Board; Performing Arts Award [outstanding individual[s] in the theatrical community]: Becky Allen, Klorocks Bleachman, Tommy Elias, Barry Marino, Slut Puppies; Restaurant/Deli of the Year: Andrew Jaeger's House of Seafood, Moon Wok, Quarter Grocery & Deli, Quartermaster-The Nellie Deli, Tyler's;
Dance Bar of the Year: Angles, Club Park Avenue, Oz, Parade, 735 nightclub/bar; Bartender of the Year: Lady Charles/TT's, Fred Holmes/Voodoo, Patrick Rodgers/Footloose, Robert Seemann/4 Seasons, Chris St. Pierre/Oz; DJ of the Year: Bruce Arnold/Angles, Joe Gauthreaux/Oz, Scott Horner/Oz, Tim Pflueger/Oz, Ricky Taconi/Phoenix; GLBT Business of the Year: Alternatives, Faubourg Marigny Bookstore, Gay Mart, Something Different, Voodoo at Congo Square;
Political Activist of the Year: Larry Bagneris, David Kiviaho, Christian Kean Johnson, Frank Pizzolato, Carol Tully; Leather Person of the Year: Scott Garrett, Christian Kean Johnson, Carol McCarthy, Cheri Michael, Red Hanson; Transgender of the Year: Miss Do, Marcy Marcell, Rosa Miranda, Nancy Sharp, TT/Tonisha Thompson;
Lesbian of the Year: Kay Madary, Cyndi Mirambell, Gloria Pierce, Red Hanson, Tamara; Man of the Year: Larry Bagneris, Mack Money, Clifford Rednoir, Jack Saucier, Chuck Turner; and Entertainer of the Year: Raquel Chevallier, Bianca Del Rio, Jessica Daniels, Donnie Jay, TT/Tonisha Thompson.
Miller Beer Sponsors
13th GAA Awards Gala
In a show of continued support of the GLBT Community, Miller Beer has signed on as a sponsor of the 13th Annual Gay Appreciation Awards [GAA] Gala and Holiday Buffet. Benefiting New Orleans Center for Living, this year's gala will be hosted at the Mint, 940 Elysian Fields, Sun., Dec. 12, 8pm.
Limited VIP tables with 4 seats are on sale for $100 per table. General admission is $10 per person. VIP tickets are available through Ambush, Attn: Rip Naquin-Delain, 828-A Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 70116-3137; 504.522.8049.
The GAA Gala honors the top five in each award category, announcing one winner, decided by the Public Voting Ballot appearing in Ambush.
The top five finalists in the Show Bar of the Year award category are invited to do a production number limited to 7 minutes during the gala. GAA show director Lisa Beaumann is in charge of arrangements. The top five finalists in the Restaurant/Deli award category are asked to donate one culinary dish for gala participants to sample. Ambush, GAA and the Mint will also provide additional dishes for the complimentary buffet. Contact Rip Naquin-Delain 504.522.8049 to make arrangements.
Additionally, other awards are presented including the Fly Fashion Awards by Ms. Fly, the Cheridon Award by Sonny C. Cleveland and the Marsha Delain Award of Excellence by Marsha Naquin-Delain. The 1999 Lifetime Achievement Award is presented by the GAA Board of Directors.
The GAA Board of Directors include President Sonny C. Cleveland, Vice President Toni J.P. Pizanie, Lisa Beaumann, Teryl-Lynn Foxx, Mickey Gil, Rip & Marsha Naquin-Delain, and Rhyn Pate.
Pansies & Dirt
The first ever Glamourama hosted by Arthur's House of Glamour was a hit raising some $3,000 for the Living Room at MCC. The gala evening kicked off with a Patrons Pre-Party over at Feelings Cafe complete with complimentary hors d'oeuvres and cocktails. It was followed at Body & Soul with an extensive fashion show by Steven and entertainment throughout the evening by Teryl-Lynn Foxx. You did a great job Charles!
Petronius' 3rd Annual Cake Walk hosted by Good Friends Bar featured an exciting auction of marvelous cakes bringing in over $2,000 for Petronius and Belle Reve. The artist formally known as Smurf offering, the cake teapot, was the top bread winner, bringing in $305 bought by Pat Skelly and Sylvia Frank.
And there's great news for you happy hour girls out there. Wolfendales is now open at 2pm every day. You can even catch owner Eddie Fos behind the bar at 2pm on Mon. and Tues. French Quarter legend Dominique does the 2pm gig Wed. through Sun. It's a perfect opportunity to get all the latest dirt on the Rampart St. Strip. We can start at Wolfendales with Dominique, take in Clifford at TT's, Fred at Voodoo and Todd at Footloose.
Find & Dine
Are you looking for another place to go for Sun. Brunch? For the first time, we tried Feelings Cafe, 2600 Chartres, in the Marigny. The restaurant boasts an extensive menu of unusual culinary delights.
We chose the Pate a la Maison as our appetizer. The sauteed blend of chicken livers and mushrooms was topped with fresh green onions and served with crisp slices of french bread. It was excellent with no taste of cold butter or oils in most pates.
The dark roux based Seafood Gumbo is chockfull of shrimp, crab and crawfish and is sure to please any palate with a hint of file', although not as thick as some gumbo's in town. The Red Snapper Florentine was an excellent choice featuring fresh red snapper, pan fried and served on a bed of creamed spinach [that almost melts in your mouth] topped with marvelous buttery Hollandaise.
And for you eggplant lovers out there, you simply cannot miss the Seafood Baked Eggplant. A crisp slice of fried eggplant is topped with shrimp, crab meat and crawfish blended in a spicy casserole of dirty rice and sausage, and then the entire dish is topped with seafood butter sauce.
The Hollandaise and seafood butter sauces are extremely rich, so you may want to order the sauces on the side.
Feelings is open for lunch Fri., 11am-2pm, brunch Sun., 11am-2pm and dinner Sun.-Thurs., 6-10pm, Fri.-Sat., 6-11pm.
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