Lets start off 2009 on a great note. Come and join us for an informative afternoon on the direction and status of Club 717.

 

This is a "members only" event

 

Please visit our Newsletter Contributors website.

 

Lawrence Grecco is a professional astrologer in New York City and a member of the board of directors of the National Council of Geocosmic Research, NYC chapter.

 

He is available for personal or telephone readings and can be reached at 212-255-5337. Email lawrence.grecco@gmail.com

 

Visit his web site at www.zenrising.com

 

New Year Prayer for the Elderly:

God, grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked anyway,
The good fortune to run into the ones that I do,
And the eyesight to tell the difference

 

Dear Lord
So far this year I've done well.
I haven't gossiped, I haven't lost my temper, I haven't been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish, or overindulgent. I'm very thankful for that.  But in a few minutes, Lord, I'm going to get out of bed, and from then on I'm probably going to need a lot more help. Amen

 

Happy New Year to one and all !!!
 
Here we go again, my gosh it seems I just get an article finished and it is time to do another one.
 
I can start with telling you, what an amazing December we had, there was so much to do and so much going on, it was hard to keep up with it all, and I was exceptionally busy having to buy things for the show on the 19th. Thank God I only do this as a gag and only once or twice per year. I can certainly tell you it is not cheap in any way to put on a simple number or two in a show. I never realized how much expense is involved in buying all the things you need for 5 minutes or so on a stage.
 
The shows in December were entertaining and a lot of fun, The first Kick off show on the 5th was a build up to the show on the 19th, this is where several performers and a couple of Board Members came out to put on a different show for our patrons.
 
Through out the month of December the Board Members, Staff and Performers donated Baskets to be drawn on December 19th. These were and are a way of saying Thank You to those who donate a gift to the Food and Toy drive or who purchased tickets from Ruby. A super special Thank You goes out to all of you who donated these baskets. They were very much appreciated and the Club is indebted to you for your valuable contributions. I was impressed with all the 16 baskets that were donated and am sure the 16 winners appreciate the gift baskets they received.
 
This year we did something a little different then we usually do when it comes to how we pay out the funds raised. There were three levels this year.
 
 
They say what goes around comes around and one good deed brings about another. I think the reward for me is knowing in some small way we made a difference and brightened someone else's day. After going through any sort of a difficulty, it just helps knowing there are people out there who care.
 
January is building up to be an eventful month and there are going to be a couple of new ideas being launched this month.
 
The Board of Directors have been trying to save money so we can go to the next level of renovations. We want to do something to the second part of the entrance, located just outside the women's washrooms. Also we want to try and enhance the dance floor with more lighting and possibly adding another tower to suspend the lights. We also want to update and improve on the sound equipment. We have decided to play it safe and raise the money then spend a bit and replenish it before completing all renovations. It will be a work in progress but the end result should make you all happy to come to the Club.
 
I am not going to ramble on any longer; I would like to wish you all a Happy and Prosperous New Year for 2009, and please continue supporting us through your patronage.  
.
Lastly, we do love having you at the Club and want to continue seeing you there. Please drink responsibly and use a designated driver service to get you home. You can ask the person at the door which services are available. The cost of a couple of drinks will get you home safely and will not risk your life, another's life, your license and several other things that could happen as a result of drinking and driving.
 
We want to continue seeing you and we want you to have a good time, but please do not make us have to have a bad time by not being responsible lets all play safely.
 
Regards
And all the Best
Danny

HI,

 

LARRY a.k.a Edna

Dear Members of the LGBT Community:
 
Re: Participants Wanted
 
I am a researcher from UOIT who is conducting research on anti-LGBT hate crimes.
 
I am currently conducting Focus Groups (informal group discussions) with members of the LGBT community to discuss the impact that hate crimes have on the LGBT community as a whole.
 
The results of this research will be used to investigate the extent to which anti-LGBT hate crimes impact the LGBT community and how the LGBT community can best respond when these incidents do occur.
 
The Focus Groups will be held in various locations convenient to you throughout Durham Region.
 
Participants will be provided with a $10 gift certificate as a token of our appreciation for participating.
 
If you would like to participate, please contact me at james.bell@uoit.ca and I will let you know when and where the Focus Groups will be held.
 
This study has been reviewed and received ethics approval through the UOIT Research Ethics Board (File #: 08-024).
 
Your participation in this research will be greatly appreciated.
 
Thank you.
 
Jim Bell

By Mark Hammann

Gay men's Outreach Worker

The Aids Committe of Durham Region

22 King Street West, Suite # 202

Oshawa, Ontario L1H 1A3

905-576-1445 ext. 15

Hi All
 
I am pleased to report that our Club has once again assisted the community. Even during this economic downturn, we managed to both donate food items and raise funds. During the month of December, we had a food and toy drive, and also a fund raiser to assist the tragedy involving the Kelly family. The December 19th Christmas Drag Show raised $332.00 which was matched by the club, therefore a total of $664.00 was donated to the Kelly family trust fund. A further $417.00 was raised in monetary food donations for the Durham Aids Committee. Along with these monetary donations, a large volume of non-perishable food items was also given to the Durham Aids Food Bank. A large variety of toys were also donated to the Durham Regional Police Association. We can certainly be proud of ourselves with these donations to our local community. I hope each of you has had a Happy Holiday season, and that you have a great New Year. We will have a number of fund raisers, and I know we will rally together to make each one another success for our Club and the community.
 
Cheers
John

Treasurer

JANUARY   2   ~ New Years KICK OFF SHOW. Hosted by QUEEN RUBY WITH EDNA & QUEEN MOM MADGE. 10:30 pm

JAN  9 ~ SAVANAUGH AND DIVA AND NEW PERFORMER "AMANDA RECKONWITH". 10:30 pm

JAN  16 ~ TOMMIE AND FARRA N HYTE (from Toronto). 10:30 pm

 

JAN 18  ~ Club 717 POT LUCK DINNER 5 pm. Mexican Theme

JAN  23 ~ QUEEN MOM MADGE & SAVANAUGH & DIVA. 10:30 pm

JAN  30 ~ CLUB 717 PRESENTS
                     "ANY ONCE UPON A TIME"
                 A GAY MUSICAL WITH A STORY. 10:30 pm

JAN 31 ~ Encore presentation of

                   "Any Once Upon a Time" 10:30 pm

           

All calm, quiet, reflective and if you did it right - debt free!   Immediately following New Year arrives one of my favourite times of the year.  That's right... believe it or not...the month of January!  The rush is over, cluttered Christmas decorations neatly packed away and now it is time to breathe!

 

We make such a big deal of Christmas and then again New Years with tons of food, alcohol, visits, parties, gifts and did I already say food and alcohol?  Tis the season for over-indulgence.  Lets face it, we eat too much, we drink too much and we spend too much!  So as we've wrapped up yet another season of insanity, I welcome in January!

 

As the temperature drops and the snow falls, January begs us to take comfort in the little things.  Quiet evenings wrapped in a comforter with the one we love, reading a book by a frosted up window pane, catching an old favourite movie with a bowl of popcorn or enjoying a hearty stew made from the left-overs of Christmas over-indulgence.  January beckons with it simplicity, calm, self-reflection and yes..... time!

 

So to all of my friends out there.... take some time.  Curl up, hibernate the body, soul and mind.  A peaceful January to all!
           
There ya have it....

Savanaugh had something to say!