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* M2M Mens night - it is not held at the Club it is at their office in Oshawa - Error on pdf poster.
 
* Volunteers needed for Toronto Pride  - we need you to help us built props, assemble the float that day & also we need marchers to hand out things.  Show your support to Queen Candice & King Benn Dover & show you that you want to celebrate all of Pride years.  Please email if you are interested at info@club717.ca 

 

* Volunteers needed for Pride Durham Day (Alive with Pride) event at Heydenshore on June 12-2010.  - be part of the team that sets up and cleans up. This will be the largest event Pride Durham has ever undertaken. We have many areas where they need your volunteer help & tasks will be assigned to you based on your interest & past volunteer experience.  Please email Udana Muldoon, Volunteer Coordinator at udanamul@hotmail.com 

 

Regards,
Jean-Guy Dugas
Secretary, Staffing Liaison, Entertainment Assistant for

Club 717

If you own or operate a business you owe it to yourself to contact Antoine's team today.

 

 

Last night I was sitting on the sofa watching TV when I heard my wife's' sweet voice from the kitchen.
 
"What would you like for dinner my Love? Chicken, beef or lamb?"
 
I said, "Thank you, I'll have chicken."
 
She replied "You're having soup, a**hole.

I was talking to the cat."

 

Bianca - Member at large

 

Trish - Member at larger

MAY  GARDEN  QUESTIONS
 
Q: What  garden plants would be good for an Ontario water garden?
 
A: Arrowhead, Iris, Lobelia, Marsh Marigold, Water Lilies, Water forget-me nots, Pickerel weed, Unicorn Rush, Hornwort.  These are some of the plants that I know are hardy to Ontario and I have tried some of these over the years.  Some of these grow directly in the water, some in shallow water, some in wet soils and some will even grow in regular soil beside the pond (lobelia and Iris).  A really good local source is Vandermeer Nursery Ltd. in Ajax.  They have the ponds, the filters, the fish, the plants and the info.  Sometimes it is good to shop around and see what plants you like.  But that is a great place to start and gather your supplies and or info.
 
Q: Where can I find G I A N T  HOSTAS?
 
A: From my quick search for varieties I found a few:
Blue Angel   36" tall  by 48" diameter
Blue Umbrellas   36" tall by  48" spread
Elegans    36" by 36"
Empress Wu   48" tall by 48" spread
 
Vandermeers and Sheridan Nursery in Whitby north are two local sources.  If they do not have them you can look online for sources in Ontario.
 
Q: What tall ornamental grasses can I plant to cover a tall fence where some are in full sun to full shade?  Nothing seems to grow but weeds.
 
A: The Miscanthus family has several tall grasses that grow in full sun.
Miscanthus sinensis "Cabaret" at 6 feet

Miscanthus sinensis "Silberfede" at 6 to 8 feet
Sorghastrum  - Indian Grass grows 4 to 6 feet in sun to part shade.
Northern Sea Oats grows to 3 feet in sun or shade.
 
I would be tempted to plant Boston Ivy on the fence. It grows in poor soils, will cling to the fence, takes sun or shade and grows rather quickly.  In 3 years the fence could be covered.  It's cousin, Virginia Creeper, is even a bit more vigorous.  They have shiny green leaves all summer, get tiny clusters of blue fruit, like miniature grapes, and they have good fall colour or reds and burgundys and orange.
 
Another question that I gat asked a lot is "WHAT CAN I DO WITH MY HANGING BASKETS?  EVERY YEAR AROUND MIDSUMMER I HAVE TO REPLACE THEM.
 
Hanging baskets are a high maintenance garden ornament.  They require lots of water, lots of fertilizer and just more attention for dead heading or pruning.  BUT If you buy that 8 to 10 inch pot of hanging plants, purchase a hanging basket that is much larger and transplant your smaller basket to the larger one. A 14 to 20 inch basket is ideal.  Use a soil that is suitable for hanging baskets as it has water retention additive in the soil.
 
Fertilize once per week with miracle grow or 20-20-20 and water when needed.  If you skip a water, this can be detrimental as some plants will not come back, no matter how many prayers you say.  But plants that can take some abuse or neglect, are geraniums, ivy geraniums, begonias, swedish ivy (plectranthus) and portulaca.
 
So that's all for now folks.  May your May Gardening get you off to a great start for the summer. 
 
Happy Gardening

Charlie

Plant Expert & Newsletter Columnist

 

May 1 - AIDS Committee of Durham Region Dance & Fundraiser Event - $7 cover charge for non members. Members free with proper Club ID. However, a donation is suggested and appreciated. Discounted admission with donation of a food item or canned good.

 

May 2 - Drag Performers Meeting.I Contact Jean-Guy for agenda and time.

Oh the drama... drama...drama!
 
I have always been in awe at the vast array of talents and gifts members of our community have to offer to each other and to the community.  As I've written before... when push comes to shove, our community is there to support one another.  Within our community is a wide spectrum of talents and abilities.  Each of us has something to contribute and  are more than willing to do so when called upon.
 
I have recently however come to a conclusion.  While we have so many great gifts to offer, we have one major fault.  If things appear to be going too smoothly, are right on track or if life itself appears to becoming just a tad mundane and dare I use the word "normal"... guess what?  We go crazy.  It is like an illness within the community.  Calm, normal, quiet and functioning - we don't like.  Oh no...we need DRAMA!
 
Who likes normal?  Who likes functioning and success?  Not our community - we like to see people topple and have to struggling to climb back up.  We don't wish death on anyone, but a little misery - well that's entertaining!   Quiet?   Who wants that...when the waters are too still - we get nervous.  We get bored.  It is like cabin fever.   The only way to break the monotony and boredom...spread some gossip!
 
Gossip we do best!  We are pros and there really is no topic off-limit.  Who is sleeping with who, who was seen at Courtice beach, who didn't fill out the proper forms, which of us is having legal difficulties,  who is closeted, which of us will f*%k anyone or anything, who has what fetish, who is broke, who hit who,  our drug addicts, our alcoholics, who is on what committee, who is off what committee, who cheated, who lost their job, which of us stuff gerbils up our rectums - nothing is off limits. 
 
We get great pleasure in our community out of having that tidbit of dirt.  Build someone up and then pull the rug from under them to enjoy the frantic topple to the ground.  Then of course arrives the clean-up stage which we tend to enjoy just as much as the dirt itself.  You know the stage... we probably should have a meeting, an intervention, fill out some paperwork, send lots of text messages, send letters.  We probably need to sit down and have a one to one chat, followed by a two hour phone discussion as a follow-up.  Once it is nearly resolved - then we have to gossip the details with more text messages, form another committee.  Spread some more gossip, breach confidentiality.  The new gossip requires another serious of interventions another committee and so on and so forth.  Oh we like it girl!
 
I've come to realize that this may very well be a vital component of our community.  It seems to be so amusing and important that we absolutely MUST participate.  We wake up as gay zombies every day.... programmed to find more dirt and spread it.  Well, leave me out!
 
There ya have it... Savanaugh had something to say!  Oh by the way... I stuff more than just gerbils - spread that one around!
           

Savanaugh,

Durham region has a thriving and active LBT community, but still I hear from women all the time wanting to connect with other women and expressing that they feel somewhat isolated in Durham region.  In areas like Toronto the GLBT community is easily visible and people know where to go to socialize, get support and feel like part of a community.   So I thought it might be nice to provide an update on what is happening for LBT women in Durham region. 
 
The Durham Lesbian, Bisexual, Trans Women's Group was started in 2003 by a couple women in the region who found that if they wanted to connect with a group of women for support and social networking, they often had to go into Toronto.  Initially the group was small and met at a Whitby coffee shop once each month.  The group grew quickly and soon began having their monthly meeting in various locations that would accommodate the group.  Today the group meets the third Wednesday of each month (except July and August).  The group now has almost 100 members and meetings usually have 15 - 30 women present.  Women come to the group for many reason. Some come with the hopes of meeting someone or social networking, while others attend to receive support while they are dealing with issues related to their sexuality.  The group offers support to women in various stages of coming out.  It is a non-judgmental place to create a connection to the community.  Members range from 20 - 70 years old and are just as diverse in all other ways.  
 
The DLBT June meeting is usually the biggest of the year. Many who only come once a year, will come to this meeting.  The group holds a pot luck and gives everybody a chance to connect with summer plans and discuss plans to attend various Pride Events.  
 

Meeting Dates: 
Wednesday, May 19th, 8 PM
Wednesday, June 16th, 7 PM (annual Pot Luck)
 
To get information on the group you can join the facebook page under Durham Lesbian, Bi, and Trans Women's Group.  You can email  dlbtgroup@hotmail.com or call Kim at 905-718-8877.