Monthly Pot Luck

Saturday, April 2nd at 7P

Start this month of joy with our Spring Celebration pot luck.

We always (almost always, that is)  have lots of goodies.  Bring your favorite dish to share (usually plan on preparing your dish to serve at least 8 OR more)..

Join us at the Casas Adobes Congregational Church.

If you need information or directions, please contact Lee and Merlin at 207-5336.

Tuesday Night Movies

We have two movies in April 

A recent gay-themed hit and a masterpiece of Japanese animation.    

"Milk" (2008) stars Sean Penn and James Franco in the much-honored story of the first openly gay American elected official, following from his decision to leave New York for San Francisco through his election and assassination by his fellow councilman Dan White.  If you've seen this, see it again,  If you haven't, this is an honest recreation of a pivotal moment in American gay history.

           "Milk" is being hosted by Bill and Darrin on April 12th at 7PM.  Please call 396-9295 to attend (limited seating.)

The second movie, the final of Bill and Darrin's series, is Hayao Miyazaki's "Spirited Away" (2001) on April 26th at 7PM.  Again, please call them ahead of time at 396-9295 to attend.   

"Spirited Away"  is an Academy Award winner, the most successful film in Japanese history, and a universally loved work of animation, brilliantly colored, dazzling and surreal.  The English language version was produced by John Lasseter of Pixar and distributed by Disney's Buena Vista.

The story of a young girl and her parents who stop at a seemingly abandoned market, it incorporates Japanese myth while commenting on the modern world.  Any art lover, fan of animation or not, will love this film.  This is a definite must see.

 "Spirited Away" will also be hosted by Bill and Darrin on April 26th at 7PM.  Please call 396-9295 to attend.

This is the final movie Bill and Darrin will host this year.  If you want the Tuesday Night Movie to continue until they return next January, we need volunteers.  DVDs are available to borrow or rent, but we need hosts with large rooms and large TVs.  Movies are shown every other Tuesday.  To volunteer, contact  Thom Goodrich, President  at (msn.communicator@gmail.com) or  Davis Palmer, Chairman, Media and Communications at (wilcoxgay@gmail.com).

Second Annual Spring Picnic

April 16th -- Noon until ? 

Last spring, MSN hosted our first Spring Picnic pot luck style at Agua Caliente Park.  This year, due to road construction, we have moved across the city to another unique and beautiful spot, Christopher Columbus Park at 4600 N Silverbell Road.  We even have a spot reserved, Ramada 7, which is ours all day.

If you've never visited Christopher Columbus Park, you've missed one of Tucson's prettiest spots.  This park has two lakes, one for model boats and one for fishing and boating.  There are many shady spots.  There is also an enclosed dog park near the larger lake.  (If you don't have a dog, Pima Animal Control is next to the park.)

I discovered this park meandering down back roads at least a decade ago and have always loved it.  Come and see why.

The picnic begins at noon.  For further information and to add your name to the group, please contact our hosts, Joseph and Larry at 505-6560.  They will need a "head" count to be sure that we have enough food and goodies.  Everyone is encouraged to bring their special "picnic" items to share with "the family."  (If you don't want to use plastic and paper - that is eat wear and plates - plan bringing your own.) 

Sunday Dinners OUT

I (Davis) usually host our Sunday Dinners OUT but I have been OUT of circulation due to knee surgery, which I am still recovering from.   We have had a new host and he has done an excellent job in selecting eateries.  Thank you Tom Forrester - - below is the Sunday Schedule with the exception of the last Sunday of April -- we have not decided what to do - if anything special - on Easter Sunday - as of this writing.

Other M.S.N. Events

In addition to the events above, M.S.N. offers Charades, Bowling, Pinochle, and a gay reading group.   

For up to date M.S.N. Calendar  of Events information, we have a new easy to access calendar -- you can check by the day, week, month -- any month.  You can click on the event you want to attend and at the bottom of the description of the event there is a block to put your email address in so that you will receive a REMINDER email notice 3 days in advance of the event.  Check it out -- Bookmark it or make it one of your Favorites just click on the calendar  link below and go to the M.S.N. Events Calendar:         
 

Link to the M.S.N. Events Calendar  

Keep busy this month and every month with your M.S.N.!     

T Q&A  (Tucson Weekly, February 24, 2011)

Joe Sprague  

(Joe is partner of Tom Forester our Sunday Dinner OUT host.)  

Joe Sprague loves movies, and he loves the fact that movies can bring a community together-which is why, despite only moving to Tucson five months ago, he's already working on creating a monthly LGBT film screening and an annual LGBT film festival. Sprague started with the idea of creating an organization called the Queer Movie Society, but the reaction has been a bit negative regarding the word "queer," so he's changed the name to Out in the Desert Film Society. He's looking for other film-lovers to get involved. For more information, e-mail him at info@queermoviesociety.org, or go to www.queermoviesociety.org.

How long have you been working on this idea?

Really, I've just started getting volunteers together and getting the word out. The hope is that we can do something in the next 60 to 90 days. Right now, we're also trying to find a community organization to be the beneficiary of whatever money is raised by this society.

Why a film festival?

I recently moved here from Chicago, and I was heavily involved with the gay film festival there. Prior to Chicago, I was involved in another festival in Albany, N.Y. When I moved here, I was surprised there (isn't currently) a multi-day screening or festival, and I wanted to do something about that.

How do you start a film festival?

I got out my Rolodex and started making calls to people I know. Filmmakers who I'm calling from across the country are interested. They feel that there's an untapped market here, and they would love to be involved. I wanted to go further than that, and get the community behind me to do this.

What's the reaction been?

I'm reaching out, and I'm getting a lot of good response, and some negative, but mostly good. That's why I'm hoping I'll be able to get the people and volunteers together I need to go forward. I have filmmakers on board, and a location on board, and now I need an agency to give the profits to. Then (we'll) start promoting and doing the monthly screenings that will build up to the six- to seven-day festival.

What location do you have?

I'm going to be using the Screening Room.

What kind of organization do you want the festival to benefit?

I would like it to be an arts organization. A good example is: Back in Chicago, we had a 10-day festival, and then a monthly festival. By the end ... we had about $40,000 we gave to an arts organization. In Albany, which is a smaller city than Tucson, we made about $30,000 and gave that to a local AIDS organization. The only expense is the rental of the theater, because 90 percent of filmmakers donate the films, especially if we donate the revenue.

How are the films selected?

The films are all juried and judged. We put out a call. I've already reached out to my mailing list of 800 filmmakers, plus a mailing list of filmmaker websites, and I have connections with more than 50 film festivals. We'll put together judging committees and do jurying on the weekends. In Chicago, we juried more than 800 films. ... The guidelines are that no film can be older than five years, and the films must have gay content.

What about local filmmakers?

I've been talking to some filmmakers ... in Glendale, Phoenix and Scottsdale. I haven't talked to anyone in Tucson yet, but I would love to have one day of just Arizona films.

What is the biggest challenge right now?

The big thing is that if you want good gay filmmakers, it's a lot of work-a lot of e-mails and phone calls. I love filmmakers to death, but you have to call them four or five times to see if they've sent in their film. Other (organizers) ... would rather go to a catalogue, which takes a lot of money and isn't new or creative. Our goal is that everything that's going to be shown at the monthly screenings isn't available on Netflix, and that people would be able to see (the films) for the first time.

I'd think part of the challenge would be being new to Tucson, right?

Yes. When I went to Chicago, the festival had already started, so it wasn't that hard to get involved. ... It was exciting. When I was in Albany, I'd lived there all my life ... and I knew a lot of people. Here, I don't have that luxury of having a bunch of friends. But that's not stopping me from trying.  TW  Mari Herreras

T Q&A

Jeffrey Scott Brown 

Reprinted with permission of the Tucson Weekly

Jeffrey Scott Brown is a Tucsonan who could use your vote right now. The local HIV/AIDS activist and community volunteer is a Man of the Year finalist in a poll sponsored by Phoenix-based LGBT magazine 'N Touch. Brown tested HIV-positive in 1991 and came home from Los Angeles in the mid-'90s. After taking some time to get healthy, he became active with the Tucson Interfaith HIV/AIDS Network (TIHAN), the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation (SAAF) and Wingspan. To vote for Brown, go to www.ntouchaz.com.

What were you doing when you lived in Los Angeles?

I worked for AIDS Project Los Angeles and trained people to run marathons and raised money-close to $5 million. Back then, after being diagnosed, (during) every single run, I wore my red ribbon to let people know: "I'm living with HIV, and I thank you for your support." I've always been very up front and honest.

Why did you decide to come back home to Tucson?

There was nothing left for me at the time. I was in L.A. for nearly 15 years. When I left Tucson for L.A., I gave myself 10 years to achieve this, this and this, and I was able to do everything I wanted to in five years. But it got a little sketchy toward the end.

Is that why you came back home?

I came back here to recuperate and be closer to my family, and it was good, because I was not well. There were days I could not get out of bed, and I needed to get things in order. I'll tell you: Tucson's my home.

What's the most important work you do to keep healthy?

For me, I know exactly what I need to do: I surround myself with key things to keep me on the pathway of happiness. Joy is important, but (it's also important) to be honestly and authentically happy, to be carefree-that is the toughest one of all-and to not be angry. I try so hard to let it roll, to not let it get to me. Have I stumbled? Have I gotten pissy? I have, but I have also apologized.

A few months ago, you had problems getting the medications you needed from the state (insurance program). How did that work out?

I'll tell you, I'm alive and here right now because of the AIDS-drug assistance program through SAAF. If I didn't have them, I would not have been able to survive over the holidays. The state really fucked me up, and for two or three months, I wasn't able to get this one medication I really needed. SAAF is a great program. If you can't get your meds for some reason, Beth Carey (SAAF's director of care services) is the one to call. She's one of my angels.

When you got back to Tucson, how did you get involved in the community?

When I got back home, I started signing up (with groups) as a client. When I was in Los Angeles, I helped so much and gave, gave, gave, gave. When I came home, it was tough. I started getting back into getting client services and going to TIHAN's monthly lunch and working to feel special again. ... I also got some one-on-one counseling, which was invaluable. Then, once I started feeling like myself, I started volunteering-the AIDS Walk, Möda Provcater early on ... and, most recently, Night Thing for Wingspan. ... I'm also working on bringing my buddy (writer) Bruce Vilanch here from Los Angeles for a Wingspan fundraiser.

Why has it been so important for you to be active and get the word out?

Well, first of all, because people have been so wonderful and have cared about me so much. Like Wingspan-I am so thankful for them to turn to me for my involvement. It is a wonderful feeling. But I have a lot of angels out there who I know have helped me when I didn't even know it.

What's another way you try to help the community?

At (Hotel) Congress during World AIDS Day, we put out the AIDS ribbon on the fence facing (the Tucson youth collective) Skrappy's to remind the kids there to play it safe. ... I do different things like this, because I want to make a difference. I want to make a change. I want others to not get infected, and I want the spread to stop. I promised myself when I was diagnosed that I would do that.   

Join us at Reid Park at 7 AM on Sunday, April 10th.