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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (May 1, 1987)
Campaign received positively Lesbian Community Project Update “ . . . no one , not my opponents , nor the media, nor the community tried to exploit the fear and ignorance which surrounds AIDS and hom osexuality ’ LCP is busy with a membership drive , Board of Directors election and Pride at the Pittock. BY B 1 L L Y R U S S O he final week of my campaign for the school hoard was first accentu ated and then overshadowed when it became public information that two young boys in a neighboring school district were infected with HIV. According to the Rose- burg News-Review, the boys are brothers and are hemophiliacs. Immediately following the release of this information I appeared twice on the evening news. I was also invited to appear T Roseburg Report v? on the local Country & Western radio sta tion and a newscaster from the easy listen ing station called. I was briefly a hot item. In the least days of the campaign, though, as more and more information about the children became available and the mother agreed to be interviewed by the Western radio station and a newscaster from the paper, my campaign received less and less attention. The school board of the affected district (Glide, Oregon) went into executive ses sion when the story broke, and didn’t come out until election eve. On election day they had a public meeting attended by 200 local residents and meddling AIDS- phobes from the county seat, Roseburg. I used this media event as an opportu nity to address merchants in my school district. I had little trouble convincing them to display AIDS brochures at their checkout stands. Almost everyone parti cipated. and almost no one was rude to me. The whole affair added to my resepecta- bility in the community. At the open meeting in Glide were rep resentatives of our AIDS task force, county health officials and Bob McAlister, coordinator for the State AIDS Project. The meeting was facilitated by Douglas County Community Health Coordinator, Tyanna Paine. The general attitude of the Glide resi dents was “ how can we help?” The ques tions asked showed this local community’s concern for «//their children. At the end of the meeting a local parent asked if Dr. Bums, a retired pediatrician from Rose burg — and an obnoxious religionist, could address the group. True to form, Bums quickly turned from medicine to righteousness. A woman from the audience, a local parent, interrupted him and said “ we go to our own churches for sermons.” The majority of the partici pants applauded her and the AIDS-phobe quickly returned to his seat. The meeting lasted over three hours and the community went away with a wealth of information. Altogether I raised and spent over $ l ,000 on my campaign. With the help of my supporters we distributed 2,300 “ Elect Billy Russo” brochures and purchased ads in the daily paper. I received 1% of the 1350 votes cast. And no one, not my oppo nents, nor the media, nor the community tried to exploit the fear and ignorance which surrounds AIDS and homosexual ity. I was treated fairly by everyone. • lust out JP Black and white wh and rad all over The Coffee Merchant B~^Y A N j T A Q U I T Q~N he Lesbian Community Project is busy with a spring membership drive. Board of Directors elections, and the planning of a gala event, June 20th, at the Pittock Mansion. Information on each follows in a question-answer format. More detailed information is available from LCP, 233-9079, P.O. Box 5931, Portland. Oregon 97228. What’s the Membership Drive? From May 1st to June 20th, LCP sup porters are focusing on recruiting new members. The lucky person to sign up the most new members will win a weekend at the coast for two. Runners-up will receive a variety of other prizes from massages to dinners. Winners will be announced June 20th at “ Pride at the Pittock.” Why Have a Membership? An active membership will provide LCP with part of the financial support necessary to pay a staff person, and cover printing, mailing, office space, and phone — the nuts and bolts that keep the organi zation operating. In turn, members will provide the direction and focus, but LCP will only become a viable organization if it has the active support of our lesbian community. How Can I Become a Member? Simple. Fill out a membership applica tion and enclose with your dues to LCP, P.O. box 5931, Portland, Oregon 97228. Applications and information are avialable at A Woman’s Place Bookstore, 1431 N.E. Broadway, or by calling 233-9079. Infor mation and applications will also be made available through special mailings and at special events. What If I Want to Become a Member But Can’t Afford to Pay Dues? Scholarship funds and payment plans are available to assist women in paying dues. No woman will be denied member ship based on inability to pay. Are There Different Kinds of Members? Yes. There are two classifications of members: Voting and non-voting. Women who support the goals and purposes of LCP may become voting members and vote in elections and run for the Board of Directors. Some LCP activities and meet ings may be limited to voting members. T Non-voting or associate members are individuals or organizations that support LCP and pay a membership fee, but cannot vote in elections or run for the Board of Directors. What Do I Get for Becoming a Member? Members receive the LCP newsletter, discounts, and invitations to member-only events. Additionally, members reap the satisfaction of supporting LCP and the op portunity to shape and direct the organiza tion. Other benefits may develop as the organization grows. What’s the Board of Directors Elec tion About? The LCP Board of Directors will be elected from the membership and will be a 24 member working board. Twelve mem bers of this board will be elected to serve as a steering committee which will oversee the ongoing operations of LCP and will meet monthly. The entire board will meet quarterly and will be responsible for long- range planning, financial management, overseeing LCP’s activities, administra tion and affirmative action policy. The standing committees will elect a repre sentative to serve on the board for a one- year term. The election time-line is as follows: May 1- 19th — Campaign. Candidates may campaign however they wish. Some ideas might be: Calling friends, passing out flyers, or simply relying on the information in the voter’s guide to get your point of view across. May 16th, 5-7 p.m. — Candidate’s Night at A Woman's Place Bookstore, 1431 N.E. Broadway. A chance to meet and talk informally with the candidates. May 17th — Last day to mail in ballots (must be postmarked by 5/17/87). May 19th — Voting ends (7-10 p.m.). In person at the Lesbian Forum, West minster Presbyterian Church, 1624 NE Hancock. Membership signups will also take place. May 21st — Election results posted at Club 927, Primary Domain, A Woman's Place Bookstore, and Metropolitan Community Church. # ♦ & The finest imported coffee beans, teas, chocolates, and beverage brewing accessories. ♦ THE BROADWAY COFFEE MERCHANT • QUEERSVILLE SUNDAY 10:00 PM • WOMANSOUL FRIDAY 10:00 PM KBOO 90.7 FM Just Out. 30. May, 1987 1637 N E Broadway • 284 9209 ♦ THE HAWTHORNE COFFEE MERCHANT B ridgetown R ealty 287-9370 3562 S E Hawthorne • 230 1222 2 3 0 5 NE N O R T H W E S T T R I PLEX Contemporary 2 and 3 Bdrm units — all with fireplaces, d/w's and washer/dryer hookups. Total rents ~ $1250/mo. )ust reduced to $ 110,000. N O Q U A LIFY IN G Low down assu, in super ar usable attic. $4 •tul 2 bdrm basement, P o rtlan d , OR 9 7232
