Meeting Recap and Reminder for December

Thanks to the families that came on Sunday. We walked from the Cafe to City Park..just had to take advantage of the fantastic weather!

Our next meeting will be Sunday, December 6th. Please bring a new or gently used toy or book for a family in need. I will be dropping off donations to area gay-friendly charities in need of gifts for children of struggling families.

More on December's meeting in weeks to come.....

New York Times op Ed Piece on Children of Same-Sex Parents

Sunday's New York Times featured an article on how children of gays and lesbians are in comparison to more conventional families. Gratifying to read this in a respected national publication...... we all know this anyway but the more "mainstream" Americans that have the message reinforced, the better. I will link the article.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/08/magazine/08fob-wwln-t.html

Apple Picking at Heritage Orchard-12:30, Sunday September 27th.

Just a reminder we are planning for the the 2nd Annual VF Apple Picking Picnic at Heritage Orchard in Chilton.

Meet me in front of the main orchard building at 12:30 and we will walk down tot he hollow where there is a lovely spot for a picnic. Each family is responsible for their own lunch but feel free to bring something to share with the group if you are so inclined. Wagons are helpful for little ones and maybe a blanket to sit on. Last year we had a really nice time. We usually picnic for about an hour and then pick apples and climb trees. :)

Hope to see you all Sunday! New faces welcome!! Heritage Orchard directions on their home page....http://www.heritageorchard.net/

Fall Updates

Greetings Families!

Just a reminder there will be NO meeting on September 6th due to the Labor day holiday weekend. Instead we are participating in the GLBT Family Picnic hosted by Harmony Cafe's GLBT Partnership on Sunday, September 13th from 1:00-4:00 at City Park, Appleton. This special event is planned and staffed by the wonderful GLBT youth in our area for our benefit Please come for a fun afternoon of games, food and activities and get to know other families like yours!

This week marks back-to-school for many of us. Fall is a great time to reconnect with other LGBT families in the area and share and discuss the unique challenges of navigating the school system, fall toddler classes etc. as a unique family structure. If you haven't come to a meeting in awhile or have always been meaning to stop by, please do try and join us.

The remaining 2009 meeting dates are as follows:

Sunday, October 4th-- Last gathering at City Park until Spring.

We will have football and soccer for older kids.

Sunday, November 1st --Harmony Cafe, Appleton

Programming is open. Send me your ideas.

Sunday, December 6th--Harmony Cafe, Appleton

Holiday recycled gift exchange & kid crafts.

Special Outings...mark your calendars!!

• Sunday, September 27th ,12:30: Apple Picking Picnic, Heritage Orchard, Chilton

• Thursday October 8th, 6:30 PM, Parent's Night Out, Bowling, Beer and Burgers at the 10th Frame in Appleton

Additional info as the dates approach.

I would like to plan a community outreach/volunteer effort for Valued Families to do as well. Perhaps something around the holidays. Please send me your suggestions.

Have a great Autumn. Hope to see all of you soon.

Peace-

Lee

lsnodgrass@tds.net

Summer Meetings and Events

Hello Families-

As summer gets off to it's unofficial 

start this Memorial Day weekend, I wanted to remind everyone that our summer meeting location at City Park in Appleton is in effect. Harmony Cafe is, of course, open at it's new location in downtown Appleton in case of rain. You could even stop by the cafe first and get your favorite beverage or snack then walk over to the park.

Summer meeting dates are as follows:

Sunday, june 7th

Sunday, July 12th (one week later due to the 4th of July holiday)

Sunday, August 2nd.

Several parents expressed interest in getting together more frequently during the summer months. I'll post a survey about that and get back to you with the results.

I would also like to plan an outing for the group. I am thinking of the Green Bay Zoo sometime in July. Most likely a Saturday. Stay tuned.

Finally, the families are growing and growing up! Ben and Joshua are "on deck" with their baby due June 9th, Anya and Sophie are turning  one, Emmalea is turning 5, and  my own "baby", Henry turns 8 tomorrow (May 23rd).

Please don't forget to spread the word about VF to your friends. We want the group to grow and prosper. And, if you haven't joined us in awhile, please stop by again. We would love to see you and catch up.

Peace-

lee

New Location, LGBT Equality Breakthroughs and a new hope for Spring

I hope all of you are planning to attend the next Valued Families gathering 

Sunday May 3rd at the NEW Harmony Cafe Fox Valley location at 233 E. College Avenue, Appleton. 

The cafe will be open tot he public on Sundays so there will be cafe service (sandwiches, coffee, drinks) available when we meet. There are private rooms available for groups. I will go ahead and reserve on for our next meeting and we can decide collectively if this is necessary for all meetings or just some.

IN THE NEWS: 

Three cheers for the recent victories for gay marriage in Iowa and Vermont. Iowa's unanimous victory makes it the third state in the U.S. to legalize gay marriage and the first in the heartland. 

Vermont, the first state to recognize civil unions between same-sex couples remains a pioneer as they passed gay marriage through the legislature barely achieving enough votes to override Governor Douglass's veto. Still, a victory none the less.

LOCAL:

• UW-Oshkosh's GLBT Student organization, Rainbow Alliance for HOPE is hosting a panel discussions, Wednesday, April 29th at  7PM on Being an LGBTQ parent.  The panel will be in Reeve Union Rm 214. For more information, please contact: Shawn at 920-424-3182.
  
• Positive Voice is hosting the first annual adult Gay Prom, Saturday April 25th, 7PM at Liberty hall in Kimberly. Check out their web site for more information

And, as always, don't forget to check Harmony Cafe's web site for ongoing LGBTQ programs and services near you!

May you all enjoy a Happy Easter and Passover as you celebrate with your valued families.

Peace-

lee

Meeting Recap and Plans for the Future

Thanks to all who came to February 2nd's gathering! We had glitter, cookies, frosting, brownies, balloons, hearts, markers, kids...your basic makings for a great (and messy) time!

Our next gathering will be Sunday, March 1st.  Please mark your calendars. Perhaps we will be seeing warmer temperature by then. I am thinking we should plan some physical, get-your-sillies-out games. Surely we will all be stir crazy by then.

I'd like to find a time to get the undivided attention of the parents of our group for some upcoming ideas and planning. Maybe at our next gathering I can have some teen helpers to watch the kids while the adults sit in the cafe for a bit. More later.

Peace and love-

Lee

Take Back Valentine's Day

Upcoming for February 1st: 

Love is tender and knows no gender!, Hearts, sparkles, glue and glitter.... all you and your little one need to make fabulous Valentines for the loves in your life.

Grown-ups don't be left out! With the dearth of LGBT  Valentines at Hallmark, you'll be expected to get in on the creativity too.

xoxo

PG: Parental Guidance

Valued Dad, Benjamin Rinehart,  assistant professor of art and art history at Lawrence University, will be hosting a show at the Wriston Art Center's Kohler Gallery on January 23rd. Please see the attached pdf for details! Congrats, Ben!