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Table of Contents

Herland Voice October 2008

come celebrate as herland turns 25!

date: saturday, october 4
time: 4:30 pm–7 pm
awards⁄recognition at 5:30 pm
place: herland

Herland is proud to be among the ranks of only a handful of other lgbt organizations that have made it to the 25–year mark. A few large cities like New York and the San Francisco have centers that have lasted that long but OKC is one of the few outside the coasts that can boast such an accomplishment. It’s time to celebrate and look back over our achievements of the last 25 years.

The anniversary celebration will be held from 4:30–7 pm on Saturday, October 4, 2008, at Herland. The event begins with a reception where we will have hors d’oeuvres and drinks as we gather and visit. You can browse the 25th Anniversary scrapbook with pictures and stories sent in by Herlanders and watch videos of past Herland retreats and other events. Then, we’ll gather to honor past board members and volunteers ask some of you to share a few thoughts or stories about your times at Herland.

The focus of this event is to bring together old friends and enable folks to reconnect with some they may not have seen in a while.

It’s not too late to put together a story or a few photos to bring to the anniversary party. Just email the stories to us at herland@herlandsisters.org or bring them with you the afternoon of the celebration. We look forward to seeing you there!

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finally the fall retreat!

lake eufaula state park, checotah, ok
october 24 – 26, 2008

It’s almost time for another great retreat weekend! This time we’ll meet at Lake Eufaula State Park (formerly Fountainhead) on October 24 – 26, 2008. As usual, the weekend promises to be full of relaxation, great conversation, good friends, good music, and lots of fun.

On Friday night, Kara will be leading a fun meet and greet event, so that we can all get to know each other a little better. The Saturday Night Concert will feature a duo from Tulsa known as Karma Sultra, with Lara covering the vocals and Ondrea on piano. Karma Sultra is a blues⁄jazz⁄cabaret band that mixes torch classics and modern masterpieces for an unforgettable show. You can check them out on myspace.

On Saturday, our featured workshop will be “Self Esteem & Body Image” led by Dawn Singleton, Ph.D. Dawn’s workshop will focus on learning how to better love and accept ourselves where we are right now. If you can’t come for the entire weekend, consider coming at least for Saturday, as Dawn is an extremely talented and insightful woman, and promises to lead an unforgettable workshop.

In conjunction with Breast Cancer Awareness month, Jeanne will be leading some exciting and fun craft⁄costume events at the retreat. The costume contest will be inspired by the Krewe of Brassiere, a small but hilarious parade that precedes Rex at Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Start thinking now about how creative you can get with bras! There will be several categories to enter after spending time together decorating and designing costumes revolving around what else...bras! If you want to join in the festivities, please plan on bringing an extra bra or two (thrift stores are a good cheap source), a t–shirt to attach them to (unless you want to kick it up a notch and be closer to nature!), fabric, hats, gloves, shoes, stuffing (socks, tissue, bags of birdseed etc.), and anything else you think may make a great addition to your costume.

Jeanne will also be coordinating a pumpkin carving contest, with one of the categories being "best breasts". Bring your pumpkin and any carving materials you have, and help lend a little levity to this serious issue, supporting all the women we know and love, affected by breast cancer.

Your registration fee includes lodging in a cabin, a light dinner on Friday, scrumptious breakfast⁄brunch on Saturday and Sunday mornings, Saturday evening Potluck Dinner (bring or plan on making a dish to wow your fellow campers), all workshops and group camp activities, and the Saturday night concert.

Unfortunately, because of a minor incident at the last retreat, we have to revise the dog rules. Dogs of all shapes and sizes are welcome, but we ask that if your dog ”doesn’t play well with others“ or shows any aggressive tendencies towards people or animals, please leave them at home with a sitter. Everyone attending the retreat with a dog must sign a waiver stating that they are completely responsible for any injury or damage caused by their dog. We hope that this promotes a more relaxing atmosphere for everyone.

If you have any special needs, please be sure to include them on your registration form, or call one of the numbers listed below, and we’ll make every attempt to accommodate you.

Please send your registration as soon as possible. When we receive your registration form, about a week before the retreat, we will mail you a packet which has the retreat schedule, a list of items you may want to bring, details about the weekend, and a map to Lake Eufaula State Park. Deadline is Oct. 17 in order to receive information packet before retreat, but may pay at the retreat if necessary. If you plan to pay at the retreat, please call (405) 550–2312 to pre–register.

The Herland Retreat is whatever we make it. Let’s make it great!

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special drumming workshop with Wahru

Don’t miss this opportunity to drum with the best at Herland on Friday, October 3, from 7:30–9:30 pm (or later). Just bring your drums and we’ll provide drinks and snacks for this 2+ hour workshop with drummer extraordinaire–Wahru.

Wahru Cleveland is the founder and director of the Ohio–based multicultural women’s drum, song, and dance group, Sistah Ngoma and was the 2003 National Women’s Music Festival’s "Drum Mother." She has taught and conducted the National Women’s Music Festival Drum Chorus since 2003, and was a member of the Columbus women’s jazz group, Moxie for over 5 years. Wahru is a drummer for Pat Funderburg’s AfroRhythyms, and is the percussionist for Rhythm Enrichment, a Columbus based Rhythm, Blues, and Jazz group. Wahru is considered an accomplished drummer on the Djembe’, bongos, congas, and dunun. She has facilitated drum circles for many Columbus festivals, including Comfest, the Ohio LBA, and Hot Times. Wahru is the facilitator of the Columbus Community Drummers and the instructor⁄facilitator of the Columbus Women’s Drum Chorus.

Wahru just finished the Ohio Lesbian Festival where she did a workshop and her group opened the night stage. Later, she, Judith Casselberry, and Juca played a number with Bitch and Ferron.

Suggested donation for the workshop is $15.

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register to vote NOW! oklahoma deadline is october 10!

by Amazon Grace

Okay, if you think the upcoming election isn’t important, or if you have some carefully thought out reason why you are going to stay away from the polls, I’m not going to argue with you. Otherwise, it’s time to get up off your butt and make sure you are registered to vote. Or, stay seated if you prefer, go online, and go to some of the links provided below.

According to the Oklahoma State Election Board, Friday, Oct. 10 is the last day to register to vote if you want to vote in the Nov. 4 general election. You can download a registration form at www.ok.gov⁄~elections⁄vrfrmshl.html. Or, we have included it on pages 5–6 of the Herland Voice.

You may mail your voter registration application to the State Election Board. After you complete the application, enclose a copy of your identification if needed. Fold it and place it in an envelope. Affix postage and mail it to:

OKLAHOMA STATE ELECTION BOARD
P.O. BOX 528800
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73152–8800

Lists of Oklahoma statewide candidates and ballot measures are available by following links from the main site, as is information about how to find your polling place.

For more information, you can check out www.ok.gov⁄~elections⁄voterreg.html.

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Dear Herland member,

As Herland celebrates its 25th anniversary, we want to take this opportunity to thank you for your support and ask you to continue to help us serve the womyn’s community. Herland’s mission is to provide resources for the women’s community to strengthen, enrich, and support women, and to promote a world free of prejudice, oppression, and exploitation. Herland is a womanist organization and, although it has a strong lesbian focus, all women are welcome.

Herland is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization operated entirely by volunteers. There is no paid staff. We publish a monthly newsletter, operate a bookstore and lending library, and host a wide array of social and educational activities and services.

Herland’s annual operating expenses total approximately $11,000. Our income is derived from newsletter sponsorships⁄subscriptions, retreat registrations, fundraisers, and, most importantly, individual donations. We think it is important for Herland to continue and hope you do, too. We need your help in order to keep the doors open and continue to serve our community. Please consider making a tax–deductible donation to Herland in celebration of our 25th anniversary. A pre–addressed envelope is included with this month’s Voice. Your gift is very much needed and will be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,
The Herland Board

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october events

Drum Workshop with Wahru Friday Oct 3 Herland 7:30–9:30 pm (or later) $15 suggested donation
Miss Brown to You Friday October 3 Galileo Bar & Grill 3009 Paseo 9 to midnight $5
Strut Your Mutt Saturday Oct 4 Epworth 1901 N Douglas 4–6 pm
Herland 25th Anniversary Reunion Saturday Oct 4 Herland 4:30–7 pm with awards⁄recognition at 5:30 pm
Louise & Mary Saturday October 4 Full Circle Bookstore 7–9 pm no cover
Community PRIDE Town Meeting Everyone is welcome Monday Oct 6 Church of the Open Arms 3131 N Penn 7 pm
PFLAG–OKC Tuesday Oct 7 Church of the Open Arms 7 pm
PFLAG–Norman Thursday Oct 9 St Stephens 7 pm
Miss Brown To You Friday October 10 UCO Jazz Lab 8 to 11 pm $7
Herland Supper Club (on National Coming Out Day) Saturday Oct 11 Hideaway Pizza (new location) 5501 NW Expressway 5:30 pm
OGLPC Monthly Meeting Monday Oct 13 1236 NW 36 7 pm
Herland Board Meeting Sunday Oct 19 4 pm
OKC PRIDE General Meeting Monday Oct 20 Neighborhood Alliance 1236 NW 36 7pm
Louise & Mary Saturday November 1 Full Circle Bookstore 7–9 pm no cover

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website of the month

www.talktoself.blogspot.com

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All Rights Reserved
Herland Sister Resources, Inc.