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An Open Letter To The Community

ARCPEI is a not-for-profit organization committed to providing services to the GLBTQ community of Prince Edward Island, and is operated by a Board of Directors as well as a small group of dedicated volunteers. We operate without Government or private grants/sponsorship. The ARC Board of Directors is taking this opportunity to address and update the broader community on PEI in regards to our current and future endeavors, current financial status, and to put a general call out for volunteers and board members.

ARCPEI regularly hosts dance parties in a safe environment for community members, their friends and supporters, and we plan to continue these dances. Our numbers having been growing stronger and we’re pleased to be able to provide the dances for our community to come out, socialize, and dance. A lot of work takes place behind the scenes, including countless volunteer hours from both board members and volunteers to ensure we continue to have an appropriate venue to socialize and dance. This summer, our dance parties are being held at The Wave, located on the UPEI campus. This move was necessary as our regular venue (Mavors Studio #1, at the Confederation Centre of the Arts) is occupied by a stage show for the summer months. We will be returning to Mavor’s in the early fall. We realize there is a large portion of the community that has been neglected in recent years, and we’re taking steps to change that. As the GLTBQ community on Prince Edward Island diversifies and grows, we are moving forward to ensure we grow as well. We’re working towards offering events other than our regular dances. We have developed partnerships with several other organizations and will be hosting a Family Day at Tea Hill Park during the Labour Day Weekend. We’re also interested in starting a Youth and Adult Volleyball League in cooperation with Stratford Town Hall. In early September we will also be holding a Jukebox Night at the Delta with music from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. In the fall we will be selling tickets for a fundraiser spaghetti dinner, various theme parties are scheduled throughout the year, as well as Halloween, Christmas and NYE parties.

As a not-for-profit entity, ARCPEI typically operates in a deficit situation throughout the year, with Pride Week supplementing regular earnings and allowing a surplus to cover regular overhead and operating costs associated with ARC activities. Pride 2010 on PEI was a success with some very well attended events. Sadly, the funds generated failed to cover the costs associated with putting on Pride 2010. After careful review of both past and present financial statements, and keeping in mind that our cover charge hasn’t changed for 12 years, the decision has been made to raise the price of cover to $7 dollars, beginning in September. This increase is necessary to ensure we continue being able to provide events and services for the community. As an aside, the dances are volunteer driven; the DJs, door staff and liaison are volunteers. Here is a brief breakdown of the costs associated with the operation of ARC and events:

- Security Staff
- SOCAN Fees (for the music we play)
- Venue Rental Fees
- Liability Insurance
- Equipment costs, including sound and lighting gear
- Office Space Rental
- Telephone Lines and Web hosting fees
- Printing and Advertising costs

We have two more dances scheduled at The Wave, and look forward to seeing everyone out at our new venue. We’ll be returning to Mavor’s in September with an increased door charge of $7. We’re now in the planning stages for Pride 2011 and are currently seeking interested volunteers to assist in various activities including finding sponsors, fundraising and planning of both Pride and ARCPEI events. Please feel free to visit out webpage at www.arcofpei.com, or check out our Facebook page (Abeqweit Rainbow Collective) for more information and to contact the board directly. We also welcome input from the community at large. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the many past and present volunteers and board members who have contributed to our everyday operations and events over the years.

Thank you for your time and we look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events!

Sincerely, the ARCPEI Board of Directors

Wayde Lewis, Male Co-Chair
Jeff Fitzgerald – Treasurer
Eric McKearney – Events Coordinator
Alana Leard – Youth Coordinator
Rhonda Gallant – Pride Coordinator
GeorgaDawn Moase – Volunteer Coordinator
Chris Gallant – Administrative Officer

Important Message From ARCPEI

It seems that there is a video circulating the internet of some people stealing a velvet rope from the Confed Center during one of the Party PEI Dances. A representative of the Confed Center says that if the rope is returned within one week that no criminal charges will be laid. I urge the guilty party to return the rope at once.

Mavors is probably the best venues that the GLBT community of Charlottetown have been fortunate enough to use for our functions, we'd like to keep it that way.

ARCPEI looking for new Board Member

The Abegweit Rainbow Collective is currently seeking interested parties to sit on their 2009-2011 board of directors. Board members are expected to volunteer their time for a minimum of three hours per week on duties ranging from attending board meetings, volunteering at social events, networking with peers and other social networks and being a supporter and positive voice for the LBGT community in Prince Edward Island.

Interested parties should submit, in writing, a detailed letter of interest, listing any special skills and interest in the LBGT community.

Submissions can be sent to info@arcofpei.com or at the new office location at 375 University Avenue, Unit 2 (AIDS PEI office).

Transgender Day Of Visibility

Mark Hanlon, the Executive Director of AIDS PEI, and Pam O'Neill of the Native Council of PEI sit here in front of Province House demanding that Provincial Government do more to protect the rights of Transgendered, Transsexual and Intersex Islanders. They are representatives of just a couple of the organizations that joined in today's protest.

A petition was launched today to include 'gender identity' to the provincial Human Rights Act. David Larter, executive director of the Human Rights Commission, argues that transgendered individuals are already protected under Section 13 of the Human Rights Act. Section 13 states that no person shall discriminate against an individual because of sex or sexual orientation.

Ontario's Human Rights Act states that gender identity does fall under the sex category. By failing to specifically include the trans community in the exact wording of the law we allow those with a personal prejudice to challenge trans people's protection under Section 13. By including gender identity in the Human Rights Act we create a concrete law that can't be undermined or second-guessed by unspecific wording.

There's room on the ARC for you too!

The Abegweit Rainbow Collective is currently seeking interested parties to sit on their 2009-2011 board of directors. Board members are expected to volunteer their time for a minimum of three hours per week on duties ranging from attending board meetings, volunteering at social events, networking with peers and other social networks and being a supporter and positive voice for the LBGT community in Prince Edward Island.

Interested parties should submit, in writing, a detailed letter of interest, listing any special skills and interest in the LBGT community.

Submissions can be sent to info@arcofpei.com or at our new office location at 375 University Avenue, Unit 2 (AIDS PEI office).

Watch Your Drinks.

This weekend at Peak's Quay in Charlottetown a young man was slipped a date rape drug. He claims it was an older gay gentleman who kept "hitting on him" that put it in his drink. Luckily he knew what to do and got away safely.

This happens more than you'd imagine, so it does pay to be prepared.

Here are some tips to help prevent being date raped.

* Avoid parties or groups where alcohol or drug use is excessive. Studies of date rape show that 75% of the date-rapists, and 55% of the victims, had been drinking or taking drugs before the rape occured.

* Avoid people who make you feel uncomfortable.

* If you're going to a party, establish a buddy system with a friend; watch out for each other.

* When you're leaving, don't announce that you're walking alone. Try to walk home with a friend or in groups.

* Don't give a whole bunch of information about yourself to a person you just met.

* People can't read you mind: if someone's doing something to you that you're not comfortable with, say "no."

* Always have some taxi money in your pockets in case you want to go home.

* Never walk home through deserted areas like parkland or railroad tracks.

* Do not hitchhike.

For more information click here.

Online article causes concern.

The Guardian has posted an article about Gay Pride week on it's website. As usual there's plenty of people wishing us well and congratulating us on another year's work well done. There are also lots of people wishing us ... less than well let's say.

We have to remember though that everyone is entitled to their opinion, even if their opinion is utterly, utterly stupid. I'm talking to you D from PE.

If you want to read the article, head over to The Guardian's webpage by clicking here.