TMC Administration Notes - February / March 2004
Greetings. In terms of the Men's Center I can still say Happy New Year since the annual planning committee meeting would have just occurred by the time you read this. My hopes are that new ideas and energy will emerge to sustain us and "move on forward." In our last board meeting we were informed that the Center remains on solid financial footing, and during the same session three presentations were given for new groups. Not bad. As most of us know, the Men's Center runs on almost exclusively volunteer efforts. If I were asked why I put in my few hours a month the answer would come easily. It's because I've been helped through tough times by good men and as a result I've grown. Now I find that for those short periods there is no place I'd rather be, and that's unique We're a one horse operation to be sure, but I can't get past the idea that the need in the community is great. For some reason our society does not make it clear enough that healthy, maturing men are important. So let's grow the pie, let's shake 'n bake, let's rise from the basement into the bright sunshine of something-or-other. Pick up the phone, read Men Talk, jump on the web site and poke your head in. Perhaps this is a place where you can grow and serve. Bob Eng |
–– Randy Genrich, Librarian Using the library is a membership privilege. To check out a book, all you have to do is write your name. phone number, and the date on a checkout card and leave it in the box. Or just come in and browse – you will be surprised at how stimulating it can be to expose yourself to the books in our collection. So come on in and take a look. New Books Donated to the Men's Center For the second year the National Coalition of Free Men (Mpls Chapter) has donated copies of two books: Spreading Misandry (The Teaching of Contempt for Men in Popular Culture) by Paul Nathanson and Katherine Young. Father and Child Reunion (How to Bring the Dads We Need to the Children We Love) by Warren Farrell, Ph.D., author of Why Men Are the Way They Are. We also have many periodicals available for your use, such as:
Please be sure you use the library check-out system. And if you have overdue books, please return them so others can benefit from them. Enjoy your library! |
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I wish to commemorate the life of Michael Trom, Men Talk Production 1989-90, Men Talk Editor 1991-93. He died in his home on Jan. 1, 2004, age 46. For more, read the Goodbye Stranger article in the Jan. 14, 2004 City Pages. Mike was a friend I met in the mid '80s working in the tech theatre scene. He had an early aptitude for the use of technology, and worked as a writer for the StarTribune sports pages. By the late '80s, Mike was active in the production of Men Talk and was instrumental in converting our methods. Goodbye scissors-and-glue! Hello Macintosh and Quark Xpress! Throughout this time, Mike also struggled with depression. I witnessed his hospitalization for attempted suicide; we talked often about men's issues and difficulties; and we both turned to the Men's Center for help. We attended men's conferences, support groups, and classes. Many times, I believe that support from other men made the difference between life and death. When Mike moved back to Fargo ND in 2000, distance grew between him and his Twin Cities support network. In the end, it was too much. I wish every city had a Men's Center so every "Mike" has a place to go for support when it gets rough. Let's work to make it so. On behalf of the Men's Center, I extend my deepest sympathy to his family. Bill Dobbs, Vice-Chair and Men Talk Editor |
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