TMC Administration Notes - October/November 2006

Letter from the Chair

On October 15th the Twin Cities Men’s Center will celebrate 30 years of providing a place of support, encouragement, dialogue, and education for men throughout the metropolitan area. The Men’s Center is not a “flashy” organization by any stretch. We don’t get much press and certainly don’t have a fancy central office. But I know from listening to what others share, the TCMC changes men’s lives for the better, one by one, through its support groups, outreach programs and presentations, as well as its excellent anger management seminars. This is something for which each of us can be very proud.

We should also keep in mind that when one of our fellow members has developed more self worth and dignity, or learned how to be a better spouse, friend, or father, there is a multiplying effect that begins to change our community, and the world, into a better place.

The Men’s Center continues to build bridges with other support organizations such as Chrysalis and the Resource Center for Fathers and Families, while continually looking for new ways to connect with men from all ages and backgrounds. Let’s celebrate our gift to each other and to our community with hardy congratulations and thanks to each other, while looking forward to many more years of continued service.

Len Zimney, Board Chair
Library Corner

–– Ray Clare, Librarian

We are pleased to offer our members a unique and extensive collection of reading on men’s topics. This month, we feature a baker’s dozen new additions to our library. They include!

  • Earth Father, Sky Father
  • Intervention for Men Who Batter
  • Letters to My Son
  • Man Enough
  • Manhood in the Making
  • Men in Therapy
  • Owning Your Own Shadow
  • Raising Cain
  • Real Boys
  • The Courage to Raise Good Men
  • The Lover Within
  • The Society without Father
  • The Way Men Think

Give us a try! We likely have what you are looking for. Be sure to check it out on your next visit to the Men’s Center! You won’t be disappointed!

Some of these books have become so important in some of our members’ lives that they seem to have been out since I had hair. While we have no specific time limit, please consider if you are still using any Men’s Center books you now have, and return them to availability.

And while you are enjoying our many book resources, consider a browsing our large and growing selection of periodicals. Here you will find such works as:

  • Men’s Health
  • Lavender
  • Transitions
  • Bi All Means
  • Edge Life
  • D.A.D.S #1
  • Voice Male
  • Men’s Journal
  • Rainbow Families
  • Essential Wellness
  • G.R.I.P.

Thanks!

2006 Pride Festival Booth & Parade Report

by Steve Triplett

The 2006 Pride Festival Booth was a great success with more than 400 newsletters and brochures handed out and hundreds of people signing their names or hometowns to our Home Town Ribbons. Many people’s eyes were drawn to the booth by the bright neon colors and the color photographs. One picture of the Uptown area, and a picture of the building where our office is located. According to the Twin Cities Pride web site:

The 2006 Pride Celebration was a smashing success! A huge thank you to all our volunteers, sponsors and attendees for once again making Twin Cities Pride the third largest in the United States. We’re going to take a week or two off to rest and recover, but keep watching www.tcpride.org for more about Pride all year long.
2006 Estimated Attendance
Saturday Festival 70,000
Sunday Festival 240,000
Total Festival 310,000
Parade 125,000
Grand Total 435,000

We would like to send a great big Thank you to everyone who signed in and tended to the booth: John, Dick, Gerry, Dick and Randy because without their help the Booth would have been much less colorful and a lot less fun!

The Parade was also a great success with Mike & Rich’s SuperTruck! Steve was in the back of the truck with a great big sign that listed all the support groups the Men’s Center offers on it. The Sign inevitably fell down but he held it up so people from either side of Hennepin Avenue could read it. The correction for this small problem has been already realized for next year. Another Big Thank You goes to these men.

Last, but not least, THANKS goes to Jerry Olson who’s tireless dedication and hard work has paid off with the success of the Booth and Parade Unit. Jerry would like to invite You to be part of the process next year. If you have any comments, criticisms or suggestions please feel free to let the Men’s Center know because, without your input, we couldn’t do the job we do. If you didn’t like something you saw or heard about, Take Action! Work with us to change it for the better!