TMC Administration Notes - August/September 2009

Letter from the Chair

Hello, and greetings to all friends and members of TCMC. I hope this newsletter finds you enjoying a little well-earned rest during the dog days of summer. This common phrase for what is typically the hottest part of the year provides a segue of sorts into the theme for this issue of Men Talk in the form of a question: Why do so many men treat themselves worse than they would treat a dog? In other words, why do we often seem locked in a cycle of shame and harsh, self-critical thinking? Bob Anderson’s excellent lead article on men and shame discusses the reasons behind and some techniques for addressing male shame. It is worth a careful read by anyone who is a man or knows one -- which should be just about everyone reading this!

In our culture, men are constantly bombarded with messages that discourage the expression of any emotion except anger. Expressing feelings is somehow seen as the exclusive domain of women, and in men, as a sign of weakness. So it’s no surprise many men are reluctant to discuss their feelings and to examine the ways they express their anger. But while advertising, television, and other popular culture outlets may give us bad advice, it is still each man’s decision whether and how to express a particular feeling. If you think about it, nothing is more fundamental to the notion of responsibility.

If you see a little of yourself in Bob’s article, think about signing up for an Anger Management class at TCMC. We usually have multiple classes running concurrently on different nights of the week in different locations. If you decide to explore this side of yourself, I think you’ll find that, far from weakening you, it will make you a stronger and better-equipped man, able to tackle the challenges that confront all of us in our daily lives.

Joe Szurszewski
Board Vice-Chair

Library Corner

–– Ray Clare, Librarian

We are pleased to offer our members a unique and extensive collection of quality reading on men’s topics.

As a Men's Center member, you are eligible to check out books from our library. And while you are enjoying our many book resources, consider a browsing our large and growing selection of periodicals.

  • Men’s Health
  • Lavender
  • Transitions
  • Men’s Journal
  • Voice Male
  • Fathering Today

Recent books that have been donated include: Sex Addicts Anonymous, How the Homosexuals Saved Civilization, Nothing to Lose, The Gate House, Blind Fall, Quicksand, The Crush, and Protect and Defend.

Book Returns Needed:
Some of these books have become so important in 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.

$1,500 in Prizes Awarded in TCMC s Pride Raffle

by Don Haumant, 2009 Pride Coordinator

Twenty-one prize winners in the TCMC 2009 Charity Raffle were announced at a drawing held Sunday, June 28th, at the Men’s Center booth at the 2009 Pride Festival. Among the prizes were Minnesota Twins tickets, a group membership at the YWCA, several massage sessions and restaurant gift certificates, and free tattooing or body piercing.

Many thanks to the Twin Cities businesses that kindly provided prizes so TCMC could raise donations to support its programs. Donors were as follows: Cafe Maude; Electric Fetus; The Great Metropolitan Back Rub; Jared Gruhl, DC; Hawaii Healing Arts; Minnesota Twins; Page Studios; Cynthia Reuss; Saint Sabrina’s; ShopTrustBuy.com; Southside Pride; True Thai Restaurant; UPS Store (28th & Hennepin); and the YWCA of Minneapolis.

TCMC also received much-appreciated financial support from two additional sources: Target Corporation (Albert and Tricia, downtown store; Carrie and Pat, Lake Street store) and ShopTrustBuy.com (Steve Triplett, Jerry Olson).

By all accounts, TCMC’s 2009 Pride booth was the most ambitious ever produced. Those individuals who generously contributed their time and efforts were the following: Ed Anderson, Hank Bruns, Ray Clare, Dave Decker, Dave Eckholdt, Kevin Elzia, Randy Genrich, Jeff Haas, Jim Heaney, Nancy Helland, Ed Johnson, Al Jones, Harold Kallio, Patrick Luby, Dick Madigan, Andy Mickel, Gerald Obremski, Michael O’Laughlin, Jerry Olson, Paul Overby, Cynthia Reuss, John Ruud, Bobby Schauerhamer, Ron Stranger Horse, Joe Szurszewski, Mark Thompson, Steve Triplett, Leigh Wahlroos, Tom Weaver, Linda Wray, and the TCMC board of directors.

The Men’s Center also acknowledges the kind cooperation of Deanna Alvord and Shari Burt of the Minnesota Department of Corrections for helping to arrange a photo session at one of their facilities. For a complete list of raffle winners, prizes and other info, please contact the TCMC administrative office.