"Brothers [at the Twin Cities Men's Center] – Continue to thrive! You guys predated Bly's rise to national attention and you seem to be one of the few men's communities with lots going on. Bravo!" - Chris Harding, Dorchester, MA <charding@tiac.net> 617/282-3521. - 2001-06-24.

"I have Gratitude for the work you all do!" - Rick Gravrok, 952/926-6655. - 2001-05-30.

Organizing is in full swing for the Saturday, October 20th, all-day Twin Cities Men's Health and Well-Being Symposium by 23 volunteers at the Men's Center. <www.tcmc.org/events2/conference.htm> - Andy Mickel, 612/331-8396, 2001-07-16.

The Father's Resource Center, founded June 16, 1991 has joined forces with the burgeoning Resource Center for Fathers and Families making a total of 9 Twin Cities area sites to provide parenting classes, law clinics, relationship and anger management classes, support groups and referral services. See: <www.resourcesforfathers.org>- Jerome Schoenecker, 952/997-4816, Stephen Onell, 651/291-6771,<sonell@arcstp.org>- 2001-07-05.

Many volunteers did a masterful job staffing the Men's Center booth at GLBT Pride Festival attended by over 40,000 people. Over 500 copies of Men Talk were handed out as well as dozens of brochures describing our services, particularly Gay Issues, Bi-Issues, and Anger Management. Congratulations to Jerry Olson for coordinating this year's event as well as providing a stunning parade vehicle/float. - Andy Mickel and John Kuyper, 2001-07-09.

The Men's Center's monthly Open Men's Gathering is an evening of drumming and connection with other men every 3rd Sunday, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. at the Men's Center, 3249 Hennepin Ave, Suite 55, Minneapolis, 612/822-5892. - Norm Petrik, 2001-06-11.

Mid-month meetings of the Gay and Bi-sexual Father's Group will be held at Denny Siemers House for the Summer second Wednesdays: August 15th & September 12th, 6:30 p.m. 7631 Edinborough Way, Edina, 952-897-1281. Upcoming dinner (10 a.m. to 1 p.m) host for August 25th is Michael Hollmen, 4452 Portland Ave, Minneapolis, 612-824-7742. Host for September 29th is Jerome Hager, 1273 Shannon Dr, Woodbury, 952-897-1281. - Denny Siemers,<dennysiem@aol.com>, 2001-07-13.

Come to the annual Men's Center Campout at Baker Park on Lake Independence in NW Hennepin County, Saturday evening September 15th at 6 PM. Grill out your main dish; Men's Center is providing all other food. Car pools available by calling the Men' Center. An evening of singing, drumming and fun with other men. - Norm Petrik, 2001-06-12.

The 17th Annual Minnesota Men's Conference will be held September 11-16 at Camp Miller, on Sturgeon Lake in northern MN and led by Robert Bly, Martin Prechtel, Malidoma Some, John Lee, Miguel Rivera, Doug von Koss and Craig Ng. Malidoma, from Burkina Faso, has written an autobiography, Of Water and the Spirit and is a fine lecturer. Martn Prechtel, author of Secrets of the Talking Jaguar and Long Life, Honey in the Heart and another book coming out soon, will bring his wagonload of stories and his gratitude to the universe. John Lee's subject will be the modern culture of America where, as we know, a 40 year old can become a 5 year old in a matter of a second. He will read from his new book Growing Yourself Back Up. Robert Bly will be here for the whole conference this year, and will read from his new book of poems, The Night Abraham Called to the Stars. After ten years, we are returning in our thought to the theme of Enkidu, the Hidden One, and the relation of this energy to our souls and our practical lives. A new emphasis this year will be on masks. Do masks carry us to the place midway between ourselves and animals or midway between ourselves and grief? Perhaps, the mask helps to give a throne perhaps for the animal or plant soul. Conference is limited to 90 men and 30 young men; $595; $295 youth 13-20. FFI: Craig Ungerman: 877/333-3136, <www.hiddenwine.com>, <hiddenwine@earthlink.net> - Mark Stanley, 2001-05-25.

Mankind Project/Woman Within Community Campout: Men, Women, Children, Friends welcome, Aug 10-12, Afton State Park, Campsite #1: Tents, RV's, Campers. Enjoy Perseid Meteor Shower, Fishing, Swimming, Hiking. Community time: Storytelling, skills, jokes, games, drums. $5 adult/$2.50 child per night limited to first 50 people. Bring your own food. FFI: Rick Gravrok, 952-926-6655, <rick.gravrok@tcinternet.net>- 2001-07-15.

National Organization on Male Sexual Victimization (NOMSV) 9th International Conference will be held October 25-28 at John Jay College, CUNY, 899 10th Ave, New York City. Keynote address by Twin Cities' own Mic Hunter, "Male Sexual Victimization: It Doesn't Happen. It Doesn't Hurt. It Doesn't Matter." A Conference of 70 workshops for male survivors of sexual abuse and their loved ones, clinicians, researchers, criminologists, attorneys, educators, clergy, law enforcement, corrections personnel and students. $95 - $250, PO Box 2098, New York, NY 10116, <www.malesurvivor.org>, <nomsv@malesurvivor.org>, - Randy Genrich, 2001-06-08.

Visit our web site, <www.tcmc.org> to browse our Men's Healthand Wellness pages: <www.tcmc.org/wellness.htm>, <www.tcmc.org/welltips.htm>, <www.tcmc.org/resource.htm#MHEALTH> and for the latest news about the 2001 Twin Cities Men's Health and Well-Being Symposium <www.tcmc.org/events2/conference.htm> E-mail:<tcmc@tcmc.org> - Andy Mickel. - 2000-07-19.