From the MC Film Mail Bag…

Friendships and goodtimes while Uniting and giving back to our community . We are now doing a pot luck buffet after our meetings. So all Members are ask to bring a dish to pass so we can share and enjoy some social time with your fellow Bears after the meetings. Also, we now have a $25 bar tab that is provided by the Pro Shop to be raffled off or a 50/50 drawing at the end of each meeting. You must be a member in good standing and sign the attendance sheet with the secretary in order to get your free raffle ticket. Thanks to the generosity of the Pro Shop they are providing a $25 bar tab to be raffled off at the end of the meeting. Members will get one free raffle ticket from the secretary at the time you sign in with him on the attendance sheet. Any additional tickets you care to purchase will cost a mere 25 cents. So you can really increase your chances of winning! This is a great opportunity, and we appreciate the Pro Shop for providing it, as well as their support to the Bear Club. You must be a current dues paid member in good standing in order to be eligible for your free raffle ticket, and to win the $25 bar tab. So it is definitely worth attending the meetings
******************************
Hi Mark & Carrie!
We are hosting North Pinellas Pride’s “Bowling Night OUT” on Thursday October 20th at Dunedin Lanes. It will be an evening of bowling fun with entertainment by Alexis Mateo, Natasha Richards, & Jessica Foxx along with DJ Mark McKay.  We are hoping you can help us spread the word by including our event in your column.  I have attached the flyer to this email.  All of the details are available at Facebook.com/GayBowlingNight.
Thank you so much for your time!
Matt Stevenson
Dunedin Lanes
*****************************************************************

Contact: Adam Jahr                                                                           FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(727) 321-3854 x245

3251 3rd Ave. N. Ste. 125

St. Petersburg, FL 33713
AdamJ@MetroTampaBay.org

www.metrotampabay.org

Metro Wellness and Community Centers Grand Opening

Come enjoy Metro’s new St. Petersburg

GLBT Community Center

Metro Wellness and Community Centers is celebrating its brand new complex in St. Petersburg with a Grand Opening on Friday, November 4.

Come enjoy wine and refreshments at Tampa Bay’s newest, largest GLBT Community Center, located at 3251 3rd Ave. N. Suite 125. Learn all about what Metro has planned for the GLBT community and tour the space that will surely become an epicenter for GLBT activities in the Bay Area.

Metro’s Grand Opening will provide networking opportunities amongst some of Tampa Bay’s most influential GLBT individuals and entities. Since Metro’s GLBT Community Centers are constantly evolving, input from the community is welcome. So come visit the center and help Metro help you. For more information on the St. Pete Center, and Metro’s Community Centers in Ybor City and New Port Richey, go to www.metrotampabay.org.

*****************************

WHAT IS MORE THAN A RIDE?

THE SMART Ride 8. The Southern Most AIDS/HIV Ride Twenty-Eleven from Miami to Key West November 18th-19th.

The seed was planted June 25th at the St. Pete Pride Promenade by Eric the Motorcycle Crew Manager for The SMART Ride.  We were assembling our motorcycles to ride in the Promenade when Eric handed me a postcard about The SMART Ride 8.  We need motorcycle crew volunteers to escort the bicyclists,  he said, who pedal 165 miles in two days from Miami to Key West.  I got goose bumps as he described the ride.  Here was an opportunity for me to do two things I dearly love to do.  Ride my motorcycle and volunteer!   The fact that Florida ranks #2 in the nation for incidences of HIV/AIDS tells me the money is desperately needed.

If you too think this a worthwhile cause but do not have the time to volunteer as crew or participate as a rider you can still help change the world by making a tax deductible contribution and sponsoring us.  To make a pledge online go to http://thesmartride.org

On the home page click on PLEDGE and follow the step by step instructions.  Two of us from the Tampa Bay area are volunteering to crew so please use Wood crew number 756 or Newland crew number 757 when making your tax deductible contribution.

Take the challenge TODAY and sign up to ride, crew or sponsor us.  “Remember…never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed individuals can change the world, indeed; it’s the only thing that ever has”-Margaret Mead.

By LJ Wood