Volunteers Needed!

I probably sound like a broken record of sorts, but I want to really emphasize the need that a few local non-profits have for volunteers! If you have even a few hours on a weekend, you may want to be involved!

Vancouver Pride Season (volunteer for the Vancouver Pride Society)
There are several events coming up towards the end of July and of course, the biggest clump of events occur the first week of August! Volunteers get free T-Shirts, admission to events (ie. Gay Day at Playland!) and of course, you get to be apart of the biggest Pride events in Canada!
For more information, check out the VPS website volunteer form here:
http://www.vancouverpride.ca/involve_volunteer.cfm?pageid=8

Out On Screen
Out on Screen hosts the biggest queer film festival in Canada, and it is held right here in Vancouver! There are tons of volunteer positions available, so whatever you are good at doing, there is likely a volunteer position for you! I tend to be biased, but I recommend working on the new "Street Teams," where you get to dress up and hand out flyers in your favorite neighborhoods! The perks for Out on Screen are amazing: free tickets for every 5 hours you work, free volunteer T-Shirts, and a chance to network with some of the most important people in Independent Film!
For more information, check out the Out on Screen website here:
http://www.outonscreen.com/content/Volunteer/17/4/0

Car-Free Commercial Drive Festival
I cannot emphasize how excited I am that there are going to be two of these festivals this year! The first festival, which was held in June, was absolutely fantastic! The second (held on July 22nd) will be equally as fantastic, if not more. People are still needed to help with Barricades, so PLEASE consider signing up for a 2 hours shift! Volunteers get discounts on T-shirts and tanks, and access to a Green Room full of donated food and drink! This festival is highly organized and great if you are interested in social issues...
For more information, check out the website here!:
http://www.commercialdrivefestival.org/

July Events

JULY EVENT LISTING

Here is a brief list of some events coming up in July! I am so sorry it is posted later than usual!
ALSO: If you are interested in volunteering for ANY of the Pride events, or are interested in a Barricade shift for the Car-Free Commercial Drive Festival, PLEASE CONTACT ME AND I WILL ARRANGE IT! Your help is needed!!!

July 7th: Pancakes for Pride Pancake Breakfast (To Support the VPS), @ The Fountainhead Pub from 11am-2pm.

July 7th: Vancouver Pride Society Volunteer Open House, @ Little Sister's Bookstore on Davie in downtown Vancouver, from 11am-5pm.

July 13th: Doria Roberts Concert (an amazing queer performer), @ the Media Club (695 Cambie Street. Show starts at 6pm and costs $10. Don't miss it :)
For more info go here:
http://www.superdyke.com/eventinfo.php?loc=1&month=07&event=1469

July 14th: Picnic in the Park! (A Vancouver Pride Event), @ Brockton Oval in Stanley Park, from 11am-7pm. Check out more information on this event here: http://www.vancouverpride.ca/event-details.cfm?pageid=36&id=163.

July 21st: Gay Day At Playland!!!, @ Playland, of course!, from noon to 8pm. Wear a red shirt to show your pride! Check out more information on this event here:
http://www.vancouverpride.ca/event-details.cfm?pageid=36&id=166

July 21st: Out on Screen Silent Auction, @ Vancity Theatre (1181 Seymour) Starting at 7pm. For more info on this event check out:
http://www.superdyke.com/eventinfo.php?loc=1&month=07&event=1494

July 22nd: Car-Free Commercial Drive Day!, @ on Commercial Drive between 1st avenue and Venables, from noon to 8pm! Check out more information on this event here:
http://www.commercialdrivefestival.org/

July 29th: Dine With Pride (Dinner and Silent Auction), @ the Marriott Pinnacle downtown hotel from 6-8:30pm. Check out more information on this event here:
http://www.vancouverpride.ca/event-details.cfm?pageid=36&id=170

Right In Your Own Backyard...

Back in March when I went to EPIC, I was taken away by the concept of Cob houses. When I mentioned how interested I was in these marvelous homes, a few of my friends turned their noses up at the idea, as though I was pitching some sort of brand new "Urban Hippy" idea to them. Well, in reality, Cob houses have been around for thousands of years, and structures built out of Cob today have the capability of being magnificent, if not elegant. They are also far more economical and environmentally friendly than the cookie-cutter homes being pumped out today. The group at EPIC that was holding demonstrations on how to build your own Cob home is called MOBY and is located on Commercial Drive. Of course, another amazing group of people in East Vancouver doing great things for their community! In addition to involving themselves with the wonder that is Cobbing, their bigger project is creating gardens in spaces that would otherwise be garbage-filled urban areas! You should check out their group at their website:

http://www.myownbackyard.ca/

The process of building a Cob home is so much more personal than building a mainstream, run-of-the-mill, modern home... if you build your own Cob home, you really put yourself into it. You mash it down with your bare feet and hands, you feel the earth that you will be living within, and you form and mold your own walls and floors like they are a giant sculpture. There thought of this seems so romantic to me, and not only that, Cob homes are so much more environmentally friendly. On top of all this, building a Cob home is a community affair. A person can't just go out and say "I want to learn to build every part of a house," because it would be impossible. The person would have to learn carpentry, electric, plumbing, how to install carpets, etc, etc. But with Cob houses, there are fewer steps, and the steps there are, are easier to perfect. When a person wants to build a Cobb home, they take a thorough course that is sometimes just two weeks long. They then find another family that is building their own Cob home, and assist that family in building their home. That family later returns the favor, sort of under the concept of "paying it forward."

So when I got home, I started researching where I could learn to build a Cob house. I stumbled upon the website of the Lasqueti Mud Girls. The site reeled me in immediately... the programs they have are extremely fairly priced for what you get: a vacation, food, comradery, and skills that you will have forever and will be able to use to create lasting structures.

This outhouse from their photo slideshow, for example, SOLD ME on the Lasqueti Mud Girls:

This summer I am SADLY booked solid with volunteering obligations, but I am probably going to sign up for a fall course. Their first course starts on June 18th, 2007, and their last course starts September 3rd, 2007. For entire summer event lineup, follow this link:

http://www.mudgirls.ca/noflash_Site/upcoming.html

Their main website is at this next link, and you can choose between high and low bandwidth:

http://www.mudgirls.ca/

Queer Youth On The Net: Get Interviewed, Get $25 Bucks

I've already contacted them about this, it's a legit research project, and everyone who participates gets a gift card :) I think it's totally worth it!!!

If you live in BC or Alberta and are 19-28 years old, here is a chance to share your story and also pick up a $25 gift card to Cineplex Entertainment!

How does the Net matter in your QLGBT life? Do you use:

Myspace? Facebook? YouTube? SuperDyke? Yahoo groups? Gay.com? Blogs? Events and info Networking? Or what?

Are you 19-28 years old in B.C.? 18-28 years old in Alberta?

Contact Dr. Mary BrysonFaculty of Education, UBCmary.bryson@ubc.ca
Or visit:http://myspace.com/queeryouthnet or http://educ.ubc.ca/faculty/bryson/queerville/

EPIC 2007 March 16-18

Just letting everyone know there is a sustainability conference going on in Vancouver from march 16-18. It looks really awesome! If you buy tickets online they are just $8. It looks really fun! I am probably going on Saturday, if anyone else wants to go!

The info is here: http://www.epicvancouver.com/main.cfm