Date: Sat, 25 May 1996 17:18:21 +0000 From: Sharon Jacobson Subject: 96 old lesbian gathering Old Lesbians Organizing for Change (OLOC) PO Box 980422, Houston, TX 77098 or: Vera Martin, National Coordinator 200 E. Southern Ave. Apache Junction, AZ 85219, (602) 983-6462 May, 1996 For Immediate Release "2 - 4 - 6 - 8 How do you know your grandma's straight?" - Old Lesbians Chant during Pride marches. Old lesbians will be getting together from all parts of the United States and Canada in what is anticipated to be the largest old lesbian gathering ever held, this August 15 to 18th at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. Billed as the Summer '96 Old Lesbian Gathering , participants will have an opportunity for three days to "examine" their lives, "confront" their challenges, and "celebrate" their strengths. The conference format is geared to maximize participation by planning many small conversation groups, as well as major panels to deal with all aspects of old lesbians' lives. The Gathering planners, Old Lesbians Organizing for Change (OLOC), and local community groups are planning an all-ages all-womens banquet and dance at the University Raddison Hotel on Friday, August 16, featuring top notch entertainment by lesbians over 60. In addition, old lesbians will celebrate their talents by an exciting display of arts, crafts, ceramics, photography, weavings, etc. To make this Gathering available to the widest possible number of old lesbians, fees have been reasonably set from $175 (for early registration) to $200. These fees include University dorm and cafeteria accommodations (three nights lodging, three meals a day), Banquet and Dance, and conference registration. Since only old lesbians, 60 years of age or older, (and their partners who may be under sixty) are eligible to attend, all others can support this historic event by placing ads and greetings in the Souvenir Program Journal. For further information about rates and about the Gathering itself, please write to: OLOC, PO Box 980422, Houston, TX 77098, or call: Vera Martin, OLOC National Coordinator, (602) 983-6462.. Souvenir Program Book for OLOC'S SUMMER '96 OLD LESBIAN GATHERING August 15 to August 18, 1996 University of Minnesota, Minneapolis Ads/Greetings Full Page $300. Business Card $35. 1/2 Page $160. Name Listing $25. 1/4 Page $ 85. Inside Front $400 1/8 Page $ 45. Inside Back $400. Enclosed is my tax deductible check for____ made payable to OLOC Name (Please Print) Address City/Zip Phone (home) (work) Copy (Deadline = June 15) Send your payment and copy to: Old Lesbians Organizing for Change (OLOC) PO Box 980422, Houston, TX 77098 or call: 602-983-6462 We're Here! by Shevy Healey (dob l/22) A popular slogan amongst lesbian and gay activists right after Stonewall was "we are everywhere." We put such bumper stickers on our cars and RVs and had a good chuckle as our sisters honked and gave us the hi-sign on the highway. John D'Emilio, Director of the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force Policy Institute, says, "In 1969... to shout, as radical activists did, 'we are everywhere,' was bold and sassy. It was also an act of faith." For most of us were very closeted and invisible. Since then, we have had to prove "we are everywhere" by coming out of the closet, as individuals and as a community. The 1993 March on Washington was evidence of the effectiveness of this process. OLOC, very visible (second in line!) and highly vocal, proudly marched behind our banner, shouting "2-4-6-8- How do you know your grandma's straight?" Things change, and today "we are everywhere" has become a cozy slogan rather than a rallying cry. A new generation of queer activists announces in the 90s, "we're here!" Talk about "bold and sassy!" For what they, and now we, are saying is: "we are here, we are visible, we are in your face!" That's one part of the meaning of our Summer '96 Old Lesbian Gathering. We expect this to be the largest gathering ever held of old lesbians anywhere. As we go about meeting each other, talking about our lives, creating policies for change, we are saying loud and clear: WE ARE HERE! Put your Greeting/Ad in the Souvenir Program Book. Express your commitment to confront ageism and support old lesbians. Do it now! All Women/All Age Banquet The Friday night banquet and dance at the Summer '96 Old Lesbian Gathering will be a grand opportunity for local women and old lesbians to mix and share. We'll eat and dance together, meet our local and nationl celebrities, briefly tell our stories and listen to some top notch entertainment. Mothertongue Feminist Theater Collective will present their Aging script, which includes some fine erotica. This unique theater group, celebrating its 20th year, is widely aclaimed for the excellence of its performances and its timely and unique scripts. The Collective members write all of their own material on a broad range of subjects from Lesbian Humor to Mothers and Daughters. A very special treat! Billie Harris, an extraordinarily talented blues singer in the Billie Holiday tradition, will be singing such favorites as God Bless the Child and Sweet Georgia Brown. Harris, born in 1933 in Bonham, TX, has been a resident of Arizona since age thirteen, when she first began to sing in her church choir. She was an outstanding pitcher on a soft ball team for which she was inducted into the National Hall of Fame in Oklahome City in 1982. For those not buying the conference package (which includes everything), admission to the Banquet and Dance will be $25, or the Dance only, $5 to $10, sliding scale. Tickets can be purchased locally from The Amazon Bookstore. Use OLOC's Travel Agent In a special arrangement with Northwest Airlines, which offers the best service and most direct flights to Minneapolis, Travel Lab has gotten us a deal! Although no discount is greater than the 10% senior discount, those under 62 can also get either a 5% or a 10% discount depending on the choice of ticket. Best of all, OLOC will get one free ticket for every 40 purchased on any travel to Minneapolis from August 12 to 21, 1996! Be sure to call Travel Lab (800) 747-7026. ask for Elisa and say you're from OLOC. Summer '96 Gathering - A Very Special Format by Shevy Healey (dob: 1/1922) Are you tired of going to conferences where you are expected to sit quietly and listen? Or to conferences where you race around madly trying to choose THE right workshop - then worry about what you've missed? OLOC decided to scrap the usual conference format and replace it with one of maximum participation. After listening to a panel of our peers, all conference participants will scatter (in an organized way, of course) to many small "breakout" rooms to discuss, each one from her own experience and perspective, what has just been presented. There is no way everything can be included, but the Gathering committee has worked to include as much as possible. Five panels will cover a wide range of issues: (1) Our Community: Who are we? What unites us? What divides us? (2) Confronting our challenges - past and present; (3) Living in the world today (what it's like to deal with the medical establishment, homophobia and the radical right, politics of the 90s and beyond); (4) Living our lives. (Our relationships, our addict-ions, our achievements, our adventures); and finally (5) Creating change - what we want, how to get it. Included in the list of speakers will be some famous as well as not so famous old lesbians. Barbara Mcdonald, founder, originator, and always on the cutting edge of the movement to confront ageism, Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon, political and community activists since the 40s, Annalee Stewart of Minneapolis, Joyce Peltzer, social activist in the disability movement, Vera Martin, Shevy Healey, Ruth Silver of Arizona, Sara Davis, gold medal swimming champ, Marge Green, Betty Shoemaker, Cat Lover, Cam Jancek, Charlotte Avery, Unis Samuels, and many others. All this and a dance, banquet, and two nights of entertainment as well! This historic Gathering is not to be missed! For Gathering details read the enclosed brochure and Sign Up Now!!! ************************************************************************ Honesty is more than just not being dishonest. It is an active choice to be responsible for the choices we make before we act upon them so that we can stand up for them and not be tempted to be dishonest. ************************************************************************* Sharon Jacobson THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA DEPT OF RECREATION AND LEISURE STUDIES HARDMAN HALL 2825 JEFFERSON ROAD ATHENS, GA 30602 ATHENS, GA 30607 706-542-5064 706-354-0559 706-542-7917 (FAX) ************************************************************************