Fall

  

LIX MONTHLY E-NEWS - OCTOBER 2006

 

Hey LIX Chicks!

Ah....the power of networking! This past Monday, when Lucy and I arrived at the Let's Dance Studio for our intermediate ballroom and latin dance class, we couldn't believe our eyes. The place was crawling with lesbians! So many LIX members responded to the dance class posting in the e-news that Paul LaFleur had to create TWO beginners' classes! Holy leaping (or fox-trotting or tango'ing or salsa'ing) lesbians! I'm kind of sorry that we joined last year...part of me wants to start all over again so I can be in the LIX classes!

And I understand that Barb ('looking for women to go golfing with') has a golf date for Monday! The fundraising dinner for the Cluny Mission Project has already SOLD OUT!! Laura's first Under The Hood: Car Awareness Workshop was a big hit! (Laura is offering the workshop again on October 28th...see details below.) I am absolutely thrilled that the LIX network is creating so many excellent places of connection for Ottawa lesbians. Thanks to all of you for getting off those couches and creating some positive and vibrant energy in Ottawa!

We had seven new women show up at the October coffee meeting and three new women join by email...which brings us to 160 members. Bridgehead was so packed on October 3rd that people on the street were stopping with that 'Oh...must be a celebrity event taking place here' look on their faces. And they were right of course. Over fifty luscious lesbians were in attendance...quite amazing for a dreary Tuesday night on a blocked off street with no place to park (when is that sewer project going to be finished!).

This month's five-minute infomercial was presented by Molly King who is a very successful car salesperson with Smiths Falls Nissan. Molly gave us an interesting talk about what it's like to be a woman in the 'men's game' of car sales. Molly sold 17 vehicles in September...more than her five male colleagues sold all totalled! Pretty scary for those boys! She talked about some of Nissan's new models, compared buying and leasing, and gave us some 'buyers tips'. Molly also made a commitment to knock an additional $500 off any deal to a LIX member. She's more than happy to talk with LIX members about car purchases in general, and to answer any other car questions you may have. You can reach Molly toll free at 1-877-258-4627 or email her at mking@magma.ca. Remember...Smiths Falls is only 40 minutes away!

After the roaring success of last May's dinner/speaker meeting, the LIX Steering Committee has decided to organize a second dinner/speaker meeting at The Pantry Cafe in the Glebe Community Centre. We were originally thinking that sometime in November would be excellent but we weren't to be that lucky. Carolyn, the owner of The Pantry, has a full schedule for the month. The best she could offer us before Christmas was December 6th. December 6th is the anniversary of the Montreal Massacre and thus the date of a very important women's event here in Ottawa...the Vigil at the Women's Monument in Minto Park. So we're going to postpone our LIX dinner/speaker meeting until early in the new year...possibly sometime in February when the 'blahs' have hit and we could all use a fabulous night out with other LIX Chicks. This has been a particularly frightening couple of months...with the murder of students in Montreal and the most recent murders of innocent little girls in an Amish schoolhouse in Pennsylvania. We encourage all our members to attend this year's vigil on December 6th at 6:00 p.m. I spoke with Valerie from Women's Initiatives for Safer Environments (WISE) this afternoon. Valerie is one of the organizers of this year's vigil. She told me that there is usually a gathering after the vigil at First United Church at 397 Kent Street. We will keep you posted on the details as we get closer to the date. If you would like further information about the vigil, feel free to call Valerie at (613) 230-6700 or check the WISE web site in a few weeks - www.wiseottawa.ca.

That's it for this month...I have to go and focus my brain on Hallowe'en costume ideas for our six-year old, Ana. She's torn between dressing up as a porcupine or a skunk. Well at least she doesn't want to be a fairy princess or a Britney Spears look-alike. I hope you all have a Happy Turkey Celebration if you're so inclined. Or a festive vegetarian dinner. Or a quiet day to sit and relax and read books. Or whatever your heart desires on this long weekend... Enjoy! Oh...and Happy Hallowe'en!

Special Interest Groups and Activities:

1. Barb would like to hook up with some other LIX Chicks to go golfing. The more the merrier. If you're interested, she can be reached at barbgray@magma.ca.

2. Louise is interested in joining/creating a conversational French class for basic/intermediate French. She's thinking that the group could either join an evening continuing education class or, if enough women are interested, hire their own French teacher. If there's a LIX Chick who would be interested in being the French instructor, that would be even better! Interested women can contact Louise at redballoons101@hotmail.com.

 
Upcoming Events of Interest


 

 

 


Wilde About Sappho

 


HERO 2006


(I couldn't resist)

  


1. Canadian Breast Cancer Network Fundraising Online Auction. From October 1-31 more than 400 items will be up for auction! New items will be listed almost daily, so users should be sure to check back regularly. There are items from across the country, especially live theatre and film, jazz, blues and folk festival tickets, fitness clubs, museum and art gallery passes, delicious spa offerings, hotel, ski and golf packages, sports tickets and memorabilia, restaurants, comedy clubs and dinner theatres, and tickets to lots of tourist attractions! Other items include audiobooks, agendas and calendars, children’s books, toys and games, cosmetics, adult fiction and non-fiction, magazine subscriptions, photography and music (CDs). Visit the auction website at http://www.realauction.ca/cbcn-rccs/en/ and start surfing for items to bid on. To bid, you will need to complete a simple registration form (on the site). Items will be available between 7 and 20 days. See the Help text on the site to learn about proxy bidding – ideal for that item that you must have! For more information, contact CBCN at 1-800-685-8820 or cbcn@cbcn.ca

2. The Divergency Movie Nightis a monthly event featuring independent queer films. The next screening is Trembling Before God, a documentary on Orthodox and Hasidic Jews, on Tuesday, October 10th at 7 pm. at the new location, Galerie SAW Gallery, 67 Nicholas Street. The event is FREE but a $5 donation is much appreciated.

3. Venus Envy regularly holds workshops of interest to women. On Tuesday, October 17th, catch Erotic Talk: Talking Dirty for Women. This women-only workshop will teach you how to make talking about sex as much fun as doing it. The workshop begins at 6:30 at 320 Lisgar Street. Pre-registration is required. For more information, check out the web site at www.venusenvy.ca.

4. "The Voice" is a new Ottawa-based women's literary fundraising magazine...that will donate its proceeds back into various events and charities in the community. The first issue will be out at the beginning of October. The creators are looking for interested subscribers as well as women who wish to submit writing, photography or artwork for upcoming issues. The yearly subscription rate is $18. Find details on advertising, sponsorship, subscriptions, submitting work and more at: www.mwdesign.ca/TheVoice.

5. Swimming Lessons. The Rideau Speedos Fall 2006 Learn-to-Swim and Return-to-Swim lessons start on Friday, October 13th. Classes are held at the University of Ottawa Pool, Montpetit Hall, from 6:00 - 7:30pm. Cost is $50 for eight lessons. For more information, contact Pam at (613) 224-4629, email lts@rideauspeedeaus.com, or visit http://www.rideauspeedeaus.com.

6. The Kiss. An evening for women presented by Bisougirls. Mix and mingle after work the 2nd Friday of every month. The next get-together will take place on Friday, October 13th. Doors open at 5:00 pm. at Club Soda, 222 Slater Street.

7. Calling all moms of kids 12 and under! Rainbow Families, a drop-in group for LGBTTQ parents and their children 0-12 meets once a month from 6:00 - 7:30pm at Centretown Community Health Centre, 420 Cooper Street. This year's program begins on Monday, October 23rd. For more information, contact Carol at (613) 725-3601 X126 or email cproulx@familyservicesottawa.org.

8. HERO 2006: Capital Xtra's Community Achievement Awards will take place on Thursday, October 26th from 7:00 - 10:30 p.m. at the Grand Salon, Crowne Plaza Hotel, 101 Lyon Street. Tickets are $20 and are available at After Stonewall, mother tongue books, Capital Xtra, and Venus Envy. Dessert buffet included. Cash bar opens at 6:30. Nominate your heroes online at www.xtra.ca.

9. A Mayoralty Debate between Alex Munter, Bob Chiarelli and Larry O'Brien has been organized for Friday, October 27 from 6- 8 p.m. in Andrew Haydon Hall (council chambers), Ottawa City Hall, 110 Laurier Avenue West. Come out and ask the candidates about your issues!

10. Under the Hood: A Car Awareness Workshop. There are a few spots left for October 28, 2006. Join LIX member Laura, an apprentice mechanic, as she 'walks you through' a demonstration car from bumper to bumper and explains all of the components, what they do and how they work together to make a car run. Learn how to change the oil, how important it is to change your car's fluids and have regular maintenance done, the difference between snow tires and summer tires, what a spark plug looks like and how it works, and how to change a tire (and where that tire is)! The workshop takes place at Otto's BMW, 660 Hunt Club Road from 9:30am-12:00 pm. The cost is $30 and must be paid in advance to hold your spot. Light refreshments will be served. To register call Laura at (613) 719-9328 or email her at kingla2001@yahoo.ca. Only eight spots per workshop. P.S. Laura says to wear comfy shoes!

11. HallowQueen: A Costume Party for Everyone will take place on Saturday, October 28th at 10:00 pm. at Galerie SAW Gallery, 67 Nicholas Street. See outrageous and sexy live performances throughout the night, get your picture taken in costume, win a prize as best 'trick' or best 'treat', have your tarot cards read! All proceeds will go to Capital Pride. Tickets are $15 and are available at After Stonewall, Capital Xtra and Venus Envy.

12. Pour Les Femmes is a new group for francophone women who love women. Lesbians and bisexual women are invited to get together to discuss various issues at the Lowertown Community Centre, 40 Cobourg. Meetings will be held every Tuesday starting October 31st. For more information and/or to register, call Kiera Denault at (613) 789-3930.

13. Our next LIX Coffee Networking Meeting will be held at Bridgehead at the corner of Bank & Albert on Tuesday, November 7th from 7:00-9:00pm. Wendy Denley will be talking about the LIX web site. She's going to bring in her lap top so that any of you who haven't checked out the gorgeous LIX site will be able to do so.

14. The Ten Oaks Project Annual General Meeting will take place on Wednesday, November 8th at The Ottawa District Labour Council, 280 Metcalfe Street, 5th floor from 7:00-8:30 p.m. Ten Oaks is a week long summer camp for LGBTTQ children/youth, and for children/youth of LGBTTQ parents. The camp includes a social justice component.

15. This year's Wilde About Sappho will be held on Thursday, November 9th, at the National Library of Canada, 395 Wellington Street. This is the 15th Wilde About Sappho annual celebration of gay and lesbian literature featuring best-selling, award-winning and new authors. Meet and hear Wayson Choy, new Member of the Order of Canada for his writing (The Jade Peony, All That Matters); Shani Mootoo (Cereus Blooms at Night, He Drown She in the Sea), and first-time new novelist Barry Webster (The Sound of all Flesh). Lambda Scholar Kia Rainbow is hosting the champagne Gala at 6:45 p.m. ($40 RSVP), and Broadcaster-humorist Bill Richardson will introduce the writers. General Admission at 8 p.m. is $10. For advance tickets and more information, call (613) 270-1119 or go to the web site at www.lambdafoundation.com.

16. Lady in Red 3, a wine-tasting, fundraising event for Harmony House, will be held on Tuesday, November 21st from 7:00-9:00pm at City Hall, Jean Pigott Place, 110 Laurier Avenue West. Tickets are $25 and are available at mother tongue books, After Stonewall, Venus Envy and Capital Xtra.

17. Butch Cooks. The Lee Lynch and Renee La Chance Butch Cookbook needs more recipes. They would like recipes, stories and a short bio from butches who cook and even those who don't. Send them to greenhat66@gmail.com. Deadline is December 1st.

18. Don't miss this opportunity to get away from the cold and snow in Ottawa with the second annual Women at Sea tour! On February 24, 2007 women will be boarding the Star Princess and heading to the Western Caribbean. Special tour price includes round trip airfare to Ft. Lauderdale, a pre-cruise hotel room the night before the ship sails, transfers to and from the airport, 7 night cruise, all your meals and a Women at Sea t-shirt. Call George at the Cruise Ship Centre (1-866-313-3309) for information on cabin availability and prices or check out http://www.outstuff.ca/cruise.html for details.

As always, we encourage you to send us news of events and/or workshops that you are involved in so we can add the information to our Upcoming Events of Interest section of this monthly news update. We need to know the who's, what's, where's as well as cost, where tickets are available, if pre-registration is required, and if it's a fundraiser, what organization you're raising funds for. If the organization has a web site, that web address would be helpful. And we'd love to see more of your entries in the Special Interest Groups and Activities section of this e-news. Networking works...for business and pleasure! Send your news and ideas for interest groups to me at info@girlswanttoknow.com.

So...there you go! For more information about the LIX network, feel free to call Kerry at (613) 237-7133 or Marie at (613) 231-4347. You can also send us an email at info@girlswanttoknow.com or chat with one of the four of us (Kerry, Lucy, Wendy or Marie) at a coffee meeting. And please check out the LIX web site at www.girlswanttoknow.com.

Cheers,
Marie Robertson
for the LIX Steering Committee


www.girlswanttoknow.com


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