Dear GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine,
The ISCCA, Texas Lounge and Suzi-Oke Karaoke Services, would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to one and all that contributed to the Children’s Wish Foundation Fundraiser held at the Texas Lounge this past August 26th, 2008.
With the support of the community and generous donations that were raffled off, over $1675.00 was raised to benefit the Children’s Wish Foundation.
The Children’s Wish Foundation is very dear to the ISCCA, as approximately 29 years ago they were the first non-gay charity to recognize and accept monies from our GBLT Organization. Their aims and objectives are very amazing as well, as any child who is terminally ill should be able to have one last wish.
Thank you again to all who contributed donations and/or time to this fundraiser; Calgary’s community is very generous, and without you our organization would be nothing.
The ISCCA’s current reigning house of Global Style, Sophistication, SuperModels and SuperTrannies: Emperor and Empress 32 Michael Wolf-Would Myte and Nina Tron, Prince and Princess 30 Fred and Anita Lay, Duke and Duchess 22 Kevin DunaNation and Malibu Stacey and our entire College of Monarchs bow humbly to the community and express our gratitude for your generosity.
Sincerely,
The Imperial Sovereign Court of the Chinook Arch


Dear GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine,
Lawn bowling for Beswick says thank you!
First: thank you to everyone who was able to make it out to the Lawn Bowling for Beswick event at the Inglewood Lawn Bowling Association. The weather was awesome, the burgers were tasty, the bar was wet and the players were on their games...err some of them. Under the burning sun of play and the shaded area of the bar, prize raffles and burgers you all helped with others to raise much needed operational funds for the SHARP Foundation. Please tell your friends just how much fun you had and get them out next year for a bigger and better showing of afternoon fun.
Thanks to our many donors: the Inglewood lawn Bowling Association, Texas Lounge, Deerfoot Inn and Casino, GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine, Jonny, Bill, Doug, the ISCCA and the friends of Beswick.
On behalf of the staff and residents of Beswick and Scott Houses and organizers; THANK YOU ALL and we look forward to seeing you and your friends next year.

Mark Randall
Event Coordinator


To All Friends and Supporters of AFQOL,
I would like to thank you for your continued generosity as it is truly appreciated and gratefully accepted. This year, we will be expanding our support to various other needed areas within AIDS Calgary, including equipment that is desperately required.
Those who have helped AFQOL by supporting the functions that have been put on by other organizations, such as the ISCCA SA, are not forgotten by any of us. We always attempt to have our representatives at these functions, although this may not always include the entire team. But let me assure you that those who may be absent are certainly always there in Spirit!
If you have any questions or concerns regarding functions, please feel free to contact our Special Events Chair, Bernie Mathieson at bernie_mathieson@hotmail.com. Further, if you have any questions or concerns regarding the receiving or distribution of funds, please do not hesitate to contact the Finance Chair, David Patten at depatten@hotmail.com.
So on behalf of the team at AFQOL, may I once again thank one and all, and we hope that this year will be the best yet for our fundraising efforts.
In the words of Donnie Peters, “Go with love.”

David Patten
Finance Chair, AFQOL


Dear GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine,
The 5th Annual Donnie Peters Memorial Cut-a-thon was a sunny success story!
Artists for Quality of Life once again showed their talent and tenacity in raising funds for AIDS Calgary’s Positive Living Lunch Program. Salon participation was huge this year, taking over Breakfast Television for a good hour and a half with Jami Symons, from Jami Symons Salon leading the segment. Creative Profiles, the Corner, Chrome, The Fringe, Ginger Group and Deva Dave Salon enjoyed their best year ever giving back to the community and being instrumental in the continuing to provide funds for AIDS Calgary’s Positive Living Lunch Program. Uptown 17 BRZ was once again AFQOL’s major sponsor and cheerleader - we say “Thank You” to Barb Stein. Kelly Doody set off the stampede to the park on Page 6 of the Calgary Sun - we thank you! Shaw TV (read a board on channel 10) and delRockographics took it to the end zone, making us the Other Labour Day Classic.
We weren’t even totally set up when lineups began for stylists and Cut-a-thon’s new dog groomers Michelle and Meaghan from Bones Barks “N” Baths.
Transportation, tents and bottled water were graciously donated by Ox Financial Corp.
Music was made possible by Glenn Hurst and DJ Music Services, along with celebrity DJs Krazay Steve from Twisted Element (both RJ and Cliff showed up in the park to show their continued support), and DJ Tony Morello whose entourage included his family who came to volunteer in the park.
Talk about a TEAM effort. AFQOL park crew guided by David Patten and T. MacLean worked like a well-oiled machine.
Snickles the Clown had exceptionally creative face painting and tattooing. Burgers in the park were flipped by the ISCCA once again.
When it was all said and done we all went upstairs to the Metropolitan Grill for our annual Volunteer party and chowed down some food and won prizes and swag bags.
As I looked out the window at the park being torn down I couldn’t help but notice the last stylist still cutting hair…Patrick from the Ginger Group! I’m sure Donnie was proud of that and smiling from up above - I sure was!
What a Superb year…financials for Cut-a-thon will be published in next month’s GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine (who continues to be our corporate media sponsor, thank you Rob and Steve)…however I can tell you we more than exceeded any previous year.
Once again Calgary, “Thank you one and all.”
As Donnie would say, “Go with love.”
Linda Eckess
AFQOL Team
www.afqol.com


Dear GayCalgary and Edmonton Magazine,
I recently read an article in the paper, entitled “Gay camp success inspires others” in regard to gay youth camps. When I read this, I noticed that the word “Queer” is used over and over. As a gay male I find this totally offensive – on par with the word “Nigger”. I thought that we had fought for years to get rid of this type of name calling. But since it is ok to use this word in the press, then I guess we cannot complain when we are called this on the street. Maybe in Canada this is acceptable, as I also found it on other gay websites. I hope you will put pressure on the newspaper so that they do not use this wording again.

A. Vickery

Dear Mr. Vickery,
We understand where you’re coming from, but at the same time we see the efforts of the next generation GLBT+ youth to reclaim the word. The lines are blurry at the moment, so in response to your letter we have created an online poll to try and get a definitive answer on how the greater community feels about it. We invite you and other readers to vote your opinion, and join the discussion on the topic at www.gaycalgary.com.