DEAR FRIENDS,This month, read about:
- SFGMC's 31st Birthday Celebration
- Holiday Season Outreach Appearances
SFGMC'S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
SFGMC's first-ever rehearsal was held on October 30, 1978. Each year, we commemorate the chorus's birthday at a rehearsal. At a recent rehearsal - November 2nd, 2009 - current and former chorus members gathered to celebrate and to remember those who are no longer with us.Significantly, a film crew from France was at the rehearsal. In the early 1990s, an award-winning documentary, Singing Positive, was made for French TV about members of SFGMC who were ill with AIDS. A follow-up documentary is being made about the chorus, showing the progress that has been made with AIDS/HIV and also how we are coping with the disease today.
Chorus member Ross Camarillo made and decorated a stunning cake, which we all shared (it says "32" as we're about to start our 32nd season).
Another tradition at this annual birthday celebration is the presentation of "milestone" service pins. You may have noticed that the chorus wears tiny pins on their tuxedo lapel. The pins represent the years of service. At the birthday celebration, members who have served for 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, or 30 years received special recognition. These were the "milestone" service pin recipients in 2009:
25 years (joined 1984):
- Gary Richards
20 years (joined 1989):
- Domenic Viterbo
15 years (joined 1994)
- Doug Curran
- Jim Gibson
- Craig Gotfried
- Steve Valdez
10 years (joined 1999)
- Michael Bankert
- Edward Caruso
- Bruce Friedrichsen
- R. Karl Hebenstreit
- Thom Vindiola
5 years (joined 2004):
- Douglas Brewster
- Asa De Matteo
- Aidan Dunn
- Jim Freeman
- Jeff Ford
- Michael Lynch
- John Paul
- Mark Sorensen
- David Thormann
HOLIDAY SEASON OUTREACH APPEARANCES
In addition to many concerts in December in San Francisco, Modesto, Santa Rosa, and Santa Cruz, SFGMC also makes special outreach appearances in the community. Here are some of the events planned for this year's holiday season:
MONDAY NOVEMBER 30, 6 PM - TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY, HOSTED BY MERCHANTS OF UPPER CASTRO & MARKET (MUMC)
For many years, SFGMC has participated in this fabulous event in the Castro (this year at 501 Castro Street at 18th Street in front of the Bank of America), hosted by MUMC. This wonderful community event, which also includes the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band, the Lesbian/Gay Chorus of San Francisco, MCC choirs, Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Donna Sachet and others, brings our community together at a time when many need to support of their "chosen" families.
MUMC consists of a membership of about 250 local businesses led by a thirteen member Board of Directors. Part of MUMC's work is in civic efforts and small business issues. It lobbies The City for the well-being of its merchants and strives to maintain harmony within the neighborhood. MUMC has been successful in its efforts to maintain diversity, dissuade panhandling, preserve historic architecture, direct beautification projects and produce events and activities that reflect the community’s appreciation of a good time for all.
The public is invited to attend the Tree Lighting, which will take place on Monday, November 30, 6 pm in front of the Bank of America (Castro & 18th Streets). Holiday music, merry-making, and revelry will abound!
TUESDAY, DEC. 1, 12:00 PM - WORLD AIDS DAY, - NATIONAL AIDS MEMORIAL GROVE
December 1st is recognized internationally as World AIDS Day. This year, SFGMC will appear at noon at 16th annual observance of World AIDS Day at the National AIDS Memorial Grove. The chorus will sing "Seasons of Love" from the musical, Rent, by Jonathan Larson. SFGMC will be joined by VOICES Lesbian Choral Ensemble. The two combined groups will also sing "Would You Harbor Me?" by Ysaye Barnwell (of Sweet Honey In The Rock renown), with the stirring lyric: "Would you harbor a person living with AIDS?" The choruses will also lead the traditional round, "Dona nobis pacem" ("give us peace"). The Local Unsung Hero Award will be presented to Bishop Yvette Flunder of Ark of Refuge, and the National Leadership Recognition Award will be received by Stephen F. Morin, PhD, Director, Center for AIDS Policy Research, AIDS Policy Research Center, UCSF.
In addition to many concerts in December in San Francisco, Modesto, Santa Rosa, and Santa Cruz, SFGMC also makes special outreach appearances in the community. Here are some of the events planned for this year's holiday season:
MONDAY NOVEMBER 30, 6 PM - TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY, HOSTED BY MERCHANTS OF UPPER CASTRO & MARKET (MUMC)
For many years, SFGMC has participated in this fabulous event in the Castro (this year at 501 Castro Street at 18th Street in front of the Bank of America), hosted by MUMC. This wonderful community event, which also includes the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band, the Lesbian/Gay Chorus of San Francisco, MCC choirs, Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Donna Sachet and others, brings our community together at a time when many need to support of their "chosen" families.
MUMC consists of a membership of about 250 local businesses led by a thirteen member Board of Directors. Part of MUMC's work is in civic efforts and small business issues. It lobbies The City for the well-being of its merchants and strives to maintain harmony within the neighborhood. MUMC has been successful in its efforts to maintain diversity, dissuade panhandling, preserve historic architecture, direct beautification projects and produce events and activities that reflect the community’s appreciation of a good time for all.
The public is invited to attend the Tree Lighting, which will take place on Monday, November 30, 6 pm in front of the Bank of America (Castro & 18th Streets). Holiday music, merry-making, and revelry will abound!
TUESDAY, DEC. 1, 12:00 PM - WORLD AIDS DAY, - NATIONAL AIDS MEMORIAL GROVE
December 1st is recognized internationally as World AIDS Day. This year, SFGMC will appear at noon at 16th annual observance of World AIDS Day at the National AIDS Memorial Grove. The chorus will sing "Seasons of Love" from the musical, Rent, by Jonathan Larson. SFGMC will be joined by VOICES Lesbian Choral Ensemble. The two combined groups will also sing "Would You Harbor Me?" by Ysaye Barnwell (of Sweet Honey In The Rock renown), with the stirring lyric: "Would you harbor a person living with AIDS?" The choruses will also lead the traditional round, "Dona nobis pacem" ("give us peace"). The Local Unsung Hero Award will be presented to Bishop Yvette Flunder of Ark of Refuge, and the National Leadership Recognition Award will be received by Stephen F. Morin, PhD, Director, Center for AIDS Policy Research, AIDS Policy Research Center, UCSF.
HOSPICE CAROLING
Another annual tradition, members of SFGMC don their Santa hats and pile into a bus one night in December and visit half a dozen hospices, strolling through wards and singing holiday songs to patients. This is a tradition that began during the worst of the AIDS years when so many from our community were in the hospitals. The tradition has continued and SFGMC has become a welcome part of the holiday fabric at Maitri, Davies, SF General and other facilities. Some chorus members who participate have even been sung to as patients when they were in the hospital themselves. From time to time, we even come across the occasional celebrity; I remember a woman coming to me and requesting for a patient "The Little Drummer Boy." Shortly thereafter, we learned that the patient was her husband - drummer of The Doobie Brothers. This year's hospice caroling will take place on Tuesday, December 8th.I look forward to seeing you at one of our many appearances this December, and wish you a very happy Thanksgiving.
- Kathleen
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