Experiences of a rural DJ

GLBTQ 2012 Update

05/03/2012 17:24:00

I began my DJ work at the closest gay bar to my home, the Rainbow Cattle Company in Dummerston, Vermont (30 miles away) fifteen years ago this summer. The local GLBT Community has been amazing to work with over the years, & collectively I have worked with dozens of AIDS Service Organizations, drag queens, talented singers, community leaders & community-minded businesses.

Nothing pleases me more greatly than living in a part of the country where individuals have come together to recognize that outdated thinking about love & human relationships needs to be removed from our legal system to truly recognize individual relationships, promoting everyone’s health; marriage equality has been the greatest change in our society in my lifetime & I cannot fully convey how deeply it continues to touch me & the lives of my friends & family.

Please continue supporting these causes because we are still a small minority of modern civilization with these rights. I encourage everyone to become part of PFLAG, because wherever you are in the rainbow, it has the ideals & cultural awareness to represent us in the upcoming national arena. I am thankful we have outstanding leadership in our region in the Barry Family, particularly Bobbie whose amazing ability to articulate the needs of the human soul has brought her to the forefront of our national campaigns. There are countless times I have turned to her for support over the years on a variety of projects & her dependability & commitment has been second to none in our community. Thank you.

This year, I have three amazing GLBT events that I shall be hosting:

Granite State Gay Men Pride Dinner & Dance (6/16 in Concord)

National Coming OUT Day Business Expo & Fashion Show

(10/11 in Keene)

World AIDS Day Dinner & Dance (12/1 in Brattleboro)

All events are for non-profit organizations, with the second two directly benefiting Twin States Network, a non-profit for whom I sit on their Board of Directors. In that capacity, I ask you now to consider being a charter donor for the organization this year as federal HIV funding is changed. For $500, you will be added to their website, given a spot at the expo for your business & tickets to our December event. There are some amazing speakers, entertainers & other surprises for both events & space is limited. Anybody who would like to volunteer to be on either event committee or to help those days is welcomed & your help would be greatly appreciated.

The GSGM Pride Dance has been selling tickets for a couple months for 200 dinner spots; those tickets are selling out, with only several dozen left. $20 for a wonderful dinner, great entertainment & dancing or $100 to be a sponsor for the event, AND you still get two tickets, plus the chance to talk at the event. It has been a great privilege working with Jeffrey from Human Touch Massage & many volunteers over the past few months to put this event together. Our dances at the Breezeway have been a lot of fun, with the Sunday crowds filling the bar to capacity. Working with Chris & his crew from Grip Lighting, I know we shall bring you a light & video show unlike anything you are accustomed to in our state!

Personally, I have not hosted a gathering for the GLBTcommunity in quite a while, although I have thrown quite a few memorable ones in the past fifteen years. This year, I am hosting a gay men’s pot luck at my beachfront property on Rockwood Pond on Saturday, June 30 from 11 AM – 5 PM. DJ McKay (Breezeway, Manchester) will be kicking us off from 11-1, & DJ Alan (Cirque, Lowell) will be entertaining through the afternoon. It is BYOB & pot luck. There will be swimming, boating, horseshoes, bocce, volleyball,

games & other activities. At five o’clock the pace changes, we open up the attendance to our friends in the larger community, with live music from Santa Croce, a bonfire & whatever adventures the Zebra Party may have in store…

To attend either event, you must RSVP, especially if you want to camp.

2012 has already been an amazing year, with lots of great events, but I know the best is just around the corner. If you haven’t had a chance, check out my interview with the talented Mama Savannah Georgia on her television show “Mama Knows Best”. It was an honor to work with her & I look forward to our upcoming events together, including our Fashion Show at the GLBT Business Expo & our World AIDS Day dinner, dance & toy drive conclusion…

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog, & I hope you become a fan on Facebook to remain involved in my activities. If you have an upcoming special event & would like professional entertainment, give me a call & we can discuss availability & pricing.

GSGM Dance party

Flaming Freedom

You need Flash Player in order to view this.

The Zebra Party - 15th Anniversary Celebration

04/29/2012 18:32:00

You need Flash Player in order to view this.

Time… it’s our most valuable resource. We only have so much availability & that is why each choice we make, each life celebration & important shared moment, with family or community, should be uniquely appreciated. Although events may have repetition, circumstances, conditions & attitudes shape each experience. It seems almost unbelievable when I think back of all the incredible DJ experiences I have had the past decade & half. Dozens of weddings become hundreds of weddings over the years, & I cherish each one. Similarly, I have personally worked with dozens of non-profits, community groups, and veterans’ halls, raising hundreds of thousands over the years for worthwhile causes.

There is a lot of work that goes on that most will never see. The planning for each event is a process in itself, which is also enjoyable. There is a bond when people work on special events together, especially when they come to fruition. I am so thankful for all of you, my clients, neighbors, event vendors, local business owners… Your support is heartwarming, your company is fun & I am humbled to be the host of so many wonderful events.

My memory is filled with a rich history for almost every song or artist; their meaning becomes enriched with each important moment it’s played or opportune time it’s sung, professionally or at our local eateries. Certain combinations can make me laugh aloud or tear up. I look ahead at the amazing events still to come, & am excited at the prospects of making new friendships & reacquainting with many older ones.

2012 is an especially significant year in the community & I look forward to kicking off several celebrations, including the 250th anniversary of the Town of Fitzwilliam & the 50th anniversary of my alma mater, Franklin Pierce University. I look forward to working with the Alumni Board to create some great programming in social networking events & community involvement. For each event, there is a weekend of activities & I begin both with a Friday night dance; the first will be July 27th at the Fitzwilliam Town Common & the latter will be September 28th at the Woodbound Inn.

Personally, there are many significant anniversaries in 2012, too. My grandparents, Betty & Leo Short recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. My grandmother, Esther Holman, will be turning 90 this summer as well; it is amazing to think she has personally witnessed more than a third of my town’s history. I enjoy my weekly Tuesday lunches with my grandparents as I do any special event!

For me, it has been fifteen years this summer since I first stepped into the DJ booth at the Rainbow Cattle Company. My only microphone experience had been doing the morning announcements at MRHS, including social events & the daily pledge of allegiance. I was born tongue tied & had to see a speech pathologist in elementary school to learn not to slur my soft-spoken words, so I never imagined that as an adult I would become requested to do so much public speaking, often a year or two before an event. It is amazing the experiences we have during life’s journeys!

This summer, I want to invite you to a very dear event, My Zebra Party. It has been years since I have hosted a community gatheringat my home (last year’s party at the legion was the dayof the hurricane) & thanking my friends & supporters as CJ the DJ seems like a fantastic reason to bring family & neighbors together. I am blessed to share an amazing home & waterfront property with my family & I would like to invite you to bring your bathing suits, warmer campfire clothes & personal drinks to a beach party.

The Zebra theme is to encourage people to wear black & white. There will be incredible food from many of the local restaurants with whom I work, including Ed’s Crossroads Pizza & Subs, The Dragon Palace Restaurant & J.P. Stephens. If you too would like to bring a dish to share, or something to personally grill, please feel free to do so. There is room for travelers to camp, but RSVP early. There will be a best tent set-up contest with a $25 gift certificate to be awarded by our judge Ed, from Ed's Crossroads. We would like to get the camping area set earlier during the day. We have prepared cleared areas along trails, with trails also going to the facilities & beach. This is an adult only party (17-21 okay with a parent). There will be games, including volleyball, & great entertainment by the very taleted local band, Santa Croce.

So bring your beach chairs, your cameras, your bug spray & your friends & let’s make another night of fun memories.. I thank YOU for everything…

I shall be taking off the next several days from work, so that I may spend time with friends that are flying in from out ofstate. That Monday, Joe Doku & Hannah Nichols from Phoenix will be hosting a beach day at the pond, a reunion for any MRHS friends that would like to spend a family day on the water (kids are welcome, too).

The Zebra Party is only two months away, so mark your calendars, RSVP on Facebook or send me a text with whom you are bringing:603-852-6185.

Please upgrade to a browser that supports frames.If my DJ services have made you smile, brought your family together or helped your charitable cause, please take a moment & suggest my page to your friends & family & write me a reference on social media sites; for every one that you do, I shall give you a ten dollar credit in a gift certificate, up to $100 (ten sites) that you can use or give to somebody else to use for their event.

While you are responding & inviting your friends, be sure you encourage everyone to RSVP because there will be security for this event & people helping with parking. If you would like to volunteer to help, please let me know; I need everything from bonfire tenders, kitchen organizers, golf cart taxis, etc.

Thank you all so much!

I am looking forward to a great summer 2012 & seeing you again!

Earth Day - The Elements & a little Astrology

04/22/2012 19:55:00

"Earth Day is every day."

Although it may seem like I am very busy with my DJ work, it started just as a part-time job and hobby fifteen years ago. Since my pre-teen years, I have been working with my family & several businesses they have owned. Most recently, we combined a couple to create Holman Contracting & Landscape Materials, Inc., for which I am their Business Manager.

For more than forty years, my father, John Holman has been expanding his trucking & construction business. He does site work & septic systems. Over the years he has also bought two excavation sites in Richmond & Fitzwilliam, from which we extract the unprocessed materials.

Driving Directions

Less than ten years ago, we built our retail location at 590 Route 12 South in Fitzwilliam. Pretty much, it is a flat area with lots of large bins built with cement blocks to hold great amounts of landscape materials. We have over a dozen types of mulches, in a variety of colors & wood types, as well as stones (natural & ledge), compost, loam, & many other materials. We also sell play structures, sheds, cabins, garages & other outbuildings.

From April through October, I manage this retail area, answering phones, taking orders & arranging deliveries each day. I also have customers throughout the day, many of which I load materials using a Caterpillar Tractor with a one cubic yard bucket. Aside from that, I help with marketing & other projects as they arise.

One of the best parts about this type of work is that we often know early about changes people are making to their homes & businesses. One of the things I have always admired most about my Dad is his strong work ethic. He has at some point or another worked with almost every person in Fitzwilliam, building homes, businesses & making other structural changes. As a child & teenager, I used to enjoy working on community projects with him, like seeding the new septic system at Emerson or adding asphalt to the small park at the town depot. His knowledge of this town and its history amazes me, & has instilled a town pride that is second only to my love of my family & friends.

Each day I see neighbors & townspeople I have known my entire life. It is not uncommon for me to see dozens of classmates in a normal week. Often, friends come home & help their families with their property projects. One of the things we do best in small towns is multi-task, & I often am quoting costs or advising customers about landscape materials while I am entertaining at the local restaurants. Just last night, after I finished a testimonial, the last thing I spoke to the brides about were materials that they need for their house!

One of the things my family takes pride in is that our excavations are fully licensed, with multiple boards having approved our plans which will eventually create some wonderful, well-planned properties. Originally, our site plan would have had our Richmond site reclaimed by 2020, but due to the lack of major building & the need for materials, we may have to adjust that if sales don't improve. Our compost & loam, for which we are well known as having provided quality product for more than four decades, are screened. I strongly suggest that if you haven't seen materials, check them out before you order. I hear horror stories each day about loam that was 'cut' with sand or clay, or hardpack that had too much stone dust & turned a driveway into mud. Each year we help fix mistakes other less experienced contractors make.

My little sister, Heidi, is the biologist of the family. Although her and her husband, Rob (owner of Organic Designs) have moved to be closer to her work with the state of New Hampshire Fish & Game, years later we still have people coming by the yard looking for their plants. Heidi works with endangered species, like butterflies & rabbits, helping to build & preserve habitates while doing important research. Like my father, she is a firefighter too, often leading trainings in the state for new recruits.

So, at we enter the sign of Taurus on Earth Day, I thought it would be good for you to know a little bit more about me, my family & what we do. Busiest in the spring and fall, I love working with my family for the flexibility it gives me to do things like DJ & travel. Each day, between customers you can find me on my computer coordinating events, creating playlists, or preparing equipment. It is not uncommon for me to have meetings at work, with couples, owners of local restaurants or volunteers from various charities with whom I volunteer.

As a family, we mesh well - most of the time - & try to find our balances, like the elements of the earth. My father (John), with a birthday coming up, is the Taurus & Earth sign. Mom (Deb) is the fierceLeo & the fire sign. Trust me, you don't want to be on her bad side! LOL Heidi is the air sign, the Libra, bringing balance to our family, like she does so much for the environment.

And me? Well I am the water sign, the emotional, family & community oriented Cancer of the family. Thankfully, I am on the cusp with Gemini, so I am more social than most Cancers, adventuring from my safety zone from time to time, preferably for meaningful things like weddings. I also have a Leo ascendant, so I am a quick decision maker, which is the most important skill of a DJ. As much pre-planning as we do, DJ's need to have the ability to adapt quickly & interact smartly. Combine that with a Fire Dragon sign for '76 & you have one crazy, astrological make-up, creating one of the most passionate people you may ever meet...

And I love it!

So this Earth Day, take a moment to reflect upon your home & family. If you live in this region and would like to learn more about our business, please look us up on the web or become a fan on Facebook. If you would like pricing for our products, either generally or for a specific project, don't hesitate to call. I love driving my tractor each day, & Diva, my dog, enjoys being able to share this part of my worklife with me. We can help you with your gardens, driveways, private roads, tree work, & more! Thanks for taking the time to read my blog for Earth Day.

Planet Earth (Poem)

Michael Jackson

You need Flash Player in order to view this.

MapQuest Terms and Conditions Maps/Directions are informational only. User assumes all risk of use. MapQuest, Vistaprint, and their suppliers make no representations or warranties about content, road conditions, route usability, or speed.

MCAFD: Spring Fire School, Golf Tournament & Auction

04/12/2012 17:27:00

Set Fire to the Rain

Adele

You need Flash Player in order to view this.

This week, I have spent much time helping our friends & neighbors at Meadowood. For those of you who may not be from our area or have not read my previous blogs, Meadowood is a volunteer based fire department and training center for our region of Southern New Hampshire. Recently, the fire fighters have reopened the station with a stronger collaboration with the town of Fitzwilliam & there have been other organizational changes too.

MCAFD has two major fundraisers each year. One is an annual Golf Tournament at Bretwood. I just completed a mailing to last year’s hole sponsors & I am hoping for some more individuals & businesses in our community to join. It is $125 for sponsorships. They are also seeking additional gifts for prizes & raffle items. This year’s tournament is on Saturday, June 9. The most important help I am asking for this event is to recruit more players. At $100 a player, $400 per team (and some businesses will match donations, so that could be cut in half), this is a great value for some fun in the sun, with food & the opportunity to win great prizes!

(PDF — 216 KB)

On Saturday, August 18 is their annual auction at Meadowood. Currently we are looking for donations from businesses & individuals to auction. Please remember that Meadowood is a 501(c)3 & donations are tax deductible.

2012 MCAFD Golf Players Form Meadowood.pdf (PDF — 385 KB)

I would like to thank Kellie Williams from Everlasting Invites from Troy for volunteering to work with the organization to help design flyers for both events. We hope that the event will be available soon on Facebook for people to RSVP; we have just created Meadowood County Area Fire Department as a Cause on Facebook, too.

On weeks like this when the earth is dry & conditions for fires are dangerous, we especially appreciate the attentiveness of our neighborhood departments. Let’s make sure we support them at all times. If you cannot donate an item or cash, perhaps there are things you can do as a volunteer to help out? The department is currently looking for somebody to help with their website & social media, & always need help with property projects.

Personally, I would like to see a grander fundraising schedule put into place to allow the department to do the necessary repairs to the assembly hall to make it accessible by people with disabilities, allowing us to market & host more events locally. Local carpenters, builders, etc. please feel free to offer your services, or at least give us a quote for what you would charge. With its beautiful waterfront location, this venue is ideal for birthday parties, graduations, holidays, anniversary parties, business functions & more.

Spring Fire School 2012C.pdf (PDF — 945 KB)

Additionally, I have created the upcoming class catalogue for Fitzwilliam fire courses, both at Meadowood & the Fitzwilliam Fire Department. Along with many standard classes to be taught during the third weekend of May, there will be additional Wildland Firefighting, Incident Command Structure Courses for officers and a summer long basic firefighting course for people interested in beginning their firefighting training. It is among the most serious & noble of extra-curricular activities, & I support whole-heartedly many friends in departments around the country.

If anybody has any questions, would like to volunteer, sponsor an event or take a course, please don’t hesitate to contact me. Although I am just a volunteer myself, there are weeks when I spend dozens of hours & have multiple meetings with members, & I could definitely point you in theright direction. We are always open to new ideas, too, like the possibility of having sponsorships for the fireschool. Any help you can give will be greatly appreciated! Deadlines are quickly approaching…

Common Kick-Off: 250th Anniversary Celebration of Fitzwilliam

03/27/2012 00:08:00

When I think about writing about my hometown, it is difficult for me to know how to begin. I love being part of a smaller community & having a close-knit multi-generational family all within my neighborhood. Cousins, aunts & uncles live within hundreds of yards of me, & we are fortunate to have many memories of family gatherings for every possible occasion. Particularly close with my classmate & cousin (Melanie) & my younger sister (Heidi), we spent much of our childhood learning & playing together.

When the town of Fitzwilliam celebrated its 225th anniversary, the three of us played leading roles in a skit about our town’s founders. We were the last generation of Fitzwilliam preschoolers who were educated in the town hall in the early 80’s & as elementary school students,we performed our spring & holiday concerts there. Our love of music continued into junior high as we created roller skating & dance routines, like one MRHS favorite to C&C Music Factory. As a teen, I remember being contracted by Good Morning America (5/11/92) to aim a spotlight they had setup in the hall’s bell tower when they did their New England tour & thinking about what an amazing place in which I live. I realized at that point how much my family did in the community, both in terms of their businesses & with their volunteerism.

While in college, I became president of the board working with the historic Patch Place at Rhododendron State Park, before the snowstorm destroyed the barn. I was also appointed a commissioner by the selectmen for a four year term on the Southwest Regional Planning Commission. The amount of organizations in town for whom I volunteered for summers, special events & other occasions/services include our recreation program, library, historical society, garden club, sewing circle, after school program, fire departments, etc. I love the kinship of a smaller community & how, if properly nurtured, can create a stronger connection than business networks or government organizing could ever produce. To see multiple grassroots barn & house risings, or the neighborly response to a temporal hardship like a great ice storm, is awe-inspiring & heartwarming.

I reflect often on how much more change my parents & grandparents see; my paternal grandmother turns 90 two weeks after the town anniversary, and has always lived in town. I have helped her organize photos from several generations that have lived in our same home, attending our same school. I can only imagine my family's community involvement from what I read in town histories. I hear from my family’s experience the important roles of the granite quarries, trains, Finnish dancehalls & other activities from times past. I love the fact that both my grandparents are native of this beautiful town & enjoy looking at many of their pictures from when they lived in the Fitzwilliam Depot in the 1940’s.

Another picture shows the 50th anniversary of Dr. Emerson’s practice as a doctor for this region, one of our most prominent citizens & our community's grandest moments.

It is with great excitement that this July, on the eve of my town’s birthday celebration (& coincidentally Mom’s birthday too), I shall be starting the weekend’s party with a Common Kick-Off Dance, right on the town common. Starting with an Ed's Crossroads Pizza Party at 5:30PM, (next to the fountain dedicated to one of my local heroes, Jane Fiske), families will gather & dance to music from each decade. spanning generations. There will be educational music from 6-8PM & general dance music thereafter. During the first part, multiple guests from the community will be instructing in various styles of dance. There will also be a dessert pot luck, with a good. ol' fashioned taste testing contest!

There will be many great activities all that weekend, like a parade, town barbecue & fireworks, but some of the activities start sooner. At the end of next month (4/28/12),there is an auction at the Fitzwilliam VFW to raise money. Also, memento items like collector mugs, hats, tee shirts & license plates are available, with a nice logo designed by our neighbor Coni Porter. I encourage everyone to make plans early, especially if you hope to stay at one of the local bed & breakfasts for which our town is famous. Be sure to find out when we will be doing the "up above" photos of the townspeople on the common from my Dad's firetruck.

ShareJust a little more than four months until I get to play one of the most unique & meaningful gigs & I am psyched! This “Emerson Reunion”* will be the first event of its type & a great opportunity for old friends & distant family members to reconnect, while instilling in our youngest generation a love for all the great things that make our town so incredibly special…

"It really is a moment in time that will never happen again so we need to acknowledge it and give it respect. Our forefathers were tough, as we are now, so let’s make a fun event that celebrates all of us – past & present!"

Bonnie Jones - Co Chair of 250th Committee (3/23/12)

Please upgrade to a browser that supports frames.

PRESS RELEASE by Coni Porter

Fitzwilliam 250th Common Kick Off!!

Friday, July 27th from 5:30 - 10:00

A spectacular beginning to Fitzwilliam's anniversary weekend - bring your family, your appetite, and your dancing shoes!!
• Food and Drink A free piece of pizza and drink await the lucky first 250 residents who have one of the "250 Anniversary" printed tickets in their hands. Look for them at town-wide locations over the next 3 months. Note: Tickets are not mandatory for attendance - everyone is invited to bring a picnic dinner and blanket.
• Potluck Dessert Contest Calling all pastry and dessert chefs (and absolutely everyone else) - bring your biggest, best, and most delectable desserts to put on display, be judged, and then eaten by everyone. There is nothing like a competition to bring out the best from the kitchen. All in good fun "winning certificates" will be awarded in different categories by our resident food officiants and the whole town will enjoy the sweets.
• Dancing thru Time Our own CJ the DJ will spin us back through time, playing the "best of the best" songs from 2012 backwards into the days of pre-revolutionary 1762, the year of our "birth". Come move to the music of your favorite tunes, learn little-known facts about Fitzwilliam's history, and even dance the Polka, Charleston, and Jitterbug! Quick dance demonstrations will be shown for the older dance steps, and everyone will be encouraged to give them a try.
• Past Memories and Future Dreams Look for an indoor environment... sitting outdoors. An antique desk, chair, and lamp will transport you to another era as you contribute to the Fitzwilliam 250th Anniversary Book. We will, all, be co- authors together - recording our shared lives here and now, 250 years after the first Fitzwilliam settlers dreamed of what the future would hold for them.
• Common Lights The Fitzwilliam Common will be a spectacle to behold, something you won't see for another 250 years.

You need Flash Player in order to view this.

CJ the DJ Photo Contest - 2 Tickets to Comedy Show

03/11/2012 20:13:00

POST A FUNNY PHOTO & WIN 2 TICKETS TO KEENE COMEDY SHOW

There are some things I love most in life:

Good memories
Laughter
Charity

I have two tickets for the Comedy Caravan at the Best Western/Sovereign Grand Ballroom in Keene for Friday, April 13th.

I shall give those two tickets away to the person who posts on my page on Facebook the funniest picture taken from an event I hosted (it can be of any part of the event, but must be PG). From ANYTIME. Seriously - I have been a DJ for 15 years & we have made some great memories...

I know I have dozens of crazy costumes & you have been there with me, often with cameras, so let's see what you got!

The winner will be announced this Saturday night at my Saint Patrick's Day Party at Ed's. Winning will be based upon how many people like the picture posted.

Let's have some fun, & happy Saint Patrick's Day!

You need Flash Player in order to view this.

The Professional Fire Fighters of Keene present this 18+ show.

Comedian Paul D'Angelo is one of the featured comedians!

Community Character - In Memory of Stephen Curtis Record

03/06/2012 09:24:00

It's remarkable how small communities rally in times of need & can create positive change from the worst tragedies. Such is the case of Stephen Record, who would have turned 21 this month. A scholar, athlete & active teenager, his passing greatly affected his hometown of Jaffrey. Today, people are still active in an Open Group on Facebook,In Memory of Stephen Curtis Record, to which they regularly post messages in honor of his memory.

Likewise, his spirit has inspired many to give in his memory to scholarships. Three scholarships are awarded to locals: a student graduating high school, one finishing eighth grade and another for a student finishing fifth. In the business world, his mother has since bought a restaurant on Route 202 that she has named JP Stephen's for her two sons. I host karaoke there the last Thursday of each month, a FPU event.

Each year, there is a basketball skills tournament. This year will be the Fifth Annual Hoops for Steve. After the afternoon competition, there will be a game that evening between Conant and the FPU Ravens. I am very honored to be able to contribute to the great legacy Steve has left the community by acting as emcee and entertainment for the event.

(PDF — 137 KB)

From one to four, we shall be have various competitions including free throw fundraiser, 3 point competition, half court shots, & more! Then at six o'clock, we shall meet again for a game between Conant Alumuni & FPU Men's Basketball. There will be a raffle for the opportunity to win a chance to take a $1000 Half-Court Shot. For anybody interested in collecting pledges to support this great event, one of two annually that create almost $100,000 worth of scholarships for this region, please print the pdf sponsor sheet.

The last song

Elton John

You need Flash Player in order to view this.

Twin States Network

03/03/2012 22:18:00

You need Flash Player in order to view this.

For more than twenty years, I have been helping various AIDS Service Organizations (ASO’s) in many states with fundraising, prevention work & community education. In 2012, knowing that on both state & federal levels funding for these organizations will be drastically cut in our area, I have accepted the position of Vice President on the Board of Directors for the Twin States Network.

This non-profit has been serving families & children impacted by HIV & Hepatitis C since 1991, creating supportive connections to help promote healthy living. Unlike other ASO’s, this group does not have an office or the overhead associated with those costs, providing direct services for our clients& is the only ASO to contract with both Vermont & New Hampshire. For the first time since its formation, Twin States will be creating an Annual Fund Drive, attempting to compensate for funding changes to keep important programs like Kids Camp, Male Talk & other direct services continuous. Many other ASO’s primarily focus upon drug users & men who have sex with men, whereas Twin States has programs for infected women, magnetic couples (one is positive), & for the children of the families affected.

Our goal this first year is to raise $25,000

to be able to keep all programs running. We have created various charter funding levels (we can use anything & everything), but what I am primarily asking for in this blog are business sponsorships of $500. Business sponsorships will be the partnerships in the community that we hope will offset these changes in our funding to help continue to provide opportunities for the families impacted by HIV/HCV.

Sponsors will get the following benefits in 2012:

Logo with link to their website from ours www.twinstatesnetwork.net
Inclusion in quarterly newsletters & on event advertising (as time permits)
Recognition of sponsorship at special events
Half Table at Business Expo National Coming OUT Day (10.13.12) at Keene Courtyard Marriott
Two Tickets to our World AIDS Day (12.1.12) Dinner & Dance at the Brattleboro American Legion

This initial solicitation is a tedious process, particularly because it is being largely organized by people with a background in social services rather than business & there are many issues regarding client confidentiality that limit how we can approach potential sponsors. Also, it is an organization that has run for more than two decades without having the geographic advantages & recognition of an office. We have many needs & plan to have an online auction later this year, so items donated or services in kind are always welcome, including gift cards & toys for our annual holiday drive.

Perhaps there is only a single event you would like to sponsor? Event sponsorships for either the Business Expo or World AIDS Day event are also available. Please contact me A.S.A.P. if you are interested in participating in either one. TSN is a registered non-profit & can provide you with information upon receipt of your donation for your tax records.

Want to help, but limited to how to apply funds without being linked to contraceptive education & GLBT causes? Ask to have your $500 sponsorship be applied to the cost of providing one child the benefit of camp this summer. So often we tell children not to have secrets, & in this case we do the exact opposite. These children often become caretakers of their sick parents at an early age, seldom getting the vacations & reprieves their peers do. For $500 you can give one child the memories of a lifetime with two weeks at a premiere campground in our area that is matching camperships donated! This money needs to be raised by the beginning of May.

I think that Twin States Network is a great organization & I am happy to be able to help coordinate the two grand fundraising events for National Coming OUT Day & World AIDS Day. I shall add an additional page to this website, like I had published for this same GLBT Business Expo we did in 2010 to also benefit Twin Peaks; I am grateful for the help of Holly Rilling from Edward Jones who will be returning as co-chair for the event & will help coordinate our sponsors in Keene.

To attend, we ask for a donation to help kick-off our holiday drive to get gift certificates & toys for children affected by HIV/HCV.

We are also looking for volunteers to help with both events, particularly by serving on various organizational committees (fundraising, special events, social media, secretary for the board, etc.). We are slowly building our online presence & encourage everyone to link with us on Facebook, Linked-In, & to check out our website. Any help spreading the message in this blog is greatly appreciated.

Until there is a cure for AIDS, we need to be wary that the information that we have learned, as well as prevention skills, are continuously being shared with the community. Despite medical advancements that have made this a more manageable disease, infection rates continue to remain high; one person in the U.S. is infected every 8 minutes.

Please ensure that these individuals continue to receive these important services by supporting the great work of the Twin States Network today.

The Cheshire Y

04/05/2011 18:14:00

I do much volunteer work throughout the year, which includes a third of all my DJ work. My favorite community organization is the Cheshire Y. With offices based in Swanzey, this non-traditional YMCA operates Camp Takodah in Richmond, a day camp called Hornets Nest, New England and American Heritage Tours & other amazing programs in the area.

I began my experiences at Camp Takodah in 1987 as a Cherokee in the original Cabin 17 with a Greek cabin leader, Nick and my second years was with a New Yorker named Troy.

I returned to camp as a counselor in 1995 as a cabin leader for the Penacooks. All of my memories of the camp, Cass Pond, Elwell Chapel, and all of the wonderful events are among some of my favorites. I stayed the extra week for mini-camp that year, working with many neighbors that volunteer to help younger kids with the introduction to camp. It was at that time I learned how greatly we could affect the whole world by the amazing things that happen locally...

There were two young boys who had recently moved to the US to seek refuge from the Bosnian war. One of them was placed in my cabin and spoke very little english. To see him become integrated into the activities of the camp throughout the week was amazing and heart warming. One evening we had a strong thunderstorm and I had to comfort him while explaining that it was weather and not an attack. At the week's end, his parents thanked me graciously for having taken such good care of their son, while he thanked me by giving me a Republic of Bosnia flag.

Many summers I spent at fun recreation programs provided by Fitzwilliam & Troy, but the amount of activities & abilities one can learn at camp is indescribable, & often not covered under municipal liability (boating, archery, etc).

Tomorrow night (Wed. April 6th) I am very happy to be hosting karaoke at the Fitzwilliam Inn. Starting at 7 PM, this family friendly event will provide opportunities for people to learn more about Camp Takodah, while we collect donations to provide scholarships for local children to attend camp this summer.

At that time, we shall also be providing information about the upcoming 8th Annual Bob Ferranti Memorial Golf Tournament, which is being held on Friday, May 13th at Bretwood Golf Course in Keene, NH. Not only are we looking for singles, pairs, triples & full teams for the tournament, but company & family sponsorship. For as little as $30, sponsorship proceeds help fund these youth services. This year, we have an impressive donor who has agreed to match every Gold Sponsor we get - $1000. That sponsorship covers the cost for two teams plus free carts with the company's name!

Please take a moment & check out the Cheshire YMCA website, sign up for playing or sponsoring the Golf Tournament & join our Cause on Facebook.

SharePeople often ask me how I can spend so much time & money helping these important charities & I think it all comes down to each day's decisions. Of all of the benefits I do, I consider this organization one of the most dear to my heart. The people of the Cheshire Y have been part of my life for twenty-five years & I am very happy to be able to give back to the community by helping them and the hundreds of children they affect each year.

tomorrow's festivities at 7 PM.

$400 Meadowood Special - VENUE & DJ

03/06/2011 15:09:00

You need Flash Player in order to view this.

Fortunate as a child to be raised on the same road as Meadowood County Area Fire Department, I have witnessed how important it is for a community to help each other in times of need. MCAFD is a volunteer non-profit privately funded fire department and training center located in Fitzwilliam, NH. Generations of my family have played various roles in the department’s history. My father has been a member for forty years, and my parents had their marriage reception at the Assembly Hall thirty five years ago this past Valentine’s Day.

The members of the department have are a large part of my life and I have many memories of fire schools, auctions, spaghetti dinners, and more. Last year I enjoyed researching some of the history of the department, and learned about an aunt that sewed the first curtains and that my grandfather used to be one of the first janitors after special events. It is with this knowledge of how large of a role this non-profit venue has played in my family’s life that I am happy to create a new Super Special Deal to help raise money for the Meadowood County Area Fire Department.

For $400, you can rent the upstairs of the building for graduations, birthdays, retirement parties, baby & bridal showers, and other non-alcoholic events and get up to four hours of entertainment by CJ the DJ. By discounting my services, $150 will go directly to MCAFD, doubling what they would normally make for an event while you save $200 from my regular DJ costs. It also saves you $75 from what a normal local event plus rental would normally cost… If you would like to use the downstairs and kitchen, there will be additional costs.

Early reservations are recommended. To check upon the Assembly Hall’s availability, please call Winston Wright at 603-209-1367. To check on CJ the DJ’s availability, please call me at 603-852-6185 or send me an email to cjholman@hotmail.com . Working together, we can make a big difference supporting our hometown community organization.