Winter Storm WARNING starting 7PM Thursday: Center closing Thursday at 6PM

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm WARNING for our area in effect tonight (Thursday) starting at 7PM through Friday at 10AM. Per our adverse weather policy, the Pride Lafayette Community Center will be closing Thursday evening starting at 6PM but will be open for our 4-6PM hours. If the warning period is extended, we will follow-up with another announcement regarding closure.

At this time, 6 inches of snow is possible by Friday morning. For complete details regarding the storm warning, see Winter Storm Warning - 634 AM EST THU FEB 24 2011. For official updates on the storm and the current status of watches/warnings, see 7-day Zone Forecast for Tippecanoe County from the National Weather Service.
 
Be safe out there!
 
Kelly Leonard
Center Host Coordinator
Board Member, Pride Lafayette, Inc.

Winter Storm WARNING in effect: Center closed Monday through Wednesday (at least)

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm WARNING for our area in effect tonight (Monday) starting at 7PM through Wednesday at 7PM. Per our adverse weather policy, the Pride Lafayette Community Center will be closed Monday through Wednesday. If the warning period is extended, we will follow-up with another announcement regarding closure. For those planning to attend Tuesday night's meeting of the board of directors, please watch for additional information from our officers.

At this time, 12-16 inches of snow is predicted for the city of Lafayette. Roads are expected to become impassible, and long duration power outages are possible. For complete details regarding the storm warning, see Winter Storm Warning - 138 PM EST MON JAN 31 2011. For official updates on the storm and the current status of watches/warnings, see 7-day Zone Forecast for Tippecanoe County from the National Weather Service.

Take care and be safe everyone!

Kelly Leonard
Center Host Coordinator
Board Member, Pride Lafayette, Inc.

Two-part Seminar: "Catching Up and Staying Connected with Modern Technology"

Happy New Year, everyone!

Life in 2011 is a world where staying connected and being organized requires us to keep up with modern techology. This is especially true when it comes to making friends through Pride Lafayette or being involved as a volunteer with our organization.

With this in mind, we invite you to join us for a free, two-part seminar called "Catching Up and Staying Connected with Modern Technology", hosted by our education and technology committees. The seminar is an expanded version of our "Pride U" programs for January and February. Part 1 of the seminar will take place Tuesday, 1-11-11 from 6pm to 8pm (Facebook event). Part 2 will take place one month later on Tuesday, 2-8-11 from 6pm to 8pm. Both parts will take place at the Pride Lafayette Community Center, 640 Main St., Lafayette.

You're welcome to come and go as you please, as this is intended to be a light and fun chance for everyone to learn some basics about modern technology, ask questions, and try out some new things.

Some topics to be covered in the seminar include email, online calendars, keeping online task lists, photo sharing, social networking (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.), YouTube, blogs, smart phones and other mobile devices, and web site design.

The seminar is free and open to people of all skills and knowledge levels. If you own a laptop or a smart phone, you're encouraged to bring it with you. We also need technology experts to attend and bring gadgets or projects you're willing to demonstrate. Note that the Center does have free wifi.

Please contact me if you have any questions about this series. You're also encouraged to send me specific questions you'd like us to discuss at the seminar.

Yours in pride,

Kelly Leonard
Series coordinator
2011 Board Member, Pride Lafayette, Inc.

Tonight's Coming Out Discussion Group Topic: 'Coming out and the holidays'

The Coming Out Discussion Group meets on the 3rd Thursday of each month at 7:00PM (new time!) at the Pride Lafayette Community Center, 640 Main St., Lafayette. Our next meeting is TODAY, Thursday, December 16th.

This month we'll be discussing 'Coming out and the holidays'. The many civil, ethnic, and religious observances this time of year bring together friends and family, creating some prime opportunities for revealing your sexual or gender identity. Whether you're considering coming out or have some experiences to share related to coming out this time of year, tonight's discussion is for you. Everyone is welcome to share, but you're also welcome to quietly listen to others.

The Coming Out Discussion Group is free and open to the public--and to people at all stages of the lifelong journey of coming out!

Yours in pride,

Kelly Leonard
Facilitator, Coming Out Discussion Group
Education Chair & Board Member, Pride Lafayette, Inc.

Center will be open Sunday despite bad weather. Please review our adverse weather policy explained here for details.

Friends of Pride Lafayette,

As of the time of this message, Lafayette is under a Winter Weather Advisory.  If this doesn't change, the Pride Lafayette Community Center will be open on Sunday for both the Trans Lafayette Support Group (3-4:30PM) and Center Social Hours (5-9PM).  If the status changes to Winter Storm Warning, we will be closed for the duration of the warning period.

Please see the red underlined text under 7-day Forecast on the National Weather Service - Lafayette, IN page for the latest status.  You can also register for free local weather email alerts by signing up on the Accuweather.com Alert page.

Following is a quick summary of what to expect in terms of when the Pride Lafayette Community Center will be open during adverse weather conditions:

The Center will be open when the National Weather Service has the City of Lafayette under:

• A winter storm watch
• An ice storm watch
• A winter weather advisory
• A freezing rain advisory
• A severe thunderstorm watch
• A severe thunderstorm WARNING when not under a tornado watch (no sirens will be sounding; see below)
• A tornado watch

Warnings are different than Watches because they mean bad weather is definitely coming to Lafayette.  The Center will be closed when the National Weather Service has the City of Lafayette under:

• A winter storm WARNING
• A blizzard WARNING
• An ice storm WARNING
• A severe thunderstorm WARNING when a tornado watch is in effect (sirens will sound)
• OR a tornado WARNING.  In a tornado warning or a severe thunderstorm warning issued under a tornado watch, doors will remain unlocked if the Center was already open so those coming to the Center can opt to seek shelter with those at the Center.  However, it is advised to seek shelter below ground if possible when sirens have sounded.  Note that the Center has no basement.  Also, be aware that the ground level shelter space at the Center is limited to our accessible restroom and the small interior office room.

Please let me know if you have any questions about this policy.  Be safe out there today!

Kelly Leonard

Board member and weather enthusiast, Pride Lafayette, Inc.
  

Trainees still being sought for Center hosts and back-up hosts--train next Tuesday!

The Pride Lafayette Community Center is once again seeking trainees for volunteer Center host positions.  We still have a few regular monthly times slots to fill, and we're also seeking people willing to serve as back-up hosts.  So, even if you're unable to commit to hosting at a regular time each month, you can still become a host and have a valuable role as a back-up for when others are unable to host their regular time.

We're offering one training opportunity in December.  This is next Tuesday:

• Tuesday, December 14th 6:00PM-8:00PM

See this November blog post for full details about hosting hours at the Center.  Also, please be sure to complete the following application form:

 Center Host Application Form

Thanks in advance to those who sign up and to everyone who has already been trained!

Yours in pride,

Kelly Leonard
Center host coordinator/Board member/Education chair/Webmaster
Pride Lafayette, Inc.

Download your Winter 2010 Pride Lafayette Quarterly Newsletter FREE today!

The Winter 2010 Pride Lafayette Quarterly Newsletter is now available for FREE online! Get yours today! The Pride Lafayette Quarterly (PLQ) newsletter brings the LGBT Community of Greater Lafayette/West-Lafayette and surrounding communities news, information and entertainment of particular interest to people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or allies.

This edition features an introduction to our 2011 board of directors, articles on bullying and suicide prevention, and a piece about this weekend's Transgender Day of Rememberance.

Get your copy here!

Coming Out Discussion Group on Thursday asks "Who are we thankful for?"

The Coming Out Discussion Group meets on the 3rd Thursday of each month at 6:30PM at the Pride Lafayette Community Center, 640 Main St., Lafayette. Our next meeting is this Thursday, November 18th.

This month we will discuss who we are thankful for in our lives. Many of us take time to reflect on what we are thankful for during the Thanksgiving holiday season, but how often do we think about who we are thankful for in terms of coming out? Maybe you've been thankful for someone's positive response when you came out to him or her as being gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex, or maybe you've been thankful for a friend or family member having the courage and trust in you to come out to you. This discussion is for everyone. It's a place to share and receive advice on coming out.

The Coming Out Discussion Group is free and open to the public--and to people at all stages of the lifelong journey of coming out!

Yours in pride,

Kelly Leonard
Facilitator, Coming Out Discussion Group
Education Chair & Board Member, Pride Lafayette, Inc.

Bullied and Trevor November 17th at 8pm.

Gamma Rho Lambda is presenting the films Bullied and Trevor to shed some light on the recent LGBT tragedies. Come join us for these movie viewings along with a discussion and a panel directly after in Armstrong 1010 on November 17th at 8pm.

Pizza will be provided by the Purdue Queer Student Union and any donations will be sent directly to the Trevor Project.

Sponsored by:
Gamma Rho Lambda
Purdue Queer Student Union
Pride Lafayette

Wednesday, November 17 · 8:00pm - 10:00pm
Armstrong 1010

More volunteer Center host training opportunities Sunday and Tuesday (NEW!)

The Pride Lafayette Community Center is still seeking trainees for volunteer Center host positions.  We trained nine people on Thursday.  We're offering two more opportunities in the coming week:

• Sunday, November 14th 5:00PM-7:00PM
• Tuesday, November 16th 6:00PM-8:00PM (NEW!)

See this blog post for full details about hosting hours at the Center.  Also, please be sure to complete the following application form:

 Center Host Application Form

Thank you to all those being trained for your support of our organization and helping us keep the Center alive!

Yours in pride,

Kelly Leonard
Center host coordinator/Board member/Education chair/Webmaster
Pride Lafayette, Inc.