The Ask A Feminist Conversation Booth: What the eff is it, and how the eff do I get in on it?

The feminist is IN!  Remember Lucy in the Peanuts?  Same basic concept, only we're a lot nicer than Lucy was, and we don't charge a quarter.

We will be setting up the Ask A Feminist booth outside various event locations (and maybe even some other locations...more on that later) as a way of inviting people from the larger Milwaukee community to meet Real, Live Feminists of all kinds.  Our goal in this is to engage in real and positive conversations with many different people, both those that are already engaged in feminist dialogue, and those that may be unfamiliar to progressive ideas about gender. 

We're doing this because we believe that a lot of confusion and antipathy towards feminists and feminism is caused by a lack of knowledge about what feminism is and the myriad meanings it can have to those of us who identify as feminists.  Our goal is not to attack or to argue, but to create friendly, respectful discussions.

If you're interested in settin' in the booth for an hour or two, please sign up on our volunteer form, and indicate that you'd like to work at the Ask a Feminist booth.

NEXT TWO MEETINGS!

Yup, babies.  You read that right.  We are having two meetings this week!  Not that we expect everyone to  show up at two meetings in one week; we're just so close to the finish line, we thought we'd give people twice as many chances to make one or the other.  So, pick your poison:

NEXT TWO GIRLS TO THE FRONT PLANNING HANG-OUTS!...

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12th 6:30pm @ 2817 N. FRATNEY #2...this is a lower back apt. unit.  Yes, we are having it at one of our houses.  Yes, there will be snacks!  And yes, there will be cat and dog hair on stuff, so let us know if you're crazy allergic.


THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14th 6:30pm   ...This one will be at either the above location or at Fuel Cafe.  I will post it correctly as soon as I know.  (In the meantime, though, you can write it into your calendar app on your iPhone if you're fancy like that, or on the back of your hand with a Sharpie, if you're sloppy like that.  I tend towards sloppy myself.)

That is all, lovelies.

posted by Lauryl

MEETING 10-7! PLUS NOTES!

Hey ladies and other lovelies!  Sorry I'm late on my game about this one, but YES!  WE will meet tomorrow night (THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7th!) at 6:30pm at Outpost on Capitol in their sweet community room.  Hope some peeps can make it despite the late notice.

ALSO: Here are our meeting notes from last week, compiled as always by the incredible Ms. JV. <3!

9/30/10
In Attendance: Alden, Erin, Monica, Lindsay, Sarah, Brandy, Julie
New to the group: Lyndzi Miller

Business:
Lydzi Miller came to talk about hosting a workshop on feminism and re-defining relationships as well as a naughty needles workshop. Slated most likely for Sunday.

Workshop Reports courtesy of Erin (and her notecards):
-Project M - looks like they want to do an up-cycling workshop
-A/V Workshop - talk is out on doing an A/V workshop, possibly Alden, but with help from Kat?
-Bike Fixing Workshop - Pedal Pushers
-Screen Printing Workshop - Julie will contact Heather at CCC to see if that can be done on Saturday
-Superhero dress up photo booth - Evelyn’s dig. Maybe a daytime event, what were you thinking Evelyn?
-Ask a Feminist Booth - We are asking Sarah Buccheri, and Celeste HoboSapien to build a booth for us, Celeste was emailed during our meeting. Erin mentioned that the RW Co-Op has hoards of cardboard to use for materials. Should be light and portable.

Things going on at Jackpot:
Sarah confirmed we can use Jackpot for an art show. We’re thinking of featuring work by Makeal Flamini, Monica Stone, and Amber Van Galder. Also, we are scheduling an open mic here for Saturday.

More on Music:
-Melissa Zarnek (I know I spelled her name wrong) - Monica will contact her about playing
-Riot Grrrl Cover Band Show - There is a bit of confusion as to whether the folks at CCC want this on Friday night or Saturday. Julie will contact Heather to confirm.
-Susan Million - Erin will talk with Susan to see what her schedule looks like in comparison to the one we made during the meeting. (I will put this at the bottom of the notes)
-Proposal for a late night (after shows at Y-not 3) party at Makeal’s space.

Money/Ticketing/Volunteering Talk:
Looks like we’re hoping to ticket for the singer/songwriters that are performing at Hotch a do and for the bands and DJ’s at y-not 3.

We talked about selling tickets for each show ($5?) or a wrist band for access to a couple of shows in the same night. ($10)

It looks like there is a donation paypal account on the main page of the website that Lindsay is managing for us. Also, she listed a link to the volunteer form that Alden made. Hooray!!

We have a....drumroll......$100 donation from __________(Brandy!!! I forgot who this is from, I’m a dope...) Please edit this if you remember who it is from, it’s important and I’m sorry for the blank mind.

Because we’re hoping that a bunch of folks will help out, we want to reward them with a ticket to a main show. Other volunteers who commit to more than a bit of work will have larger access to the events. We want people to be involved!

Alex C is volunteer co-ordinatrix! Contact her (glitterbombing@gmail.com) if you need volunteers. Alex, you’re awesome!! -julie

Here is what we sketched out for a schedule so far:

Friday	Saturday	Sunday
6:30pm-8pm Sarah Marcus at the Pink House 8:30-10pm Singer/Songwriter @ Hotch-a-do 10pm-Midnight Bands at Y-Not 3 12-2am DJ’s Y-Not 3	? 8? Singer/Songwriter/open-mic at Jackpot Gallery ? Cover Bands at CCC 11pm - Le Tigre Show (bike ride from RW to the theatre by Pedal Pushers)	10:30 - Raw Food Workshop CCC 11:30 - Potluck CCC ? Naughty Needles and Relationship Workshop CCC 10pm -  Miltown Kings at Stonefly

VOLUNTEER for Girls to the Front! Win Fabulous Prizes! Live Longer! Get Shinier Hair!

Howdy Riot Ladies, Riot Gents and Riot In Betweens, Neithers and Boths!

We now have a fancy VOLUNTEER form on our website! If you would like to donate a little of yer time to help us make this party go off without a hitch, then please, please with-sugar-on-top, consider hopping on over and filling it out!

There are lots of sweet gigs you can hook yourself up with.  For instance, maybe you'd like to take a turn in our Ask A Feminist Booth?
Volunteers will get a thank-you voucher to attend one of our band events for free!*

* (All of the workshops and stuff are already free, but we need to pay the bands at least a little something, so we are charging for the band shows. Don't hate us. We don't like money either, but we're told that that's what folks around here use to buy gas and food.)

OKAY! ARE YOU READY FOR THIS? I'M ABOUT TO POST THE LINK! HERE I GO!....

http://girlstothefrontmke.blogspot.com/p/volunteers.html

Dang! I did it.

ALSO!  We are still looking for workshoppers, bands, poets, artists, and etceteras to fill up our little lovefest and make it special.  So please, do not hesitate to direct our attentions to you and your awesome stuff that you do.  Email us at: girlstothefrontfest@gmail.com  We will promptly and courteously reply, I promise.


posted by Lauryl Sulfate

NEXT MEETING! TOMORROW NITE!

Hey all you cool cats and crazy chicks, here's the haps for this week, like:

OUR NEXT GTTF PLANNING HANGOUT:
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29th, 6:30pm
@ OUTPOST NATURAL FOODS (100 E. Capitol Drive), in the community room

THAT IS TOMORROW, DUDES!

Come on over and eat some awesome hippie food and drink a wheatgrass smoothie or whatevs and talk about feminist shit.  It'll be so awesome.

xo-The GTTF Crew

Meeting Notes from 9-21

Here again for your edification and delectation are Julie's beautiful notes from the last Girls to the Front planning sesh.  Before I present them, i am sending out a heads-up that the next meet-up will be this week THURSDAY!!  instead of Tuesday.   We don't have a location set up yet, but I'll post it as soon as I am able.

This is because a lot of peeps have run into me or emailed me or Facebooked me to say that they are interested in helping out, but cannot make Tuesdays.  Also, a bunch of the regular Tuesday folks have said they can't do Tuesday this week.  (Maybe that's just cuz they're exhausted from going to meetings every week, and that's okay, too.)

Groovy.  Onto the notes...

9/21/10

Sorry, this took a bit longer to create than I had planned so it’s a bit late. :) I love you guys, great work on Tuesday!

In Attendance: Lindsay, Julie, Brandy, Monica, Heather, Alex, Milo, Felicia, Erin, Alden, Alex, Susan

New to the group are Alex and Heather. They came to talk about a Riot Grrl Cover Band         night at the CCC.

Business:
DJ’s Set:
It sounds like we’re going to do a DJ set after the show at the YNOT 3 on Friday night. Included will be Brandy, Alex (I didn’t know if confirmed), and a possible DJ from Madison that Milo knows

Pink House:
It sounds like they are willing to let us use the space pretty liberally for the weekend as long as we have plans to let them know logistics. Am i right on this?

Confirmed Space and Confirmed Event:
CCC for Saturday night Riot Grrl Cover Band show perhaps along the lines of “Ghosts of Riot Grrls Past.” Heather mentioned being a part of something like this in Philadelphia and it was a great time. She mentioned that they have 2 bands that are willing to play but were looking for a few more. Also, a thought... BYO talent and play with instruments at the show. Get the word out! Heather also mentioned the possibility of asking bands (already confirmed with their own music?) to learn a song or two and play them. A cool challenge for a band!
Contact for the Riot Grrl Cover Band night is Heather: email: kaleandglitter@riseup.net or Phone: 215.239.1001

Susan Million:
Thank you. Thank you .Thank you for your hard work this past week. And! Bringing us some visuals and more information on what you were thinking for the acts. It sounds like Susan has some really diverse and varied acts on deck. Here are the ones listed in the packet and on what night she was thinking:

The Cathy Santonies- Friday night - Band from Chicago
Heidi Barton Stink - Friday night - Trans-Radical-Queer M.C from Minneapolis
The Barettes - Either Friday or Saturday - Band from MKE
The Addy Janes - Saturday Night - two piece band from MKE
The Locals - Saturday Night - Band from Chicago
The Ovens - Saturday Night - Band from Chicago
Julie Schurr - Saturday Night - Acoustic singer/songwriter from St. Louis
Hana Malhas - Saturday Night - “border less indie folk from an arab american” from Michigan
Brianna Lane - Saturday Night - singer/songwriter from Minneapolis
Julie Loyd - Saturday Night - “Wiggly indie-folk” from Chicago
    Julie is also interested in doing a workshop
Best Friends Forever - Option! - Band from Minneapolis

-Plug them in where you see fit on the schedule on the wikipage.

A conversation with Felicia on her vegan/raw workshop event:
-would prefer a space with running water and electricity but is not needed, we talked about using the CCC as they have hosted Pancake Breakfasts in the past in the space.
-is concerned about getting the groceries for the event. They cost money and would like to know, if she’s going to use fresh (not donated), that she will be reimbursed for the expense.
-talk of food donations came from Lindsay, both Alex’s, Mary Catherine -from O-post.
-She will create a sort of menu and number of people and will get back to us with more info.
-do we coordinate her workshop with the pot-luck or not?

Space and Planned Events:
YNOT 3 - Friday night Bands and DJ sets
Hotch A Do - Is this confirmed show space or do we need to still talk to them and if so, is it for Friday or Saturday?
CCC - Riot Grrl Cover Band Show on Saturday Night and craft/media/cooking workshop space on Saturday
Stonefly - Sunday night Miltown Kings drag show at 8
Pink House - Reading on Friday night and then workshops on Saturday afternoon
Quaker House - We have decided not to use the space based on funding ($100 for 3 or 4 hours and then a $150 deposit)

Funds, Marketing, and Planning:
-do we create a pay pal acct or use one from a member of the planning committee to use as a fund raising tool? Lindsay volunteered but questions whether it’s ok with everyone.
-Milo created two versions of the poster to show us, thank you! They look fantastic!
-we took pics with the chucks for more marketing
-what are costs? This is a huge question that is still unanswered
-we think it reasonable to pay for a workshop if you are using resources
-an organization or sponsor? - next year is more feasible
-tips at workshop that could be used as a fund for next year?
-non-profit status?
-as a way to circumvent the process of non-profit status a suggestion was made that we funnel funds through A Broader Vocabulary b/c of their status and ability to accept funding and donations - if we do this, who do we approach? Evelyn?
- Who do we approach then for funding
    Brandy mentioned three orgs or businesses: Cream City Foundation, Wisconsin Gazette, and Lesbian Alliance
-More marketing ideas
    -Radio Milwaukee
    -MSE - Will throw some promotion/press our way. (Evelyn & Lindsay are doing an interview the week of the 19th.)
    - Press Releases! Lindsay and Brandy have made this.  Brandy will be listed as promotions contact person.
    -WUWM
    -Riverwest Currents - Erin has us on the monthly events calendar.  Nice.



A Proposal from the Secretary (ha!)
In an effort to streamline this planing process - b/c we have less than one month -
I propose committees with their own deadlines that will oversee these various facets of the planning...marketing and print, music, workshops, space, communication...? How do we feel about this?) Here is a link to where I posted a rough outline of what that might look like. PLEASE let me know what you think and if this is too much for us and we don’t want that bureaucracy or if it helps, or what your concerns are with this proposal.

THIS WEEK'S PLANNING HANGOUT!

We liked hangin' at the YNOT 3 sooo much last week that we've decided to do it again.  They were really nice and gave us use of their spacious upstairs space, which was like being in a really cozy lodge in Northern Wisconsin somewheres.  Also, there was beer.  And Newman-O's.  That is because I am a lady of honour, and I keep my word.

If you'd care to join us for beer and conversation in a cozy loft, then come on over to the YNOT 3 (which is located right behind Beans & Barley, just off the corner of Oakland and North Avenues) on TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21st @ 6:30pm!

I will endeavor to bring something tasty once again, because I firmly believe in the healing power of snacks.

Foote-Note:  We seem to have developed into a rhythm of Tuesday evening meetings, and I think that we will probably end up keeping this schedule.  BUT!  I know that there are some wonderful folks out there who want to be involved who can't make Tuesdays work for them.  If you are one of those people, please email us!  We want you involved (!), and we are willing to set up smaller meet-ups on other days for those who want them.  Plus, as we move further along, we may have people meeting on additional days to work out details for specific functions (eg; we just had a design meeting on Sunday for those of us who are creating the promotional materials.)  If there is a specific thing you'd like to help with, tell us that too, and we'll try to get you in the swim.  LOVE!

posted by Lauryl Sulfate