Latest Update: Convention 2009 Is Just Weeks Away - Register Now!
By Regis D'Angiolini
Convention Planning Committee Member
The National Association of Black and White Men Together will convene its 29th annual convention - "A Blueprint for Change: Yes, We Can, Together!" - from July 29th through Aug. 1st in Philadelphia.
Hosted by the NA's local chapter, Men of All Colors Together Philadelphia, the conference promises to be the number-one diversity event of 2009. If you have not already done so, we encourage you to register at the special "Stimulus Package" rate of $150 via PayPal or check or money order, made payable to NABWMT Convention 2009, good now through May 31st . After that, the convention rate will increase to $175 up until the time of the convention. To register, log onto www.mact-phila.org and click on the "2009 National Convention" link in the upper left-hand corner of the page. Payment may also be made with check or money order sent via postal mail to P.O. Box 686, West Chester, PA 19381. For further details, see the official convention registration form.
Returning to the convention this year will be some of the event's annual staples - workshops on diversity, racism, and homophobia; the black, white, and multiracial caucuses; the NA candidates' forum; the convention banquet; the co-chairs' luncheon; and the Midland Regional Reception.
New this year, however, will be caucuses on gender and age as well as a special edition of the Madam X No Talent/Talent Show honoring its namesake, Le Roy R. Scott, a.k.a. Madam X, of BWMT Detroit, who sadly passed away in March. Also new this year will be the "Singles Mingle" pool party and a very special edition of the city's longest running party, "The Jaded Lounge," hosted by MACT Philadelphia's own Ron Sy at the 12th Air Command. This event, which features a fun-filled show with information about HIV/AIDS, is part of the outreach to the Asian community and has won many local awards.
Among the many workshops this year will be "Finding Pink Dollars," hosted by Perry Monastero of the Delaware Valley Legacy Fund. This workshop will show attendees how they can secure funding for their LGBTQI organizations.
"A Blueprint for Change: Yes, We Can, Together!" marks the 10th anniversary of the last time MACT Philadelphia and the City of Brotherly Love hosted the NABWMT convention. That event, "Building Alliances, Breaking Confines" in 1999, saw one of the largest attendances of any recent NA convention.
"I am really excited, for many reasons, about hosting the national convention in Philadelphia -- it's finally our chance again," said Convention Co-Chair and longtime MACT Philadelphia member Tyrone Harvey. "First, I want the national members to see the diversity of Philadelphia - our neighborhoods, our residents, and all the different tourist venues to explore. It will also give the local LGBTQI community an opportunity to become better acquainted with all of the activities of MACT Philadelphia." Some of those tourist venues include the National Constitution Center/Independence Hall historical area, featuring the Liberty Bell; the Philadelphia Museum of Art; the Franklin Institute Science Museum, which includes the three-story, dome-shaped Omniverse IMAX theater; The Philadelphia Zoo – America's oldest zoo; the Avenue of the Arts, featuring many local theaters and the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts; the Philadelphia International Records Museum and Shop; The Gallery shopping mall; the Reading Terminal Market; Fairmount Park, featuring bike trails and walking paths along the Schuylkill River; Adventure Aquarium; and, of course, the many bars and nightclubs of Philadelphia’s own "Gayborhood."
Most of those attractions are either a short walk or cab ride from the convention’s host hotel, the Crowne Plaza at 1800 Market St. in beautiful Center City Philadelphia. Call (215) 561-7500 and mention "NABWMT" to receive the special convention room rate of $129 per night. But hurry, rooms are going fast and are only available at this rate until June 26th.
MACT Philadelphia, the Convention Planning Committee, and especially Convention Co-Chairs Harvey and Aaron Libson are working diligently to publicize and prepare this year's convention. In addition to a number of fund-raising activities that took place over the winter, information was distributed at Philadelphia’s Black Gay Pride in April and MACT Philadelphia's 28th anniversary weekend and the city's Equality Forum celebration, both in early May. T-shirts have been designed and ordered, and are expected to be sold at the city's SundayOUT and Pride Parade and Festival June 14th.
Plans are also under way for this year's convention program book. As one of the convention's most important fund-raisers, we encourage you to reserve your space now. Ad rates are as follows: Inside cover, color, $300 (4-1/4"W x 7-1/2"H); full page, color, $150 (4-1/4"W x 7-1/2"H); full page, black and white, $125 (4-1/4"W x 7-1/2"H); half-page, color, $90 (4-1/4"W x 3-5/8"H); half-page, black and white, $70 (4-1/4"W x 3-5/8"H); and business card size, black and white, $35. Please send hard copy camera-ready ads appropriately sized to 2009 Program Book, c/o Arthur Martin-Chester, 627 Hamilton St., Norristown, PA 19401-4234. Electronic jpeg files should be sent to Regis D'Angiolini at sigernj@aol.com and Arthur Martin-Chester at ajmartin-chester@juno.com. The deadline for all ads is Saturday, June 13th.
The CPC is also hard at work compiling this year’s memorial list. If you know of any NABWMT member who passed away in the past year, please email his/her name and chapter affiliation to Regis D'Angiolini at sigernj@aol.com and Arthur Martin-Chester at ajmartinchester@juno.com no later than Saturday, June 13th. We want to make sure no one is overlooked.
We also want to make sure all NABWMT chapter contact information is correct. If your chapter has made any changes to your chapter name, mailing address, web address, or contact number in the past year, please email those changes to the two above-mentioned email addresses.
As stated previously, "A Blueprint for Change: Yes, We Can, Together!" will examine many of the issues facing the LGBTQI community in the 21st century -- survival, diversity, transgender rights, health, sexism, violence, and engaging as well as protecting our LGBTQI youth. We're going to combine all of the ideas that arise out of the convention into a realistic blueprint for change – change that will improve our lives, our communities and the country that we call home. With all of that in mind, "A Blueprint for Change: Yes, We Can, Together!" is on schedule to be one of the most memorable conventions in the near 30-year history of NABWMT.
"We've been around for over 25 years, and there are so many who don't realize some of the trailblazing efforts MACT Philadelphia and NABWMT have either started or been involved with," Harvey said. "I am hopeful that [the convention] will provide more understanding and awareness that MACT and NABWMT have a vast history and promising future as we continue to carve out our niche in the Philadelphia community and the greater LGBTQI landscape."
Look for the latest information on Convention 2009 – "A Blueprint for Change: Yes, We Can, Together!" – on the NABWMT website, www.nabwmt.org, or the MACT Philadelphia webpage, www.mact-phila.org. Also, send us your email address, and we’ll be more than happy to keep you informed about progress on Convention 2009. Write to: cpcphila2009@aol.com. We hope to see you there!
Posted: modified by:Del Korte Modify date:2009-03-21 19:11:02