Congratulations, Charlotte S.
May 2013 Volunteer of the Month

Charlotte on Volunteering at BDF:

I have been volunteering at the Billy DeFrank Center since August of 2012.

I originally came in for yoga, then found bingo, then discovered the volunteer opportunity- and they haven't been able to get rid of me since! I volunteer here because I wanted to continue working with the LGBT community after doing so on my college campus. I felt at home immediately at the BDF Center, and want to contribute to its growth.
My absolute favorite part of volunteering? First dibs on books!!! Oh, I meant the people I work with and the center's visitors. Really though, I enjoy interacting with the guests, and to work with such a talented, hilarious staff is a privilege!

- Visit our BDF Library and Charlotte, one of our expert librarians, will tell you what’s good to read!

A special thanks to Ben Bucknell for his recent contribution of 3 beautiful benches for the path leading up to the Center's main entrance.  Ben recently proposed this to the Board of Directors for his Eagle Scout project.  The benches are incredible, functional and add a special touch of warmth and welcoming.  We are so proud of Ben for his accomplishment and thank him wholeheartedly for this great effort!

Loma Prieta GLS is an official activity section of the Sierra Club, founded in 1991. We offer the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered community and our allies a variety of outdoor activities, including day hikes, car camping weekends, and backpack trips, and encourage participation in the Sierra Club’s mission to explore, enjoy and protect the wild places of the earth.

 http://lomaprieta.sierraclub.org/gls/

Upcoming outings and events can be found below.

Billy DeFrank LGBT Community Center Friends and Families Get Special Pricing at Broadway San Jose

1. Go to http://www.broadwaysanjose.com/corporate-memberships.html.
2. Click on Billy DeFrank LGBT Community Center under the list of “Corporate Offers” on the right.
3. Use Ordering Code “defrank”.

Come see the hottest national touring Broadway shows and save 10-15% on tickets in Sections A, B, and C at all Broadway San Jose 2012-13 performances!  No minimum ticket purchase required.

Questions? Email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   or call 408-792-4580.

This offer will be valid for our two remaining shows, Billy Elliot the Musical and Green Day’s American Idiot.

We are now back up to three classes a week:
Mondays, 7:15-8:45PM: Hatha Vinyasa
Wednesdays, 6-7:30PM: "Yoga for Beginners"
Thursdays, 7-8:30PM: Regular class

All classes are free and are run at the Center.  Donations to the Center are appreciated.

4th Thursday of Each Month, 3:30PM
Bay Area Discovery Museum (yes, it's a trip from San Jose, but hopefully out LGBT families can take advantage of this wonderful program)
In Sausalito

At the Bay Area Discovery Museum, we seek to ignite and advance creative thinking for all children through open-ended, child-directed play. When parents bring their children to the Museum for a day of fun, they become directly involved in their child’s creative discovery process.
 
We want to share with you our latest offering we have developed this season. During our regularly scheduled programs as part of our Once Upon a Time…Exploring the World of Fairy Tales exhibition, we have set aside the 4th Thursday every month at 3:30 p.m. for fairy tale fun. Museum educators pick the activity and lead children and parents on an imaginative adventure. We invite you and your community to attend these informal get-togethers to meet other LGBT families that are looking to spend time together or to meet new friends. This program is free with Museum admission, and as an added bonus you can mention this letter to receive $2 off admission for up to four people.
 
Learn how to make fairy tales come alive through our Creative Storytelling Workshop (www.baykidsmuseum.org/workshop). In this workshop, parents and caregivers will learn ways to read to children to help them develop their emotional intelligence, problem-solving skills and imagination. This wonderful hour-and-a-half workshop is brought to you in collaboration with Jumpstart, a nonprofit literacy group.

THREE Silicon Valley Gayme Nights Every Week!!!

There are THREE gayme nights (where board games and card games are played in an LGBT-friendly environment) in Silicon Valley EACH WEEK that you can go to. They are held every Thursday in Sunnyvale, every Friday in San Jose, and every Sunday in Los Altos. Hopefully one of those times and locations will work for you.

Please join http://www.meetup.com/The-Silicon-Valley-Gaymes-Group/ to get exact locations and times, and to get occasional updates.

James Baldwin Biography

James Baldwin wrote fiction and essays in the mid-Twentieth century, on racial and sexual issues, as well as family dynamics.  He was a fierce advocate of equality before there was any mainstream societal acceptance. Baldwin wrote specifically of the nascent civil rights movement and of the deep and sick prejudices against minorities that prevailed in white America.

Come join the tradition of weekly BINGO on Wednesday nights. The regular game starts at 7PM.  Early games start around 6:30PM.  The BINGO committee is interested in your feedback.

If you have any comments, questions, or creative ideas, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

We have immediate openings for the following volunteer positions:

• BINGO
• Groundskeeping / Outdoor Garden Maintenance
• Frontdesk / Information & Referrals
• Library / CyberCenter

If you are interested in devoting some of your time and effort to the future of your LGBT Community Center, please go to the Volunteer Center tab and fill out the Volunteer Application. We would love to have you!

Karl Leal - Financial Planning

Karl will be at the Center on the first and third Tuesday of each month from 6 pm to 9 pm providing financial advice at no charge. Appointments are required. Contact Karl directly to schedule an appointment, by phone at 408-679-3354 or by sending e-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Karl’s website is www.lealfp.com.