| Date |
# |
Topics/Activities |
| 2000‑01‑07 |
22 |
Open discussion on the recent legislation in Vermont. Also, we discussed the differences between domestic partnerships and gay marriage. |
| 2000‑06‑02 |
25 |
One member mentioned a whole list of travel plans during his introduction, which led to many questions, so our main topic became "gay travel". Later, we discussed becoming a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. To that end, a work group committee with 7 members was formed this evening. |
| 2000‑06‑09 |
31 |
With Father's Day approaching, a member expressed worry that his relationship with his father was not where he hoped it would be. This led to many members reflecting on their own (very unique) relationships with their fathers. |
| 2000‑06‑16 |
20 |
Social Evening! In preparation for New Hampshire Pride, we spent this evening painting a banner for our group. The following day, 17 people marched behind the new banner. Wow! |
| 2000‑06‑23 |
25 |
One of our "facilitator-free" nights! (Jeremy was away.) Actually, right-hand man and backup facilitator Stu was on hand, but members Richard and Michael had been "knighted" to present the evening's topic. The triumvirate came up with an interesting discussion on stress, and the ways in which folks deal with it. |
| 2000‑06‑30 |
29 |
All-business meeting. Normally, we confine business meetings to the 7:00-7:30 slot, but our involvement in the Leadership 2000 Awards Dinner was important, so we needed to hammer this one out. By the beginning of the July 7th meeting, we moved and passed a resolution to sponsor the dinner. |
| 2000‑07‑07 |
28 |
How homophobia still runs rampant, despite the advances we have made in the years since Stonewall. A new member gave us a chilling account of how he and his friends still face stalking by old high school "buddies". |
| 2000‑07‑14 |
33 |
Homophobia Part II. We discussed a hypothesis brought up at the CGM Reading Group on 7/11: Do homophobic attacks originate more from a man's deviance from the gender-specific roles he is expected to follow (which can be independent of homosexuality), or simply from what he does in his bed? |
| 2000‑07‑21 |
32 |
Homophobia Part III. Some members attended the SGM Cruise on 7/16, but as the date approached, most admitted they felt anxiety in going. We discussed whether this was internalized homophobia, fear of rejection among people whose opinions we perhaps care too much about, or just a lack of face-to-face social skills in a world where gay men meet each other electronically. |
| 2000‑07‑28 |
34 |
The long awaited Sex meeting! First, we played musical rooms. Then, we filled out a survey, the results of which will likely be discussed at the 8/11 meeting. Then we opened the floor, touching on many different aspects of sex. Casual sex, open relationships, intimacy, cybersex and the impact of the Internet, monogamy, chemistry, how sex improves with age, all were covered. An excellent meeting! |
| 2000‑08‑04 |
32 |
Movie Night: The first 3 episodes of the British version of Queer as Folk. |
| 2000‑08‑11 |
31 |
The Sex Survey Results meeting. Tonight we followed up on the 7/28 meeting on sex. Many of the individual results were surprising and sparked further discussion. In some cases, we discovered that the survey questions were interpreted differently among members, which demonstrated how unique and "unrehearsed" this topic can be. |
| 2000‑08‑18 |
21 |
Movie Night: Episodes 4-6 of Queer as Folk. |
| 2000‑08‑25 |
30 |
The nature of confidentiality and how it is being affected by the existence of the web and email. |
| 2000‑09‑01 |
26 |
CGM's 1st Anniversary Party and Movie Night! Tonight we wrapped up our viewing of the first season of Queer as Folk (episodes 7 and 8) while having punch and pie! |
| 2000‑09‑08 |
31 |
How to meet guys. Tonight we built a good formula for success in the ever-elusive dating scene. First, put yourself out there in social situations, particularly those where the probability is high that the guy you'd like to meet is gay. Second, don't meet someone with the hope of finding a relationship...meet someone to meet someone. Third, love yourself, because Jack Palance wasn't kidding when he said that "Confidence is sexy!" |
| 2000‑09‑15 |
27 |
Personal support for member. |
| 2000‑09‑22 |
31 |
On the heels of GMT Weekend, we discussed gay men's retreats. Many members had been to one or more of the myriad of growth opportunities out there. Most of these members reported that the overall experience was very positive; for some, it was life changing. |
| 2000‑09‑29 |
31 |
A very "good mood" crowd tonight. This week, members Tim and John were featured on the front page of the Concord Monitor for their efforts in forming the Concord Alliance of Gay and Straight Educators. We basked in the positive response this has received. Then, we ventured into personal stories from members of how coming out has evoked very positive responses from the people they are closest to. |
| 2000‑10‑06 |
28 |
An ad hoc kind of week, with Sam making his facilitorial debut. Tonight's topic covered current events in the gay community. Later, the group shared a birthday cake with a member who just turned 40! |
| 2000‑10‑13 |
32 |
Sam returned to the helm to lead the group in a Gay Trivia game! Correct answers earned "points" for each of the six teams that played; the winning team was individually crowned with tiaras! |
| 2000‑10‑20 |
32 |
All business meeting. Tonight, the group discussed, modified slightly, and then ratified the bylaws formed by the CGM workgroup committee over the summer. This was a major milestone towards becoming a non-profit organization. 29 of 32 ratified the bylaws. |
| 2000‑10‑27 |
21 |
Social evening...pumpking carving for the Keene Pumpkin Festival, which demolished the world record with more than 23,000 simultaneously lit jack o'lanterns! |
| 2000‑11‑03 |
30 |
Several mini-topics this evening, hosted by Stu. First, on the heels of the Nov 7th election, who are our friends running for State and National offices? Next, Euthanasia for dying animal companions (and partners). Finally, taking the first Coming Out steps by placing a pride sticker on your car...what are the "Pros and Cons"? |
| 2000‑11‑10 |
20 |
A pulse measurement of the media. How are shows like Will and Grace, Normal Ohio, and Queer as Folk doing towards avoiding the "gay stereotype for a laugh"? What about movies? What about internet depictions such as Queer Duck? Most agreed, we've come a long way. |
| 2000‑11‑17 |
33 |
Some specific questions, posed by member. How do you know you are gay? How do you know that the guy you've met will lead to "true" love? |
| 2000‑11‑24 |
30 |
Day after Thanksgiving Potluck at Stu and Dave's house. This was so well received that it might become an annual event! |
| 2000‑12‑01 |
31 |
Our first Annual Meeting. Tonight we held the election of officers for our first Board of Directors. But first, we had to decide a few things...how do we vote, do we accept absentee votes, who gets to vote? After announcement of the election results, we brainstormed on the types of activities the group can now get involved in, and what the group ought to focus on in the coming year. |
| 2000‑12‑08 |
33 |
How death or illness around the holiday season affects one's enjoyment of it. |
| 2000‑12‑15 |
26 |
The irony of getting a cheerful Christmas Card which says, "Oh by the way, I've got cancer." Some members admitted that there's no really good time to announce a terminal illness. Some went further to say that a handwritten note at Christmas, no matter how odd, is still better than an obituary sent by a relative or loved one years later, completely by surprise. Tonight we also acknowledged the 27th anniversary of the American Psychiatric Association's recommendation to remove homosexuality from the DSM (the manual of mental disorders). |
| 2000‑12‑22 |
30 |
Our first Yankee Gift Swap! Sam led the group in the festivities, and Dave supplied punch and pie for everyone! |
| 2000‑12‑29 |
26 |
Bad dates! Everyone's had them, everyone would rather forget them, but they do make good story (and topic!) material. This segued later towards homosexuality in the schools. How? I don't know, I was late to this meeting! Many thanks to Sam for taking over in my absense! |
