From: "FACES of South Dakota" Subject: Fw: Sioux Falls Center ribbon cutting Date: Tue, 16 Jun 1998 21:22:26 -0600 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE SIOUX FALLS CHAMBER COMMERCE SUPPORTS OPENING GAY CENTER by Lawrence Novotny About 75 people attended the ribbon cutting and open house of the Sioux Falls glbt community center which was held at 4:30 pm on June 15, 1998. The Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce welcomed the gay and lesbian community center to Sioux Falls. In his remarks, Chamber Ambassador Dave Anderson talked about how the town of Sioux Falls started out with Norwegian settlers. The Norwegians were joined by Germans and other ethnic groups as Sioux Falls grew creating a diverse community. Now it is time to recognize the contributions of another segment of the Sioux Falls community, said Anderson - its gay and lesbian citizens. About 25 Chamber of Commerce members were present for the ribbon cutting. After the cutting, the Chamber members mingled with lesbians and gays enjoying the food. It is unusual to see this large of a turn- out at a Chamber ribbon cutting said one of the lesbian organizers of the event. Generally 5-6 Chamber people show up at a ribbon cutting. Event organizers interpreted the high attendance as a strong sign of support for the Center. The Center is a joint project of FACES (Free Americans Creating Equal Status) of South Dakota (the statewide glbt organization) and of the Sioux Empire Gay & Lesbian Coalition which has been in existence in Sioux Falls for over 20 years. The Center provides a resource library, meeting and office space for glbt organizations and support groups, and a social gathering space. Its location is at 401 E. 8th Street, Suite 217 in the 8th & Railroad Center Building. The Center which is staffed by volunteers will be open on Monday & Wednesday evenings from 6-9 pm and on Saturdays from 1-4 pm. Women's rap sessions will be held on the first and third Friday evenings of each month. Men's rap sessions will be held on the second and fourth Friday evenings Several parents of Center volunteers attended the ribbon cutting. Several lesbians & gays brought their children to the event. The ribbon was cut by Sherri Walton, president of the Sioux Empire Gay & Lesbian Coalition and by Lawrence Novotny, secretary of the board of FACES. The lavender ribbon was held by Rev. Don Reusch, minister of the Sioux Falls Metropolian Community Church and by Karen Coffman, activist and Center volunteer. Linda Lemons, SEGLC member, accepted the plague that was presented to the Center by the Chamber of Commerce. Lemons made the following remarks before the ribbon was cut. "The rainbow flag you see behind us is recognized throughout the United States and Europe as a symbol of gay pride and unity. The six colors of the rainbow represent the diversity of the gay and lesbian community, one that encompasses people from all backgrounds, races and national origins and that spans the panoply of faiths and experiences. We are your children, your neighbors, the person with whom you share an office at work. We are your brothers and sisters, your classmates and the guy who plays basketball for your team. We wear white collars as well as hard hats. We diagnose your illnesses, sell you goods and services and raise families. We know no barriers of color, religious background, nationality or political affiliation. We have been part of humanity since antiquity and now we are helping to shape the future. On behalf of the Sioux Empire Gay & Lesbian Coalition/FACES of South Dakota, we want to sincerely thank all of you for coming this afternoon to help us celebrate the opening of this Community Center. We ask you to join us in a pledge to foster diversity in our community as we enter the 21st Century. This facility is the first step in providing a resource center and a meeting place to encourage political envolvment. Through this Center our telephone help-line will continue to provide assistance to the lesbian and gay community at large." ><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>> Corporate Mailing Address: Free Americans Creating Equal Status of South Dakota, Inc. FACES of South Dakota, South Dakota Alternative Library PO Box 2354, Rapid City, SD 57709-2354 Phone 605-343-5577, FAX 605-394-8962 email: facessd@rapidnet.com webpages: http://www.rapidnet.com/~facessd/ Offices, libraries and meeting rooms at: **401 E 8th Street Ste 217, Sioux Falls, SD 57103-7005 **2218 Jackson Blvd Ste 8, Rapid City, SD 57702-3452 Phone: 605-343-5577 FAX: 605-394-8962 email: facessd@rapidnet.com Open Tuesday Night 7 PM until 10 PM Open Thursday 11:00 until 1:30 for brown bag lunch Open Saturday and Sunday 1:00 PM until 5:00 PM Special Meetings: Unified Live and Let Live Alsoholics Anonymous Thursday Nights at 8 PM <<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>>