April 2024
Message from the Board Chair, Rick Partridge
If you are like me, it’s hard to believe that the start of Pride month is only 60 days away – 2024 is flying by!
Our events committee has been working for months to bring our community a wide variety of June Pride events – some sponsored by NC Pride and some that are collaborations with others. This model has worked so well for the past 2 years because of the incredible volunteers who help bring our events to life! Our working Board and small but dedicated team of year-round volunteers cannot do it without additional volunteers. Volunteering is a great way to meet and connect with members of our community and build a sense of camaraderie and accomplishment for helping us make these events special. Here are a few of the ways you can help us build pride celebrations we’re PROUD of!
Help us color the town rainbow! Volunteer to help us hang pride flags throughout downtown Nevada City on Saturday, June 1st. Come help us bring a little more LGBTQ+ flair to our town and kick-off a colorful Pride month!
On Saturday, June 8th, we’ll be hosting our 2nd annual Pride Family Picnic at the Condon Park Pavilion. We’ll need help with everything from soliciting donations before the event, and setup, cleanup and security for the actual event. Can you help us bring this family-focused pride event to life?
And there are dozens of other opportunities throughout June and beyond. Events are being finalized and added to our events calendar regularly. We always love having volunteers to help table at events and help bring the LGBTQ+ presence to our town. Come join us and help spread the love!
Looking for other ways to contribute? Our two support groups launched successfully in March, and we are still in need of additional peer facilitators as we look to increase the once per month meetings to serve the needs of the community.
Throughout the year, we can always use volunteers to host and help with potlucks and other social events, help solicit sponsorships and donations, support our marketing, social media and communications, just as some examples.
Lastly, we have 2 open positions on the board that we want to fill so that we can continue to do this important work for our community. Our board meetings are open to the public and normally occur monthly on the third Friday at 10:30 AM. Please check our website calendar to confirm date, time and place.
So, here’s my call to action – please go to our volunteer page and submit the form and our volunteer coordinator, Nicole, will get back to you to match you to our current needs. If you have questions or specific skills that you want to offer, you can also email nicole@nevadacountypride.org.
Thank you in advance for donating your time and helping make this pride season a great one for Nevada County a great one. We couldn’t do it without you.
Rick Partridge
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
March 2024
Message from the Board Chair, Rick Partridge
Spring is (hopefully after this storm!) right around the corner and the beginning of a time of change, growth and renewal. It’s also a time of change for Nevada County Pride and there are two important updates I am excited to share with our community.
First, in our February board annual meeting and elections, we bid farewell to three board members and welcomed three new ones. I want to express my sincere thanks to the departing members for your contributions - Jim Richards, Uli Paulin and Kara Reyes – and for their service to the community. I am also excited to add to the board: Victor Estrada-Hildebrand, Danielle Vanaman and Megan Wells. All three of them bring experience volunteering with NC Pride over the past year, as well as expertise in the areas of event planning, fund raising, marketing and communications, youth and young adult outreach and more – all skills that will be valuable to the board. Thanks for stepping forward to help us to continue to develop a deeper connection to and understanding of the needs of our local LGBTQ+ community in Nevada County.
We have 2 open positions on the board and we invite all in the community to get involved as a volunteer. We need lots of help with the events that are currently being planned for June Pride and the rest of 2024. Our board meetings are open to the public and normally occur monthly on the third Friday at 10:30 AM. We meet in the community room at the Madelyn Helling Library at the NC Rood Government Center. Please check our website calendar to confirm date, time and place.
The other news item I am very excited to announce is the return of community support groups. Over the past several months a group of community members have gathered to discuss bringing back support groups that used to exist under PFLAG back before COVID. Good news is that we launch these once a month meetings in March!
The initial plan is to have 2 consecutive monthly meetings on the third Monday of each month. Start time for first meeting for age 18+ LGBTQ+ community members is at 5:30 PM and the second meeting for parents and allies, is at 6:30 PM. The groups will be facilitated by volunteer peer community members. The meeting location is the Litton Building (Bright Futures for Youth), 200 Litton Drive, Grass Valley, in a safe and secure building. For more information, please visit Support Groups.
I hope to see you at our first potluck of the year on March 16th and other events this month. Wishing all of you a spring of renewal and growth!
Rick Partridge
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
January 2024
A Welcome to the the New Year from Board Vice-Chair Pepper
Happy New Year! As we step into 2024, it is with great enthusiasm and anticipation that I welcome you to the Year of the Wood Dragon in the Chinese horoscope—a symbol of power, nobleness, honor, luck, and success.
I am thrilled and excited to begin the exciting journey of planning a year brimming with POWERFUL events. I was also born in the Year of The Dragon, and its energy inspires me to aim for greatness that builds on our incredible 2023, and with the unwavering support of our community, I have no doubt that this year will be nothing short of fantastic!
Our past events have been a testament to the dedication and hard work of an incredible group of volunteers. We consider ourselves truly LUCKY to have such a wonderful team that has played a pivotal role in making our events immensely SUCCESSFUL. Each volunteer has contributed to the vibrancy and success of our community endeavors, and for that, we are truly grateful - we could not do what we do without you!
As we start the planning stage for 2024, we are excited to share a glimpse of what's to come. Our first Pride event of the year will be a Valentine's Day all-ages poetry night in collaboration with the Madelyn Helling Library. More details to come soon.
It is my HONOR to serve as your Vice Chair and Event Coordinator, working alongside an incredible Board, talented Volunteers and our newly formed Event committee to bring these events to life. Together, we aim to create experiences that hold true to our mission of celebrating, supporting, and advocating for the LGBTQ+ community in Western Nevada County by promoting Community, Diversity, and Respect through Events, Education, and Resources.
So, here's to a NOBLE and Fabulous New Year! We invite you to join us in making 2024 a year filled with memorable moments, meaningful connections, and the joy of giving back to this beautiful community..
If you are passionate about contributing to the success of our events and making a positive impact, we encourage you to sign up as a volunteer. We specifically need these skills: event planning and management, fundraising, marketing and communications, operations and more. We are happy to train you in these areas too! Your time and efforts are invaluable, and together, we can achieve extraordinary things.
To sign up for volunteer positions and be part of our community's journey to greatness, please visit here
To make a donation to support our work in 2024, please visit Donate — Nevada County Pride
To stay up to date with all of our community's events please watch our calendar here
Our Facebook group is a great place to stay up to date and find out about volunteer opportunities : Nevada County Pride Facebook Group
Thank you for your continued support, and let's raise a toast to a year filled with POWER, LUCK, SUCCESS, and LOVE!
🌈🌶️Pepper
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
December 2023
Grat-i-tude (noun), the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.
With deepest gratitude to all who made this incredible 2023 possible…..it truly does take a village.
Our generous donors and community business supporters
Our all-volunteer Board of Directors, with special thanks to Del Rae Phoenix and Uli Paulin who are “retiring” from the Board
Our volunteers who supported all of our events and monthly potluck hosts who welcome the community to their homes
Our local LGBT+ elected officials who ensure our community voice is represented: Nevada City Mayor Daniela Fernandez and Council Member Lou Ceci, Grass Valley Vice Mayor Hilary Hodge, and Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon.
Our many allies in public service and other community roles: Nevada County Supervisors Heidi Hall and Lisa Swarthout, and CEO Alison Lehman, GV Council Member Bob Branstrom, and so many others
The California Democratic LGBTQ Caucus who made our community the first stop on their Rural Listening Tour in May
Dr. Scott Neeley and his leadership team at Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital for the work to make rural healthcare accessible and equitable for queer and trans patients. And Del Rae Phoenix for the LGBTQ+ Rural Healthcare Needs Assessment.
Our Community Partner organizations: Color Me Human, Community Beyond Violence, Bright Futures for Youth, Citizens for Choice, Sierra Foothills AIDS Foundation, The Miners Foundry, Sierra College, The Center for Non-Profit Leadership, What’s Up Wellness, Unitarian Universalist Community of the Mountains, Unity of the Gold Country, YubaNet, The Onyx, BriarPatch, and many others.
Our many Community Event organizers….Rebecca Blanton (“Auntie Vice”), Christy Busch, Mags Yen-Chuang Matthews, Andrew Rust, Robert Rushin (“Cloaca”), Danielle Vanaman, Cari Yardley, Michelle Bancroft, and so so many others
My “kitchen cabinet” of advisors who I can consult with: Sheila Cameron, Pascale Fusshoeller, John Paul, Wendy Willoughby, Karle DeProsse, Pat Rose, and Matisse Geenty
My amazing husband, Jack, for always supporting me in the community work that feeds my passion and soul. And to the spouses/partners/families of all the others listed above, thank you for supporting them.
And all the others I am sure I forgot to include.
And since we just passed Giving Tuesday, if you are feeling gratitude for the important work that we do in the community, please consider donating here or becoming a volunteer here. We thank you for support!
I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving week that offered a time to reflect and give gratitude in between gatherings with friends and families. Happy Holidays!
Rick
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
November 2023
Fall…A time of change
Like many of you, I look forward to the fall….the cooler temperatures, wonderful start of the rainy season, and the incredible colors of the Sierra.
This fall is particularly exciting because of some changes at Nevada County Pride that I want to highlight for you.
Earlier this year, as many of you know, we started the process to become a 501c(3) tax-exempt non-profit organization. The process has been long and complex, as working with both the state and federal government often is, but we were elated to receive our approval this past week! Although there are many benefits to this the designation, one of the most important ones is that donations now made to Nevada County Pride are tax-deductible, to the extent allowed by law. Potentially, this starts us on the path to one of the long-range community goals to have a Gay Center here. You can read the other goals in my October letter below.
The other exciting change I want to mention is in the social media space. Since we launched our Instagram account in August, we now have more than 150 followers. We were delighted with the response and hope you will add us @nevadacountypride.
We have also assumed ownership of the former Facebook Group “Pride Nevada County” (that started as the PFLAG group) as Nevada County Pride. So, in addition to our website, you can also get information on events, share community announcements and connect with each other. Membership in the group is open to all gay, lesbian, bisexual, queer, and transgender persons, and allies.
This is a private group that you can submit your application at:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/825180674179154
Lastly, I want to thank the community members who reached out to learn more about our need for additional volunteers and new Board members to start in January. We still want to hear from more of you! Complete our Volunteer Application here.
You are invited to come learn more about the work we are doing at our monthly Board meetings that are open to all, and generally take place on the third Friday each at 10:30 AM. They are posted on our calendar. Board roles can be viewed at: https://www.nevadacountypride.org/board
I would be delighted to speak with you further about the Board and our plans for 2024 and beyond. Reach out to me at rick@nevadacountypride.org
Rick
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
October 2023
Nevada County Pride: Looking Back….Moving Forward
In March 2022, just as the world was starting to recover from a global pandemic, 17 members of our local LGBTQ+ community came together to have a conversation about re-inventing Nevada County Pride for a post-Covid world. Founded about 40 years ago by a group of gay men who met monthly in members’ homes for potlucks, when communication was by postcard, NCP was in need of a makeover for the 21st century.
The gathering was energizing and productive, initially leading to actions to improve collaboration and communication for events, such as a master calendar on the website that all in the community could post events. There was also agreement that doing something big for 2022 June Pride Month was important to regain the visibility lost during Covid. For a variety of reasons, there was not something big last year, but instead a variety of smaller events hosted by multiple groups. It was a busy and fun month!
Fast forward to 2023. NCP hosted the CA LGBT+ Caucus in May for the first stop on their Rural Listening Tour. One outcome was a community roundtable discussion with Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital to discuss gaps in healthcare for queer and trans patients. There have now been meetings bringing together SNMH leadership, medical practitioners, and community members. The group is using the recently concluded LGBTQIAP+ Rural Healthcare Survey to help inform the work.
Pride Month 2023 was very successful with more than 10 events hosted by various community organizers bringing in 1000+ attendees from the Nevada City Pride Flag Raising to Queer Family Picnic. But the big event was our first Pride Festival on Sunday, August 6th, with more than 650 attendees came out to enjoy a full day of fun for all ages. We appreciated all the community support!
And that brings us to the look forward and how you can help. Our all-volunteer Board recently revised and approved a new Mission Statement that better reflects the purpose of the organization: “Nevada County Pride celebrates, supports, and advocates for the LGBT+ community in Western Nevada County by promoting Community, Diversity, and Respect through Events, Education, and Resources”.
In addition, we are:
· in the process of getting our 501c(3) non-profit status and will soon launch a strategic planning process to build a roadmap for the future, including a possible Gay Community Center
· participating in Nevada County’s Equity, Inclusion, and Leadership Alliance (EILA), advancing a safe and just Nevada County through the elevation of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
· continuing to grow our partnership with Bright Futures For Youth to support Queer Youth and other local social justice organizations
· Growing the number of events that we offer to the community
Our goal is to have an organization for ALL community members regardless of identity. But, we can’t do this without volunteers and new voices from the community.
We are reaching out to you to help us continue to diversify our Board – particularly with women, BIPOC and younger folks. The Board annual meeting and elections are in January and we have multiple positions open. We are doing new board member recruiting now and would be delighted to share more information with you and answer questions about the Board roles that you can view at:
https://www.nevadacountypride.org/board
I would be delighted to speak with you further about the Board and our plans for 2024 and beyond. Reach out to me at rick@nevadacountypride.org
Rick Partridge