September 21, 2007

Los Angeles GALA-ND/SMC Summer Party

On August 26, over two dozen ND alumni from the Los Angeles area joined at the home of John and Michael (Douglass '96) August for the annual GALA-ND/SMC Los Angeles Summer Party. Attendees represented every decade of ND alumni from the 60s through the 00s.

Thanks to Chris Senchack '72 for the photos! (Click on individual photos for a larger view)


070720_33_e1

070804_22_e1

070804_23_e1

070804_21_e1

070804_19_e1

September 17, 2007

AIDSWalk Los Angeles 2007

It is time for the Los Angeles GALA members to step up and help our community!

AIDSWalk LA 2007 will be held on Sunday, Oct 21. We ask for you to contiribute, and to participate if you can. This is our third year as a group supporting this, and we hope to enlist greater support this year!

Similar to last year, we will meet for breakfast prior to the event, complete sign-in, attend the opening ceremonies, and walk with several thousands of our closest friends to support AIDS Project Los Angeles.

Our Team Page Link for Sign-ups or Donations: click here. You'll need to scroll down to "GALA-ND/SMC" in the list.

Thanks for your support (and hopefully your participation!).

October 21, 2006

AIDS Walk Los Angeles -- GALA Team Pulls in $2125!

Six GALA-ND/SMC alumni from Los Angeles walked in the AIDS Walk Los Angeles on Sunday October 15. The GALA team took in $2125 towards the grand total of $3,768,295 earned by all walkers, ultimately benefitting AIDS Project Los Angeles and other AIDS service organizations in Los Angeles County.

On hand were Bob Ellsworth '86, Steve Blaha '86, Tom O'Brien '86, Michael Douglass August '96, Peter McManus '86, and Peter Gandolfo '96 (not pictured). Thanks to all the contributors for their support!

Awla_gala
Awla_gala_2

September 20, 2006

Join GALA-ND/SMC's team for AIDSWalkLA

SoCal GALA-ND/SMC is sponsoring a team for this year's AIDSWalkLA (Los Angeles), and WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT! The walk takes place on the morning of Saturday October 15.

We want GALA-ND/SMC to show a strong level of support for helping our community. You can choose to participate as a walker by signing up with our team and working with your family, friends and coworkers to raise as much as you can to benefit AIDS Project LA. Or, if you do not have the time to participate, we ask that you support generously. You can either support an individual walker, or support our entire GALA-ND/SMC team.

To visit the team website, click here. If you have trouble with this link, click here instead and scroll down to GALA ND-SMC in the list of "2006 Registered Teams."

Signing up is easy -- and we would love you to get involved! And don't forget to reach out to our allies, because they are the ones that will make the difference -- both for this and for all LGBT equality efforts.

Reminder: check with your employer to see if they have a contribution matching policy to double your impact!

June 25, 2006

Los Angeles Summer Brunch

It's time once again for the Los Angeles GALA-ND/SMC summer brunch and pool party. And once again John and Mike Douglass August have generously offered to host us at their home.

WHEN: Sunday, July 23, 11:00 AM- 2:00 PM

Invitations have been sent to Southern California GALA members by email. If you are from the area and did not receive an invitation (or if you will be visiting LA at that time and would like to attend), please send an email to LA-area coordinator Tom O'Brien for more detailed information.

Please RSVP so we can plan food and drinks. We look forward to seeing you!

March 20, 2004

Southern California Universal Weekend Event

The 2004 Southern California GALA-ND/SMC Universal Weekend event was a brunch hosted on March 20 at the L.A. home of Mike Douglass ('96) and his partner, John August.  Over 35 people were in attendance as old friends shared memories and new friendships formed.

Img_0543_1   Img_0547_1   Img_0545_1

March 01, 2004

BAY AREA GALA-ND/SMC MEMBERS GO ALL OUT!

On the heels of the tidal wave of joy which swept through San Francisco over Valentine’s Day Weekend, Bay Area Domers gathered just two blocks from City Hall’s “Marriage Central” to view Harry Cronin’s “DOOLEY” play at The New Conservatory Theater.

We all know about Dr. Tom Dooley who attended Notre Dame in the late 1940's. Tom went on to become a most decorated Navy lieutenant in the 1950's, a truly patriotic American, who was blackmailed by the U.S. government because McCarthyism exposed his sexual orientation. To this day, Notre Dame keeps Dooley's true identity in the closet, while celebrating his connection to the military and to Notre Dame. "DOOLEY" explores Tom's conscience and burden in dealing with his love for Notre Dame, and for his country, and for men.

Of those moved by the performance (and the playing of our “Notre Dame, Our Mother”) were Jim Gatteau ’89, good friends Dave Ellison ’81 and Kevin Paulson ’80, new members Karim Kahwaji ’01MA and Mark Massoud ‘99/’00MA, handsome gentlemen from Oakland, Tom VanDemark ’66, and Berkeley, Mike Lonergan ’68, and our region’s sage John “Fitz” Fitzgerald ’65.

The second Bay Area GALA-ND gathering of 2004 took place on Thursday evening, March 4th. The event was "Ba-Da-BINGO!" presented by the irreverent Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. March’s BINGO theme was “Big Hair” and there sure were some towering mavens. This raucous $15 charitable event has become extremely popular in San Francisco over the last 4 years. All GALA Domers who attended were rewarded with great laughter. But one, Mike Shriver ’85, walked away with more than just a smile after the final round. Our local hero won $250! Hey Mike, don’t forget about the GALA-ND/SMC Scholarship Fund!

Any Domers visiting the Bay Area this spring will want to join the 82 of us local GALA grads for FOUR upcoming events!

1. The Universal GALA-ND/SMC Champagne Brunch will be held on Sunday, March 21st, from 11am to 2pm at the home of Jim Gatteau ’89 (124 Eureka Street) in The Castro – three blocks from the giant rainbow flag monument. This will be a Spring Potluck, so please RSVP to Jim at (415) 863-6843. We’ll be gathering to meet one another, socialize, reflect, and look to the future. What a fabulous way to ring in springtime! Oh, and there’s that Green holiday then too…

2. GALA Domers return to Ba-Da-BINGO on Thursday, April 1st from 7pm to 9:30pm. The theme for April is “Game Show BINGO”. Tickets must be purchased in advance. Contact Jim for more info and to reserve a space at our Notre Dame table. We’ll meet at 6:45pm sharp at 150 Eureka Street (MCC Church of SF).

3. In April, the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus will perform “Oh, Happy Day” - a Motown/Gospel Concert – sure to move the soul. The concert dates are Saturday, April 17th at 8pm and Sunday, April 18th at 5pm. There will be a preview concert in Santa Rosa on Saturday, April 3rd and a post-view concert in Modesto on Sunday, April 25th. Our Bay Area group will “officially” attend the April 17 show together. Tickets should be purchased beforehand on www.sfgmc.org. These evenings will surely see very moving and spiritual performances, as well as historic… 150 gay men soulfully singing praise to Jesus could (and should) make national news. What a concept! Gay men and women can be Christian? Next things you know they’ll want to have children and even get married!

4. On Sunday, May 2nd Bay Area Domers will be putting on their cowboy hats and boots for an evening of two-stepping and line dancing at The Sundance Saloon. For just $5, we’ll get 90 minutes of basic dance lessons starting at 6pm. At 7:30pm, the Saloon fills up with friendly cowboys and cowgirls ready to ask you to dance! Sundance is located at 550 Barneveld just south of Potrero Hill. Meet at 6pm out front!

November 22, 2003

Sr. Jeannine Gramick Receives Tom Dooley Award

Sr. Jeannine Gramick Receives Tom Dooley Award


Click here to read the text of her remarks.

0311_award_photo

October 26, 2003

Gramick to Receive Tom Dooley Award

The Gay And Lesbian Alumni/ae of The University of Notre Dame and Saint Mary's College have announced that they will be bestowing the 2003 THOMAS A. DOOLEY AWARD on SR. JEANNINE GRAMICK.

The Dooley Award honors individuals who, through their faith based backgroud, have demonstrated personal courage, compassion and commitment to advance the human and civil rights of lesbian and gay Americans. It is named for the gay Notre Dame graduate who achieved world fame in the 1950s while helping the needy of Southeast Asia.

Sr. Jeannine Gramick is the co-founder of the Baltimore and Washington, DC chapters of DIGNITY, a national organization for Catholic lesbian and gay people. She also founded New Ways Ministry, a social justice center working for the reconciliation of lesbian/gay people and the Church.

The Thomas A. Dooley Award will be accepted by Sr. Jeannine Gramick in a ceremony at the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center. The evening will feature excerpts from a new feature documentary, IN GOOD CONSCIENCE: SISTER JEANNINE GRAMICK’S JOURNEY OF FAITH, by Emmy Award-Winning Out Of The Blue films.

Saturday, November 22, 2003 8 to 11 p.m.
L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center,
Village at Ed Gould Plaza
1125 No. McCadden Place,
Los Angeles

Individual Tickets are $50.00 and include dinner and a hosted beer and wine bar R.S.V.P. Tel (626) 794-8577

August 16, 2003

Los Angeles Summer Cookout

Greg O'Connor ('89) hosted over 30 ND alums on August 16 for an afternoon of barbeque and lounging poolside.  A perfect break for the hottest month of the year!

Img_0254Img_0255 Img_254