Happy summer and Happy pride month to all. This Saturday afternoon we are gathering locally in Greenport as we have done for the last four years to celebrate our diversity and to acknowledge now is not the time for repose when it comes to LGBTQ and healthcare issues. Let’s plan to come together, have something cold to drink, say ‘hi’ to friends and maybe even have a dance. Pride events are still for people like us – let’s keep the party going!
The first two FFF [First Friday Friends] events were a great success, in the variety of attendees and in the lively conversations had both with each other and with the unexpected friends who just happened to be at the chosen locations. You won’t be surprised to know that last month the group helped someone ‘jump start’ their unresponsive car in the parking lot. Just like that ‘new friends’ were made. The primary idea of FFF is to get together as a community, but not exclusively so. Bring your house guests, pals, your brother, or a neighbor. The more people we can talk to about our primary mission of providing health care grants to our sisters in need the better. The cash bar, periodic get togethers are from 6-7 p.m. on the first Friday of each month. The next FFF will be July 7th in Southold at A Lure, a beautiful spot on the bay in Port of Egypt. On August 4th we will convene at American Beech, Greenport’s hot spot. We plan to continue these monthly events at a variety of North Fork locations and establishments through the end of the year. If you have an idea you would like to convey or if you would like to be the manager of one of these gatherings, let us know.
If you are a Facebook friend of the ‘North Fork Women for Women Fund’ you can see some wonderful pictures of our recent events including: the tag sale, last Saturday’s SSS [Second Saturday Stroll], and the race car blue VW Beetle the girls revitalized in the parking lot of the Greenport Brewery earlier this month. Our clever e-mail blasts are now filtering through to our Facebook page and the details of our events can be gleaned from here as well. Keep in mind you can be a passive observer of our page, however we would appreciate your participation. This medium can help us with outreach to those who may need our help and also to connect with potential new members who are not inherently aware of NFWFWF. Invite your friends to ‘like’ our page. With event details and interesting articles to read the page is informative and fun. Also check our evolving web page: nfwfwf.net.
I am an advocate for supporting the businesses who support us, and there are many! Most of us are aware of the on-going generosity of Bedell Cellars. Donations of their space and wines to our events have been vital these last years. Another example of a local business that donated a beautiful basket and sheering experience to our auction last year is ‘8 Hands Farm’ in Cutchogue. They have a beautiful new patio with tables and a food truck serving breakfast and lunch. The breakfast sandwiches are so good you might even want to volunteer for the Sunday dump run so you can pick one up.
I hope to see many of you this Saturday at our Pride event. Details have been mailed, are on Facebook, and are available on our web page.
Kathleen Bresnan
NFWFWF President