HRC Fun Run

The Charlotte Front Runners are going to host a fun run on the
morning of the HRC dinner again this year.  It will start at 9 AM at
the Westin on Saturday 2/25.  We will have free coffee and bagels
after the run at the Westin.

We need to determine how much food to order.  Please let me know if
you think you will run so we can get an idea on how many to expect.

We are trying to get shirts made up with the Charlotte Front Runners
logo and the HRC Fire and Ice Dinner logo.  The shirts will be short
sleeve white cotton tees.  They will probably sell for $10 each.
Please let me know if you might want one and what size.

We will also offer to screen anyone's coolmax running shirt too.
Just drop off your own running shirt and we can screen the same logo
on your shirt.  You will just need to pay the screening cost.  I
think it will be in the $2-4 range.  If you want to do this we will
probably need to have the shirts dropped off by 2/6.  Let me know if
you have any questions.

Steve
spt@...
704-277-4196

Saturday Run – Race Delays

The Run For Peace race starts Saturday morning at 8:30 and may
interfere with our regular Saturday run.  We will still meet at
Bruggers at 9:00, but you may want to give yourself some extra to
get there.  You can probably park across the street at Showmars or
Moe's.

The race starts downtown and then goes through Myers Park and
Dilworth.  Below is a description of both courses:

See you tomorrow!

Course:
10K- starting at 2nd Street, near Davidson Street, proceed south to
McDowell, right on McDowell to Morehead, left on Morehead/Queens to
the corner of Providence Rd and Queens, right on Queens/Selwyn, past
Queens College, right on Wellesley to Queens, right on Queens to
East Blvd, left on East Blvd to Dilworth Road, cross Morehead to
McDowell, to 2nd Street, left on 2nd to the finish.

5K- starting at 2nd Street, near Davidson Street, proceed south to
McDowell, right on McDowell to Morehead, left on Morehead to
Berkeley, right on Berkeley, left on Dilworth Road to Romany, right
on Romany to Myrtle, right on Myrtle to Morehead, right on Morehead
to McDowell, left on McDowell, to 2nd Street, left on 2nd to the
finish.

In this message:

1.  Christmas Eve Run
2.  January is Amnesty Month


1.  Christmas Eve Run

Our regular Saturday run is still on for Christmas Eve - Saturday
morning at 9:00 AM, Caribou Coffee/Brueggers Bagels parking lot,
breakfast afterward at BRUEGGERS BAGELS.


2.  January is Amnesty Month

OK, I know some of us have been slackers lately.  I'll admit it.  I
have missed a few runs myself, but we are about to start a new
year.  What a perfect time to renew your commitment to running.  You
know you should do it.  Its good for you and best of all, you get to
hang out with the Front Runners!  What more could you want?  Well,
I'll make it easy for you.  I am declaring January as Amnesty
Month.  That's right.  You can start running with us again.  No
questions asked.  We will pretend that we didn't notice all of those
runs you missed.  It will be just like nothing happened.  If that is
not incentive enough, it will give you a chance to show off all of
your fabulous new Christmas running outfits.

See you Saturday!

Actress Jane Lynch to deliver keynote at 2006 HRC Carolinas Dinner

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 12, 2005

CONTACT: Bert Woodard, 2006 HRC Carolinas Dinner Public Relations
Chairman, 704-332-9060

Actress Jane Lynch to deliver keynote address at 11th-Annual HRC
Carolinas Dinner on Feb. 25

Charlotte, N.C. (December 12, 2005) – Actress Jane Lynch will
deliver the keynote address at the Human Rights Campaign's 11th-
Annual Carolinas Dinner on Saturday, February 25 at the Charlotte
Convention Center.

Lynch will appear in the upcoming film, "High, Wide and Handsome,"
which was filmed in the Charlotte region. She is also known through
her role as Joyce Wishnea on the popular Showtime series, "The L
Word," which premier's its second season in February.

Lynch, who got her professional acting start at The Second City in
Chicago, has appeared in such films as "The 40 Year Old
Virgin," "Lemony Snickets," "Sleepover, Surviving Eden," "The
Californians," "A Mighty Wind," and "Best In Show." On television,
she's been a series regular on ABC's "MD'S," has had recurring roles
on "Blind Justice," "Two And A Half Men," "Arrested
Development," "Seventh Heaven," "Felicity," "Judging Amy," and "The
West Wing," and has guest starred on "Veronica Mars," "Las
Vegas," "Monk," "Dead Zone," "Boston Public," "The X
Files," "Titus," "Arli$$," "The Division," "Popular," and "The
Gilmore Girls."

"As with last year's speaker, (actor) Robert Gant, we are thrilled
to be able to welcome one of Hollywood's outstanding actors to
Charlotte for the HRC Carolinas Dinner," said Jennifer Garner, co-
chair of the 2006 HRC Carolinas Dinner. "Jane Lynch not only excels
with her acting craft, she also works tirelessly for equal rights
for all Americans. The 1,400-plus people in attendance at the 2006
dinner will be inspired by her message."

Lynch and Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese will address
the audience about their role in the fight for equal rights for
lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people and how far
LGBT people have come.

HRC hosts annual dinners throughout the country as fund-raisers to
support its many efforts to achieve the organizational mission "to
build an America where LGBT families and individuals can be open,
honest and safe at work, at home and in the community."

The Westin Charlotte will serve as host hotel during the 2006 HRC
Carolinas Dinner weekend. The Carolinas Dinner was held in
Greensboro (1996-1997) and the Raleigh-Durham area (1998-2002)
before moving to a successful two-year run at The Grandover Resort
in Greensboro in 2003 and 2004. Last year's dinner in Charlotte
attracted a record attendance of more than 1,300, earning it HRC
National Dinner of the Year distinction. This year, HRC Carolinas
officials are expecting an attendance of more than 1,400.

The Human Rights Campaign, the largest national LGBT advocacy
organization, effectively lobbies Congress, provides campaign
support to fair-minded candidates, and works to educate the public
on a wide array of topics affecting LGBT Americans, including
workplace, family, discrimination and health issues. In addition,
the HRC Foundation, an HRC-affiliated organization, engages in
extensive research and provides education and programming.

Founded in 1980, HRC currently has more than 650,000 members,
including more than 18,000 in North and South Carolina. Among the
organization's 28 regional steering committees throughout the
country, the Carolinas is the only true multi-state steering
committee and membership base. Examples of other steering committees
include Dallas, Los Angeles, Chicago and New York City.

Tickets for the 2006 HRC Carolinas Dinner are priced at $175 per
person (the price increases to $195 after Wed., Feb. 9, 2006). The
cost of the ticket also includes a one-year membership in HRC and a
subscription to the quarterly HRC magazine. Premium tables (in a
preferred location) are priced at $2,500 for 10 seats (limited
availability). The event has sold out for the past several years.

Additional information can be found on the 2006 HRC Carolinas Dinner
Website at www.hrccarolinas.org, including ticket purchases,
becoming a 2006 Carolinas Dinner Table Captain, donating a Silent
Auction item, volunteering, and learning about corporate sponsorship
opportunities,dinner program advertising and City Host pre-dinner
and post-dinner events in Charlotte.

- END -

In this message:

1.  3nd Annual Front Runners Gift Exchange – Monday 12/12
2.  Reindeer Romp 5k – Saturday 12/4
3.  Thunder Road Marathon Volunteers Needed
4.  HRC Carolinas Announces OutREACH Fellowships for 11th-Annual
Dinner Gala on Feb. 25
5.  Group run reminder


1.  3nd Annual Front Runners Gift Exchange – Monday 12/12

The Front Runners will have a Christmas Party Gift Exchange after
the regular Monday night run on 12/12.  The Party will be at the
home of Chris Davis.  It is in the condo (5A) building across from
Frankie's Italian Grill, near the Dowd YMCA.  Contact Chris at
daviscicero@... for more details.  We can pitch in and order
pizza.  Beverages will be provided.  The gift exchange will be in
the Chinese Gift Exchange (Dirty Santa) format.  You can attend the
dinner without participating in the gift exchange.  The target price
for the gift is $10-15.  These should be real gifts, not gag gifts.
Keeping with the running theme would be nice but feel free to get
anything you want.  As always, you can still come to the party even
if you don't run.


2.  Reindeer Romp 5k – Saturday 12/10 @ 10:00 am

Our next official Front Runners race will be the Reindeer Romp 5k.
For more details, go to http://www.runforyourlife.com/event/Reindeer%
2005/index05.htm.  Registration fees: $17 by 12/2, $20 by 12/9 or
$25 on race day.  Register at any Run For Your Life location or on
line at http://www.activezach.com/events/eventDetails.cfm?
pEventId=1833
We will meet before the race between 9:30 and 9:45 at the corner of
Stonewall St and McDowell.  Don't forget to wear your Front Runner
Shirt!

3.  Thunder Road Marathon Volunteers Needed

This coming Saturday, the first annual Thunder Road Marathon will be
run through the streets of Charlotte, and you can play a huge role
in helping ensure the event's success by volunteering your time at
one or more tasks. We're primarily looking for people to serve
either as Race Expo volunteers, or Course Monitors. Here's what's
involved in each task:

Race Expo: This takes place at the Adams Mark Hotel in uptown
Charlotte on Friday, Dec. 2. We have shifts available from 8am until
noon; noon until 4pm; and 4pm until 8pm. Volunteers will be helping
runners sign up, get them their information packages and t-shirts,
and so on. Volunteers will report to the Expo area at the hotel.  To
sign up for a shift, contact Bob Young at 704-333-7471 (w); 704-491-
0824 (cell) or BobY@....

Course Monitors: Monitors on the course help make sure that runners
stay on the course, and that vehicles stay off the course while
runners are passing by. Monitors need to check in at the volunteer
tent on Saturday, Dec. 3 by 7am to be assigned a spot on the course.
(Volunteer parking is at the First Baptist Church on South Davidson
between 2nd and 3rd St, at the west end of Marshall Park; volunteer
check-in is in the Education Center parking lot on the corner of 2nd
and McDowell, across from the Adams Mark). To sign up, contact Bob
Young at 704-333-7471 (w); 704-491-0824 (cell) or
BobY@....

All volunteers will receive free marathon volunteer t-shirts. Course
monitors will also receive a Chick Fil-A sandwich and a beverage.


4.  HRC Carolinas Announces OutREACH Fellowships for 11th-Annual
Dinner Gala on Feb. 25

Charlotte, N.C. (November 18, 2005) – The Human Rights Campaign's
Carolinas Dinner committee has announced the opportunity to apply
for an OutREACH Dinner Fellowship for the 11th-Annual HRC Carolinas
Dinner, which is scheduled for Saturday, February 25, 2006 at the
Charlotte Convention Center. Last year's dinner, also held at the
Charlotte Convention Center, drew a record crowd of more than 1,300
guests. Regular tickets cost $175 each but the price increases to
$195 each after Feb. 9, 2005.

"The Human Rights Campaign is committed to the involvement of a
broadly representative population that visibly reflects the
diversity of our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community of
North Carolina and South Carolina," said Jennifer Garner, Co-Chair
of the 2006 HRC Carolinas Dinner. "As a result, we created a limited
number of OutREACH Dinner Fellowships for individuals whose income
or financial resources would prevent them from being able to attend
the 11th-Annual milestone event without financial assistance."

Any current resident of North Carolina or South Carolina may apply
for an OutREACH Dinner Fellowship. The OutREACH Dinner Fellowship
allows individuals awarded a special pricing of one dinner ticket at
a rate of $87.50.  The price is 50% of the regular price of $175 for
an individual ticket. A limited number of OutREACH Dinner
Fellowships will be made available to those individuals who
demonstrate need and would otherwise not be able to attend this 11th-
Annual milestone event without financial assistance. The criteria is
based upon a completed application form as well as a commitment to
the HRC mission to build an America where LGBT families and
individuals can be open, honest and safe at work, at home and in the
community. All applicants must demonstrate need for financial
assistance.

All OutREACH Dinner Fellowship are awarded on an on-going, first-
come, first-serve basis starting on November 1, 2005 until the
limited number of awards have been exceeded.  All recipients will be
notified no later than Wednesday, February 8, 2006.  HRC Carolinas
OutREACH Dinner Fellowship Application forms may be requested by
emailing info@... or found online at
www.hrccarolinas.org under the sidebar OutREACH Dinner Fellowships.

"The OutREACH Dinner Fellowships allow us to reach another segment
of our LGBT and straight ally community, our broader family," said
Jay Biles, Co-Chair of the 2006 HRC Carolinas Dinner. "We offer this
program as one method of outreach along with our Youth Scholarship
program -- all the while we maintain the integrity of the annual
fundraiser and step forward with necessary outreach to all diverse
communities – regardless of income."

The Human Rights Campaign, the largest LGBT advocacy organization,
effectively lobbies Congress, provides campaign support to fair-
minded candidates, and works to educate the public on a wide array
of topics affecting LGBT Americans, including workplace, family,
discrimination and health issues. In addition, the HRC Foundation,
an HRC-affiliated organization, engages in extensive research and
provides education and programming.

Founded in 1980, HRC currently has more than 650,000 members,
including more than 18,000 in North and South Carolina. Among the
organization's 28 regional steering committees throughout the
country, the Carolinas is the only true multi-state steering
committee and membership base. Examples of other steering committees
include Dallas, Los Angeles, Chicago and New York.

- END -


5.
  Group run reminder

Don't forget our weekly runs:

Monday night at 6:30 PM, Dowd YMCA back porch, dinner afterward.

Saturday morning at 9:00 AM, Caribou Coffee/Brueggers Bagels parking
lot, breakfast afterward at BRUEGGERS BAGELS.

Also, if you are interested in a Thursday night run, remember the
Bloody Mary Running Club, which meets at the Dowd YMCA back porch
each Thursday, 6:30 p.m., dinner afterward. Contact Aprille at
aprille.shaffer.c568@... for more information.


Steve Thomas
spt@...