Can we recreate a lively Sydney Bi community?

Howdy all,

For the last couple of years Bi-NSW (formerly Sydney Bisexual Network), and the organised Bi community in general, has been extremely "inactive". Primarily this is because the number of people stepping up to volunteer to activate, coordinate, infiltrate, and remonstrate has dropped to almost none. (Entries in the Mardi Gras Parade and the monthly pub night are about the only exceptions.)

In my formal role as treasurer of Bi-NSW and informal role as "admin person" I have maintained some of the formal group infrastructure in a holding pattern but not done much else other than turn up to the monthly pub night.

The reason for this email is that we have come to a point where something must be done to re-energise the group and/or community otherwise the administration effort isn't justified. As part of the steps to force a decision one way or the other I will be stepping down from the positions I hold both formally and informally.

A meeting is being held on 21st February as part of our monthly pub night at the Marlborough Hotel, cnr King St & Missenden Rd, Newtown. Formally this will be an AGM to sign off the 08/09 accounts but it may also be a meeting at which we decide to wind up the formal entity of Bi-NSW Inc.

It'd be great to see each of you as well as other members of the greater Bi community turn up to propose ideas for getting a "Bi scene" happening in Sydney again. As people who have made the effort of joining a Bi focused email list you're all contributing in some way to the visibility of our "non-conformist" sexuality.

If you'd like to attend, the location at the Marlborough is upstairs on Level One but keep walking past the bar, then past the pool tables until you get to an outdoor deck area. Depending on the weather the group either gathers in this outdoor area or in the small room just off to the side. (It all makes sense when you see it!) Start time is 6:30pm and then around 8pm people tend to want to head off for food.

If you can't make that meeting you may like to meet up earlier in the day during Mardi Gras Fair Day at Victoria Park. Bi-NSW won't be having a stall but I'll make a point of being near the Sydney Leather Pride stall (west, uphill, next to the Uni) from 3pm to 3:30pm if you would like to drop by and discuss ideas or raise your hand as a potential volunteer.

Of course you can also drop me a line by email to treasurer@bi-nsw.org.au and I'm pretty much always available by phone on 0416-070360.

In chats I have with people I keep referring to the example of what happened when a group of 10 - 15 enthusiastic people got together back in 2001 and proposed a dance party organised by bisexuals for bisexuals. The result was 14 Biversity parties over the next 5 years with hundreds and hundreds of people happy to be celebrating the diversity and friendliness of a newfound community.

I know that we have people around with skills and enthusiasm to make things happen again - so it's just a matter of pulling all this into an increasing spiral of activity.

How do you think this can be done?? I encourage you to voice your opinion via whichever Bi email list you receive this message on.

Mostly I hope to see you at our pub night for some lively discussion of ideas over a few drinks. Remember Sunday Feb 21st, 6:30pm, Marlborough Hotel, Newtown.

Regards,
Graham McKay, Treasurer, Bi-NSW Inc.
www.bi-nsw.org.au