Paw Prints Spring

Transcription

Paw Prints Spring

camp oregon
bears XII
Oregon Bears, Inc.
818 SW 3rd Avenue
PMB 1153
Portland, OR 97204
beef cake
walk 2009
portland’s
sisters!
the dirty duck
turns 25
Volume 11, No. 2
SPRING
2 0 0 9
Vol. 11, No. 2
C O N T E N T S
Birthday Bears
President’s Message
Titleholders’ Pages
BearTown 14: Carnival of Bears
OR Bears at IBR
2009 Campout Committee Chili Cook Out
Beef Cake Walk
2009-2010 Oregon Bears Board of Directors
Winter Bear Party
Esther’s Pantry
Dirty Duck’s 25th Anniversary
Camp Oregon Bears XII: Bears On Patrol
Jupiter Hotel - There’s No Place Like Home
Oregon Bears Turns 14
BearTown Music Jam III
How I Trapped My Bear
Portland Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence
Tales of a Panda Cub in a Grizzly Bear World
Help Revamp the Club’s Logo
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6&8
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HEY OREGON BEARS MEMBERS!
Only a small portion of what the Oregon Bears do appear in the newsletter.
For more pictures, event info and links, membership renewals, event
registrations, membership directory and much, much more, visit
the Oregon Bears’ website at:
www.oregonbears.org
Questions, comments, praises or complaints about Paw Prints?
Send an email to: newsletter@oregonbears.org
Paw Prints, Vol. 11, No. 2
Page 1
Birthday Bears
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11 John A.
Ron James G.
Randy A.
Jeffrey H.
Marcus G.
David R.
Denny D.
David L. Jr
Fred W.
Terry R.
Edwin D.
Victor K.
Steven L.
Wallace O.
Warren Robert B.
Greg P.
Jim R.
Don H.
Aaron J.
Richard M.
John H.
Tony S.
Eric D.
Pete B.
Steve W.
J Dean D.
Enzo G.
Roger S.
KC R.
Joshua Michel W.
Joshua C.
Omar N.
Dan S.
Shane S.
Rob Z.
Bryan A.
Ron J.
Kelly Thomas R.
Hal F.
Andy Charles M.
Eugene S.
Doug James T.
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April
G Mark M.
Mack M.
Steven S.
Ryan T.
Denzel W.
Mark H.
Ralph M.
David S.
Hal H.
Robert H.
Clifford R.
Mark V.
Dave A.
Louanne F.
Dan H.
May
Dave D.
Phil H.
Michael P.
Roushdi G.
Steve K.
Jeff C.
Mark H.
Rafael G.
Leo M.
Kyle W.
Jason G.
Doug D.
Jeff P.
June
Tom C.
L.A. C.
John C.
Charlie J.
Bruce R.
Stewart Lane J.
Jim P.
Bret F.
Gary Dean B.
David S.
M Dan G.
Leland H.
Randy H.
Lar M.
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Jim G.
Jason M.
Steve B.
Jim C.
BJ C.
Jim R.
John Michael S.
Ralph S.
Dave M.
John D.
Melissa June W.
Ian F.
Robb P.
Tom T.
Roger V.
Mario D.
Dan B.
Russell P.
Karl W.
Will R.
Christian B.
Royce H.
Shane J.
Rick M.
Matthew D.
Keith M.
Michael W.
Shane M.
Dan C.
Rob D.
Daniel B.
Buckley J.
Dennis M.
J Casey M.
David A.
D Dustin P.
President’s Message
by Frank Armstrong
G
reetings Oregon Bear members. I
am humbled and honored to be reelected as President of the Oregon Bears
for 2009. I will serve my office to the best
of my abilities. The Oregon Bears have
over 470 members at this time, making
this club one of the biggest and best in the
nation. I want to thank the membership
and all the club’s volunteers for making
the Oregon Bears the great club that it is
today.
Volunteers are the backbone of the
Oregon Bears. The board members, the
committee members, and those who
commit time to help with events are all
made up of volunteers who give from the
heart to make the club run smoothly.
We are here to make the Oregon Bears
a fun experience for all. We can’t please
everyone; however, we do our best in
trying to. The Oregon Bears is not just a
club; it is a big bear family.
The members of the board and the
various committees serve to the best of
their abilities. These people take time out
of their busy lives to serve the Oregon
Bears. The time volunteers devote to
the club is all-dependent on their work
schedule, personal lives, and the curve
balls that life throws at them from time
to time. That is why the club’s newsletter
may be a little late, the website not being
totally up-to-date, or there aren’t more
new and exciting events for the club’s
member. These volunteers give to the
club from their heart and I would like
to thank them from the bottom of my
heart for the time and commitment they
devote to the Oregon Bears.
The club and its various committees
are always looking for new volunteers.
BearTown and the Campout events
are approaching quickly and these
committees could always use new blood
to help make these upcoming events
the best in the club’s history and to
continue the tradition in 2010. The Media
Committee is always looking for fresh
talent to help cover the club’s media
needs. Contact any board member to
volunteer.
Serving the Oregon Bears can be very
rewarding. A volunteer receives the
pleasure of becoming a team player,
learning new skills, creating something
exciting for the benefit of the Oregon
Bears members and the self-satisfaction
of accomplishment. A volunteer will also
have the opportunity to meet a variety of
new and wonderful people. Speaking of
volunteers, I want to give my heartfelt
thanks to Mr. Oregon Bear – Phil Hines
and Mr. Oregon Cub – Victor Seeber, for
their outstanding service as titleholders
for the Oregon Bears this past year. As
continued on page 4
Page 2
Page 3
continued from page 3
with all the club’s previous titleholders,
Phil and Victor have done the Oregon
Bears proud. Phil and Victor, the club
wishes you well on all your future
endeavors. Enjoy your step down at this
year’s BearTown.
This is the time for all you bears and
cubs to start thinking about running
for Mr. Oregon Bear or Mr. Oregon
Cub. Being a titleholder for the Oregon
Bears is an experience you will always
remember. It all starts by competing at
BearTown. You will be amazed at all the
friendly, fun people you will meet as a
standard-bearer for the club. The only
requirement to be the club’s titleholder
is being a member of the Oregon
Bears for six months. If any of you are
interested in running for Mr. Oregon
Bear or Mr. Oregon Cub, please contact
the BearTown Committee at beartown@
oregonbears.org and someone will
get you in touch with our contestant
coordinator.
BearTown 14 “Carnival of Bears” is
approaching fast. I am really excited
about this event. I know that one of
my responsibilities as President is
to promote the club and its events;
however, speaking as a plain ole bear,
this one promises to be one rip-roaring
time. I want to be able to get a hotel
room so I can be in the middle of
everything during the weekend. Thanks
to the generosity of the Jupiter Hotel and
its manager Al, we will have the whole
hotel to ourselves with lots of different
venues to have some fun and maybe get
into a little trouble.
Bears don’t usually get the opportunity
to have a whole hotel all to themselves
at a small run like BearTown. If you are
The Oregon Bears and BearTown 14: Carnival of Bears Present
An Evening
at the
Jupiter...
local and usually don’t get a hotel room
when you attend BearTown, you might
want to consider booking a room this
year. Who knows what will happen.
There are also many out-of-town Bears
already registered for BearTown. So
please take some time to check out all the
exciting activities at beartownweekend.
com, and then register for BearTown and
reserve a room at the Jupiter Hotel.
The weekend after BearTown is time for
the city’s annual Pride celebration. The
Oregon Bears will be there in full force.
The club has reserved two booths at
the Pride festival and will be marching
in the parade on Sunday. Please come
down and visit us. There will be enough
space for you to grab a chair and chat
with us for a while. It is also an excellent
opportunity to come and meet our new
Mr. Oregon Bear and Mr. Oregon Cub.
The Oregon Bears Board Members are
always accessible to everyone. Just visit
www.oregonbears.org and click on the
“Contact Us” tab and then the “Board of
Directors” link and you will see where
you can email me or any other board
members. The club’s general email
address is oregonbears@oregonbears.org.
If you are someone who doesn’t have an
email address or an internet connection,
feel free to call me at 503.493.0436 and
I will answer any questions you might
have about the club.
Date: Time: Venue:
Thursday, May 7, 2009
6:30-9:00 pm
Big Tent @ the Jupiter Hotel
800 East Burnside, Portland, OR
www.jupiterhotel.com
Come see the new host hotel and meet with BearTown
14 committee members to find out more about this year’s
exciting events and activities. Light snacks and no host
bar available. Special performance at 8 pm.
Again, I want to thank the members for
making the Oregon Bears one of the best
bear clubs in the nation. You have given
the club a nationwide reputation as
being one of the friendliest and most fun
clubs around. You all do the club proud!
Sponsored and hosted by:
Email Frank at president@oregonbears.org
Page 4
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Mr. Oregon Bear’s Column
by Phil Hines
S
o they tell
me this is
my last article
as Mr.Oregon
Bear. I just can’t
believe how fast
the year has
gone by. People
often ask me
what the best
part of being a
Titleholder is
and if it is fun
or just a lot of work. I think there are a
lot of misconceptions about the role and
I’ve been asked some pretty interesting
questions over the past nine months.
Here are a few of the questions I’ve been
asked: How much do I get paid to be Mr.
Oregon Bear? Is it a full-time or part-time
job? Do I get free drinks at the Eagle
Portland? Do I wear the sash when I’m
having sex? Does the title make it easier
for me to “get tail?”
The truth is the titleholders, along
with the board, are just a great group
of big hearted guys committed to their
community and want to give back and
help raise money for charity. We meet
once a month for a Board meeting and
through the many volunteers of the
club and various committees, we raise
thousands of dollars each year for local
GLBT charities. Some of the biggest
events are BearTown and the annual
Oregon Bears’ Holiday Show. Some other
fund raisers include the annual Oregon
Bears’ Campout, Suds ‘n’ Studs Carwash
and Celebrity Dunk Tank, the Oregon
Bears’ Calendar and the Beefcake Walk.
The truth is the titleholder’s primary
responsibility is to represent the
Oregon Bears by promoting the club
at community events for one year. The
Titleholder also serves as an honorary
board member and typically gets
involved in several committees and fund
raisers. This includes networking with
other GLBT clubs and can range from
selling raffle tickets to calling bingo
numbers for the esteemed Sisters of
Perpetual Indulgence’s monthly bingo
event.
The truth is it is what you bring to the
title and what you want from it that
defines the titleholder. For me, it has
been one of the best years of my life. I’ve
met hundreds of new people I would not
have otherwise and made new friends
all over the world.
The truth is for each moment of time
invested the return is two-fold. Not just
personally, but knowing that all the club
does is for the greater good of the GLBT
community.
The truth is I don’t get paid to be be
Mr. Oregon Bear. I do spend time every
week helping out where I can. I don’t
get free drinks anywhere. I can’t think
of anything less sexy than wearing the
sash while having sex. And friendships
are much more important to me than
“getting tail.”
So if you are tossing around the idea
of being a titleholder and have any
questions, feel free to email me at
mrorbear@oregonbears.org. I would be
happy to answer any questions you may
have. I’ve enjoyed every minute of being
a titleholder and would do it again in a
heartbeat. I would also like to say thank
you to everyone for your support over
the last year.
The truth is I’ve had the time of my life
because of each and every one of you.
Email Mr. Oregon Bear 2008 at
mrorbear@oregonbears.org
Page 6
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The Carnival Is Coming
Mr. Oregon Cub’s Column
W
hile
reading
the last issue
if Paw Prints,
I found myself
revisiting
one article in
particular;
Ben Tan’s on
“Change.” As I
look back over
the last several
months, I do
see a lot of
change. The change is not only in our
economic structure but in our
community, in the Bears and in me.
We already know the economy is
changing rapidly and because I don’t like
to talk about politics, I won’t dwell on
that topic here. Within this time period,
our lifestyles may have also changed
anywhere from slight to drastic. I just
hope we can survive this and have the
courage to ask for help when needed.
In some ways, our community is
sticking together and making changes to
pull together and keep great programs
alive. Our wallets and the amount of
disposable income may be shrinking
but we are still able to enjoy some of our
extracurricular past times.
The Oregon Bears is also changing. The
most obvious is the new board that was
recently voted in. With the new board
members, I believe we are going to see
some changes happening. The board has
some very positive people with fresh
blood to bring about some new ideas
on gatherings, fundraisers and events.
Now, when I go to the Double X Bear
dance, I see more people attending and
staying out longer, in part due to the nonsmoking laws. I also see many new faces
are you ready for the ride of your life?
by Victor Seeber
and the vibe I get from the crowd feels
really good.
by Don James A.
A
carnival is coming to town and
it promises to be the greatest
show on earth! This year, BearTown
14 “Carnival of Bears,” will set up its
Big Top at a new venue, the Jupiter
Hotel, located at 800 East Burnside.
Following BearTown tradition, the
committee is bringing back and
expanding on some of our most
popular events from the past. We’re
also introducing a couple of new ones
guaranteed to mystify and arouse
your senses.
I have also noticed a great sense of
brotherhood recently and I hope it
increases with time. I know in my heart
that as time goes by we need to adapt
ourselves, and our club, to make sure
we survive as a group. With the recent
changes, I am positive that we can do it.
The club has been a great source of support for me and as Mr. Oregon Cub I
have tried to give as much back as I have
received. This past year I have done
many things that made me grow as a
person. I have met some very interesting
people and a few of them are now my
good friends.
Our main event, known this year as
the “Feast of the Beasts” Banquet and
Mr. Oregon Bear and Cub Contest is
the highlight of the weekend and
will take place at the Red Lion Hotel
Convention Center. This event will
be packed with entertainment and a
good dose of laughter provided by
Portland’s unique celebrity, Poison
Waters, as some inspiring men take up
the challenge to represent our club.
As Cub, I was able to travel to different
cities and represent Oregon. A lot of
money was raised for many different
charities. In the process, I realized I can
do more than I give myself credit for.
It saddens me that my time as Mr.
Oregon Cub is almost over. I hope the
new titleholder gets as much, if not
more, out of the position as I have. I
want to thank everyone that has helped
me this past year. To name them all
would take up a whole column.
Back this year, at C.C. Slaughter’s,
is the wildly popular “Funhouse”
UnderBear Dance Party Friday night
featuring the funtastic tunes of DJ
JoeyCub. This year, the committee
is also excited to introduce the “TiltA-Whirl” Celebration Dance Party
on Saturday night under the Big Top
at the Jupiter Hotel. This new event
promises to be a joy ride featuring
high energy music from DJ Brad
PDX and is hosted by Portland’s own
I can’t tell you how much this past year
means to me with all the experiences
and growing I have been going through.
I highly recommend to anyone that is
thinking about running for a title or
joining a committee to go for it. It has
been rewarding to me in so many ways.
Thank you to the club and its members
for making me feel so welcome.
And I really do want world peace!
Email Mr. Oregon Cub 2008 at
mrorcub@oregonbears.org
Page 8
Foxxy Bernadette.
We have a couple of events that are
sure to soothe the savage beast in all!
The Portland music scene, one of the
best in the world, is sure to spark your
interest. Sit back and enjoy BearTown
“Acoustic Music Jam III” featuring
local and regional artists. “Cheers,
Cheese & Chocolates,” is a tasting
event that will feature our region’s
best food and drink indulgences. And
with our new non-smoking laws, the
committee has taken on the challenge
and has improved on our cigar social,
“Yogies Who Smoke Stogies.” This
is a social event to kick back, relax,
and enjoy the smooth flavors of your
favorite smokes.
For those of you who are inclined to
continued on page 11
Page 9
shed a bit of your outerwear, we have
several events just for you! Join us for
“Bears & Bubbles” Hot Tub Event at
Portland Tub and Tan and “Bath Time
For Bears” at STEAM Portland.
Back this year is the “Shed the Shirt”
Happy Hour T-shirt Exchange at
the Fox and Hound. And for those
adventurous souls looking for a “bit”
more, be sure to attend the “Blowoff”
and “Hanky-Panky After-Hours”
Parties.
Maybe you’re feeling a little lucky?
Our beloved Sisters of Perpetual
Indulgence invite you to play along as
they host “Bearded Lady Bingo” under
the Big Top. These fun and crazy but
good hearted nuns will make sure you
have a gay ol’ time.
What is a “carnival” without the weird
and strange? Join us as we explore the
underbelly of Portland’s seedy side in
the “Underground City” Tour. Also,
the “Tattoos, Mystics & Bears, Oh
My!” event at Saturday’s celebration
dance will introduce you to even more
characters who help keep Portland
WEIRD!
As the weekend comes to an end,
the BearTown 14 Committee would
like to send you off with a relaxing
Willamette River cruise through the
heart of the city. Featuring music by
local artists, the “Celebration Carnival”
Cruise & Brunch will be just what is
needed before your head back home.
But for those who stick around a bit
longer, we have one more last call
to toast the hard work of all who
participated this weekend during the
“Hugs & Tugs” Farewell Event.
Registration is now open and packages
are going fast. These packages are
full of cost saving benefits for you.
Your weekend V.I.B. (Very Important
Bear) Pass will guarantee hassle free
admission to most weekend venues
and activities. To register and see a
full list of what the weekend package
covers, go to www.beartownweekend.
com. If you do not have computer
access and need registration assistance
please call 971-678-1400.
2008 BEARTOWN 13: EVOLUTION
Photos by:
Steve L.
For more info, email
campout@oregonbears.org
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IBR 2009 - San Francisco
W
hat is IBR and what will it be like?
That was the question I kept asking
myself as Victor and I spent 16 hours
together in the car driving down to San
Francisco the second week of February.
But wait, 16 hours you ask? How
can that be? We left Portland at 7am
on February 11th expecting a 10-11
hour drive but by the time we got to
Roseburg, OR, we were seeing DMV
signs announcing the closure of I-5 near
Shasta due to a severe blizzard. So we
detoured and headed SW to Crescent
City intending to take Hwy 101 down
to SF. However, about halfway to the
freeway we saw a sign indicating the
highway was closed in both lanes due
to a car wreck!
After two of the longest hours of our
lives sitting in a cold car with hundreds
of other stranded motorists, we were
finally back on our way – right into the
middle of a blizzard and three hours of
pouring rain and snow on the infamous
twisty Hwy 101. About 11pm we
finally pulled into our hotel in SF and
registered. I was exhausted but didn’t
feel quite so bad after running into
Mr. Spain 2009 at the registration desk
and learning that his party had been
traveling non-stop from Madrid for 24
hours straight.
The next night Victor and I hosted
a contestant’s meet and greet in our
room where we met several of the other
Photos by:
Dave A. & Dan S.
contestants and learned about each
others’ clubs before heading to the first
of many, many events over the next four
days. Several fund raisers and a whole
lot of raffle tickets later, we finally met
the judges and the contest was held.
The competition was tough with some
big names in the California fund raising
community in the running.
The IBR contest differs from Portland
in that the five judges hold all the
voting power and audience input is not
considered. It is challenging because you
have four days to, hopefully, find the five
judges; meet them; and impress them
while steering your way through each
event and literally thousands of bears.
It is sort of like finding five needles in a
hay stack instead of just one.
JOIN THE MEDIA
COMMITTEE!
If you are a writer, artist, graphic designer, web
developer, programmer, or simply have great ideas we
would love to hear from you.
While neither of us brought back a formal title, I was voted Mr. Congeniality.
Joe Manetti from California, who won
Mr. International Daddy Bear, said the
nicest thing to me on our last day when
Victor and I ran into him at lunch. He
said of all the titles, he would prefer to
have the Mr. Congeniality plaque. Why?
Because this was voted on by the other
contestants who actually got to spend
five days getting to know each other.
Join this Oregon Bears sub-committee that’s fun,
creative and dedicated to making the club look real
good.
I will never forget my experience at IBR
2009 and the many new friends I made
there. Victor and I would like to thank
everyone and the club for their support.
We’ll cherish these memories forever.
Page 12
Interested? Email: media@oregonbears.org
Page 13
Campout Committee Spices Things Up!
Portland’s Only
Cultural Boutique
Hotel
2009 Annual Chili Cook Off
by Chris Almodovar
T
he Oregon Bears Campout
Committee held its annual chili
feed cook off on March 1, 2009 at the
Eagle Portland. Proceeds from this
event will go to a local charity, and it
was also the Bears’ monthly Bear Paw
Bust that is held on every first Sunday
of the month.
The over-all consensus from the
Campout Committee was this event
went over quite well with 43 people
purchasing chili feed wristbands. This
year we had five entries of different
kinds of chili, ranging from all meat
to meat and beans. One of the focuses
of the chili cook off was to see who
could make the best chili this year.
The Campout Committee decided this
year to do something quite different
from years past by acknowledging
the participant’s skills as cooks with a
trophy and an award certificate.
From the results of the chili cook off
voting, the Campout Committee was
proud to award third place to Mike G.
for his Texas Meat Chili, and second
place went to Ralph S. for his New
Mexico Mild Chili. First place went
to Steve L. for his Real Man’s Beef
Chili. Each winner received an award
certificate and a bear’s head trophy.
JUPITER
HOTEL
Photos by:
Chris A.
Official host hotel of
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Sweet, Sweet
Beef Cake!
by Don James A.
B
eef Cake Walk 2009 was a
huge success! Decked out and
barely covered in their crisp white
chef hats and aprons, six BEEFY
men from the Bear Zone Calendar
worked the crowd as they
delivered some decadent sweets
donated from various bakeries
across the Portland area.
Dave Andrews, BearTown
14 Committee Coordinator,
emceed the evening, announcing
the winners and generating
anticipation about who was
going to be the next lucky man
to eat something sweet and grab
something beefy!
Camera flashes exploded as our
Beef Cake men posed with our
guests and our cake winners. The
event far exceeded its goal and
raised $690.00 for BearTown 14 and
Our House/Esther’s Pantry.
The committee would like to send
out a special thank you to Jim,
Mark, Phil, Pat, Daniel, and Shane
for graciously allowing us to ogle
them; and to Hal and KC for taking
pictures; and to Corey and Bennie
for working the door.
And we must not forget all those
amazing cakes from the following
bakeries: Pix Patisserie, Beaverton
Bakery, Helen Bernhard Bakery,
Papa Haydn East, Piece of Cake,
Roses’s Deli, Saint Cupcake, Claim
Jumper, The Dessert Tray, The
Bakeries of Safeway Foods, Marsee
French Bakery, The Bakeries
of QFC, Grand Central Baking
Company and Costco.
Thanks to their generosity, a sweet
time was had by all!
Page 16
Photos by:
Bennie T.
Page 17
Brad Sutherland ~ Assets Secretary
Meet The 2009-2010 Oregon Bears
I have been a member for three years going on four in
June. I filled a board vacancy in December 2008 and was
elected as Assets Secretary. I am currently on the Campout
Committee for Camp Oregon Bears XII. Projects that I am
working on are redesigning the club’s membership form,
Club History and Document Archival scanning.
Board Of Directors
Ralph Sova ~ Club Historian
Frank Armstrong ~ President
I have been a member of the Oregon Bears for 10 years. My
service during this time includes nine years on the Campout
Committee, four years on the BearTown Committee, two
years as Treasurer for the Oregon Bears and am now
serving my second year as President. I view the Oregon
Bears as a big bear family rather than just a club.
I have been a member of the Oregon Bears for a year in
April. My partner, Gil, and I joined at a Beer Bust around
my birthday. I was recently elected as Club Historian. I
also serve on the Media Committee and have served on the
Campout Committee and the Bylaws Committee. I’ve been
involved with the Bears since the 90s and was one of the
founding members of the Kansas City Cave Bears.
Steve Leaming ~ Treasurer
Tyler Weise ~ Member-at-Large
I am honored to serve as an elected board member.
I’ve learned a great deal about the club and met many
wonderful members. As a younger board member, I would
like to extend a hello to all cubs out there that may have
been uninterested or even felt unwelcome. I’m open for
comments and suggestions via email or stop by the Eagle
Portland, where I work on the weekends and say “Hi.”
I have been a member of the Oregon Bears since 1996 and
served on the board twice for a total of six years. I was
Treasurer from 1998-2000 and 2008-2009. I have also served
as Assets Secretary and chairman of the Bylaws Committee.
I started Camp Oregon Bears with Earl Case Jr. in 1997, and
have chaired or served on the Campout Committee every
year. The bears are a BIG part of my life.
Phil Hines – Member-at-Large
Mike Buliavac ~ Administrative Secretary
I have been a member of the club since it began. I served on
the board back in 2000-2001. I was also graced with being
elected as Mr. Oregon Bear in 2000. I have volunteered on
several committees in the past such as Campout, BearTown,
and Beards and Roses, the older version of BearTown. I am
honored and proud to be a part of such a great club.
As Mr. Oregon Bear 2008, I have served on the board since
June 2008 as an ex-officio board member. My community
service activities include representing the club at numerous
events, helping raise money for a various charities, and
networking with other clubs in the GLBT community to
represent the club and foster good will.
Mark Armstrong ~ Membership Secretary
Kurt Hunter ~ Member-at-Large
I have been a member of the Oregon Bears since 1998
after moving here from Colorado. I served on the board
from 1999 to 2005, and rejoined the board this year. I am
currently serving as Membership Secretary. Currently, I
have been working hard on verifying membership files and
information. I served as co-chair of the 2008 Community
Holiday Show committee and will again for 2009.
I have been a member of the Oregon Bears since the late
90s, and am mostly behind-the-scenes involved in health
activism projects for members. I hope to represent a more
diverse and younger bear crowd and have more events
at a variety of different venues with more modern music,
themes and activities. Feel free to email me at hunterpdx@
yahoo.com with your ideas!
Page 18
Page 19
Bears Heat Up C.C.’s!
Winter Bear Union Suit & Long Johns Party
by Dave Andrews
B
ears, long johns. and union
suits... it may have been cold
outside but baby, it was HOT
inside! Thanks to all you Oregon
Bears, the “WinterBear” party at
CC Slaughters in January was a
big success!
With DJ Alex Hollywood playing
hot tunes, and the bears getting
sweaty on the dance floor, it was
easy to forget it was winter outside!
Mr. Oregon Cub 2008 Victor and
Mr. Oregon Cub 2005 Rob (with
some help from Mr. Oregon Bear
and Cub 2006 Steve & Charles)
sold raffle tickets for fun prizes
such as the 2009 BearZone
Calendar, and gift certificates for
two great gay-owned restaurants,
West Cafe and Cadillac Cafe. The
bears’ generosity shined through,
and with the door receipts and
raffle ticket sales, we raised over
$1000 for BearTown 14! Proceeds
from this year’s BearTown will go
to Esther’s Pantry/Our House.
Thank you everyone!
When I was planning this party,
I was concerned about everyone
finding a union suit. As I shopped
around for my own, I found that
they seemed to be in short supply
in Portland for some reason, and
even one of the major surplus
stores didn’t have “red” ones.
Well, come the night of the party,
my concerns were completely
erased. The bears (and some of
the bartenders) came out in full
force with sexy red union suits,
as well as some hot long johns
and thermals! I even talked to
some guys who bought a white
one, and dyed it red themselves!
Way to contribute! Even resident
CC Slaughters Diva Bolivia
Carmichaels showed up in a
slinky, sexy red outfit!
It appeared everyone had a hot,
fun time. Thanks to all the bears,
friends and admirers who came
out to support this event! We hope
to see you all at BearTown 14:
Carnival of Bears June 4-7! Check
it out at:
www.beartownweekend.com.
Page 20
Photos by:
Dave A. & Bennie T.
Page 21
Esther’s Pantry
BearTown 14’s Beneficiary
by Steve Leaming
T
he Beartown committee is proud
to announce that Esther’s Pantry
has been chosen as the charity for
BearTown 14.
i see In
your future...
you having fun
volunteering at BearTown!
A carnival cannot function without
some good help from carnies.
This “Carnival of Bears” is in need of
volunteer Carnies to help make sure all
rides run smoothly and on time. As a
volunteer Carny you’re sure to enjoy in
the brotherhood and camaraderie of the
bears and their kinfolk. You’ll also help
raise money for a couple of good causes.
So become a volunteer. The crystal ball
shows you will be greatly rewarded...
For more info on events and how to
become a volunteer Carny, email:
beartown@oregonbears.org.
Page 22
Esther’s Pantry provides food and
personal care items to people in need
who are living with HIV/AIDS. This
vital community program has served
thousands of people over the last
25 years including many in the bear
community. Currently, Esther’s Pantry
serves about 220 clients each month.
Esther’s Pantry is a program of Our
House.
Esther’s relies in large part on
donations from the community for its
clients. Donations of non-perishable
food and personal care items can be
made at the following collection
centers: Our House, Cascade Aids
Project, Men’s Wellness Center, Q
Center, Starky’s, Just Out, and Fox &
Hounds.
In addition, cash donation can be
made through Our House or through
the Oregon Bears. Each year the
Oregon Bears holds several fund
raisers where the proceeds are donated
to Esther’s Pantry. In 2008, the Oregon
Bears donated over $3400.00 to Our
House. The money was specifically
directed for the operations of Esther’s
Pantry and Tod’s Corner.
Esther’s Pantry was founded in
1985 to provide food and personal
care items to financially challenged
Chester “Esther” Brinker
individuals living with HIV/AIDS.
The pantry was named in memory
of Chester “Esther” Brinker, one of
the first people in Portland to die of
complications from AIDS.
Esther’s Pantry is open every Tuesday
and Thursday from 2:30pm to 6:30pm
to serve clients. It is located at 3315
SE Harrison, Suite A in Milwaukie.
The space is generously donated by
Providence Health System.
To learn more about Our House and
Esther’s Pantry, please visit www.
ourhouseofportland.org. For additional
information regarding Esther’s Pantry’s
services and donations, please contact
Donald at 503-349-4699.
Page 23
Bears Go Big for Dirty
Duck’s 25th Anniversary!
successor, the Oregon Bears, founded
in November 1995, called the Duck
its home bar until 2007.
by Andy Mangels
T
he Oregon Bears were a big
part of the celebration on the
weekend of March 13-15, 2009 when
Gail Kennedy’s Dirty Duck Tavern
celebrated it’s 25th Anniversary.
The Bears sponsored the “Blast from
the Past Bear Bust” on Friday night,
and President Frank presented Gail
with a special Lifetime Membership
Award. Many scrapbooks of photos
were on display, as well as a multipanel foldout display from the
Oregon Leather History Project and a
display case of Dirty Duck history.
For bears not “in the know,”
although the Dirty Duck opened
to the gay community in January
1984, Kennedy is actually the
third generation gay bar owner in
Portland. Her grandmother Erma
Anderson co-owned a bar named
Dinty Moore’s in the early 1950s,
employing her daughter, Margaret
“Mama” Bernice, who in turn,
sometimes brought her own toddler
daughter, Gail, in to work with
her. “My earliest memory of going
there is being 3 or 4 in the 1950s,
and visiting grandma there,” says
Kennedy. She wasn’t allowed in
the bar, but in those simpler and
safer times, she would stand or play
outside, and the gay clientele would
give her nickels and quarters.
Mama Bernice continued to work
at Dinty Moore’s until it closed,
Having recently been told that
their lease is safe for several years,
Kennedy has applied for a full liquor
license, and the Dirty Duck is now
open 3 pm-midnight on weekdays
and 3 pm-2 am on weekends,
with current staffers James, Steve,
Don, and Gail pulling taps, and a
historical display case set up on one
wall to spotlight the past. Kennedy
says, “Most people don’t have a
- Andy Mangels is a best-selling author
and DVD documentary producer. He also
maintains and runs the Oregon Leather History
Project. Visit www.andymangels.com and
www.oregonleatherhistory.org
then had a gay bar opened in her
honor: Mama Bernice’s, from 19641968. She then worked at another
gay bar named The Other Inn, until
its closing in 1982. Bernice called
the leather people she welcomed
in her “bluebirds.” In 1984, when
Gail opened the Dirty Duck for
her mother to work at, they both
welcomed the gay community in.
“Mama said that all of her bluebirds
had been so bad that they turned
into dirty ducks,” laughs Kennedy.
Over the past 25 years, the Dirty
Duck has been home to events
from various leather and fetish
organizations, motorcycle clubs,
sports groups, the Imperial
Sovereign Rose Court, and more.
The Cascade Bears, founded in 1992,
made the bar their home, and its
Photos by:
Andy Mangels
& Bennie T.
history like I have. I grew up in the
community. It’s part of my roots.
Some of my best memories are of the
gay community, because they were
so good and kind to us.” She adds
that, “I want the Dirty Duck to be
everybody’s bar. It’s not just my bar.
And thank you for allowing us to be
there.”
Page 24
Page 25
Bears On Patrol
Camp Oregon Bears XII
by Pat R.
C
amp Oregon Bears XII will be
held from August 27 – 30, 2009 at
Milo McIver State Park near Estacada,
Oregon. This year’s theme is “Bears on
Patrol”.
We are planning a military themed area
featuring a 20 ft. x 20 ft. command tent
and camouflage netting for privacy. This
tent will be available for photos and
other extra-curricular activities.
There are two main camping areas with
each having enough tent space for 50
campers. There will also be 10 RV sites
with electricity and water for those with
special requirements or if they just want
more comforts of home.
Area One will also serve as the cooking
and dining area; breakfast and dinner
Camp Oregon
Bears 2008
will be provided to the campers. This
year the t-shirt will be included in lieu of
the usual merchandise package.
Registration forms will be available after
the April 1st. There are several options
available to fit everyone, from single
campers to buddy bundles to RVers.
There will also be special price breaks
so the earlier you sign up, the more you
save. The first tier pricing begins in April
and run through Beartown in early June.
Second tier is from June through July
and third tier is from July through the
Campout. The cutoff is August 23rd, the
Sunday before campout.
For more information, please email
campout@oregonbears.org.
Photos by:
Pat R. & Bennie T.
There’s No Place Like Home!
F
or most of us participating in
Beartown 14, home for that
weekend will be at our new digs, the
Jupiter Hotel on East Burnside. There
was really nothing wrong with the
Red Lion but change is good, right?
We really don’t know how lucky
we are to have an establishment
like the Jupiter right here in our
own backyard. I have traveled all
over this country staying at a lot of
great (and some not so great) hotels.
This place puts the groove back in
groovy!
For those who haven’t had a chance
to spend some time there, you are in
for a real treat. Upon entering the
courtyard you immediately get the
feel like you have stepped back in
time to the Rat Pack era or one of
those great motor lodges along
Route 66. It is literally a hip oasis set
in an urban center. How cool is that?
If you don’t believe that this two
story, once faded motor lodge is
not going to deliver, rest assured,
it will… and then some! This hotel
has all the amenities of any big
hotel with comfortable rooms in
three different styles, all with cool
decor and little touches that set it
apart from other places. Some of
the amenities include flat screen
TVs, murals in many of the rooms,
modern furniture, iPod clock radios,
and much, much more. Parking is
available under the hotel and in a
small lot on the side. All this plus the
by Steve Worth
much acclaimed Doug Fir restaurant
is right there on the hotel’s premises!
This restaurant and bar serves really
great food for breakfast, lunch,
dinner, and a late night bar menu.
Another great thing about the Juipter
is we will be able to use many of
its event spaces for BearTown.
The Dream Box, which will be our
Hospitality Suite, has all bamboo
flooring and covered windows
looking out onto Burnside. There
will be light snacks and refreshments
available there for most of the
weekend and we will also be using
it for this year’s wine tasting event,
Cheers, Cheese & Chocolates.
The Think Tank is where we will set
Page 26
Page 27
The Oregon Bears Turns 14!
up registration. You’ll also be able
to take a look at this year’s auction
items there. The Big Tent located in
the Jupiter’s courtyard is going to
be the venue for many of Saturday’s
events, such as the “Bearded Lady
Sisters Bingo” and the “Tilt-A-Whirl”
celebration dance held that evening.
This space is great as it has beautiful
chandeliers and a huge staging area
for the Sisters and DJs.
Overall, we think everyone will
really enjoy their stay there. We
have been working closely with
the hotel manager and he has bent
over backwards to accommodate us
and our group’s needs. We will be
taking over the whole hotel for the
weekend. It will be our own private
bear town for those 4 days!
Just so you can get as excited as
we are, the BearTown commitee is
hosting meet and greet cocktail social
called An Evening At The Jupiter
on May 7, 2008 from 6:30-9pm. This
special event is open to anyone who
wants to come and check the hotel
out and maybe register for BearTown
while they are there. Or you can
just come and socialize with the
BearTown Committee members! We
can answer any questions you might
have about the BearTown 14. We
will also be looking for volunteers
to help us out for some of the events
during the run.
So mark your calendars for May 7th
from 6:30-9pm. We hope to see you
all there. Together, let’s make this
year’s BearTown the best ever!
by Steve Leaming and Bennie Tan
T
he Oregon Bears celebrated their
14th anniversary on March 21,
2009 with a special Bear Bust at the
Eagle Portland. It was attended by
approximately 75 members and their
friends. The club provided food and
cake was also served.
The Oregon Bears was founded in
November of 1995 by RB Hiatt and
12 other members who had banded
together after the breakup of the
Cascade Bears a year earlier. The
original Bear Busts were held monthly
on Sunday afternoons at the Dirty
Duck. The first Mr. Oregon Bear
contest and Beards & Roses (now
BearTown) was held later that year.
The club was started as a social and
networking club where like-minded
folk could get together and have a
good time. The mission of the club
had always been to keep things fun,
accessible, and to give as much as it
can back to local GLBT charities.
Over the years, through fund raising
events such as BearTown and Camp
Oregon Bears, the club has raised
and donated thousands of dollars to
deserving charities such as Esther’s
Pantry, Ecumenical Ministries’ HIV
Day Center, and SMYRC.
In 14 years, the club has grown in
size to over 470 members with a
membership from all over the country.
It is now one of the largest bear clubs
in the nation.
Photos by:
Steve L.
& Bennie T.
Be a part of
Are you a writer or a copy editor? Do you have a story
to share? Do you have photos from an Oregon Bears’
event you want other members to enjoy?
If you answered yes, please email
newsletter@oregonbears.org.
We need people like you to keep Paw Prints
fresh and exciting!
Page 28
Page 29
Jamming With The Bears
Deschutes Brewing’s BearTown Music Jam III
I
by Don James A.
n its third
year, the
BearTown Music
Jam event has
been recognized
by BearTown
guests as one the
highlights of the
entire four day
weekend. This
event showcases
some of the
Northwest’s best
music talents. These singers and
songwriters have come together to
help the Oregon Bears raise funds
to support our event’s charity, Our
House/Esther’s Pantry.
This year’s Music Jam will take
place at the Jupiter Hotel Main
Stage located at 800 East Burnside
beginning at 1:00pm. A donation of
5 cans of non perishable food items
or $5.00 will be collected at the
door for Esther’s Pantry. However,
if you are a BearTown registrant,
your V.I.B. (Very Important Bear)
pass will get you into the event at
no charge.
The 2009 Music Jam’s lineup of
artists will perform originals
and covers from different genres
including Americana, Folk Rock,
Roots Music, Rock, Pop, Country,
Blues and Bluegrass. Please note
that the line-up is subject to change
and updates can be found at www.
beartownweekend.com. The
following is a tentative lineup and
the type of music they play.
Reina Collins Trio, Americana/
Folk Rock/Roots Music; Paula
Sinclair, Acoustic/Roots Music/
Country; Hal Gerard, Acoustic/
Rock/Pop; Lisa Mann, Blues/
Rock/Pop; Renee Plant, Folk/Rock;
and Mikey Budd & Graham Short,
Country/Pop/Alternative. Several
other musicians will be announced
on May 1, 2009.
Prior to the Music Jam’s kick off
at 1:00 pm, the Portland Sisters
of Perpetual Indulgence will be
hosting “Bearded Lady Bingo”
beginning at 10:30am. So come in
early to take a chance at a game of
bingo and then sit back, relax, and
listen to the artistry presented by
BearTown Music Jam III. For more
information and updates, please
visit www.beartownweekend.com.
Don’t miss the ride of
your life! Register for
BearTown 14 at www.
beartownweekend.com.
Page 30
How I Trapped My Bear
2
by Mitch Deighan
008 was both the end of an era and
the beginning of a new one for
me. Mike, my beloved partner of 31
years, passed away in my arms back in
Philadelphia, and a few months later I
fell head-over-heels in love again with
Mikey, here in Portland.
I didn’t realize a new door was
opening when, out of the blue, a
wonderfully appealing bear named
Mikey sent me a nice “hello” via
the BiggerCity website in the final
weeks of 2007. So we traded greetings
back and forth. All the while I was
rendezvousing with my buddy Jim
at the Great American Diner as he
searched the nation for his bear after
losing his beloved partner, Craig,
the year before. Eventually, Jim met
Polar Bear Rod at Chub Fest in Palm
Springs. It may have been love at first
sight for them.
Rod was at Chub Fest with his fireplug
of a buddy named Mikey. I thought to
myself, “Mikey? I just got a note from
a guy named Mikey.” That’s when Jim
told me that Mikey and Rod had been
close buddies for years. “Hmmmmm,”
I thought to myself. I think it was at
that moment that the wheels started
turning.
I met Mikey for the first time at Billy
Bear’s place in South Philadelphia
during his annual family visit. I have
been close buds with Billy for years
- and so was Mikey. But it was just
Mikey and I, watching “Bear Tales”
on Billy Bear’s spiffy television set.
Then we talked for hours. Safe to say,
we noticed some mighty appealing
chemistry. At that point all I was
Mitch (left) and Mikey share a tender moment.
thinking was that it was fun being
with this fella. But Mikey texted me
and said it felt good walking by my
side. I felt an undeniable tug on my
heart strings and that’s when I texted
Rod, “Something is happening here,
bro.”
Mikey flew back to Portland, while
Rod and Jim drove across the
country’s Northern tier on their way
to make their new life together in
Portland. They called to tell me they
had arrived safely, just minutes after
the bad news. The doctors weren’t able
to revive my partner Mike. He had
succumbed to a bug thought to have
been eradicated many years before.
That was when the texting and
Page 31
emailing began. “Come to Portland!”
my friends implored, day and night,
hoping I would turn towards a
new day. I kept promising I’d get it
together. “Don’t worry guys, I’ll be
there,” I told them. Portland sure
sounded good but one day in early
July I told them it would be some
time before I could consider the trip.
Basically, I was starting to stumble.
“Mitch, what are you DOING?” my
friends yelled. Within an hour, a flight
was booked compliments of Jim’s
frequent flyer miles. I’ll never forget
seeing those three burly bears waiting
for me at the Portland International
Airport! We all traded hugs and then
drove to a big truck stop for burgers.
It felt wonderful being with these
great guys again in the Great Pacific
Northwest, which I had always dreamt
of. Tears are coming to my eyes as I
recall here the feeling of starting life
anew.
Those who know Mikey well might
not be surprised to hear he was taking
photos as I was falling in love. We
posted ‘em on BiggerCity. I can see
the look of love in my eyes in those
photos. He managed to capture the
magic of the moment. But due to a
sudden family tragedy, Mikey was
back on the east coast for most of my
first trip to the west coast. Instead of
hugging, we were texting again but
we shared that one tiny window of
opportunity at Mikey’s place, and that
was when I fell like a ton of bricks for
my dream bear!
I booked my second round trip
between Philly and Portland to
coincide with the monthly Double X
Dance at C.C. Slaughters. The first time
I was at the dance, Mikey was in South
Jersey. Fast forward a couple months
and he pulled me out onto the dance
floor for the first time in decades. I
was sweating bullets but was saying to
myself, “You’re not gonna let this bear
down!” Mikey really wanted to dance
but I hadn’t danced since high school.
Besides, my high school dances were
a totally different format. We had our
shirts tucked into the back of our belts
as we slowly found the groove, but
C.C.’s was exploding with excitement
all around!
I had a great time at the Double X
Dance that night, setting the stage for
a series of super days, including Flint’s
awesome birthday party. I found
myself surrounded by naked bears in
the hot tub while Mikey was inside,
blasting away on Guitar Hero. The
way things played out, that night was
a test of our strength and resilience.
All the while, Mikey’s resistance was
breaking down, bit by bit.
For the next few days I followed my
heart without hesitation, like hugging
Mikey as we made our way through
the deli section at WinCo. Gradually
the look of love began glowing in
Mikey’s eyes, and on September 28th,
as we were hugging and kissing in Rod
& Jim’s garage, he was hit full force by
the same tidal wave I had been surfing
on for two months. Starry-eyed, he
told me I had found my way into his
heart, and from that day onwards
everything has been different!!
And that was how I trapped my bear.
- Mitch Deighan is the winner of the “How I
Trapped My Bear” story writing contest. He
won a $40 gift certificate to Starky’s. Congrats!
Page 32
by Sister Dixie Rupts
T
he Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence
celebrated their thirtieth anniversary
on Easter weekend 2009. In the three
decades since the Sisters’ inception,
Orders have been established across
the United States and in nine other
countries. The mission of The Sisters is
to promulgate universal joy and expiate
stigmatic guilt and a dedication to
supporting, educating, developing, and
celebrating the GLBT community.
Locally, The Portland Sisters of Perpetual
Indulgence, “The Order of Benevolent
Bliss,” has been working with the GLBT
community for nearly four years. The
Sisters have dedicated themselves to
service of the community and working to
aid a variety of charitable organizations
including Our House, Sexual Assault
Resource Center, CAP, & Red Dress
PDX. Their tireless efforts at many
events include everything from simply
promulgating joy to fundraising and
even crowd management.
In addition to assisting charitable
organizations, The Portland Sisters
also work to educate the community
on practicing safer sex. Frequently,
you will see The Sisters out and about
distributing Bliss Kits that contain lube,
condoms, and information on safer
sex practices. An important element of
practicing safer sex is knowing your
status. In recent months, The Sisters have
been working diligently in conjunction
with the Multnomah County Health
Department to provide free monthly
HIV testing.
While this is certainly enough to keep
The Sisters busy, the fun and work don’t
stop there. The Sisters also organize their
own fundraising and service oriented
events such as a recent bingo game for
the residents of Our House.
The Sisters have also established a grant
fund to periodically award grants to
charitable organizations. Their primary
fundraising event is Sisters Bingo
conducted monthly at the PPAA Hall
on 618 SE Alder Street. If you think
that bingo is boring, The Sisters have
news for you; the bingo produced by
these entertaining nuns is nothing like
your grandma’s bingo. On May 16th,
get out your camouflage and prepare to
be recruited by Sister Mona’s Big Gay
Army, a benefit for the Sexual Minority
Youth Resource Center (SMRYC).
June is lining up to be another busy
month for The Sisters with BearTown
14 and Gay Pride. These engaging nuns
will be actively participating in Beartown
14 by bringing the carnival to you with
Bearded Lady Bingo with the Sisters on
Saturday, June 6th at the Jupiter Hotel.
Just remember that calling an incorrect
bingo means you will have to face the
infamous Wheel of Torture!
The Portland Sisters of Perpetual
Indulgence are proud to be of service
to their community. This order of 21st
century nuns greatly appreciates all
of the support given to them by the
community.
www.portlandsisters.net
Page 33
Sordid Tales of a Panda Cub
Living in a Grizzly Bear World
Life Is A Carnival, Old Chum!
by Bennie Tan
W
hen you really think about it,
life really is a carnival. What I’m
trying to say is like a carnival, the Bear
community is made up of individuals
with all sorts of different physical
and personality traits from the more
predictable such as the Muscle Man to
the slightly more exotic Bearded Lady.
But we all banded together because
we were somehow different when
compared to the gay masses. The Bear
counter culture started as a response to
how the “regular” gay men of the day
were discriminating against other gay
men who did not fit into any of their
neat little categories.
We were not the norm at the time.
Those of us lucky enough to have
facial or body hair did not shave or
“manscape.” We didn’t care if we were
a few pounds heavier or a few years
older. It didn’t matter that we didn’t
wear the latest pair of $300 jeans or
designer shirts that cost a fortune. We
were never perpetually on some kind
of diet. We were simply comfortable in
our own skin.
To these “regular” gay men, we
were considered “freaks.” So we
were shunned and ostracized.
Worse, sometimes we were pointed
at and ridiculed like real freaks in
a Side Show. Then a group of us
came together and started the Bear
community.
However, a
disturbing
trend has
begun to
emerge
within the
Bear
community.
As the Bear
Culture
continues
to grow
and gain
in popularity, it seems some of
the individuals who were being
discriminated are now doing the
discriminating. In our community,
some Bears have been excluding men
who do not fit their idea of what an
ideal “Bear” is. Cliques are forming
where Bears with certain traits,
physical or otherwise, are shunning
other Bears.
I’ve observed this happening most
often between older Bears and
younger Bears. And I must admit
that I myself have been victim of this
discrimination. It doesn’t happen very
often in Portland but it has happened
before.
I do realize sometimes I stick out like
a sore thumb in a room full of white,
bigger, hairy men. But that is no reason
for you to turn away if I try to talk to
you or roll your eyes at me when I
smile at you. Don’t assume you’re
I understand the need to look the part
in order to play the part but like a very
wise bear once told me, “Being a bear
is really more of a state of mind.”
Anyway, at this point, I think I’m
already a Bear simply by osmosis!
I am not on a personal tirade here. It’s
not just about me. I think this trend
of discriminating against our own
within the Bear community can be
very damaging if allowed to continue
unchecked.
I was a huge proponent of the
“Carnival of Bears” theme when it was
time to choose one for BearTown 14.
There were many reasons why. Yes,
the theme is fun. It appeals on many
levels. It is colorful and harks back to
the days of our childhood. Above all,
I was very excited about the implied
message that the Bear community is
like one big carnival.
We are all different and unique.
Collectively we are called Bears but
like a carnival, our community is filled
with all sorts of characters. There
are Bears, Cubs, Admirers, Chubs,
Chasers, Otters, Wolves, Polar Bears,
Musclebears, Daddy Bears, Leather
Bears, Pocket Bears/Cubs, Pigs, Panda
Bears/Cubs, Puppies, FTMs, MTFs,
Goldilocks, and yes, even Bearded
Ladies.
So while our community is very
being hit on just because I approach
you. Often times, I may just be trying
to promote Bear events or if you don’t
look familiar, I may be rying to make
you feel welcome in our community.
Page 34
diverse and we all wear different
labels, as in any good, successful
carnival, we must band together and
get along to work towards a common
goal. We must stand united in order to
function. Think about it--a carnival is
really just one big family.
Try to imagine a carnival where no
one got along. Shows would not go on.
Rides would not run. Animals would
get neglected. The kids would not get
their popcorn for heaven’s sake!
I realize I may be overly idealistic
and this article may even sound a bit
preachy but it does come from the
heart.
Think back to the reason why you
became part of the Bear community in
the first place. Was it because you were
different from others? Were you being
discriminated? How did that make
you feel?
So the next time you are about to shun
someone because they don’t fit your
ideals, why not give them a chance?
Rather than letting the differences
become something to be wary of, I say
we should embrace and celebrate the
diversity in our community.
When we look past our differences
and scratch a little harder beneath
the surface, you’ll realize we are all
essentially the same . We are all part
of this community I consider a Bear
family.
Do you have any questions,
opinions, suggestions, rants, or
raves for Bennie? Email him at:
pandaexpress@oregonbears.org
Page 35
Help Revamp The Club’s Logo
PAW PRINTS
SPRING 2009, Vol. 11, No. 2
PawPrints is a quarterly publication of the Oregon Bears,
Inc. It is published by the Media Committee. Media Chair
& Webmaster: Dave M. Newsletter editor: Bennie T.
Contributors: Frank A., Victor S., Phil H., Steve L., Don
A., Dave A., Steve W, Dan S., Chris A., Pat R., Mark A.,
Mitch D.
Special thanks to Mikey Pfenning for designing this
issue’s cover, and to Andy Mangels and Sister Dixie
Rupts of the Order of Benevolent Bliss.
All media submissions of any kind become the
property of the Oregon Bears, Inc. to use, in whole or in
part, in the newsletter, website and other media.
All content, logos, images & intellectual property are
copyright of Oregon Bears, Inc. © 2009 All rights
reserved.
F
or the past 14 years the Oregon Bears have maintained the original logo
as part of our club’s heritage. For some time now, we have recognized
that our logo is difficult to reproduce in various media formats including
electronic, print, and silk screen. That is why the board would like to clean
up our logo.
We are not trying to change the logo but to simply make it more media
friendly. The board would like to invite members who are involved in
graphic arts to assist us with this project. The following is what the board
requests:
• The logo will remain in its current layout with the bear, the Oregon
state outline, and the club name in the same location.
• We would like an updated rendition of the bear, which includes the
bear’s paw extending out of the state outline. According to the club’s
founders, the extended bear paw is symbolic of the Oregon Bears’
willingness to reach out to bears from outside of Oregon.
• We would like to keep the lettering around the state outline in the
same location, but updated to a more modern font.
Please note that all submitted works become the property of the Oregon
Bears and that all rights and ownership will be maintained solely by the
Oregon Bears, Inc.
If you are interested, please submit your work by May 23, 2008 for
consideration.
Please email a high resolution electronic file of your work (PDF, TIFF or
JPEG) to the board at president@oregonbears.org.
Page 36
ADDRESS CHANGE
The Oregon Bears is not responsible for ideas and views
expressed by contributors or advertisers.
ADVERTISE IN
PAW PRINTS!
The Oregon Bears Accepts
Advertising!
Reach one of the largest Bear
Clubs in the nation through
the Paw Prints newsletter.
Display Advertising rates
per issue:
Full page: $75
1/2 Page: $50
1/4 Page: $25
Classified advertising rates
per issue:
40 word ad: $40
20 word ad: $20
Discounted Annual Contracts
Available.
Name and Member #
Street Address
City, State, Zip
Email
Website
Please circle appropriate answer below.
Best way to contact you?
[phone]
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How do you prefer to receive
Paw Prints?
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Membership Directory?
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Membership Directory?
(excludes phone#)
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Signature
Date
Mail to:
Oregon Bears
Attn: Membership Secretary
818 SW 3rd, PMB #1153
Portland, OR 97204

Paw Prints Spring

Transcription

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