January 9, 2019

January Meeting Spruce Grove GSA Youth Action Committee
 
Names/Pronouns
 
Honour First Nation’s Métis and Inuit
 
 
What’s Happening!

• It’s our 1 year ANNIVERSARY! We started off our GSA one year ago with 7 kids. Sometimes we have grown to 36 kids! Some days we have shrunk down to 4 kids. That is the beautiful thing about a community GSA; we are always here for you. Even when I had to go in for surgery and we took a vote to postpone the GSA, we had our youth leader and a parent volunteer waiting in the parking lot for 45 minutes (with candy canes) just in case anyone happened to miss all of our messages! 

• This year, we were the first LGBTQ group to walk in the Stony Plain Rotary parade (Farmer’s Day’s Parade). 
• We also had our very first bottle drive and clothing drive! We raised 10 large recycle bags of clothes for our in need population!

Every day our kids overcome adversity. I am so incredibly proud of the strength and growth they have achieved this past year! 
 
Sophie Labelle, the amazing web-comic author of "Assigned Male Comics" www.facebook.com/assignedmale/ www.serioustransvibes.com/ will be coming to our GSA on February 8th to speak with us about what it is like to grow up trans and to become a trans author and artist. We won’t be having a normal GSA this day and this GSA will be open to the public.

• The Edmonton Pride Center is starting a mentorship program! Please contact Cassie Robertson for more information>

cassie.robertson@bgcbigs.ca or phone 780-471-4079

• Don’t forget that Outloud outloudstalbert.ca/

in St Albert happens every other Tuesday evening from 7-9pm. They are an AMAZING group and a great alternative to our group. They are absolutely a Safe Space to go to meet other LGBTQ youth and Allies!

• On the last Wednesday of the month, in Stony Plain, the Parkland QSA meets from 6-8 pm in the Stony Plain Public Library! This is nice and close for anyone who can get to the Stony Plain Public Library!

 
New Topics:

• Safety in schools and public.
• Belonging to a GSA.  Representation matters.

 
Goals
We need to figure out a few ways to bring in funds to the GSA. The following goals are on my to do list:

• Increase the Spruce Grove GSA to 2 nights per month (age 12-24)
• Add a child Spruce Grove GSA 1 night per month (age 7-11)
• Add an adult PFLAG to Spruce Grove 1 night per month
• Rainbow Flag and flagpole
• Rainbow Crosswalk
• Rotary Parade (build a float so you don’t have to walk!!)
• Celebration in the Park
• Scholarship

 
Public Visibility
Our GSA has started receiving requests to take part in public appearances around Spruce Grove. As a group some of us have taken part in parades, in Pride in the Park, and the bottle drive. For a few of our kids privacy is absolutely essential. Our GSA will always remain a Safe Space. Participation in any event is always an option. If you ever feel comfortable attending an event with our GSA you will be welcome. 
Our goal around Parkland County is to increase the visibility of the LGBTQ community. We do this by putting up Pride banners, painting crosswalks, wearing Pride clothing, and showing up at public events. 
 
Attendance/Volunteers
Our key chains and dog tags will also be available for purchase on our website for $15 plus shipping. We will also have a variety of buttons for $1 each plus shipping.
I have a list of the hours you have volunteered, if you are interested in knowing your totals for scholarship application purposes,  
We are searching for volunteersages 16 and over. These volunteers can be youth, friends, or family. We are looking for people to work bingos on specific dates, but we are also looking for someone to form a fundraising volunteer committee to benefit the LGBTQ community in Spruce Grove
 
T-Shirts/Hoodies?
Is anyone interested if I started pricing out clothing items? What type of things are you interested in?
 
Important Phone Numbers!!!

1. RCMP 911
   780-962-2222 Spruce Grove 24 hours
   780-968-7267 Stony Plain 24 hours
   
   Kids Help Phone 1-800-668-6868
   www.​kidshelpphone.ca
   24 hour, anonymous phone counselling for children and youth, 100% confidential and they do not trace calls, they do not have call display, and you do not have to tell them your name. You can connect by phone, mobile app, or through the website.

• Website: On our website you can find all of our information at sprucegrovegsasociety.org such as dates of our GSA meetings.

 
We are also on Facebook 

• facebook.com/sprucegrovegsa/​