Solano Pride Center closes offices, continues services; last pizza social of 2009

Within the last week, I recieved this letter with sad news from David Trutanich, from the Board of Directors of the Solano Pride Center:

Dear Members of the Solano Pride Center Community,

The Board of Directors of the Solano Pride Center unanimously agreed that it is no longer feasible to keep and maintain a separate and unique meeting and office space for the Center. The Center will vacate its current premises at 1125 Missouri Street, Suite 203D, in Fairfield on Sunday, December 20, 2009. That being said, the Center will still exist in a virtual environment by keeping this e-mail list for communication, the SPC Web site at www@solanopride.org, and the Center phone number at 707-427-2356.

Over the past few years, and especially this last year, donations to the Center have diminished so that we must make this difficult decision. We will continue having our current meetings and groups, but will move them to other locations yet to be determined. As new information becomes available, it will be communicated to you via e-mail as well as be posted on our Web site. Be assured that the Board of Directors will continue to be active and work on ways to better serve the LGBTQI community of Solano County.

Active participation by members of our community is the lifeblood that allows us to exist. If it has been a while since you participated in a Center event or group, or even if you never have, we strongly encourage you to do so.

One immediate way to actively participate would be to volunteer to help us move the Center’s belongings to temporary storage on December 20. We will begin the move at 9:00 AM at 1125 Missouri Street. Please contact me at dtrutanich@yahoo.com if you are available to help.

Lastly, because of changes that have happened in my own life, I needed to resign as Chair of the Board of Directors. The remaining Board members will continue to function and reorganize replacing me in the very near future. It has been my pleasure to serve our community for the last two years on this Board and strongly support the current Board in its endeavors.

Sincerely,

David. A. Trutanich
Outgoing Chair, Board of Directors
Solano Pride Center

In a county (the only Bay Area County to vote Yes on Prop 8) that definitely needs a gathering spot and services like the Pride Center, this is definitely hard news to hear and a loss for our community. However, with churches like 1st Christian Church (in Vallejo) and groups like the Gay/Bi men's HIV support group carrying on and looking to expand, the community will make/find new places to gather and perhaps this is just time for the rebirth of the Phoenix...

In the same light, Solano Pride Center vows to continue their services including their website and emails and announced their last pizza social (held on every third Wednesday of the month) of 2009 (hinting that they will return in 2010):

Click the pic for more details, but here's the basics:

Solano Pride Center Pizza Social
Round Table Pizza
2401 Waterman Blvd, Suite A, Fairfield, CA
Dec 16, 5:30-7:30p
No host food and beverages
*We encourage all who attend to make a small donation to the Solano Pride Center
For more information call 707-427-2356

Have you ever been? Tell us about it...

Wishing the best to the Solano Pride Center and to the North Bay gay community, during these holidays and the year ahead.