(January 2006) Enough with the rest! Back to work!

As you know, December was so packed with fun events, and January so cold and miserable, that we decided to take a break for that month. With no one stepping forward to pick up the slack, that meant that the web site and club activities also took a break. (Hint, hint) Well now we're coming up to February. Now February aint't exactly know for its hot sexy men, but it is a time of romance. Valentine's Day is a day for sweetness, romance, and hot throbbing passion! To celebrate, we're throwing a party of course! Take a look on the events page to see how you can add a little heat to your winter!

(March 2006) And the First Raspberry Award Goes to....

NBC for canceling the TV show “The Book of Daniel”. The networks transparent excuse of poor ratings cannot hide the fact that they caved in to the demands of radical religious groups. Groups that could not accept the concept of Jesus Christ being a living, vital part of the lives of people who don’t conform to their narrow ideals of perfection. People with gay children, people with children who get into trouble, people with very real flaws of their own, and people that get stuck in real life jams that need be solved with tact and compromise.

In canceling this fine show, NBC is guilty of letting intolerance triumph over compassion, reason and diversity, and for that they get the raspberry!

(April 2006) Time to take off the gloves!

I never really intended to give out more than one raspberry award, but some things are so outrageous that they cannot go without comment. So this time I go gunning for the big boys!

This Raspberry Award goes to the Archdiocese of Boston for their consistently placing prestige and dogma ahead of the welfare of children. We all know of the horrible abuse of children that took place under the auspices of the church and of the subsequent shuffling of pedophile priests to avoid embarrassment to the church hierarchy.

Well, now, the devout have found a new way to use children as a cudgel. To avoid having to recognize gays as potential good parents of adopted children, the church is going to stop all adoption services. They would rather harm many children in need of a home and family than recognize the worth of gay people.

This is a vicious and cruel blow, and it further exposes the hypocrisy of an organization that preaches love but practices and celebrates bigotry. The Archdiocese of Boston is acting in a manner harmful to children, and for that they get the raspberry.

(May 2006) Time to drop the Pace...

The old saying goes "In for a penny, in for a pound" and while I never really intended to give out more than one raspberry award, having given out two already, I might as well round things out to three.

Nothing symbolizes America to me more than New York City, with its diverse ethnic makeup, high energy, fast pace of life and symbols like the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State building. That is why I found it so upsetting to find a southwestern salsa company putting down New York.

In its advertisements, the Pace company has a bunch of crusty, unwashed cowpokes making fun of a neat, handsome cowboy from New York. In one ad they go so far as to have the target of their scorn give his horse a complex hair-do with streaks and highlights.

The implication is obvious. The New Yorker is gay. This insults gay people as myself because it assumes that being called gay is an insult, and it insults New Yorkers by using that insult on them.

When terrorists wanted to harm our great country, they struck at the very heart of our nation. They struck at New York. So, for siding with the terrorists, the Pace company gets the raspberry! I say, buy your condiments from somebody else!

(June  2006) It's almost summertime!

Well, we all know it's not summer yet, but after memorial day weekend, I am good and ready for it to commence right now. I am very glad to say that the April general meeting has yielded ideas that are being transformed into a summer filled with fun events. In June we'll be having a wonderful picnic at Tinicum Park. Other events, dinners , brunches and house parties will be announced as the summer unfolds. The good news is it doesn't end there either. Our calendar extends through the fall to year end.

So the only thing to do is come out and have fun! And be adventurous; if the idea of having a bunch of fun, mature gay men over to visit you is appealing, why not host a house party? The club is here to help with preparation and expenses. Give it some thought and call (610) 344-0853 if you find the idea interesting and would like to talk. And look on the bright side, you won't have to ask for directions.

Whether as host or guest, I hope to see you soon! Hugs Peter

(July 2006) IN MEMORIAM.

An excerpt from the July Newsletter: "It is with great sadness that we inform you that our membership chairman, John Hammel, passed away suddenly on Monday, June 26. John was a humble and soft-spoken individual. However, he contributed greatly to our chapter. He will be greatly missed by all of us, but most particularly by his partner, our chapter president, Peter Camilleri. To Peter, we extend our deepest sympathy. This newsletter is being dedicated to the memory of John Hammel. Because of the suddenness of John’s passing, this newsletter will be rather brief."

I would just like to say that the five years that I was blessed with John's company were the happiest of my life. His smile could light up any room, his laughter was filled with joy and he was a pillar of strength for me in my times of need. He was gentle, forgiving, loving and understanding (Heaven only knows how he put up with me and my many faults). Above all, John was a man filled with life and enthusiasm. This June, we had a picnic at Tinicum park. There John found a park swing. He could not resist playing and the look of pure joy he had on his face could not be mistaken. This is how John should be remembered:  Happy, Joyful, Young at Heart.

Please remember John in your prayers. God Bless. Peter Camilleri

(August 2006) The long and winding road.

Life is a journey full of twists and surprises. I started out in Canada, wound up in PA. Started out pretending to be straight, finally admitted to myself that I was gay. Went to a club dinner, met the man who would fill my life with with joy and happiness. Five years later, I got a lift to work from that same man, and as he drove off smiling and waving to me, I would never see his face again.

If you read this website, you would have noticed the memorial for John last month (It can still be found under Newsletters, 2006 Soap Box Archives). I know I need to begin piecing my life back together, and yet my grief and longing hold me back. John's clothes are still in the closet, his pictures are scattered all about, and I still wear the ring he gave me five years ago. Even so, little by little, even this change is becoming a part of my life.

I will never forget John for as long as I live. I just know that he wanted me to be happy and find joy in my life after his passing. I'm working on it, but it will take some time. For now I am consoled by the memory of the five years I shared with the kindest, gentlest soul I have ever been privileged to know.

(September 2006)

I've always thought it ironic the Labor Day, the day when we celebrate the American worker, is a day when not much labor actually takes place. I mean, with the exception of women giving birth that day, most of us get to goof of and have fun. I am no exception to that rule (the goofing off part, not the giving birth ;-) I look forward to a nice little holiday and I'll see you when it's no longer cool to wear white.

In the mean time, the club schedule continues to look very good with events planned all the way through to the next year. All that remains is for you to get off your sexy tushie and come out and have fun! See ya'll soon!

(October 2006)

An irritating thing happened as I was updating the web site, on time, on Oct 1. The lousy "tyen mmya chyen" program I was using crashed. What I did'nt realize was that all of my work was also lost. So now it is Oct 5 and I am finally updating the web site!

I thinks I said some cool stuff here, but I can't remember any of it. Oh crap. Just come to our events and have a good time! See ya!

(November 2006)

To those who read this web site regularly, I must appologize. I have have been so swamped with work and other matters that I am only updating the web pages now. Sometimes things get so hairy that it's overwhelming. Well, that said the fabulous fall continues and we are bringing back an old classic. On the 8th we are again having a Wednesday night dinner at the Venture Inn. I have many fond memories of the Venture and it will be nice to go back to our roots so to speak. Hope to see you there! Hugs, Peter.

(December 2006)

Well I'm late again. It's three days into December and I am only now getting around to updating the web site. This update is for two months worth. The main event for December is our Christmas Party in Lititz, PA (see the events page for details). January is a tough month to fill with events, but this year we plan to tough it out with a brunch in Exton, PA.

The holiday season is supposed to be a happy time to be with friends and family, instead it has been hijacked by rampant materialism and greed. This year, I propose that in this season of holy days, we remember the spiritual basis for the joy, sharing and reconciliation and remember to appreciate those we are blessed to share it with and remember those not present at these happy times.