Annual General Meeting, Saturday August 29th

BENT Umbrella will be hosting our Annual General Meeting on Saturday August 29th, 2009, at 1:30 P.M. in the Community Room of the Vancouver Public Library, Firehall Branch (1455 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, B.C.). There will be a short meeting followed by some snacks and socializing.

We will be reviewing the previous year's accomplishments, presenting the financial statements and electing new executive members. All members are encouraged to attend and participate in the electing the Board of Directors. A printable nomination form is available at the following link: http://docs.google.com/View?id=dfj58ktb_20g6cpp37w

Our intended agenda is as follows:

1. Chair's Report
2. Presentation of the Financial Statements
3. Nomination and Election of the Board of Directors
4. Special Business: Revision of Bent Umbrella's mission statement

We would like to change Bent Umbrella's mission statement from:

Bent Umbrella Performing Arts Society shall produce events in Vancouver BC focusing on the art of drag kings and gender bending performance for local, Canadian and International audiences. We are open to dialogue, accountability, responsibility, physical accessibility, embrace and respect diversity and participation. In October 18-21 2007 we will produce IDKE9 – Genderations.

to:

The Bent Umbrella Queer Performing Arts Society produces events fostering queer and gender bending performance. We aim to build a diverse and inclusive performance community in Vancouver, B.C. We are open to dialogue, respect and accountability, and embrace ideas of diversity, physical accessibility and participation.

Please join us:

Date: Saturday August 29th, 2009
Time: 1:30 P.M.
Place: Community Room of the Vancouver Public Library, Firehall Branch
1455 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, B.C.

New members are welcome to sign up at the AGM. If you have never been a member but you’re interested in supporting an arts-oriented queer non-profit society, you’re someone we want on board! If you come to the AGM and would like to nominate or vote for our Board of Directors, simply fill out a form and pay the membership fee of $2.00 ($1.00 for volunteers) upon arrival. If you wish to volunteer in the upcoming year please email us.

Please RSVP by e-mail (by using the "E-mail Us" link at the side of this page) if you plan to attend, so we can provide enough refreshments!

Thank you,

Board of Directors
The BENT Umbrella Queer Performing Arts Society

Thanks for making Q Factor so fabulous!

Q Factor was as an amazing success thanks to everyone who came out, dressed up and got down!

We'd also like to give our heartfelt thank-you's to all the volunteers who helped us put on this event, and a special shout out to the folks at Spelt Bakery who dropped by early to give us cookies. And that's all on top of our fabulous sponsors.

If you had fun at the party and would like to be involved in future Bent Umbrella events, check out our AGM announcement for Saturday August 29!

Movie Time!

We're getting so excited about next week's party that we made a movie to show you how awesome it's going to be!

Check out our YouTube masterpiece:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1ETuYE0Hxw

Costume Contest Prizes

Everyone should definitely be working on their costumes, because you could win these amazing prizes:

- Haircuts by Missy, Rosie and Spencer from Coup Salon
- a gift certificate to Spartacus Books,
- a gift certificate to Rhizome Café,
- a $50 prepaid visa from Vancity Visa to spend wherever you like
- two tickets to see the Terminal City Roller Girls
- tickets to the Vancouver Queer Film Festival
- a clever piece of apparel from I Love Hats

Physical Entertainer Dianna David Joins us at Q Factor!

Never a dull moment with this unique bundle of personas. Culprit to shifting energies in a room and flipping frowns upside down. She has a plethora of tricks up her sleeve with a personality that will go a mile. Dianna David has performed for local events such as Cirque du Soleil’s Opening Gala 2007, Tomorrow Collective’s Brief Encounters, Souldiers Dance Company Gala’s Lead Clown, Dances for Small Stage, PRIDE Main Stage, Crimson Cabaret, MANUP, AIDS Walk Vancouver, Science World’s giant piano performer and so many more. Visit her on her website: http://www.diannadavid.net/

Burlesque by VaVa Vunderbust!

‘Busting’ out with energy, sparkle, and sass – VaVa Vunderbust – is queerly a whole lotta woman! Known for her colourful costumes, over-the-top props, and endearing endowments; she inspires audience intrigue and delight in her womanly shape.

Hailing from Vancouver, BC, VaVa is a proud member of the Screaming Chicken Theatrical Society (www.screamingchicken.net).

As a performer, VaVa brings comedy, sex appeal, and body positive activism to the stage, as she endeavours to entertain, break body boundaries, and give a whole new definition to the term 'Boobie Tricks'. Quite simply – VaVa rocks!

Photo by Shimona Henry (www.shimonahenry.com).

Jillian Deri To Dazzle With Aerial Silks!

Jillian Deri is part of the Great Northern Way Aerial Club and has trained at Circus West and at the Aerial Dance Festival in Boulder, Colorado. She has performed for various community events including the Crimson Cabaret, Little Sister’s Diorama Party, Coop Radio Cabaret, The Odd Ball, Illuminaries, Sistahood Cabaret, Vancouver’s International Burlesque Festival, Queerwood, Caleb’s Hope, Loving Spoonful and the Pride in Arts Festival. When not dangling, Jillian can be found writing her dissertation in Sociology on polyamory and jealousy.