Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1998 03:13:23 -0700 From: Electric Dreams Subject: Electric Dreams ELECTRIC DREAMS The Wide World of Parties July 1998 If this newsletter was forwarded to you, register for your own free membership at . CONTENTS Dispute Erupts Over Chicago Party Phoenix Rising Regenerates Amsterdam Party Update DISPUTE ERUPTS OVER CHICAGO PARTY A dispute has erupted in Chicago over the future of the Hearts Party, the annual benefit event that raises money for the Test Positive Aware Network (TPAN) and other non-profit agencies. The future of the event was thrown into question several weeks after the February 13-15 fundraiser, when members of the Bringing Our Hearts Together (BOHT) organizing committee alleged that TPAN had failed to provide a credible accounting for the weekend's receipts. Since the Hearts Party was founded eleven years ago, it has grown into Chicago’s signature party weekend. Prior to this year’s event, BOHT had distributed over $830,000 to TPAN and other organizations. But instead of thank you letters, the five BOHT committee co-chairs received termination letters from TPAN in May, ostensibly relieving them of their volunteer duties. The dispute calls into question the ownership of the event, and illustrates the volatile and interdependent relationships which can develop between non-profit AIDS agencies and volunteer committees. TPAN was founded in 1987 to provide education and emotional support for people affected by all states of HIV infection. The agency’s total budget last year was $1.8 million, with programs including a health library, an HIV drug guide, and a range of support group services and on-line resources. TPAN first received funds from the second BOHT event in 1989. Later, the agency assumed fiduciary responsibility for the event and provided logistical support to the Committee--such as office space, a part-time event coordinator, and ticketing services. A letter sent to the Illinois Attorney General's office and signed by BOHT Committee co-chairs Michael L. Jackson, David Demeny, and Thomas Meyer requests an investigation of the matter. The letter details a list of alleged irregularities, including a $60,000 discrepancy in ticket sales, missing raffle tickets, and poor cash control. “Shame on us--we let them count the cookies in the cookie jar,” said Jackson, a C.P.A. TPAN published an attendance figure of 2,500 in its Positively Aware newsletter shortly after the party, but then accounted for only 1,697 tickets. “We had 1,680 coats checked this year,” said Jackson, adding that the number of coats checked equaled about 65% of total attendance last year. Phillip Matthews, Executive Director of TPAN, declined to comment on the allegations, saying that he was not at liberty to discuss pending legal matters. Proceeds from the Hearts Party event have grown significantly over the past few years. TPAN received over $130,000 from the 1997 event--about 75% of net proceeds. This year, the agency was allocated 60% of the proceeds, with the remaining 40% distributed to three other groups--the AIDS Project of Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, the Lesbian Community Cancer Project, and Open Hand Chicago. In 1996, TPAN trademarked the “Bringing Our Hearts Together” committee name. But committee members were surprised to learn yesterday that TPAN had also reserved a trademark on the “Hearts Party” name just within the last six months. According to Matthews, TPAN has asserted ownership of the event by virtue of its trademark on the BOHT name, and because “the volunteers work for TPAN, and they are not a legitimate legal entity.” He added, “they tried to take the party away from us--to buy us out of it,” referring to a proposal made by the committee co-chairs, after the allegations arose, to fund TPAN for at least another two years while distributing a larger share of funds to other organizations. Jackson suggests that TPAN’s ownership of the BOHT trademark may be challenged, given that the committee can claim prior use. Schiff, Hardin, & Waite, a Chicago law firm, has agreed to provide counsel to former committee members in the trademark dispute. In terms of format and execution, the Hearts Party event closely resembles the Blue Ball weekend produced by the AIDS Information Network of Philadelphia. But while the Philadelphia agency conceived the Blue Ball as a self-funding activity, the Chicago agency had a beneficiary relationship with an autonomous volunteer group which had its own funding priorities. Only last year, Matthews wrote to Jackson to appeal for funds from the 1998 Heart Party. In a letter dated July 11, 1997, he wrote: “Thank you for the opportunity to present this proposal to continue our relationship with the BOHT Committee. I am confident that by working together we will build from the amazing success of BOHT X and make BOHT XI even more spectacular, while continuing to provide expanding support to all community [sic] impacted by HIV and AIDS.” In a last ditch salvage effort, deposed committee members approached TPAN again several weeks ago to ask for an independent financial review and to discuss their future relationship. “We have worked very hard to raise these moneys and want to be assured that every dollar has been properly account for,” said Jackson. But big six accounting firms are nowhere on the horizon, and Matthews says that the prospects of an amicable resolution are dim: “I’m open to discussion, but I cannot imagine a situation where we could reconcile.” Both groups plan parties next February. Jackson, Demeny, and Meyer have incorporated as the Hearts Foundation, and plan to continue producing events and raising funds for a range of community organizations. Details were not available, although they plan a promotional effort during the upcoming Halstead Street Fair, August 15-16. For its part, TPAN has designated Brian DeRue, a fundraising consultant and developer of the web site, as the general chairman for next year’s event. “We are finalizing the arrangements now, “ said DeRue in a e-mail on Tuesday. Each group faces difficulties in producing an event next year without the other. TPAN must start over with new leadership, and must deal with the fallout from serious questions about accountability, while the new Hearts Foundation faces the challenge of organizing and financing a major event without the logistical support afforded them by TPAN. Since the proliferation of benefit dance parties began ten years ago, it has not been uncommon for non-profit AIDS agencies to have problems with volunteer party organizers or commercial promoters. However, this may be the first time that a volunteer committee has aired allegations against a non-profit beneficiary. PHOENIX RISING REGENERATES Three of the six board members of the Phoenix Rising Foundation have resigned, while one of its members, Darren Bondy, has formed a new production company called Rising Rhythm. Bondy, who remains on the Foundation board along with Jack Jubran and Edwin Saar, characterized the changes as an amicable transition. The South Beach group plans to announce new Board members later this summer, and will continue to produce benefit parties over the White Party and Winter Party weekends, although the New Year’s event will be dropped. “We got together to throw a great party,” said Bondy, referring to the Foundation’s origins in 1994 as a group of friends with fundraising aspirations. “And out of that came the non-profit, and a more ambitious schedule. It’s amazing we stayed together as long as we did.” Jim Moses, Carlos Marrero, and Mark Kuritzky are the departing Board members. The group tapped into a deep vein of social allure with its first party in 1994, which immediately followed the White Party at Vizcaya over Thanksgiving Weekend. In 1995, the group added an event adjunct to the Winter Party in March and a larger New Year’s event. Tickets to Phoenix Rising parties are pre-sold through a network of hosts who are personal friends of the organizers. Last year, the group’s bronze/silver/gold/platinum VIP ticket pricing structure sparked an e-mail debate about exclusivity and social hierarchies at gay parties. Until recently, the group mailed out four-color announcements of parties that were already sold out, not unlike the venerable “tombstone ads” in the Wall Street Journal announcing multi-million dollar bond placements. Rhythm Rising is an off-shoot of the Phoenix Rising group, although it is a not a non-profit. Bondy and partner Jorge Gonzalez plan to produce non-competitive events--including daytime pool parties and black tie dinners--to benefit HIV/AIDS service agencies including Body Positive, the Miami Beach AIDS service organization which has benefited from the Phoenix Rising events. Last month, Bondy and Gonzalez announced plans for a new Black Ball event on October 10th, with DJ Neil Lewis. Bondy said his goal for the event is to establish a continuing source of revenue for Body Positive. For information about Rhythm Rising events, call 305-532-1232. AMSTERDAM PARTY UPDATE If the litany of parties announced during the upcoming Gay Games in Amsterdam is any indication, the event will double as an international party festival, with DJs from all over Europe and the U.S. competing in an entirely different set of Night Games, from July 31 to August 8. For connoisseurs of dance music, it will be a rare opportunity to hear top talent across a broad spectrum of styles. Many of the major DJs in the U.S., Europe, and Australia will perform. No less than three pairs of opening and closing parties are planned, and competition is fierce. The typical pre-Games hype would have events selling out in advance, but in reality, tickets should be available to most events at least several days beforehand. As usual, the Gay Games Committee has sanctioned only a fraction of the events planned, and the lion’s share of party action will be produced by independent promoters. Late news is that Amsterdam police are banning after-hours events at all clubs. Web sites with information about Amsterdam parties: http://www.gaygames.nl (official Gay Games site) http://www.euronet.nl/~coleman/ (CoMo Night Games - the major schedule of unsanctioned parties) http://www.mte.com (parties at the historic Beurs van Berlage facility) http://www.geocities.com/~alboy/amsterdam/parties.html (an unofficial party directory) http://gayamsterdam.com (general information) **Events noted with a double asterisk are sanctioned by the Gay Games Committee. **July 31, Out of Towners Ball, the unofficial opening party at Escape. **July 31, Will Gorges & Rob Reidijk present the White Party at Mercanti Plaza (DJ Billy Carroll). Tickets $30. Info: 213-464-5388. See . **Aug. 1, Opening Party, sanctioned by the Gay Games, at the Amsterdam Docklands. Aug. 1, Amsterdam Pride/The Canal Parade, 2-5PM. Aug. 1, CoMo Night Games Opening Party at The Warehouse (Partycentrum 2000), with DJs Robert Owens, David Harness, and Mousse-T. Tickets $40. Call 800-494-TIXS. **Aug. 2, Havana Party at The Three Sisters. **Aug. 2, Snow Party at Marcanti Plaza (women only). **Aug. 3, The Rainbow Party at Odeon (women only). **Aug. 3, The Downtown Party at The Three Sisters (at theme party of some sort). Aug. 3, Euro Madness at Escape Theatre/Kroon (DJs Paul Anderson/UK, Dimitri/Holland, Crazy Shaun/Holland (CoMo Entertainment). Tickets $32.50. Call 800-494-TIXS. Aug. 3, Will Gorges & Rob Reidijk present the Cruising Party at Mercanti Plaza (DJ Seth from Los Angeles), $20. Aug. 3-5, nightly parties at Club Roxie, produced by Steve Malenka, with a special Men On Vacation party on Monday night. **Aug. 4, Apocalypse Night at Marcanti Plaza (women only) **Aug. 4. Meet and Greet the Athletes at The Cock Ring, 10PM-4AM (men only) Aug. 4, The American Circuit at Escape Theatre/Kroon, features DJs Buc, Brian Norwood, and Michael Fierman, followed by an afterhours party with DJ Susan Morabito at Time. (CoMo Entertainment). For tickets, call 800-494-TIXS. **Aug. 5, Will Gorges & Rob Reidijk present the Black Party at Mercanti Plaza (DJ Billy Carroll). Tickets $30. Info: 213-464-5388. See . Aug. 5, Garage Fever party at Escape Theatre/Kroon, features DJ Frankie Knuckles and Brian Norwood/U.S. (CoMo Entertainment) Tickets $32.50, call 800-494-TIXS. **Aug. 6, Women’s Western Party at Marcanti Plaza (women only). Aug. 6, The Dazzle Network, party at Escape Theatre/Kroon, features DJs Peter Rauhofer/Austria, Sneak/U.S. (CoMo Entertainment) Tickets $32.50, call 800-494-TIXS. **Aug. 6, The Wedding Party at Kransnapolsky Hotel, 10PM-5AM (esp. for couples). **Aug. 7, Time Machine/Melkweg’s women’s festival (women only). **Aug. 7, Disco Classics party at Escape, 10PM-5AM. **Aug. 8, The Grand Finale, sanctioned by the Gay Games, at the Amsterdam Docklands. Aug. 8, The Unofficial Sleeze Ball Closing Party, at The Warehouse (Partycentrum 2000), near closing ceremonies (DJ Kate Monroe from Sydney, and a major NYC talent is rumored to be on-line). Tickets $40. Call 800-494-TIXS. Aug. 9, Pre-Black & Blue Montreal party at Club Cockring, co-presented by Team Montreal & Amsterdam Gay News, 4PM-4AM (special appearance by DJ Brent Nicholls). Descend From Heaven parties are planned each night from 11PM-5AM at the historic Beurs van Berlage facility, at 243 Damrak. Tickets $40. See for more info. Copyright 1998 by Party Planet, Inc., All Rights Reserved Alan Brown, Publisher