Introducing the LILAC LOUNGE

From early in 2021, LILAC will be opening on Tuesday evenings. The LILAC Lounge will offer more social, and less book-ish activities. We're aiming for a simple, and reasonably predictable monthly rotation:

Week 1: Games There's been a real surge in new boardgames, and we've got a few fun ones to share. We can also go traditional with cards, or outrageous with different cards. We've had some interest in role playing games if we can find a DM.

Week 2: Creative As a starter, Sue's keen to explore making zines. These are tiny, low tech magazines. They may include anything you can put on a couple of bits of A4: sketches, art, stories, humour, and poems. Being so small, they are often focused, pithy, and very engaging. A drawing tradition has developed around October. While Inktober has suffered controversy, the October drawing tradition has continued with many alternatives. Shall we do a Witchtober? Or a Lestober maybe?  Later in the year, we're hoping to register for Nanowrimo if there's enough interest.

Week 3: No LILAC Lounge time when the Lilac Collective meets.

Week 4: Music jam sessions Bring a ukulele, bring your voice, shake up a storm.

If you have things that you want to bring to LILAC Lounge let us know!

Keep an eye on the LILAC Lounge webpage for updates.

Other activities to happen in 2021 include re-establishing the Book Club, at which we hope to have members providing short reviews of a book from our library or elsewhere, which we could then publish on the LILAC website to “spread the word” about lesbian fiction, new research work, whatever our members select.

We hope to have opportunities to invite published lesbian authors to chat about their work.

Another group we are considering establishing is a writers’ group. Key to its success is having someone suitably skilled to lead it. Under the late, much lamented Pat Rosier, the group was highly successful – let’s try again. Send us your ideas of such a leader.

We are looking to have on, say Friday after work, drop in for a coffee, etc and chat to whomever also drops in. We will avoid other established dates!
In late February/early March perhaps a quiz night, speed dating evening, other ideas?
One major issue is the lack of internet access in the Lounge. Sorting this is being pursued with some urgency. Then perhaps some of our highly skilled IT women can share their knowledge and enthusiasm with others.

Especially we are looking to widen the age range of our members which is somewhat in the “senior” sector at present.  We have enrolled some new young women recently and would really like to expand this group.

Any ideas to effect this recruitment will be happily received.

Members who have skills/ information they wish to share, the Collective is open to discussing proposals, although sub letting the venue is not permitted under our lease. But non-Collective members who wish to offer occasional or regular activities are welcome to put forward their ideas.

LILAC’s final session for 2020 is Saturday, 19 December so be in to borrow reading and/or watching material. It’s a long time till we open again on Thursday, 14 January 2021. Check out the display of some fun holiday reading suggestions at the east end of the LILAC Lounge.

Every good wish for a safe and happy Festive Season.
LILAC Collective.

Need to renew? email lilac-subs@lesbian.net.nz