11th January 2012

HAPPY NEW YEAR & THANK YOU!

The involvement of the community is at the core of LINC. Last year was remarkable in this respect. LINC would like extend a warm thank you to all of you, and there were many of you, who contributed to LINC last year. We would particularly like to thank those of you who took part in the mini-marathon, Ms Gay Cork for their fund raising contribution and those who donated the hamper for the raffle to raise funds for the childrens Christmas party(261 was raised). We would also like to thank a number of anonymous donors who have contributed to LINC during 2011. The monies raised will support a programme of support and activities for the benefit of our community members. Thank you to those of you who dropped into or called LINC for whatever reason. It was a great year in LINC and special mention goes to our joint award with the Gay Mens Health Project, for Pride Of Place 2012 and the launch of Phoenix youth groups CD.

Announcing the Launch of The F Word!

Fun, fitness, fab, frivolous, fantastic This club will run until the last Friday before Easter. For the next ten weeks, Thursday night drop-in will provide a space for you to get motivated or stay motivated. The focus is on physical wellbeing with a serious emphasis on fun. LINC will provide the space, and an optional weigh-in anytime between 5pm and 8pm. We want you to come along and enjoy. Members of the community with experience in health, nutrition, exercise and strategies for stress management, alternative therapies etc will come along and give brief hints and tips to keep you motivated. Between 6.30-7.30pm well be heading

off on a walk (future weeks will include other healthy exercise such as keep fit). Then its back to LINC for juice, fruit or tea or coffee . Let the games begin!

Saturday January 28th Wellness Workshop in LINC

LINC and SOS (suicide or survive) are hosting a Wellness Workshop on 28 January 2012.Do you want to learn... What it is that creates your mood? How to take control of your busy life? How to treat yourself to you time for a minute or two throughout your day? How to identify the supports that are all around you? The Wellness Workshop is a day filled with practical and easy to use tips and advise that will help you take control of your own mental health. Its a free training day where you will hear real life experiences that will give you the chance to change your own life. Lunch will be provided. Contact LINC for details.

Lesbian LIVES XIX: Masquerades

Friday 17 to Saturday 18 February 2012 University College Dublin (UCD), Ireland FINAL CALL FOR PAPERS: Friday 13 January 2012. For more information visit: http://www.ucd.ie/socialjustice/womensstudies/ Conference conveners of this two-day international and interdisciplinary conference now welcome proposals from academics, scholars, students, activists, documentary and filmmakers, writers and artists for (A) individual papers, (B) sessions, (C) round table discussions, (D) workshops, and (E) visual presentations. E-mail proposals to be sent to lesbian.lives@ucd.ie or posted to: Lesbian Lives XVIII Conference: Masquerades UCD Women's Studies, James Joyce Library Building, University College Dublin Belfield, Dublin 4 Ireland. Conference Fees: 80 Euro (students 30 Euro, 15 Euro Community)

Requesting participants for an online survey of sexual minority women:

This research project aims to explore possible relationships between factors relevant to membership of a sexual minority group and mental health and well-being of women in Ireland. You cannot be identified by this survey and you are not asked for your name or address. All of the information you

provide will be anonymous andconfidential. The study will involve 20 minutes of your time. The survey can be accessed by following this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/sexualminoritywomen Kind regards, Sharon

House To Rent
Two bedroom, end of terrace house for rent in Ballyphehane. Available from 1st April. Contact 0857786661 for further details.

Lesbian Line- Call For Volunteers

Lesbian Line are now taking names for people who are interested in participating in The Helpline training. If you feel you may be able to commit to this after Christmas then please give us a call here in LINC and we pass your details over to the Lesbian Line Coordinator. Also on the same note is there anyone out there who might be around on a Wednesday evening about 8.45 to lock up with the helpline worker? Give us a call if you could commit to this.

Book Club
We've chosen two books to allow everyone the choice of reading one or both- the choice is yours. Next Book club Tuesday 7th Feb at 7.00pm Books for the next book club are as follows: There But For The by Ali Smith Miles, a man nobody knows well, goes to a dinner party and locks himself in the hosts' guest room for months, and nobody knows what to do. There But For The's premise is slight, even silly, but in Ali Smith's masterful hands, it rapidly gains momentum, turning a simple tale into something ambitious but grounded. Solace by Belinda Mckeon Solace is a love story, but at its core this debut novel explores ties and tensions between parents and offspring - love and duty towards ageing parents; attempts to mould children into shapes they resist. The prologue sets the scene. Tom is a farmer. His son, Mark, is staying to help with baling before returning to Dublin. The father-son relationship is baked dry as drought-ridden land. Tom sees Mark as sullen and pugnacious. Mark resents his father, but his suppressed rage has deeper causes...

Late LINC
Drop in -Every Thursday till 8pm.

MNA MNA CHOIR

Every Thursday at 8.00pm Meeting in LINC after drop-in, the choir is now back in full swing. All are welcome

Group sessions have resumed and take place on Mondays at 7.30 until 9.30.

Phoenix Youth Group Back today!

Well congratulations to our combined youth groups Phoenix and UNITE for all their hard work and achievements last year. The group will be collectively referred to from now as UP Cork just to make things easier and clearer. The girls are meeting back this Wednesday 11th of January here in LINC and the Youth Caf is on over in The Other Place on Thursday 12th at 6.30pm. Welcome back to everyone and heres looking forward to more and more new members and a really hectic but enjoyable 2012. Join them on Facebook UP Cork LGBT Youth group.

Lesbian Line runs Every Weds from 7pm to 9pm Call 021 4318318 National LGBT Helpline runs Mon to Fri 7pm to 9pm and Sat & Sun 3pm to 6pm 1890 929 539

Women In Recovery
The women in recovery group is not currently active. The Other Place runs a recovery meeting every Wednesday evening. Contact LINC or The Other Place for details.

Sports
Badminton
Every Tuesday in Carrigtwohill from 8 until 10pm For more details on Badminton please call 086 8479051

Invitation to register for Minister Lynch's conference How to Elect More Women?" - Dublin Castle 20 January 2012
I am pleased to inform you that the Minister of State for Equality is hosting this conference on 20 January 2012. I attach the announcement from our website, www.justice.ie, together with the conference programme, concept note and registration form which are now available on the Department's website. You may already have received this information in writing. The Minister asks that you might pass on information on the conference to any interested colleagues/friends. The closing date for registration is 16 January 2012. lpsandom@justice.ie