The Safe Zone Foundation has been working hard on behalf of the local LGBT community. Over the past 2 years we have accomplished the following:

• Set up this website (which has to date received nearly 5000 hits!). We are on the United Way's First Call for Information list and our website is linked with several other lgbt online resources who help get the word out about our efforts here in Central Wisconsin.

• Created an online newsgroup and information resource for posting and sharing announcements and news items, and for discussion of issues effecting the lgbt community.

• Supported and helped organize the first GSA at the UW-Marshfield campus, with about 12 active college students in the group the first year...and continue to support their efforts as they continue this year.

• Support the SHOUT (students helping others understand tolerance) group at Marshfield High School. Last year we had them involved in the Laramie Project ( the play about Matthew Shepard that was produced at UW-Marshfield last November).

• We will participate in Marshfield's first cultural fair celebrating the diversity of our community, which will be in February 2004.

• Developed a list of volunteers interested in supporting the lgbt community. (but we need to add more to the list, so please think about volunteering some of your time!)

• We have a founding board of directors which approved our articles and bylaws, making us an official organization! And now we are in the process of filing for 501c3 non-profit status, and working on being accepted as part of the Marshfield Area Community Foundation so that we can legally accept donations and conduct fundraising.

• Our main goal is to have our own place where we can meet and feel safe, but also know that it is OUR place, and not a church basement or empty office that we are only renting. This place of our own will be a resource center where we can hold support group meetings (such as a PFLAG chapter for example) as well as social events and activities.  The resource center will also house a library and be a place where we can provide counseling services and programs.

There is obviously so much more to do. WE NEED YOUR HELP!  If you are interested in donating your time, skills and energy as a volunteer, please contact us.

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