Also coming up this Saturday, June 28^th at Badlands Saloon is our fundraiser “Cowboys and Leather Go Together,” at Badlands Saloon.  We will be working in conjunction with the Winged Dragon Society for this fundraiser.  Everyone is encouraged to wear either Cowboy attire and/or Leather attire.  I’ve heard of some fun and interesting events planned so I’m sure it will be a good time.

As a fundraising team we are constantly working to come up with fun and different ways to raise money to help defer the costs of BigHorn Rodeo 2008.  If you’ve got ideas, please let us know what you’d like to see us do.  NGRA currently has more than 125 members – there should be a lot of creativity out there.  If you don’t have any ideas, please try your best come out and support what we do have planned.  There are a lot of you whom we never see… Come on out and have a good time with us and help support our community. 

The NGRA website - www.ngra.com has been updated and all is current.  Check out the calendar for upcoming events, volunteer for BigHorn Rodeo, refer a sponsor, or just drop us a line.

Darren Wernette, Mr. NGRA 2008, 1^st Runner Up

Mr. & Miss NGRA To Host “Brunch on the Range”

Mr. & Miss NGRA, Michael Judkins and Katrina (also known as Bill Trunzo) will host a Chuck Wagon “Brunch on the Range” on Sunday, June 29, 2008 at 12:30 p.m. at the Focus Community Center (1140 Almond Tree Lane, Ste. 306, Las Vegas).

Proceeds from the brunch will benefit the Sin Sity Sisters AIDS Drug Assistance Program and the FOCUS Hot Meals Program, both of which will also be the beneficiaries of the net proceeds from BigHorn Rodeo to be held in September at Horseman’s Park.

Leaders from many Las Vegas organizations will serve as table hosts for the brunch and include Kandice Kane (Miss NGRA 2008 1st Runnerup), Darren Wernette (Mr. NGRA 2008 1st Runnerup), DeShannon (former Miss NGRA and Miss IGRA), Kitty Litter, Sisters from the Sin Sity Sisters, Helen Twelvetrees and Tim Conroy (FOCUS), Tago LeFlemme and Bill Warbeck (Elected Empress & Emperor of the IRSCDEI).

Service will be plated under the direction of Chef Dan Shannon. Shannon is Executive Chef of the Stirling Club, operated by the Charlie Palmer Group. Shannon began his career in 1995 at Aureole, Palmer’s famous New York eatery.

The Nevada Gay Rodeo Association proudly supports its royalty, Mr. NGRA 2008 Michael Judkins and Miss NGRA 2008 Katrina, as they begin to meet their requirements for competing for Mr. & Miss IGRA 2009. The brunch is the first of two fundraisers each will have to plan and promote.

Tickets are $40 each, and table hosts will be selling tickets for their table. For further information, contact Katrina at missngra2008@ngra.com or Michael at MrNGRA2008@ngra.com.

Sunday, June 29th, 2008

Mr. & Miss NGRA, Michael Judkins and Katrina (also known as Bill Trunzo) will host a Chuck Wagon “Brunch on the Range” on June 29, 2008 at 12:30 p.m. at the Focus Community Center (1140 Almond Tree Lane, Ste. 306, Las Vegas).

Proceeds from the brunch will benefit the Sin Sity Sisters AIDS Drug Assistance Program and the FOCUS Hot Meals Program, both of which will also be the beneficiaries of the net proceeds from BigHorn Rodeo to be held in September at Horseman’s Park.

Leaders from many Las Vegas organizations will serve as table hosts for the brunch and include Kandice Kane (Miss NGRA 2008 1st Runnerup), Darren Wernette (Mr. NGRA 2008 1st Runnerup), DeShannon (former Miss NGRA and Miss IGRA), Kitty Litter, Sisters from the Sin Sity Sisters, Helen Twelvetrees and Tim Conroy (FOCUS), Tago LeFlemme and Bill Warbeck (Elected Empress & Emperor of the IRSCDEI).

Service will be plated under the direction of Chef Dan Shannon. Shannon is Executive Chef of the Stirling Club, operated by the Charlie Palmer Group. Shannon began his career in 1995 at Aureole, Palmer’s famous New York eatery.

The Nevada Gay Rodeo Association proudly supports its royalty, Mr. NGRA Michael Judkins and Miss NGRA Katrina, as they begin to meet their requirements for competing for Mr. & Miss IGRA 2009. The brunch is the first of two fundraisers each will have to plan and promote.

Tickets are $40 each, and table hosts will be selling tickets for their table. For further information, contact Katrina at missngra2008@ngra.com or Michael at MrNGRA2008@ngra.com.

Sunday, June 8^th 2008

Enjoy a full day of amusement, friendship and games.  You’ll receive a free buffet at the Edgewater Hotel and Casino.  Meet new friends at the Lariat in Bullhead City.

Get aboard – you never know what’s in store! Here’s your chance to get away for the day and have some fun along the way.

We return to the Commercial Center from a fun filled day around 10:00 PM.

$25 per person includes driver gratuity

Soft Drinks, beer, jello shots, and other “adult” shots and beverages will be available for purchase on the bus.  Raffles and Bingo will also be available.

Tickets are on sale at Badlands Saloon, Spotlight, Snick’s, and Charlie’s Las Vegas.  Ask your favorite bartender to sell you one.

As I let you know earlier, NGRA will be participating in the annual Las Vegas Helldorado Days Parade this Saturday May 17^th.  We have the mobile billboard promoting BigHorn Rodeo 2008 that we will be marching alongside. The parade route will take us northbound on Fourth Street from Hoover Avenue to Ogden Avenue, and there will be a fireworks show after the parade is over. The parade will begin at 7 p.m.

A Las Vegas tradition since 1935, Helldorado Days celebrates the spirit of the Old West. Featuring a spectacular parade, western village, poker and golf tournaments, residents and tourists alike enjoy the festive and fun Helldorado Days.

As this a mainstream event, there have been some concerns raised regarding our safety.  While we can’t change some people’s opinions regarding our sexuality, we can show the community that we are “just like them.”  We will be dressing in western attire, simply being citizens of Las Vegas.  No royalty, no impersonators, just a bunch of men and women representing NGRA.

Please make an effort to come on down and join us!  I don’t have our exact starting location yet; however you can park around 4^th and Charleston then look for the big NGRA mobile billboard.  I hope to see many of you there!

Darren Wernette  Mr. NGRA 2008, 1^st Runner Up

Helldorado Days Parade - Saturday, May 19, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Pride weekend is coming to an end.  Thanks to all of you who joined us at the Las Vegas Pride Parade and the Las Vegas Pride festival.  NGRA was well represented in both.

Our new Member at Large Brian Maley has organized an NGRA Horseback/trail ride coming up Sunday, May 18^th. We would like to extend an invitation to all members to come out and join us as we ride the Dalton Gang Adventure from Las Vegas Horseback Tours. 

This is an approximate 4 hour adventure and lunch is included in the price. The ranch is located on Interstate 15 about 45 minutes from mid strip.   We will be car pooling up and back to save gas. We will be there by 8:30 AM and should be done just after noon.  Lunch is included in the price.

You can check out the tour and lunch menu at http://www.lasvegashorsebacktours.com/lunchtour.

Normal price for this morning of horseback riding is $109.  As locals and NGRA members, we are getting a rate of $89.

Las Vegas Horseback tours require payment in advance.  You can either pay Brian in advance or contact him and he will provide the number to call to give your credit card information.  Contact Brian at bpmaley@gmail.com.

Let’s get together and enjoy a fun morning of riding!

The 25^th annual Las Vegas Pride parade and festival is coming up this weekend.  NGRA will be participating in both the Parade and the Festival and we sure do hope to see you all out in support.

NGRA will be performing as a group on the main stage during the Pride festival.  We’ve chosen to do a couple of simple line dances and we’d love to have as many members join us as possible.

You say you can’t (or don’t) dance?  No worries!  Our own dance professional, Lorry King, will be teaching us a couple of simple line dances so that we can all look good.  Tonight (Wednesday) at 5:30 at Charlie’s Las Vegas, she will be available to teach us.  Dane Bethea will also be going over the same dances tomorrow (Thursday) at Charlie’s from 7-9 pm.

Your level of line dance skill doesn’t matter; we’ll take people who have never danced as well as those who are experienced.  We’ll be learning dances most if not all who attend the lessons know, or at least have seen in action.  Come on out tonight and tomorrow and let’s show Las Vegas what we’ve got!

NGRA will be participating in the Pride Parade Friday as well.  We will be marching alongside our big billboard down the parade route.  Please plan on joining us at 4^th and Coolidge by 7:30 at the latest, as the parade starts at 8:00 sharp.  Please wear your cowboy hats!  The parade route goes up 4^th street for approximately 10 blocks.  Once again, let’s show Las Vegas what we’ve got!

Friday – Las Vegas Pride Parade Downtown Las Vegas 8:00 PM

Saturday – Las Vegas Pride Festival at the Government Center 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM.

Two events that YOUR NGRA is participating in.  We’ve got over 125 members now – let’s make a good showing!

 Please go to www.afanlv.org and you can find our team to register.  The walk itself actually starts at 10:30 am leaving from the World Market Center.  The Opening Ceremonies start at 9:30 so let’s try to gather as a group together by 9:00 am.  Let’s meet on S. Grand Central Parkway at the World Market Center sign and look for Katrina in her pink cowboy hat! Please note that there is no requirement or fees to attend this event, if you can obtain sponsors or make a donation yourself, as always AFAN will appreciate.  More importantly it is an opportunity for us to come together as a group, socializing, walking and playing together and representing what I believe to be one of the best organizations in this community.  We’ll have our fun horses from last years Pride parade available if someone would like to help ham it up! Forever in a cowboy’s rose garden,

Katrina, your Miss NGRA 2008

• Monday, April 21, 2008 - NGRA General Membership Meeting

LGBT Center, Commercial Center, 953 East Sahara Avenue, 6:30Join the NGRA for the monthly General Membership Meeting at the Center

•  Monday, April 21, 2008 - NGRA Rodeo Planning Committee Meeting

LGBT Center, Commercial Center, 953 East Sahara Avenue, 7:30Stick around after the general membership meeting and learn about BigHorn Rodeo 2008. All members are welcome and invited to attend.

•  Saturday, April 26, 2008 - Cowboy Spring Break

Badlands Saloon, Commercial Center, 953 East Sahara Avenue 9:30Join the NGRA Royalty team as we celebrate spring with this “beach party” fundraiser and show. Shorts and beachwear encouraged. No boots? No shirts? No problem!

•  Every Friday - NGRA Appreciation Night at Charlie’s Las Vegas

•  Friday, May 2, 2008 – Las Vegas Pride Parade

Join NGRA members as we march the parade route.  Western attire is encouraged. Map of parade route: http://www.lasvegaspride.org/images/structure/events/2008-parade-route.jpg  

•  Saturday, May 3, 2008 – Las Vegas Pride Festival

Clark County Government Center - 12 Noon to 10pm (Commitment Ceremony Open to All at 3pm)Join NGRA either at the NGRA booth or volunteer to man the entry gates. If you are interested in volunteering your time, please send an email to David Hering at david.hering@cox.net.  

SNAPI CAUTIONS LOCALS AGAINST IMITATION PRIDE EVENTSBoard Urges Locals to Attend Official PRIDE Events & Support the Community Las Vegas, NV, April 15, 2008: This year, the Southern Nevada Association of Pride (SNAPI) is celebrating the 25th anniversary of supporting the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered community. Over the years SNAPI has supported the GLBT community, through education of and about our community in Southern Nevada, and operated the annual Las Vegas Pride Festival. We have been successful in creating recognition of the needs of our community and putting a “face” to GLBT issues. In addition, we have become a major fund raiser, providing funds for many GLBT?supporting organizations and agencies.With the 25th anniversary of Las Vegas PRIDE, SNAPI would like to remind Las Vegas not to be fooled by imitation PRIDE events. There is only one true, non?profit, “Las Vegas PRIDE”. Only Las Vegas PRIDE is run by a board of volunteers dedicated to raising money for the community. Only Las Vegas PRIDE has donated $100,000.00’s (hundreds of thousands of dollars) to local non?profits such as the GLBT Center, the Community Counseling Center, the Sin Sity Sisters, AFAN, NALA, MCC, etc. Only by attending official PRIDE events can revelers be assured their money will find its way back into the Las Vegas GLBT community. Throughout the years Las Vegas PRIDE has faced many challenges. This year we face challenges from businesses and other groups attempting to deceive attendees and cash in on their generosity using PRIDE’s name. This year for?profit businesses have even gone as far as to create their own imitation PRIDE events. These imitation events are apparently planned as a means to cash in on the PRIDE name and enrich individuals and their business rather than the community. It is SNAPI’s position that these deceptive activities erode 25 years of authentic Las Vegas PRIDE success. The Southern Nevada Association of PRIDE thanks all celebrators of PRIDE for their continued support and urges them to support the events that give back to the community. All official Las Vegas PRIDE events can be found on our website: www.LasVegasPRIDE.org . Official Sponsors of Las Vegas PRIDE (SNAPI) include the following: Q Vegas Magazine, Instinct Magazine, Piranha Nightclub, Gipsy Nightclub, Bud / Bud Light Beer, CRUSH, Hot KVEG 97.5, Harrah’s Entertainment, Blue Moon Resort, Smirnoff, Las Vegas Gay Yellow Pages, ID Lubricants, Bacardi, FreeZone, Liberace Museum, Gaudin: Jaguar – Aston Martin – Porche, MGM Mirage, Entourage | Vegas, Washington Mutual, Odyssey Magazine, Q Salt Lake Magazine, Adelante Magazine, MedicWest Ambulance, Monster Energy Drink, Wells Fargo, GayLasVegas.com, Barefoot Wine & Bubbly, Charlie’s Las Vegas, Get Booked, and Out Front Colorado Magazine.

It’s that time again so here I am reminding you of upcoming NGRA events planned for April as well as early May.  I certainly hope to see you all at our events and fundraisers.Las Vegas PRIDE is coming up this month, concluding with the Pride Parade on Friday, May 2, 2008 and the Pride Festival on Saturday, May 3, 2008.  NGRA is planning on being represented at both and we certainly do need the support of ALL of our members. 

We are planning on marching down the parade route alongside our mobile banner that was prominently featured at last years’ festival.  We are the premier organization in Las Vegas – let’s show them what we’ve got!

NGRA will also be staffing a booth at the 2008 Pride Festival at the Government Center.  I’m still in need of prizes that we can raffle off from the booth.  I know that many of you work for hotels, casinos, restaurants, and other businesses that have “goodies” that we can use.  Look in your closets and garages – there has got to be something there that you could part with that could make us some money for Rodeo!  Please look around and help us make this a big-time fundraiser for YOUR organization.  Contact me at flabuzz@cox.net and I’ll gladly make arrangements to take prizes off of your hands.Below is a line up of upcoming events for April.

Darren Wernette, Mr. NGRA 2008, 1^st Runner Up

·         Friday, April 11, 2008 – “Udder Time at the Beach”  Charlie’s Las Vegas, 9:30

Co presented by NGRA and the Imperial Court, this is a prequel to the annual “Miss Cow Patty” contest

·         Saturday, April 12, 2008 – “Miss Cow Patty” Contest  Charlie’s Las Vegas, 9:30

Get ready to have some fun at this camp drag event, where the butch get glamorous, dressing up and performing to outrageous and over-the-top songs. Judging will cover talent and overall “Cow Patty-ness.” The winner will be CROWNED as Miss Cow Patty, with prize money being offered. If you’re interested in being this year’s Miss Cow Patty, please contact Eddy Krien at eddyskiva@yahoo.com or (702) 328-9627.

·         Monday, January 14, 2008 - NGRA Board of Directors Meeting LGBT Center, Commercial Center, 953 East Sahara Avenue, 6:30

Join us at The Center at 6:30 p.m. for the NGRA Board of Directors Meeting

.·         Monday, April 21, 2008 – NGRA General Membership Meeting  LGBT Center, Commercial Center, 953 East Sahara Avenue, 6:30

Join the NGRA for the monthly General Membership Meeting at the Center

·         Monday, April 21, 2008 – NGRA Rodeo Planning Committee Meeting   LGBT Center, Commercial Center, 953 East Sahara Avenue, 7:30

Stick around after the general membership meeting and learn about BigHorn Rodeo 2008

·         Saturday, April 26, 2008 - Cowboy Spring Break

Badlands Saloon, Commercial Center, 953 East Sahara Avenue 9:30

Join the NGRA Royalty team as we celebrate spring with this “beach party” fundraiser and show. Shorts and beachwear encouraged. No boots? No shirts? No problem!

·         Every Friday, NGRA Appreciation Night at Charlie’s

Join your NGRA family and friends at Charlie’s.  Wear your name badge or show your ID card for drink specials.