Q-MoB Community Strategic Planning Gathering & Potluck (Pittsfield, MA)

OUR GROWTH HAS TAUGHT US ABOUT LOOMING CHALLENGES OUR COMMUNITY FACES: In the last 2 years, Q-MoB has grown rapidly from 26 subscribers to more than 800, and from 6 events/month in the South Berkshires, to 25 events/month in the 8 rural counties in 4 states that make up the Greater Berkshire Region. In the more than 450 activitiess we have organized the diversity of men we serve has also grown -- so we are now serving rapidly growing numbers of men under 40, Latino/LatinX men, immigrants, neurodivergent men, elders over 70, men with chronic illness, men with mobility challenges, trans men, and men who want to stay in the Berkshires but are struggling with rapidly rising rents, lack of living wage jobs, and a lack of mentorship & a network that can help them turn their dreams into reality.

By serving so many different men in so many parts of our large rural region, we've identified three tidal waves that are about to hit our local queer community that will create huge challenges & opportunities, and we invite you to join us at our Strategic Planning Gathering as we build the vision, team & timeline we'll need to provide meaningful, practical community responses to these three tidal waves:

1. RAPID GROWTH OF ELDERS: In the next 5 years a record number of local queer men (the boomers) will transition into their 70s and 80s, and as they do, they will face much more frequent and extreme challenges to their health, mobility, housing, finances, and level of isolation, and they will need a much more diverse group of friends & advocates to help them navigate a rural healthcare and aging care system in the Berkshires that is struggling already, and under the MAGA regime will likely experience significant cuts. The number of men over 60 is the only demographic in the Berkshires that is growing.
2. RAPID LOSS OF YOUNGER QUEER MEN: Because of rapid gentrification in the Berkshires, our younger generations are finding it almost impossible to stay in the Berkshires because of rapidly rising housing costs (both rents & home prices), and the severe lack of living wage jobs, compounded with a lack of effective ways to meet queer men their age to network with, date, or befriend.
3. HOMOPHOBIC MAGA CAMPAIGNS ARE THREATENING RURAL COUNTIES & FEDERAL ROLL BACKS OF BASIC QUEER CIVIL RIGHTS & HEALTCARE: MAGA's Project 2025 & the new Congressional majority are promising to eliminate the mention of gender equality & sexual orientation in all federal civil rights legislation and all other legislation, and put in place homophobic policies, and to cut Medicaid, Medicare, and social security, and the MAGA endorsed Department of Government Efficiency has promised to cut $2 Trillion from the federal government. In Columbia County, Rensselaer, and even Bennington Counties we are seeing the rapid rise of homophobic MAGA extremism. We are very likely going to have to dramatically improve our local queer mutual support systems as federal cuts to healthcare & social security, mass deportations of local queer immigrants, and demonization of queer people challenge many of our queer neighbors in difficult and even dangerous ways.

THREE TEAMS WILL PLAN OUR 2025 PRIORITIES, TEAMS & TIMELINES: Please join one of these 3 teams during the Strategic Planning Gathering so they can build practical annual visions, teams, & timelines:

1. Strategic Planning/Budget/Fundraising Team: designs & implements Q-MoB's strategic planning process & then turns that into practical budgets & fundraising. Send Us a Note to Learn More.
2. Program/Diversity/Resources: assures that Q-MoB's programs & resources reflect the broad needs, visions, & geography of the rural queer men who live in the parts of 8 counties in 4 states that make up the Greater Berkshire Region. Send Us a Note to Learn More.
3. Communications/Web/IT Team: designs the communication, website, & information tools Q-MoB's subscribers, volunteers, & leaders need to explore & manifest their potential for wellness, community, & fun. Send Us a Note to Learn More.

WHAT TO BRING:

• A dish and/or non-alcoholic beverage to share with about 6 other people. Please make a small sign for your dish that discloses if it contains any of these common allergens/restrictions: dairy, gluten, eggs, meat/chicken/fish, nuts/peanuts, MSG, preservatives, food colors, alcohol, caffeine, sugar, soy, vegan, vegetarian, paleo, etc.
• Queer male friends who are as diverse as possible so we can hear from and empower the diversity of our community
• Your calendar, a notepad, and your address book
• $15-$25 Tax Deductible Donation payable online or in cash or check made out to "Q-MoB Inc" to pay for the use of the speedmatchapp, the space, and to support Q-MoB's more than 25 social, recreation/wellness, & arts/culture activities every month and resources and services for rural queer men in the parts of 8 counties in 4 states that make up the Greater Berkshire Region. IMPORTANT: If you don't want to donate for every Q-MoB event you attend, you can instead become a monthly donor member for $25, $50, $75, $100 or more tax-deductible MONTHLY donation, and then you don't have to donate at every Q-MoB event you attend.

CARPOOLING/RIDE-SHARE: Carpooling is a great way to get to know other men, save money on gas, and help to reduce your carbon footprint and save the planet. If you need a ride or are open to carpooling with men who live near you, please indicate that when you are registering, & our ride coordinator will try to match you with people nearby who are interested in carpooling or offering rides.

REACHING US DAY OF EVENT: If on the day of the event you have trouble finding us, will be a little late, or can't make it, please call/text Bart at 503-734-6508

Host or Publisher Q-MoB (Queer Men of the Berkshires)