EMPIRE BEARS
What's a bear club for? What's a bear club do? Why join?

The Empire Bears provide a safe place for men just coming out to meet other men. It's a place where men with issues of weight, age, or self image can feel safe and nurtured. It's a place in which men who've never touched other men before can hug, kiss, rub a belly, or give a neck or back rub, and not feel threatened or ashamed. It's friends to join for dinner, movies, bowling, theater, concerts, hockey, lacrosse, and a ball game. It's guys getting together to play games and cards. It's singing "Happy Birthday" to a new friend at our Monday night supper. It's congratulating old friends who went to Massachusetts to marry. It's buddies to stay with at gay campgrounds 'cause they've got a site or an extra bed on a busy weekend. It's a chance to join with other men to raise funds and donations for causes such as cancer and diabetes research, AIDS, the GAGV and its archives and youth projects, Image Out, kids in hospitals, the RGMC, and other causes we've supported. It's a network of guys you can count on to be supportive and even sometimes helpful when you need it.

Yes, the EMPIRE BEARS is a social group for men who want to meet and hang out with other men who self identify as Bears, but we're much more. Our members range in age from 20s to 70s, size M to XXXL, smooth to sasquatch. We're happy, accepting, having fun, and want you to have a good time, too. Check us out at http://www.empirebears.org/.

Join us on the first Saturday of any month at the BACHELOR FORUM for Bearnight. Show off some fur and rub tummies with some hot men. There'll be food, fun, frolics, and a raffle.

On the second Saturdays of the month, the Empire Bears host their famous potluck at the GAGV Youth Center, first floor of the Memorial Aud on E Main at 6:30. Each month, September through May, we have a different food theme. Bring a dish to share and we do the rest. Come early, parking's free- just say you're there for the GAGV.

Every Monday, you'll find the Empire Bears at The Coal Tower diner on Schoen Place next to the canal in Pittsford at 6:00. We have supper and laughs, and are served by the best waitress in New York. Becky says, "Hi!"

See ya around town.