Written by:
Katie Peoples
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this Issue of Curve:
Vol. 17#9
The Austin Human Rights Campaign had a similar problem as other cities – they didn’t have a lot of female members. So volunteers asked themselves, “how do we open the door?’
Inspired by Dinah Shore and The L Word premier parties, Lynn Yeldell, came up with the idea of holding a dance party that would bring women together and also increase membership.
Yeldell thought, “What if we could do that in Austin, Texas?” But with a lack of girl bars in Austin, the HRC had to get creative. So two members, David Garza and Dr. John Hogg, offered their lake house on Lakeshore Drive for the event–thus, Dinah Lakeshore.
The event, which begins with a water taxi on one end of Lake Austin and ends on the other at Lakeshore Drive has “no meat-market feel,” according to Yeldell, who said the goal of the event was to create a fun place for women to mingle.
Each ticket – $35 for advance and $55 for VIP – includes a one-year HRC membership and can be gifted to a friend or family member if you already belong.
Dinah Lakeshore was so popular last year that it has become the party to go to in Austin and has been used as an example on how to increase membership for HRC chapters around the country.
This year’s event has a private island feel, which can hold up to 350 people, will include burlesque dancers and bartenders and is expected to sell out.
“It’s definitely the largest community event,” says Katy Farrar, this year’s Dinah Lakeshore organizer.
This year’s Dinah Lakeshore will be held on Saturday, September 8, from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at www.hrc.org/dinahlakeshore. For more information, contact Katy Farrar, at (512) 300-5539.
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