September 10, 2016 Photo’s by Koitz.
Held at the historic home of Karin Adir.
Bobby Bonanno FIPHPS President:
Have you ever been passionate about something? I hope so. Six years ago I became passionate about the history of the Pines. I like many of you I had been coming out here on and off since the early 80’s, and walked by history every day. On a ferry ride over in early spring of 2010 I overheard a conversation about the new ownership, and how they were planning on changing the name of the Blue Whale.
How could they do that to a building that held so much history? The Tea Dance which celebrated 50 years this season, and is replicated in gay resorts all over the world was created there. From the first AIDS benefit like GMHC Morning Parties, celebrities, designers, Art, and more, to the people and families who made their own history here. And so it began…
I decided to try an unconventional route called social media. New at the time it was growing a trend. Through it we could reach out to the world of a growing younger population who were now discovering the Pines, and a mature population who spent time here in the past.
Mentoring and Remembrance… It is who and what we are about.
Pop-Up Museums, musical events, movie showings, and t shirts with historic logo’s like “Beach.” Our virtual museum called pineshistory.org where anyone from all over the world can learn the incredible history of our magical island. As you might have heard one of our slogans “It’s a history that is yours, mine, and ours.” I am proud of all these accomplishments.
The next generation needs to know that this is not just a place to party. A whole lot of moments happened here that allow the freedom that is theirs to have. Polices raids where people’s lives were exposed and ruined, the many lives lost to AIDS, the Fires, hurricanes and storms that have threatened to take it all away, and the beauty that remains. My passion, my drive for doing all this…is I don’t want one moment of this fabulous fairytale to be a loss.
But I can’t do this alone. Thank you board member’s Scott Bromley, Walter Reich & the late Joyce Reich (who I dedicate this day) Yes Joyce I still hear your voice “Keep on doing what your doing.”, Bo Fridsberg, Marsha Stern, and Mike Rodoff, and all our volunteers who have come on this crazy ride through history with us. DJ Mike Borowski for you unending support. A special thank you to Karin Adir for sharing your life and home with me.
Young people are the future of the Pines. The biggest compliment we get is when a young person says they like what we do. They got it. Somehow our hope is that we are making history hip.
Doing this with the purest intent has drawn others to us to support. So here we are showing you a sample of our vast archives that continue to grow, and for a clear awareness of the importance of what we are trying to achieve. So thank you all for coming. Hopefully now with your support we can move forward in our effort to create the future with the past. How can we know where we are going, if we don’t know where we have been…?
Thank you
Board member’s Scott Bromley, Walter Reich, Bo Fridsberg, Marsha Stern, Mike Rodoff.
Volunteers Tom Burns, Joe Varsolona, Guy Striano, Dale Whelan, Jackie Bomporoloa, Alex Salinas, Nancy Close, Keith Beck, Bill Dubois, Rich Kaplan, Bob Franco.
Karin Adir, DJ Mike Borowski, Robert Weber, Mark & Maureen Schrader, Stephen Daniello, Koitz, Doreen & Bill Katen, Jim Pepper, Donna Schubert, Pepper Fee, Wayne Heyser and to all who came and supported.
