GAPA 35 Plus Dinner Meetings January-June 2007 Calendar

Did you just turn 35 ... are you new to the San Francisco Bay Area .. are you just visiting ... or just never been to a "GAPA 35 Plus" gathering? First-time attendees are especially welcome! If you are a gay or bisexual Asian Pacific Islander (API) man, at least 35 years of age, "GAPA 35 Plus" is for you! "GAPA 35 Plus" is all about you! "GAPA 35 Plus" is your voice. Keep it alive and have fun!

GAPA 35 Plus is social and conversational group for gay/bi API guys who are at least 35 years of age. It is a safe space for this group of guys to chat, socialize and learn from each other's experiences. It meets for dinner (usually potluck) once a month (usually the 2nd Sunday), followed by a facilitated discussion of various topics such as relationships, dating, family, being gay/Asian/older, mature men's health issues, retirement planning, coming out later in life, sexual issues, etc. Our conversations are informal. We encourage attendees to participate at their own pace, in whatever way makes them comfortable. Attendance is free and confidentiality is observed. There are usually from 10 to 20 participants.

We meet mostly in San Francisco and at times in the East Bay at the homes of participants. The home setting contributes to a relaxed and casual environment. Even for non-RSVP meetings, attendance confirmation is appreciated. You do not have to be a member of GAPA to attend, but you have to be a gay or bisexual API man, and at least 35 years of age. Be a facilitator or be a host by letting your home be a meeting venue. We will soon need facilitators and hosts for the July-December 2006 Program. Also, recommend to us a future conversation topic of your choice. Contact .

We thank all the current and previous co-coordinators, hosts, co-facilitators and other volunteers for their generosity and dedication!

Topic: "Shouldn't Stay Together/Yet Can't Stay Apart (Co-Dependency Issues)"

Date: 14 January 2007
Facilitator: TBA
Location: 6:00PM at 4836 Gordon Street, Oakland, CA

Open to gay/bi Asian Pacific Islander (API) men at least 35 years of age (including first-time attendees & Bay Area visitors who are gay/bi API men, 35+). Please bring a dish or dessert to share (potluck). "Many of us know couples, gay or straight, who are frequently at odds with each other and should not be together. On the other hand, they can't seem to break away from each other even if it is obvious they should. What factors keep them together? Why can't they break away from each other? Do they actually enjoy and thrive in this type of dysfunctional relationship? Is it difficult to end this or any type of relationship? We know that no relationship is perfect but when do we cross the line into a co-dependent one? From your experience, personal, secondary or by hearsay, you may be able to offer your views and hear other opinions about this kind of relationship." Info: .

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Topic: "Non-Traditional Relationships"

Date: 11 February 2007
Facilitator: TBA
Location: 6pm at 434 39th St, Richmond, CA

Open to gay/bi Asian Pacific Islander (API) men at least 35 years of age (including first-time attendees & Bay Area visitors who are gay/bi API men, 35+). Note: NOT a potluck; buffet dinner will be provided but please bring drinks/dessert. Attendees must RSVP to . "A gay relationship is already considered non-traditional by society in general but in this context, we are referring to those which do not consist of a couple in a committed relationship. What types of non-traditional relationships do you know of? Here we can give certain examples. Can a relationship of two people be in someway non-traditional? How and why? Would a non-traditional realtionship require more than two members? It should be mentioned that due to time limitation, in this session, we are solely concerned with gay human relationships." Info: .

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Topic: "What Are You Doing Tonight? (Dating)"

Date: 11 March 2007
Facilitator: V Baduel
Location: 6pm at Lake Merritt area, Oakland CA (4 blocks from L. Merritt BART stn; Call for exact address: 510-965-1670 or email )

Open to gay/bi Asian Pacific Islander (API) men at least 35 years of age (including first-time attendees & Bay Area visitors who are gay/bi API men, 35+). Please bring a dish or dessert to share (potluck). " Do you recall the first time you ask someone for a date? It tends to be an awkward or uncomfortable situation partly because of the ever-present possibility of rejection and mis-steps. In this meeting, we can recount our experiences with dating, how we felt then and now, what we learned, and we can share those lessons with the group. We will discuss calling for a date, how to handle the date itself, and how to follow up whether we'd like to see him again or not." Info: .

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Topic: "Hobbies and Pastimes"

Date: 8 April, 2007
Facilitator: TBA
Location: 6pm at 29950 Larrabee, Hayward, CA

Open to gay/bi Asian Pacific Islander (API) men at least 35 years of age (including first-time attendees & Bay Area visitors who are gay/bi API men, 35+). Please bring a dish or dessert to share (potluck). "What do you do simply for the joy and pleasure of it? Everyone has some type of hobby or pastime whether it is collecting something (stamps, coins, medals, books, matchbook covers, etc.), a physical activity (hiking, playing an instrument, travelling, tennis, basketball, etc.), or a more sedentary one (watching TV, movies, music, etc.). Tell us about your pastime: how much time do you spend on it; do you belong to a group with the same interest; why do you enjoy it; etc. Who knows? You may find someone in this meeting who has the same interest." Info: .

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Topic: "Legal Lifelines for Seniors: Health Directives, Rights, Wills, Senior Scams, etc."

Date: 6 May 2007
Facilitator: TBA
Location: 6pm at 2470 24th Avenue, San Francisco, CA

Open to gay/bi Asian Pacific Islander (API) men at least 35 years of age (including first-time attendees & Bay Area visitors who are gay/bi API men, 35+). Please bring a dish or dessert to share (potluck). "As we grow older, we begin to realize that there are more and more legal matters we have to take care of due to increasing assets [house, car(s), financial investments, insurance, etc.] and the inevitability of aging and eventually of our own demise. At the same time, there are also people who can and would take advantage of this situation. What do we have to set up and arrange? How can we be sure that these matters are taken care of if we cannot? How can we prevent being defrauded? What are our rights as seniors and, specifically, as gay seniors? With an NCLR speaker, most likely an attorney, you can jot down the questions you have and bring them to this meeting." Info: .

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Topic: "Gay Sex and Recreation"

Date: 10 June 2007
Facilitator: Joey Mendoza
Location: 6pm at 1519 9th Avenue, San Francisco, CA

Open to gay/bi Asian Pacific Islander (API) men at least 35 years of age (including first-time attendees & Bay Area visitors who are gay/bi API men, 35+). Please bring a dish or dessert to share (potluck). "The only factor that makes us different from other API's is our sexual orientation; otherwise our personality traits run the gamut just like straight API's. Therefore it is inevitable that sex is an important topic of interest. In this rap session, we will examine the topic of sex and sexual recreation in their various aspects from sexual attraction to soliciting sex to the sex act itself to the after effects. The safety issue will also be discussed along with any other related matters. Bring you experience, observations, advice, and questions and we'll try to address them." Info: .

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