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History
This is a history and background on the Womynspace Coffeehouse, which was active from 1989 to about 2000.
It was written by Donna Kellison, also known as Kel or Aunt Killer. It was written some time in 1994.
Womynspace Coffeehouse Newsletter Occasional
Greetings from the office/studio/bedroom of Kel! This letter is my attempt at a small newsletter which will be published sporadically during this year. My product in no way tries to imitate those glorious issues that Lynne S. and Jo published. Nor do I pland to become sole editor (or publisher) of this newsletter. I hope there will be many other editors and contributors in future issues. This has always been, and will continue to be – OUR newsletter.
HERSTORY
It was those visionary womyn, "the founding mothers," who started the womyns gathering tradition in this area such as:
Pat S. who in 1988, invited women into her home in the spring and at Christmas to join in a celebration of womyn. It was a party as well as a feat which included womyns music (on tape) and our own lively conversations.
After visiting a womyns group in Cleveland, Joy came up with the idea to establish a womyns coffeehouse in Erie.
Mary Lou was the catalyst fpr changing the coffeehouse idea into reality. By approaching the Sisters of Mercy she was able (with the help of Joy and Tish Donze) to secure a meeting place at the GROW Center on a monthly basis.
Cathering R. printed the first coffeehouse announcement which invited womyn to the first Womynspace Coffeehouse on Oct. 7, 1989
Noreen, Barb D., Dor K. and Joy K. organized the actual event. They prepared Lez Fizz (punch) and Desert Tarts for refreshments. They organized a small art show and a poetry reading for the evening.
In Sept. 1993, just prior to the 4th anniversary of Womynspace, the GROW Center was forced to move due to the sale of the building. GROW combined with the womens’ shelter, Hope House, at the Holy Rosary convent. Tish Donze, director of GROW, explained that it would be impossible for Womynspace to continue meeting at the new GROW location because the women’s shelter was a 24 hour facility.
Barb D. arranged for Womynspace to meet Oct 2nd at the 1st United Methodist Church. The future location of the coffeehouse was discussed. Options were limited but it was decided that the Unitarian Universalist Congregation would be suitable.
Robin Green, as a member of the U.U., agreed to be the sponsor for Womynspace. On Nov. 6th the first coffeehouse at the UU was attended. The coffeehouse continues to meet at the UU Congregation monthly.
PURPOSE
These coffeehouse gatherings provided a welcoming and safe pace to be themselves in a relaxed atmosphere. The coffeehouse has been an alternative space from the bars where womyn could talk without yelling over dance music, breathe smokeless air and enjoy each other’s company in an alcohol-free environment.
The coffeehouse has provided a place for womyn new to this area to meet other women. The coffeehouse has been a place to network for causes and plan activities. It has been a place to meet old friends and make new ones.
CONCERNS
Since the demise of the Lynne/Jo newsletter and subsequently the move of the coffeehouse from G.R.O.W. to the U.S., attendance has decreased. The April coffeehouse was attended by 12 womyn, a gathering which was regularly attended by forty when it was located at G.R.O.W. and the Lynne/Jo newsletter was a regular and substantial part of the whole experience.
My concern is not merely for attendance numbers. My concern is that our womyns community is dissolving and I for one do not wish to return to the darker ages, B.C., before coffeehouse. I remember it as a time when the bar was the only social outlet apart from the softball fields. I recall the tightly knit cliques that were not particularly welcoming of new members. And let us not forget the closet.
Comparatively speaking, there have been many contributions made to our community by the coffeehouse. And the newsletter threaded us together by sharing out experiences and adventures. The newsletter went way beyond listing upcoming events and reporting on past events. We were appl;auded for gread deeds and small favors. We were all thanked and acknowledged. No one was left out from a kind word of support so rarely found in the world in which we work and live.
FUTURE
We have many things to consider about our community. Have we finished building our womyns community or just briefly paused at the beginning of construction? Does our community require a coffeehouse, a newsletter, and activities? Or will a few component parts suffice? If we elect to keep the coffeehouse going, what changes do we make to improve it? Shall we re-locate it? Do we want to simplify the operation of the coffeehouse by discontinuing the host program? Would the coffeehouse be easier to maintain it it were bi-monthly or even quarterly? Should these meetings be pot-luck or shall we just serve coffee? We can make our gatherings anything we want. But we should not lose sight of what the coffeehouse is for. The coffeehouse is a welcoming place for lesbian and bisexual women. It is an alternative space from the bars for womyn to meet, socialize and plan other activities.
SUPPORT
I encourage you to attend your coffeehouse as often as you can. Support it in anyway that you can. Support our womyns community. Support the Gay community. Attend the dances, the concerts and all of the other activities that are for les/bi/gay people.
The Womynspace coffeespace is coming up on its fifth anniversary. In oct. 1994, please join us in this celebration. But until then, please show your support by attending each month so that we may continue these gatherings for years to come.
IN MEMORIAM
Catherine Rettger, OSB, died April 18, 1994. She was 63.
Sister Catherine was a member of Integrity and a founding mother of the Womynspace coffeehouse. She was an elementary and secondary teacher for 20 years. She was the editor of a newsletter published by Communication Ministry, Inc. C.M.I. is a national organization that “promotes the integration of sexuality, spirituality, and ministry for lesbian/gay religious and clergy.” As a founding mother of Womynspace, Sister Catherine was instrumental in notifying womyn about the (then) new coffeehouse by printing an announcement reproduced here on page 3 [not included in this version of newsletter]. She will be missed by the womyn at the coffeehouse and her efforts to promote the coffeehouse will be remembered and appreciated.
It was written by Donna Kellison, also known as Kel or Aunt Killer. It was written some time in 1994.
Womynspace Coffeehouse Newsletter Occasional
Greetings from the office/studio/bedroom of Kel! This letter is my attempt at a small newsletter which will be published sporadically during this year. My product in no way tries to imitate those glorious issues that Lynne S. and Jo published. Nor do I pland to become sole editor (or publisher) of this newsletter. I hope there will be many other editors and contributors in future issues. This has always been, and will continue to be – OUR newsletter.
HERSTORY
It was those visionary womyn, "the founding mothers," who started the womyns gathering tradition in this area such as:
Pat S. who in 1988, invited women into her home in the spring and at Christmas to join in a celebration of womyn. It was a party as well as a feat which included womyns music (on tape) and our own lively conversations.
After visiting a womyns group in Cleveland, Joy came up with the idea to establish a womyns coffeehouse in Erie.
Mary Lou was the catalyst fpr changing the coffeehouse idea into reality. By approaching the Sisters of Mercy she was able (with the help of Joy and Tish Donze) to secure a meeting place at the GROW Center on a monthly basis.
Cathering R. printed the first coffeehouse announcement which invited womyn to the first Womynspace Coffeehouse on Oct. 7, 1989
Noreen, Barb D., Dor K. and Joy K. organized the actual event. They prepared Lez Fizz (punch) and Desert Tarts for refreshments. They organized a small art show and a poetry reading for the evening.
In Sept. 1993, just prior to the 4th anniversary of Womynspace, the GROW Center was forced to move due to the sale of the building. GROW combined with the womens’ shelter, Hope House, at the Holy Rosary convent. Tish Donze, director of GROW, explained that it would be impossible for Womynspace to continue meeting at the new GROW location because the women’s shelter was a 24 hour facility.
Barb D. arranged for Womynspace to meet Oct 2nd at the 1st United Methodist Church. The future location of the coffeehouse was discussed. Options were limited but it was decided that the Unitarian Universalist Congregation would be suitable.
Robin Green, as a member of the U.U., agreed to be the sponsor for Womynspace. On Nov. 6th the first coffeehouse at the UU was attended. The coffeehouse continues to meet at the UU Congregation monthly.
PURPOSE
These coffeehouse gatherings provided a welcoming and safe pace to be themselves in a relaxed atmosphere. The coffeehouse has been an alternative space from the bars where womyn could talk without yelling over dance music, breathe smokeless air and enjoy each other’s company in an alcohol-free environment.
The coffeehouse has provided a place for womyn new to this area to meet other women. The coffeehouse has been a place to network for causes and plan activities. It has been a place to meet old friends and make new ones.
CONCERNS
Since the demise of the Lynne/Jo newsletter and subsequently the move of the coffeehouse from G.R.O.W. to the U.S., attendance has decreased. The April coffeehouse was attended by 12 womyn, a gathering which was regularly attended by forty when it was located at G.R.O.W. and the Lynne/Jo newsletter was a regular and substantial part of the whole experience.
My concern is not merely for attendance numbers. My concern is that our womyns community is dissolving and I for one do not wish to return to the darker ages, B.C., before coffeehouse. I remember it as a time when the bar was the only social outlet apart from the softball fields. I recall the tightly knit cliques that were not particularly welcoming of new members. And let us not forget the closet.
Comparatively speaking, there have been many contributions made to our community by the coffeehouse. And the newsletter threaded us together by sharing out experiences and adventures. The newsletter went way beyond listing upcoming events and reporting on past events. We were appl;auded for gread deeds and small favors. We were all thanked and acknowledged. No one was left out from a kind word of support so rarely found in the world in which we work and live.
FUTURE
We have many things to consider about our community. Have we finished building our womyns community or just briefly paused at the beginning of construction? Does our community require a coffeehouse, a newsletter, and activities? Or will a few component parts suffice? If we elect to keep the coffeehouse going, what changes do we make to improve it? Shall we re-locate it? Do we want to simplify the operation of the coffeehouse by discontinuing the host program? Would the coffeehouse be easier to maintain it it were bi-monthly or even quarterly? Should these meetings be pot-luck or shall we just serve coffee? We can make our gatherings anything we want. But we should not lose sight of what the coffeehouse is for. The coffeehouse is a welcoming place for lesbian and bisexual women. It is an alternative space from the bars for womyn to meet, socialize and plan other activities.
SUPPORT
I encourage you to attend your coffeehouse as often as you can. Support it in anyway that you can. Support our womyns community. Support the Gay community. Attend the dances, the concerts and all of the other activities that are for les/bi/gay people.
The Womynspace coffeespace is coming up on its fifth anniversary. In oct. 1994, please join us in this celebration. But until then, please show your support by attending each month so that we may continue these gatherings for years to come.
IN MEMORIAM
Catherine Rettger, OSB, died April 18, 1994. She was 63.
Sister Catherine was a member of Integrity and a founding mother of the Womynspace coffeehouse. She was an elementary and secondary teacher for 20 years. She was the editor of a newsletter published by Communication Ministry, Inc. C.M.I. is a national organization that “promotes the integration of sexuality, spirituality, and ministry for lesbian/gay religious and clergy.” As a founding mother of Womynspace, Sister Catherine was instrumental in notifying womyn about the (then) new coffeehouse by printing an announcement reproduced here on page 3 [not included in this version of newsletter]. She will be missed by the womyn at the coffeehouse and her efforts to promote the coffeehouse will be remembered and appreciated.
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