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November 26, 2008
Thanks for being here! This Blog entry is an update to the previous two Blogs about bringing a bigger awareness to the White Ribbon Campaign to Ottawa. (To reiterate...the White Ribbon Campaign is a global effort of men joining together to end violence against women.)
Please read the previous two Blog entries for more info!
Happily, the final touches are being made for the "Men Rocking For Women" concert Saturday Nov. 29 at Barrymore's.
Your presence is very important!
Not only will the show feature Glass Tiger's Alan Frew and awesome bands Heroes Offer Her, Sojourn and Loudlove...but there is a Silent Auction table with AMAZING donated goods.
Thanks to all that contributed prizing!!!
(BTW...the Silent Auction table will be run by some of the awesome girls from the Ottawa Roller Derby League. How cool is that???)
Here's a partial list of goods up for grabs...
- Le Suites Hotel room packages
- Arc Hotel room package
- A pearl necklace
- Pet and Human Spa Gift Baskets
- A DVD Recorder
- Rollerskate Package
- Mamma Mia tickets and other assorted theatre tickets
- Ottawa Senators tickets, merchandise and autographs
- CDs and DVDs autographed by Coldplay, ZZ Top, Eva Avila, Anne Murray, Sarah Brightman and more!
- Assorted DVDs / Blu-ray discs / CDs
- Dinner for Four and Wine Tasting
Thanks to all that donated!!!!!
Momentum for this concert has been huge. Thanks to all the radio stations for the airtime in helping promote it...(Majic, Bob FM, The Bear, CFRA, The Team 1200)
And thanks to the Ottawa newspapers for getting the word out... especially the Ottawa Sun's Earl McRae! To read his article, CLICK HERE...
Sadly, I have been getting e-mails from a faction of angry men denouncing this concert.
It seems the article was posted on-line to a website accessed by a collective of guys who believe I am "misinformed" and are disappointed in my actions in helping raise awareness and funds for assisting women who are victims of abuse.
Guys in various countries have sent me e-mails dripping with pathetic name-calling, insults and hatred. Some even questioned my own childhood. Funny, but sad and true.
The vast majority of the e-mails sent directly to me as per the website missed the point entirely of the focus of the "Men Rocking For Women" concert and the White Ribbon Campaign.
(BTW...I am not listing their website. I do not want them to be inundated with your e-mails denouncing their opinions. This is not about a series of angry, hateful e-mail exchanges. It is about dialogue and listening and hopefully teaching and sharing.)
As I explained to the senders of some pretty angry e-mails that questioned why I wasn't championing men's issues (like female abuse against men etc.), I tried to quite simply again explain that this cause SPEAKS to me...
It is an effort of guys speaking to guys denouncing violence against women.
There is no secret agenda.
There is no conspiracy.
There is certainly no "brainwashing"...as one e-mail accused me of. Aiding and supporting women's shelters is one way the funds will be distributed.
(As some e-mails demanded, I'm not about to debate the validity and importance of women's shelters...I have heard from way too many victims for too many years sharing their heartfelt stories of the shelters' value.)
Funds are also distributed to rape centres. (One e-mail wanted to argue the validity of those.)
The message of the White Ribbon Campaign is a timely one, with recent numerous sexual assaults reported on campuses, unwanted groping by strangers in parks, the rise in date-rape and date-rape drugs, etc.
It's laughable that many believe supporting one charitable endeavor denounces another.
In fact, one of the responses I received accused me of being "too much a feminist" for not caring about guy's issues.
It goes without saying I am against (as we all should be) all forms of violence against both sexes of all ages. It's ridiculous I have to explain this. I shouldn't have to explain why I support the WRC.
By the way...another e-mail accused me of using my "weather specialist" on-air position to spread the word. This initiative isn't my employer's initiative. It is mine.
But collectively with myself and my employer, we support and cover dozens of charities...cancer benefits, men's prostrate cancer initiatives, diabetes, food banks, animal charities, children's charities, men's shelters, homeless charities, senior's charities etc etc.
It saddens me when the spotlight is shone on one particular initiative; there are a few that complain time isn't spent on another. I'm actually quite proud of the time my employer gives to dozens and dozens of worthwhile charities over the course of a single year. No charity is more important than the other.
I offer I have empathy. I have always respected people that possess passion and drive.I do understand many of these guys have become disillusioned with "the system".
Perhaps they dealt with bad relationships, or were on the questionable side of certain court decisions. Or they felt they were the victim in unfair circumstances with the women in their lives.
The possibilities are endless why they would choose to lash out against someone else's interest in women's welfare. But I offer this...I'm glad these guys found each other to find a sense of support amongst each other.
I wish all of them peace and resolution. But their anger is displaced.
It's quite sad I have to repeatedly explain my position. My resolve and effort in helping bring an end to violence against women remains strong.
Please come out Saturday night...bring many! The power from a large crowd sharing positive vibes can possibly lead to the largest group hug this city has ever seen!
Tina M., our office manager has donated much time and effort to help me realize this night. She has been so awesome and a great example of how I have been blessed to know so many awesome ladies.
Again...the bands will be there, very cool prizes donated by some awesome businesses will be there...an energizing and inspiring vibe will be there, many of your fave radio and TV personalities will be there...
will YOU be there?
Thanks for reading!
Your pal,
Bill
"Men Rocking For Women" Benefit Concert and Silent Auction
Featuring Glass Tiger's Alan Frew, Sojourn, Loudlove and Heroes Offer Her.
November 29 at Barrymore's
Tickets at door only $15
November 18, 2008
Hello and thanks for being here! I sure hope you're well! Me personally? Doing great! But lacking much sleep.
Admittedly...it has been a very busy autumn. And it's looking like a very busy late November and December. We here at 'A' News are gearing up for next week's Kidcasters.
Thanks for voting! Paring it down to 10 was hard enough! But YOU have the hardest role...voting for the final 5! Tune in the week of Nov. 24 to see the Final 5 deliver the weather with me.
We're also excited about the "Fame For Food" drive to benefit the Ottawa Food Bank. For more info, click here...
But personally...I have never been so excited and motivated about a project as important as the "Men Rocking For Women" concert I am organizing with our 'A' News Office Manager Tina M.!!!
Funny how things work out. I mentioned to her about a month ago the idea of the need for a benefit for Ottawa's numerous women's shelters.
We talked for a few minutes, and presto...an idea was born! Within a few days, a benefit concert was born and is growing!!!
We have announced the final line-up...
In addition to the recently announced line-up of Glass Tiger's Alan Frew and Ottawa's Heroes Offer Her, two more acts have been added to the "Men Rocking For Women" benefit concert November 29 at Barrymore's.
We are pleased to add big-buzz Ottawa bands Loudlove and Sojourn.
The concert coincides with the U.N. International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Canada's National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.
Proceeds from the concert will benefit numerous Ottawa-area women's shelters and the White Ribbon Campaign.
When I lived in Toronto I was very active with the White Ribbon Campaign for many years. The WRC is a global effort of men joining together to end men's violence against women. When I moved to Ottawa over two years ago, I recognized the need to bring the Campaign here. It is vital to create awareness and dialogue that any violence against women is wrong. It's also vital to recognize the need to assist under-funded and over-crowded women's shelters. These shelters are full of women and their children looking to escape from an abusive relationship. Raising funds for as many shelters as possible is paramount!
When I was a VJ with MuchMusic and MuchMoreMusic, I attended many benefit concerts. And emceed many events and concerts. I have always been impressed by individuals that feel the need to step up and do good for the better of us all...as opposed to be driven by personal gain. Ottawa is such a great community full of many fundraising initiatives for a countless number of charities. But the need to end violence against women has never been dealt with on a large on-going scale. I'm not a concert promoter, but I realized many years ago that a concert brings people together. Music inspires. Music makes you feel good. A positive energy is created. And, a lot of money can be raised.
The "Men Rocking For Women" concert is a step in the right direction to create awareness and dialogue in ending men's violence against women. The night promises to be fun and entertaining for people in their early 20s right up to people in their 60s! Besides great music, there will be a long list of awesome Silent-Auction items available during the evening. I'm in awe of the amount of interest in this concert. Auction items have been donated by the Ottawa Senators, Le Suites Hotel, ARC The Hotel and The Chateau Laurier! In addition to the hotel packages, there are electronics, jewelry, assorted gift baskets and many other cool items.
I will act as the evening's emcee...but will be joined onstage by numerous media personalities. The Ottawa Roller Derby girls will be present too...with a contribution of their own.
The bands have donated their time to entertain. Many businesses have donated items for the auction. My media friends are coming out to show support. The missing key ingredient is a large audience! Please come out...your attendance speaks volumes in ending men's violence against women.
"Men Rocking For Women" Benefit Concert and Silent Auction
Featuring Glass Tiger's Alan Frew, Sojourn, Loudlove and Heroes Offer Her.
November 29 at Barrymore's
Tickets at door only $15
Please mark the date down in your calendar. It would be very awesome to see you there. Tell two friends! Tell them to tell two friends.
Maybe in a few years we won't NEED to do this again.
Thanks for reading.
Your pal,
Bill W.
November 12, 2008
Thanks for being here!
And thanks for all the e-mails regarding your support in launching the White Ribbon Campaign in the Nation's Capital! See October's BLOG for further info.
Kudos go to Anne and Sarah Mathieu for starting up a Facebook site to further the Campaign!!! Check out the page, and by all means, join!
We're still looking for support by way of getting the word out and any prize donations to be used in a silent auction the night of an awesome benefit concert being announced VERY soon!
Stay tuned!!!
Also, stay tuned for our Kidcasters to air the week on November 24. A new feature this year, there are 10 finalists that YOU can vote for on our website!
As always, the Kidcasters week will be awesome. It was very, very difficult to pick 10 (if I had it my way, there'd be 30 Finalists!). Go ahead and vote.
By the way, we've had an unprecedented amount of voters in the first day or two. It will prove very interesting.
All the Kidcasters were great...I'm glad it's not up to us!!!!
Your pal,
Bill W.
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