Expose your business

In 2008 the SGLBA have re-introduced the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Business Association Scholarship Program.

The program provides multiple scholarships of $1,500 each to gay and lesbian students to assist with fees related to their course.

Applications opened at the beginning of February, and we have been delighted by the number of applications, scholarships director Greg Reynolds said.

But there are still a few weeks to go so we’re putting the call out to gay and lesbian students to get their applications in right now.

Qualification is simple: applicants must be full-time students in Year Two of Business-related study at any University or TAFE in NSW, and identify themselves as gay or lesbian.

As long as you’re eligible you can submit an application to the SGLBA, Reynolds said.

We ask that it’s not more than two pages long. However, it must detail your course, your Year One results, and some information about yourself.

So if you qualify, put in an application straight away -“ or if you know someone who might benefit from the Scholarship, tell them about it today.

Applications close on 20 March 2008 and should be submitted to: Scholarships Director, Sydney Gay & Lesbian Business Association, PO Box 394, Darlinghurst, NSW 1300.

EXPOSE YOUR BUSINESS

The SGLBA now has several opportunities to help members promote their business.

We really want to encourage our members to use the SLGBA network to grow their business, SGLBA president Scott Quine said.

For 2008 we’ve got some new initiatives and our Fruits and Lemons events are now open as an opportunity to connect directly with members and guests.

The SGLBA now offer the following opportunities for members’ businesses:

Prize Donations

Donate a prize for Fruits in Suits or Lemons With A Twist (or both) and you get great exposure on the night plus your logo, a description of your business and details of your donated prize in the SGLBA’s Fruit Tingle communication which goes to over 1,600 emails.

Sponsor Fruits In Suits or Lemons With A Twist (or both)

When you sponsor Fruits or Lemons, you get co-naming rights for the event, acknowledgement on the SGLBA page (this page) in SSO, the option to donate a prize or make a donation to an SGLBA Good Works Fund charity, exposure through the Fruit Tingle and presence on the night to build a database and demonstrate product.

SGLBA Website Business Directory

In mid-2008 we will launch a new website with an enhanced Member Business listing.

Newsletter Member Spotlights

We have introduced a Member Spotlight section on our newsletters, in which any member can promote their business and even provide special offers to the SGLBA membership.

Fair Day

The SGLBA had a strong response from members wanting to promote their business free of charge from our double stall -“ another benefit of membership.

Queer Professionals Networking Breakfasts

True business networking has never been more fun. Through our Queer Professionals (QP) fortnightly breakfasts we give you the chance to connect with other gay and lesbian business people near you.

THE GOOD WORKS FUND

The Good Works Fund of the SGLBA has historically been a generous giver to many gay and lesbian charities. Due to the growth in membership of the SGLBA and the amazing success of Fruits in Suits and Lemons With A Twist, the SGLBA board has announced an even more active Good Works Fund.

We’ve had such a fantastic response to our fundraising activities that we feel now is a great time to really step up the Good Works Fund activity, SGLBA president Scott Quine said.

It is our intention to make a sizable donation at nearly every Fruits and Lemons over the next six months, to one of the SGLBA-nominated charities. For example, at the February Fruits event, we donated $1,000 to the Luncheon Club.

The board has agreed to make these donations as cheque presentations on the night, so next time you go to Fruits or Lemons, you’ll be able to see your money doing good work for our community.

THANK YOU, KATE SEMKEN

When Kate took over Lemons with a Twist two years ago, we had only 30 women attending this event. Something needed to be done urgently to save it.

Kate with all her boundless energy, single-handedly turned Lemons around to become Sydney’s premier lesbian social and business networking event with over 300 women attending on the first Friday of every month, SGLBA president Scott Quine said.

Without Kate and the on-going support of Slide, the lesbian community would be without one of its great event icons. This is a very public thank you to Kate and a big welcome to our new Lemons director Mary Shalala.

See you all at Lemons in April.

To find out more about SGLBA, visit the website at www.sglba.com.au or email us at [email protected].