The weekend of March 24 represents a VERY busy weekend for the community and Oasis is very excited to be part of the calendar.

With so much going on from Friday through Sunday, you'll want to take a break, sit down, have a drink, and have a laugh with Suzanne Westenhoefer all while benefiting a great cause. As America's darling lesbian of comedy, she was the very first openly out comedian to appear on television. She's been on HBO, LOGO, Bravo, David Letterman, and so many others. She's not just an entertainer, she's a true supported of her community helping with planned fundraisers for organizations including our own.

It really is a speacial treat to be able to host Suzanne here in Jacksonville, and at the wonderful and at amazing Florida Theatre to boot! With our 2012 spring and summer initiatives, we have so much planned for the Northeast Florida community and this, our innaugural fundraising event, is important to setting the stage for success. We know many of you out there don't know about Oasis or may think Oasis is something it's not. But what we really want is for you to come out and show your support, get to know us, and even share your ideas.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

OASIS, The LGBT Community Center of Northeast Florida,

Launches Site Search To Select A

New Location To Better Serve the Community

 OASIS Announces New Board Configuration And

Kicks-Off 2012 Fundraising Campaign: “Live Up”

 

Jacksonville, Florida – January 19, 2012 – OASIS, The GLBT Center of Northeast Florida, today announced that it has begun a search to find a new location to call home.  The Center has been located at 323 East Union Street in Jacksonville, a neighborhood in Jacksonville’s downtown Urban Core.  The current lease for this space has come to an end.  Areas in Jacksonville that are being reviewed for the new home for OASIS are the Riverside, San Marco, Five Points and Murray Hill neighborhoods.  

OASIS Executive Director, Russ Martin said, “OASIS has determined that a more accessible location, in a more accessible building with a floor plan that better supports our programming will help us serve the GLBT community in Northeast Florida in a more holistic way.  As OASIS grows and evolves to its next stage of development, location is important for the Center to be an available, reliable and safe community resource for GLBT audiences.” 

Mr. Martin continued, “In 2011 OASIS launched key programs, including free HIV / AIDS and STD testing in partnership with the Duval County Health Department.  We need to continue and develop this kind of outreach, widening the reach and frequency of such programs in order to make the greatest impact.  To achieve these goals, we must make our Center as welcoming and functional as possible.”   

Russ Martin – Executive Director – OASIS, The GLBT Center of Northeast Florida
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Multi-Media Advertising Consultant – AT&T Advertising Solutions
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Russ worked for the Florida Times-Union for the past 11 years in various positions including Circulation District Manager, Retention Call Center Manager, Military Publications Sales Manager, and community news at Shorelines. He recently left FTU for AT&T.
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He is a former Navy Chaplain. He has a bachelor’s degree in communications and a master’s degree in theology. Russ is divorced and has two children.
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Russ has been very involved in the Jacksonville GLBT community for many years. Formerly serving on the Out In The City newspaper staff as a writer/photographer, covering both local and national GLBT events. Russ is an Eagle Scout and Lifetime Member or the National Eagle Association. He also serves as an ambassador for the Ponte Vedra Beach Chamber of Commerce.

Dan Flood – New Media & Web Master – OASIS, The GLBT Center of Northeast Florida