Re: Hyndburn Mela
 

Eh? I hope you're joking, Gayle. My understanding is that lottery funding is only made on the basis of long-term benefit..............Can you please expain to me why 17K or whatever it is is being thrown away on 6 hours of gibberish?

Can you please advise how Staggers and me can have 17K from the lottery for this summer's Church Beer Fest. We might be able to do it with 15K, but no less (money that his - we need him).

Re: Hyndburn Mela
 

The long term benefit is that you get a multic cultural community that is prepared to work together. The money is not thrown away and it is not gibberish - you're undermining a lot of hard work and enthusiasm by dismissing it in that way. You're also fueling all the racist arguments that have caused so much trouble in the past.

As for your other questions - if I thought for one minute that you were seriously capable of organising an event that 5,000 people came to then I might seriously consider applying for the funding for you.

Re: Hyndburn Mela
 

I trust then, there will be a gay & lesbian stand; I'm sure there are a few members of the Accy web who would be prepared to 'man'it.

Re: Hyndburn Mela
 

Yes, if any gay/lesbian groups wanted to pitch up then yes, we would let them.

By the way, we also let southerners in as well - see, it's open to everyone!

Re: Hyndburn Mela
 

Yes, the few traders that we allow in do pay for the stall, which goes towards the general pot for putting the event on. We don't allow that many traders as it turns it into a commercial venture which it isn't intended to be.

Re: Hyndburn Mela
 

Its easy, Gayle - when you know how! Stick the cheque in the post (Stag, Bank Street, Church) and we will show you.

Re: Hyndburn Mela
 

If only it were so easy.

Send me your completed proposal for the event and I'll get you an application form.

Re: Hyndburn Mela
 

I have never been to the Mela, so can't comment. I would however like to say that events such as this may be laid on to help cultures integrate. In my experience of such events (although on a smaller scale), the people who want to get out there and integrate with their local multi-cultural community will do so. Those who need to integrate usually don't want to, no matter what free services we throw at them and are quite content to have everybody tippy toeing around them and giving them information in their own languages.

I will probably have a look at the Mela this year, but I'm willing to put money on there being loads of people that I know there from ethnic minorities who always attend events, and those who we would like to see there won't attend.

Re: Hyndburn Mela
 

So there would be no objections from the other exhibitors and artists should a gay & lesbian group set up a stall?

Re: Hyndburn Mela
 

Can't argue in some respects and yes, there are people on all sides who don't want to integrate. But if you don't put opportunities out there then no one benefits.

Re: Hyndburn Mela
 

Re: Hyndburn Mela
 

Why do you think that there would be objections?

Re: Hyndburn Mela
 

Eventually, you've stopped calling it MPAA - so you have been listening to me after all. Now, if you could only pay attention to the fact that it's a mela and not a mele.....lol

Re: Hyndburn Mela
 

Only precedence from Mele's here in London (there was one in Tower Hamlets several years ago where the gay stall was pitched next to one of the local Islamist societies; I recall one of the gays was murdered). Maybe the Koran is read differently back in Accy.

Re: Hyndburn Mela
 

I know I will regret this……Tealeaf she’s beating you hand over fist. Not only is this woman strong, she’s funny as well. I think her Kiwi’s might be bigger than yours……..