Memorial Gathering for Julia Vinograd

As most or all of you know, Julia Vinograd passed away very peacefully on the morning of December 5. There will be a gathering to honor and celebrate her life, as Honorary Poet Laureate of Berkeley and the Bubble Lady of Telegraph Avenue, and all around magnificent and inspiring human being, on Sunday, January 6. The gathering will include a potluck and a microphone for folks to speak briefly or read a poem.

Chapter 510 & the Department of Make Believe, a non-profit focused on youth literacy in the East Bay, have graciously offered their space to us free of charge for this memorial. We will have a box at the door for donations to their organization, which is doing fabulous work, and if you can help them out with $5-10 or more, that would be great. But it is absolutely not required, and please, please come regardless.

Here’s their website so you can check out what they do.http://www.chapter510.org/what-we-do

SHARE THIS INVITE WITH FRIENDS! FACEBOOK WILL ONLY LET ME SEND OUT SO MANY. Either use the Share button to invite your (or Julia’s) friends, or paste the info or event address (www) into an email.

Here’s the schedule for the afternoon.

1:30 — POTLUCK (to go throughout the day)

Please bring a dish or beverage to share if you can. It’s fine to bring beer or wine, and of course non-alcoholic bevs are welcomed. We’ll have some paper plates, plastic forks, paper towels, and cups on hand, but feel free to bring a few of those if you think of it. I’m sure we could use extra.

The space has tables to eat at as well as folding chairs and couches. If you’re at a table and not eating, and see someone who needs a seat to eat, please oblige them. We’ll try to have enough chairs out for everyone, of course.

2 – 5 pm — OPEN MIC TO READ OR SPEAK

We’ll provide a microphone for any and all who want to speak about Julia’s life, or read a poem, either their own or Julia’s. We’ll have some of her books there to read from if you like.

There will be a list to SIGN UP TO SPEAK by the side of the stage. Just ask the person at the door if you can’t find it.

Please plan to speak no more than 3 MINUTES, or one poem. We’re expecting a lot of folks will want to, so that would be a big help. We’ll have a series of hosts to call out who’s next to read.

It’s a pretty big space, so if you want to talk, please do quietly toward the back of the room (by the front windows), or in the lobby, so that folks can hear the speakers.

We will also have some of Julia’s books on sale by the door.

WE NEED

— A crew to set up beforehand
— A crew to clean up afterward (important! we said we’d leave the place spotless)
— A few folks to help with the donation box at the door, and to greet folks and answer questions
— A few folks to help with hosting, basically taking turns for 30-60 minutes calling out who’s next to speak

If you’re able to help, please send a private message to Richard Loranger on here, or email him at hello@richardloranger.com.

Let’s gather for Julia, who will be with us for a long time to come.