San Diego LGBT Pride has recognized eight individuals as “volunteers of the year” for 2007, and honored another volunteer who has worked with the organization for 19 years.

Nearly 700 volunteers supported San Diego Pride’s 2007 celebration, which drew 150,000 participants and spectators to the parade and 40,000 visitors to the two-day festival.

Additionally, year-long projects were required for producing the annual event, resulting in opportunities for individuals and groups to contribute their time, talents and resources.

“Every day, individuals make a difference and contribute to the LGBT equal rights movement in our community,” said Ron deHarte, executive director of San Diego Pride. “These awards acknowledge the valuable and selfless contributions that volunteers make on behalf of San Diego Pride.”

Outstanding honorees recognized through San Diego Pride’s Volunteer of the Year Award program are: Steve Walden (parade); Chuck Casteel (entertainment); Karen Bucey (exhibitor relations); Matthew Maguire (sign crew); Susan Concha-Garcia (volunteer recruitment); Ron Lieberman (event set-up); Aaron Willard (ticket sales); and Paul Walker (event and office support).

Additionally, Dan Schaefer received special recognition for his 19 years of volunteer work with Pride.

“Collectively, these individuals represent the hundreds of volunteers who signed up to support San Diego Pride in 2007,” deHarte said. “Without their many hours of support and dedication, the Pride celebration wouldn’t be the success that it was,”

San Diego LGBT Pride fosters pride in and respect for all GLBT communities, locally and globally. Since 1996 it has donated $1.2 million to various organizations within the GLBT community. For more information about San Diego Pride or to sign up for the Pride e-newsletter, visit www.SanDiegoPride.org.

Graphic artists and those with creative imaginations are invited to submit designs for a T-shirt contest being held by San Diego LGBT Pride. Designs must incorporate the 2008 logo, which is available online at www.sandiegopride.org under “T-shirt contest,” as well as the theme and dates of Pride weekend: “Live … Love … Be,” July 19-20, 2008.

The winning designer will receive $250, a T-shirt and two multiday tickets to the Balboa Park festival.

There are no color or style demands, although entries must be received by Feb. 1 as a jpeg image (1050 x 1050 pixels, 150 resolution) or mounted on a 15-by-10-inch black board with the image measuring 7-by-7 inches.

In addition to appearing on T-shirts, the chosen artwork may also be used in a variety of marketing materials, Pride merchandise and other clothing items.

Submissions should be sent to info@sdpride.org or P.O. Box 34366, San Diego, CA 92163. All entries will become the property of San Diego LGBT Pride and will not be returned. For more information, call the Pride office at 619-297-7683.

The University of San Diego will present the fourth annual Institute for Nonprofit Governance, Jan. 11-12, 2008. This year’s institute is titled “Reconsidering Governance: Proven practices, present challenges, promising futures.”

The institute comprises interconnected yet independent days featuring a combination of large group conversations and seminars, along with a comprehensive resource manual and exposure to business resources. Board members and key staff from nonprofit organizations are encouraged to attend.

Participants may attend one or both days. The event aims to inspire and educate boards of directors of nonprofit organizations to their purpose, function, role and history in leadership. Space is limited, so interested groups are encourage to register early.

The event will take place at the University of San Diego’s Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice. Individual registration for one day is $85 and two days is $160. Online registration and event information is available at www.sandiego.edu/nonprofit/events.

The Center’s Marriage Equality and Education Project will host events, called “Freedom to Marry Engagements”, to discuss groundbreaking research and new ways to open hearts and minds about the freedom to marry. The next engagements are set for Tuesday, Jan. 15 and Tuesday, Feb. 5 at 7 p.m. at The Center.

Participants will have the opportunity to learn about the “Let California Ring” campaign and hear about current freedom to marry volunteer activities. For more information, or to RSVP for an engagement, contact Kristi Shaw at 619-692-2077, ext. 206 or at kshaw@thecentersd.org. The Center is located at 3909 Centre St. in Hillcrest.

During every election, the Registrar of Voters needs poll workers to help staff polling places throughout San Diego County. Workers are paid from $75 to $150 depending on their assignment and an additional $15 for workers who are bilingual in Filipino, Spanish and Vietnamese.

Additionally, the county has a number of special programs available aimed at recruiting poll workers from various groups. Community-based organizations can arrange for their members to serve as poll workers, donating their stipends to their organization; businesses can supply poll workers as a corporate community service effort; and high school and college students along with county and state employees have special programs for poll workers in these groups.

For more information, or to sign up to be a poll worker, call 858-565-5800.

The Hillcrest Clean T.E.A.M. and the Hillcrest Town Council will host another community cleanup on Saturday, Jan. 12 from 9 a.m. to noon.

Founded in November 2005, the Hillcrest Clean T.E.A.M. committed to clean the streets of the neighborhood every first and third Sunday in 2006. The group successfully completed that goal, and now hosts quarterly clean-ups.

A dumpster, furnished by Allied Waste, will be located in the parking lot of Numbers at 3811 Park Blvd. for neighbors to discard large items, although refrigerators, paint, oil and electronics will not be accepted.

Those interested in volunteering should meet at The Egyptian on Park Boulevard, south of University Avenue. Brooms and supplies will be available for volunteers.

Visit www.hillquest.com for more information.

The office of Mayor Jerry Sanders has announced that the annual State of the City Address will be presented on Thursday, Jan. 10 at 6 p.m. Mayor Sanders will present the address at the newly restored Balboa Theater located at 854 Fourth Ave. in Horton Plaza.

The public is invited to join the members of the city council as the mayor speaks about the city’s achievements of the past year and challenges the city will face in 2008. The event will also be broadcast live on CityTV Channel 24.

For more information visit the City of San Diego’s Web site at www.sandiego.gov.

The City of San Diego Environmental Services Department will host the 34th Annual Christmas Tree Recycling Program through Jan. 23, 2008. This year’s program will offer 16 drop-off locations available to city residents, as well as curbside pickup for those customers with curbside yard-waste collection.

“Recycling Christmas trees is an important way for San Diegans to help the environment and extend the life of the Miramar Landfill,” said Elmer L. Heap Jr., director of the Environmental Services Department. “Historically, yard clippings and other organic materials, such as Christmas trees have made up over 20 percent of the material buried in the landfill. By recycling Christmas trees, residents help reduce the amount of material in the landfill and give holiday trees a second life as compost, mulch or wood chips.”

Through Jan. 23, 2008, residents can drop off clean trees during daylight hours at any of the following 16 drop-off locations: Carmel Valley Recreation Center (Carmel Valley); Cielo Drive at Woodman Street (Encanto); Golden Hill Recreation Center (Golden Hill); Kate Sessions Memorial Park (La Jolla); Memorial Recreation Center (Logan Heights); Miramar Landfill and Greenery (Miramar); Sea World Drive at Pacific Highway (Mission Bay); Chollas Lake (Oak Park); Robb Athletic Field Recreation Center (Ocean Beach); Montgomery Waller Community Park (Otay Mesa/Nestor); Rancho Bernardo Recreation Center (Rancho Bernardo); Canyonside Recreation Center (Rancho Penasquitos); Parking Lot D off Alvarado Road (San Diego State University); Scripps Ranch Recreation Center (Scripps Ranch); De Portola Middle School (Tierrasanta); and Swanson Pool (University City).

Trees should be dropped off during daylight hours only. Before depositing trees, all tree stands, lights, ornaments and other tree decorations must be removed. No other items should be left at these locations. In addition to clean trees, flocked trees (fake snow) are also accepted.

Trees from commercial tree lots or fund-raising projects will not be accepted at the drop-off locations. Instead, these trees can be dropped off free of charge at the Miramar Greenery, located at 5180 Convoy St., just north of Highway 52.

For more information, visit the City of San Diego’s Environmental Services at www.sandiego.gov/environmentalservices/.

The January LGBT Community Coalition Breakfast will feature Lt. Carolyn Kendrick, the San Diego Police Department’s GLBT community liaison. The breakfast will take place on Friday, Jan. 18 from 7:30-9 a.m. at The Center.

Lt. Kendrick will discuss community empowerment in the areas of safety and crime prevention and reporting. She will also discuss hate incidents and hate crimes, as well as community safety concerns in the Hillcrest and North Park areas and how community members can work together to build a stronger, safer community.

A San Diego native, Kendrick began her tenure with the SDPD in 1979. Her patrol experience includes narcotics, the motorcycle tactical unit, as well as investigative experience in the gang, criminal intelligence and homicide units.

She was promoted to sergeant in 1995 and worked in internal affairs and the neighborhood-policing unit. She was promoted to lieutenant in 2001. Her assignments ranged from watch commander, vice unit, child abuse and sex crimes. She was recently selected by the chief’s office as the LGBT community liaison to replace Lt. Margy Schaufelberger, following Schaufelberger’s retirement.

The Community Coalition Breakfast takes place on the third Friday of each month. Its mission is to bring together fair-minded individuals to network, educate and discuss the diverse issues of concern to GLBT and allied neighbors and citizens of San Diego. A full breakfast is available for a $10 donation; coffee and tea are complimentary. RSVPs are not required. ASL interpretation will be provided upon request, and must be sent to Caroline Dessert at cdessert@thecentersd.org at least seven working days before the event. The Center is located at 3909 Centre St. in Hillcrest.