Mayor Jerry Sanders declared a Water Emergency pursuant to Municipal Code Sections 67.3801-67.3811 on July 28, 2008. Further, the City Council determined that a water shortage could exist based upon increased demand or limited supply. As a result, Stage 1 Voluntary Compliance Water Watch is being implemented and San Diegans are being asked to voluntarily save water and increase their water conservation efforts whenever possible.

Under this Stage 1 Voluntary Compliance Water Watch, San Diegans are being asked to voluntarily eliminate certain water use behaviors which would otherwise be mandatory under a Stage 2 Water Alert. The city’s Web site lists the voluntary water conservation measures that are in place during the Stage 1 emergency.

In addition, under a declared water emergency, wasteful or unreasonable use of water is strictly prohibited.

San Diegans are being asked to curtail their indoor and outdoor water usage in any way they can. For tips on saving water and a complete list of water conservation programs offered by the City of San Diego Water Department, visit www.sandiego.gov/water or call 619-515-3500.

The Southwest Region of Scouting For All will host its annual rally and protest in front of the local Boy Scout headquarters on Sunday, Oct. 5 from 11 a.m. to noon. The purpose of the rally is to protest and bring attention to what Scouting For Alll calls the Boy Scouts of America’s (BSA) exclusionary policies.

Scouting For All is assembling a diverse group of speakers from the GLBT, straight, non-theist, and faith-based communities to protest against the BSA’s policies of exclusion. Current BSA national policy specifically excludes youth who are gay, atheist or agnostic. Additionally, the BSA excludes youth who are the children of GLBT or non-theist parents. Scouting For All seeks to persuade the public to exert influence on the BSA so that all children and adults are once again welcome participants in the scouting program.

The mission of Scouting For All is to advocate on behalf of its members and supporters for unbiased values of scouting as expressed and embodied in the Scout Oath and the Scout Law, and to influence the BSA to serve and include as participating members all youth and adult leaders, regardless of their spiritual belief, gender, or sexual orientation.

The community is encouraged to attend and participate in the protest. For more information, contact Brenda Watson at 760-747-4114 or Howard Menzer at 619-229-1612.

The local Boy Scout Headquarters are located at 1207 Upas St. in Hillcrest.

The fifth annual Transgender Community Picnic is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 27 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Balboa Park. The event is hosted by Project STAR and the Transgender Advocacy and Services Center (TASC).

Everyone is invited to attend this free, fun community event. Attendees are asked to bring a side dish to share.

Project STAR offers case-management, referral and supportive services for transgender persons at high risk for HIV and STDs, transition related issues, monitored hormone therapy, and those individuals experiencing barriers accessing health and social services. Project services are offered in English and Spanish.

TASC seeks to identify the needs of the transgender community, educate itself and others regarding those needs and advocate to make resources a reality. TASC’s goals are to make sure that transgender voices are heard in the greater community, to help the transgender community find it’s place as a group and as individuals, and to act as a platform to help the community create the support network necessary to live healthy and happy lives.

The picnic will take place at Balboa Park along Sixth Avenue just beyond the Upas Street entrance. A transgender flag will be posted for identification. For more information contact Tracie at 619-515-2411 or Paola at 619-515-2446, ext. 2943.

Tickets for the San Diego Democratic Club’s (SDDC) annual Freedom Banquet are available. Guests are encouraged to purchase tickets now, as early bird rates are in effect until Aug. 31.

The 2008 event will be held on Saturday, Sept. 27 with a VIP reception at 6 p.m. followed by the general reception at 6:30 p.m., and dinner and program at 7:30 p.m. California Assembly Speaker Karen Bass will present the keynote address at the event which will take place at The Hyatt Regency Resort.

The SDDC’s annual awards will also be presented at the banquet, including the presentation of the A. Brad Truax award to California Assemblymember John Laird and a special recognition award to The Center Advocacy Project’s “Decline to Sign” team effort.

Single tickets are available for $90 before Sept. 1, and tables are available for $900. VIP tickets and tables are also available for a slightly higher rate.

More information and tickets are available online at www.sddemoclub.org.

The Hyatt Regency Resort is located at 14441 Quivira Rd. on Mission Bay.

San Diego Grantmakers and the University of San Diego Caster Family Center for Nonprofit Research have announced the release of a new study that examines foundation and corporate giving in the San Diego region. The results of the study will be presented on Sept. 16 at 8 a.m. at the University of San Diego’s Warren Auditorium.

The analysis provides insights into philanthropic support of the San Diego nonprofit sector. Areas examined by the study include the size of local grantmaking and growth trends in the area; the types of nonprofits that are most likely to be the recipients of foundation and corporate grants; what areas of the county are granted most heavily; the amount of private grants coming in and out of San Diego; and how organized philanthropy in San Diego compares to other regions.

Philanthropists, nonprofit organizations, policymakers, media, business and community leaders, professional advisors, and others interested in the study are invited to attend the free presentation. Seating is limited so advance reservations are required. Directions and parking information will be sent upon registration.

To RSVP, please contact Carmen Valencia at cvalencia@sandiego.edu or call 619-260-8839.

Comedienne Joan Rivers will perform a show on Sunday, Oct. 12 and will donate a portion of the evening’s proceeds to the “No on 8” campaign. The 8 p.m. show will be held at the Birch North Park Theater.

Rivers, a comedic legend, is well known as a hilarious force of nature and one of the hardest working celebrities in the world. Although most people know her for her “red carpet” hosting and time on the Tonight Show, she is also a Tony-nominated actress, best-selling author and Emmy Award-winning television talk-show host.

Tickets for the show start at $53 and can be purchased online at www.birchnorthparktheatre.net. VIP and dinner packages are also available at Hawthorn’s Restaurant Lounge.

The No on 8 campaign is working to ensure that California voters cast a “no” vote on Proposition 8, which the initiative that will be placed on the Nov. 4 ballot that would change the California Constitution to make marriage only legal between a man and a woman. Information about the No on 8 campaign is available online at www.noonprop8.com.

The Birch North Park Theater is located at 2891 University Ave. in North Park.

As local universities gear up for the new school year, the University of California, San Diego and San Diego State University will host events to welcome GLBT students to the campuses.

As part of the sixth annual Welcome Week Community Reception Series, the SDSU Department of Intercultural Relations will host a series of receptions designed to welcome incoming students who share similar backgrounds and cultural experiences. Students will have the opportunity to learn how to get involved on campus and in the community by interacting with student organizations, faculty and staff. The GLBT Community Reception will be held Wednesday, Sept. 3 from 6-7 p.m. in the Aztec Center Council Chambers. All new and returning students, along with faculty and staff are welcome to attend.

At UCSD, the campus LGBT Resource Center will host its annual Q-Camp, which will help acquaint students with the campus’ GLBTQI-specific organizations, help students make connections with continuing and other incoming students, allow students to get connected with resources on and off campus, and give students an opportunity to ask questions about GLBTQI life at UCSD. Q-Camp will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 24 from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the UCSD LGBT Resource Center. Students are asked to register for the event on the UCSD LGBT Resource Center Web site.

For more information about the SDSU reception and other Welcome Week activities visit www.sa.sdsu/edu/welcomeweek.

For more information about UCSD’s Q-Camp and other GLBT community activities visit lgbtrc.ucsd.edu.

San Diego LGBT Pride is seeking qualified candidates for its board of directors. Board members should possess the vision, talent and leadership to oversee the governance of the organization that produces San Diego’s annual Pride festivities.

Interested individuals should send a resume and brief statement regarding why they would like to serve on the board of directors to secretary@sdpride.org. For more information, visit www.sandiegopride.org/33/Board_of_Directors.htm.

The mission of San Diego Pride is fostering pride and respect for all gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender communities, locally and globally.