The Lawyers Club of San Diego and Run Women Run are hosting its annual Political Boot Camp at AMN Healthcare on Saturday, Oct. 17 at 10:30 a.m. The event features more than 20 local elected officials, political consultants and campaign managers whom will provide nuts-and-bolts training on running for office, including fundraising, the mechanics of getting on the ballot, honing a candidate’s message and managing political campaigns. The training will give a special emphasis on breaking down the barriers that prevent women from participating in the political process.

The event includes a luncheon with a keynote speaker and will conclude with a reception where participants can meet and network with local candidates, political officials and others involved in the political process.

The program costs $50 for Lawyers Club, Run Women Run and SDCBA members who pre-register and $60 for non-members and late registration. AMN Healthcare is located at 13400 High Bluff Drive in Carmel Valley. To register, visit www.lawyersclubsandiego.com. For more information, e-mail Amy Lepine at amy@lepinelaw.com or Jodi Cleesattle at jodi.cleesattle@doj.ca.gov.

San Diego Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Pride will host the Consolidated Association of Pride Incorporated’s (CAPI) annual conference at the Sheraton Mission Valley on Jan. 21-24, 2010.

“This unique conference aims to inspire and educate. It is a time to recommit to our purpose, function and role in the LGBT civil rights movement,” said San Diego LGBT Pride Executive Director Ron deHarte. “As a founding member of CAPI in 1987, we are excited to once again host the conference and showcase San Diego and the pride organization.”

The conference will feature local and regional speakers, workshops, discussion panels and training sessions aimed at helping GLBT pride organizations throughout the Western United States and Mexico enhance their yearly celebrations.

Several motivational keynote speakers will participate including Metropolitan Community Church founder Troy Perry and longtime equal rights activist Midge Costanza.

Discussions and forums will cover such topics as creating community partnerships, volunteerism, marriage equality, parade and festival production, developing creative activist events and more.

Presenters include local political activist Doug Case, human rights lawyer Professor Paula L. Ettelbrick, San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus Executive Director Teddy Witherington, San Diego Pride Board Chair Dr. Philip Princetta, John Keasler of San Diego Art of Pride and members of Equality California.

Staff, volunteers and board members of non-profit GLBT pride organizations are encouraged to attend. Early registration is recommended. The cost is $150 for CAPI members and $160 for non-members. The Sheraton Mission Valley is offering discount rates of $99 per night, which includes breakfast and guest parking. For more information or to register, visit www.SanDiegoPride.org or call 619-297-7683.

Concerned about the city’s growing budget deficit? Any ideas about how the city can reduce it? The Center’s quarterly community coalition breakfast will take place on Friday, Oct. 16, at 7:30 a.m. Councilmember Todd Gloria will explain how we got here and solicits your input on where to go next. For more information, contact Carlos Marquez at 619-692-2077, ext. 103, or cmarquez@thecentersd.org.

Hillcrest Farmers Market will host pumpkin decorating festivities on Sunday, Oct. 25 at 10 a.m. The market will have mini pumpkins, glitter, stickers and many other supplies to help people paint and decorate their pumpkin. In addition to their regular products available every week, market vendors will be distributing Halloween goodies to “trick or treaters.” The festivities will take place at the market’s information booth, which is located at the North end of the market. The Hillcrest Farmers Market is located on the North-East side of the Department of Motor Vehicles at 3960 Normal St. in Hillcrest. For more information, call 619-299-3330 or visit www.fabuloushillcrest.com.

Local pro-immigrants-rights organizations will host San Diego Regional Immigrant Rights Conference at San Diego City College on Sunday, Oct. 17 at 9 a.m. Immigrant’s rights activists will come together and strategize and develop a plan of action for the passage of progressive immigration reform. Registration begins at 9 a.m. in the college’s A building, classroom 213. An open plenary starts 10 a.m. with workshops starting at 11:45 a.m. Organizations that are participating include Si Se Puede Immigrant Rights Organization, Border Angels, Migrant Rights Awareness, International Socialist Organization and the San Diego Alliance for Marriage Equality. San Diego City College is located at 1313 Park Blvd. in Downtown. For more Information, call 619-464-7056 or e-mail marcosresiste@hotmail.com.

In the spirit of Harvey Milk’s philanthropic legacy, San Diego LGBT Pride announces the creation of “Milk Money,” a holiday fundraising drive for Mama’s Kitchen, The Trevor Project and Toys for Kids.

“Each organization provides a vital role in assisting the most needed segments of the community, especially during the holidays, said San Diego LGBT Pride Executive Director Ron deHarte. “No one should have to go hungry while suffering from a life threatening disease. No teenager should feel so isolated that suicide seems like the only option. And no child should be forgotten when we all have the ability to brighten their holidays with toys.”

Individual or corporate donations made to the “Milk Money” drive will directly support meal deliveries to those living with cancer or AIDS through Mama’s Kitchen, provide funding to The Trevor Project’s national suicide prevention hotline for LGBT youth, and assist in the Toys for Kids’ annual distribution, sponsored by the Imperial Court de San Diego.

Contributions can be made online at MilkMoney.Kintera.org till Dec. 15. Checks can be sent to San Diego Pride, P.O. Box 34366, San Diego, CA 92163. For more information, call 619-297-7683 or visit www.SanDiegoPride.org.

The Gay Men’s Chorus of San Diego (GMCSD) and the San Diego Men’s Chorus (SDMC) – the two gay men’s choruses that will merge this December – host Uniting through Song the choruses’ on Saturday, Oct. 17 at 5 p.m. The event is a “special kick-off” to hear the choruses together and celebrate their merger and upcoming season. The event will include the unveiling of a new chorus name, a “sneak-peek” at the 2010 inaugural season, special acknowledgement of past and present supporters, announcement of a new donor campaign, special entertainment, hors d’oeuvres by V’ee Catering and signature cocktail, wines and waters.

SDMC was founded in September 1985 and is San Diego’s longest running gay arts organization. Approaching its 25th anniversary season, SDMC was the first gay identified choral group to perform at the White House, during the Clinton era, and a nationally-televised Super Bowl pre-game show. SDMC is a member of the Gay & Lesbian Association (GALA) of Choruses and in 2006 was the first GALA Choruses ensemble to perform as main stage act aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship. In the fall of 2006, SDMC began its youth and arts program and in December 2008 brought its message through song and dance with Paris Bennett (“American Idol”) to 750 elementary and high school students at the magnificent Balboa Theatre. In addition to Ms. Bennett, the chorus has performed with another “Idol” star, Frenchie Davis, plus Barry Manilow, Ant (comedian), Mario Lopez, Nichelle Nichols (“Star Trek” fame) Greg Louganis (Olympic gold medalist), Del Shores (author) and others. The chorus has also collaborated with other GALA Chorus groups, including Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles (who help found SDMC with a benefit concert in San Diego), plus San Francisco, Dallas, Portland, Orange County and the GMCSD.

GMCSD was founded in October 1992 by eleven members of the San Diego Men’s Chorus who wanted to sing in a self-identified “gay” chorus. The Chorus was incorporated in January 1993 and began rehearsing in the Great Hall of the Cathedral Church of Saint Paul on 5th Avenue, under the baton of Holt. Within the first year, the membership tripled to more than 30 singers, and San Diego’s newly elected mayor, Susan Golding, invited the new and openly gay chorus to be the open entertainment at her gala inauguration celebration. Since then the chorus has performed concerts of varied repertoire in San Diego, as well as at GALA Choruses events throughout the United States.

Holt started his theatrical career at age eleven as the title character in the musical Oliver! He has sung under the batons of Aaron Copland, Margaret Hillis, Robert Shaw, and Thor Johnson and studied piano and musical theatre for six summers at the Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan. Holt directed the critically acclaimed Diversionary Theatre production of Ten Percent Revue in 1992 and co-starred in the San Diego Critics Circle award-winning production of Billy Bishop Goes to War at North Coast Repertory Theatre. He has conducted numerous musicals and operettas including The King and I, The Mikado, Celebration, Naughty Marietta, Lady Be Good, and The Pirates of Penzance. Holt currently serves as treasurer on GALA Choruses National Board of Directors. Formerly the chief executive officer for The Old Globe Theatre and La Jolla Playhouse, Holt is now an attorney in private practice. Holt received his formal graduate choral conducing training at San Diego State University.

When the GMCSD and SDMC merge this December, the new chorus will have a combined men’s chorus of more than 120 voices united in song, making it the 10th largest gay men’s chorus in the United States.

To attend Uniting through Song, contact 877-296-7664. to receive an invitation. For more information about the event, visit www.gmcsd.com or www.sdmc.org.