The Bare Chest Calendar Auction: A Night of Restrained Debauchery

Mr. February Michael Rubinstein with hostess Donna Sachet

"Visual splendor" and "fine altruism" best describe the array of handsome men, generous donors, and resourceful party coordinators who enjoyed the 2012 Bare Chest Calendar Men auction benefit for the AIDS Emergency Fund (AEF) and the Positive Resource Center (PRC) at the Sir Francis Drake Hotel on August 23.

Distinctive men included handsome filmmaker Philippe Gosselin, whose movie "The Rescue" was a hit at this year’s San Francisco Int'l LGBT Film Festival, and the devilish young Seth Watkins, who has overcome numerous obstacles to reach a new healthy point in his life.

Mr. December Philippe Gosselin

Guys chosen for the Calendar must agree to spend an enormous amount of time and effort at events where they promote the sale of the Bare Chest Calendar. Some guys such as Christopher Humphreys and Jay Laude have had extensive experience volunteering with non-profits. Humphreys is famous for going shirtless to make quick sales of Jello-O shots for charity.

Each of the men was lavishly presented by emcee Donna Sachet, who wore a golden goddess gown. Then masterful tuxedo-ed auctioneer Lenny Broberg pitted fans and the besotted in the audience to bid on the guys. They appeared first in hilariously boyish ensembles donated by Citizen/Body. And then Anya Montiel and Gerri Beauvais—helpful women who were beautifully gowned and accessorized—stripped off the Calendar men's shirts. There was a moment for the yelling-and-applauding crowd to run their eyes across the expanse of gym-toned muscles before a red bow tie and a leather vest from sponsor Miller Beer were slid onto the men's sweating bodies.

Lance Holman, Troy Anicete, [name and likeness removed by request] and friend

The competition was fierce, but also fun. Last year it was guided by the blinding fear that a magnificent and predatory Mr. SF Leather was trying to “buy” non-single studs. It went smoothly this year until the overtly primal Will Swagger assumed an athlete’s pre-pounce position and a seemingly mesmerized Sachet mounted the stage in response, but she was expertly led back to her seat by auctioneer Broberg. Stunning Andy Cross’ friends, a straight couple, astounded the other donors with a $10,000 winning bid, the highest of the evening.

The event featured two stylized climaxes. The first was when the winning bidders were joyfully invited onto the stage to join the Calendar men. The second climax shocked and pleased the audience, and only a glamorous Donna Sachet could seize the moment so well when she glided down the runway to Broberg in a luxurious satin bridal gown and veil.

Mr. October Will Swagger and Mr. December Philippe Gosselin

It was the best of San Francisco with the professional fundraising talents of Donna Sachet and Lenny Broberg and the expert guidance of coordinators Thom Grant (Mr. December 2007) and Mark Hollenstein (Mr. June 2006), along with the good-natured and alluring 2012 Calendar men in the historic and accommodating Sir Francis Drake Hotel, all for two wonderful charities.

For more information, visit barechest.org.

The 2012 Bare Chest Calendar men with hostess Donna Sachet (center) and host Lenny Broberg (right)

The AEF/BCEF Volunteer Appreciation Party: Volunteers, Competitive Bowling, and Awards

Honoree Joanie Juster with Volunteer Manager Sean Greene

The AIDS Emergency Fund (AEF) and the Breast Cancer Emergency Fund (BCEF) presented a volunteer appreciation party at Yerba Buena Bowl on Feb. 7 for a couple dozen people who dedicated themselves to the charities throughout the year. The AEF and BCEF provide life-saving financial support and measurably improve their clients’ quality of life.

Yerba Buena Bowl has some of the few bowling lanes left in San Francisco. It is modern and well-maintained, like the ice skating center next door. A treasure of the bowling center is the attentive catering by Tammy Cessna of Mo’s Grill, which is also located in the Yerba Buena complex. While much of the cuisine in America that is in close proximity to bowling balls is an abomination, that is not the case at Yerba Buena where three varieties of fluffy gourmet pizza and wonderful roast beef and ham sandwiches were eagerly loaded onto party plates by the hungry volunteers.

Guests were greeted by BCEF Client Services Associate Suzy Goldsmith and hardworking double-jobbed BCEF Communication Manager and Volunteer Manager Sean Greene, and between them they knew everyone entering the party.

The party’s excitement level was noticeably lower than last year’s because Suzan Revah and her energetic crew were on an Atlantis cruise. Revah hosts the monthly Nasty party that benefits the AEF at the Powerhouse bar. Her party has brought electro-torture and unusually primal go-go dancers in jockstraps out into the SOMA mainstream.

Board VP Neil Figurelli, Volunteer Manager Sean Greene, and Board President Cynthia Hester

AEF/BCEF Board President Cynthia Hester, who is a Senior Marketing Director at Hewlett-Packard, graciously thanked the volunteers for being the “heart and soul” of the organizations, and BCEF manager Sean Greene announced several awards, including a well-deserved award to the "Every Penny Counts" program coordinator, Kelly Rivera Hart.

Executive Director Mike Smith

AEF/BCEF Executive Director Mike Smith revealed that the popular annual AEF County Fair would not be happening in 2011, but board president Hester said that another big spring event would take its place.

Board VP Neil Figurelli, who is the charities’ Senior Event Planner, is employed at Winslow & Associates public relations and the board is lucky to have secured his talents. He has been successful at providing superior entertainment at the County Fair and the charities’ annual December holiday dinner.

Volunteer Manager Sean Greene interrupted the bowling to introduce former volunteer manager Joanie Juster, and gave her a floral bouquet, saying that she is the reason that most of the attendees were at the event. Jester thanked him and said that the volunteers are now in good hands. Jester is touring the country promoting her award-winning documentary "Alaska Far Away: The New Deal Pioneers of Matanuska Colony."

Then the bowling started up again and Troy Brunet outscored his team and partner John Kiltinen. Paul Soto (who is Mr. Golden State Gay Rodeo Association) and Chris Benson furiously competed against each other as did a lot of the other volunteers with their partners.

Volunteer appreciation parties are a terrific way for charities to say “thank you” and it has worked well for the AEF and BCEF to retain the people who make the organizations’ work possible.

Brokeback Fair in the City

Steven Satyricon and Tod practicing on each other in the kissing booth

The AIDS Emergency Fund (AEF) scored another fundraising success with their County Fair at San Francisco’s County Fair Building in Golden Gate Park on May 31, 2009. The Western theme was picked up and run away with by chanteuses Connie Champagne and Arturo Galster, and of course, studly Bill Holt in his pink cowboy hat. Winslow Associate’s Neil Figurelli expertly coordinated the event with the AEF and a small army of smiling volunteers.

The AIDS Emergency Fund and its affiliated Breast Cancer Emergency Fund assist people who are suffering with disabling illness. Clients, employees, and volunteers joined to make the fair fun and successful.

Singer Connie Champagne thrilled the large, boisterous crowd with her fine rendition of “Stand By Your Man” decked out in a satin cowgirl outfit. She is starring in the upcoming re-mounting of the Cockettes classic “Pearls Over Shanghai.” Arturo Galster as Patsy Cline, beautifully gowned, served up an introduction about the Proposition 8 fundamentalists and then sang “Crazy.”

Sundance Saloon male dancers performed a six-man line dance, and then Christy Cote and Mila Salazar, who also dance at the Sundance Saloon, took a couple close turns around the floor. Then Ron Jenkins and Protis Phiranis showed off their Country-Western moves.

The AEF was very thoughtful in providing a large quantity of food tickets for each guest and the taste treats were extraordinary. The best sweet potato fries, buttered corn on the cob, creamy coleslaw, and onion-covered chicken sandwiches hit the spot for the city guys who imagined that they were out in the California countryside. Blue Angel Vodka, a beverage sponsor, was liberally poured, and it even found its way into the lemonade!

There were booths with games, but the booth that had fair-goers stopped in their tracks was the kissing booth. The stuff that dreams are made of, handsome Steven Satyricon and Tod, were warming up for visitors with two-tongue exercises and deep kissing. Satyricon is a professional dancer and actor, and he is a guest star in the monthly SF Boylesque shows. The leather arm band toss onto dildos was another popular booth, and some guys played Roller Bowler just to get near smoking hot Thomas, who ran the game.

AEF executive director Mike Smith headed a team of pie-tasters, and passersby nervously watched them to make sure that the sampling was not too extensive. When they finished and picked a winner, a horde of diners descended on the pies to devour them and check each other out at close quarters.

Hundreds of desirable men and some women enjoyed the fair and there was heavy cruising around the silent auction items.

Prominent guests included attorney Walter Parsley and his friend MUMC president Steve Adams, District 8 city supervisor contenders Rebecca Prozan and Scott Wiener, San Francisco treasurer Jose Cisneros, Project Open Hand executive director Tom Nolan, San Francisco city supervisor Bevan Dufty and family, and the Health Commission’s Jim Illig.

Honorees included Congressional Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s aide Dan Bernal and generous event soundman Randal Schiller. Mark Paladini, Liz Baldwin, Lance Brittain, and Stacy Aldrich were also honored.

Sister Roma and provocative Rafael Musni kept the event moments moving, and Randal Schiller’s sound brought their commentary to every corner of the vast space.

[Photo caption: 5/31/09 — The AIDS Emergency Fund's County Fair at San Francisco's County Fair Building. Steven Satyricon and Tod practiced on each other at the kissing booth. A rousing city Brokeback experience with dancing, a dildo ring toss, and great food and drink treats.]