Public Notice

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At Least Somewhat About the Benjamins ...

So you can rap your pants off. So your jazz licks earn you both the respect of your highfalutin peers and the babes in the front row. So your dancing sends your mom into fits of reminiscence about her days as an extra on Soul Train. So you're good. Really good. Welcome to Austin, Mr. or Ms. Talented: Join the 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10,000 or so of your equally talented, equally eager, and equally ambitious compadres on the scene. So now what are you going to do with all those god-given gifts? Hone your craft in the garage, bedroom, or street corner? Kvetch and moan about how little local clubs pay and how hard it is to break out in this comfy li'l burg? Well, snap out of it, superstar. John Austin of Austin Associates Inc., is presenting INFACT 2000 (Independent Network for Arts & Culture Tour), a conference and series of workshops this Sat, Mar 4, 3-11pm, at the Doris Miller Auditorium, 2300 Rosewood. Austin, who has worked with the Independent Radio Network, Gavin Magazine's Black Music department, and with artists such as LL Cool J, Guy, and Shabba Ranks, is bringing the daylong conference to town. There will be exhibits, talent showcases, and workshops, covering topics such as women in the biz, making a first record, and career management. The best part? A portion of the proceeds will benefit local community radio station KAZI-FM. 447-1640.

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Family Connections

Connections Resource Center presents a free Celebration of Families Parenting Fair, next Thu, Mar 9, 3-8pm, at Palmer Auditorium. Geoffrey Canada, one of the leading urban teen advocates in the U.S., will be the featured speaker among the 25 seminars and 120 exhibitors. 478-5725.

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Volunteering Information

You want us to divulge our sources? No way. Well, okay -- check this space 'round about SXSW time for a jam-packed listy of local volunteer opportunities (read: you don't think we'll actually have time to write a column do you?). For now, let's whet your do-goody appetite with these needs:

Lifeworks Alliance of Youth & Family Services needs Volunteers (duh!) as teen mentors for homeless and at-risk kids. The next Volunteer Training Session begins Fri, Mar 3. 327-8018x15.

Project Transitions has a ton of Volunteer Opportunities throughout the month of March. This week, for example, they need 15-20 big-hearted bulk-mail-out types to aid in newsletter distribution, Mon-Tue, Mar 6-7, at the First Universalist Unitarian Church, at 4700 Grover. Of course, they are always looking for able folks to assist in their other endeavors as well, such as Doug's House residential hospice, Roosevelt Gardens transitional living facility, and Top Drawer Thrift Store. 454-8646.

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United We Teach

The Austin chapter of the Gay Lesbian Straight Educators Network (GLSEN) will meet this weekend, Sun, Mar 5, 4pm at the Out Youth house. The national group's membership includes students, teachers, and parents, united in the goal of ending anti-gay bias in schools. 841-0848.

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Around the World in 80 Shows

See London, Saturn, and Brazil, without even leaving town!

Pull on your stompers and rip your T-shirt, rude boy. Tonight, Thu, Mar 2, 9:30, the Wannabes, Leprechaun, Lucille, the Bigamy Sisters, and more will do Sex Pistols, Slits, Clash, and more (and not necessarily respective nor in that order) for the Punk Rock Hoot Night at the Hole in the Wall to benefit the Rude Mechanicals Lipstick Traces World Tour. 476-7833.

We don't know all the details, but apparently there was a fire at the Sun Ra House where the rest of the Arkestra lives. Here in Austin, 81é2 Souvenirs, Applied Culture, and Blue Noise Band will travel the spaceways to Benefit the Sun Ra House this Tue, Mar 7, at the Mercury @ Jazz, 214 E. Sixth. 457-0706.

Susanna Sharpe & Samba Police and Tamasha Africana donate part of the proceeds from A Night in Brazil, Fri, Mar 3, 9pm, at La Zona Rosa to the Manoel Lisboa Foundation in Maceio, Brazil, which provides literacy education for rural kids recently relocated to the big city. This night being the eve of the Brazilian Carnaval, you can expect all sorts of extra special festivities. 469-SHOW.