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January 8, 2007
Rank and File
by Nova Stubbs, insurgent49

A Sense of Community

    If you know the Insurgent49 website, chances are you know a little something about our ‘Third Friday’ fundraising events.

    They can get crazy, but never really out of control. The police have shown up a time or two due to noise complaints, and I am happy to say that no one was arrested. The music that has erupted from behind the i49 headquarters wall has been phenomenal. The atmosphere is intimate, but comfortable and the kegs of beer always get tapped.

    It may sound like your stereotypical ‘good times’ drunken fest, but it is so much more.

    Ya see … these parties originated when we were trying to raise funds for the newspaper, and as many of you loyal insurgents may already know the newspaper had a good run, but due to circumstances, it had to be put to bed for the time being.

    People still ask, “will the newspaper ever return?” And all we can really say is “hopefully.” But, when both human power and funds are limited, it is a difficult thing to manage especially when all work is done on a volunteer basis. Luckily, we always have the website to help us get out the insurgent word.

    So, you may be thinking … why the hell are they continuing these fundraisers? Well, for one thing it is the insurgent way to give back to the community and that is why, now, all the proceeds from the events are donated to a different charity every month. We may no longer bless the newspaper racks with our progressive rag, but we want people to know that we are still out there, and what a great way to do it by donating to charities. Besides our bashes are downright fun.

    The bands and musicians who have played have really been an intregal part of our fundraisers (both during and post-newspaper era.) These folks play for free on a Friday night, even though they could probably be getting a paying gig somewhere else around town. A few times I have caught members of the band slipping money into the donation box. For instance, Evan Phillips of The Whipsaws once asked where the donation bucket was after he had finished his sound check. I told him not to worry and that, he was doing enough already. He looked at me and said, “no, I want to.” The Whipsaws were amazing  that night.

    Christ, we have been so lucky to have such great bands play. Some, such as The Bad Angles, Wupt, and The Smile Ease are repeat offenders. Proceeds have gone to charities such as Beans Café, Alaska Center for the Blind, and most recently Big Brothers Big Sisters of Anchorage, and that’s just to name a few.

    It’s not like we are making millions, but both the patrons of the parties, the bands, and the insurgents that help us get everything together are making our city a better place in our own little way. Aaron Selbig and I open up our home for these affairs. We have friends who help us clean both before and after, we even have a pal help us go get the kegs of beer.

    Whether people come for the beer and bands, or to specifically donate to the charity of the month, they are here and a sense of community can be felt within these i49 walls. It is a beautiful thing no matter how you look at it.

     

  


      Nova Stubbs is a freelance writer and activist, and is co-founder of Insurgent49. Nova resides in an undisclosed location in downtown Anchorage and may be contacted at nova@insurgent49.com.

     'Rank and File' appears on insurgent49.com every Monday.
- Columnists -

Editor's Desk
by Aaron Selbig

Rank and File
by Nova Stubbs

Red Alert
by Soren Wuerth

Alaskan In Exile
by Neil Zawicki

The
Bramble Bush
by Kevin Morford


The Tao
of Waitressing
by Lindsay Luckey







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in-sur-gent (in sur'jent), n. 1. a member of a group which revolts against the policies of its leadership.