{"id":271,"date":"2019-10-15T20:22:22","date_gmt":"2019-10-16T01:22:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chapters.theprimetimersww.com\/minneapolisstpaul\/?page_id=271"},"modified":"2025-12-28T16:47:55","modified_gmt":"2025-12-28T22:47:55","slug":"about-us","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/chapters.theprimetimersww.com\/minneapolisstpaul\/about-us\/","title":{"rendered":"About Us"},"content":{"rendered":"

How to Join<\/a><\/p>\n

Prime Timers Minneapolis\/St. Paul is a local chapter of Prime Timers World Wide, an organization that promotes social activities for gay men.\u00a0Our goal is bring gay men together through social events that can develop into long lasting friendships.<\/p>\n

Want to join right now? Please print our\u00a0application<\/b><\/u><\/i><\/a>\u00a0and follow the instructions regarding membership fee and mailing.\u00a0 If you need more information or would like to attend a social event before joining our chapter, please contact us by email here<\/strong>.<\/a> If you need the application mailed to you, please email your name, address and phone number us by email here.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Contact US<\/a><\/p>\n

BY MAIL:<\/strong>
\nPrime Timers Minneapolis \/ St. Paul
\nP.O. Box 580814
\nMinneapolis, MN 55458
\nE-MAIL:<\/strong> Contact us here<\/a><\/p>\n

BOARD OF DIRECTORS<\/strong>
\nMichael T.\u2013\u00a0 President
\nJim D. \u2013 Vice President
\nTerry K. \u2013 Treasurer
\nSteve R. \u2013 Secretary
\nPaul M. \u2013 Member at Large<\/p>\n

NON-BOARD POSITIONS<\/strong>
\nPaul M. \u2013 Sunshine Chair \/ Greetings Chair
\nHung T. \u2013 Technology Chair
\nRick N. \u2013 Book Club Chair
\nRay G. & Rick N. \u2013 Communications
\nBob W. \u2013 Events Chair
\nAllen J. \u2013 PT Media Chair & Facebook Moderator
\nRay G. \u2013 Membership
\nJohn K. – Hiking Chair
\nOpen – Pride Chair<\/p>\n

About Prime Timers Minneapolis\/St. Paul Chapter<\/a><\/p>\n

Our Vision:<\/strong>
\nA diverse social organization for the enrichment of gay and bisexual men at all stages of their lives.<\/p>\n

Our Mission:<\/strong>
\n\u25cf Prime Timers Minneapolis\/St. Paul mission is to enrich the lives of our members by providing social,
\neducational, and cultural events driven by our members.
\n\u25cf We are an intergenerational organization, partnering with other organizations for the mutual benefit of
\nour members.
\n\u25cf We strive for inclusion of all people in a safe, supportive, and affirming environment.
\n\u25cf Our activities focus on members who are 50 plus.<\/p>\n

Our History:<\/strong>
\nOur chapter was established in 1999. Our first meeting was held at All God\u2019s Children\u2019s-Metropolitan Community Church in August of 1999. The founder of was Wally Threlkeld. Other folks who helped to organize our chapter were:\u2022 Randall Toenges
\n\u2022 Bob Greene
\n\u2022 Gene Husca
\n\u2022 Jack Gagnie<\/p>\n

Our chapter has been very active from the beginning. Our membership has been stable with 200 members annually. The chapter is guided by our board of directors. The membership holds an annual meeting in November to discuss chapter business and elect members in good standing to serve on the board.<\/p>\n

The membership is encouraged to develop various activities and events. We produce a monthly newsletter that details activities for the coming month. We also send out a weekly reminder of upcoming events via e-mail. Sometimes we need to get critical information to our members and that is done via e-mail. We never allow our membership information to be used by others organizations or commercial entities. The safety and privacy of our members is of upmost importance to our chapter.<\/p>\n

Who are Prime Timers?<\/a><\/p>\n

Prime Timers are older gay or bisexual men (and younger adult men who admire mature men). Our members are men who choose to have their social lives enriched by the diverse activities in which our members engage. No single definition can describe Prime Timers, as they come from all walks of life. Prime Timers involve themselves in their community with volunteerism, politics, gay issues, arts, entertainment, and every other facet of healthy living. Prime Timers are fathers and care givers. They are businessmen and entrepreneurs. They are workers and they are retired. Some are always on the go, and some enjoy the quiet company of others at home. But one thing is true of all Prime Timers. They enjoy the opportunities and friendships that develop with other Prime Timers throughout the world.<\/p>\n

Prime Timers was founded in 1987 by a retired professor, Woody Baldwin (for more information about Woody, please visit his website here). He felt a wide gap existed in today\u2019s society, which caters almost exclusively to youth. This worship of eternal youth is never more flagrant than in the gay culture. Woody began the Boston Chapter by placing ads in local newspapers and soliciting his many friends. He expected only a small handful of men to attend the first meeting and was surprised when over 40 showed up. This indicated to Woody a need for social and cultural organizations to aid and support the aging gay and bisexual man. Now this organization has grown to over forty chapters worldwide, located throughout North America, Europe and Australia.<\/p>\n

Travel opportunities for members are vast. Individual chapters welcome the chance to meet visitors from other chapters. Letters asking for local information and recommendations will be well received and promptly answered. Chapters enjoy showing off their communities and having visitors come away with a feeling of kinship and brotherhood with their newfound friends. The Prime Timers Worldwide Convention is held to discuss business and attend workshops geared toward Prime Timers. Our Conventions have been in Vancouver BC, Dallas TX, and Washington D.C., and more. And each year during Mardi Gras in New Orleans hundreds of Prime Timers gather to celebrate life, freedom and each other. We now reserve an entire hotel just for Prime Timers. Keep an eye on our on-line PTWW Events page, since much more is being planned for our worldwide members, chapters, and affiliates.<\/p>\n

Our organization is emerging as a leading force in the gay and bisexual communities, and while we are not a political organization, we are concerned with society as it effects the aging gay and bisexual population. As our organization grows, we will be leading the pack in seeking answers to the needs and problems of maturing gay and bisexual men. It is hoped that soon a Prime Timers Chapter will be in every major metropolitan area in the world.<\/p>\n

Benefits<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2022 Affirming association with men who are similar in age and interest
\n\u2022 Assortment of monthly events that you can select to attend
\n\u2022 Monthly Newsletter via e-mail or snail mail
\n\u2022 Weekly Updates sent via e-mail
\n\u2022 Partnership with Little Brothers-Friends of the Elderly, AARP Minnesota
\n\u2022 Annual special events
\n\u00b7 Anniversary Party
\n\u00b7 Winter Party
\n\u00b7 St. Patty\u2019s Day Party
\n\u00b7 Twin Cities PRIDE
\n\u00b7 Worldwide Events and Regional Events
\n\u00b7 Worldwide Newsletter
\n\u2022 Worldwide chapters that welcome visitors from other chapters
\n\u2022 Worldwide newsletter and membership
\n\u2022 Sunshine delivered when you are ill or have a major life event that we know about
\n\u2022 The opportunity to get involved in a dynamic gay and bi-sexual senior organization
\n\u2022 Fun, Fun, Fun and more Fun<\/p>\n

Awards Earned and Awarded<\/a><\/p>\n

Prime Timers Minneapolis\/St. Paul received the 2013 Ambassador Award from Little Brothers-Friends of the Elderly<\/p>\n

Prime Timers Minneapolis\/St. Paul received the 2013 Lavender Community Award<\/p>\n

Prime Timers Minneapolis\/St. Paul has awarded eight members The Lifetime Achievement Award<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Harry Hartigan
\n<\/strong>\u00b7 Terry Kyweriga
\n<\/strong>\u00b7 David Schliep
\n<\/strong>\u00b7 Dennis Wiegle
\n<\/strong>\u00b7 Steve Conrin
\n<\/strong>\u00b7 Glenn Bottomly
\n<\/strong>\u00b7 Gus Grihalva
\n<\/strong>\u00b7 Ray Grant<\/strong>
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Prime Timers Minneapolis\/St. Paul has awarded one member an MVP Award<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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