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By JUAN CARLOS RODRIGUEZ
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Mike Zewe: (laughing) Yes. From the outside perspective it can look like madness. But we do have a formula for the event and many of the people who provide us with logistics, like the tents, the sound equipment, the entertainment agents, the fence, the food, etc., have been working with us for years. All the staff at Compass are extremely dedicated to our mission and to the festival, so even though producing a festival of this size takes an enormous amount of work and long hours, we have a lot of fun doing it.
It is always a challenge to find something new. Usually we are thinking about next year’s festival while the current festival is commencing. We look for possibilities to expand something that guests seem to enjoy. We have worked the past couple years to build the parade. Each year, more and more people come dressed in costume. This year, we hired street performers for the parade and the park on Sunday. We also asked the Lake Worth Playhouse to bring out some of its volunteer actors in costumes for the parade. Sometimes, though, things just happen by accident. I met Ms. Cleo in Les Beans coffee house unexpectedly. She and I hit it off really well and became quick friends. After hearing her stories, I thought how great it would be for her and me to emcee the festival together. She has so many more interesting stories besides the infomercial that relate to our community. You can expect us to crack quite a few jokes and maybe even see me spoof her on stage.
Compass is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year and the 15th anniversary of our Pride festival. We have entered into a private/public partnership with the City of Lake Worth to operate and maintain the [new] community center building at 201 North Dixie Hwy. in Lake Worth. Our designers have just recently finished the plans for the building, which is more than twice the size of our current facility. The center is downtown adjacent to city hall and just 10 blocks from Bryant Park. The partnership will allow us to expand programs and services to the community and ensure Compass’ long-term vitality.
I think that although the gay culture is fundamentally the same from place to place, each community integrates the flavor of the local community.
This is my fifth year for Pride. I am sometimes known for wearing silly hats. The hats aren’t just fun but help our staff to identify me in the crowd. Last year, it was a beanie with a propeller on top. I haven’t chosen my hat yet for this year. We also have special 20th anniversary shirts this year with a very limited supply. I will definitely be sporting one of those because I am very proud to have a significant role in the history and future of Compass and the PrideFest of the Palm Beaches.
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