November Poly 101 discussion: expectations in polyamory

November 28th is the date for our last Poly 101 discussion of 2013 at Camas Books on Quadra, 7 pm to 9 pm! If you want to talk about managing poly expectations, this is the discussion for you! We'll also have time to ask and answer basic poly questions, and we'll talk about our December social event (in lieu of a discussion next month).

Bring your open mind, heart and questions, plus a small donation for Camas for use of their space if you can afford it (really, it's okay if you can't) and join a group of pretty nice people for some good discussions on polyamory -- new folks are always very welcome!

October poly 101

Oct. 24 is the next 101 discussion at Camas Books on Quadra Street. 7 to 9 pm, free (donation to Camas for the space is optional). Our topic this month is metamours -- your partner's other partners -- and how to get along with them famously (or at least communicate).

September monthly discussion: Safer Sex Agreements in Poly Relationships

Safer sex is important for everyone to consider, but in poly relationships, deciding how to structure agreements, what to include and who to include can be challenging. This month's discussion will focus on how to create and maintain safer sex agreements in poly relationships. You do not have to be over 19 to attend this discussion, but if you're under 16, I ask that you either bring a parent/guardian with you, or their written permission.

Place: Camas Bookshop, 2620 Quadra St, Victoria, British Columbia

Time: 7 pm -- 9 pm

Cost: Free, but please consider donating to Camas for the use of their space

What happens at a Victoria Poly 101 discussion? A guide for first-timers:

For first-timers, here's the format of the discussion:

Starting promptly at 7, I'll ask everyone to introduce themselves and say a few words about what brought you to the discussion (this is optional, except that we'd like to have some kind of name to address you by and your preferred gender pronoun). 

I'll provide a brief introduction to Poly 101 and Camas, and then we'll look at the posted topic. If you have a question about polyamory that's not related to the topic, we may have time for it at the end of the discussion. I'll provide a question jar for you in case we have a lot of them.

Around 8:30, I'll wrap up the discussion and we can take a look at any outstanding poly questions.

At 9 pm, I'll do announcements about upcoming events, and then it's possible that some of us will go out for further discussion and social time at the local restaurant or the local swimming pool. 

I look forward to meeting you all at Poly 101!

August Victoria Poly 101 discussion: Navigating Poly Pitfalls

Poly boundaries: what's the difference between uncomfortable and dangerous? What are some red flags to be on the lookout for? How do you keep yourself safe, physically and emotionally, and still be open?

Sometimes when you're designing your relationship trip without a traditional roadmap, it can be hard to spot the sinkholes. This month we'll discuss some of the pitfalls of being open in a mostly-closed world and how to safely make your way to happy and loving poly living.

Date: August 22, 2013
Place: Camas Books, 2620 Quadra, Victoria, BC
Time: 7 pm to 9 pm
Cost: free of charge, optional donation to Camas appreciated for use of the space

July Poly 101 discussion cancelled, but we're having a BBQ instead, folks!

July Victoria Poly 101 discussion is cancelled due to summer! VP101 BBQ will be July 20th! Write victoriapoly101@gmail.com for details if you wish to attend, as this will be at a private residence and space is limited.

May discussion

The next Victoria Poly 101 discussion will be a bit more casual, with an open-topic format and a picnic-style potluck. Weather permitting, folks may go outside, so try not to be late!

Date: May 23, 2013
Place: Camas Books on Quadra (across from Fairway)
Time: 7 pm to 9 pm
Cost: free, but donations for the use of space at Camas are greatly appreciated

*Kiki will be away this month, so Brad will be hosting this discussion.

Monthly discussion -- The Ethics and Etiquette of Poly

We often refer to polyamory as "ethical non-monogamy" and many of us began learning about poly from "The Ethical Slut" by Dossie Easton and Janet Hardy. Many of us choose polyamory because it aligns with our own system of ethics and beliefs, but often, there are differences of opinion about what constitutes poly ethics and also how this relates to "poly etiquette" -- the habits and behaviours that help poly go smoothly.

Join us at Camas for some great discussion!

A reminder: doors will be shut at 7:30 pm, so please be on time.

Camas Books
Time: 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Cost: donation to Camas

Contact:  Kiki Christie, victoriapoly101@gmail.com

Get your tickets for POLYCON, Vancouver, 2013!

Hey everyone, Canada's FIRST poly conference will be taking place in Vancouver, BC, on May 31-June 2, 2013! It's sponsored by the Canadian Polyamory Advocacy Association, and will feature workshops, events  and vendors from poly communities across Canada -- don't miss it!

Info. and registration can be found on the CPAA website.

March Victoria Poly 101: Poly time management

Date: Thursday, March 28th
Place: Camas (Quadra street, across from Fairway, just south of Hillside)
Time: 7 pm to 9 pm
Topic: Poly time management

Polyamory takes so much time!! We hear this from non-poly people, and from poly people, too. Guess what? Having more than one partner DOES take more time, and energy, and a lot of careful organization. So how do we do it? Come discuss how to manage your poly time and loves in an effective, respectful and compassionate way.

As always, donations to Camas are appreciated for the use of their wonderful space.

February Poly 101 discussion

This month's topic, as promised, is "Dealing with Jealousy in Poly Relationships."

Jealousy is complicated, problematic, scary, and often useful. Many people say they don't experience it, but even if they don't experience any of the emotions associated with jealousy (like envy, feeling left out, possessiveness or insecurity, to name a few... ) they will probably have to deal with their partners' jealousy at some point in their poly lives.

Come discuss jealousy and how it impacts your poly life.

Date: February 28th (always the 4th Thursday of the month!)
Place: Camas Books, 2620 Quadra Street
Victoria, BC, Canada
Time: 7 pm to 9 pm

Anyone who wishes to learn about polyamory is welcome. Respect for the privacy and opinions of others is mandatory.

As usual, Camas is hosting us for free, so please consider bringing a small donation for their kindness.

January Victoria Poly 101

January 24th is the next Poly 101 discussion at Camas Books, 2620 Quadra Street, Victoria, BC.

Please note that we have a new start time of 7:00 pm, which I hope will make it easier for people to get there from work or class.

Please bring a donation, if you can, to Camas for their support in letting us meet every 4th Thursday of the month.

Aaaaand... this month's topic is:

Talking about being polyamorous: challenges, stereotypes, roadblocks, and resources.

Do you struggle to explain polyamory to your friends, family or potential dating partners? Have you ever had to overcome feelings of guilt or discomfort related to stereotypes about having more than one partner? How much information is appropriate to share with other people?

Come share some ideas for how to talk about polyamory to people who might not know what poly is, or how important it is in your life.