DignityUSA Hires Marianne Duddy as Executive Director

To: Dignity Chapter Leaders and Friends
From: Mary Louise Cervone, President DignityUSA
Date: April 4, 2000
Re: DignityUSA Executive Director

The board of directors of DignityUSA is pleased to announce that Marianne Duddy has been hired as permanent executive director of DignityUSA, effective immediately. Marianne has been interim executive director since December 1999.

Marianne's leadership experience with Dignity on the local and regional levels, as well as serving as national president for four years, is invaluable to our organization and to our relationships with kindred organizations. We are excited and energized by her contributions, and look forward to new and expanded possibilities of bringing our message of transforming lives, being catalysts for change, and speaking as a formidable voice for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people of faith to our Church and society.

While the board of directors would like to have a full-time executive director, we feel that the best use of our resources at this time is to continue the position as part-time. To that end, Marianne will focus her work in two primary areas, visibility and development. She will coordinate DignityUSA response to media events and participate in national workshops and panels. Her development work will include increased fundraising efforts within our organization, as well as securing foundation and corporate grants. The officers and directors will continue to supervise chapter/member services, program services, office operations and other administrative areas.

It has been the goal of the board of directors to maintain a high level of service, improve inefficiencies in our operations and increase our visibility in the national arena. Along with Marianne, the addition of Ron Karstetter as office manager and Richard Ressa as database manager, we are confident that our goals will be reached.

Many, many thanks to our chapter leaders, members and friends who have been so supportive of our efforts. Please keep in touch with your officers, directors and staff. We are available by email or by calling the national office.