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DignityUSA
PO Box 376
Medford, MA
02155
tel: 800.877.8797
202.861.0017
fax: 781.397.0584
email:
info@dignityusa.org
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RETURN TO > 1996 > DATELINE
HOMEPAGE > HOME
DignityUSA DATELINE
June 1996
MEMBERSHIP AND THE MOVEMENT
National Secretary Ben Boerkoel provided the following highlights of the Board of Directors meeting held from April 19 to 22.
- Membership: At its April meeting, the Board of Directors spent a
significant amount of time reviewing a variety of options to expand
DignityUSA's membership base. A number of the options considered
expanded upon discussions of the Membership Task Force headed by Mid-Atlantic
Director Michael Flynn. While the work of the Task Force will be on-going,
the Board has decided to take a major forward step in addressing the
issue of declining membership by hiring the consulting firm of Basile
Ryan of Washington D.C. to help in this effort.
- As of May 1, $3,700 of the $8,000 cost of hiring the firm had already been pledged. Chapters and other individuals are also invited to support this work through designated donations to the Membership Expansion Program. Contributions of any size are welcome and may be sent to the DignityUSA office.
- Additional discussion examined advertising in the gay, lesbian, bisxual, transgender press and the development of a membership packet.
- Outreach Pamphlet Catholicism, Homosexuality, and Dignity, an educational pamphlet authored by Daniel Helminiak, Ph.D., will be soon be published by DignityUSA and offered to chapters as an outreach tool.
- Finances
- An audit of the Dignity financial records showed the organization to be well-managed.
- Donations to the recent Spouses Fundraiser so far have totalled $3,577; additional donations are welcome.
- Outreach
- The Board approved Dignitys participation in the petition drive by the Womens Ordination Conference. Materials are now being sent to all chapters.
- Reports were received for Solidarity Sunday '96 and Convention '97 plans. Watch for details of both of these events in the near future.
- The Board passed a motion to stand in solidarity with Call To Action and Call To Action/Nebraska in the light of the recent action by the Bishop of Lincoln to excommunicate all members of Call To Action within his diocese: "DignityUSA has long recognized the work of social justice by the more than 16,000 members of Call To Action. DignityUSA has also recognized the prophetic voice of CTA members throughout the USA and especially in the state of Nebraska. Therefore, be it resolved that DignityUSA stands in solidarity with Call to Action and Call to Action Nebraska in calling upon the Bishop of Lincoln, Nebraska, to reconsider the posture of the Diocese in its relationship with Call to Action and Call to Action Nebraska. Be it further resolved that DignityUSA call upon its members to respond to the Bishop, asking prayerful consideration in resolving these concerns."
- Commendations
- The Board passed resolutions of commendation thanking Directors Don Easton of the Midwest Region and Bill Weber of the Southern Region for their years of service on the Board.
- And more...
- A special summer issue of the dateline will be published in July; there will be no August issue. Regular monthly publication will resume with the September issue. News and copy is due August 5.
- Watch your mailbox for the next Journal, due out in July.
CWC PRAYER SERVICE
The National Committee for Womens Concerns (CWC) will sponsor an ecumenical prayer service at the display of the names Project AIDS Memorial Quilt on the Mall in Washington, DC. The CWC members of the Dignity/Washington chapter, who will coordinate the planning of the service scheduled for sometime during the October 11 to 13 display, are seeking input and assistance with the service.
Invitations will be sent to womens groups throughout the greater DC area. If you are interested in participating or know of groups or women to add to the invitation list, please contact Linda McCullough and Kathryn Kelley, 8619 Flower Avenue #8, Tacoma Park, MD 20912 or call 301-565-2434.
In addition, volunteers are sought to assist with the social gathering which will follow the service. To help, contact Jan Fraga, National CWC Coordinator.
- Upcoming CWC Calendar Dates
- July 15: Deadline for submission of articles and news to Voices and Visions, the national CWC publication. Send items to the editor, Kim Powleson at 39270 Paseo Padre Pkwy, #140, Fremont, CA 94538.
- Sept. 14: Regional CWC conference call. Regional reps are reminded to confirm participation in the meeting by June 1 with Jan.
SPECIAL OCTOBER RATES
DignityUSA has negotiated special rates for 50 rooms at the QUALITY INNDOWNTOWN in Washington, DC near Dupont Circle from OCTOBER 11 to 14, 1996. The Board of Directors will hold its meeting and the Names Project AIDS Quilt will be displayed on the Mall. RATES are $85/night single + tax or $95/night double + tax. Please call the Quality Inn for reservations: 800-368-5689
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY:
San Diego 25; Houston 22; Portland 20; Long Beach 16; San Jose 12; Lexington
4; So. Colorado 4; Greater Columbus 1;
