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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
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DignityUSA DATELINE
A Monthly Digest Of News, Notes, And More
November 1996, Vol. 5, No. 11.
Strong, Vocal Presence at Quilt Display
Dignity was highly visible during the display of the Names Project AIDS Memorial Quilt in Washington, D.C., over the weekend of October 11-13. Several hundred members from around the country participated in the many events surrounding the display of the Quilt. These included a welcome reception, a morning prayer service and blessing of quilts, a women's gathering and liturgy, two Dignity/Washington liturgies, and the 1996 National AIDS Candlelight March.
Dignity was one of only three organizations whose representatives were invited to read during the morning unfolding ceremony on Sunday, October 13. Dignity provided four of the sixteen readers: President Marianne Duddy, Vice President Terry Mischel, former national board member Steve Mazoch, and Fr. Tom, National AIDS Project Chair. As names were read from the main stage, five Dignity unfolding teams, one of the largest contingents from any organization, took part in this deeply moving ritual
Dignity was also well represented at the major dinner sponsored by the Names Project, whose keynote speaker was former Texas Governor Ann Richards. With Terry Mischel and Fr. Tom in attendance, along with officers of the Washington chapter, quilt panels created by members of Dignity/Washington were prominently displayed. In addition, Dignity members played key roles in the planning of the Mass held in honor of the Quilt at the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington's St. Matthew's Cathedral, during which several Dignity banners were displayed, and of the Interfaith Service of Prayer and Healing held at Washington's National (Episcopal) Cathedral.
More than 10,000 volunteers took part in the display of the Quilt, and hundreds of thousands of people visited it in beautiful autumn sunshine. As Marianne Duddy noted during her homily at Dignity/Washington on Sunday night, spiritual themes permeated nearly every event of the weekend, making it particularly meaningful for Dignity members. Special thanks are owed to Fr. Tom, former national treasurer Bob Miailovich, and the officers and members of Dignity/Washington for coordinating Dignity's participation in these events and for making our ministry so evident.
Board Meeting News
Here is a summary of the the Board of Director's meeting on October 12-14 in Washington, DC.
- Chapters:
- Charters were granted to Dignity/San Fernando Valley and Defenders/Providence.
- Dignity/Mid-New York and Dignity/Capitol District (NY) were de-chartered with regret.
- Membership:
- Membership was up during the last quarter after a number of years of decline.
- Approved a $5.00 membership discount from November 1, 1996 through January 31, 1997.
- The Board received the first draft of Stages II and III of the Basile Ryan Membership Expansion Program addressing membership retention and expansion. Chapters will see a more aggressive membership renewal process as well as more aggressive marketing of DignityUSA.
- Commendations:
- Couples Task Force;
- M.A. Ladd's work in creating the DignityUSA web page;
- Acceptance/Sydney (Australia) on the occasion of its twenty-fifth anniversary;
- Bruce Jarstfer for his efforts on behalf of Solidarity Sunday as well as being an honoree at the 1997 San Antonio Human Rights Campaign Dinner;
- Daniel Helminiak for his work on the "Catholicism, Homosexuality, and Dignity. . ." brochure;
- Hank Tavara of Dignity/San Francisco as cochair of the National Latino/a Lesbian and Gay Organization and in solidarity with the Latino March;
- Members of the Board, Liturgy Committee, and CWC of Dignity/Washington as well as Jim Bedore and Bob Miailovich for their efforts on behalf of Dignity members visiting the Quilt;
- Fr. Tom for his work on Quilt activities as well as in developing a template for grant support for Dignity.
- Convention:
- The Convention "97 Committee has now received 160 preregistrations for the July convention in Boston. Several major speakers, including Elizabeth Stewart and Chris Glaser, have been selected; other major speakers will be announced before year's end. A leadership institute as well as exciting entertainment are in the works. Look for registration materials during January.
- Education:
- "Catholicism, Homosexuality, and Dignity: Questions and Answers
About Being Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, or Transgendered and Catholic"
written by Daniel Helminiak and produced by DignityUSA is now
available and will be sent to chapters by the end of October.
Additional copies of this infor-mative brochure can be obtained
from the DignityUSA office.
"Reclaiming the Promise," a Bible study about homosexuality co-produced by DignityUSA in partnership with a number of other organizations, is in its final production phase and will be available in January.
- "Catholicism, Homosexuality, and Dignity: Questions and Answers
About Being Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, or Transgendered and Catholic"
written by Daniel Helminiak and produced by DignityUSA is now
available and will be sent to chapters by the end of October.
Additional copies of this infor-mative brochure can be obtained
from the DignityUSA office.
DignityUSA National House of Delegates Resolution Timetable
- Nov. 15, 1997: Motion Packets mailed to chapters.
- Jan. 4, 1997: First Draft motions due.
- Jan. 23, 1997: First Draft motions distributed to all chapters.
- Jan. 23 to Mar. 23, 1997: Second draft motion submission phase
- Apr. 23, 1997: All motions mailed to chapters for review and discussion prior to HOD's meeting in Boston during July
Web Surfing?
DignityUSA's web page is up and running at www.dignityusa.org
Voices & Visions
News, articles, and reflections for the CWC newsletter can be sent to Kim Powleson, 39270 Paseo Padre Parkway, Fremont, CA 94538.
Happy Anniversary
Little Rock 6; Northeast PA 18; New Haven 20; Suffolk 20; Atlanta 22; St. Louis 22; Providence 23
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