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DignityUSA DATELINE

Volume 12, No. 2
February 2003

It's February — Love is in the Air

Have you and your partner had a Holy Union Ceremony through your local Dignity Chapter? If so, congratulations! DignityUSA wants to record your ceremony in our National Couples Registry!

The National Couples Task Force introduced the Registry, as well as the Couples Ministry Resource Guide, at the 1997 DignityUSA Biennial Convention held in Boston, MA. The Registry was established "to support and validate committed relationships" and "is documentation that we, as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, do have and desire long-term monogamous relationships that are consonant with Christ's teaching, Christian values, and are loving, life-giving, and life-affirming." [Couples Ministry Resource Guide]

There are five basic guidelines set forth in the Resource Guide that are required for a couple to register. We ask a chapter officer or representative to verify by signature that the couple have satisfied the guidelines. This keeps our registry accountable. If you and your partner have had a Holy Union but it did not satisfy the guidelines, we suggest and encourage you to use the occasion of an anniversary to have a recommitment ceremony which satisfies the guidelines, thereby qualifying you to register.

If you would like to register your Holy Union with DignityUSA, please complete the form found in your Chapter's copy of the Couples Ministry Resource Guide and mail or fax it to the national office. For more information on the National Couples Registry, the Couple Ministry Resource Guide, and a copy of the form, please visit our website at www.DignityUSA.org or call DignityUSA at 800-877-8797.

Sister Eileen De Long Scholarship Fund

Sister Eileen De Long, a Religious of the Good Shepherd, ministered to the GLBT community for a number of years before she was taken from us to her eternal home. The Sister Eileen De Long Scholarship Fund was established so that her memory and selfless service to our community could be recognized and further enhance ministry within Dignity.

The specific intent of the Fund is to provide financial assistance to persons attending the DignityUSA biennial conventions. The funds available may be awarded to one or more individuals as determined by the Scholarship Committee.

The Committee shall consider applications and shall grant priority consideration as follows:

• First priority will be given to women religious;
• Second priority will be given to male religious;
• Third priority will be given to lay persons and priests

The Committee is currently taking applications for the 2003 Convention in Las Vegas. To obtain a copy of the guidelines and application, please write:

The Sister Eileen De Long Scholarship Fund Committee
c/o DignityUSA
1500 Massachusetts Ave, NW
Suite 11
Washington, DC, 20005-1894

Reflections on a DignityUSA Convention

For the next six months, we have asked friends, family and members of Dignity to tell you about a DignityUSA Convention experience which has changed, or has made an impact on their life. We hope these stories will bring memories of your own, and/or, they stir up your interest in attending the Las Vegas Convention this August. The following is the first of these installments. We hope to see you all in Las Vegas!

13 Conventions - And Still Going Strong!

By Michael Flynn

The summer of 1977 held a few firsts for me. My first long trip outside my native Philadelphia (to Chicago), my first airplane ride, and my big joyous entrance into the world of liberal Catholic activism. I did all of this by traveling to my first DignityUSA convention.

I wisely saved the convention program (brochure, really) and every once in a great while I'll come across it and see the pencil notes. The letters are faded but I can still see it: the markings of the workshops I went to, putting checks next to the famous people I met (Barbara Gittings, Sr. Jeannine Gramick) and a question mark next to the name "Fr. McNeill" — some priest who just got silenced by the Vatican.

Coming home to my local chapter in Philly, I was "three feet off the ground." I was ready, as a future friend of mine, Kevin Calegari, liked to say, "to do the work of the Lord." [Kevin, now deceased, would become a national president of DignityUSA.]

Tons of convention memories followed. Some of the highlights were: watching the convention come to my hometown (Phila.1981), sign language interpreting for a bishop (Seattle, 1982), being elected to the National Board (San Francisco, 1989) and presiding as National Secretary (Wash., DC, 1991).

My favorite convention moments are always the same. As a sign language interpreter, I get the distinct honor of facing my Dignity brothers and sisters as they listen to the great speakers at the podium or, better yet, as they see the communion host being elevated at Mass. I look to 13 more, with my nationwide Dignity family.

Nominations Open

Nominations for President and Vice President, as well as three (3) positions on the DignityUSA Board of Directors, open on February 15, 2003. Candidates for President and Vice President run on a single, gender parity ticket. All elected members serve a two year term.

Now is your chance to help maintain the vitality of this organization. Become involved in the election process by nominating someone (or yourself) for one of these key leadership positions.

Job description: Board of Directors

The DignityUSA Board of Directors (BOD) is comprised of individuals who are elected by the members or appointed by the President and the BOD, to assist and promote the mission of the organization. The BOD is responsible to monitor the financial, business and legal affairs of DignityUSA. Board members should be prepared to engage in the following tasks:

1. To oversee DignityUSA by deciding, developing and guiding the implementation of policies.
2. To act as an advocate for DignityUSA with regard to the financial need of the organization.
3. To be an ambassador for DignityUSA by promoting its mission at every opportunity.
4. To provide consultation to the board by bringing one's own skills and expertise to the position of board member.

The DignityUSA board is a working board of directors. As such, board members should plan on contributing a minimum of eight hours per month to board activities.

Timeline for nominations

Nominations open on February 15, 2003. Any regular member of DignityUSA is eligible to serve on the DignityUSA Board of Directors. You may place yourself in nomination or be nominated, with your consent, by other members of DignityUSA. All members are ensured the opportunity to be placed in nomination. Those who accept nomination must have their candidate statement and photo to the Nominating Committee by April 15, 2003.

How to nominate

If you, or someone you know, is qualified and willing to run for a leadership position in DignityUSA, you may submit their name on a Nomination Form, found on the DignityUSA website at www.dignityusa.org. These documents can also be obtained by calling the national office (1-800-877-8797). Send the completed form to: DignityUSA Nominating Committee, 1500 Massachusetts Ave NW, Suite 11, Washington, DC 20005-1894, or by Fax at 202-429-9808.

Your participation in this essential process ensures that DignityUSA remains a vibrant and life-giving organization, ready and able to serve you, the member.

Questions, comments or concerns can be addressed to Rosemary Ananis, National Director/Nominating Committee Liaison at rananis@maine.rr.com.

Happy Anniversary & Congratulations to:

• Austin (TX) - 24 years
• Dallas (TX) - 28 years
• Milwaukee (WI) - 28 years
• San Francisco (CA) - 30 years

Happy Valentine's Day

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