DignityUSA - Dateline 11/03

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DignityUSA DATELINE

Volume 12, No. 11
November 2003

DATELINE Editor: Bill Welch BillWVW3@aol.com

Keeping you informed

TABLE OF CONTENTS

New Executive Director Hired

Dignity at work for you

2005 Convention in Philadelphia

Support from Bishop Gumbleton

Dignity Out and About

Time, Talent & Treasure

Happy Anniversary

New Executive Director Hired

Following an extensive search process, the Board of Directors at their Fall Meeting in Washington, DC hired Mr. Matthew Gallagher of Maryland to be the new DignityUSA Executive Director. Mr. Gallagher comes to us with numerous qualifications in the areas of Operations & Administration, Planning, Development, Finance and Human Resources. He has a BA in Religious Studies and a Minor in Philosophy. His work experience includes such positions as Executive Director and Chief Services Officer in the American Red Cross, and most recently has been working for the Goddard Space Flight Center. Mr. Gallagher began his new position with us on October 20, 2003.

Dignity at work for you

DignityUSA Board of Directors meets…continues Strategic Planning

October 3-5. At their Fall Meeting in Washington, DC the DignityUSA Board of Directors (BOD) welcomed 6 new and 8 continuing members including 3 new officers. Friday was devoted to a first ever orientation for the new directors and that evening's BOD meeting began by hiring our new Executive Director, Matt Gallagher. The weekend's meetings included prayer and Sunday liturgy. Our new ED joined the BOD for the business conducted under the guidance of Ben Boerkoel, Strategic Plan Facilitator. The Holy Spirit's Wisdom is being showered upon our organization as She helps us work toward the achievement of our great Mission!

A review and update of the Strategic Plan was made by the BOD to determine priorities for the coming months; Committees are forming and being charged with preparing strategic plans of their own (Volunteer to help us!); an audit of communications is to be undertaken; and a non-deficit budget was approved for FY 2003. DignityUSA wishes to thank NGLTF for the use of their board room which saved us almost $1,000. Additionally, all your directors are volunteer members who contributed an estimated $4 - 5,000 for their own expenses and travel just for this one meeting. We still need a "Disciple Dozen Donors" to multiply the generous financial contribution of our directors.

DignityUSA to host CTA Reception

November 7. Once again we will be hosting a reception Friday evening at the national CTA Conference in Milwaukee. This is a major opportunity for Dignity to obtain more support for our work as ambassadors for the Catholic glbt community. Meet our new Executive Director.

Our Presence at the USCCB Fall Meeting

November 13-16. Plans are in the works for DignityÍs presence at the Fall Meeting of the US Catholic Conference of Bishops to be held in Washington, DC. Details of our presence at that meeting will be provided in the December edition of the Dateline.

Through Truth to Freedom

That is the theme for our 2005 Convention to be held in Philadelphia. At the Fall meeting of the DignityUSA Board the Convention 2005 Committee presented a budget and theme, both of which received approval. It was noted that pre-registrations for this convention have broken the previous record set for the 2003 Convention in Las Vegas. Registrations are now in excess of 130. Keep those registrations coming in.

Support from Bishop Gumbleton

Sept 19, 2003

Dear Friends at DignityUSA,

Thank you for the Certificate of Appreciation. I am grateful and honored to receive it.

Working with the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered communities has been a true blessing for me. I have seen an entirely new face of God.

Please know that I will continue to work for a Church that is inclusive and welcoming to all GodÍs people.

Peace,

Tom Gumbleton

Dignity Out and About

Boston, MA Æ Former DignityUSA Executive Director Marianne Duddy was honored with an award by the Greater Boston Business Council (GBBC) on September 24, 2003 at their annual Awards for Excellence Dinner.

Their awards are given to organizations and individuals who have contributed to the vitality of New EnglandÍs GLBT community in extraordinary ways.

Marianne was recognized for all the years of dedication and service she has given to Dignity/Boston and DignityUSA. Congratulations, Marianne!

Washington, DC - On September 24-25, 2003, DignityUSA Past President Bob Miailovich represented DignityUSA at the semi-annual meeting of the National Policy Roundtable. It was held at the NGLTF headquarters in Washington, DC. About 25 organizations were represented. The focus of the meeting was the 2004 elections including national races, legislative initiatives and civil marriage. The Roundtable also sponsored an information table at the Congressional Black Caucus conference held that same weekend.

Most of the meeting was information gathering and understanding of the situation. Several Roundtable members are interested in working on efforts to identify and concentrate GLBT resources in those few states and few races where there will be a really contested situation.

The Gill Foundation is funding The Democracy Project in which several of the GLBT secular organizations are using their mailing lists to identify potential resources in the contested areas. Efforts are underway to gather stories of people who have been hurt by the lack of marriage rights.

Washington, DC - On September 26, 2003, DignityUSA Past President Bob Miailovich attended the opening evening of the 20th anniversary celebration of WATER — Women's Alliance for Theology, Ethics and Ritual. It was held at Trinity College, Washington, DC. The evening opened with a ritual of thanksgiving, which included a slide montage of events over the organization's history. That was followed by a panel discussion of "Feminist Work in Religion: The Difference It Makes". The panel discussion was followed by table conversation among the approximately 100 people present. The talks were followed by a reception.

Bob extended congratulations to Mary Hunt and Diane Neu on behalf of DignityUSA and they graciously acknowledged the close relationship of our two organizations over the years.

Washington, DC Æ Dignity/Washington invited the national Board of Directors to celebrate with them the 5th Anniversary of the opening of the Dignity/Washington Center on October 4 by joining them in a Potluck Dinner.

San Diego, CA - On October 21, 2003 DignityUSA Past President Pat McArron lectured at the Catholic University of San Diego about the history of Dignity and its impact on the Catholic Church. The lecture was for a class in Catholic Culture in US Society. The class looks at the ways in which the Church affects culture and the ways in which the culture affects the Church.

Time, Talent & Treasure

We all know that Tithing is an important part of our daily lives. Without thinking, we do this daily by giving of our Time, Talent, and Treasure while at work, school, or to an organization we belong to.

So why is this so important to DignityUSA? Well, DignityUSA is not only your local Chapter but a National Organization that speaks on behalf of all the GLBT Catholic Community who believe as we do in full and inclusive rights within Our Church. Your Board of Directors is a volunteer Board who cannot do everything that needs to be done and we are seeking help from you, the members, to help us reach those goals which will help Amplify and Empower our Voice and the Organization.

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