DignityUSA

President, Vice President & Directors Nominations Open Feb 1, 2005

Nominations to fill DignityUSA President, Vice President and three (3) other positions on the DignityUSA Board of Directors will open on February 1, 2005. The chosen officers and directors will serve for a period of two years commencing October 2005.

This year, the membership elects our next President and Vice President, a gender parity team. The Nominations Committee is looking for candidates to lead DignityUSA and chair the national Board of Directors (BOD), as well as three other directors.

Have you thought about serving DignityUSA as a member of the BOD? Now is your chance to let everyone know.

Any regular member of DignityUSA is eligible to serve on the BOD. 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.

For more information concerning the candidate’s desired skill sets and commitment of time, talent and treasure, as well as a nominations form and submittal requirements, please go to our website www.dignityusa.org/nominations05. There you will find sections dealing with Serving as President and Vice President of DignityUSA, Serving on the DignityUSA Board, and the nominations form with submittal guidelines. Nomination forms must be submitted to the national office by April 1, 2005.

Other Ways to Serve

Not prepared yet to serve on DignityUSA’s national Board of Directors?

Perhaps you have other talents and skills.

The success of our great mission requires volunteers to serve on our national committees and programs as well.

How about supporting an officer or other director and being their fundraising “angel”? Our goals are to raise contributions of $50,000 per officer and $25,000 per other director. How about hosting a DignityUSA House Party?

To find out what needs exist on the various committees, or to offer your assistance, please contact Matthew Gallagher, our Executive Director, ExecutiveDirector@dignityusa.org, leave a message at info@dignityusa.org, or call 1-800-877-8797.

Personnel Changes on Your DignityUSA Board of Directors

Caprise	Hayes	McArron

Peter Caprise, Patty Hayes and Pat McArron have announced they are leaving the Board of Directors effective December 31, 2004. Chris Lawrence, of Massachusetts, has been elected by the Board to replace Peter Caprise as Treasurer for the remainder of the current term, which ends September 30, 2005.

Pat McArron had agreed to stay on our Board as Past President for a year. He has served in that capacity for more than a year. He wishes to take a well deserved respite from serving DignityUSA as an officer and director.

Pat served as an officer, both as Vice-President and President, for 4 years. In addition to his new career as an
Internet web-designer, Pat will continue his great volunteer work for us helping to maintain our online DignityNews and discussion groups where his expertise is much appreciated and needed.

“It has been an honor and a privilege for me to serve DignityUSA on the national board and to work with such dedicated people,” said Pat. “I look forward to my continued service to DignityUSA as needed. Our work is far from over. The need for DignityUSA in our lives is a continued necessity.”

Both Patty Hayes and Peter Caprise have had career changes that necessitate them concentrating on that part of their lives for a while. We are hopeful that both will be available as national volunteers — maybe even as national directors or officers — some time in the near future.

Peter commented, "As a result of a career opportunity, I will not be able to continue as Treasurer. The future demands of my time will prevent me from volunteering the time I have up until now. Hopefully in the future, I will once again be able to serve DignityUSA. Thanks to all for your support during my tenure."

Patty commented, "Although I have had to end my term early in order to finish my graduate degree, my time on the Board of Directors has really been a wonderful experience. This has been one of the best boards and executive directors with whom I have had the privilege of working. Their passion and dedication to DignityUSA has been absolutely amazing. I thank them and all of you for all the support and prayers along the way!"

Our deepest thanks and prayers for a blessed future go to Peter, Patty and Pat.

The Board is very pleased to announce the election of Chris Lawrence as our new Treasurer. Chris is a professional CPA and Director of Finance for a non-profit organization. Chris is also a long time DignityUSA member and officer of our Dignity/Boston chapter. We are very pleased Chris was willing to step forward and help us out for the balance of this fiscal year.

Happy Anniversary & Congratulations to:

The firm of Martin & Wall is providing CPA services for DignityUSA. For information about their services, visitwww.martinwallcpa.com

Austin (TX) - 26 Years
Dallas (TX) - 30 Years
San Francisco (CA) - 32 Years

Two Dignity/Chicago Members Address Christian Sexual Ethics Class

In November 2004, Loyola University Chicago theology professor Patricia Beattie Jung invited Dignity/Chicago members Bryan Cones and Marty Grochala to give a presentation on homosexuality and Catholicism to her class. As part of their studies on Christian Sexual Ethics, the students were investigating many aspects of sexuality and testing them against Christian ethics and church teaching.

Bryan and Marty prepared a short introduction to Church teaching on homosexuality and on the history of DignityUSA and its efforts to change that teaching. The class of 20 Masters and Doctoral students listened intently to the presentation and the personal stories of Bryan and Marty. Then the students asked their questions, some very knowledgeable, some curious and some very new to this topic. Most of the students were trying to reconcile what they have been taught to be true with the reality of two lives in front of them. All of them were supportive. A couple of students were grappling with these issues as they dealt with their own sexuality. For them, the presentation was an emotional experience.

Professor Jung drew the class to a close saying that while, as a woman, she certainly had felt the sting of church teaching on the place of women, but had never been labeled as evil. She acknowledged that such an accusation and label struck at the core of an individual’s identity, and for that she apologized on behalf of the church.

Professor Jung will give a lecture on her paper "Call to Wed" for Dignity/Chicago as part Chicago's Freedom to Marry Day activities.

Editor’s Note: Professor Jung’s paper “Call to Wed” may be found on our website at www.dignityusa.org/pdf/CallToWed-PBJ.pdf.

Shhhhhh! It’s the Silent Auction

Dinner for two.

Airfare to an exotic location.

A romantic weekend away.

Tickets to a show.

These are just a few of the items that will be awaiting your bid during the silent auction at the DignityUSA Convention 2005 in Philadelphia, PA.

The silent auction has been an exciting part of past biennial convention festivities. To make our Convention 2005 auction truly FAAABULOUS, your ideas and creativity are needed.

If you are gifted with the talents of managing a silent auction, you’re worth your weight in gold.

Call the DignityUSA national office at 1-800-877-8797, or contact us by email at Conv2005@dignityusa.org and ask how you can help, or tell us what you can donate.

The convention site will be the Loews Hotel in Downtown Philadelphia, PA, July 7th through 10th, 2005.

Come to Philly ready to bid. Who knows? Maybe you’ll win a chance to ring the Liberty Bell!

Membership materials

The DignityUSA national office has postcards and new membership brochures to send you to support membership enrollment and recruitment activities.

Going on a cruise?

Involved in your local community center?

Know an area where you can place DignityUSA postcards?

Help us increase our membership by getting the word out about DignityUSA.

Contact the national office:

Happy St. Valentine’s Day!

Allow God’s Love in Your Life Everyday

DignityUSA Vision Statement

DignityUSA envisions and works for a time when Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Catholics are affirmed and experience dignity through the integration of their spirituality with their sexuality and, as beloved persons of God, participate fully in all aspects of life within the Church and Society.

Top of page