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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 > DATELINES > HOME
DignityUSA
Volume 15, No. 8
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Download
in PDF format…DATELINE Editor: Bill Welch, EditorDateline@dignityusa.org
Keeping you informed TABLE OF CONTENTS DignityUSA National Board Meeting Summary House Party Raises over $3,000! Happy Anniversary & Congratulations DignityUSA National Election Results |
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DignityUSA National Board Meeting Summary
The DignityUSA National Board of Directors held its summer quarter meeting in Washington, DC on the weekend of July 7-9, 2006.
At its April 2006 meeting, the board members had agreed to read the book The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni as a means to make the board and the individual directors better focused on working as a leadership team.
Friday evening's gathering began with trust building exercises and continued Saturday morning looking at the effectiveness of the work of the directors as a leadership team and of DignityUSA as a viable organization. It was agreed that the work of DignityUSA is vitally important. Our members are charged by our mission. It is the leadership's responsibility to keep that passion alive to drive the organization. The directors agreed to work towards challenging each other to accomplish our goals.
The board then heard presentations from three chapters bidding to host the DignityUSA 2009 Convention. Representatives of the Washington, DC, San Diego and Palm Springs chapters presented reasons for their city to be the host for the convention.
After listening to the presentations and thinking about it, the board made the decision on Sunday to hold the 2009 Convention in San Diego.
Some of the deciding factors in the decision were: the fact that 2009 will be DignityUSA's 40th anniversary and San Diego was the first chapter, along with factors of weather and it being the West Coast's turn to host.
Although the convention will be held in San Diego, the local chapter will be assisted by other chapters on the West Coast.
Following recent tradition, the directors took time to evaluate the accomplishments over the past few months. Some of the celebrated accomplishments are:
- The generous gift from Dignity/St. Louis came from a discussion around faith.
- Appeals, letters and calls from directors have been effective. Donations have been up since April 2006.
- Dignity/Washington (DC) held a very successful house party hosted by Tom Yates.
- Communications lines are open and working between DignityUSA directors and members.
- National Board Election process was successful with five great candidates running, as evidenced by a very close race.
- Office functions have been reviewed and improvements put in place.
The directors spent time training in new fundraising methods. They also heard updates from each committee on the work they have been doing. Strategic plans for each committee were reviewed and comments made for future work. All committees could use more volunteers from the DignityUSA membership. Current committees needing assistance are: Advocacy and Education, Communications, Marketing, Membership Growth, Nominations and Elections and Theology. Anyone desiring to work on a committee, either for a short term project or for a longer planning commitment, is encouraged to contact secretary@dignityusa.org.
The board has set a schedule of monthly teleconference calls. The next in-person board meeting will be held October 6-8 in Washington, DC. Any member desiring a full copy of the minutes should contact secretary@dignityusa.org. Anyone desiring a copy of the financial statement should contact treasurer@dignityusa.org.
House Party Raises over $3,000!
Congratulations and thank you to Tom Yates, Dignity/Washington (DC) member and future national board member, who held a House Party for DignityUSA.
Dignity/Washington (DC) graciously opened the Dignity Center for Tom's party.
About 30 folks attended. Others, who were unable to attend, sent Tom checks.
Tom raised over $3,000 for DignityUSA. Folks ate, talked, socialized and had a great time.
If anyone is interested in sponsoring a House Party for DignityUSA, please e-mail Peggy Burns at VicePresident@dignityusa.org.
Happy Anniversary & Congratulations to:
- Nassau (NY) - 27 years
- San Antonio (TX) - 30 years
- Denver (CO) - 32 years
- Metro New Jersey (NJ) - 32 years
DignityUSA National Election Results
DignityUSA is pleased to announce the results of the recent national election.
The directors elected to the national board are: Leo Egashira (Seattle, WA), Joe Gallagher (Dayton, OH), Lourdes Rodriguez-Nogues (Boston, MA), and Mario Torrigino (San Francisco, CA). They will begin their two year term on October 1, 2006.
Also beginning two year terms in October are board-elected directors Lewis Tanner (New York, NY) and Tom Yates (Washington, DC).
DignityUSA thanks all the nominees for volunteering and welcomes the new directors to national leadership.
We also thank the Nominations Committee (chaired by Marianne Duddy-Burke) and the Election Committee (chaired by Peggy Burns) for their time and work for our organization.
Notice from Communications Chair
Due to database issues, many people who should be on DignityUSA's News-list-serve did not receive the June 2006 Quarterly Voice nor the July 2006 DATELINE. To view these, please go to these links on the DignityUSA website:
June 2006 Quarterly Voice:
http://www.dignityusa.org/pdf/qv/June_Dignity_Newsletter.pdf
July 2006 DATELINE:
To sign up for the DignityUSA News Service and receive e-mailed copies of the monthly DATELINE, Quarterly Voice and Press Releases, please go to:
Save the DatesDignityUSA's 18th Biennial Convention, Austin, Texas, Thu-Sun, July 5-9, 2007 |
Solidarity Sunday is a faith-based anti-violence initiative begun in 1995 by DignityUSA as a way of making our opposition to anti-gay violence visible.
For materials and ways to participate in Solidarity Sunday, go to our web page www.dignityusa.org/solidarity/index.html.
DignityUSA to present CTA conference workshopDignityUSA leadership will present two sessions of a workshop entitled, "A Queer Eye for the Catholic Church." Queer eyes see differently. They have a transforming vision. GLBT Catholics have been struggling with rejection and alienation in claiming our identity and place in the Church. The challenges continue. Through it all, GLBT Catholics have come to know the importance of inclusion, diversity, and the ability to know one's self and each other. They are not afraid to stand up to institutions and authorities to confront injustice. These lessons apply to all who care about transforming the Church. |
Call to Action Conference 2006 News
The Call to Action Conference in Milwaukee, WI, November 3-5, 2006,
will be held at the Midwest Airline Center downtown. DignityUSA has secured
the group rate for ten or more who register together. If you register
directly, DignityUSA does not get the discount rate nor credit for our
number of participants.
Please send your filled out Call to Action Conference registration form and your credit card info or check payable to CTA to DignityUSA, 1500 Massachusetts Ave., NW #8, Washington, DC 20005-1894, by mid-September. Those received in time will be mailed together (as required for the rate) for the early bird rate of $160 per person. Registration form is available at www.cta-usa.org/conference2006/registration.html.
Hotel reservations for the discount rate must be made by calling the hotel directly via the local telephone number, not the toll-free numbers or the web sites. Please ask for the Call to Action discount rate. Discounted rates run from $69 single/double to $121 quad per night.
Hotels offering special rates may be found at www.cta-usa.org/conference2006/travel.html.
Info on travel, including special or group airline discounts; shuttles and taxi service; train or bus travel and bargain bus, will be found at www.cta-usa.org/conference2006/travel.html.
Renting a car is better done at Chicago's O'Hare Airport (ORD). The conference center is 67 miles north of ORD. Air fares to ORD may be substantially cheaper than to Milwaukee (MKE). One thing to keep in mind is that hotel parking rates will range from $20-30 per day. Parking near the convention center and hotels costs about $12 per day.
Consider arriving on Thursday, the day before the main conference begins, so you are rested the day we begin. Usually DignityUSA people gather on Thursday night to go out for dinner and then hook up for whatever entertainment is available, so keep that in mind.
Further details on the CTA 2006 National Conference are available at www.cta-usa.org/conference2006/intro.html.
A Retreat for Lesbian, Bisexual and Questioning Women of Faith
Faith & Sexuality Retreat: Sharing Our Stories of Sexuality and Faith, Friday, Aug 25, 2006, 9:00 AM through Sunday, Aug 27, 2006, 1:00 PM, Sisters of Loretto Motherhouse, Nerinx, KY. $40/night per person (price negotiable based on ability to pay). Phone Tina at 312-498-0579 or Molly at 312-498-0708, or email mollyandtina@gmail.com. Space limited. Call early.
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.