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Regional PFLAG Phone Meeting Minutes
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Notes - Pacific Northwest PFLAG Conference Call - January 5, 2010
On
the call were Caesar Hernandez from PFLAG National; Terri Noble from Oregon State Council; David Bentley from Friday Harbor,
WA; Rosemary Ford from Bellevue, WA; Mary Ann Nelson from Lower Columbia, WA; Gabi & Alec Clayton from Olympia,
WA; Kathy Reim from Skagit County, WA; Barbara Clark-Elliott from Seattle, WA; Barbara Aitken from Vancouver, WA; and Matt
from Bellingham, WA.
REMINDERS:
Chapter Leaders may contact Kathy Reim with questions and ideas by email
at <kreim@earthlink.net> or by phone at 360-856-4676.
Our Regional Web Site is http://www.pnwpflag.org. Be sure to send info on upcoming meetings and events to Terry Rhines <Trhineswa@aol.com> so that he can get the info on our state web site for others to see. Also be
sure to check the site for interesting events in other communities.
CALL AGENDA ITEMS THIS MONTH:
1. Update
on National Happenings
Caesar Hernandez reported that there are three major issues on the horizon nationally.
PROPOSITION 8 TRIAL: The trial challenging Prop 8 begins next week. It will be asserted that Prop 8 denies couples
the right to marry. The argument will then be presented that the state doesn't prevent couples from marrying, it only
prevents them from marrying persons of the same sex. The counter argument will be that civil unions in California are
not a legal substitute for marriage. Many observers doubt that the trial will be successful. The issue may have to go to
voters in 2012. LGBT HEALTH: Studies show that LGBT folks are at higher
risk for health issues than the general population, especially for alcoholism, drug abuse, and HIV/AIDS. Possible causes
for this higher risk include lack of insurance and higher stress due to harassment.
MARRIAGE EQUALITY IN IOWA: Due to the requirements for passing a constitutional amendment, marriage equality in Iowa
is safe until at least 2014. There are several steps each with time requirements necessary to pass an amendment.
Caesar
also stated that he is still gathering information from Brooke Smith regarding liability insurance for chapters. There
may be the possibility of covering all chapters through a state council. They are checking with the Illinois State Council
to see how they handle their insurance.
This issue was brought up last month because some chapters are facing potential
loss of prospective board members who won't serve without board and officers insurance which generally costs about $1000
per year. There is also some question about whether there is a difference in getting state-wide insurance for chapters
that have their 501(C)3 status through National PFLAG and those who have their own independent 501(C)3 status. More
discussion of this issue will take place on a future call where more information has been gathered.
2. Chapter
Updates (including Goals for 2010)
Friday Harbor, WA -- David Bentley said that the only goal in his chapter at
this time is a concert by Captain Smarty Pants (a sub-group of the Seattle Men's Chorus) at the San Juan Community Theatre
on Saturday, March 20. The chapter is underwriting the concert.
Bellingham, WA -- Matt reported that July 7-10 is
the 10th Anniversary Pride Event in Bellingham. His chapter wants to be more involved in Pride. They are also looking
for a new president for the chapter.
Vancouver, WA -- Barbara Aitken shared that her chapter is showing the movie
"Straight Laced" at their next meeting, and may show it publicly later in the year. They would like to show it at some
schools since the movie is focused on high school students.
Skagit County, WA -- Kathy Reim reported that their
chapter is being supportive of the 3rd Annual Over the Rainbow Festival at a local high school. The festival is put
on by the local GSA and their teachers. On that Friday night there will be a showing the movie "Hannah Free" at the
Lincoln Theater. This movie is about GLBT elder rights. On Saturday the Festival will have several workshops for attendees.
Her chapter's focus in 2010 is Trans issues.
Seattle, WA -- Barb Clark-Elliott told us that February 20 is the Seattle
Board Retreat. They are going to start a quarterly event separate from their monthly support meetings. These events will
have speakers, panels, and other activities so that the public can come and learn about PFLAG issues without having
to attend a support meeting. She also said that on January 18 her chapter will be at the GSA Summit. They are working
now with youth in the South End.
Olympia -- The Claytons shared that their chapter is still working on their diversity
project. They will screen the movie "Brother Outsider" on Bayard Rutstein for Black History Month in February. They will
also have resources for LGBT African Americans available at the screening. They also screened the movie "Straight Laced"
and highly recommended it to other chapters. Their chapter also has several new board members.
Bellevue, WA -- Rosemary
Ford reported that her chapter is hoping to fund another scholarship or two through the Pride Foundation. They will also
have some of their founding members come to a meeting to tell about what it was like in the beginning. At another meeting,
a King County Sheriff's Deputy and her domestic partner tell their stories. Rosemary also said that the chapter was
very successful with wrapping gifts at the Barnes & Noble bookstore. They displayed a PFLAG sign while they wrapped
gifts.
Lower Columbia -- Mary Ann Nelson shared that her chapter will have another storytelling meeting in January.
This will be like the October, 2008 meeting which featured the story telling information from "Hearts on Fire." Their
board meets this month to plan 2010.
Oregon State Council -- Teri Noble reported on the work of her council in the
coming year. New chapter development will include efforts using grant money to reach families of color. They will also
work with Basic Rights Oregon, the Community of Welcoming Churches, and some rural organizations to develop a chapter
on the North Coast and Astoria area. They hope to do chapter development and discussion in preparation for a possible
2012 campaign regarding marriage equality. Her council is also working the State Schools Association to educate schools
about bullying laws. PFLAG presentations will include a group of lawyers who will talk about laws regarding bullying,
a group of parents who will share their family experiences with bullying, and some counselors who will speak to how
bullying effects victims.
3. Publicity Discussion Kathy Reim reported that on a recent trip she saw
ads in Bend, OR in their alternative newspapers. She suggested that all chapters consider placing ads in their community
alternative papers. She pointed out that this might be a good job for a new chapter member who wants a small job or
to learn about publicity. Kathy encouraged us to give the usual details about time, place, etc., but also suggested that
we add a line or two that give a warm fuzzy feeling to the ad. Matt said
that the Bellingham chapter uses ads in local alternative papers. He added that they've also gotten good publicity by
marching in mainstream parades in the community, like the Sea to Ski Parade.
Barb Clark-Elliott shared that her chapter's support meetings are advertised in the Seattle Gay News classified ads.
They also have a chapter member who contacts the smaller community newspapers with information on meetings. In addition,
chapter members are getting involved in government commissions and mainstream community events as well as the Greater
Seattle Business Association. Gabi and Alec Clayton talked about using their
web site and newsletter. Because the Olympia chapter's newsletter is published every other month, Alec puts out and
"Alert List" on the alternate months. This list alerts PFLAG members and allies of upcoming events of interest. They
also put PFLAG events on community calendars as well as calendars of ally groups.
Rosemary Ford stated that the Bellevue chapter puts ads in local papers. However she also spoke to the importance of asking
new people who come to meetings and events how they found PFLAG. This can help chapters learn which publicity seems
to be most effective over time. Teri Noble said that many chapters in small
communities in Oregon post notices at churches and libraries as well as social networking and email to contact GSA chapters
and leaders. Some Oregon chapters have also made an effort to get people to sign up for the next three newsletters via
email without making a full commitment to PFLAG. She also commented that employee assistance programs need current information
for PFLAG chapters and services in order to make referrals. It was also pointed
out that local community colleges and universities can, and often will, help publicize PFLAG events. When approaching
these schools, we should not forget that they have student newspapers and radio stations.
Finally, Kathy Reim reminded us about 211, the national Volunteers of America inquiry line for people looking for resources in
a community. This is mostly done online. If PFLAG chapters sign up, they get referrals for their community under headings
like LGBT Social Services, GLBT Support, etc. This often becomes a good way to reach parents needing resources.
4.
Miscellaneous Comments In addition to the movies talked about during chapter
updates above, the movie "Southern Comfort" was recommended as a good transgender film that is especially good for people
who "don't get it." Also, the National Geographic program called "Sex, Lies, and Gender" was recommended as a good resource
covering a range of issues including transgender and intersex.
5. Our next conference call will be at 7:30
p.m. on Tuesday, February 2. Be sure to mark your calendars now and remember to join us or to find a substitute if you
cannot attend.
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