Dignity/San Francisco July and August, 1999
"Moving On ...Moving Strong!"
Co-Chairs’ Reports
Greetings, fellow Dignitarians! Gilbert and I were caught in a myriad of things that we didn’t have time to collaborate on a single report. We decided to greet you separately this issue.
I hope you all are enjoying the Summer season and are in great health. Our beloved chapter has been bustling with activity these past few weeks. We had our first quarterly meeting for the year at the second Sunday supper in June wherein we discussed ways of assisting Dignity/USA financially. Dignity/SF’s goal is to raise a minimum of $2,000.00 before the convention in August, 1999. Our community acknowledged the board recommendation to fund 50% of the amount via our tithing fund and the rest, we , as a community , will raise via other means.
The San Francisco Pride Sunday saw our chapter pulling together for one great showing of how it is to be united as one family! Our devoted members were seen not only on the parade route itself and our information booth, but also at the beer booth! For such a small community, we have proven our commitment to outreach and to visibility by our small but memorable presence. To all of you who in one way or the other lent a helping hand, I thank you wholeheartedly!
By the time you receive this mailing, I will be in Pittsburgh, PA attending the National Convention of the National Pastoral Musicians (NPM) together with my partner, Paul Riofski and our very own Music Minister, Wanda Redman. Please keep us in your prayers as we represent our chapter in this convention.
Speaking of conventions, our very own Dignity Convention is fast approaching! I hope that you all have made your reservations by now! If not, there is still room for reservations. Our San Francisco regional delegates this year are Raul Salazar-Puente, Gilbert Gonzalez and my proxy, Jim Paz. Please pray for our delegates as they convene to discuss issues facing all of us. Dignity conventions offer us a chance to see our Dignity family as a whole and to appreciate the work that we as dignitarians do! I had the pleasure of representing our chapter as a regional delegate at the last convention, which happened to be my first Dignity convention. I had such a great, powerful and positive experience that I have decided to not miss anymore conventions of the future. If you haven’ t been, please give it a try. I’m sure you’ll be proud you did!
AIDS Walk/ San Francisco is also upon us. Jim Paz, this year’s Dignity Walk organizer needs at least 13 more walkers to ensure that our chapter has a designated table at Sharon Meadows for outreach and visibility purposes. If you can walk, won’t you join your family for a gay old time? On the other hand, if you have other obligations that day, please sponsor those who are walking.
Until next ish, dahlinks, remember, you’re all dear and near to my heart! Be Safe and Stay Safe! God bless us one and all! Gino Ramos
As Gino mentioned, different activities of the chapter have kept us busy that we were not able to collaborate on one letter. In addition to what Gino has mentioned, I would like to bring your attention to the following:
Second Sunday Supper - Vicky Valencia has graciously agreed to promote this event. Vicky has filled every month through December with different volunteers to prepare the meals. Each meal will have a theme. In June, it was Philippine Independence Day; in July, we are celebrating Bastille Day. As before, the suggested donation for the Second Sunday Suppers remains at $5 per person, not a bad price for a delicious meal lovingly prepared by different members of our community. Thank you, Vicky, for ensuring the success of our Second Sunday Suppers!
Membership Sunday - The Membership Committee, with David Turner and Jim Remer at the helm, celebrated anniversaries last June 6. Congratulations to the following members: 25 years - Romeo; 20 years - David K. and George H.; 15 years - Pete S., Henry C., Joe J., David M., Janet C., Joseph B., Andy B. and Dan C.; 10 years - Paul C., Tony Q., Janet R., Ed S., and Mario T.; 5 years - William M., Vince P., Tom D., Brian S., Bill H., David M., and Steven W.; 1 year - Roy B., Tom V., John M., John B., Jennie M., Chuck P., Eric M., Mary Ann L., Ely S. and Louis D.
Outreach Efforts - Early on Pride Day, I participated in an hour long call-in program called "Streetwise" on KMEL. The main topic of discussion was same sex marriage. The discussion was frank and honest. It showed me that we have long way to go in terms of educating people about our lives. Later in the day, I was interviewed briefly by KPFA as our contingent left the parade route. Gino and I will continue to seek and take advantage of opportunities that will allow us to get our message out to more people, queer and straight.
Solidarity Sunday - It's coming up in October. This is an excellent opportunity for us to connect with the larger Roman Catholic Community. If you attend Mass at a regular parish, I encourage you to work against violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people by asking your co-parishioners to wear the rainbow ribbons. You don't even have to go far and wide to look for support, ask your friends. Ask them to show their true colors of inclusive love!
Multicultural Plan - The results of the demographic and attitudinal survey are out. The results, along with discussion and recommendations by Empower Perspectives are included in this mailing. Please take the time out to read the executive summary. We will discuss this more in the next quarterly meeting in September.
Until next time, I pray that God continues to keep us close to her heart!
Gilbert Gonzalez