2009 PFLAG Atlanta Activities (October 2008 - September 2009)

Monthly meeting programs:

October            Jeff Graham, Executive Director of Georgia Equality
November         Abby Drue, Ben Marion Institute for Social Justice founder
December         Lance Helms, Update on National and Regional activities
January 18       Mickey DeSai, Executive Director of Anti Prejudice Consortium
February 15      Marc Adams, CEO of Heartstrong
March 15           Chuck Obina, CEO of Out and Equal
April 19             Michael Shutt, Director of LGBT Life, Emory University
May 17              Rev. Rick Marson, “Meeting the Needs of the GLBT and Their Loved Ones”
June 21            Lamar Birckbicher, Parent Therapy at Youth Pride
July 19              Linda Herzer, faith counselor and LGBT ally
August 16         DVD, “Let’s Get Real”
September 20   Eric Mongerson, precedent-setting gay father

Support circles are an essential part of each monthly meeting and were included in all the meetings listed above.

Other Activities:

Oct.-Sept. – Answered website email and hotline phone calls
Sept. 14 -- Participated as panelists in Seven Straight Nights for Equality at Georgia Tech. 
This program later won honors from GA Tech’s Department of Housing.
Oct.-Nov. -- Worked with 3 different groups of students from Georgia Tech on projects as part
of their “Sexuality in Literature” course.
Oct. 7 -- Attended Seminar on Law and Religion, Emory University (posed questions)
Oct. 11 -- Spoke to about 50 interested employees of KPMG, Atlanta on “So You Want to
Be a Straight Ally.”
Oct. 16 -- Spoke to 75 students at Riverwood High School for Spectrum (GSA) during lunch
Oct. 16 -- Part of panel at Georgia State University for the Alliance for Sexual and Gender
Diversity
Oct. 26 -- Attended GLAAD media training workshop at Kennesaw State University
Oct. 28 -- Speakers at sociology class at Georgia State University
Oct. 28 -- Met with school counselor for Cobb County Schools to share ideas about starting a GSA.
Oct.-Mar. -- Conference calls as part of planning State PFLAG conference “Equality in Bloom”
Nov. 8 -- Presented Straight For Equality power point at the International Christian Community
Churches Convocation held in Atlanta
Nov. 18 -- A group of PFLAGer’s attended the premiere of “Milk” (Harvey Milk)
Nov. 19-21 -- Attended Georgia School Counselors Association convention in Augusta
*Presented workshop “The Silent Crisis:  How homophobia and heterosexism create
unrest and negatively affect academic achievement of all students”
*Staffed exhibit table which centered on material and discussions about reducing
bullying and harassment to create safer schools.
Dec. 6 -- Board meeting
Dec. 28 -- Committee meeting to begin plans for Garden fundraiser
Feb. 7 -- Attended “All Means All” meeting at St. Mark’s United Methodist
Feb. 10 -- Attended Out and Equal event at Turner Studios.  Facilitated table discussions about
programs to expand straight ally participation
Feb. 12 -- Presented program at Gwinnett College for GLBT group
Feb. 14 -- Board meeting
Mar. 20 -- Met with Pastor Meredith and Pastor Turner in regard to Faith & Community Alliance
Mar. 22 & 24  Meetings with Faith and Community Alliance to help plan a Mother’s Day celebration
Mar. 28 --  State Convention—“Equality in Bloom” in Macon (7 in attendance)
*Moderated panel about diverse sexual identities
*Presented Safe Schools workshop
*Presented Facilitator Training workshop
Apr. 14 --  Presented program on GLBT equality at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
Apr. 18 --  Board meeting
Apr. 28 -- Attended press conference, Tabernacle Baptist Church, on keeping schools safe
Apr. 28 -- Attended memorial service for young student, Jaheem Herrera planned by Faith
and Community Alliance
May 3 --  Met with Chuck Obina to share fundraiser ideas
May 7 --   First meeting with DeKalb County Schools’ administration regarding safe schools
May 12 --   Met with a coalition of  organizations to decide a course of action to achieve safer    schools.
June 7 --  Scholarship Awards Ceremony for 3 recipients
*Board member was speaker, OurSong entertained, and two active chapter members
provided celebratory refreshments
June 15 --  Met as one of a collation with Director of Prevention and Safety for DeKalb County
to discuss the county’s response to the suicide of Jaheem Herrera
June 18 --  Panelist at LOVE Coalition’s meeting on “Stopping the Bullying” held at Atlanta Library
June 23 --  Presented Straight for Equality for Macy’s Lunch and Learn program
June 27 -- PFLAG Atlanta’s Safe Schools program received Georgia Equality’s 2009 Champions
for Equality award
July 1 --  Attended first of several meetings of the newly established GSSC (Georgia Safe
Schools Coalition.
July 11 --  Presented Safe Schools workshop at the Georgia State PTA Conference
July 12 --  Board meeting
July 17 -- Facebook training for board and other interested members given by Matt LeBrun of
Georgia Tech
July 24 -- Met with Mr. Fretwell, DeKalb County Schools, about safe schools
July-Sept. --  Pursued raffle prizes to enhance interest in our fundraiser
Aug. 19 --   Presented program on Straight For Equality to Frito-Lay employees
Aug. 17 -- Met with Mr. Moseley, Assoc. Superintendent of DeKalb County Schools
Aug. 20 --  Attended GSSC meeting/worked on counselor handbook
Aug. 23 --   Abbreviated board meeting
Sept. 26 --  FIRST Secret Garden Party Fundraiser

FY 2008 PFLAG Activities

Monthly meeting programs:

October 21: PFLAG National Conference Summary
November 18: Lynn Johnson, Growing Up Transgender
December 16: Lance Helms, Home for the Holidays
January 20: Lawyer Nancy Tommelleo, Diversity Changes at the EPA
February 17: Linda Ellis, Executive Director of the Atlanta Lesbian Health Initiative
March 16: Elke Kennedy, Sean's last Wish Foundation
April 20: Rene Sanchez, PFLAG Macon President
May 20: Grace Ann Young, Atlanta Straight for Equality
June 15: Pride Parade Sign Making
July 20: Woodrow Leake, Executive Director of Youth Pride
August 17: Kathy Kelly, Executive Director of Mega Family
September 21: Dale Merkle, Safe Schools

Activities:

Oct-Sept: Held 12 monthly support meetings on Sundays at First MCC, held 4 new monthly support only meetings on Mondays at UUCA, answered website email and hotline phone calls
Oct-Apr: Assisted with starting a PFLAG Athens Chapter
Oct-Feb: Staffed a table at Atlanta Executive Network
Oct: Prepared and sent membership information and dues to PFLAG National
Oct 7: Spoke at 7 Straight Nights for Equality, Martin Luther King Center
Oct 11-13: Seven members attended PFLAG National Conference in Washington, DC
Oct 21: At annual meeting elected officers, approved by-laws revision, discussed the budget and goals for the coming year
Oct 22: Spoke at University of West Georgia Multicultural Counseling Class
Oct 24-26: Attended Emory University's 25th annual conference on Law and Religion
Oct 31: Arranged dinner meeting with Elke Kennedy of "Sean's Last Wish Foundation"
Nov: Revised chapter literature and business cards, and made printed materials easily available
Nov 1-2: Presented a workshop and staffed a table at Covenant Network Presbyterians Network National Conference in Atlanta
Nov 13: Staffed a table at Emory during glbt film "Rock Bottom"
Nov 20: Presented a workshop at GA School Counselors Association State Convention
Nov 26: Met at home of member Reuel Hamilton with state senator
Dec: Published and mailed out quarterly newsletter
Dec 2: Board Meeting
Dec 4-June 6: On planning Committee for PFLAG Regional Conference in Orlando
Dec 4: Spoke at Mercer University
Dec 5: Spoke to about 100 students at Riverwood High School for Spectrum (GSA)
Dec 13: Attended Love Coalition Gala at First MCC
Jan: Attended Love Coalition Breakfast
Jan 27: Met with Georgia Equality
Jan 31: Provided panel of members including founding president Judy Colbs as part of Civil and Human Rights Museum series at Atlanta Main Library
Feb-June: Developed new website with Margaret Johns of Sage Design and added newsletter and online payments
Feb 3: Board Meeting
Mar: Published and mailed out quarterly newsletter
Mar: Assisted in grant application to develop guidelines for working with Athens GLBT youth
Mar 30: Board Meeting
Mar: Presented Straight for Equality to Interweave at UUCA
Mar-Apr: S4E conference calls and trainings with Jean Marie Navette at PFLAG National
April: Spoke at Georgia Physicians for Human Rights
April: Attended University of Georgia Lavender Graduation
April: Sent out 78 Safe School packets to school counselors in Atlanta area districts
April 14: Met with Marti Keller to discuss use of UUCA Fellowship facilities
April 19: Staffed table and provided workshop panel at GLBT Summit at Kennesaw State
April 28: Participated in Met Life Straight for Equality in the Workplace presentation with Jean Marie Navette and Jody Huckaby from PFLAG National
May: Bought a projector for PFLAG presentations
May 10: Board Meeting
June: Published and mailed out quarterly newsletter
June 2: Established PFLAG Atlanta First Monday Support Only Meetings at UUCA
June 5: Purchased a large antique bookcase to go in the Social Hall at First MCC
June 6-7: Eight members attended PFLAG Regional Conference in Orlando and a rally outside the Focus on the Family/Exodus Love Won Out meeting; Atlanta provided conference scholarship workshop
June 16: Staffed a table at the Cyndi Lauper 2008 True Colors Concert
June 28-30: Staffed a table at the American School Counselors Assoc. convention with Elizabeth Brown from PFLAG National
June 25: Presented Straight for Equality at the EPA in Atlanta
June 29: Scholarship Awards Ceremony and Reception
June 30: Guest lecturer at UGA class on GLBT Issues in the Workplace
July-Nov: Partnering with Dr. Andrea Wood, GA Tech, 4 proposals accepted for 14 students to work with special goals for PFLAG
July 1: First MCC started quarterly scholarship donations
July 4-6: Staffed a booth at Atlanta Gay Pride and marched in the parade
July 13: Presented Straight for Equality to the Humanist group at UUCA
June 29: Presented Straight for Equality at Emerson UU
Aug 9: Board Meeting
Aug 21: Presented Straight for Equality to Atlanta Diversity Managers Group
Aug 30-31: Staffed a booth at Atlanta Black Pride
Sept: Published and mailed out quarterly newsletter
Sept: S4E conference calls and training with Jean Marie Navette at PFLAG National
Sept 7: Presented Straight for Equality for the EPA LGBT Regional Representatives in Austin, TX
Sept 20: Staffed a booth at Savannah Pride with PFLAG Macon, worked on chapter start up details
Sept 21: Picked up and hosted GA Tech students at our monthly meeting
Sept 27: Facilitator training for eleven board members and members at large
Sept 28: Presented Straight for Equality at Northwest UU
Sept 29: Met with counselor at Pebblebrook High School
Sept: Set up Names database combining members, donors, newsletter recipients, organizations and friends of PFLAG Atlanta

FY 2007 PFLAG Activities

Monthly meeting programs:

October 15: Beth Litrell from ACLU
November: Mary Lynn and Dale Merkle, PFLAG Atlanta Speaker's Bureau
December 17: Kevin Lynn from Chris Kids
January 21: Judi O'Kelley, Lambda Legal   Regional Director
February 18: Tracee McDaniel and Transgender Panel
March 18: Rick Kerns, Vice President Atlanta Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce
April 15: Donna Narducci, Executive Director PRIDE
May 20: Stephon Collins, Founder L.O.V.E. Coalition
June 17: Parade Sign Making for PRIDE
July 15: Rev T. Paul Graetz, Pastor of First MCC
August 19: Dads Perspectives on Gay Kids
September 16: What's Happening in PFLAG Atlanta

Activities:

Produced and mailed 4 quarterly newsletters.

Answered the hotline and website email queries.

Added Rick Marson, Linda Marson, Grace Ann Young and Billie Pendleton-Parker to our board.

Participated in Parent/Child Panel for the Association of American Pediatricians

Participated in the Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce's Fall Expo

Presented panel and managed booth during Coming Out Week at Georgia Tech

Dale Merkle on 11Alive News disputed anti-gay 'Love Won Out' rhetoric

Protested at anti-gay 'Love Won Out' conference in Cobb County

Participated in First MCC Community Center Benefit

Attended Georgia School Counselors Assoc Convention in Savannah

Attended Ford Foundation Colloquium on Sexuality and Religion

Attended UUCA to Receive Generous Pass the Plate Donation

Attended LOVE Coalition Prayer Breakfast in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Worked with Reverend Paul to make a final decision on Library Bookcase

Attended 3rd annual Day of Learning at Georgia State University

Sponsored Leadership Development Workshop with participation from across Georgia, workshops given by PFLAG Atlanta, Lance Helms, and PFLAG National

Presented 2 Workshops and had a Booth at National Unitarian Universalist Convocation of Interweave

Library Booklist was put Online

Participated in 5th annual Kennesaw State LGBT Summit

Scholarship Award Reception held in June for 5 outstanding out and active LGBT college students, each awarded $2000.

Addressed a Cultural Perspectives class at Mercer University

Speakers Bureau - participated in rally at the National BSA conference in Atlanta for inclusion of LGBT individuals in Scouting. 

Spoke at Methodist Church on GLBT issues and ENDA, spoke at Atlanta Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce on ENDA, table on ENDA at UUCA on ENDA, spoke with First MCC reps for entire church participation in the ENDA postcards, provided separate table at Pride for ENDA.

Wrote article for AJC on PFLAG and Pride (they didn't publish).

Chapter by-laws reviewed by committee and defined general chapter goals.

Had individual PFLAG Atlanta business cards designed and printed, and generic chapter cards with meeting time and date.

Participated in PRIDE: had 3 new banners made, printed up t-shirts for Pride sale, staffed booth and decorated truck for parade, over 60 marchers, member quoted in an AJC article

Attended two workshops presented by GLAAD.

Attended an EPA program in which a member was recognized for her diversity work.   This also included an article in the SOVO.

PFLAG member with a group of community activists met with US Representative Hank Johnson to express gratitude for his support and cosponsor ship of GLBTQ legislation

PFLAG national's website--a member secured a Georgia Tech student to serve as a tester/evaluator of the site

Involved with Center for Civil and Human Rights, Recorded Interview with Judy Colbs

Formed Posse for the Scholarship Fund

Attended the PFLAG Macon Meeting, August 2007

Booth at AEN

Booth at Black Pride

Booth at Savannah Pride

Participated in and had a booth at the More Light Presbyterian National Conference at North Decatur Presbyterian Church