I recently had the fortune of attending the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force’s Conference – Creating Change. I attended with our treasurer (and my husband) Todd. Two members of the Dayton LGBT Center also ventured north to Detroit, Michigan for the conference.

It was a four day event packed full of workshops, seminars, and social events for LGBT activists from around the country. I met other LGBT activists, foundation directors, grant writers, community center staff, youth center volunteers, and organizational executive directors from New Jersey, California, Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama, Washington (both state and DC), Kentucky, Hawaii, and Alaska. We shared information about fundraising, programming, lobbying, and organizing. We learned about working with LGBT youth, people of faith, local politicians, donors, social leaders, and other organizations.

The formal training available was incredible. We now possess even more information vital to running a successful and meaningful organization. I attended a daylong seminar, Being a Board Member, by Mickey MacIntyre, principal of Realchange LLC. I also attended eight other workshops which focused on topics ranging from marriage equality to finding youth leaders to writing charitable grant requests and many more. It will take another couple of weeks to review all of the information and sort out how we can use it best.

I had the opportunity to share the work of Diversity Dayton with new friends from all corners of the United States. Elias was motivated by our billboard campaign and wondered how billboards in Anchorage would be received. Clif was impressed that we held rallies and protests from time to time. David thought it was great for an organization to bring LGBT issues into the mainstream.

Motivation was found in every part of the conference. Most notable was hearing Julian Bond, Chairman of the NAACP, speak about some of his experiences from the frontlines of various civil rights movements. We also heard Bishop V. Gene Robinson talk about his struggle and experience in being the first gay man to be elected to the position of bishop in the Anglican Communion. We also heard short messages from notable and awarded LGBT leaders such as Mandy Carter, Guy Baldwin, Barbara Satin, Mia Mingus, and Jon Stryker.

Again, it will take a few weeks to sort through the newly gained information and training before we can start planning for the future of Diversity Dayton and our programming. We will be looking at new areas of fundraising to provide the proper monies for any programs and events brought forth by proper strategic and annual planning. We now have the information (and contacts) to take the next step with Diversity Dayton. More information will be forthcoming in the very near future.

R. J. McKay
Diversity Dayton