From: mambrose@unity.ncsu.edu Subject: Dignity/USA Dateline 11/95 Date: Sun, 29 Oct 1995 13:39:05 -0500 (EST) DIGNITY/USA DATELINE: A MONTHLY DIGEST OF NEWS, NOTES, & MORE NOVEMBER 1995, VOLUME 4, NUMBER 11 FAMILY AIDS NETWORK CASH GRANT WAYNE APRIL HONORED AS OUTSTANDING CAREGIVER On October 22, Mary Fisher announced that Dignity/USA has won a national award of a $15,000 grant from the Family AIDS Network. The award recognizes Dignity/San Francisco member Wayne April as one of eight National Outstanding Caregivers. Wayne, an active member of the San Francisco chapter since 1984, chaired the local AIDS support group from 1984 to 1992, co-chaired Dignity/USA's National AIDS Project from 1988 to 1992, and helped establish a support group for Catholic clergy ministering to gay people living with HIV and AIDS in the Bay Area. Wayne received the chapter's 1995 Pax et Bonum award for his years of devotion and commitment to supporting those involved in AIDS ministry and those affected by the disease. Wayne, who holds a Masters degree in social work, is the founder and current director of the Richard M. Cohen Residence in San Francisco, a home which fills the gap between independent living and hospice care for people with AIDS. The Cohen Residence is part of the Hope Housing program of Dolores Street Community Services, whose leaders opened the doors of the Dolores Street Baptist Church to Dignity/SF in 1988 after their expulsion from archdiocesan property. The Outstanding Care-giver Awards are designed to recognize people who have offered unusually long and dedicated services to persons living with HIV and AIDS. Each award carries a substantial cash grant to help the nominating organization im-plement a Caregiver Support Plan to enable caregivers to participate in further training, find respite, or be encouraged to persevere in their vital caregiving roles. Dignity/USA's plan, spearheaded by Tom Orians, National AIDS Project chair, calls for retreat meetings at seven regional sites to offer rest, renewal, and spiritual support for Dignity's AIDS caregivers. The Family AIDS Network was founded by artist and activist Mary Fisher who has long focused keen attention of the important role of caregivers in the response to HIV/AIDS. The Network exists to fight HIV/AIDS by transforming concern and awareness into compassionate commitment. Ms. Fisher, an HIV+ mother of two sons, tours the country to encourage AIDS prevention and to cheer and support HIV/AIDS caregivers. Three New York Chapters Mark Papal Visit with Prayer Members of Dignity's New York, Big Apple, and Brooklyn chapters and Dignity/USA President Marianne Duddy joined a vigil of solidarity and a candle light procession on October 3, the eve of Pope John Paul II's arrival in New York City. The vigil at the Gay and Lesbian Gay Community Services Center in Manhattan was followed by a procession of over 100 through the streets of Greenwich Village to a local Catholic church. Marianne and organizer Brendan Fay carried a cross bearing a pink triangle in the procession and then spoke to marchers from the steps of the church. The event, covered by Gay Cable News, the Associated Press, ABC Radio, BBC Radio, and ARD German Television, was endorsed by many groups including Dignity, the Conference of Catholic Lesbians, and a gay and lesbian parish ministry. According to Northeast Regional Director Jeff Stone, the Pope's visit generated an extraordinary amount of interest in Dignity from the media. Dignity/NY member Rob Gancitano and portions of Dignity/NY's Sunday liturgy appeared on NBC Nightly News on October 5 in the context of a larger story about Catholics who disagree with the Pope on various issues. Will Berger, another chapter member, was interviewed by NBC's Spanish language network which is broadcast throughout the United States, Latin America, and Spain. ARD interviewed several chapter members after filming portions of the Sunday liturgy. Other members also took part in local NYC television radio interviews and were interviewed by several local newspapers. In addition, Jeff was quoted in a major New York Times story about disaffected Catholics. He commented upon Dignity's home at St. John's Episcopal Church since 1988 and the commitment of the priests who serve as presiders. He noted that many do so despite the possibility of problems if their bishops knew of their service to Dignity. As he reflected upon the Pope's visit, Jeff noted, "We've had a lot of media coverage in a short period of time, but this coverage has come about because of a massive amount of groundwork done by many people at the local and national levels of Dignity over the past few years. We've been highly visible and we've strengthened our contacts in the media. They know they can come to Dignity to find out what gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Catholics are thinking. This media work is an essential part of getting our message out to the broadest possible audience." ** New Group Begins Work : Renwed Priestly Ministry Task Force** The Renewed Priestly Ministry Task Force, which was established by the House of Delegates at the 1995 Los Angeles Convention, met by teleconference in early September. Joe Sinico, a member of the Task Force from the Mountain-Plains Region, provided the following report of the meeting. "Each region and each chapter have unique qualities and needs" was clearly voiced in the Chapter Ministries Reference Committee at the HOD meeting. This Task Force affirms each chapter's unique qualities and needs. In the near future, a two part questionnaire will be sent to each chapter. The first part, addressed to chapter boards, steering committees, and leadership teams, contains specific questions on what is now happening in the areas of liturgical and non-liturgical ministry on the local level. The second part, which is designed for individual member's responses, seeks feedback in three areas: roles which may or may not be seen at a local chapter level; prayer in the life of the local chapter; and a list of liturgical and non-liturgical ministries. The Task Force hopes that the responses of individual members can be gathered in a group setting where all may voice thoughts in an open and honest manner, much like the setting of the Reference Committee meeting at the HOD. "There are no right or wrong responses," according to Joe. "Nobody should feel put into a 'hot seat.' We expect to receive as many diverse responses as we have members in Dignity." Joe also noted, "The purpose of this first round questionnaire is only for fact-finding to enable the Task Force to make an initial report and then formulate a second round questionnaire. The Task Force encourages participation by all in the Dignity family and sees it as vital to the two year process." The twelve member task force includes : Jerry Deas, Pacific Region National Director; Sue Kansteiner, CWC; Peggy Burns, New England; Honour Maddock, Northeast; Mary Coleman Spring, Mid-Atlantic; Bobbee Lee Camp, Southern Region; Mike Hogan, Midwest; Fenando Macias, Pacific region; Normand Varier, clergy representative; and an unfilled spot for a Women's Ordination Conference representative. *** Nominate Speakers for 1997 Boston Convention *** Here is your chance to suggest candidates for major speakers for Dignity/USA's 1997 Convention in Boston. The committee needs specific information about each nominee including the speaker's name and address, subject matter or topic speciality, and an audio or video tape if available. Suggestions are due by February 1, 1996. Send nominations to: Dignity/USA Convention '97 Attn: Programming, PO Box 956, Back Bay Annex, Boston, MA 02117. News from October Board Meeting: The Dignity/USA Board of Directors met in Washington, DC from October 20-22. National Secretary Ben Boerkoel provided the following report of the meeting. Before proceeding with its many actions, the Board of Directors welcomed four new members to the Leadership Team: + Peggy Hayes, National Director of the New England Region. Peggy also serves as Dignity/Boston's President. + Jan Fraga, National Committee for Women's Concerns Chair. Jan, an Oakland, California resident, comes to the Board as the former Pacific Region CWC. + Mary Louise Cervone, National Treasurer. Mary Louise is the former president of Dignity/Philadelphia president and has also served as the Mid-Atlantic Region's CWC representative. + Gary Kayler, Interim Mountain-Plains Director. Gary also serves as the co-coordinator of the Mountain-Plains Region. After welcoming its new members, the Board: + Applauded the media exposure given to Dignity during the recent Papal visit. + Reviewed the final report of the 1995 Convention in Los Angeles and thanked the committee for a successful convention. + Received for information a report on the 1997 Convention in Boston. Chapters are urged to save money by reserving spots for their delegates at the early registration rate. + Provided guidance to the 1999 Convention committee regarding the length, site, and cost of the Denver convention. + Established a Membership Task Force to address ways to increase membership in Dignity. + Established a committee to coordinate outreach to non-member supporters and institutional affiliates. + Received an update on Solidarity Sunday, 1995, and endorsed plans for Solidarity Sunday, 1996. In related discussions on Solidarity Sunday, National President Marianne Duddy urged each chapter to complete a brief report on its local Solidarity Sunday efforts, activities, issues, and suggestions for the future. Reports should be sent to coordinator Bruce Jarfster, MD at 2634 Pebble Breeze, San Antonio, TX 78232 or faxed to him at (210) 545-6906 or sent via e-mail to BruceSJ@aol.com. Bruce will compile a booklet to be distributed to each chapter next spring that will serve as a planning guide for Solidarity Sunday '96. + Discussed the Mulcrone Fund, Dignity/USA's source of membership support for people of limited income. The fund, created to honor the growth and membership efforts of former National Board member Bill Mulcrone, has provided 60 memberships in the past five months. An infusion of funds is now needed, so Marianne has asked all to consider a donation help support the fund or an additional gift when renewing membership. + Discussed the role of Dignity/USA's communications, including the Dateline, the Journal, and Voices and Visions as well as electronic media. In the near future, Dignity/USA hopes to establish a page on the World Wide Web. + Signed on as a co-producer of a Bible study on homosexuality planned for June, 1996 as part of the Reconciling Congregation Program, an ecumenical effort spearheaded by the United Methodist Churches. + Decided to produce a brochure written by Daniel Helminiak on the topic Catholicism, Homosexuality, and Dignity for use by chapters and others requesting such information. + Signed on as a major sponsor of World AIDS Day, 1996 through the Dignity/USA National AIDS Project. Individual and chapter efforts were also recognized: + Rejoicing with Wayne April in being named a winner of a 1995 AIDS Caregiver Award from the Family AIDS Network and its accompanying $15,000 stipend to Dignity/USA to be used for AIDS Caregiver Retreats (See page 1.) + Commending Bruce Jarstfer for his work on Solidarity Sunday, 1995. + Commending Tom Orians for his work on the Dignity/USA National AIDS Project. + Commending Dignity/New York and Dignity/Baltimore for their work on October's Papal visit. + Commending the Dignity/Washington, DC choir for its success at a recent pastoral musician's conference. From the Secretary: Take Note: The 1995 HOD has asked each chapter to consider endorsing Resolution H-05, The Marriage Resolution. After your chapter has endorsed this motion, please send a statement to that effect on chapter stationery to the national office so Dignity/USA can forward all the endorsements in one package to HGLTF by the first of the year. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY: Little Rock-5 Northeast PA-17 New Haven-19 Suffolk-19 Atlanta-21 St. Louis-21 Providence-22 and belated Sweet 16 to Dignity/Triangle on its October anniversary!