Next Meeting

Just a reminder that our next meeting will be Monday December 19th at 6pm in the Dauly Rm. of the United Methodist Church on the corner of Church St. and Chestnut.

Agenda:
-Changing to 4th Monday, rather then 3rd Monday as LGCN Potlucks are the 3rd.
-Glenn Burke, Baseball Hall of Fame Petition, plans for.
-GENDA Petition
-Future events
-Other Goals
-Pride Event for June

Positive Connections in Need of Help

Hello everyone,

I received the following from Bill Phar, the head of Positive Connections. I hope people can do whatever they can to help:

The state of Positive Connections

In the spring of 2009 after the closure of CRAS (Catskill Rural AIDS Services), a person approached me to start another
group to offer a place for infected individuals to have a place to meet and socialize in a safe environment. Positive
Connections started to do some of that. We received space in
The First United Methodist Church to meet. Initially, we met every Saturday for a month or two. That was a bit too
much and it we decided to meet the last Saturday of the month. Also, we had some events that were just to relax and
unwind—picnics, barbecues, holiday dinners and other events. We received a generous donation to help to provide
food and money to produce and send out a monthly newsletter.

The organization started out with about four to five key individuals doing most of the organizing and planning. I did
about 90% of writing the newsletter each month, copying it and mailing it and went to those infected, affected and
supporters. The committee worked to write a grant proposal to a local church to receive more money to keep the
operation going. It did receive it. We do not have a 501c3 status, so fund raising it a tough chore. After awhile key
organizers stopped being involved for personal, health and work obligations. No other volunteers stepped up to fill
some of the void. Most of the work landed on my shoulders. Towards the end of 2011, this responsibility started to feel
overwhelming and quite tiring.

Also, during 2011 STAP out of Johnson City had two part-time employees that worked out of a remote office in Oneonta.
Eventually, STAP eliminated these two positions and occasionally a staff member would travel from the Southern Tier
to meet with a consumer. STAP offers social/supportive events mainly in their region. Most clients do not have the
means to drive to these occasional events due to lack of transportation and the rising price of gas. The need to have
events in this area is still important. Also, AIDS Services has an office in Catholic Charities building and offer mainly
case management. Though people living with AIDS are living healthier and more productive lives, the stigma still exists.
If someone receives the diagnosis of cancer there is usually immediate symphony and support. In the case of AIDS,
probably the first question that arises, how did they contract it—unprotected sex or drug use. Some are just victims
of another person’s carelessness. Recently, there is the case in Pennsylvania of a student denied attending a private
school in Hershey, PA because he was infected with AIDS. I thought in two decades, we had gotten further than that.
Ignorance is still out there.

So back to Positive Connections, there is a need for an organization in this area. The immediate demands to keep it
going are the following:

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Persons to help plan events
Persons to find sources to procure donations
Newsletter helpers and writers
Support staff
Persons to host events
Persons to help with other various talents
Persons who can do PR and write articles for local papers

Please get the word out for any that would be interested.

Thank you,

Bill Pharr

607-435-7248

wpharr@stny.rr.com

Upcoming Business Meeting and Facebook Group.

First, our next meeting will be Nov. 13th, at 4:30 in the Parish House at the First United Methodist Church at the corner of Chestnut St. and Church St.

Reminder (since we recently changed locations) parish house the part closest to the Library.

Agenda:
-discuss possibly changing meeting times
-Ideas for fundraisers
-Community Pride event for July
-Old business
-Goals


We have a facebook group now as well:
People with Facebook accounts should be able to click here to see it.

Or search for Pflag Oneonta/Otsego in the searchbar in the upper right hand side of the facebook site.

-Jeremy

New York State: Pass Genda! Help end discrimination against transgender individuals!

As one of our goals that we decided upon at the last meeting was the passage of GENDA, I have taken it upon myself to create this petition on change.org as well.

From the Empire State Pride Agenda:

"The Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (A.5039/Gottfried)(S.2873/Duane) is a bill that would outlaw discrimination in New York State based on gender identity and/or expression. Currently it is legal in New York to be fired from your job, kicked out of your home or be denied credit or public accommodations (like service in a restaurant) simply for being transgender. GENDA also expands the state’s hate crimes law to explicitly include crimes against transgender people.

The Facts
Transgender New Yorkers face severe discrimination. For example, a report released this year by the Empire State Pride Agenda showed that: 20.7% of transgender New Yorkers have incomes under $10,000 a year. Most recently, in 2011, Findings of the National Transgender Discrimination Survey completed by the National Center for Transgender Equality and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force report that 74% of transgender New Yorkers experienced harassment or mistreatment on the job, 20% lost a job and 37% were not hired at all. An alarming 18% of transgender New Yorkers had become homeless because of their gender identity or expression. Health care discrimination for transgender New Yorkers is also very alarming with a 17% rate of individuals who were refused medical care due to their gender identity or expression."

Change.org|Start an Online Petition »

Sign the Petition for the Baseball Hall of Fame to Honor the Legacy of Glenn Burke!

Change.org|Start an Online Petition »

Goals for coming year.

At our meeting on 9/18/01 the following goals were established:

-Better attendance
-Specific programming during meetings
-More parents involved
-Petition Baseball Hall of Fame to honor the legacy of Glenn Burke. (I have taken the liberty of creating a petition on Change.org. Sign the petition here.
-Work on passage of GENDA
-Creation of anti-bullying program for high-schools and work with GSRC towards this goal.

Submitted by Jeremy Redlien

Next Meeting: 5/8/11

Our next meeting will be this Sunday May 8th @4:30 in the usual place.

Agenda:
-Community Pride Event
-Marriage Equality
-Fundraiser Event
-Any other items people wish to discuss

Homework Assignment Prt. 3.

Another anti-gay letter I spotted:

http://thedailystar.com/opinion/x642916952/Letters-to-the-editor-March-3-2011
-Jeremy

Homework Assignment

Nothing new to report here, just two new letters that I wanted to make people aware of:

http://thedailystar.com/opinion/x1644853563/Letters-to-the-Editor-Feb-18-2011
http://thedailystar.com/opinion/x1644853563/Letters-to-the-Editor-Feb-18-2011

Nothing terribly interesting here, although I think my earlier assertion was wrong that this was part of a letter writing campaign being done by a specific organization.

Still, I do think that it's worth considering having a rebuttal.
-Jeremy Redlien

Homework assigntment.

Okay, I noticed two anti same sex marriage letters to the editor in The Daily Star recently. Both mentioned the rights of children to know their parents, which is a somewhat specific issue. A little too specific for it to a be a coincidence.

I therefore think that these letters might be part of a letter writing campaign, possibly from a local group.

If they are, I would like to know what group is behind it in order to develop a plan to respond.

If anyone has any ideas, you can post them as a comment here or email us at otsego.pflag@gmail.com

The two letters can be found here:

William Dornburgh's letter on February 14th:
http://thedailystar.com/opinion/x1471000013/Letters-to-the-Editor-Feb-14-2011

Louis W. Nicholson's letter on February 12th:
http://thedailystar.com/opinion/x998539583/Letters-to-the-Editor-Feb-12-2011

Thank you all.
-Jeremy Redlien

Business Meeting on 2/13/2011 minutes.

Let's start with some housekeeping.

First, it was really nice to be able to welcome some new members to our group.

After a discussion at today's meeting, comments on the blog are now moderated rather than requiring an account. This means that anyone can comment, but you'll have to wait until someone has a chance to approve your comment.

Now onto the good stuff.

-Plans are coming along nicely to be able to be able to offer Safe Space programs to local high-schools. I'm hoping things will be in place by this fall if all goes well. Dr. Robin Nussbaum at the SUNY Oneonta G.S.R.C. has agreed to help us set up the program and provide "Train the Trainer" workshops to volunteers to help get the program off the ground.

-Dr. Robin Nussbaum had also asked me previously if we would be willing to co-sponsor a LGBTQA youth group. After talking it over with our group, the idea was approved, and I will be contacting Dr. Robin Nussbaum to see what we can do to assist.

-We are also planning on having a Community Pride Day in June. Nothing is set in stone at this point, but hopefully we will have more details soon.

-Pathy is working with individuals who helped us out with a previous fundraiser to put together another fundraiser in late March or early April.

Submitted by Jeremy Redlien

Next Meeting: 2/13/11 4:30 at Methodist Church on Corner of Church St. and Chestnut.

Agenda:

-Fundraiser
-Pride Event in June
-Working with SUNY Oneonta GSRC on bringing Safe Space program to local High-Schools
-Any other concerns people have

Next Meeting 1/9/10

The next regular business meeting will be Jan. 9th, @4:40pm. at the Methodist Church on the Corner of Church St. and Chestnut.

Agenda:
-Diversity Education Panel with Human Rights Commission.
-Diversity Education programs with G.S.R.C.
-Other Events/Programing/Fundraisers
-Possible Letter to the Editor regarding repeal of DADT

Hope to see people there!