Think About It

So, there I was yesterday sitting in my office looking through the 2007-8 Almanac edition of The Chronicle of Higher Education that came out this week. It had a couple dozen pages of nothing but hardcore statistics on trends in academics, the administration of universities, and the opinions of students. My highlighter was going crazy trying to flag everything that relates to my Monday-Friday, but two other statistics caught my attention that I jotted down to share with you. Check this out:

61.2% of folks participating "agree that same-sex couples should have the right to legal marital status."

25.6% of folks participating "agree that it is important to have laws prohibiting homosexual relationships."

These statistics are based on survey responses of 271,441 freshmen entering 393 four-year universities last fall. The figures were statistically adjusted to represent the total population of approximately 1.3 million full-time freshman at four-year institutions.

Pretty telling, huh? Tomorrow's leaders are going to be fair-minded - Think about it!

~Jody

A New Plan

Hey, folks... we made it back to Kentucky! I believe I can speak for Christina and Misty in saying that we are wore out and glad to be home. However, the meeting was really good. A special thank you needs to go out to Equality New Mexico and their Executive Director Alexis Blizman (www.eqnm.org), the Equality Federation and our Executive Director Toni Broaddus (www.federationlgbt.org), and the 2007 Summer Meeting Planning Committee (Alexis Blizman, Stratton Pollitzer, Michelle Penson, Sandy Vopalka, Rhonda White, and myself).

The sessions were really helpful to me. I talked a little about the sessions I went to on Thursday and Friday in previous posts. On Saturday morning, I went to probably the most helpful to me. It was entitled "Build a Better Board" by Mickey MacIntyre, realChange Partners (www.realchangepartners.com). Later on Saturday, the Federation discussed the new strategic plan of the organization as presented by the Catalyst Committee (which Christina serves on). After discussion and a few activities regarding how we activate the new plan, it was adopted!

I have to say that to me the most valuable role of the Federation is the peer-based leadership development and the opportunities for that at the summer meeting is great. I have to send a shout out to my newest friend in this work, Will Carlson, Policy and Strategy Coordinator at Equality Utah (www.equalityutah.org).

I look forward to sharing the informaiton I gathered at the meeting with the other leaders of the statewide movement... some really cool things happening across the country. I plan to have a conversation at the party I'm having this coming Monday (20th) at my home on some of the new information in the movement nationally.

~Jody

Communication Director Misty York discussing part of the Federation Strategic Vision


Mickey MacIntyre leading the Activation of the New Federation Strategic Plan


The Honorable Mo Baxley (Representative in the Assembly of New Hampshire) - GREAT PERSON!


Equality New Mexico Executive Director Alexiz Blizman wearing her Catalyst Committee hat!

Friday with equality

Hey, again, from New Mexico. Today was another filled day here at the summer meeting of the Equality Federation. This morning started out with a meeting on election 2008. Lunch today had a pretty cool presentation, "State of the Movement," by the Movement Advancement Project. I really enjoyed this and look forward to talking about some of the work they are doing. This afternoon Christina was on a panel for "Challenges of Leadership" and did a great job. This panel also included Ian Palmquist, Executive Director from Equality North Carolina, and Paul Scott, Executive Director from Equality Texas. Tonight, we had a pool party and bbq in collaboration with the GSA network.

Oh, we got to meet, share a drink, and chat with Jeff Lutes (Executive Director with Soulforce - www.soulforce.org) tonight. He seems like a cool guy.

~Jody

Thursday from New Mexico

Hey, from New Mexico folks! It's late on Thursday evening at the time of writing this so it's going to be short and sweet. I am attending the summer meeting of the Equality Federation. The EQ is the national network organization of statewide lgbt groups. While there are several sessions running at any given moment, I attended a caucus discussion for Board members this morning. During lunch, everyone took part in a discussion sponsored by the Gay and Lesbian Leadership Institute on professional development in the lgbt movement. After lunch, I went to a session on "Research, Targeting, Messaging: New Approaches and New Directions. This included presentation by Arizona and California. I found both interesting, especially Arizona. Finally, this afternoon I went to a session on "Why do Funders do what they do?" This was pretty cool. It included folks from the Gill Foundation and Gill Action Fund, both of which are great organizations. Oh, at this session at got to sit by my ole cute buddie, Jeff (just smile if you're reading this, Jeff, you're looking manly). This evening, Equality New Mexico treated everyone to dinner at Sandia Resort and Golf Course. We watched the presidential forum on lgbt issues, sponsored by the HRC Foundation... I hope you watched it as well! I'm tired and got another full day tomorrow. Here are some images.

~Jody

Fancy Farm

The 127th annual Fancy Farm picnic was hot in more ways than one. The food was hot, the temperature today had to near 100 degrees, and the politicians were borderline boiling. Governor Fletcher and all the other republican candidates took shots at the democrats (with the possible exception of Trey Grayson) over expanding gaming. That was pretty much the lay of the land at Fancy Farm this year. Are you folks serious? Is there not more to talk about than gambling? I have to say that some of the insinuations made by Rep. Stan Lee (running for attorney general) toward his democratic counterpart were plain crappy! Republicans in the audience (and I can say that because some were standing 2 foot behind me) screamed out comments in response to Rep. Lee’s comments using language like “Faggot,” “Queer,” and “Man Lover” referring to Jack Conway. If that isn’t hate – then, I’m sorry, I must be blind. Check out the video of Rep. Lee’s speech and you can hear the comments from the crowd (it’s blurry, but you can make it out toward the end of video one and the beginning of video two). Video one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwHkvFYEGRM Video two: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8rU6HtUt-o

On a more positive note, it was nice to see and chat with fair-minded folks throughout the day. Thanks to the troupe that went with me today and have to thank Wes and Shane for their long drive down to western Kentucky.

~Jody

Other Fancy Farm Recaps:
http://polwatchers.typepad.com/pol_watchers/2007/08/fletcher-beshea.html
http://polwatchers.typepad.com/pol_watchers/2007/08/fancy-farm----s.html

Anthony Jones, MSU Alliance Secretary, Representative Mary Lou Marzian (Louisville), and I