It is official! Kansas Equality Coalition is up and beginning!

[MuseRider]

We had our meeting yesterday and we on the steering committee presented our recommendations. They were accepted. We have 3 groups ready to dissolve to become integrated chapters and one that is starting from scratch and that is before our first official meeting. So far we have promised chapters in Topeka, Wichita, Manhattan and Lawrence. We have interested groups in other areas, some out in the Western part of the state that will be very helpful. We are set to have 3 arms to the state wide board. A 501c(4), a 501c(3) and a PAC. I thought I would let you all in as we begin to build from the ground up. We intend never to be blindsided again when issues of discrimination come up. There are 8 of us on the transition board (team). We have several strong groups who are committing to being support groups who will have members on an Advisory board. We are quite excited about this, it was a gut wrenching experience getting all the groups together, learning trust and sticking to the fact that we must do this. So after 5 months we have gone from idea to steering committee to the beginning of a strong, state wide effort to turn this state around. We believe it can be done.

Personal note. I have now been lucky enough to meet some of the most dynamic, committed and wonderful people in my state. This has been a work of love for us. I could not be prouder to have been a small part of this wonderful group. Now watch our dust, we are moving and shaking this state up. I will periodically post about how things are going. Anyone in Kansas who is a member of a progressive group, or any group for that matter who would like to be a part of this in some way let me know.

[ananda]

1. Huge congrats!

Smiling smiley.

[MuseRider]

2. Thank you.

I sat here and smiled this hugh, dopey grin while posting this. We are going to do some good work here and this state needs it badly.

[niyad]

3. thank you for sharing that news--it is good to know that there is an

antidote to phrooty phred phelps and the creationism bunch there in kansas.

[MuseRider]

6. We are not all crazy

out here!

[rosesaylavee]

4. What's your mission statement?

What will your first tasks be?

Sounds good - good luck in your new work!

[MuseRider]

5. Here they are.

501(c)4 mission

Our mission is to end discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity/expression and to ensure the dignity, safety and legal equality of all Kansans.

(c)3 mission named Kansas Equality Foundation

Our mission is to provide education, training and support to all Kansans on topics and concerns relating to sexual orientation and gender identity/expression.

PAC named Kansas Equality PAC

We are a non-partisan political action committee whose mission is to engage in electoral activities that support the mission of the 501(c)4.

Our first tasks will probably be to vote on the proposed (c)4 bylaws, decide on if we are going to use an offered (c)3 or develop our own, we have already made provisional bylaws for that. We will start looking for areas where chapters can be set up and very quickly get our board going. Each chapter, depending on their level(there are 3 ways to be involved) will have board reps voted on by their chapter so they feel fairly represented and the board will be from different geographical areas.

Those of us on boards of groups who have already committed to becoming chapters all have to dissolve our corporations and do several tasks before we can vote on our board reps and those establishing chapters will have to do much of the same work so we will be transitioning most likely for 3 months or so.

[IndianaGreen]

7. Excellent work and congratulations, MuseRider!

We are working very hard to get our own group up and running in Indiana, and it is gratifying to find like-minded souls fighting for basic human rights for the LGBT community.

http://www.stoptheamendment.org

[MuseRider]

8. Wow! Good luck to you!

I have had several people from other states who have said it is impossible to do this because of trust issues and power struggles. Well, we had those. Nobody got a bloody nose, some of us cried on occasion and there were hurt feelings BUT we were all there because we had to do this and we did. I know I am jumping the gun a tiny bit because we are just at the very beginning but these people who stayed at the table mean what they say and have no intention of seeing this go down. It can be done. I am going to read your link now. If you need anything let me know. Not that I am an expert but perhaps some perspective from an outside source could help. I needed to do that and it did help, especially because I was from outside the groups who had difficulty. EJC was able to stay clear of some of it and it really helped.

[rosesaylavee]

9. Beautiful words. Good luck to you!!!

:hug:

[MuseRider]

10. Thanks.

It is very exciting. :hug: back to you.

[IndianaGreen]

11. Equality Federation

I shared your post with my LGBT comrades and someone posted this informative reply which I now share with you:

There are now 46 states with an "Equality" group, in fact. All of these groups, including our own Indiana Equality and the aforementioned Kansas Equality, are part of the Equality Federation. The Federation is a national umbrella organization for GLBT rights advocacy based in San Francisco. Those of you who attended the IE Planning Retreat in May probably met Toni Broaddus, the Executive Director of the Federation.


If you want to learn more about the Federation visit: http://www.equalityfederation.org/


There you can see all of the state wide groups in the nation affiliated through the Federation. Be sure to also check out IE's website for up to date information on what's going on in our neck of the woods.


Jerame Davis
Communications Chair
Indiana Equality
http://www.indianaequality.org/

[MuseRider]

12. We are not affiliated with anyone

but I looked and I know of those two organizations, one of them will be joining us and becoming our PAC group. I will look closer at the link when I get home later this morning and see what is there. I am too new at this and always learn so much looking at how other groups are working. I really appreciate the information.