How I spent my weekend...

[Ms. Toad]

Last weekend while some of you were in DC, I was home preparing for this weekend - a Homecoming Rally to publicly launch Equality Ohio.

Here are some shots from our rally yesterday:

The crowd - my guess is around 500


Buckeye Region of American Veterans for Equal Rights


Two of our Board members - one working the crowd and the other signing


One of the many signs


The character with the rainbow umbrella is another board member


Although the turnout was lighter than we had hoped, the rally came off fabulously. Just the right weather, messages, and messengers.

Now the real work begins...reclaiming our state, our lives, and our home from the crowd that brought Ohio the marriage discrimination amendment last November.

[intheflow]

1. Great work, Ms. Toad!

Both in documentary photography and in organizing. I think the turnout looks very respectable. If your town had any kind of protest the week before to correspond with the DC event, it probably drained some would-be participants off--too tired to protest two weeks in a row. :eyes:

I love the heart-shaped balloons! Nice touch!

btw, not to hijack your thread, but I wanted to make sure you saw my Baltimore aquarium thread. There's a shot in it I took just for you! :hi:

[Ms. Toad]

2. Thanks.

I did see the froggies in your thread...I've been scanning things but haven't taken much time for dialog recently. Been a little busy!

Since April we've formed two corporations and obtained 501(c)(3) status for one of them, raised over $100, hired an executive director, and put on our first public event.

[intheflow]

3. Wow!

You organized your own non-profit? You're my hero! :loveya:

[Ms. Toad]

4. Not on my own, by a long shot...

Here's the crew that launched it:

http://equalityohio.org/history.htm
(picture partway down)

About 10 of us from that group have carried the ball since then as the core design team, 6 of us are continuing as Board Members of one or the other org, one as the Executive Director, and one as technical staff.

[Immad2]

5. It looks like a excellent launch, great pictures by the way, and I

send all my hopes for the complete success in claiming back your state.:bounce: :applause: :woohoo: