The atmosphere in the meeting room among the Seattle Out and Proud (SOaP) board of directors was confident and optimistic, particularly given that the monthly public meeting taking place on Sunday, May 20, featured only four audience members, two of whom were members of the press.
While the SOaP board wants more public participation in their plans to produce a large, downtown Gay Pride parade on June 24, (Gay Pride Day nationwide), the absence of angry constituents was an encouraging sign, according to Troy Campbell, the group's media relations point man. Especially given the many negative and hostile reactions SOaP has endured since its shaky financial status threatened to cancel the parade altogether.
"Right now we are focusing on the parade," Campbell said. "This is crunch time, and we couldn't be happier. I feel that that weight (of community division) has been lifted a bit."
He said the public meetings are useful as a way to get the public and the board up to speed. Frequently, when things begin moving as quickly as they are, the board members communicate by e-mail. It is important to meet face-to-face and make sure everyone knows what is going on.
An important change revealed at the meeting is that Adam McRoberts has taken over as the group's treasurer. McRoberts, a Wells-Fargo Bank officer and former manager of the bank's branch in the Safeway at 15th Ave. E. and East John St., has been on the board since last summer. He has just become treasurer in the past week.
"We're tickled to death, of course," Campbell said.
McRoberts told the board that he has created his own spreadsheet program to make sense of the long-neglected SOaP financial paperwork. He also said that SOaP has been making regular payments on its small debts, $4,000 this month alone.
"We are making real progress on it," he said of catching up on past debts. He said that he has almost organized the April and May accounts and will begin getting the previous accounts in order. He promised a current financial statement for the board by its May 23 meeting. The other board members reacted positively with surprise.
McRoberts also said that he expects to have SOaP's financial reports for 2005 and 2006 ready for the public in the near future. He told the press that the documents are all present, and there has been no misappropriation of funds. He wants to make the group's finances as transparent as possible to the public. He said accountability is important for any non-profit organization, and he thinks it is vital to maintain the public trust.
"There is nothing bad that can come out of this," McRoberts told the board.
The group still owes the city of Seattle $100,000 for use of Seattle Center during last year's Pride celebration. That matter is in the hands of the lawyers and payments will not be made on that debt until negotiations are completed.
McRoberts is also spearheading SOaP's effort to trademark "Seattle Pride." The board explained that its primary concern is to have that designation for its own events during the annual pride celebration. Once the paperwork is done, the group is willing to license its use to groups who may want to use it. A licensing fee of $1 was proposed by the board for local groups.
The parade permit is in hand. According to Campbell, parade sponsors have provided more than $30,000 for this year's event. Float prizes of $2,000, $1,500 and $1,000, for first, second and third place, will be provided by The Stranger.
This year's corporate sponsors are Macy's, Gilead therapeutics, Medical Hair Restoration, Tylenol PM, Gleam, Pacific Medical Centers, Pflag, Leaf Filter (gutter protection), Naked Juice and CruiseyT, a Vancouver, B.C.-based cruise company.
Hospitality and in-kind partners are: Hotel Monaco, The Alexis Hotel, Hotel Vintage Park, MacKay Restaurants, One Degree Events, Hotel Deca, Buca di Beppo, CleanScapes, Gameworks and Clipper Vacations.
The board was told that with the sponsorships and income from participation fees the parade (technically a civil rights march) is a money-maker. Annual costs for the parade, which will follow Fourth Avenue from Union Street to Denny Way, are estimated at $21,000. This year the parade will be limited to two and a half hours. The parade announcer's booth, disabled viewing area and media viewing area will be at Westlake Park between Pike and Pine streets on Fourth Avenue.
Parade marshals this year will be Dennis Coleman, artistic director of the Seattle Men's Chorus; Kiantha Duncan-Woods, board president of Seattle Black Pride; and Gay Fathers Association of Seattle, the organizational marshal. No celebrity marshal has been announced.
Fundraisers for the Pride events before Gay Pride Day will be a special cocktail party at Hotel Deca June 17; the second annual Out of the Closet Fashion Event at the W Hotel June 20; the official Pride Cruise with CruiseyT Sails in Seattle June 23; Girl4GIRL at Neumos June 23; and the 2007 Run and Walk With Pride - Seattle Frontrunners, June 23.
On the Hill, the Seattle Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Community Center will present Queerfest during the same weekend. Details regarding Queerfest are still evolving.
For more information call 274-8321 (office hours through June 30 are Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday - 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.) or see the SOaP Web site at www.seattlepride.org. Volunteers are still needed, and can volunteer at the same places.
Freelance writer Korte Brueckmann lives on Capitol Hill and can be reached at editor@capitol hilltimes.com.
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