Goodbye September...

Welcome to Pride!!!

Introductions

Icebreaker (Lauren Pinto)

Orgsync, Panels, Feedback

Upcoming Events:

• Test Your Gaydar (Tuesday 9/29)
• Walk A Mile in Her Shoes (9/29)
• Queer History Month (October)
• Take Back the Night (10/1)
• I Now Pronounce You Equal Citizens (10/3)
• Pride Hike (10/4) -- rescheduled
• March for Equality in D.C. (10/10 - 10/11)
  

Discussion:

Welcome back!

Icebreaker -- How were you involved in High School?

Ganels, Orgsync

Upcoming Events to keep in mind:

• A Night OUT: Queer Coffeehouse (Wednesday 9/23)
• Pride Hike (Sunday 9/27)
• Test Your Gaydar (Tuesday 9/29)
• Walk A Mile in Her Shoes (9/29)
  
• Queer History Month (October)
• Take Back the Night (10/1)
• I Now Pronounce You Equal Citizens (10/3)
  

Sirius Radio Interview with Pastor Steven L. Anderson

I urge all of you to watch this video. The Pastor being interviewed has many radical views of our President, abortion doctors, and ourselves as a Queer Community. I applaud the man interviewing him for his calm reactions to the Pastor's claims, as well as his handling of such lewd accusations toward him.

Watch for yourself.

Welcome!

Hello everyone! Welcome to Pride's first meeting of the semester!!! We have a few things to cover, both business and fun!

Introductions

Icebreaker

Important Information

Upcoming Events to keep in mind:

• Coming Out to Your Roommate (Monday 9/14)
  
• Women's Center Open House (Tuesday 9/15)
  
• OUT at Night: Six Flags (Friday 9/18)
  
• Women's Center Volunteer Training (Sunday 9/20)
  
• A Night OUT: Queer Coffeehouse (Wednesday 9/23)
  
• Pride Hike (Sunday 9/27)
  
• Test Your Gaydar (TBA)
  

Discussion Topic: Caster Semenya

OUT RAGE

Hey I just thought this would be an awesome thing for everyone to check out. A new documentary about politicians leading double lives as gay men while rallying against LGBT rights and AIDS research. Can't wait til it comes out!

In the Final Throes..

Welcome, welcome.

Intros..?

Hi/Lows for the semester

Hi/Lows for Pride Prom

What do you hope to see next year in Pride?



Dicussion:


Lessons of Hate in the Bible Belt from Stuart Productions on Vimeo.

Interview with Pascack Valley HS

so this is a shout OUT to the amazing students i worked with today from pvhs...

so thanks again for having me for the interview today...it was totally a good time
 
 i attached a ramapo pride flyer (like the one i gave out today) and a pride prom flyer to this (see below)
 
 so tell all your friends:

 pride prom 2009: gender bender edition

 (drag's not required, but it sure would be fun)

 friday, april 24th from 8pm to 12am

 in pavilion (located on the left side of campus by oak and maple dorms, the volley ball court and across from the giant business school)

 tickets are FREE (we're asking for a $2 - $5 donation to the TruthAIDs project at the door)

 there's gonna be free food, dancing, music and more!!

 
 hope to see you all there!!
 
 i also attached our eboard leadership retreat packet (last summer we had a team building/training retreat where we learned how to be a successful queer/straight alliance and things like that).  on the first page is the mission statement for ramapo pride...so the packet as a whole should be really helpful for creating a gay/straight alliance
 
 also here's some links to check out:
 Here's a link to GLSEN's (Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network) free guide to starting a gay/straight alliance at the high school level
 Here's a link to GLSEN's training guide for creating safe spaces in your school ( how to educate faculty on dealing with queer issues and students)
 and this is a link to GLSEN's climate survey (they collect stats on how safe/homophobic schools are)
 -GLSEN is an awesome website, def check it out!
 
 also here's some local schools with gay/straight alliances:
 Northern Highlands Regional
 Mahwah High
 
 and...paramus library has a gay/straight book club and the Rainbow Cafe Coalition is a gay/straight alliance for the bergen county/northern nj area
 
 good luck with your projects and lemme know if i can be of any more help :)

and thanks again for being awesome queer advocates!!

Pride Prom Flyer

Ramapo Pride Flyer

Ramapo Pride Leadership Retreat 2008

EBOARD ELECTIONS

Welcome!

Intros

Ice Breaker - Shout OUTs

Eboard Elections

• Candidate Introductions
  
• Candidate Speeches
  
• Voting
  
• Announce the NEW 2009-2010 Ramapo Pride Executive Board - woohoo!
  

PRIDE PROM - FRIDAY, APRIL 24 FROM 8PM TO 12AM IN PAVILION MEETING ROOMS

• tabling
  
• decorations
  
• etc
  

Check out other upcoming events

• Wednesday, April 22 from 6:30pm to 7:30pm in H129 - Speaker: Eva Dolgin "Forging Identity, Crafting Selfhood and the Spirit of LGBTQ"
  
• Pride Prom (see above)
  
• Sunday, April 26 from 12pm to 2pm at the Ramapo Reservation - Pride Hike
  
• FRIDAY, MAY 1 FROM 8:30PM TO 11:30 PM AT MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSTIY IN THE STUDENT CENTER BALLROOMS - EQUALITY PROM (tickets are $7.00)
  

any other business...

Article Discussion:

11 Year Old Hangs Himself after Enduring Daily Anti-Gay Bullying

NEW YORK, April 9, 2009 - An 11-year-old Massachusetts boy, Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover, hanged himself Monday after enduring bullying at school, including daily taunts of being gay, despite his mother's weekly pleas to the school to address the problem. This is at least the fourth suicide of a middle-school aged child linked to bullying this year.

Garden State Equality Internships

Applications for summer internships due May 1st, 2009

Help Garden State Equality pass marriage in New Jersey in 2009. GSE summer, and fall office and field organizing internship positions available. GSE offices are located in Montclair and Collingswood; GSE will be expanding to Central Jersey. A willingness to learn new skills and push oneself to try new things is more important than previous experience. In all aspects of their work interns will work along side GSE Field Staff and will be mentored and trained in all tasks they are asked to perform. Interns are expected to work 10 to 20 hours a week, hours are flexible including nights and weekends and can be scheduled around another job. All internships are unpaid.

Key qualifications and characteristics:

• Willingness to try new things including in-person volunteer recruitment and direct community contact through door-to-door canvassing and phone banking.
  
• Openness and thirst for learning - strong desire to learn organizing skills.
  
• Enthusiastic desire to work as part of a team in a fast-paced environment.
  
• Highly organized, detail-oriented and responsible, solution-focused self-starter.
  
• Enormous drive to achieve measurable progress towards meaningful social change.
  
• Excellent listening, speaking, and writing skills.
  
• Respect for and great curiosity about all aspects of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender
  
• community.
  
• Capacity and desire to work in a multi-cultural environment where commitment to diversity based on race, ethnic origin, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, and physical ability is an important institutional value.
  
• Ability to maintain composure and a sense of humor in tense times.
  
• Ability and desire to confront conflict in a productive, diffusive manner.
  
• Strong work ethic. Willingness to travel, and work evenings and weekends.
  

Intern Tasks

• Perform volunteer recruitment in person and over the phone
  
• Aid in organizing volunteer-based phone banks, door to door canvasses, and large days of action.
  
• Including material prep and, confirmation calls, and break down of actions.
  
• Insure data is entered within 48 hours of receipt, both by entering data and leading volunteers in entering data.
  
• Incorporate grassroots fundraising in all actions.
  
• Partake in engaging community in large scale constituent contact including: postcards, letters, phone calls, and lobby visits.
  
• Meet daily with Field Director and other staff.
  
• Share in other coalition work and office tasks as directed by Regional Coordinator.
  
• Research progressive outreach events across New Jersey.
  
• Research and monitor targeted Legislators to aid in creating individualized plans that will have
  
• maximum impact on each Legislator.
  

Applications for summer internships due May 1st, 2009

Send cover letter, resume, and references to:

Hannah Johnson

Field Director, Garden State Equality

Johnson@GardenStateEquality.org

The nondiscrimination policy of Garden State Equality is to go beyond the requirements of both federal law and New Jersey's Law Against Discrimination, the oldest and strongest state civil rights statute in the United States.  

In every facet of its organizational operations, including employment, grassroots outreach, and Board and general membership, Garden State Equality does not discriminate, and has zero tolerance for any discrimination, on the basis of sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, color, creed, heritage, native language, veteran status, economic status, HIV or AIDS status, partner or marital status, physical abilities, and height and weight characteristics.  

Going beyond nondiscrimination, Garden State Equality aggressively strives for diversity in these and any other qualities that make our society a rich mosaic.

NOMINATIONS!

Welcome!

Intros

Icebreaker

Student Awards

...other business...

Upcoming Events:

Day of Silence/Night of Noise - Thurs, April 16

OUT at College - Sat, April 18

Nominations:

Conference and Rally Reports

Welcome!

Intros

Ice Breaker - Euphemisms and Food

Updates:
Check out our events!!!!
Pride Prom Committees
Reminders: ganel, etc
Election ish

Other business...

LGBT Rally Report
Reproductive Rights and Social Justice Report

and a video...
"Avenue Q - If You Were Gay: Lego Edition"

Bring a Friend to Pride!!

Welcome Friends!

Did you know: The first GSA was formed in 1988 when a straight student wanted to do something to educate fellow students about anti-LGBT bullying and harassment. She went to her history teacher, GLSEN founder Kevin Jennings, and proposed a club: “You’re gay and I’m straight, so let’s call it a Gay-Straight Alliance.”

Intros

Icebreaker

Information about allies in the queer community:

Personal Story

Ally FAQS

Guide to Being an Ally

Resources for Allies

Pride Prom Planning Iss:

let's pick a theme (informal vote)

what committee do you want to be on (sign up sheet)

(advertising, tabling, decorations or educational) - you can be on more than one

Upcoming Events:

• Tuesday, Mar. 31 at 11am at MSU - Opening of MSU's LGBT Center
  
• Thursday, Apr. 2 at 9pm in the Student Center - Love the Skin You're In rally/protest
  
• Saturday, Apr. 4 from 2pm - 4:30pm at Drew U - NJ Rally for LGBT Equality
  
• Monday, Apr. 6 at 1pm in ASB 323 - Transgender Awareness Speaker
  

On Going Events:

Letter Writing Campaign for Marriage Equality

• follow this link for a prewritten letter
  
• follow this link to download materials to write your own letter
  
• letters are due Friday, April 10 at 5pm in the Women's Center
  

Eboard Elections/Info Session

• fill out this Survey so we can schedule an info session/eboard training 101 workshop for members interested in running for an eboard position
  
• we'll be having an open nomination period from monday, april 13 to friday, april 17.
  
• finally, during our pride meeting on monday, april 20, we'll be having the elections.
  

Community Serivce Projects

• please take this survey so we can keep track of our community service projects for the year and who participated
  
• we're offering phone banks, door to door canvasses, out at college, a final ganel and pride hike, just to name a few of the many ways you can help give back to the community!!
  

3.23.9 Meeting Minutes: Jen Dugan (GMAC and Drew Alliance)

Campus Climate Survery - Why?

• for college b/c not a lot of stats exist = no info to examine trends
  
• discimination/bias crimes on the rise b/c progress/awareness of Queer issues on the rise
  

3 Parts of Survery

1. issues at campus (students)
   
2. talk to administration (classes, crimes, etc)
   
3. survey
   

Survey Questions

1. How accepting is the RCNJ community towards the queer population
   
2. Has the campus faced any Hate Crimes/What was the administration's response
   
3. How accepting is the faculty
   
4. Are gender neutral housing/transgender resources offered/available
   
5. How diverse is your GSA/do you cosponse with other diverse groups on campus
   
6. How well does your SGA work with your GSA
   
7. Does the school have a human rights policy/measures for prosecuting hate crimes/is it followed
   
8. Does the school offer classes specifically about gender/sexuality issues
   
9. Does your school have a Women's Center/Gender Center/Queer Services
   
10. Is queer friendly information readily available about safe sex
    
11. Does your GSA provide a sense of community for its members/is there any hostility between members and non members
    
12. Are there any "out" athletes
    
13. Does the school newspaper cover your GSA events
    
14. How well connected is your GSA to other GSAs (state, county, local, etc)
    
15. How well does your GSA function as both a social and activist organization
    

Conclusion

unofficially Ramapo College is the most accepting campus Jen has personally interviewed

-yay ramapo!

[if you missed this meeting, basically, we sat in our usual circle and everyone who had a response could answer any question, so we had everyone's input and basically, we all spoke very highly of ramapo!!]

Upcoming Events and Reminders!

hey everyone, i'm gonna try to keep this as brief as possible (ps. all this info is accessible via the Ramapo Pride facebook group/page, the Ramapo Pride Blog and the Ramapo Pride Calendar):

Upcoming Events

Monday, Mar. 30 at 1pm in ASB 323 - Bring a Friend to Pride
Tuesday, Mar. 31 at 11am at MSU - Opening of MSU's LGBT Center
Thursday, Apr. 2 at 9pm in the Student Center - Love the Skin You're In rally/protest
Saturday, Apr. 4 from 2pm - 4:30pm at Drew U - NJ Rally for LGBT Equality
Monday, Apr. 6 at 1pm in ASB 323 - Transgender Awareness Speaker
Friday, Apr. 10 at 9:45 am - GANEL for Prof. Kenneavy: Sociology of Community
Saturday, Apr. 18 from 11am to 3pm in tba - OUT at College
Monday, Apr. 20 from 8pm to 10pm in at Morristown Unitarian Fellowship - College Mixer for LGBT Organizations
Friday, Apr. 24 from 8pm to 12am in Pav - Pride Prom 2009
Sunday, Apr. 26 from 12pm to 2pm at the Res - Pride Hike
Sunday, Apr. 26 6pm in Nyack - LGBT Comedy Tour

On Going Events:

Letter Writing Campaign for Marriage Equality
follow this link for a prewritten letter
follow this link to download materials to write your own letter
letters are due Friday, April 10 at 5pm in the Women's Center

Eboard Elections/Info Session
fill out this Survey so we can schedule an info session/eboard training 101 workshop for members interested in running for an eboard position
we'll be having an open nomination period from monday, april 13 to friday, april 17.
in order for a nominee to become a candidate they must receive at least three nominations (we'll be sending email blasts during this open period to inform members of who's been nominated or needs additional nominations
finally, during our pride meeting on monday, april 20, we'll be having the elections.

Community Serivce Projects
please take this survey so we can keep track of our community service projects for the year and who participated
we're offering phone banks, door to door canvasses, out at college, a final ganel and pride hike, just to name a few of the many ways you can help give back to the community!!

so please get involved!!!!

Community Service Projects

Hey Everyone!

we're trying to get people involved with all our community service projects (we need at least half our members to participate in projects, as per ramapo college rules)

please fill out the survey below:
Community Service Projects Interest Survey

there's also some facebook events for these so check out the Ramapo Pride facebook page

thanks, your responses are much appreciated!

:)

Ramapo Pride E-Board Elections/Info Session

Hey Everyone!

So it's that time again!!! Eboard Elections

this year we'll be hosting an information session/eboard training 101 workshop for all those interested in running for an eboard position

the workshop will cover a summary of the different roles/responsibilities of each position and information about event planning, booking rooms, funding, etc.

please click the link below to fill out the interest survey, so we can determine when to have the training workshop:
Eboard 101 Workshop Interest Survey

we'll be having an open nomination period from monday, april 13 to friday, april 17.

in order to nominate someone please send an email to ramapo pride (pride@ramapo.edu) during the open nomination period

in order for a nominee to become a candidate they must receive at least three nominations (we'll be sending email blasts during this open period to inform members of who's been nominated or needs additional nominations

finally, during our pride meeting on monday, april 20, we'll be having the elections.

during the meeting, candidates will provide a small speech which includes (but is not limited to) the following information;

name, grade, position running for, involvement with ramapo pride and goals for next year...

members may ask candidates appropriate questions following each speech

the election process works as such: members will fill out a ballot selecting one candidate for each position, the president (who can't vote, unless in the case of a tie) will count the votes (majority wins) and announce the winner

also...check out/join the facebook event for more info/updates: Ramapo Pride E-Board Elections/Info Session

Jen Dugan & Ramapo Pride

Hey Everyone, Welcome Back from Spring Break!!!

Intros

Icebreaker - highs and lows of spring break

Jen Dugan - Campus Climate/LGBT Connect and LGBT rally

Letter Writing Campaign

Pride Prom
-theme suggestions
-committees

BRING A FRIEND (or stuffed animal) TO PRIDE, NEXT MONDAY, MARCH 30TH!!!

other upcoming events

any other business...

Letter Writing Campaign

more details to follow...but click the link to get involved with our letter writing campaign

Spring Break Updates!!!

Hey Everyone!

So there are a TON of events that are coming up and i figured you all should know about them...

they are all viewable, with extended information here, but this is the run down (Ramapo Events are in bold, other events are with local GSAs):

For the Week of March 22:

• Monday23: Jen Dugan of Garden State Alliance visits Ramapo Pride
  
• Tuesday 24 at 1pm in Alumni Lounges: Women and Gender Lecture Part II
  
• " at 8pm at MSU: Get OUT Talent Show
  
• Wednesday 25 at 1pm in A105: Women and Gender Lecture Part III
  
• " "at MSU: Navigating Healthcare in the Transgender Community
  
• Thursday 26 at 1pm in WC: Studs and Sluts book discussion
  
• Friday 27 at 12pm in Pav: Women's Appreciation Banquet
  
• " at 5pm in Hwing: Milk (movie showing)
  

For the Week of March 29:

• Sunday 29 at 11:30am by the Arch: Admitted Students Day Club Fair Table
  
• Monday 30: Bring a Friend to Pride!
  
• Tuesday 31 at 7:30om in Jlees: A Night OUT/Female Friendly Funk
  
• " at 9pm at Caldwell: Milk (movie showing)
  
• Thursday 2 at 9pm in the Student Center 2nd Floor: Love the Skin You're In (healthy body images)
  
• Saturday 4 at 2pm at Drew U: LGBT Equality Demonstration
  

...stay tuned for more upcoming events!!

and remember to SAVE THE DATE for Pride Prom

Friday, April 24 at 8pm-12am in Pavilion (rooms 1-3)

Letter Writing Campaign and sooo Much More!!!

Intros

Ice Breakerrrrr

Upcoming Events 

• Women and Gender Lecture Series Part 1 - Thursday, Mar. 12 at 1pm in Alumni Lounges
  
• Jen Dugan from LGBTIQ Orgs. Connect visits - Monday, Mar. 23 at 1pm in ASB 323
  
• W&G Lec. Series Part 2 - Tuesday, Mar. 24 at 1pm in Alumni Lounges
  
• " - Wednesday, Mar. 25 at 1pm in A105
  
• Studs and Sluts Book Discussion - Thursday, Mar. 26 at 1pm in the Women's Center
  
• A Night OUT/Female Friendly Funk - Thursday, Mar. 26 from 7pm - 11pm in JLees
  
• Milk Movie Night - Friday, Mar. 27 at 5pm in Hwing
  
• Admitted Students Day Club Fair - Sunday, Mar. 29 from 11:30am-1:30 pm at the Arch
  
• Bring a Friend to Pride - Monday, Mar. 30 at 1pm in ASB 323
  

*Are YOU interested in getting involved with SGA?  Petitions are due Thursday, March 12th in SC 223 at 2pm...this is a great opportunity to get involved on campus and help add diversity to student government!

Ganel Reminders: 

Wednesday, Mar. 11 in B121 at 11:40am and again at 6:40pm for Prof. Tobaccowala's Social Issues classes

Eboard Elections:

• Available Positions - President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Publicist and SGA Delegate
  
• Interested in running? Sign up for the Eboard 101 Training Workshop!!
  
• Open nominations will take place from April 13 to April 17.
  
• Elections will take place Monday, April 20 at 1pm in ASB 323, and new positions will be announced.
  
• The Closing Meeting will take place Monday, April 27 at 1pm in the Women's Center and will be run by the new Eboard!
  

Pride Prom Committees!! (Friday, April 24th from 8pm to 12am in Pav Rooms 1-3)

start thinking about which one you'd like to be a part of:

• Advertising
  
• Tabling
  
• Decorations
  
• Educational Component (it's way cooler than it sounds, I promise)
  

Garden State Equality (GSE)

• Reports from meeting with GSE's Dani Bernstein
  
• Upcoming Off Campus Community Service Events:
  
• Weekly Thursday night phone banks (630pm-930pm) at Montclair State U.
  
• Faith OUTreach: Postcard collecting and volunteer recruitment at a supportive place of worship - Sunday, March 15th 10am-1pm (location TBA)
  
• Action Fair in Red Bank - Sunday, Mar. 22 2pm - 5pm (help promote marriage equality)
  
• Weekly Sunday afternoons door to door canvasses beginning in April
  
• Letter Writing Campaign
  

LETS WRITE SOME LETTERS!!!