Articles From Our September, 2007 Newsletter

Tim De Paepe to be the featured speaker at our Sept. PFLAG Meeting. He will be sharing about his work on the film documentary “Shades of Gray”.

"Shades of Gray" is a documentary that focuses on the lives of five ordinary people leading normal lives in Lawrence, Kansas who happen to be gay and lesbian. When the Lawrence City Council is approached with a proposal to add the words 'sexual orientation' to its discrimination policies, a struggle ensues between the citizens of Lawrence, outside anti-gay influences, religious organizations and activists. "Shades of Gray" illustrates how homosexual women and men are very much a part of the moral fiber that comprises American society.

Tim De Paepe has worked in the film and video industry for seventeen years. He is one of four principle cinematographers on the indie film, “CSA”, that played at the 2004 Sundance film festival, and currently in theatrical distribution with IFC films. He directed the award winning documentary “Shades of Gray” that has played in over sixty film festivals worldwide, winning the jury prize at the Festival International Du Film Independent Brussels Belgium, additionally winning Best Documentary at the Temecula Valley International Film Festival in 2001. Tim was also nominated for a 2002 IDA Award for “Shades of Gray”. His first documentary, "Quiet Passages," was produced by The Center for East Asian Studies with a grant from the Kansas Council on the Humanities. The program is currently in national distribution through Cross Current Media, a distribution service of the National Asian American Telecommunications Association (NAATA).

"Quiet Passages" was shown nationally on 22 PBS stations, including WNET New York and WQED San Francisco. In 1998, indie-film guru John Pierson asked Tim to direct a short documentary for his cable television show "Split Screen", aired nation-wide on the Independent Film Channel.

You won’t want to miss this program. Join us at 3pm, Sunday, Sept. 9, at Village Pres. Ch. 6641 Mission Rd., Room 307.

Hello there, fellow fighters of bigotry and bias everywhere. It still feels like summer out there, but in my heart it’s autumn. The kids have all headed back to school—including our Katibeth. It looks like her minor in women and gender studies might become her major. I am confident that being a PFLAG family has led her in her decision-making process…it’s been interesting to watch her grow from the girl of fourteen who simply loved her gay brother (and still does) to the young woman of nineteen who is confident enough to speak out against injustice of any kind. I sincerely thank you all for your hand in that development.

September is also exciting because it’s election month for this chapter’s board of directors. Last month, at the state-wide meeting, we were asked to identify things our chapter has going for it—or things we do well. It took me about 2 seconds to say (pardon my French) that we have a “kick-ass board”. It has become very clear to me over the past few years that not all organizations would be able to say the same. Your Kansas City chapter board works like a well-oiled machine. In making decisions, we always consider what is best for the growth and development of this chapter. I am proud to say that those decisions are generally easy to make because we all seem to be on the same page. We have never had a heated discussion, never argued about how best to use the funds you have so graciously contributed, never left that table before a general meeting that we didn’t feel great.

Your board—and you should look at it that way—are all volunteers who are committed to the mission of PFLAG and to seeing that mission carried out in the KC metro area to the best of their ability. At our last meeting, I asked all of the board members if they would be seeking another year of service—I was not surprised that they all said “yes”. I will also be asking that you keep me around for another year :o)

Those who are seeking reelection are as follows:

Jamie Lee	President/Speakers Bureau
Randy Fowler	Vice President/Treasurer
David Whitner	Secretary
Paul Hough	Director of Resources
Paul DiGeorge	Director of Support
Sue Edwards	Director of Membership/Refreshments
Glenn Lang	Web Master
Dustin and Ruth Cooper	Members at Large

Part of our job as your leaders is to consider those among our local membership who have continually shown their commitment to this chapter and to consider them for possible positions on the board. They have graciously accepted our nomination and would love your vote:

Lyndsey Rutter	Member at Large
Carolyn Finken-Dove	Member at Large
Glen Dove	Member at Large
Sandi Archer	Member at Large

Greg and Gwyn Shelton have moved back to their beloved Canada, but I fully expect to see them pop up at unexpected times. We thank them for all their tireless efforts on behalf of this chapter.

Only those who are members of this chapter will be allowed to participate in the election, but nominations for any position can be made the day of the elections.

See you on the 9th.

Join us for an important lecture on how an Evangelical ultimately changed his mind about acceptance of Homosexuals and the Church.......
And, how he is changing hearts and minds in the process.

Midwest Lecture Tour
and Book Signing
September 30, October 1, October 9
Rev. Dr. Jack Rogers
Theologian and Author


Sunday, September 30, 2007
Village Presbyterian Church
6641 Mission Road
Prairie Village, KS 66208
Dr. Jack Rogers - Sunday morning
Worship - 8:00, 9:30, 11:00 a.m.


Monday, October 1, 2007
Heartland Presbyterian Center
16965 NW 45 Hwy (1 mile West of I-435 on Hwy
45), Parkville MO 64152
Luncheon/Discussion


Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church
11100 College Blvd.
Overland Park, KS 66210
Lecture/Discussion - 7 pm

Join HRC-Kansas City, the Matthew Shepard Foundation &
the Kansas City Anti-Violence Project for Erase Hate: An Evening With
Judy Shepard
Thursday, Sept. 6
Pierson Auditorium at UMKC


6 p.m. Reception
RSVP by Sept. 1 to
Location: Rockhill Tennis Club
4520 Kenwood Ave.
Kansas City, MO 64110
$100 minimum Matthew Shepard Foundation donation
$25 for UMKC students
Contributions tax-deductible


7:30 p.m. Town Hall
Free and open to the public
New location:
Pierson Auditorium
University of Missouri-Kansas City
University Center
50th & Rockhill Road
Kansas City, MO 64110

Directions: http://www.umkc.edu/maps/directions.asp
 

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