Articles From Our October, 2007 Newsletter

Members of Hear Me Out Toastmasters of Kansas City will provide the program for the October 14th meeting of PFLAG-KC. They will conduct a demonstration of the protocol and fun to be found in one of their regularly scheduled meetings.

Hear Me Out Toastmasters formed in the summer of 2005 to provide a safe and supportive environment for members of Kansas City’s LGBTA community to develop their personal and professional communication skills. Toastmasters International began in the 1920’s as a resource for businessmen to refine their public speaking skills and has since expanded internationally. Hear Me Out is one of approximately seventy Toastmasters clubs in the Kansas City area and one of only about a dozen in the United States dedicated to the communication and leadership development of LGBT individuals.

The demonstration program will be led by a person serving as the “Toastmaster”, who will introduce the featured speaker and other participants in the meeting. One speaker will address us with a prepared speech and another participant will provide “Table Topics”, an opportunity for those in attendance to participate in impromptu “think–on-your-feet” speaking.

For Coming Out Month, come out and Hear them Out Sunday October 14th at 3 pm in Room 307 of Village Presbyterian Church.

First, let me say again (it will be the first time for those of you who were not at last month’s meeting) what a privilege it is to serve this chapter. It is a responsibility that I treasure and do not take lightly.

I look forward to another rewarding year of working with those on the board who were reinstated and with the new board blood!

This time of the year is always exciting as I see the membership forms and donations come rolling in. The number of forms in the PFLAG mailbox that come from folks we have never met always boggles my mind. We gratefully add those names to our roster and appreciate their contributions…but I wonder…how do they know about us?…was PFLAG instrumental in their lives at some point?…did they simply pick up a brochure at an event? As you sit at home reading this newsletter, I would ask that if you haven’t ever been to a meeting, you might reconsider. We would love to shake your hand and thank you personally for your help in strengthening this chapter. Each one of you is absolutely vital to what we do. I’m also fairly certain that you’ll have a great time!

Most of you know me well enough to know that when you don’t see me at a meeting, it must be for a pretty good reason. Each time I am forced by circumstances to miss one, I feel like something is definitely awry. That being said, I will miss you all this month because I will be at the PFLAG National Conference in DC. It’s been three years since the last one and this time promises to be just as exciting and informative.

You will be getting a full report at the November meeting….

Jamie

PFLAG Annual Taco Dinner
Scheduled For Oct 28. The taco dinner has been postponed to a later date--update to follow.

There will be more information and a sign up at the next meeting. We are wanting to expand to area gay/straight alliances which will increase the amount of food needed. If you are unable to attend the next PFLAG meeting and want to volunteer to bring something, please contact Randy at 913-894-5748.

Dear Friends of Open Circle,

It looks to be a very busy and empowering fall. And, we've got plenty of interesting information for you to click through and explore in this edition of our E-News update.
My sincere thanks to the brave souls who came to our last spiritual movie night at the Tivoli. NO END IN SIGHT raises difficult questions and emotions, but the audience discussion was both heartfelt and honest. And, how fortunate we were to have the KC Star's Lewis Diuguid offer his perspective with us that night. (Was his being in the audience just another coincidence or am I beginning to see a pattern.) BTW, the film is still playing at the Tivoli. I encourage you to see it.
Finally, we're in the midst of preparation for the inaugural Open Circle Spiritual Film Festival. This five day event will be held in conjunction with Kansas City's Festivals of Faith, November 8 - 12. In addition to screenings at the Tivoli, we'll be holding screenings and related events at churches and public gathering spaces across the area. If your group or faith community is interested in hosting one of the festival screenings or related events, please contact me to explore the possibilities. You can email me here or call (816) 931-0738.
In the meanwhile, continued success to you,

Jamie Rich
Open Circle

PFLAG SUPPORTS REAL FAMILY VALUES