Board of Director Elections for 2010 - Deadline for Candidate Statements is Today

The Board encourages all interested members--including men and women; straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people; people of color; and people with disabilities--to consider running for the Board or otherwise volunteering your time.  In accordance with the GAYLAW Bylaws, we are pleased to announce the election procedures to govern the election of the GAYLAW Board of Directors for the 2010 calendar year.

Each year, the GAYLAW Board of Directors establishes the election procedures to govern the election of its Board of Directors during the fall and culminating at our Annual Meeting (which is held in connection with the Annual Awards Celebration--scheduled this year for Friday, December 4, 2009).  Board positions are for two-year terms.  Those elected will join other returning Board members who are now in the middle of two-year terms.

In accordance with the GAYLAW Bylaws, the composition of the Board of Directors must reflect gender parity plus two, and all Directors generally serve for staggered two-calendar year terms and hold office until the election and qualification of their respective successors.  Thus, the candidates who receive the greatest number of votes (achieving gender parity plus two) shall be declared elected to the Board of Directors.  In the case of a tie, a run-off election will be held between the tied candidates.

To be eligible to run for the Board of Directors, (1) you must be a member in good standing of GAYLAW (i.e., dues current for 2009); (2) you must have received a law degree from a foreign or domestic law school; and (3) if you are a member of any bar of a court of general jurisdiction in any U.S. state or territory, you must be in good standing.

If you wish to stand for election to the GAYLAW Board, please send the following materials to Nina Chernoff, the this year's Elections Officer: (1) an e-mail expressing your interest and willingness to serve on our Board; and (2) a brief Candidate Statement (250 words or less) explaining why you are interested in serving on the Board.  Please e-mail these materials to Ms. Chernoff at NChernoff@PDSDC.ORG.  These materials must be *received* by Ms. Chernoff, via e-mail, no later than 6:00 p.m. on Friday, November 13, 2008.

Candidate Statements will be then be provided in an email to GAYLAW members. Voting by eligible members of GAYLAW (i.e., dues current for 2009) will be conducted via an electronic SurveyMonkey.com ballot. Candidate statements will also be provided with the ballot.  The voting period will commence as soon as possible after the November 13 statement of interest deadline and will run through 3:00 p.m. on Friday, December 4, 2009 (the date of our Annual Meeting and Awards Celebration).  Election results will be announced during the Awards Celebration on December 4.

Please contact Ms. Chernoff directly should you have any election-related questions. She may be reached by e-mail at NChernoff@PDSDC.ORG.
 

Annual Awards Celebration - Tickets and Sponsorships Available

Friday, December 4, 2009
6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Woman's National Democratic Club
1526 New Hampshire Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20036

AWARDEES INCLUDE:

David Catania
United States Environmental Protection Agency
The Washington Blade
Hogan & Hartson LLP
Ackerman Legal PLLC
 

FIRM AND CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES:

Organizational Benefactor $1,000
Organizational Sponsor $ 750
Organizational Supporter $ 500
 

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS:

Individual Benefactors receive special recognition in the event materials and advertising, plus one ticket to the event: $175.

Individual Sponsors receive special recognition in the event materials and advertising, plus one ticket to the event: $125.

All current Sustaining Members of GAYLAW are automatically counted as "Individual Sponsors" for this event, but can become Individual Benefactors for an additional $50.

Individual Benefactors and Individual Sponsors may list their partners' names in the event materials and advertising in any way they wish. However, should the partner wish to attend the Awards Celebration, please purchase an additional ticket for that individual.

Ticket prices:

Individual Ticket: $75
Law Student Ticket : $45

Click here to purchase individual tickets or sponsor the event! 

Out in the Silence Screening & Reception

Please join us next Wednesday (November 18th) for a screening and panel discussion of Joe Wilson and Dean Hamer's film, Out in the Silence.

Out in the Silence is an uplifting film about courageous local residents confronting homophobia and the limitations of religion, tradition, and the law in their conservative small town in the hills of northwestern Pennsylvania. The aim of the film and associated community engagement campaign is to expand public awareness about the struggles lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people continue to face in rural and small town America and to promote dialogue and action in communities around the country that will help people on all sides of the issues find common ground.

Following the screening, there will be a panel discussion on marriage equality that will focus on efforts to legalize same-sex marriage in D.C. Panelists will include:

• Jeffrey Richardson, President of the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club
• Bob Summersgill, longtime gay rights activist
• Joe Wilson, Out in the Silence filmmaker

A reception sponsored by Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP will follow the discussion beginning at 8:00 PM.

This event is free and open to the public, but space is limited. Please RSVP to Katherine Incantalupo.

Film Screening and Reception
Wednesday, November 18th
6:30 PM
 

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
Columbia Center
1152 15th St NW
Washington, DC 20005