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COMMUNITY LIAISON ORGANIZATION FOR SUPPORT, EDUCATION AND REFORM
CLOSER* s Open Forum on Sunday,
March 5, was a very productive
event. If you weren’t there, we
want you to feel a part of what
transpired, and what we decided.
Ron L. facilitated, and asked us
first to name CLOSER’S strengths
for this year, and then areas
needing work. Some positives were
growing membership, good
leadership, participation by more
women, friendliness and warmth,
programs, non—t h reat ening/nurt uring
atmosphere, social perks, Dan and
Joan, church support, and variety
of activities. Areas needing work
were members* involvement in
CLOSER’S work, members’ exposure to
the constitution, and continuity in
leadership from year to year.
In sum, we’ve had a great year, but
we need more membership involvement
in running the programs, so that we
-wrt’t burn out our leadership. The
officers take care of behind-the-
scenes activities like program
planning, getting speakers, keeping
the treasury, writing thank you
notes to speakers, updating
membership data, publishing the
membership directory, and writing,
editing, collating and sending out
the newsletter. But there are MANY
tasks that need to be done every
week to put on a program.
To give you an idea of all that’s
involved for a Tuesday night
program, here are the taskss Set
up the room with chairs and tables
for refreshments and literature;
hang the CLOSER sign outside; set
up the microphone; greet new
people; buy refreshments; set up
refreshments; make coffee; provide
membership information; collect
fT:TStnBII|:7:iV:
applications and fees from those
wanting to join; put out literature
about CLOSER, other relevant
groups, and community activities;
set up and update bulletin board;
staff the library; make opening
remarks and announcements; conduct
any business; introduce new people;
pass the bucket; introduce the
program; close the meeting; clean
up from refreshments; stack and put
away chairs. Did you have any
idea?! But as my mother always
said, "Many hands make light work,”
and she knew, because she had five
children. But how ?
WELL! Jim R. volunteered at the
Forum to be Volunteer Coordinator.
Two other people volunteered to
help Jim. He will ask people,
weekly or monthly, to commit to
helping with many of the tasks in
the paragraph above. (Some are
Executive Committee functions.)
And he has already begun! We can
already feel the load being lifted.
I can guarantee that when you get
involved, you will feel even better
about CLOSER and about yourself
than you do now, because it’s
another way to express our love for
one another and for Asheville’s gay
and lesbian community. And that
love will come back to you. So
remember, when you see Jim coming,
get ready to say "YES!"
CONGRATULATIONS
To Cindy and Angela on
their first
anniversary! Many
happy returns to these
two wonderful people!