Community... It’s here. It’s just difficult to find. We can change that!

June 11, 2008

Executive Director, David Stocum met with the Arrowhead Center at NMSU today about a feasibility study and business model analysis, more to come next week.

NM GLBTQ Centers will be at Albuquerque Pride Friday and Saturday 6/13 and 6/14 stop by booth 19 and say hello. You also can enter to win a Big Gay Sketch Show DVD.

April 19, 2008

We reached our goal for the 501(c)(3) application user fee two days ago. The application will be filed within the next week. We are now planning our community needs assessment and will be reaching out to rural New Mexico for input into the needs they would like us to address.

April 6, 2008

Hi All,

I received an email on April 4th that New Mexico GLBTQ Centers has not been selected a finalist for a 2008 Echoing Green Fellowship.

“Echoing Green regrets to inform you that your application is no longer under consideration for our 2008 fellowship program.

We want to thank you for being a part of our application process. We were truly inspired by your passion and creative ideas for social change and your application was in the top quarter of all those we reviewed. However, the applications that we received this year were of very high quality and the process was extremely competitive. Indeed, we received nearly 1,500 submissions – and yet, as a nonprofit that raises all of the money we give away, we only have the capacity to fund 20.

Please note that each application is reviewed by at least five social change experts and business leaders – and the applicant and organization are evaluated based on their fit with the Echoing Green Fellowship program. Therefore, our decision regarding your application is specific to our selection criteria and is not intended to reflect the strength of your idea or the need for the proposed organization in your community.”

I have the opportunity to receive evaluation notes from the reviewers who read our proposal and have requested them. I should have them by the end of May and will share what I learn following my review. I thank those of you who wrote letters of recommendation, reviewed the application and provide support in other ways. It truly was an honor to be the lead person on this application and your support is greatly appreciated.

While we did not receive this fellowship the experience has moved this project forward a great deal. It lead to beginning a business plan, a preliminary budget and our incorporation. We are a mere $104 away from submitting our 501(c)(3) application at least partly because of the Echoing Green process. If you would like to help with the 501(c)(3) fee you may pledge at Fundable.com using the link below.

https://www.fundable.com/groupactions/groupaction.2008-03-23.8387172620/groupaction_view

One of you asked me not long ago, what I’d do if I didn’t get the Echoing Green Fellowship? I replied, without hesitation, if I recall, find another funder or fellowship. All of the feedback I received, the fact we made the semi-finals at Echoing Green and my gut, tell me this is an idea whose time has come. It also tells me that it needs full time leadership and effort. Therefore I have chosen to begin a transition from coaching to full time Executive Director of New Mexico GLBTQ Centers. I will spend the remainder of 2008 closing my business and seeking funding for a small salary along with our community needs assessment. I am more committed than ever that NM GLBTQ Centers become a reality.

Thank you all for your support,
David

March 23, 2008

Hi All,

We have received our Certificate of Incorporation from the State of New Mexico, an Employer Identification Number from the IRS and have completed the application form for our 501(c)(3) tax exempt status. The only thing left before we file the application is raising the User Fee of $750 which must be sent with the application.

I am taking an online grant writing class through UNM, and in doing my homework am finding several exciting opportunities that we may be able to use to fund NM GLBTQ Centers once we have our 501(c)(3).

Richard and I will donate $100 to get the ball rolling. Your tax deductable donation will be greatly appreciated. We will file the application as soon as we have the user fee collected.

You may make an online pledge at our Fundable.com site using the link below.

https://www.fundable.com/groupactions/groupaction.2008-03-23.8387172620/groupaction_view

--- What is Fundable?

Fundable.com lets groups of people pool money to make purchases or raise funds. Similar to online auctions, Fundable's collection pages are created by people who use the web site. Each page contains a description of how much money needs to be collected and what it will do. Once enough pledges for a collection have been secured, Fundable turns them into real payments and sends the total to the collection's organizer.

If a collection expires before reaching its total in pledges, Fundable deletes all pledges and never charges money.

Thanks for your support in making a difference for New Mexico.

David Stocum
Executive Director

March 16, 2008

New Mexico GLBTQ Centers

Rolling Community To All New Mexico

Our Dream- Mobile Community Centers

 

Programs Wish List

Programs will be based on community needs assessments. While our focus is rural NM, our financial support will come mostly from larger cities. To gain that support, we will provide programs in all of NM. We have two programming focuses, ending mainstream ignorance through education and enriching the lives of LGBT New Mexicans.

Potential Programs:

LGBT 101–basic class on understanding Gay people;

Ask Your Gay Uncle–a community Q&A forum;

Faith Rainbow–a workshop on religion and the LGBT community;

Empowered–a workshop training local LGBT residents on how to educate and advocate in their communities.

New Mexico Leadership Dialog–an annual conference of LGBTQ leaders and leaders of government, community groups and faith communities to discuss strategies for promoting respect, dignity and diversity throughout NM. These programs will eliminate homophobia by increasing understanding of the LGBTQ community in the larger community. Studies have shown that respect and equality come from knowledge. These programs will educate the general public and humanize the community to our neighbors.

Library–will allow safe access to LGBT information, news, literature and more via printed materials not available elsewhere;

Cyber Center–safe and confidential internet access with secure file storage and technical support;

Rainbow Coaches–support in making positive life changes through access to professional life coaches;

Media Center–access to positive media portrayals which may not be safely accessible otherwise using a DVD library, satellite radio  and satellite television services;

Safe Self–self-defense training, HIV, suicide and domestic violence prevention;

Rainbow Clinic–physical and mental health care and education;

Rainbow Grow–services, events and learning for youth 15 to 24 designed to enhance self-esteem, prevent risky behaviors and prevent suicide and

Lambda Learning–classes on LGBT history, legal issues, personal development, and others. These programs will reduce risky behaviors by providing clients with new life skills and increasing self-esteem by replacing negative images with positive images.

 

Next Step

New Mexico GLBTQ Centers incorporated as a New Mexico non-profit Corporation on February 1, 2008. Our next step is to file for a 501(c)(3) tax exemption and conduct a community needs assessment.

 

What You Can Do

We need to raise $750 to pay the IRS User Fee with the 501(c)(3) application. Donation (tax deductible) may be sent to:

PO Box 2371

Las Cruces, NM  8804

 

Join the conversation creating The Centers at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nmcenters/

 

January 11, 2008

New Mexico GLBTQ Centers Named Echoing Green Semifinalist

From nearly 1500 applicants David Stocum and NM GLBTQ Centers was named one of 324 semifinalists for a 2008 Echoing Green Fellowship. Which will provide seed money and technical assistance to make New Mexico GLBTQ Centers a reality.

According to Echoing Green's website (www.echoinggreen.org) Echoing Green is " Like some venture capital firms, we consider ourselves active investors—not just providing funding, but also helping our social entrepreneurs achieve their maximum potential through a range of support services, including training, networking opportunities, consulting, and championing. Similarly, we view our fellows as investment partners, with whom we collaborate as they build and grow their organizations and with whom we hope to have a long-term relationship.

NM GLBT Centers Joins 200 Plus LGBT Organizations Supporting Trans Inclusive ENDA

Community Letter:

United opposition to sexual-orientation-only employment nondiscrimination legislation
October 1, 2007

Dear Madam Speaker and Representatives:

The undersigned represent the vast and celebrated diversity of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community in this country. Some of us are national leaders of organizations with tens of thousands of members and constituents, some of us run the only local organization in our state. But we are united in a common cause: We ask you to keep working with us on an Employment Non-Discrimination Act that protects everyone in our community, and to oppose any substitute legislation that leaves some of us behind.

We ask and hope that in this moment of truth, you will stand for the courage real leadership sometimes demands. You each command enormous respect from all of us and we do appreciate the difficulty of balancing a variety of competing demands. But the correct course in this case and on this legislation is strikingly clear. We oppose legislation that leaves part of our community without protections and basic security that the rest of us are provided.

You told us you supported a fully inclusive ENDA and would bring it up for a vote this year. We expect that you will honor that commitment and we look forward to working together to pass a bill that we can all be proud to support.

Sincerely,

Take Action Today

NM Centers Update April 10, 2007

By Richard Scramstad

The New Mexico GLBT Centers Organizing Committee has begun work on creating a statewide system of community centers. The Centers are conducting town hall meetings around the state to seek community input, involvement and support. The next town hall will be in Santa Fe this spring. In addition, two sub-committees are working on creating the organization and conducting a needs assessment, as well as creating an interim “community center” online.

The goal of the Centers Virtual Community Committee is to promote a sense of “community” and end the isolation of GLBT community members in New Mexico by developing a “Virtual Community website.” This website will coordinate a “go to” place for the gay community to connect with one another, whether you are in a metropolitan area or in a small town around the state. It will also serve as a communication and support vehicle for the Centers Project and needs assessment.

The sub-committee has identified the following items for inclusion in the site.

1) Lists of available resources with links to these resources, such as GLBT organizations, allies, and businesses

2) Interactive Blog and Interactive discussion forum (list serves)

3) Help Line support

4) Real Time Bulletin Board (each organization maintains its own content)

5) Real Time Calendar (each organization maintains its own content)

6) On Line News and information section

7) Educational material section

8) On Line Tools such as a search engine, donation space, on-line membership

The community is invited to provide feedback by contacting the Centers Committee at info@gaynewmexico.org by calling -888-286-9306.

January 28, 2007

Update From Organizing Committee Meeting January 13, 2007

By Richard Scramstad

Thank you to Albuquerque Pride for the use of their offices for the meeting.

·        Normal Heart Community Ventures (NHCV) has made an offer to either be the New Mexico Centers Fiscal Agent for grant monies or New Mexico Centers could function as a project within NHCV.  The organizing committee would become the Board of NHVC. 

·        A discussion of the needs of the LGBT community ensured.  The most pressing need appeared to be a central communication and community coordination resource.  This could be accomplished by creating a virtual community center that would be both internet and telephone based providing a central coordinated calendar, links to available resources and general information and would be maintained by at least one paid staff member. 

·        It was decided that one of the first projects of the NM Centers organization would be to establish a Virtual Community Center and seek grant funding through a fiscal sponsor.

 ·        After considerable discussion, it was decided that ABQ Pride or EQNM could act as our fiscal sponsor and while the committee appreciated the offer of NHCV, it was felt that EQNM or ABQ Pride had more of a track record with grant funding and would probably be more likely to be able to receive grant funding for us. 

·        Various discussions took place regarding the needs of the New Mexico LGBT community.  The people at this meeting were probably the most connected in regards to LGBT issues, but that only addressed the needs of people within the greater Albuquerque/Santa Fe area.  We need to also find out what are the needs of the LGBT community state-wide.  To this end, the Organizing Committee will apply for a grant to fund a professionally developed needs assessment to cover the entire state.  Included in this assessment would be the needs of existing organizations and how the NM Centers (name has not yet been established) could support these organizations. No action was taken and this will be an agenda item for the next meeting. 

·        Not everyone was aware of all of the varied organizations that already exist.  A list of all existing organizations with contact information will be developed.  These organizations will be asked to donate to help cover the costs of the Virtual Community.  No action was taken, and this will be an agenda item at the next Committee meeting. 

·        Common Bond offered (subject tom their Board approval) to donate their website (GayLifeNM.com) to help get the Virtual Community started.   This committee will be working on this over the next few months.

·        Meeting adjourned.

For more information contact Richard Scramstad (richard@scramstad.com) or David Stocum (david@davidstocum.com) or 1-888-286-9306

December 12, 2006

NMGLBT Centers Holds Albuquerque Town Hall Meeting

By Dale Ready

Members of the newly founded New Mexico GLBT (NMGLBTC) Centers organizing committee held a town hall meeting in Albuquerque on December 9 to present its plans for statewide centers and programs to serve the New Mexico GLBT community. The meeting was held at Metropolitan Community Church, Albuquerque (MCCA) upon the invitation of Reverend Judith Maynard and parishioners. The meeting was attended by nearly twenty persons representing the City of Albuquerque, Albuquerque Pride, Common Bond, Equality NM, MCCA, PFLAG Albuquerque (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays), SOPA and Transgender New Mexico (TGNM).

During the two-hour meeting, organizers David Stocum and Richard Scramstad , also co-publishers of The Normal Heart presented their vision for the New Mexico centers with regionally central facilities overseeing the entire state and satellite programs serving rural areas through direct and outreach programs. The centers would operate with a professional staff and make up a collaborative effort with existing organizations to form a supportive partnership and would not duplicate services provided by existing organizations such as PFLAG, Common Bond and others.

The vision calls for centers in the four most populous cities in New Mexico within the next ten years with Albuquerque initially serving the north portion of the state and Las Cruces serving the south beginning within the next several years. Rural areas would be served through outreach services, teleconferencing and possibly mobile centers operation out of recreational vehicles. NMGLBT Centers believes this is the only model of its type in the country.

When asked how the centers would be funded, organizers replied that funding would be sought through LGBT foundation grants with Normal Heart Community Ventures acting as fiscal agent for the centers through its 501c3 tax-exempt status. Also, fundraising from the community would be part of the funding. A comprehensive needs assessment is the first step to attain funding.

The meeting culminated in a session of questions and answers and participants left with an air of optimism for the future of the proposed centers.

Next Organizing Committee Meeting

January 13, 2007

Albuquerque Pride Office

2610 San Mateo, Suite C

12:30 PM