Dignity Washington

Dignity-Washington Goes to the Beach

Posted on September 29, 2011 by Jon Strickland

From September 16 through 18 twenty members of Dignity/Washington revived one of the chapter’s best annual social outings of past years: the Rehoboth Beach (Delaware) Weekend. On that Friday Jake Hudson, Dignity/Washington Vice President, hosted everyone for a lovely opening reception at his beach home. Saturday’s rain and wind didn’t stop members from joining in the festivities of Delaware’s Gay Pride Day, culminating with Mass at one of the group’s beach hotels that evening. The spirit of celebration continued after Mass with more socializing at one of the local bars and a great pizza dinner. A Sunday morning brunch near the boardwalk was the perfect ending to this fabulous weekend. Special thanks to everyone who attended. Next year sun and surf for sure!

Members of Dignity Washington gather after Mass during a weekend at Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.

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DC Councilmen David Catania and Philip Mendelson Honored

Posted on February 6, 2011 by Jon Strickland

At its Sunday Mass, February 6, 2011, Dignity/Washington presented its annual community service award, the Colfer Award, to District of Columbia Council members David Catania (I-At-Large) and Phil Mendelson (D-At-Large) in recognition of their key roles in securing passage of DC’s same-sex marriage law. Dignity/Washington Board Vice-President Jake Hudson and his husband Greig Stewart and Dignity/Washington Board member and Treasurer Ellen Lee and her wife Theresa Bosanek, whose marriages became possible when the law took effect in March 2010, joined Dignity/Washington President Allen Rose in presenting the award. Mr. Catania wrote and introduced the marriage measure and Mr. Mendelson, as chair of the committee with jurisdiction over the bill, managed its progress through the Council’s legislative process. In remarks following the presentation, both expressed gratitude for Catholic support of their legislative efforts. The awards read as follows: “Dignity/Washington 2010 Veronica and Gerald Colfer Award presented to David Catania in gratitude for your authorship and tireless efforts on behalf of the Religious and Civil Marriage Equality Amendment Act of 2009” and “Dignity/Washington 2010 Veronica and Gerald Colfer Award presented to Phil Mendelson in grateful recognition of your significant contribution as Committee Chair to the passage of marriage equality legislation in the District of Columbia.”

Standing in the center are DC Councilmen David Catania and Phil Mendelson receiving the Annual Colfer Award from Dignity members Greig Stewart and Jake Hudson and Theresa Bosanek and Ellen Lee at the Dignity/Washington Mass of February 6, 2010.

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Board of Directors Attends Its Annual Retreat at the Bon Secours Spiritual Center

Posted on January 30, 2011 by Jon Strickland

All but one of the eleven members of the Dignity/Washington Board met from Saturday, January 29 to Sunday, January 30, 2011 at the Bon Secours Spiritual Center in Marriottsville, Maryland for an overnight retreat that stressed spiritual renewal, leadership formation, and strategic planning for Dignity/Washington’s upcoming year. Dr. Tom Little, long-time executive director of the Center, led a two-part session on friendship in the works of St. Francis de Sales, St. Jane de Chantal, Mahatma Gandhi, and other spiritual masters, developing the theme of how friendship to all serves as the underpinning of the Board’s work. In later sessions, the Board assessed Dignity/Washington community needs and resources and possible future efforts to increase volunteer service opportunities and improve public relations and outreach. Joining the Board were two members of the Dignity/Washington Liturgy Committee.

Standing from left to right are Mark Hibschman, Allen Rose, Tom McMahon, Matt Scheeser, Tom Bower, Chris Hinkle, Ellen Lee-Bosanek, Dan Hayes, Dan Barutta, Jake Hudson, Dr. Tom Little, Henry Huot and Peter Edwards, all attending the Dignity/Washington Annual Board Retreat on January 29-30, 2010. Missing from this photo and a member of the Dignity/Washington Board is Tom Shipley.

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Dignity Washington Honored with Brother, Help Thyself Founders Award

Posted on January 29, 2011 by Jon Strickland

On January 29, 2011, Dignity/Washington was the recipient of the Founders Award from Brother, Help Thyself— an umbrella charity operating like a United Fund for LGBT causes in the Washington, DC and Baltimore, MD metropolitan areas. In its 33-year history, the organization has given away more than $2 million in grants to charitable groups that serve the LGBT community, or further the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS. The group presented nearly $100,000 of grants for the year 2010 at a reception in Baltimore on January 29, 2011. It also announced its annual service recognition awards including the one to Dignity/Washington.

As the Dignity/Washington officers and board were on retreat the day of the grants reception and could not attend the reception, Brother, Help Thyself president Joann Kokindo, executive director Tom Yates and treasurer Mark Clark presented the award the following day at the end of the Dignity/Washington Sunday Mass.

Yates said that one factor prompting the selection of Dignity/Washington for special recognition was the chapter’s history of being supportive of the operations of Brother, Help Thyself. For several years, the chapter has made space at its Dignity Center available at no charge for the charitable group to conduct its annual grant hearings. Starting at the end of 2009, the group has been occupying a small office in the Dignity Center and holding its regular meetings there, paying a modest monthly donation in lieu of rent. Clark noted that the amount paid for the space is only about a third of what was previously being paid for commercial office and meeting space.

The award reads: “The Board of Directors of Brother, Help Thyself, Inc., present the Founders Award to Dignity/Washington for dedicated service and support to the gay and lesbian community. Presented this 29th Day of January 2011.”

Dignity/Washington President Allen Rose (left) accepts the Brother, Help Thyself Founders Award from BHT President Joann Kokindo and Executive Director Tom Yates.