Minutes for MTN Meeting on Sunday, March 30, 2008
www.mainetransnet.org
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Call for directors for the board:
Secretary – Brendan
Director of Development (fundraising) – Toby (volunteered via email)
Director of Political Action (keep in contact with other Maine political organizations, stay informed about trans-related national and local news ) – Kennedy
Some intros (9 Present) – People came from as far away as Harrison, Windham and Auburn for this meeting!
D gave a description of TransCare Collaborative, which educates and raises awareness among local professional health care providers about trans health issues.
Upcoming Event: TransBasketball! Open to trans individuals, family members, friends, significant others, allies, etc. April 5th from 5:30-7:30pm at the Woodfords Congregational Church Gym, Woodford Street, Portland.
What is the best way to communicate with people interested in MaineTransNet events?
Via email
On the website
On the yahoo message board
All seem necessary right now, even though it may mean duplication for some people.
From last month: any conferences?
D will be presenting at the prevention-oriented DHHS/Maine CDC LGBT Health Summit on May 29
On participating in conferences through doing workshops: what do we want out of that participation? Publicity only? No, information, awareness, access as well.
Upcoming Event: High School Diversity Day on April 28th, MaineTransNet invited to do a panel/presentation. What do we want high school students to know about gender variance?
What does it mean to be trans?
Variety of different gender identities.
Social construction of gender.
Just letting them know trans people exist.
Educate them about the law: discrimination based on gender identity is illegal.
It might be a good idea to partner with the Maine Speakout project to get trained to become better speakers. Upcoming training at the end of April?
Maine Office of Multicultural Affairs has a list online of LGBT groups in Maine. Good publicity for us. Ali says we’re already on it. (Update – I checked and I was mistaken. I did submit our info a month ago but I will follow up. Sorry!! ~Ali)
Darlene Huntress of EqualityMaine is holding a meeting in the near future to discuss what Maine should be working on in terms of meeting trans people’s needs. This meeting is only open to people who identify as trans (there will be an opportunity for other people’s input later). Contact for date/time/location details.
Upcoming Event: Transgender Day of Remembrance 2008 Committee Meeting (DOR is in November, but the planning starts this month). April 5th from 9-11am.
Call for workshop proposals for the Burlington, VT-based “Translating Identity Conference” (TIC) is June 1st. The actual event is not until November.
Tabling: MaineTransNet has tabled at TIC, also at the LGBTQ Symposium last fall. Other tabling possibilities? PRIDE week this summer.
Discussed possible fundraising ideas.
Important to not overextend, to stay focused: What is our mission? What are our priorities?
(Success in one area will lead to other successes.) Our current priority? Social Networking.
May be good to have a set schedule (for example, always schedule as event for the 1st Sunday of the month, so people can count on it). Also important to talk up events on the message board after they happen!!
Upcoming event: Potluck dinner at Kennedy’s!! Sunday April 20th after the MaineTransNet Meeting, which starts at 3pm. Email for location details!!