First off, thanks to the offers of assistance, help, and for more info.

Since 1971 there has been a movement to establish a GLBT Community Centre in Raleigh. The first obstacles are not that surprising, government officials who did not want something like that around and made sure that the paperwork would not be accepted. Times have changed and every attempt since then has not been successful. After experiencing some of the division within the GLBT community, I am not really that surprised. It is a shame though that the capital city does not have such a resource when other cities have managed to do so just fine.

The goal is to have a brick and mortar building in the downtown area that people can easily access. Services would range from a coffee shop to a hang out spot to meeting rooms to organised events. You get the idea. The latest team to tackle this goal is now further along than most of them in the past. There are about 14 dedicated individuals who have really been pushing things hard and trying to get the project completed. The next step is establishing a Governance Team that would be responsible for things like drafting the bylaws, carrying out additional meetings, establishing the organisation's 501(C)(3) status, and recruiting the first Board.

What we need are leaders to step up and be a part of the Governance Team and other volunteers to support the effort by getting word out, showing up at the public meetings, and being ready to help out with whatever tasks come up such as stuffing envelopes, typing up forms, doing a website, etc, etc. Anyone who stumbles across this post is welcome to ask me for the forms and those forms are due by January 31, 2008 because the current team votes on the new G.T. on February 3rd and the Chair and myself will need a few days to get everything together and printed out.

Experience is not necessary. Those with a good work ethic and can work with others are very much welcome.

Anyone in the GLBT and Friends community who is in the Raleigh area (or beyond if you wish to drive) this Sunday can show up at 2pm at the Cameron Village Library. I will be heading up the meeting and it will center on reporting to the public where we are in our effort and where we are headed. Of course interaction with the public will occur.