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OGRC

Forthcoming Meetings

The next Board meeting will convene at noon on Sunday, January 28, at the North End Community Center, 5 W. Northwood, Columbus. If the weather is bad, the meeting will be postponed to February 3. Call Dolores at 218/688-2979 if there is a possibility of postponement.

Directions

From I-75, exit at Hudson St. Go west to High St. (approximately four lights). Turn left on High and go about two lights. The Community Center is on the corner of Northwood and High. It's an old school building.

The main item on the agenda is a discussion of OGRC's structure. Final plans for the March Weekend Meeting will also be made. The meeting is open to all OGRC members.

Midwest Regional Conference

One hour before the Board meeting, there will be an open meeting for all Ohioans concerned with lesbian/gay rights. The purpose is to elect four representatives to the steering committee of the Midwest Regional Conference. Preceding the election will be a discussion of the most pressing regional and national needs in the movement. Rick Lange, the organizer of the meeting, urges all to attend.

OGRC Weekend Meeting

The first OGRC Weekend Meeting will be held at the Dayton Gay Center on March 15-16. There will be at least one workshop, Board and General meetings and a dance. Further information is enclosed with this newsletter.

A Word of Concern and Thanks

Our collective need to concern ourselves with OGRC's future is underlined by the loss to the organization of three of its key members Marilyn Button, Diane Delahunty and George Painter. Marilyn and Diane, who have served essentially as the group's vital center, will be leaving the state soon. George, whose work as OGRC's Legislative Director and lobbyist was one of the most valuable functions performed In the name of OGRC, has resigned. This newsletter lacks George's Informative summary of current legislative activity of concern to Gay Ohloans.

We can sincerely thank Marilyn, Del and George for their contributions and wish them well. Again, we must return to the task of making OGRC a viable force in the state.

Board Meeting Minutes November 18, 1979

The Board meeting convened at 11:35 a.m. at the GEAR Foundation office in Cleveland. The Board members present were Marilyn Bufton, Diane Delahunty, Frances Dostal, Howard Getz, Barbara Keenan, Mark Kinsley, Rick Lange, Dolores Noll, Roger Walton and Jay Webster. Rick presided and Dolores recored the minutes. ☐☐ The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved. Art Kaltenborn, treasurer, gave his report. OGRC has $446.15 in its checking account. $117.48 had been transferred into this account from the Fair Booth account in Columbus, which then was closed. $73.53 will be reserved for next year's Fair Booth ($117.48 minus the $43.95 earlier advanced from the main account to the Fair Booth account).

Marilyn reported that it would soon be time to submit a proposal for funds to the United Church of Christ. Last year we requested $1000 and received $500. She suggested that we request at least $1000 again this year. Dolores moved and Howard seconded that Art submit the proposal this year, after consulting with Rick and Dolores. Motion passed unanimously.

Diane and Marilyn mentioned at this time (and intermittently throughout the meeting) some of the tasks which they have been doing but which someone else will now need to take over. Diane noted that someone would have to take charge of membership. OGRC presently

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has twenty-eight individual members, nine organizational members and nine newsletter subscribers. A lot of membership cards have been prepared. (We also have an up-to-date list of bars.) Marilyn pointed out that the by-laws need to be re-typed and re-printed.

Marilyn gave the legislative report for George Painter. Not much has been happening in the state legislature. The new Columbus city council will be extremely conservative. George will make one last attempt to make the present council do something about Gay rights before the new council convenes in January.

Rick reported on Ohio's participation in Capitol Hill lobbying on Constituent Day (following the March on Washington). Roger and he went to Senators Metzenbaum's and Glenn's and to Representative Selberling's offices. The staff at both the senators' offices were Impressed by the 900-name petitions garnered at the State Fair. Metzenbaum's office will write to the signers. Since Glenn is active in the Presbyterian Church, Rick, who is a member of the Presbyterian Gay Caucus, will follow through with regard to him. Seiberling's aide was rather stand-offish. All staff people said that it was very important that constituents write letters in support of Gay rights. George Painter, Walter Williams and two other persons also lobbied on Constituent Day.

Jay reported that the State Fair and the Educational Committees are kind of in limbo now. The educational pamphlet has been printed. The State Fair Committee will need to get going again in March.

Jay is interested in getting more physically challenged people involved in OGRC.

Marilyn noted that she and Diane have been keeping a lot of OGRC's records. Somebody needs to take these. Art suggested that someone be appointed historian to keep the records.

A letter from the Association of Suburban People in Detroit was read. They want to sponsor a program on Developing A Positive Gay Identity and asked for OGRC's endorsement.

Marilyn read a letter from the Greater Cincinnati Gay Coalition which reported that Darrel Haller, "a 20 year old student, active in the University of Cincinnati Gay/Lesbian Alliance, and well known for his vivacious personality and friendliness," was killed in an auto accident on the way to the March on Washington. Rick suggested that OGRC send a letter of condolence to the Cincinnati Coalition. Dolores agreed to write the letter.

There were reports on the Michigan Organization for Human Rights (MOHR) conference. Frances gave a general report of the activities. Art reported on the two workshops he attended: Getting Our Rights, led by Don Magers, and Androgeny, led by Sylvia Robinson. Art recommended that thirty minutes be set aside at the March meeting for each person to write legislators. Rick reported on two other workshops: Organizing in the Closet, led by Jim Thomas, and After the March: Where Do We Go? led by Jane Levin.

Jay moved and Frances seconded that a limited membership application ($5.00) be accepted from Bob R. Passed unanimously.

There was discussion of the size of the Board. Barbara wanted to reduce the size to six or eight, equally divided between women and men, because the present size is too cumbersome. Art spoke in favor of the present structure on the ground that people are needed to do the work. Barbara's motion to reduce the size died for lack of a second.

Barbara moved that all meetings be held in Columbus. Frances seconded for the purpose of discussion. Motion failed.

Dolores moved that another Board meeting be set for January 27 or, if the weather is bad, February 3. Seconded by Frances. Passed. Jay moved that Interim Board meetings (that is, those not held in conjunction with General Meetings) be held in Columbus. Frances seconded. Motion passed, two abstentions.

☐☐ Dolores moved and Roger seconded that the highest priority of the next Board meeting be a discussion of the organization's structure. Motion passed, six yes, one no, one abstention.

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Roger moved that interim meetings start at noon. Seconded by Passed, six yes, one no, two abstentions.

There was discussion of the proposed membership drive. Diane said that it hadn't been started yet. The brochures are ready. A cover letter is needed. Marilyn suggested that a fee for workshops at the Weekend Meetings be tied into membership in some way. Howard