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EAST TEXAS PFLAG MINUTES
Monday, August 10, 2009

President Gerry called the meeting to order at 7:15 p.m. The meeting was at the Tyler Unity Center with 13 attending – Lou Anne, Brenda, Gerry, Troy, Gene, Sandy, David, Laura, Hope, Amanda, Angel, Melinda, and Dillon. Gerry read the PFLAG Mission Statement.

Minutes and Treasurer’s Report:

Troy made the motion and Angel seconded that the minutes of the July meeting be approved. The treasurer’s report indicated a balance of $1,077.45 with no outstanding checks.

Business:

Adopt-A-Highway: Details for the Adopt-A-Highway event scheduled for Saturday, August 15th, were distributed to the group. Questions were raised concerning the availability of a "Cleaning Crew Ahead" sign for the highway and whether we were to clean the highway median. Troy indicated he would contact TxDot to answer the questions.

Websites: The application for our East Texas PFLAG site to be included with the National PFLAG network of websites has been completed.

Pride Parade: Troy announced that TAG – Tyler Area Gays – would contribute $100 toward the purchase of both a TAG and a PFLAG banner for use in the parade and other occasions. The current price available for the banners is $75 each. Troy will check on other prices. Brenda made the motion that PFLAG contribute up to $75 toward the purchase of the banners. Lou Anne seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Announcements:

The Bobcat’s –TAG’s football team – will host a Wine Tasting on August 28th. The cost is $10 per person.

Gerry announced that the American Psychological Association recently adopted a policy discouraging the practice of Reparative Therapy in that it can actually do harm to the individual. Reparative Therapy is advocated by NARTH – National Association of Research & Therapy for Homosexuality – as a means to change from homosexual to heterosexual orientation.

Gerry also shared an article about Ford Motor Company and its 100% rating by Human Rights Campaign as a GLBT friendly company. Buycott is the HRC initiative to patronize GLBT friendly merchants and companies. A listing of these companies can be found at HRC.org. Gene announced that a North Texas GLBT Chamber of Commerce is in the start-up process.

The meeting concluded with a sharing time.

Adjournment:
The meeting was adjourned at 8:10 p.m.