2021-04-15 Meeting

Present: Lynn Murphy, Anita Martinez, Allison Brewer, Barend Kamperman (notes)

Monthly salons:

• We agreed that the first Salon of each month would be split. Then two weeks later hold a Salon for all. We did not set a start date for this format.
• The small women's meeting decided on May for our first Salon - not sure whether our special event has become solid yet. We need to have someone trained to host a Zoom, as Dan presumably can't do both at once. I think we ought to have our usual mixed Salon Sunday, so we can prepare the members for the new format.

Not So Secret March, Saturday, July 17:

• We decided to ask Anne Bishop to do a presentation at Pride for us about to make a presentation about writing a diary, memoir, or personal history, drawing on what she has learned from the autobiographical book she is currently working on. The idea is that lesbian elders' own stories can be worth-while archival contributions to the history of our community, even if they are not aimed at publication.
• We agreed we should pay her and for 2 sign interpreters for our PRIDE March and Anne's talk.
• We will follow last year's March route.
• There will be 4 demands: At point HIV testing..,(These details are in my email.)
• We want to use the wording of the 3rd draft of last year's demands.
• No Grand Marshal or spokesman was decided on there.

Barend's Notes

Here's what I scribbled down Board Meeting Smitty's 1490 Cathedral Lane Halifax April 15th 12 to 2:15 pm Present Lynn M., Anita M., Allison B. and Barend K.

#1 ITEM: Elderberries PRIDE 2021 We will have a PRIDE March on the sidewalk, following pretty much last year's route, on Saturday, July 17. A rain date will be decided upon close to the event. We want to look into booking Victoria Park as an end point for the march. Grand Marshall:- Anita suggested Allison and Will. (Not decided yet)

              Our Demands/Causes:-
               Lynn suggested, all agreed, to keep our demands to only four.
                   1. Point of Contact AIDS Testing
                   2. Visitation rights for LGBTQ elders in Care  Facilities
                   3. Better Training and Support for caregivers dealing
                       with LGBQT seniors.
                   4. More robust, timely support for Trans people.
                   (We wish to consult the final draft of last year's demands
                      to use its succinct wording.)

A Physical Elderberries Presentation during PRIDE 2021 Lynn suggested we get Anne Bishop to give a talk about her latest book. Or to talk about how to write a book/journal and the business end of publication. We wish to pay our event presenter a cash honorarium. Also we should hire/ pay for two sign interpreters for the deaf. These should be booked asap as they're not easily available.

#2 ITEM:- We should contact Renee Clark, the priest at Northwood about these concerns: (A) The recent history of the centre's administrative professionalism, in light of last year's COVID-19 fiasco.

                   (B) Elder Visitation Practices/Protocols. (What if someone has no one to visit them?)

                   (C) Providing internet technology training/support and access to elders to
                         combat isolation and its damage to personal morale.

#3 ITEM: We discussed concerns about how, during this pandemic, support can be found for the partners of LGBQT seniors dealing with dementia and Alzheimers.

IN SUMMARY : We believe the possibilities and issues raised require more Board discussion through Zoom or email.

(At 2:15 PM I left and the rest of the Board stayed to discuss a women's event.)

Barend Kamperman, chair