A Letter From The President

Appeal From a Retired Journalist

 Bob Dorr, PFLAG Omaha

 Posted on June 19, 2006

After spending my entire working life as a print journalist (reporter at The Omaha World-Herald), it seems a little strange to make this appeal:

I am asking readers who are receiving this as a printed newsletter through the mail to send me your email address so we can switch you to our electronic newsletter. That will save Omaha PFLAG 39 cents each month on postage, plus other savings.

Send your email address to: bobcdorr@cox.net

If you do that, each month you will receive an email from Omaha PFLAG inviting you to click on a link in that email. After clicking, wait a bit. Page 1 of the newsletter will appear on your screen. Scroll down to see Page 2. The newsletter will arrive as a regular email, not as an attachment.

If you already are receiving this as an electronic newsletter—and like it that way—do nothing. If you would prefer to continue receiving a printed newsletter, please let me know that either through email or by mailing a short note to:

Bob Dorr
12836 Shirley St.
Omaha, NE 68144

Thanks. Every 39 cents we can save helps.

COME TO OUR JULY MEETING for support (part of our mission) and for an old-fashioned ice cream social (part of our fun). The meeting, on July 13, will start at 7 p.m., with social time at 6:30 p.m. The place is Mead Hall on the west end of First United Methodist Church, 7020 Cass St.


THANKS TO PRIDE PARADE MARCHERS: PFLAG’s group of about 30 included several parents marching with their children. The weather turned out great. We had fun. And we ignored the grim, intense protesters. Later at our information table, we had good conversations with people who stopped by and distributed literature. In a few cases, we got information on how to help people.

THE PRIDE PROM was “a smashing success,” said Joe Price, our GLSEN friend and Speakers Bureau colleague who attended the prom as a chaperon. “It was wonderful, and the students were extremely well behaved and neat (as neat as 192 young people can be).” The second annual Tom Mahony Pride Prom was held May 20 in the fellowship hall of First United Methodist Church.

ANOTHER PRIDE: Omaha’s Pride Players has won a national human rights award. The National Education Association will present Pride Players its SuAnne Big Crow Memorial Award, given each year to a student or group whose achievements enhance students’ sense of worth and dignity. Director Brian Guehring, Assistant Director Tracy Iwersen and former Pride Player Joshua Mitchell will travel to Miami to receive the award on July 1. In earlier years, Brett Johnson received the award for her activism as an Omaha high school student, and D. Moritz of Lincoln received the award for her career achievements. Each year, one night’s performance by the troupe of high school actors and singers is given over to a benefit shared by Omaha PFLAG, our Proud Horizons youth support group and our Speakers Bureau ally GLSEN.

FEDERAL MARRIAGE AMENDMENT: Thankfully, the proposed Federal Marriage Amendment failed to advance in the U.S. Senate. The amendment would cement into the U.S. Constitution the discriminatory definition of marriage as one man-one woman. The amendment failed to gain enough support to stop debate, so a vote on the amendment itself never occurred. Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska has promised to vote against the amendment if it comes to a vote. He was traveling and didn’t vote on the day of the cloture vote. Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska once took the same stand as Hagel. A year ago, Nelson switched and announced he will support the amendment. Nelson was the only Senate Democrat who voted to stop debate. Thanks to all PFLAGers who called their U.S. senators to urge them to oppose the amendment.

Bob Dorr
Omaha PFLAG president