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COLLAGE |
In This Issue:
California Here We Come
Putting Down Roots
Mark Your Anaheim Schedules
Letter from the Chair
Gay Rights: How Are We Doing?
California Here We Come!Below are listed several URL's for Orange County. Although Anaheim itself seems to have very few specific gay and lesbian areas of interest, Orange County hosts many locations. Check out these websites listed below:
- http://www.gaywired.com/regions/ca-orange.cfm
This site lists Orange County area (including Laguna Beach) gay and lesbian establishments. Nightclubs, with a key and brief descriptions, restaurants, and other web links are all included. A similar site on Long Beach can be found at http://www.gaywired.com/regions/ca-longbeach.cfm.
- http://www.lbrainbownet.com/
Spanning AIDS-related services through Youth Services, this site lists quite a number of gay organizations and items of interest. Unfortunately, unless the establishment or group is linked its own website, no information other than a list of names is given. Still worth a look.
- http://www.anaheim.net
Including news, city history, demographics, community resources, etc., this site also has an excellent collection of links and resources under "Entertainment, Tourism, and Conventions." This includes information on transportation, shopping, attractions, beaches, museums, you name it. Definitely worth taking a look at this site!
- http://www.disney.com/Disneyland/index.html
Of course no trip to Anaheim can be complete without at least mentioning Disneyland. If you’re planning to visit the "Magic Kingdom," plan your journey using this site.
>>>> Back to Top <<<< Putting Down Roots
From Bruce KleinschmidtLet me remind you I've ordered beverage service for 50 in Anaheim, so show up for coffee, cokes and punch on Wednesday afternoon. You've already paid for it, believe me. The Hilton went to "Tomorrowland" (before it reopened on May 22nd) to find the prices they charge. This is proving to be an expensive trip.
In looking over the year, I have two items to mention. The first was the "STML" idea, "Spend the money on Librarians." I was unable to generate much interest in the concept of providing a registration fund to allow a section member to attend the Annual Meeting.
The other matter is considerably more involved. It deals with the American Correctional Associations Inter-Association Committee on Law Libraries/Libraries in Corrections. In March of 1997 the AALL Board of Directors, after serious discussion and study, voted to discontinue the funding of representatives to some programs. This was one of them. Rebecca Trammell and others were concerned about this decision and brought it up during our business meeting in Baltimore, on July 20, 1997. A motion was made to oppose the AALL's decision. Further, the motion allocated up to $1,000 to finance a representative, in case AALL did not reverse their course of action, so that Rebecca could attend ACA's meeting in Orlando, her hometown.
I prepared a motion to the AALL Board, stating our position. Jim Heller, Board Liaison for the SIS Council, prepared advice to the AALL Board in October, stating that four courses of action were open to them: 1) Abide by the March 1997 resolution and eliminate the representative to ACA; 2) Reconsider the decision in light of a compelling argument by the SR-SIS; 3) Allow SR-SIS to fund a representative to ACA but consider the representative as "AALL's representative," as an exception to the normal financial policy of AALL; 4) Allow the SR-SIS to pursue representation on their own, and from the funds of the SR-SIS. As the PLL-SIS funds a representative to ALA, this would not be a "radical" solution.
The AALL Board voted on November 1, 1997 to refer the matter to the Strategic Planning and Finance & Budget Committees. The Board met again on February 27 & 28 of 1998 and voted not to fund a representative to ACA. This was done, I understand, to be consistent with the determination made in 1997 to eliminate several such relationships. The notice of the Board's decision was mailed to me on May 4, 1998 and in discussing the issue with our officers and Roger Parent, it seemed best to wait until Anaheim and let the membership consider what to do, in light of the action of AALL. The Orlando meeting is long past and we are now looking at a permanent situation.
Another issue that surfaced in Baltimore is that we have another group within our SR-SIS who wants to strictly promote lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgendered concerns. There has been some serious talk of them starting a new SIS, and that issue has been ongoing.
When you look in the back of our AALL Directory you'll see pages of policies and statements. We write about the distribution of legal information in our society, we proclaim intellectual freedom, we declare "pro-active programs to ... assist government decision makers ... ," we declare that the right to use a library should not be denied or abridged because of "background." Very lofty words and ideas and would seem in keeping with a continued vision of service to prison libraries as well as examining our service to gay/lesbian/bi/transgendered persons.
The Campania region of Italy, comes to mind. Well over 100 people have been killed, and the city largely destroyed. Why? Because the trees on the hills were cut, and when the roots died and rotted, there was nothing to hold the mud to the hillside. Perhaps that sounds somewhat reasonable, albeit stupid, but understandable given the need for firewood. Yet consider the location of Sarno. I haven't been there, but my Dad has. Sarno is only twelve miles from Pompeii. Here in this small Italian city, a day's walk from one of the greatest ruins on earth, the lessons of disaster were forgotten thanks to short term memory.
I think we think to come to Anaheim with an idea of what we want to be planting and growing. We need to make some decisions for the future, so that we don't slide away.
It's more important than ordering coffee, isn't it?
Bruce Kleinschmidt, Chair
>>>> Back to Top <<<< Tuesday, 9:45-10:45
"Each Jurisdiction Has Its Own Horizon: Gay Rights is a Local Issue"Tuesday, 6:00-8:00 p.m.Reception Standing Committee on Lesbian and Gay Issues, Hilton Presidential SuiteWednesday, 1:30-2:15Business Meeting - Social Responsibilities SISWednesday, 2:15-3:00Business Meeting - Standing Committee on Lesbian and Gay Issues>>>> Back to Top <<<< Well, we have gotten through yet another year with the Standing Committee and I feel that it has been a successful one for the most part. Of course, there have been the occasional snags along the way, but a lot has been accomplished.
The first items of business are the results of recent vote on the Holoch Bequest and the amendment to the by-laws. I am happy to report that the amendment was carried and is now part of the by-laws. To refresh everyone’s memory, it will read as follows:
Article 1. Section 3. "It is obligatory for each member of the Standing Committee to join the SIS on Social Responsibilities by payment of yearly dues."
This should help defray the costs of postage, mailings, and extra costs for parties, receptions or any other occasions. So please remember to join the SIS if you have not already. We have to keep our membership numbers up! We are the smallest SIS!
I am also happy to report that the interest money on the Holoch Bequest will be given to the cause of scholarships. It was won by a VERY narrow margin. I know that many of you that voted for the workshop or institute cause will be somewhat disappointed, but I am hoping that special programs may be sponsored or underwritten. We might further decide to take funds from the principal or the additional moneys created by the insistence of membership dues. Remember that workshops would probably not happen every year anyway. I am happy that we will be able to promote the name of the Standing Committee to the Association on a regular basis through the cause of a scholarship. A scholarship committee will need to set up selection procedures in accordance with AALL guidelines. I am hoping that at next year's convention the Standing Committee will be able to present the scholarship before the entire Association and help promote our name in a professional and worthy light. Anyone that would like to be a part of this committee, please contact me directly. I am sure that Alan would be proud of the way in which will be using his endowment.
Although the business meeting will be held on Wednesday afternoon this year, I am hoping that each and every one of you will make a special attempt to come to our annual business meeting, as well as the Social Responsibilities meeting beforehand. Now that everyone must be a member, it is important to support both. After all, we are a part of the SIS, and our expenses this year have been paid by them. Bruce Kleinschmidt has graciously set up light refreshments for the meetings. The meeting times are: Social Responsibilities 1:30-2:15 and Standing Committee 2:15-3:00. We will be discussing many important issues including the future of the SIS and of the Standing Committee and the relationship between the two, as well as our lack of acknowledgment from the Diversity Group. Please come with some ideas and suggestions in mind.
The Reception will be on our regular Tuesday night in the Presidential Suite of the Hilton from 6:00-8:00 p.m. There will be some wonderful hor d'ouevres and a cash bar. Unfortunately, I could not find anyone to underwrite the costs of the event for this year, although, I do have hopes that Westlaw will be able to help us next year. The cash bar was decided upon so that those who want to drink alcohol may do so without the expense to those who don't. A group of us will be going out to dinner afterwards at "Thee White House" at his or her own expense (anywhere from $30.00 and up for dinner). If you would like to go with us, please check the box on the reception form for reservations. I know that everyone may not be able to come to both, due to expenses, but at least you will have the option! The menu for the restaurant can be found on the web at: http://www.imenu.com/theewhitehouse. Check it out!
This is also your final reminder to come to the program entitled "Each Jurisdiction Has Its Own Horizon: Gay Rights is a Local Issue," Program F7 on Tuesday morning from 9:45-10:45 a.m. Please mark your calendars and come to this exciting program sponsored by the Standing Committee. Todd Bennett and Jenny Pfizer from LLAMDA will be the honorary speakers, and I will moderate. Todd assures me that he will have some substantive handouts at the meeting. Don’t miss out on this one!
You will find a nominations form in this issue that you can send in to Lee Ryan with your nominations or suggestions for the incoming Board. Since our business meeting will only be 45 minutes long this year, I am hoping to by-pass a lot of the hemming and hawing around that comes with nominations by presenting a slate of candidates at the meeting. Please fill out the form and send it in!
I want to thank everyone who helped make this year possible. First of all, for their excellent service on the Board are Scott Burgh-Incoming Chair, Lee Ryan-Secretary (who has done a wonderful job of keeping up the mailing list) and Sally Langston-Treasurer. For newsletter contributors: Bruce Kleinschmidt, Carol Alpert, Mary Burgos, Todd Bennett, Albert Brecht, Lolly Gasaway and Lee Ryan. For the Holoch committee members: Camille Broussard, Carol Alpert, Mark Mackler, Alison Alifano, and Scott Burgh. For David Gimpelson, friend of Mark Mackler’s who has been my liaison in Anaheim, for his undying kindness in scoping out and helping us locate appropriate places for our reception in the Anaheim area (he works for the IRS!). For my good friends: Todd Bennett, Mark Mackler, Carol Alpert and Camille Broussard, for their friendship and guidance throughout the year on various issues and for just being an ear to my needs. And lastly, for Laura Whitbeck (my right arm) for her wonderful editorial leadership in setting up "Collage." I know that next year will be even better for the Standing Committee and that Scott will serve as an outstanding leader for the group.
I can't wait to see everybody in Anaheim! Have a safe journey everyone!
Best wishes,
John
John H. Davey
>>>> Back to Top <<<< Keeping with the theme of the 1998 AALL Annual Meeting "New Horizons", the Standing Committee will be presenting a program on Tuesday, July 14th entitled EACH JURISDICTION HAS ITS OWN HORIZON: GAY RIGHTS IS A LOCAL ISSUE. The civil rights of gay people in the United States are not protected by federal laws. It's usually at the state, county or city level where laws are enacted that either protect or deny our rights. The goals of this program are to bring you up-to-date on the current state of gay rights across the U.S. and to give you useful information on how to locate laws on the local level.
We are honored to have Jennifer Pizer, Esq. as the speaker who will be addressing the topic of where gay rights stand today. Jenny is presently the Managing Attorney of Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund’s Western Regional Office in Los Angeles. Prior to coming to Lambda, Jenny, who is a graduate of Harvard/Radcliffe College and New York University School of Law, spent five years practicing complex civil litigation for the San Francisco law firm of Townsend and Townsend and Crew. Before entering private practice, Jenny served as the Legal Director of the National Abortion Rights Action League in Washington, D.C., and as judicial clerk to the Honorable Ann Aldrich, a federal trial court judge. Currently, Jenny is an adjunct professor at the University of Southern California Law School, and a member of the State Bar of California’s Committee on Sexual Orientation Discrimination.
John Davey will be moderating the panel and Todd Bennett will address the challenges of finding local laws. Please plan to attend this program which will be very rich with information that will be useful to everyone on both a professional and personal level.
Do you have any special tips for locating local laws? If so, please contact Todd Bennett, or bring them to the program to share with the group during the question and answer portion of the program.
submitted by Todd Bennett
Comments to: Rebecca
Alexander
Last updated 8 June 2000