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Letters to the Editor

Published Thursday, 13-May-2010 in issue 1168

“[Our] commitments will be fulfilled and … we remain fully accountable to them.”

On behalf of the San Diego Pride Board of Directors, we would like to address last week’s GLT editorial titled, “Pride’s new board: A lame duck?”

While we do not disagree with the article’s urging to diversify the board, conduct an independent audit and begin the search for an executive director, we feel it is our duty to assure the community that those important commitments will be fulfilled and that we remain fully accountable to them.

As a community organization comprised of dedicated, experienced and passionate people, our current Pride directors, who came on board Jan. 27, have spent numerous hours reviewing the records of San Diego Pride both financially and organizationally. It is with great care and concern for the sustenance of the organization that we continue working tirelessly and methodically.

Our board meetings are open to the public and we continue to encourage the press and concerned public to attend them. Guests will gain a better understanding of the vital decisions being made regarding the annual celebration on July 17 and 18. It is our first priority that Pride 2010 meets or exceeds community expectations while remaining entirely transparent.

To dispel some of the myths that have circulated, and to shed light on the pace at which we are progressing, we want to share with you the facts.

The idea that our board is comprised wholly of San Diego Democratic Club members is incorrect. Of our nine-panel board, five are not members of SDDC. And four of our members did not support Sen. Christine Kehoe in any of her bids for office (ref: www.followthemoney.org ), as it has been insinuated by some. This board is aligned wholeheartedly to the concerns and feedback of the community at large, and not to politicians. Board members will list all of their affiliations on the Pride web site: www.sdpride.org.

We have hired an audit firm (Lichter, Yu & Associates) and are in the process of providing the documents they require, which will also require the full attention of the staff to provide financial records. To ensure transparency, the board has begun recruiting individuals from outside of the organization to serve on an audit committee. As leaders of many large organizations know, such oversight committees are not slap-dashed into place overnight. Those with accounting and business backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

We delayed the audit process initially to first grasp and assess the financials of 2009, contained in a 65-page document by the former executive director, from which we are finalizing a sound operating budget for 2010. As we stated in Pride’s recent town hall meeting (May 3), it has been an arduous, time-consuming feat. The list of outgoing and incoming monies is lengthy. But to the credit of our board and the long hours they invested in poring over the budgets, considerable progress has been made.

We also decided that conducting an audit prematurely could potentially disrupt our ability to focus on this summer’s Pride events. As mentioned, the audit will require the support of hardworking staff, which is currently handling incoming parade and festival applications as well as overseeing volunteer signups, entertainment contracts, marketing outreach and other critical tasks that will result in a successful rally, parade and two-day festival.

We were fortunate to have entered into the organization earlier this year with a proficient, senior team in place. It is with due respect to their expertise that we are able to reassess the qualifications necessary for hiring an executive director who will carry San Diego Pride into a new decade. We are committed to starting a public search for an executive director after wrapping up this year’s Pride weekend.

In addition, the board unanimously agrees with the concerns expressed at past town hall meetings and in the press that we become more proactive in reaching out to diverse communities for new board candidates. We are keeping our eyes and ears wide open in the quest to diversify, and already have LGBT people of color in the application pipeline. We welcome all inquiries also from youth, transgender, bisexual, straight and of varied political affiliations. Those interested may contact us anytime at: boardaffairs@sdpride.org.

Lastly, we want to extend our appreciation to Pride’s many volunteers and those who have voiced their concerns during periods of unrest. It is our utmost goal to work together in creating events that provide support, visibility and respect to all LGBT individuals and their supporters.

Judi Schaim

Larry Ramey

San Diego LGBT Pride Co-Chairs

Letters Policy

The Gay & Lesbian Times welcomes comments from all readers. Letters to the editor longer than 500 words will not be accepted. Send e-mail to editor@uptownpub.com; fax (619) 299-3430; or mail to PO Box 34624, San Diego, CA 92163. To be printed, letters must include the writer’s name, address and daytime phone number for verification.

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