Anniversary Dinner Featured Speakers Blake Bergen and Damian Legacy, wearing Madrid World Youth Day T-Shirts, October 29, 2011

Other highlights of the event, held the evening of October 29, 2011 with a Halloween theme, included a Power Point/photo presentation by Blake Bergen and Damian Legacy of their August pilgrimage to Rome, Paris, Lourdes and Madrid’s World Youth Day and their announcement that a Dignity chapter had formed at The George Washington University where both are undergraduate students.

2011 Dignity/Washington Anniversary Dinner, Silent Auction, October 29, 2011

In addition, a Silent Auction raised over $2,100 for the activities and ministries of the chapter community.  Finally the Annual Service Awards were presented to both Dignity/Washington members and individuals of the metropolitan Washington area for their distinguished contributions to enhancing the lives of LGBT people.

Dignity/Washington Anniversay Dinner, Halloween theme appearance of the Grand Empress of China (aka Tom Bower), Oct 29, 2011

Santa's Helpers Jeff Maier and Carl Spier sort the many gifts collected through D/W's Secret Santa program

Coats from D/W Christmas Coat Drive benefitting Charlie's Place and St Margaret's ministry to the Homeless

Last but not least, Dignity/Washington co-sponsored a Winter Coat Drive with St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church. The Dignity/Washington communi

ty collected over a hundred coats by the Fourth Sunday of Advent that benefited the International Rescue Committee and Charlie’s Place, the homeless ministry of St. Margaret’s.

Mark Clark has been a long time active member of Dignity/Washington who has done more than his share of work to keep the community functioning and has also gone into the larger Washington and national arenas to bring our message to light.

He has led the Dignity/Washington book club, has worked to keep Brother Help Thyself the important charitable arm of the area-wide Leather/Levi community that it is, has been a moderating and vocal member of the Dignity USA board, and was co-chair of the 2011 Dignity USA National Convention.  His great knowledge of the leaders of the progressive wing of the Church and LGBT movement helped to make the program of the convention a success and his wise management ideas made it a model for how future conventions will function.   (Tom Bower of the Dignity/Washington Board made these remarks and presented Mark’s award.)

Tim MacGeorge is certainly no stranger to Dignity/Washington. Since joining in the mid-2000s, Tim has played many active roles in front of and behind the scene for Dignity/Washington as well as for the local and national community.

He enjoys writing and blogging, including one he maintains and where he states: “This blog is simply my occasional postings surrounding this fundamental perspective of how I see—or try to see—others, myself, and this world in which we live.”

His articles challenge the various stances of the Catholic Church and society particularly related to LGBT issues. He is a talented writer who clearly articulates what are the real issues rather than the distractions.

Tim is a Dignity/Washington presider and consistently delivers thought-provoking homilies on a wide range of issues. He often serves as the second priest for the healing sacrament on the first Sunday of the month. In addition, he is involved in administrative aspects of our community by serving on various committees including the National Convention this summer and attending our first meeting with Hilltop Consultants leading up to Dignity/Washington’s Strategic Plan.

And in his spare time Tim serves as Dignity/Washington’s new Webmaster.  (DignityWashington Board member Peter Edwards made these remarks and presented Tim’s award.)

Jeanette Oliver has been part of Dignity/Washington for the past twelve years.  As a straight woman she represents the community’s diversity.  In addition, as one who is at Mass each week of the year with the one exception when she is on vacation for a few weeks each October, she exemplifies dedication to the community’s mission.  Each Sunday she is the first to arrive and opens the church door an hour and a half early so that people can start readying the church for Mass.  She attends five Masses each weekend and considers Dignity/Washington’s Mass her favorite.  AND for 12 years (which is about 1/3 of Dignity/Washington’s history as a community) she has directed the choir, leading all in singing beautiful music together.  (Jeanette’s award was presented by Dignity/Washington Board member, Dan Barutta, who made these remarks.)

Matt Scheeser started his affiliation with Dignity/Washington through that most insidious form of indoctrination: the choir.  Over time, thinking of himself as merely a singer, he was lulled into a false sense of complacency and his activities within Dignity/Washington began to grow: he became an alternate accompanist, subbed for the Music Director on occasion, then started in as a lector and a Eucharistic minister.  Then, as his transformation became complete, he ran for the Board and served as a Director, heading up a revamp of the website and acting as webmaster for a time.  He served the community wholeheartedly for several years and, receiving another call, eventually moved on leaving behind a grateful people.  This award is presented to Matt Scheeser for his kind and generous service to the Dignity/Washington community.  (Remarks by Chris Hinkle; Matt’s award will be presented at a later date.)

The President’s Award is given by the Chapter President on one person or group who has provided the President an outstanding level of support in furthering or expanding the mission of the Dignity/Washington community.  This year’s award was presented to the 2011 Dignity USA Convention Planning Committee by current president Allen Rose.

The John Willig Award is named after an early president of the chapter under whose leadership the Masses were begun.  John was also the chapter’s first AIDS death in 1985.  The Award is traditionally given to one community member (or group) who has served the Dignity/Washington community over a long period of time or has made a deep impact upon its growth.  This year’s award was presented to Ray Panas. Ray has been a member of Dignity/Washington for almost ten years.  He not only stepped onto the Board in his first year of membership but also agreed to serve as Vice-President. There was a brief break in service while he worked on his doctorate, but he soon came back on the Board and became President in 2007. He served as President for three terms.  Of his many accomplishments he is proudest of his support of the No Place Like Home fund-raising campaign which helped place the community on a solid financial footing and contributed to paying off the mortgage on the Dignity Center.  He was a driving force in bringing the Dignity USA Convention to Washington in July 2011.  He leads by example and is a gentle nudger along the way. He continues to devote time and energy as a Eucharistic Minister and to many other small service roles.  (Ray’s award was presented by Dignity/Washington Board Vice-President, Jake Hudson.)

The Veronica and Gerald Colfer Award honoree is Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley.  Created in 2002 this award is named after the Chapter’s beloved “Mom and Dad.”  It is presented to a non-Dignity/Washington individual or group in recognition of special service to our community.  Plans for the presentation of this award to the Governor are pending.