Gay business group plans expansion
The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Business Association has appointed a new leader to steer it through a new ambition as the go-to organisation for local charities and international counterparts.
At the combined AGM and website launch last Tuesday, incoming president Christopher Brooks said he wanted to continue the recently introduced practice of donating event profits to community groups.
I want to create more community alliances and establish contacts overseas, so during Mardi Gras, for example, we can host groups from San Francisco, London and New York, Brooks told the meeting.
We can show the rest of the world what we can do.
He also wanted to ensure the organisation secured its own future by establishing a volunteer list for its increasingly popular Fruits in Suits and Lemons With A Twist events. This would also help with succession for future boards, he said.
We have a very capable team. I want to thank [previous president] Scott [Quine] for staying on as secretary. I want to continue his success and take it further.
In the last 12 months SGLBA donated $11,700 to community groups and sponsored a university student for $1,500. Two more student sponsorships will be awarded later this year. A program with the SGLBA’s outgoing partner 3 Mobile collected over $6,000 for the Bobby Goldsmith Foundation.
The organisation’s new website, designed with members and member offers in mind, will go live in the next month.
Stepping down from the board were Kate Semken, Tim Daly, Stephen Marriott, and Ed Commander.
