The William Way LGBT Community Center’s board held the second of its four public board meetings for this year on May 25 at 1315 Spruce St. All 14 current board members attended.
At the meeting, several community members addressed concerns of diversity in the center’s outreach and programming, referencing an April 6 open letter to the center.
Local activist Dionne Stallworth addressed the board in regard to the letter, explaining that it wasn’t meant as an indictment of the center but an effort to make it more inclusive of minorities and people of color, especially transgender and bisexual individuals.
Lee Carson, president of the Black Gay Men’s Leadership Council, and Soda Nobuhle, board member of Men of All Colors Together, asked the board if it would establish an advisory board on the issue.
B.J. Tillman, of the People of Color Coalition, said the board needed to bridge the divide in the LGBT community and that the two groups don’t work together is cause for concern.
Board member Eric Ashton responded that “there is always room for improvement” in regards to the center’s inclusion of and outreach to minorities. Ashton said he hopes to have a meeting to start a dialogue on the issue as early as June.
Phillip Prillman, director of facilities, added that those in attendance could contact him if he could help facilitate organizing that meeting.
During the meeting, treasurer Ann Butchart reported that, after close reexamination, the center’s budget had to be readjusted because the board realized that there was $100,000 in expected grant money that was “just not going to happen.” As a result, the center’s current budget will be operating at a loss of $30,000 for the year. It’s the first time the center has approved a budget that was not balanced, said the treasurer.
Butchart also said the center’s income for April was $28,419, which was $5,739 less than anticipated, due to grants and individual giving not meeting expectations. Total expenses for April were $55,563, which was $2,559 over plan. This overage was attributed to unanticipated personnel expenses. The center had a net-income deficit of $27,144 for the month of April, which was $8,299 more than expected.
The center reported a year-to-date income of $376,427, exceeding expectations by $12,004. This was a result of higher-than-expected building revenue from room rentals, income generated by the spring semester of Way Gay U classes and the center’s gallery show.
The center’s expenses for the fiscal year to date totaled $343,549, which is $2,459 below expectations. As a result, the center’s net income for the year to date is $32,879.
Regarding the $30,000 budget deficit for the year, interim executive director Laurie Ward said an anonymous donor has pledged $10,000 if the center can raise $20,000 in new donations by June 5, the date of the annual Building Bash. Tickets for the 2010 Building Bash reception are $75; tickets to the reception and dinner are $275. The reception starts at 5:30 p.m. and dinner is at 7:30.
Director of center services Candice Thompson reported the center is working on presenting a senior LGBT summit this year, the first of its kind in the city. She also said the center is hosting a summer internship for the position of front-desk receptionist and is accepting workshop proposals for the fall term of Way Gay U. Interested parties should contact Thompson.
Prillman reported on the progress of several building projects. The kitchen on the fourth floor of the center has been completed and is in use. Additionally, 80 percent of the center’s new window units have been installed.
The next maintenance project includes ceiling work for the peer counseling room and rewiring the library by the center’s maintenance technician. Both projects are already included in the center’s maintenance budget.
Prillman said the center was at 100-pecent occupancy and is currently negotiating with the Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus to return.
Board co-chair Emilie Carr reported on the center’s ongoing search for an executive director. She said the executive search committee met May 13 to review the candidates and they will hopefully make an announcement soon.
Ashton announced that after successfully getting William Way added to the list of nonprofits eligible for the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business’ Non-Profit Board Leadership Program, the center has been chosen for the coming school year. The program pairs up second-year MBAs with a nonprofit in order to get a sense of how their leadership skills can be used to contribute to the nonprofit sector. Ashton said that Wharton student Diane George has chosen the center and will be working on the project from September through May of the next academic year.
The next public board meeting is scheduled for July 27.
For more information, visit www.waygay.org.
Larry Nichols can be reached at [email protected].