During St.
Patrick's Day weekend, while many folks were attending outdoor events and drinking
green beer, I was indoors for three days at a conference. To add insult to injury, this occurred during
the most beautiful weather of the year in Atlanta, Georgia. That's the bad news; the good news was the
conference itself. Atlanta Polyamory,
Inc. (API) sponsored its third annual poly con, aptly named Atlanta Poly Weekend 2013,
and it was outstanding. I feel fortunate
to have attended the past two poly cons and both easily met and exceeded all of
my expectations.
During 2013, I attended 14 workshops, the keynote address, a presenter's panel, two podcasts, a comedy show, the closing keynote and an API membership meeting. I missed three of the four workshops running concurrently during each session period, and for various reasons, the talent show, the Saturday night dance lessons and dance, and the con wrap-up session. With these few exceptions, I was a full participant and regret being unable to attend some of the concurrent workshops.
During 2013, I attended 14 workshops, the keynote address, a presenter's panel, two podcasts, a comedy show, the closing keynote and an API membership meeting. I missed three of the four workshops running concurrently during each session period, and for various reasons, the talent show, the Saturday night dance lessons and dance, and the con wrap-up session. With these few exceptions, I was a full participant and regret being unable to attend some of the concurrent workshops.
Looking back, all
of the
workshops were good and several were genuinely outstanding. I will
write about these in future posts. For now, I will briefly discuss the
API membership
meeting, which was open to all conference attendees. It was announced
during the meeting that the
board of directors voted to dissolve API, a 501c-7 non-profit
corporation. A new non-profit corporation will be formed
as a 501c-3; as I am not a corporate attorney, no attempt will be made
to
explain the differences. I do know that
API outgrew its charter, which limits the amount of funds that can be
accepted
by non-members. This has potentially
serious tax consequences and puts the officers and directors at
financial risk. Simply put, something had to be done.
The
technicalities of the corporate change probably had little meaning for the
majority of folks in attendance.
However, when it was announced that the conference would continue on into the future with very little noticeable change, the audience response was a resounding
round of applause. There was no doubting
the importance of the conference in the minds, hearts (and probably genitals)
of those present.
The
name of
the new corporation will be Relationship Equality Foundation (REF), with
a
broader geographical and inclusive scope and purpose. REF will focus on
the southeast and will
continue to educate and advocate, but going forward, for all
relationship and
family structures. I am excited about
the change. I believe it is needed, but
I also feel a certain sadness for the organizers, directors and
officers, who
for legal reasons, cannot assume the same positions with the new
corporation. I also confess to some concern about a possible leadership
void. Billy Holder, Chairman, more than anyone, has
poured his heart, soul, blood and tears into API. He is a natural
leader, and his leadership
will be greatly missed. (Although, I
suspect he will find ways to add his talent to the new venture. I
certainly hope so.)
As previously stated, there is much more to write about and I promise to do so.
