SpeakOut to hold reunion; organization expands fundraising, recruitment

Last November the board of directors of SpeakOut, the LGBT speakers' bureau, considered disbanding the organization, which had been plagued by decreasing revenues, an inability to retain board members, and a $4000-plus debt to the IRS. Ultimately, the board opted to continue; in December it launched a strategic plan to get the organization back on track. As part of that effort SpeakOut will hold a reunion for new and veteran volunteers April 24 to re-engage them in SpeakOut's work.

SpeakOut Board President Don Frattaroli, said that the event builds on SpeakOut's two-day February training, at which 26 new speakers were trained to tell their stories and talk about LGBT issues at schools and other venues.

For the first half of the reunion, which takes place at the Boston Living Center, trainees who have done speaking events or shadowed SpeakOut volunteers at speaking engagements will share their experiences. SpeakOut co-founder David Patterson and other veteran speakers will discuss the history of the organization during the second half of the reunion.

"It's two distinct hours focused on those things, so we really want to get a dialogue going between new members and old members and do what we said we'd do, which is spending more time developing and building excitement about our organization, making people feel part of the SpeakOut family," said Frattaroli.

He said the reunion is open to current and former volunteers as well as anyone interested in learning more about the organization.

Beyond the reunion Frattaroli said SpeakOut has been continuing, with some success, at restoring its financial and organizational footing. The board brought in non-profit consultant Buzz Harris, a former SpeakOut volunteer, to train them on board development and fundraising. The February training, for which participants pay a fee, generated much-needed income. Frattaroli said last year's December appeal, a cornerstone of the organization's fundraising efforts, brought in $2300 from members and supporters, twice as much as the previous year. He said the organization now has enough money to pay off its IRS debt.

"We're in the process of filing for terms with the IRS. We're in the process of figuring out a payment schedule to pay our debt," said Frattaroli.

The SpeakOut reunion takes place April 24 from 7-9 p.m. at the Boston Living Center, 29 Stanhope Street, Boston. The event is free and open to past and present SpeakOut members, as well as people interested in learning more about the organization. To RSVP contact Ellyn Ruthstrom at [email protected].