Special workshop on organization of Federation of Gay Games Annual Meetings

Adelina Santiago (IAGLMA), Fernando Carvajal (Movdeinchile), and Derek Liecty (Honorary Life Member)

The Federation of Gay Games devoted a special session today of its Annual Meeting to an important question for a growing international body: how can make its meetings accessible to the greatest number while making these meetings an integral tool for furthering its mission.

Currently the only "rule" for the organization of FGG Annual Meetings is that the AM held the year before the Gay Games takes place in the host city of the next Games. Thus, the FGG is meeting this year in Cologne, where Gay Games IX will take place from 31 July to 7 August 2010.

As the organization grows and reaches out to new members, many of them smaller NGOs and sports and culture organizations from developing countries, the cost of travel becomes more important. Among the suggestions reducing costs while maximizing impact is to hold the AM during the year of the Gay Games in or near the host city. Suggestions were heard, for example, for a short meeting to be held in Berlin or another European city next summer. Not only would such a meeting take advantage of the fact that representatives of most member organizations will already be present in Cologne, but it would offer the possibility to involve many new groups in the projects of the Federation.

Another suggestion is that the AM in the year following the Gay Games focus on geographic outreach,using the successful 2008 Cape Town AM as a model for involving new individuals and organizations. FGG delegates were delighted to receive a proposal from recent FGG member Movdeinchile to host the 2011 AM in Santiago, Chile.