Kate Rowe to leave FGG Board of Directors

Paulette Meggoe and Kate Rowe at Gay Games VIII

After serving for several years on the Federation of Gay Games Board of Directors, Kate Rowe of Sydney will be stepping down this month for major surgery to repair damage to her hip from an accident several years ago. Kate served as Vice President for Diversity before taking over as VP External Affairs soon after the position was created. Among her achievements as VP Diversity was shepherding the project to develop a Gender Equity policy for the FGG, highlighted by a successful workshop at the 2008 Annual Meeting in Cape Town.

As VP External Affairs, Kate relaunched the FGG Awards program, with new annual Legacy Awards, an expanded Volunteer of the Year award scheme, and a more structured process for awarding the FGG's highest honor, the Tom Waddell Award. She also revitalized the FGG Ambassadors program, recruiting new ambassadors and ensuring that our more than 20 Ambassadors remain aware of FGG news and involved in our actions, with as the more recent example, the presence of Ambassador Leigh-Ann Naidoo this week at the IOC/UNESCO 7th World Conference on Sport, Education and Culture. Kate also participated in last year's 5th World Conference of the International Working Group on Women and Sport.

She is particularly proud of her work for Gay Games VIII, notably for her successful efforts to bring Matthew Mitcham to the Games as a guest of honor. Kate will continue to serve as liaison with Matthew and Australian FGG Ambassadors. When asked about her time on the Board, Kate said she has been proud to have been a voice for women and to have rebuilt an important part of the FGG mission. and to have been part of a great team to help make Cologne the success it was.  "I continue to be passionate about the FGG but also will be making the most of this imposed break to step back for a while and reflect on the future."

Kate will continue to serve as sports coordinator for cycling and triathlon and as a member of the External Affairs committee, and will also remain a tireless voice for the cause of the involvement of women in the FGG. At the last meeting in which Kate participated, the FGG Board expressed its thanks to Kate for her extraordinary commitment to the Gay Games movement.