Memorial Moment marks participants at FGG Annual General Assembly

A highlight of each Annual General Assembly of the FGG is the Memorial Moment. This year the event took place under the direction of Brent Nicholson Earle just before the important closing session of the meetings, with Kyle Chang (delegate from Team Chicago), Bettina Dietmann-Winter (board member from Munich), and Mac Gunter (delegate from Outsport Toronto) reading names, and Barbara Strewinski (delegate from SC Janus, Cologne, and 2010 Volunteer of the Year), Erica Munoz (delegate from Team Chicago), Tom Nobbe (executive director of Gay Games 9), and Wessel Van Kampen (co-president of GLISA International)  carrying out the quilt ceremony.

Shamey Cramer gave a moving homage to Richard Hunter,

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More about the Memorial Moment:

The Memorial Moment was inaugurated at the 1997 Annual Meeting in Denver, Colorado and has become an integral part of each Annual Meeting since.

This celebration was established to not only pay tribute to the members of our immediate and extended Gay Games family who have gone before us and to acknowledge their contributions to the Gay Games movement, but to also reflect upon the founding principles, goals and spirit of fellowship that unites us in our efforts to promote and support the Gay Games.

The Memorial Moment consists of three components:

1. Reading of names from the FGG Memorial List, to which additional names are added each year.

2. Ceremonial unfolding of the Federation of Gay Games Memorial Signature Quilt Square in the tradition established by the NAMES Project.

3. After the Quilt Square is unfolded, participants are welcome to write messages on the quilt and to make any public verbal statements of celebration concerning their loved ones.

As the Memorial Moment has evolved over the years, certain elements have been added optionally, such as musical accompaniment and dancing. During a Site Selection year, the Memorial Moment has had a healing and unifying effect, especially for the representatives and supporters of those cities that have not been selected to host the Gay Games.

The fact that we always make time within the busy schedule of every Annual Meeting to remember, honor and draw inspiration from the elders, upon whose shoulders we stand, is one of the hallmarks which distinguishes the Federation of Gay Games as we continue to work and build upon Tom Waddell’s revolutionary, transformative and empowering vision.

Federation's Annual General Assembly closes in Toronto

Yesterday was the final day of the FGG Annual General Assembly Toronto.

During elections, three interim appointments were confirmed for the remaining year of their two-year term: Jennifer Forward as officer-at-large/people coordinator, Marc Naimark as vice president for -external affairs, and Kurt Dahl as vice-president for host relations.

Reelected for a new two-year term were Emy Ritt as co-president, Jon Baldan as vice-president for operations, Paul Oostenbrug as vice-president for membership, Doug Litwin as officer for marketing, Sebastien Datiche as officer for sports, Paul White as officer for international development, Dennis Sneyers as officer for site selection, and Sonia Abécassis as officer at large.

Elected for the first time were Sonya Jaquez Lewis as officer for communications, Shamey Cramer as officer for ceremonies, and Roger Brigham as officer at large.

A final session on 1QE took place midday, with many of the bylaw amendments and other motions dealing with this important issue relating to the future of the quadrennial sports and culture event.

More details on the AGA will be available soon, but members of the board expressed great satisfaction at the tone and outcome of the meetings and associated events.

FGG Annual General Assembly: Day 3

Today is the third day of the FGG's Annual General Assembly in Toronto.

Yesterday opened with a new feature of FGG AGAs, a "meet the candidates" forum prior to elections of board offices that will take place first thing this morning.

Following this forum, in which delegates had a first chance to question new candidates Sonya Lewis (Team Colorado), who is running for Officer for Communication, and Shamey Cramer (IGLA), who is running for Officer for Ceremonies, our last host, Games Cologne, and our next host, CSEC, made their reports to the Assembly.

Games Cologne

Delegates applauded Cologne for Gay Games VIII, noting the excellent sport events, the great village, and outstanding volunteers. The Assembly was impressed by the status report from Cologne, and in particular the hiring of sports manager Rob Smitherman. After delays due to the legal issues surrounding the event, Cleveland+Akron are ready to launch.

Interim chair of CSEC David Gilbert, executive director Tom Nobbe, and Valarie McCall of the Cleveland Mayor's office

The afternoon opened with more committee meetings (technology and development), and another session on  the future 2018 event.

Today the main business of the FGG will take place, with elections and voting on various motions.

Elaios were ratified as new members, to the applause of the assembly. The morning also saw the first of several sessions devoted to the project for a single event in 2018, in the presence of Wessel Van Kaloampen, co-president of GLISA, who made the trip from the Netherlands to meet with the more than 60 FGG delegates, board m

Day 2 of the FGG Annual General Assembly

Today is the second day of the FGG's Annual General Assembly in Toronto.

At yesterday's opening session, Outsport Toronto and Elaios were ratified as new members, to the applause of the assembly. The morning also saw the first of several sessions devoted to the project for a single event in 2018, in the presence of Wessel Van Kampen, co-president of GLISA, who made the trip from the Netherlands to meet with the more than 60 FGG delegates, board members, and volunteers gathered in Toronto.

The afternoon saw the first committee meetings, those of external affairs and culture, and a large gathering for sports committee, at which delegates met Rob Smitherman, the newly hired sports director for Gay Game 9. Rob is a familiar face to FGG people, as a sports manager for some particularly challenging sports at Gay Games VII in Chicago, and assistant sports manager in Cologne for Gay Games VIII.

Today's schedule includes more committee meetings (technology and development), more 1QE discussions, and reports from our last host in Cologne and our next host in Cleveland. At the end of the day, the public reception will take place at Woody's bar, during which the FGG will present its 2011 Awards to people such as Angela James and Brian Burke.

2011 Annual General Assembly: Opening session this morning

The Federation of Gay Games Annual General Assembly opens today in Toronto.

At the preliminary meeting held yesterday, the FGG board of directors decided to make some changes to the meeting schedule to respond to requests to for more time for exchanges about current discussions with GLISA International on holding a single event in 2018.

A special session was held with a delegation from Cleveland Special Events Corporation, the host of Gay Games 9. Board members were impressed with the progress made, particularly in development of our host's own board of directors, which now includes more than 80% members from the region's LGBT community, and even more satisfying, 50% women.

After these board meetings, board members joined delegates and volunteers for a welcome welcome drink.

The modified meeting schedule calls for a new delegate orientation, followed by the opening session of the AGA.

2011 Annual General Assembly: First meetings today

The Federation of Gay Games Annual General Assembly opens this weekend in Toronto.

On the agenda today, a series of board meetings, the first opportunity for the organization's board of directors since last year's AGA in Cologne. One of the sessions will be devoted to a working session with the host organization for Gay Games 9 in Cleveland, Ohio.

Delegates have already started arriving for the opening session of the AGA tomorrow morning, but will have a first encounter this evening at a reception at the host hotel.

Registration open for Federation of Gay Games 2011 Annual General Assembly in Toronto

Delegates, board members, companions, and observers are invited to register for the FGG Annual General Assembly and associated events HERE

More info at gaymes.info/aga2011


From Sunday 23 to Thursday 27 October 2011
Courtyard Marriott Toronto Downtown
475 Yonge St
Toronto, Ontario

Updated schedule available for Federation of Gay Games Annual General Assembly

The FGG will be meeting in Toronto this October.

Delegates, volunteers, observers: make sure you register!

An updated schedule is online HERE.