Chairman’s Corner

musings by our board chair Gerry Nelms

continued from the home page

Well, a lot of things have changed since those early days of FCN and some people (myself included) had suggested that we aren't pertinent to current times and maybe it was time for FCN to “close our doors” and dissolve. But, after further thought, I realized that with some reorientation and adjustments FCN could indeed become pertinent to changing times. Instead of closing OUR doors we needed to overcome the new doors of challenges that current times present to the LGBTQ+ community.

Top of mind is generational differences. We have a generation of young people who do not understand what it was like in the early days of FCN. It’s important that they develop a deeper understanding of what their brothers and sisters before them went through and the fears and intense discrimination they had to endure to reach a state of “out and proud”. Likewise we have an older generation of men and women who are only beginning to realize that challenges exist for a younger generation which are different from what they had to face. I believe many in the LGBTQ+ community are looking to FCN for guidance - to help them find a focus and purpose in life.

This is especially true during the complex process of coming out. Every generation, both young and old, have had to go through that often painful evolution of self. As an educator we are taught that it takes a village to raise a child. I suggest to you that it does indeed take a village, which is exactly what First City Network is. We need to help provide that focus for the younger gay, lesbian and trans community as well as an older but newly out community. Sharing knowledge and experiences can be the most valuable type of education to help overcome obstacles and obtain personal focus and a feeling of self worth. With upcoming Chairperson’s Corners, I will try to shed some light on the adjusting views that the Board of Directors have developed and how we're looking at ways to improve FCN by tweaking some of our actions. 

I think each one of us needs to ask the question of, “What does it mean to me when I say that I am a part of First City Network.” According to Google, one of the definitions of “network” is interacting with others to exchange information and develop professional or social contacts. I believe it’s a good definition with something in it to ponder when asking yourself that question - exchange information.