About Us
Committees
Standing Committees
Events Committee
Paul Mykins, Chairperson
The Events Committee is responsible for the following:
  • creating themes for monthly potlucks
  • creating a calendar of social events including arrangements for one-time activities with assistance and approval as needed from the Board and general members
Fundraising Committee
Nan Fry, Chairperson
The Fundraising Committee is responsible for the following:
  • contacting possible donors/benefactors
  • contacting persons interested in RSWNY but who have not paid membership dues
  • collaborating with the Events Committee to plan and implement one large fundraising event annually, such as a formal dinner and dance, a walk-a-thon, etc.
  • considering small fundraising events during the year such as, bingo, dance, etc.
Membership Committee
Bob Hammond, Chairperson
The Membership Committee is responsible for the following:
  • maintaining the data base for RSWNY
  • maintaining member folders, including a folder for each new member along with a membership card, or disseminating new member cards for renewal memberships
  • mailing monthly newsletter
  • organizing, staffing, and managing the sign-in table at monthly potlucks, including sign-in sheets, name tags, 50/50 and door prize raffles, and monies
  • assisting other members to recruit new members through articles, announcements, networking with other community organizations
  • researching, when needed, and recommending to the Board a change of membership levels
Personal Services Committee
Communications:

This group initiates and follows up on:
  • sending cards to members for birthdays, loss, illness, etc.
  • arranging for telephone or e-mail contacts to members who are shut in, hospitalized, etc.
  • arranging for visits to members who are shut in, hospitalized, etc.
  • increasing volunteer involvement (Internet, activities) to provide assistance with home chores/needs
Transportation:

This group arranges and provides:
  • rides for members to and from RSWNY events
  • rides for shopping, medical visits, and/or errands for RSWNY members
Scholarships:

Some seniors are uncomfortable with others knowing that they don't have money for membership. Therefore, the Chairperson and one Board member, who approves the scholarship, are the only persons who need to know the recipient of a scholarship. The Chairperson:
  • investigates various means to cover all or part of the membership fee for those individuals who need financial assistance
  • fundraises, as needed, and accepts personal contributions from members and non-members of RSWNY
  • works toward enabling access and membership for all GLBTI persons in RSWNY
Public Relations/Marketing Committee
Sherlea Dony, Chairperson
The Public Relations/Marketing Committee is responsible for the following:
  • producing monthly newsletters
  • updating and printing copies of the RSWNY brochure
  • working with Webmaster to keep WWW information current and serve as contact person for any members wishing to post information to the site
  • advertising RSWNY events in the Empty Closet, on local TV stations that advertise upcoming events, on the RSWNY Web site, and in the monthly newsletter
  • advertising RSWNY's existence in Out and About, ImageOut printed information, RGMC events, and others as approved by the Board
  • submitting articles about RSWNY in City newspaper, Golden Times, D&C, and other non-gay newspapers
  • coordinating and editing monthly articles for the Empty Closet
  • collaborating with Empire State Pride Agenda's LGBT Health and Human Services Network Senior Issues Working Group, and other organizations, toward common goals such as awareness training for health- and aging-related organizations, agencies
Workshop Committee
Sherlea Dony, Chairperson
The Workshop Committee if responsible for the following:
  • organizing and implementing educational activities for RSWNY members
  • organizing and implementing non-social types of activities for RSWNY members
  • proposing any and all workshops to the Board of Directors for approval
  • ensuring appropriate and timely advertising for workshop activities in the Empty Closet
  • organizing transportation to event with Transportation Committee Chairperson
Ad Hoc Committees
Bylaws Committee - Ad Hoc
Marilyn Mitchell, Chairperson
The Bylaws Committee serves as an Ad Hoc committee prior to and during the RSWNY Annual Meeting and is responsible for the following:
  • announcing at least 60 days prior to the Annual Meeting that the committee is accepting suggested amendments to the Bylaws
  • accepting written suggested amendments from Board and members in good standing of RSWNY
  • considering all proposed changes
  • formulating a proposal to the Board of Directors during their May Board meeting
  • upon approval of changes by the Board of Directors, formulating the proposal to be presented to the membership at the Annual Meeting
  • ensuring the amended Bylaws are inserted into the May newsletter to all members in preparation of the vote
  • offering, as a motion, the amended Bylaws to the membership at the Annual Meeting for discussion and vote
Nominating Committee - Ad Hoc
Nancy Fry, Chairperson
The Nominating Committee serves as an Ad Hoc committee prior to and during the RSWNY Annual Meeting for the following purposes:
  • announcing annual open positions, with descriptions, through the web site and newsletter
  • soliciting nominations for the open positions (self-nominations or other)
  • preparing announcements for nominations for open positions including short bios of the nominees as well as each person's statement of who they are and why they believe they can serve as a member of the Board of Directors
  • announcing to the membership the slate of Directors for the open positions at the monthly meeting, through the newsletter, web site, and one month prior (May) to the Annual Meeting (June)
  • preparing the slate of Directors for open positions and running the elections during the Annual Meeting of RSWNY in June
Pride Committee - Ad Hoc
Paul Mykins, Chairperson
The Pride Committee serves as an Ad Hoc committee prior to and during the RSWNY Annual Meeting and is responsible for the following:
Pride Picnic:
  • reserving a table for RSWNY
  • organizing materials and scheduling members to be at the table in shifts
Pride Parade:
  • reserving space in the parade
  • organizing vehicle decorating
  • contacting members and preparing a sign up sheet for walking or riding in the parade
  • if feasible, organizing materials and scheduling members to be at the table in shifts during the evening festival.