It’s worth a nickel

Dear Joe,

Thank you so much for your regular and ongoing correspondence about my Human Rights Campaign membership. I’m sorry that I have you so distraught over my failure to make a contribution this year, but really, I have my reasons.

You see, since you became President of the HRC, you only ever call for one thing: money. You never call to see how I am, or just tell me some great news, or ask me to take action. There’s always that sneaky little “how ’bout a donation” somewhere in the message.

It makes me feel cheap, and used.

I’d also like to know where I can update my records with you. You see, for about six months now I’ve been trying to get you to take my former partner’s name off of my record. I’ve been all over your web site, to no avail.

I did finally get you to stop sending me so many emails. But even that was a chore, and required following way too many unsubscribe links.

If you decide to change your style of communications so that I feel appreciated, instead of just like a checkbook, and if you decide to make it easy for me to manage the information you have about me via your web site, I’ll think about coming back.

I do appreciate everything you and the HRC do to promote equal rights for all Americans. I just don’t think I can financially support you until you get yourselves organized.

For years and years I’ve talked politics… with my dad, with friends, even with co-workers from time to time. It’s one of the most sensitive topics around, and it invariably provokes heated conversations. Since I love a good debate (some would say a good argument), that’s okay by me, but it can cause headaches for some.

But it’s always been talking, rather than doing. Although I’m fascinated by politics, I don’t particularly think I play well.

I do, however, have a pretty strong dislike for my local state senator, Steve Saland. He’s been in office for years (in his current role for nearly 20), and he’s very well connected in this area. I’m not saying he’s a bad person, but his view on gay rights are enough to turn my stomach, and he’s far too beholden to the current system of dysfunction in Albany. In this year’s election, he has a viable opponent in Didi Barrett, who I’ve met or heard speak at two events since May, and to whom I’ve pledged my support and my vote in November.

Last night, Bill, Mike and I went up to her campaign office in beautiful Hyde Park, NY (where President Franklin Roosevelt got his start), and we offered our help for a couple of hours. Oh, we didn’t do too much… just some data entry of canvassing sheets… but it felt good to do something to help elect a candidate who supports my way of thinking perhaps better than Mr. Saland does.

Whatever your politics, find a way to get involved. Learn about the issues. Make informed decisions. Be a part of the process.

You have to love the Golden Girls, and especially Sophia, for being so far ahead of so many people.

Last night I had an incredible opportunity to speak at a GLAAD event on using social media to reach the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community.

I was speaking on behalf of IBM, so I spent about 15 minutes telling the history of social media use inside IBM and how it can be used to reach GLBT people. I think it was well received, and it was a wonderfully warm and accepting audience. I really enjoyed meeting some smart, smart people in the field of social media, and look forward to continuing to connect on projects we can work on together.

If anyone’s interested, I’m sharing my slides. The message is fairly clear, even without my astonishingly capable and witty narration.

The big theme, I think, for believers and non-believers alike, is that it’s all about relationships. Social media/networking/software is just enabling us to connect to each other, in ways we never could before. It’s good stuff.

(Oh, and a big thanks to Frank for both attending the presentation and for taking a great photo of me [if I do say so myself], which I used in the presentation.)

Or is it?
This one and this one are fun too, but not as good as Wanda’s.