HRC Carolinas seeks nominations for 2006 awards

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From the North Carolina LGBT Leaders Yahoo Group: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 16, 2005 CONTACT: Bert Woodard, 2006 HRC Carolinas Dinner Marketing Chair 704-332-9060, woodardbert@bellsouth.net HRC Carolinas Seeks Nominations for Equality and Community Service Awards. All Nominations must be submitted by October 31, 2005 CHARLOTTE (Sept. 16, 2005) “The Human Rights Campaign's Carolinas Dinner Committee is seeking nominations from September 19- October 31, 2005 from residents of North and South Carolina for the annual Equality and Community Service Awards that honor service to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. Both awards will be officially presented at the 2006 HRC Carolinas Dinner, which is scheduled for Sat., Feb. 25 at the Charlotte Convention Center. The annual Equality Award and Community Service Award highlight the accomplishments of individuals and/or groups in North Carolina and South Carolina. Any resident of North Carolina or South Carolina may submit a completed nomination form. You may submit a nomination form for yourself or for your organization/corporate entity. The HRC Equality Award and HRC Community Service Award are the only LGBT recognitions that are truly meant to focus on the amazing efforts that are happening in both North Carolina and South Carolina,” said Jay Biles, 2006 HRC Carolinas Dinner Co-Chair. “There are so many individuals and organizations in both states who work tirelessly for tolerance, fairness and equality. The open call for nominations ensures that we have an opportunity to reflect our diverse community and the inspirational efforts toward achieving full acceptance and equality. Equality Award The Equality Award recognizes an outstanding organization, corporate entity or individual that has furthered the progress for civil rights for LGBT people. The recipient should exemplify the HRC mission statement to build an America where LGBT families and individuals can be open, honest and safe, at work, at home and in the community. The 2005 Equality Award winner was the Rev. Jack McKinney of Raleigh's Pullen Memorial Baptist Church. Community Service Award The Community Service Award recognizes an individual or an organization for superior contributions at the grassroots level to issues and concerns of the LGBT community and its allies. The recipient should exemplify the HRC mission statement to build an America where LGBT families and individuals can be open, honest and safe, at work, at home and in the community. The 2005 Community Service Award winner was the Triangle area's "Strong Women Organizing Outrageous Projects" (SWOOP). How to Nominate Nominations for both awards must be submitted to the HRC Carolinas Dinner Committee by October 31, 2005. Nomination forms can be downloaded from the HRC Carolinas Website at www.hrccarolinas.org. The Website can also be used to purchase tickets to the 2006 HRC Carolinas Dinner, to sign up to become a 2006 Carolinas dinner Table Captain, to donate a Silent Auction item, to volunteer for the dinner committee, and to learn about corporate sponsorship opportunities, dinner program advertising and City Host pre-dinner and post- dinner events in Charlotte. The cost of the dinner ticket also includes a one-year membership in HRC and a subscription to the quarterly HRC magazine. HRC hosts annual dinners throughout the country as annual fundraisers to support it's many efforts to achieve the organizational mission "to build an America where LGBT families and individuals can be open, honest and safe at work, at home and in the community." The Westin Hotel will serve as host hotel during the 2006 HRC Carolinas Dinner weekend in Charlotte. The Carolinas Dinner was held in Greensboro (1996-1997) and the Raleigh-Durham area (1998-2002) before moving to a successful two-year run at The Grandover Resort in Greensboro in 2003 and 2004. Last year's event, which was held in Charlotte for the first time, attracted a record crowd of 1,300-plus and earned HRC Carolinas the 2005 HRC Dinner of the Year award. Past speakers at the Carolinas Dinner have included U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, Betty DeGeneres, Tipper Gore, former Texas Gov. Ann Richards, actress Judith Light, actor Robert Gant and Judy Shepard, mother of murdered LGBT youth Matthew Shepard. The 2006 speaker will be announced later this fall. The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the largest national lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender advocacy organization, effectively lobbies Congress, provides campaign support to fair-minded candidates, and works to educate the public on a wide array of topics affecting LGBT Americans, including workplace, family, discrimination and health issues. In addition, the HRC Foundation, an HRC- affiliated organization, engages in extensive research and provides education and programming. Founded in 1980, HRC currently has more 500,000 members, including more than 18,000 in North and South Carolina. Among the organization's 27 regional steering committees throughout the country, the Carolinas is the only true statewide steering committee and membership base. Other steering committees include Dallas, Los Angeles, Chicago and New York. For more information, e-mail info@hrccarolinas.org, or visit the 2006 HRC Carolinas Dinner Website at www.hrccarolinas.org"