March 2002

Officers Elected at Phoenix Meeting

At the NEAC annual meeting January 11 at Trinity Cathedral in Phoenix, Arizona, in addition to the three new board members elected to their first term, Randy Kimmler, Elizabethe Payne, and Hart Roussel were elected to full second terms. The officers for the coming year are Bill Frampton and Bruce Garner, co-chairs (Bruce succeeds Harriet Langfeldt, whose term on the board expired); Richard Brewer, vice chair; Gordon Chastain, secretary; and Hart Roussel, treasurer. Todd Ferguson and Lyn Headley-Moore were named at-large members of the executive committee.

The board agreed to examine the by-laws and consider revisions to ensure continuity of leadership. A site visit to AIDS Project Arizona followed the annual meeting. The following day, January 12, the new board met to conduct the business of the coalition.

Richard Brewer, NEAC administrator, reported that there are fewer than 300 paid members and some 600 on the mailing list. Because of the transfer of the office to Brooklyn and the time of transition, NEAC was unable to participate in the Combined Federal Campaign for 2001-2002; however, application will be made for participation in 2002-2003.

Brian Grieves, Episcopal Church Center liaison to NEAC, described the national church’s budget process as it relates to NEAC funding.

Harriet Langfeldt and the Rev. Carlos Sandoval, M.D., whose terms on the board have expired, were honored by the board for their distinguished service to NEAC.

Harriet Langfeldt and the Rev. Carlos Sandoval, M.D., whose terms on the board have expired, were honored by the board for their distinguished service to NEAC.

Elizabethe Payne reported that the new Sunday School curriculum (Youth in the Age of AIDS 2) has been completed and is now in the hands of Youth Ministries personnel at “815,” which has agreed to cooperate in publishing it. Brian agreed to work with NEAC to get the curriculum into circulation. [It will certainly be available before the next General Convention in 2003.] Elizabethe also reported that she has begun negotiating for the rights to the TAP curriculum in preparation for a revision. She asked for suggestions of persons to work on the specifically Episcopal portions of the content.

The board also discussed undertaking an Older Adults Education Program and the October Conference. Each day will begin with morning prayer and the conference will conclude with a healing service at St. David’s Parish. Endorsements will be sought from the Council of Religious AIDS Networks, Lutheran AIDS Network, and the National Catholic AIDS Network.

Five board members who had attended the Justice Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) consultation early in January reported on the opportunity it presented to answer questions about NEAC and AIDS ministry. Board members are also working on building closer relationships with Episcopal Relief and Development and Jubilee Centers. There was also discussion of the need for NEAC presence at meetings of other groups; Randy Kimmler will obtain two banners with the new logo for use at display tables; Randy and Lyn Headley-Moore will represent NEAC at the Urban Caucus meeting in Los Angeles.