Mike Shumate, GLBTAA President

[email protected]   

The Quarryland Men's Chorus has just completed auditions for its 12th season, entitled Stronger Together. They have placed 30 singers on their roster and preparations have begun for several performances that will occur in the next few weeks in Bloomington and Spencer, Indiana. But their greatest focus is on the music for a series of holiday concerts called Peace, Hope, Joy. QMC's concerts will capture the essence of the holiday season by inspiring us through moving musical selections, to come together and bring about positive change in our communities. Featured selections include "Umi Sono Ai," "All This Joy," "Joy to the World," "Oseh Shalom," and "Dona Nobis Pacem." Tickets ($15/$10 students) are available now from the BCT Box Office and http://bctboxoffice.com  Both concerts, December 14th at 7:30pm and December 15th at 3pm, will take place at First United Church of Bloomington, 2420 E 3rd Street. Mark your calendars and get your tickets now. Stronger Together season tickets are also available!

The GLBTAA has had a Facebook page for some time now, but some of you may not be aware of it.  If you haven't already done so, check out our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/iuglbtaa.  "Like" our page and then you will automatically get our Facebook posts regarding news, updates and information of our events.

The GLBTAA Distinguished Alumni Award is presented to members of the LGBT community and individual allies or supporters of the LGBT community, regardless of sexual orientation. Only living alumni of Indiana University are eligible. Nominees shall have been outstanding in his or her field of endeavor and shall have made significant contributions benefiting Indiana University or his or her community, state or nation. We are pleased to announce the following two recipients of our 2014 Distinguished Alumni Award.

 

Kimerly J. Davis received her BS from MacMurray College in 1972 and her Masters in Physical Education from Indiana University, Bloomington in 1978. She is retired as a research associate and educational consultant from the Indiana Resource Center for Autism at the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community located on the Bloomington campus. Kim has authored many publications and

Kim Davis

continues to be a sought-after speaker nationally on topics, including autism, movement difference, person-centered planning, positive behavior support, and recreation. Her professional achievements are just part of her distinguished record. She has made significant contributions to public and related service in a number of areas, including Indiana University, the LGBT community and her community at large.  Briefly, she served on our GLBTAA Board of Directors for seven years, including four as President, during a critically-important time in our history. She also has served on the GLBT Student Support Services Office Advisory Board since on or about 2000, where she has mentored and supported countless of our youth, as they face the daily challenges of coming out and accepting their sexual orientation or gender identity. As a member of the GLBT Speakers' Bureau, she has participated on numerous panels regarding a wide range of LGBT topics. Kim and her partner Nancy Kalina have been an integral part of our LGBT community for years, and their strength and vision have added significantly, and continue to add, to our proud legacy at IU and beyond.

 

William C. Shipton received his BA in Psychology from Grinnell College in 1967 and his Masters in College Student Personnel Administration from IU's School of Education in 1969. He recently retired from IUB as Director for Student Programs and Services in Residential Programs and Services. Bill's professional life, and much of his personal life as well, have been devoted to supporting students, faculty and staff in examining the complex issues of sexual orientation, gender identity, religious bias, racism and sexual harassment

Bill Shipton

 and teaching mainstream culture the importance of re-examining its biases. Bill has from the beginning been a champion of "equality for all" in every sense of the phrase. Early on, Bill was a chapter author of "Beyond Tolerance: Gays, Lesbians and Bisexuals on Campus," which served as the basis for the authors to engage in an extended national speaking tour called "The Beyond Tolerance Roadshow." At IU, Bill founded the IU Committee on Racial Understanding in 1982, which later became the Commission on Multicultural Understanding (COMU). He created the Diversity Advocate Program in 1988, which later became the Community Education Program, and gained wide recognition as an exemplary program by a number of national associations. Bill served as co-chair for three anti-bias teams: GLBT Anti-harassment Team; Racial Incidents Team; and Religious Bias Incidents Team. Bill has received numerous awards; just a few include: the inaugural COMU Staff Award (shared with Dr. Herman Wells); the School of Education's Kate Hevner Mueller Award; and the Outstanding Staff Award presented by IUB's Dean of Students office. Bill also served for 15 years on the GLBT Student Support Services Office Advisory Board. Bill and his partner Jack Rhodes continue to mentor our young people and serve as stellar role models for social justice.

Please Join us on Friday, January 24 to extend congratulations to Kim and Bill and to enjoy an evening of festivities and fun at the Neal-Marshall Center.

GLBTAA Academic Scholarships  Academic Scholarships are awarded to IU students enrolled at any IU campus, who are academically strong, as well as active in promoting diversity, tolerance and social justice. Scholarships are awarded to students based upon academic achievement, career goals, financial need, leadership experience, community service and extracurricular activities. Involvement in activities promoting diversity and raising awareness of GLBT and related issues on the student's campus or in his or her community is carefully reviewed by the Board. The maximum award for an Academic Scholarship is $1,000 per semester. An individual student may not receive more than $2,000. The deadline for the Spring 2014 semester is November 15, 2013.