Announcing the 2010 GLENDA Board

GLENDA welcomes its 2010 Board of Directors.

A message from outgoing Chair Louise Ketchum.

Happy 2010, GLENDA members!

It is my great pleasure to present and welcome the 2010-2011 GLENDA Board of Directors:

  • Chad Pysher, President
  • Joan Tutak,Vice President
  • Vicki Galzerano, Secretary
  • Matt Payne, Treasurer
  • Jerry Gloekler
  • Brian Belkowski
  • Cindy Abbott

Thanks to all for staying and/or coming on Board! What a great group.

Welcome to Cindy Abbott, a long-time GLENDA supporter and participant. We appreciate you stepping up to ensure the continuation of the excellent work we do in our community and region.

Enormous thanks to Katrina Babhram, a two term GLENDA Board member who completed her second term and served as Secretary most recently. You did a fabulous job and will be missed!

Update from Jerry Gloekler, Projects Committee Chair:

In 2009, GLENDA provided volunteers to assist with 26 events sponsored by over 20 different organizations, including cultural groups (the Chatham Baroque Society, the Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theater), environmental groups (like the Pennsylvania Resources Council and the Nine Mile Run Watershed Association), health-related charities (Global Links, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society), various other local charitable organizations (such as Family Services of Western Pennsylvania and Animal Friends), and LGBT groups (like the Persad Center and Three Rivers Eastern Area Tournament (TREAT)). The Projects Committee continues to search for a variety of events to meet GLENDA's membership interests, while continuing to build a positive reputation in the Pittsburgh area — which in some months even brings us more requests for help than we can accept. Our ability to undertake some of these events in 2009 was made possible by GLENDA members who volunteered to act as Project Coordinators for events benefiting their favorite charities, and the Projects Committee heartily welcomes this sort of involvement from the general membership.

Thanks to all those who generously served on the Projects Committee in 2009: Rick Aubrey (former Chair), Elyse Heyman (former former Chair!), Joan Tutak; Cindy Abbott, C. J. Daro, Stephanie Gipperich, Valerie Jacko, Ron Johnson, Brett McAninch, Bob Steele; Joshua Ream, and Brandi Hugar.

Update from Chad Pysher, Outreach Committee Chair:

The past year was one of growth and transformation for GLENDA's Volunteer Committee. After refocusing the committee's work to better reflect GLENDA's mission and at the recommendation of its members, the Board of Directors voted to officially change the name to the Outreach Committee. This change reflects a shift from solely coordinating social events to outreaching to community groups, events and local businesses in order to create opportunities for GLENDA members to not only socialize but interact with the greater community. Our Progressive Dinner in March featured various establishments on Ellsworth Avenue in Shadyside. The Indoor Rock Climbing Event in May featured local businesses in Point Breeze. In October, GLENDA partnered with ALLIES, the Gay-Straight Alliance at Carnegie Mellon University to celebrate National Coming Out Day. It was a first for us as we built what promises to be a long-lasting, productive relationship with a college / university LGBT organization. In December, GLENDA representatives were invited to address BNY Mellon's LGBT group, Prism, and share our mission and work.

Thank you to Outreach Committee members Jill Kornberg, Ron Smutny, David Bubas, Matt Payne, Vicki Galzerano and Louise Ketchum. I'm happy to announce that David Bubas has agreed to be the 2010 Outreach Committee Chair and looks forward to continuing to build relationships between GLENDA and various groups in our community.

Thanks to ALL of you for your continued interest in and support of GLENDA.

Please mark your calendars and save Friday, June 4, 2010 for an all new D4D to be held at the Pittsburgh Opera in the Strip District! It promises to be an exciting evening of fun, friends and fund raising! Details to follow very soon.

See you soon at a Project or an Outreach event!

Louise Ketchum
Past President, GLENDA Board of Directors

Meet the Board