From the Board Chair/December 2023
Grat-i-tude (noun), the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.
With deepest gratitude to all who made this incredible 2023 possible…..it truly does take a village.
Our generous donors and community business supporters
Our all-volunteer Board of Directors, with special thanks to Del Rae Phoenix and Uli Paulin who are “retiring” from the Board
Our volunteers who supported all of our events and monthly potluck hosts who welcome the community to their homes
Our local LGBT+ elected officials who ensure our community voice is represented: Nevada City Mayor Daniela Fernandez and Council Member Lou Ceci, Grass Valley Vice Mayor Hilary Hodge, and Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon.
Our many allies in public service and other community roles: Nevada County Supervisors Heidi Hall and Lisa Swarthout, and CEO Alison Lehman, GV Council Member Bob Branstrom, and so many others
The California Democratic LGBTQ Caucus who made our community the first stop on their Rural Listening Tour in May
Dr. Scott Neeley and his leadership team at Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital for the work to make rural healthcare accessible and equitable for queer and trans patients. And Del Rae Phoenix for the LGBTQ+ Rural Healthcare Needs Assessment.
Our Community Partner organizations: Color Me Human, Community Beyond Violence, Bright Futures for Youth, Citizens for Choice, Sierra Foothills AIDS Foundation, The Miners Foundry, Sierra College, The Center for Non-Profit Leadership, What’s Up Wellness, Unitarian Universalist Community of the Mountains, Unity of the Gold Country, YubaNet, The Onyx, BriarPatch, and many others.
Our many Community Event organizers….Rebecca Blanton (“Auntie Vice”), Christy Busch, Mags Yen-Chuang Matthews, Andrew Rust, Robert Rushin (“Cloaca”), Danielle Vanaman, Cari Yardley, Michelle Bancroft, and so so many others
My “kitchen cabinet” of advisors who I can consult with: Sheila Cameron, Pascale Fusshoeller, John Paul, Wendy Willoughby, Karle DeProsse, Pat Rose, and Matisse Geenty
My amazing husband, Jack, for always supporting me in the community work that feeds my passion and soul. And to the spouses/partners/families of all the others listed above, thank you for supporting them.
And all the others I am sure I forgot to include.
I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving week that offered a time to reflect and give gratitude in between gatherings with friends and families. Happy Holidays!
Rick Partridge