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David Melson's Statement of Candidacy David Melson November 2009 I am announcing my candidacy for a second term as Executive Director of Affirmation. The past year has seen the introduction of The Affirmation Messenger, and the reintroduction of the Cornerstone Conferences, including the first Young Adult Conference in Affirmation’s history. We have set up a means to begin bringing the chapters outside of the United States in closer contact with the American part of the organization, we have begun to interact with other gay advocacy organizations and other faith-based LGBTI groups at a more intimate level than ever before, and we have continued efforts to work with leaders within the LDS Church with some levels of success. This coming year will see significant changes in Affirmation’s web presence, in our programming for lesbian women and for transgender and intersex members, in our advocacy and outreach to youth, the If I am reelected, George Cole and Micah Bisson will continue on as Assistant Executive Directors, with George taking the turn this coming year as the senior assistant. If you would like to be a part of the leadership corps, please contact me by visiting www.affirmation.org/contact/dave_melson. Micah, George, and I have had the support this past year of a number of talented and dedicated program directors and chairpersons who are the ones who make things happen in Affirmation; we would love to have you as a part of this cadre. I stated a year ago that one of my goals as Executive Director is to prepare a rising generation of leaders to guide Affirmation well into its second thirty years, and we are well on our way. At the beginning of this year, we established a shorthand for Affirmation’s mission: CASE (Communication, Advocacy, Safe Spaces, and Ending the damage). We have built a strong foundation and begun to make strides in each of these critical areas. We have the opportunity to reach further than ever before in the year ahead. It has been an honor and a very humbling experience to have served as your Executive Director this past year. I am grateful for the leaders who have come before me, from Paul Mortensen to Olin Thomas, and for the wisdom that they have shared. I am blessed to have the help of two of the most active and involved assistant directors that Affirmation has ever seen. George, Micah, and I are a team, and we are grateful for all of the support that you have shown us in so many ways, and we look forward to having the privilege of continuing to serve you in the year ahead. With hope, faith, and love, David W. Melson
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www.affirmation.org