www.TeamChicago.org

Team Chicago Board Members have been busy with the holidays spending time with their families and alternative families. Thanks all for supporting our mission in 2011. Our first board meeting of the new year will be Thursday, January 5, 2012 at the Center on Halsted from 7-9 PM. Stop in if you want to get more involved as a board member or work on a committee in 2012. Have a safe and Happy NYE and New Years, we look forward to 2012, 2013 and 2014 and beyond!

The following is a letter to Team Chicago from Co-Presidents of the Federations of Gay Games... As you can see the Team Chicago Delegation is well represented and the Federation is off to a great year ahead!

Dear Gay Games Friends,

This note is an update of FGG activities during the past few months.

Federation of Gay Games 2011 Annual General Assembly

The Federation is pleased with the success of our 2011 Annual General Assembly, which was held in Toronto, Canada. Over 60 delegates from North America, Europe, and Australia convened for a three-day meeting. The Federation was informally hosted by one of the newest FGG members, OutSport Toronto, the LGBT multi-sport organization of Toronto. Special thanks to Mac Gunter, new delegate from OutSport Toronto, who provided so much help in making this AGA possible.

Several new Officers were elected. A new feature this year was the "meet the candidates" forum prior to elections, where delegates had an in-person chance to meet and question the candidates. Three interim appointments were confirmed for the remaining year of their two-year term: Jennifer Forward (Melbourne) as Officer-at-Large/people coordinator, Marc Naimark (Paris) as Vice-President for External Affairs, and Kurt Dahl (Chicago) as Vice-President for host relations.

Reelected for a new two-year term were Emy Ritt (Paris) as Co-President, Jon Baldan (Sydney) as Vice-President for Operations, Paul Oostenbrug (Albuquerque) as Vice-President for Membership, Doug Litwin (San Franciso) as Officer for Marketing, Sebastien Datiche (Tours, France) as Officer for Sports, Paul White (Sydney) as Officer for International Development, Dennis Sneyers (Chicago) as Officer for Site Selection, and Sonia Abécassis (Paris) as Officer-at-Large.

Elected for the first time were Sonya Jaquez Lewis (Denver) as Officer at Large, Shamey Cramer (Los Angeles) as Officer for Ceremonies, and Roger Brigham (Oakland) as Officer at Large. Last week, Michael Tolliver was elected as Officer of Culture and David Killian was elected as Officer of Development.

Memorial Moment

A highlight of each Annual General Assembly of the FGG is the Memorial Moment. This year the event took place under the direction of Brent Nicholson Earle just before the important closing session of the meetings, with Kyle Chang (delegate from Team Chicago), Bettina Dietmann-Winter (board member from Munich), and Mac Gunter (delegate from Outsport Toronto) reading names, and Barbara Strewinski (delegate from SC Janus, Cologne, and 2010 Volunteer of the Year), Erica Munoz (delegate from Team Chicago), Tom Nobbe (executive director of Gay Games 9), and Wessel Van Kampen (co-president of GLISA International) carrying out the quilt ceremony.

Gay Games VIII

Following Games Cologne’s final report, FGG Delegates applauded Cologne for Gay Games VIII, noting the excellent sport events, the great village, and outstanding volunteers. The Games Cologne team had a very strong presence in Toronto with all key leaders attending, including Annette Wachter and Michael Lohaus. Games Cologne is still working diligently to finalize the financial outcome of Gay Games VIII."

Gay Games 9

The hosts of Gay Games 9 (2014), the Cleveland Special Events Corporation, presented reports to the Assembly. The FGG Assembly was impressed by the status report from Cleveland-Akron, and, in particular, the hiring of sports manager Rob Smitherman.

1QE 2018

Several sessions were held during the 2011 AGA in Toronto to present and discuss the 1QE 2018 project. GLISA Co-President Wessel van Kampen travelled from Rotterdam for the week to participate in the meetings.

FGG Members expressed their support for 1QE 2018 and provided feedback for many of the proposals. Members expressed their support for the proposed name “Gay Game – Out Games – Together 2018”. There was strong support in favor of “no proxy voting” during 2018 Site Selection. Members reiterated their support for the 1QE negotiations as carried out by the 1QE Working Group under the auspices of the FGG Board. Kurt Dahl announced that the RFP will be shared with FGG members and stakeholders before distribution to potential bidders.

The 1QE Working Group continues its negotiations, under the auspices of the FGG and GLISA boards. FGG Board and the 1QE Working Group recognize the importance of the FGG Bylaws and principles and are aware of concerns from some members. The membership reiterated their support for and the importance of the need of a successfully organised 1QE "Together in 2018”.

More information about the 1QE meetings and discussions are posted on webex in the General Assembly forum. Additional teleconferences will be scheduled with FGG members, Honorary Life Members and Gay Games stakeholders as soon as there is a slate of proposals to review.

On World AID Day, we celebrate Dr. Tom Waddell, the founder of Gay Games and 1968 Olympian. The Gay Games remains the largest international LGBT Sporting competitions who provide opportunities for those with HIV and AIDS to fully participate and medal in novice to high level sports and cultural competition. In addition, participants are able to compete against others who are not living with HIV or AIDS side by side. We also celebrate the many lives who continue to live or who have been lost in the fight against HIV and AIDS. Please consider supporting Team Chicago or the many organizations that make a difference in the world! www.TeamChicago.org/node/4

We wish the best and loving memories to Richard M. and family for their loss this week of First Lady Maggie Daley. Their family's love for people, citizens and sports were instrumental in Chicago having secured the winning bid and successful and un-precedented execution of the 2006 Gay Games VIII "Where the World Meets" here in Chicago within 2 years time. This international, multi-sport event delivered just under 12,000 participants from around the world to Chicagoland for over 8 days during July, 2006.

Maggie Daley has been instrumental in helping Mayor Richard M. in building the culture and beauty of the City over the 22 years in office that her husband was in office with green scaping and tulips along Michigan Avenue every Spring. In addition, her legacy of culture and youth initiatves includes After School Matters, Gallery 37 and the Maggie Cancer Center at Northwestern University. They worked with the Chicago Park District in converting abandoned Migs Field into a wild life bird sancturary, bike and jogging trails along the lakefront.

Mayor Richard M. has always been a strong supporter of the LGBT Community working closely with local businesses and community leaders to help make Boystown and Andersonville what they are today -- a great tourist destination and a great place to live & play for the citizens of the LGBT Community.

We are truly blessed to have their support of the LGBT community over the past couple of decades and it's with great sadness that Maggie's Strength, poise and intelligence will only live on in our memories of her. Thank You Maggie for your support or Richard M. and your family and of your many, many GREAT contributions to the City of Chicago that has enriched all of our lives here!

Video Tribute Courtesy of Chicago Tribune

Team Chicago remembers and honors today our transgendered athletes and cultural participants and supporters and those who have have lost along the way of the Gay Games movement. You have and always be part of the community and the Gay Games movement.

See you at Center on Halsted tonight at 6 PM

Read more: http://www.centeronhalsted.org/coh/calendar/newevents-details.cfm?ID=1868