[2003] Dennis Neill Remarks at Gala

JUNE 13, 2003

DENNIS NEILL REMARKS AT GALA

ISN’T IT GREAT TO HAVE AMBASSADOR HORMEL AND HIS PARTNER IN TULSA TONIGHT?

SPECIAL LEADERS IN THE ALL IMPORTANT FIGHT FOR THE GLBT COMMUNITY.

IN TULSA, WE HAVE ALSO BEEN BLESSED WITH COMMITTED INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE VOLUTEERED THEIR TIME AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES FOR SERVICES TO THE GLBT COMMUNITY – PROVIDING EDUCATION, OUTREACH , ADVOCACY.

FOR 23 YEARS, TOHR HAS BEEN AN IMPORTANT ANCHOR IN THAT EFFORT – BUT AN ANCHOR THAT IS ONLY AS STRONG AS ITS CHAIN – OF FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS.

TONIGHT, YOU REPRESENT A LARGE PART OF THE CIRCLE OF FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS WHO HAVE ENSURED THAT TOHR CONTINUE TO GROW AND EVOLVE OVER THESE 23 YEARS.

BRENT AND SUE HAVE HIGHTLIGHTED THE PROGRAMS OF TOHR AND THE IMPORTANCE OF AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.

WHAT I WISH TO CONVEY IS THE IMPORTANCE OF TOHR AND ITS PROGRAMS BEING AT THE CORE OF YOUR GIVING – OF TIME AND MONEY.

THERE ARE MANY WORTHWHILE CAUSES IN OUR CITY, IN OUR STATE, IN OUR NATION, AND AROUND THE GLOBE.  IT IS IMPORTANT TO SUPPORT THOSE EFFORTS THAT WE CAN. 

BUT A FEW CAUSES WE CAN MAKE THE CORE OF OUR GIVING, AND REALLY HAVE AN IMPACT ON THOSE CAUSES.  WHEN WE REFLECT IN THE FUTURE ON HOW EACH OF US USED OUR RESOURCES, I BELIEVE THOSE OF US WHO HAVE MADE TOHR A CORE OF OUR GIVING WILL BE PROUD OF WHAT WE HAVE DONE.

BY BEING HERE TONIGHT, YOU ARE IN ALL LIKLIHOOD A CONTIRIBUTOR TO TOHR’S BUDGET.  IF TOHR CAN BE IN THE CORE OF YOUR CHARITABLE DONATIONS, WE WILL TAKE THE ORGANIZATION TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT THAT WE EXPAND THIS CIRCLE OF FRIENDS AND SUPPPORTERS WITHIN THE GLBT AND STRAIGHT COMMUNITY.  SO ASK YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS FOR THEIR HELP.  VOLUNTEER MORE OF YOUR TIME AND MONEY. 

BE POSITIVE ABOUT OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS OVER THE YEARS .  PARTICIPATE IN THE CHALLENGE AND OPPORTUNITY OF SERVING TULSA’S GLBT COMMUNITY TODAY AND TOMORROW.  WE WILL BE PROUD OF WHAT WE DID TO MOVE TOHR AND WHAT IT REPRESENTS FORWARD – TOGETHER.