President’s Message for October

Happy fall colors!

This is my second-to-last Message as your president. I am looking forward to moving on so I can spend more time on the various projects that I’m involved with. At the same time, I have to admit that I shall miss serving on your board of directors.

For those of you who miss the Board Preview on the 15^th, here is the synopsis of the president’s duties.

I playfully refer to myself as Carl “I’m Only President” Johnson, referring to the fact that the president has no vote at board meetings except to break a tie. In my two years as president, I don’t recall ever having to do this, which speaks volumes for the level of consensus that the rest of the board has been able to achieve. I do preside over board meetings, and I take pride in how streamlined our board meetings have been, as compared to some of the board meetings in the past that extended well into regular meeting time.

The president is also the public voice of SGM. I am the one to answer phone inquiries, and I have enjoyed speaking with a number of men, answering their questions about our meetings and assuaging their concerns vis-à-vis how closeted they might be and whether they would be welcome here. (Of course they are!) I’ve also dealt with South Church on issues about our meeting space. And I would have handled any issues with the press, had any come up during my tenure. In short, the president’s role is quite public—not appropriate for someone who is at all closeted. (If you’re closeted, there are many other ways you can serve this fine organization, so don’t think I’m letting you off the hook!)

We’ve joked about the president’s role as being a figurehead, fluff, or other similarly deprecating terms. There is some history to this. Without going into any details, there have been presidents in the past who did their best work by staying out of the way of the rest of the board. Conversely, there have been presidents who, in my opinion, have taken far too controlling a role. It is a fine line I have tried to walk as your president. Knowing that I have an exceptional board serving with me, I’ve been delighted to give them free rein and let them shine. (How’s that for mixed metaphors!) There have been times, though, when I have felt the need to tighten those reins, most recently when a bylaws issue arose. Again, it’s a fine line that the president must walk.

So far, Joe Murphy is the only one who has signed up to run for president. Should he get elected, SGM will be in very good hands. But don’t let that stop you from putting your hat in the ring, too. As I stated in my September Message, I’d be delighted to have contested elections for all positions. Anyway, however the election turns out, I have great hopes for SGM.

Until next month, be out, be proud, and vote!

Carl