Keech stepping down from NMG
New Mardi Gras board member Josh Keech will not stand as a candidate at this year’s election.
Keech posted on Facebook earlier today, “I’ve decided to not stand at the next Mardi Gras election.
“After three years, I’ve helped the organisation through it’s hardest season, changed how Police interact with us, protected our IP, supported collaborative community inclusion and set up Mardi Gras Legal. Thanks for to all volunteers who made it possible along the way. Time for a break! … Watch this space.”
Keech, who is qualified as a solicitor, joined the Mardi Gras Board in February of 2009 and rose to the role of Vice Chair.
Fellow board member and Co-Chair, Steph Sands indicated she would not stand again at the last New Mardi Gras AGM. However co-chair Peter Urmson asked her to reconsider her decision and in June she confirmed that she would stand again.
The organisation today reported a $133K loss to its membership.
Details: HERE
Nominations for NMG board positions close 5pm this Friday.
This year’s New Mardi Gras AGM will be held on August 9 a t the new ACON premises at 414 Elizabeth St, Surry Hills.
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In 1978 homosexuality was illegal – that is the not the case today. However, there are still many other in-equalities that need to be resolved for LGBTQI people.
While Mardi Gras is most definetly not a political party nor politically focused organisation, the Parade and events like Fair Day are platform’s for LGBTQI community groups to amplify their voices.
For this reason, I believe that Mardi Gras is as relevant today as it was in the late 70’s.
in 1978 mardi Gras was a protest to legalise homosexuality. Today Mardi Gras is a political party?
Josh, thanks you for your efforts for our community. While many may volunteer at a variety of community organisations, some do nothing more than complain. Thank you for taking it to the next level and investing so much time for LGBTQI interests.
Let’s have a look at Mr Keech’s parting words shall we?
“After three years, I’ve helped the organisation through it’s hardest season,…”
And what help did you provide Josh? Did you listen to the members? Did you push to slim down the bloated staff numbers? Did you ever admit that the mistake made in missing the Atlantis Cruise dates was an action of a staff member not the bullshit the Chair at the time put out? No you didn’t.
“…changed how Police interact with us,…”
If you mean set up systems where the Police now wander freely INSIDE our parties and hassle more and more people then ever before; yes you have changed the way they interact with us.”
“…protected our IP…”
HOW? This matter is still not resolved; no solution that has been proposed has been adopted by the membership and the situation of the security of the IP of the organisation remains as dangerous as when the original Mardi Gras went under.
“…supported collaborative community inclusion…”
You mean the sessions where the Board and the Management team of NMG told the volunteers and the members (I am still one of both) what was changing and then took questions and suggestions which they consistently ignored if they were not in line with the agreed NMG line.
“…and set up Mardi Gras Legal.” I didn’t even know that such a body existed.