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Post by Deleted on Aug 13, 2013 10:47:00 GMT -5
oH MY GOSH, I'm TURNING INTO A REAL "CHATTY CATHY" TODAY !!!! Preliminary plans are already under way for the 17th Annual International Conference of LGBT Criminal Justice Professionals. I will NOT be involved in the planning of this conference and Legal International will not be presenting it. It's going to be presented by the LGBT Criminal Justice group in Amsterdam Holland. Legal International will be supporting it as it does with all other conferences. Veronica Pickell and I will be presenting at the conference, but that will be the extent of my personal participation. The conference will be in 2016 but the actual dates have not yet been set. I'll keep you folks posted.
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Post by TheBear on Aug 13, 2013 22:21:23 GMT -5
oH MY GOSH, I'm TURNING INTO A REAL "CHATTY CATHY" TODAY !!!! Preliminary plans are already under way for the 17th Annual International Conference of LGBT Criminal Justice Professionals. I will NOT be involved in the planning of this conference and Legal International will not be presenting it. It's going to be presented by the LGBT Criminal Justice group in Amsterdam Holland. Legal International will be supporting it as it does with all other conferences. Veronica Pickell and I will be presenting at the conference, but that will be the extent of my personal participation. The conference will be in 2015 but the actual dates have not yet been set. I'll keep you folks posted. THREE CHEERS... um, no, a whole bouquet of ROSES for the pro-active organization of the conference in Amsterdam! You can betcha I will be there. I honor Carroll and our own Veronica. And, having met some of the principals from Amsterdam... well, WOW, what an impressive and professional group! After the faux pas of this year's conference - actually full-blown FU - due to (I really am embarrassed to say) my California group sitting on their butts and doing NOTHING, we have the polar opposite in some quality folks at the helm for Amsterdam. That's for 2015. Still, I am curious... is anything happening for 2014 in Toronto? I'm really sad to say the LEGAL International website, www.LEGALInternational.org , is also a failure, in my opinion. Virtually no meaningful content has been there for two years. Check it out now... NADA. I'm kinda nobody special but I am already scheduled for events near the end of 2014. I NEED to plan. It ain't easy gettin' my disabled carcass to these places. WHEN might we have info on Toronto... like DATES? ... and hotel, etc? If a hotel has not been booked, it is already too late. Bear _______________________. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2013 9:59:45 GMT -5
Bear, here's the dish on Toronto. As you know, there is an LGBT criminal justice fraternal group there called Serving With Pride. For the past two years, Legal International has tried to work with them in putting a conference together for 2014. They could not seem to get their act together. Now, I've been told that they will not be hosting a conference but the Toronto Police Department will be putting one together. This is not good news !! Legal International only deals with LGBT law enforcement groups when planning conferences. We do not deal with local police departments. The conference features workshops from all areas of LGBT law enforcement including corrections, probation, parole, and federal agencies. This is not just a police conference. In addition, many conference goers are not out and they cannot be protected at such a gathering. The social events at our conferences feature gay bars and other activities geared for the LGBT participants. I'd love to see the Toronto Police going around to gay bars setting up free drinks and floor shows for out of town gay officers. If they're dumb enough to try to put something together, we will treat it like we did a few years ago in New York. Without interagency LGBT cooperation, from Legal international, a conference will fall on it's face. The next accredited conference will be the 17th Annual International Conference of LGBT Criminal Justice Professionals and it will will be held in Amsterdam in 2016.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 14, 2013 10:19:03 GMT -5
Oh my God. I'm not gong to be pulled into this mess again. After working with sixteen conferences, I've stepped from the stage. Toronto can run around like a chicken with It's head cut off since It's own gay officers lack the skill or commitment to band together to create a decent conference. I'll let the chips fall where they may. I'm out of it and I'll stay out of it.
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Post by TheBear on Aug 14, 2013 17:59:39 GMT -5
Bear, here's the dish on Toronto. As you know, there is an LGBT criminal justice fraternal group there called Serving With Pride. For the past two years, Legal International has tried to work with them in putting a conference together for 2014. They could not seem to get their act together. Now, I've been told that they will not be hosting a conference but the Toronto Police Department will be putting one together. This is not good news !! ... (clip)... The next accredited conference will be the 17th Annual International Conference of LGBT Criminal Justice Professionals and it will will be held in Amsterdam in 2015. Well, that sucks about Toronto. Hummm... a half-hearted effort for a gathering of Law Enforcement Lesbians And Gays, LGBTs, "organized" and presented by primarily straights in the PD. What could possibly go wrong? I'm really disappointed in the Toronto LEO/CJ LGBTs who couldn't get it together. (SIGH,) okay. At least by 2015 there will be enough pent-up demand that it should be a wild success! I've been to Amsterdam several times. It's a FUN place to visit, even for me as an exemplar of virginal innocence.  I wonder if the L.A. Sheriff's Dept will send the 30+ representatives as they have in the past? Oh... and I wonder if I'll finally meet so many more of our BluePride family there? The Purest Bear in the Forest, (eyeroll), St. Bear ________________________________. |
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Post by TheBear on Aug 14, 2013 18:34:28 GMT -5
Darn. Double post. Sorry, folks. This new format is still doing a "gotcha" on me sometimes.
Bear
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Post by TheBear on Aug 14, 2013 19:39:59 GMT -5
Oh my God. I'm not gong to be pulled into this mess again. After working with sixteen conferences, I've stepped from the stage. Toronto can run around like a chicken with It's head cut off since It's own gay officers lack the skill or commitment to band together to create a decent conference. I'll let the chips fall where they may. I'm out of it and I'll stay out of it. Carroll and many BluePriders know I am all about PMA, Positive Mental Attitude. Part of PMA is recognizing when to take another path and avoid drowning in the whirlpool. Carroll has amazing skill at not getting involved and/or being able to step away when he knows an event will be a failure. Good leaders do that. It takes more than one oar and one/few rowers. A one-oar boat just goes in small circles then sinks. Glub Glub, Toronto. What a shame. I would also like to posit that Carroll is inspired by committed rowing teams. Carroll has great expertise and certainly will have some involvement in the Conference in Amsterdam. The Amsterdam LGBT team is inspiring... and Carroll will surely be at least a head cheerleader for a highly successful 17th annual LEGAL International Conference. Besides, folks, it's... it's... it's... AMSTERDAM!! (Bear brushes out his awesome, fluffy tail and gets out his pom poms!) Bear __________________________. |
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Post by edmontongreg on Aug 14, 2013 19:44:38 GMT -5
I am sad to say I saw the Serving With Pride guys at Parade in Toronto. I said I was one and asked why there was nothing on site. I got a blank stare. Kind of disappointing. I know we are the Clean up Crew or the Evidence Destruction Unit. But we serve too. And it is no easier an environment if you collar is Red, than Blue. My two cents
If we had enough team members I'd make y'all come to the frozen North. I happen to be a good organizer. My two cents.
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Post by hcsodale on Aug 14, 2013 19:44:43 GMT -5
Ah yes, Amsterdam....known for it's very easy and legal access to drugs and wild sex. For easily swayed law enforcement officers, that could pose a problem when they return to their jobs. Thank goodness there aren't tests for the wild sex part!
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Post by TheBear on Aug 14, 2013 20:09:55 GMT -5
Ah yes, Amsterdam....known for it's very easy and legal access to drugs and wild sex. For easily swayed law enforcement officers, that could pose a problem when they return to their jobs. Thank goodness there aren't tests for the wild sex part! Years ago, my first SONY HandiCam had a pretty good zoom lens. I was walking through the "red light district" taping pics of the awesome skinny/tall buildings, the crossings over the canals, etc. I was amused at how draperies would suddenly be drawn closed as I panned down the row of store-front windows where "ladies" were on display. They could spot me from two blocks away as I panned the scene with my camera. Hilarious! I don't do the, um, "coffee shops," but, as far as the gay sex scene... well, I refer readers to pics I've posted in the past of me with my halo.  As I posted below... it's AMSTERDAM!Bear _________________. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 15, 2013 12:57:02 GMT -5
Hi Edmontongreg. When you met up with the guys in Toronto, they looked at you with a dumb stare because most of them didn't know what you were talking about. True, It's important to march in the pride parade because it gives us all great visibility. However, simply marching in a parade is not enough. They have to put together a strong organization with real leadership. They have to financially support the organization. The organization must reflect all areas of LGBT law enforcement. They have to be prepared to protect their membership legally if discrimination occurs. The law enforcement agencies in Canada must respect and fear them before they can march triumphantly down the street. Activism and non stop determination is what will move the organization forward. Until they learn that, they will be looking good in their uniforms as they wave at a cheering crowd. Trust me, that's nothing more than a show.
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Post by edmontongreg on Aug 15, 2013 16:01:05 GMT -5
Thanks for that. Myself, I have been wearing more Pride type stuff and not changing genders when speaking of people. I also have discovered something about myself, which was causing me to feel insecure. I have since adopted a who gives a f@@k attitude. Much like straight guy, except better dressed
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Post by bluepride on Aug 20, 2013 11:22:51 GMT -5
Hi Edmontongreg. When you met up with the guys in Toronto, they looked at you with a dumb stare because most of them didn't know what you were talking about. True, It's important to march in the pride parade because it gives us all great visibility. However, simply marching in a parade is not enough. They have to put together a strong organization with real leadership. They have to financially support the organization. The organization must reflect all areas of LGBT law enforcement. They have to be prepared to protect their membership legally if discrimination occurs. The law enforcement agencies in Canada must respect and fear them before they can march triumphantly down the street. Activism and non stop determination is what will move the organization forward. Until they learn that, they will be looking good in their uniforms as they wave at a cheering crowd. Trust me, that's nothing more than a show.
Over the last X number of years I've been increasingly disappointed in most of the groups out there. The road was constructed, paved and made extremely easy to travel and now it is taken for granted. Most of these groups are bullsh*t in my opinion these days. Oh, one or two do some good things now and then but for the most part they're in no way living up to the visions of those who came before them and are mostly a device for partying. Six pack abs, anyone?? I know I'm rehashing what I and others here have said before but it's the truth. If this is what the groups have boiled down to, then I and others have pretty much wasted our precious time for years and years. Most of the older groups have done good and made inroads but the present day member (for the most part) doesn't "get it". I'm over most of them. I feel like I've graduated from grammer school...and high school. While not regretting what has been done before, I feel like the purposes and lessons from the past have fallen on deaf ears these days. Just my opinion. |
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Post by TheBear on Aug 22, 2013 9:23:44 GMT -5
Hi Edmontongreg. When you met up with the guys in Toronto, they looked at you with a dumb stare because most of them didn't know what you were talking about. True, It's important to march in the pride parade because it gives us all great visibility. However, simply marching in a parade is not enough. They have to put together a strong organization with real leadership. They have to financially support the organization. The organization must reflect all areas of LGBT law enforcement. They have to be prepared to protect their membership legally if discrimination occurs. The law enforcement agencies in Canada must respect and fear them before they can march triumphantly down the street. Activism and non stop determination is what will move the organization forward. Until they learn that, they will be looking good in their uniforms as they wave at a cheering crowd. Trust me, that's nothing more than a show. (Sigh,) In my view, Tommy and Carroll are correct. It is my nature to be like a puppy dog when it's owner comes home. No matter if one has been gone for a week or just an hour, the puppy is always and equally excited! Alas, how many times can one be batted down? Two conferences in a row cancelled now because of apathy. I had my pom poms out, cookies baked and was ready to hop up and down and wag my tail. But, nobody ever came home. I feel like a caged puppy... alone and ignored. Thank goodness for the Amsterdam group. The representatives I met in Vegas two years ago were/are AWESOME! I've probably got one more excited hopefulness in me. But, the Conference isn't until 2015. If it doesn't happen then, well, all puppies (and bears) and hopeful spirits die if they are not nourished. It would be sad if the younger generation allows our professional Conferences to become just fading memories in old photographs. For now, I am maintaining what Carroll characterized as my SUNNY demeanor. I'll hope for a new generation of excitement before my sunset. Bear |
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