My most important email ALL YEAR

[Elizabeth Casswell]

To all GSSA Members!

The GSSA at UAB is stronger than ever right now. With unprecedented support from the UAB administration, faculty and staff, student life, and the USGA, we have grown in numbers, passion and funding over the last two years beyond my own wildest dreams. At the first few new student orientations this summer we have seen incredible passion for our cause in the incoming freshman class. We have the largest student-run organization on BSync. Our Fall 2012 funding from the USGA is 17 times more than the budget two years ago. After two years of service to the GSSA, and working hard with others to bring the GSSA to this amazing place, I have decided not to run for President again. I will, however, remain available to support the Executive Board for at least one more year.

A strong, active GSSA at UAB is vital to ensure that LGBT students attending UAB of all ages, and all walks of life, know that they are not alone. The GSSA is important to keep the community, administration, and students educated about the issues that LGBT people face every day. It is important because it ensures that the LGBT and Ally population at UAB is visible, and that we all have a voice. The UAB administration often discounts student organizations’ input because they are notoriously transient. It is each of our responsibility to ensure that the GSSA at UAB is enduring, that it can be counted on to advocate, educate and support over the coming years. We can do some of this by ensuring that we are inclusive to ALL students. To do all of this, the GSSA needs strong, passionate students to run the Executive Board for next year. There are no qualifications for these positions, you do not need to be LGBT, experienced, or have certain skills. You do have to be passionate and willing to put in some time.

As a member of the executive board, you can gain valuable experience, coordinating events, managing budgets, marketing an organization, working with media, working with high-level officials, participating in broader diversity initiatives, and helping to shape official university programming. The current executive board has made valuable life-long contacts locally and nationally, been on local news programs, been profiled in the campus newspaper, personally met civil rights heroes, had incredible experiences, and added valuable experience and skills to their resumes. You could do all this too!

The 2012/2013 year is going to be a busy year for the GSSA, and we need you! Right now, you have a unique opportunity to ensure the continued strength and resolve that the GSSA has built over the past 2 years, to advocate for LGBT rights, make a difference at UAB, and in the community. 

Nominate yourself, find out more, nominate a friend: Go to our website at www.uabgssa.org before 7/11/12!

Thank you all for everything you have done for the GSSA, each one of you has made a difference.

Elizabeth Casswell

President

GSSA at UAB