[UUPoly-L] GA Day 4

["Moonstorm Erosong" <mnstrm@erosong.net>]

Well, this morning we had our business meeting, which I was aticipating with some anxiety but which really seemed to go quite smoothly.  Most of us gathered for breakfast before the meeting, which was really nice.  There were about 17 people at the meeting, eleven of whom, fortunately, turned out to be active members of UUPA--one more than we needed to make a quorum.  So, we got the reports read and commented on and the election of Trustees taken care of.  
 
I was pleased that it looked like we might have a few good potential new leaders in our midst.
 
A major point of discussion in the meeting was our financial situation.  Having a booth in the exhibit hall of GA for the past two years has cost us $850 a year--an expense which is rapidly depleting our financial reserves.  We need more dues paying members, and beyond that we're going to need some sigificant donations if we're to keep having booths at GA's to come.  Given the remarkable positive impact our work seems to be having, I think it would be really tragic if we had to stop our efforts at this point.  You can expect some major fundraising efforts during the coming year.  Remember, we're now an official tax-exempt organization, so donations are now tax deductable.
 
After the meeting, back to the exhibit hall.  We continue to do a brisk business of dialog with passers by at our table.  One man repeated the old argument that we tried open marriage back in the 70's, and it made everyone's marriage fall apart.. Another man with a European accent seemed to feel that polyamory couldn't possibly be as much fun as cheating.
 
Some people already knew something about polyamory, and were just really pleased to know that there was an organization like ours withing UUism.  Some knew of friends or acquaintences who are poly and were eager to take our brochures and buttons home for them.  Some young people came by craving our nametag stickers and the "I heart >1" button.  One young man said he was a second generation poly, being the son of one of our frequent posters on this list.
 
And then there were quite a few people who squinted up at the sign on our booth, obviously mystified as to what this bizarre looking new word, "Polyamory," might be.  A few were troubled by what they heard, but the vast majority were just sincerely curious and sympathetic.
 
Whoever suggested having a bowl of Hershey's Kisses and Hugs on our table had a great idea.  Lot's of people were lured over to our table by the siren call of chocolate, and many of them stayed on to get our Poly 101 lecture.  Today I started teasing people who asked if they could have some chocolate by saying of course you can have some, but be aware that if you eat our chocolate it will make you become polyamorous.  
 
Tomorrow is the last day.  We'll have some more hours in the exhibit hall and then the final closing worship service.
 
Blessings,
 
'Storm
Moonstorm Erosong
mnstrm@erosong.net