Dear Members and Friends,
Thank you for coming on the 17th and making the event enjoyable for everyone. Although we had much food for thoughts it was certainly useful and thoughts provoking!
I hope that you enjoyed attending as much as I enjoyed hosting it! I had a very early start the df
If you have not yet done so, please consider joining us at www.gpn.one and please continue to spread the word about the Gay Professional Network. Sharing it with friends, colleagues and the wider world helps us to grow and expand.
The Network is open to all and is a really good way to meet people for business or social reason and I will incite you to keep in touch and nurture the contacts you make as you never know when they might come useful.
As always, I'd like to hear your thoughts and feedback about the event and your online experience too through ourFacebook Group and our LinkedIn Group.
I was invited yesterday to City Hall to discuss with members of the LGBT Consortium to discuss the Mayor's Diversity and Inclusion Vision, to my surprise, I was the only person representing Gay Professionals and Businesses. The discussion was focused on six areas: London being a great place to live, to grow up, to work and do business, getting around (transport), a healthy, green, safe and enjoyable City and leading by example. Those were discussed as were there the right priorities, what evidence of inequalities do you or your organisation have that could be included in the evidence base, what are the most effective actions GLA could take on the priorities, what best preactice already exists in those areas that GLA can learn from, could we work together on these and how could they do this?
I made a point amongst others that education should be improved so that sex education and orientation were discussed in school and safety for all by more officers on the beat and within communities (I can't remember when I last seen a police officer walking in the street). I off course mentioned www.GBA.org.uk and www.myGwork.com as LGBT Chamber of Commerce and LGBT recruitment respectively. It was good to see many young people from http://mosaicyouth.org.uk/ as essentially any implementation and changes will benefit them.
The consultation runs till the 11th September and as I am going away till then, if you would like to add to this please contact Paul Roberts OBE, CEO of the LGBT Consortium on paul.roberts@lgbtconsortium.org.uk.
GPN is a non for profit membership organisation operating since 2010. The excess from the membership fees after drinks and room hire, when applicable, pays for the website, promotion, organising, stationary, transport & banners, although it does not always break even and donations of any kind are most welcomed!
We are going around to various venues, always supporting whenever possible LGBT owned or operated venues, exceptionally some may be more exclusive that impose a dress code, please feel free to suggest venues, perhaps you can host an event in your offices or venue?
The Gay Professional Network is your platform to promote your cause, your business, venue and yourself. It helps your further your business or career and makes meaningful business and social contacts. You get connected, proactive and productive.
It is also a get together of like minded people who enjoy meeting other people. All very nice people in a relaxed atmosphere.
I very much look forward to seeing you all again soon.
Best wishes,
J-F.
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