In March of 1992, Howdy was ending his time as Board Chair and
Outright was in the difficult time all non—profits face where grant
monies become scarce and former projects need to be solidified
into established functions or services. Eric Nichols was asked to
accept the nomination for Board Chair. Outright was growing in
reputation and the increased demands were outstripping Outright's
monetary and people resources. Eric accepted the nomination
knowing that his next two years would be extremely stressful.

I had come to know Eric as the Chair of one of Outright‘s working
committees and felt confident about his skills running meetings
and his willingness to take on work. As the recession deepened
and Outright’s financial struggles intensified, I came to count on
Eric’s quiet steadiness and creativity. Just when it felt like the
balance between ideas and problems was about to tip, Eric would
guide us to steadier ground with new infonnation or a new
approach. I also asked Eric to recall his time with Outright.

db: Why did you get involved in Outright?

EN: Partly because I was asked. In fact it was Howdy who asked
me. So often with volunteer things, we don’t get involved unless
somebody asks. I didn’t know that much about Outright before I
got involved, but then I saw how important the work was and I
wanted things to be different for young people now than they were
for me growing up.

db: What was your biggest struggle at Outright?

EN: That's easy. The biggest struggle was always worrying about
how we were going to have enough money to survive. I hate to
sound so basic, but that's really it. It felt hard to have the
community be as informed as we wanted them to be about how
much we needed their help. I guess when I think about it, another
hard thing was trying to insure that we made the best use of
volunteers‘ interests and talents in helping with the organization.

db: And most exciting?

EN: It was really exciting to see the efforts and planning that took
place in our meetings result in programs and education that
benefitted the greater community. I felt lucky to be a part of the
energy that made those things happen. I think of things like the
Prom, the Janie Spahr event, the Department of Education’s
Statewide Teachers Conference as examples. Another exciting
thing was hearing the testimonies of young people about how
Outright had made a difference in their lives.

There is no way to measure the impact that Howdy and Eric have
had on gay, lesbian and bisexual young and adult people in this
state. There were times when I was at Outright when I wondered if
as a community we had filled some spiritual and political need in
all of us by extending a hand to those who are younger coming
along behind. I imagined that I saw a new kind of pride and

Q, Walter I. Zeichner, M.A., N.C.C.,
Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor

Psychotherapy ~ BodyWork ~ Massage Therapy

Gay & Lesbian Positive ~ Gender Issues

Educational Consulting ~ Workshops & Trainings:
Wellness Consultation

323 Pearl St. ,Burlington, Vt. 05401
(802) 863-5510

%

19

May 1994

integrity in our community that commanded that we hold our .

heads up and take our positions as leaders, and role models, in the
same way any community is forced to mature when it takes
responsibility for its young. Perhaps it was coincidence that just as
Outright took hold, I found glb adults who had longed to, coming
out and getting radical about civil rights, UVM's l in 10, gays in
the military, Howdy's two Senate campaigns.

I do know that Howdy and Eric and all the other leaders in our
community have helped not just the youth who attend Outright
support groups and not just the teachers and parents of those
youth, they have helped all of us. In his final comments Eric said,
“You know, one of the most wonderful experiences for me at
Outright was coming to know the wonderful people who were
Board members, staff members and volunteers. That really
touched my heart. The feeling of power and affirmation that we
experienced in ‘working together, and sometimes struggling
together, was tremendous and gratifying.”

Hearing Eric's words, I thought about the new Board Chair, and
new Board members, and all the work yet to be done, and I was
reminded that the alternative to struggling together is struggling
alone. From all of us, Thank you, Howdy and Eric. Thanks to all
of you who have worked so hard. If you want to be part of what
carries Outright forward from here, call 865-9677 or write to
Outright Vermont at P.O. Box 5235, Burlington, VT 05402. V

REMEMBER THE
FIRST TIME?

HOW GREAT IT FELT‘?

Waking up the next day knowing
you did the right thing...
Something special just for you!

Of course,
I’m talking about buying your
FIRST HOME!

If you missed
the First Time Home—buyer’s Seminar,
Give me a call & I will personally take
you through the program and explore all the
options to bring you into

HOME OWNERSHIP!

Call: Ed Kaufman
Lang Associates
(802) 864-1905 EXT. 35

Mortgage Financial Service — Ray Morvan
No points & No Closing Costs
(802) 655-5599