The Syney-based Carmen Rupe Memorial Trust is looking for volunteers to join its advisory committee. A statement from the Trust says it’s being established as a registered charity “to perpetuate Carmen Rupe's legacy as a trans-Tasman glbti icon through charitable work and community service”. “The organisation’s primary focus will be developing strategies and implementing programs designed to further Carmen Rupe's interest in glbti education and social justice,” it says in a post on its Facebook page. “To help us achieve this goal, we're looking for talented and similarly motivated people who are willing to work in a positive team environment to help build a charitable organisation capable of achieving great things in Carmen's honour.” It wants its advisory committee to play a vital role in what it describes as a “noble endeavour” by providing Trustees with input on policy and strategy, coordinating and leading projects, and ensuring decisions are informed by the wider community. “To facilitate this, we're particularly interested in hearing from members of the transgendered community, the wider glbti community and the Maori and Pacific Islander communities,” it says. Among the criticisms of the Trust, which quickly emerged in the wake of Carmen’s death, has been what some critics see as a lack of community consultation. The Trust says it’s ”also interested to hear from social progressives from outside these groups who share our vision of a fairer, more tolerant, kind and thoughtful society”. Anyone interested is asked to contact Kelly on 61 (0) 452 454 965 or through the group’s Facebook page.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Tuesday, 19th June 2012 - 2:09pm