Bummed.

[da]

I'm generally feeling bummed today. (Not sleeping long enough last night is a major factor; tonight my plans are: to go to the gym and wear myself out, and not do anything on the computer after 10pm, which should make tonight's getting to sleep much easier.)

For the last two weeks I've been point-person for local arrangements for a Quaker visiting North America from Burundi, speaking at 6 or 8 locations across Canada. He was to speak on peacemaking and reconciliation in the time since the Rwandan/African genocide. It became clear we could attract a wider range of people to this talk, many more than just a dozen Quakers, so we were going to switch venues to a local Mennonite church which has space for 100 attenders. The timing for arranging this was tight, but it seemed to be fitting together quite nicely. This week, we were going to start distributing posters for a May 1 talk.

Yesterday, I learned that the speaker's visa was denied by the Canadian government, so the visit is postponed indefinitely. He has given multiple speaking tours in the US, and it's been a long slog toward visiting Canada. The Ottawa arrangements people are following up with Members of Parliament to try and learn why the visa materials they submitted weren't satisfactory; and they're hoping to try again for a visit in the Autumn. Grr.

So, yesterday I had to send out a bunch of cancellation emails, which just sucks. And ask the local paper to not print the notice, dis-invite the reporter, and so on.

Seperately this morning, I got an email concerning a database for Friends for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Concerns. The conditions under which we've needed a new mailing-database minder are tragic- Michael, who served that role for the last few years, died in February of cancer. Once again with the far-flung list of acquaintances and friends in this group, I wish I had known Michael better. I do know he was an idealistic and thoughtful man, with clever plans for our group's publicity and mailing lists. I will miss not seeing him at Summer Gathering, and my heart goes out to his husband Uriel. Reformatting a database does not, often, put a lump in my throat. This time, it will.

...Right now, I'm going to bike home, play with the dog, and eat something. Try and call melted_snowball. Hopefully go to the gym; then sleep. I'm sure I'll feel less pathetic tomorrow; and that's something to look forward to.

Comments

[fyddlestyx.livejournal.com]

hey D.. have a hug. Talk to your sweetie. And yes, take care of yourself.

And if there are any flgbtqc tasks you need help with, yell.

hugs,
Sadelle

[da-lj.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Means a lot to me!

[mynatt.livejournal.com]

Huh, didn't know there was a Quaker community in Burundi. Too bad that guy can't come, I'm sure it would have been an interesting talk.

[da-lj.livejournal.com]

After speaking with one of the organizers last night, I've got hopes that they will be able to reschedule for this Fall. Mostly, they need to convince the government that he's not going to try and apply for residence here. Sigh.

Concerning the locations of Quakers in Africa, I bet this would interest you as it did me. I'm quite curious about African Friends and how widely their religion ranges and differs from the one I'm familiar with. According to this list of Meetings, more of them are "unprogrammed" than I expected (so, without a set order of church services, which possibly makes them more likely to be familiar to me).

[jeanne-d-arc.livejournal.com]

Thank you again! I appreciate your computer savvy-ness.