Capitol Correspondent
LANSING- Michigan Pride, the organization that sponsors the annual pride event in Lansing, is in trouble. The organization has missed deadlines, is behind nearly $10,000 in fundraising, and is desperately seeking volunteers and leadership. The event is currently scheduled to take place June 30 at the Lansing Lou Adado Riverfront Park and the state Capitol.
Kevin Lambrix, co-chair of the event who currently resides in Atlanta since last September, said the organization is about $8,500 behind where it was a year ago in fundraising.
"There hasn't been any fundraising going on. We're down here in Atlanta Georgia," he said by phone. "Without myself and Mike (the organization's other co-chair) in Michigan doing fundraising, there hasn't been any. They (remaining board and steering committee members) don't want to do it."
Between The Lines has been a sponsor of the Michigan Pride event since its inception. The current large sponsors include six alcohol companies, Between The Lines, The Radisson Hotel in Downtown Lansing, The Greater Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau, The Metropolitan Community Churches, The Plant Professionals of Lansing, and ID lubricants.
Lambrix says the organization lost the sponsorship of only one major sponsor from last year – Chrysler. He says they withdrew their support to redirect funding to other pride festivals. "Chrysler backed out this year. They are supporting other prides that were more effective."
But Lambrix says the corporate major donor fundraising is up $4,800 this year. The sponsors web site features several new sponsors, all alcohol related.
The organization is also facing a steep increase in insurance premiums this year. Lambrix said the organization paid $4,800 for insurance last year, but this year will have to pay $9,000.
The reason for the doubling of the costs? Lambrix blamed the protestors, "Last year was the first year we had so many protestors. That caused the insurance to go up."
In addition to the organizations financial and volunteer woes, for the first time, the organization missed a deadline to have a full page donated ad in the annual BTL Pride edition.
Lambrix said the organization raised and spent $57,000 on last year's event. The funds went to pay for hotel rooms for committee members and performers, alcohol purchases, insurance, park rental fees and other incidental expenses incurred while producing a large event. He would not say how much money Michigan Pride had already raised for this year's event.
Committee member Phil Bachinski has voiced concerns about the organization's finances, pointing to $1,000 spent on a weekend junket to the Campit campground last September and $1700 in "mileage" reimbursement given to Lambrix. He wrote in an email that when the event is over in June he will be demanding a 10-year audit review of the organization's finances. He and his partner Paul Levandowski are likely to take over as co-chairs in July. If not, the organization will be without leadership at all.
"As of July 15, there will be no executive committee of Michigan Pride," Lambrix said, noting that both co-chairs are resigning, as is treasurer Doug Rainey. The organization has been without a secretary for months.
Applications for permits for the state capitol and the Lou Adado Riverfront Park have not been finalized. The dates are reserved, but payments and final paperwork to secure both locations are open. Asked about this Lambrix said, "Oh the dates have been set since January,"
When confronted with the information that no formal permits had yet been issued, he said "Yes, technically that is true."
Asked if Michigan Pride would finish the events without a heavy load of debt, Lambrix said, "I can't say it won't be massively in debt, but Michigan Pride will go on."
"I think if it is that rocky I would be more concerned that they not do something, than get themselves in debt," said Dennis Hall, president of the Lansing Association for Human Rights. "Who is going to take responsibility for that debt? If things are that shakey, perhaps they need to say that, and say 'sorry there is not going to be a Lansing pride festival or march,'and let it go."
Lambrix said Michigan Pride sent out a call for assistance to Lansing area LBGT organizations late last year. That request included a call for people to step up to the plate and help take over leadership.
Hall confirmed LAHR received that email, discussed it, but found no board members interested in taking up the leadership roles. He added their organization used its list-serve to put out a large call for volunteers, which also resulted in no response.
"It's one of those things where we have to ask, has it run its course, or are we not getting enough volunteers, or is there a lot of apathy? What does that say? Is the community tired of being knocked around or have we found other interests?" Hall said. "That's a question I have been asking. I am concerned similar organizations around the country are going through the same throws."
Greg Serrano, president of the Greater Lansing Gay Men's Chorus, said that while Lambrix told BTL his organization had been contacted about assisting in leadership, it was not true. "As far as the steeering committee, no. They did try to get people to volunteer. We are volunteering at the gate. We are not in the steering committee. We never got anything about that."
Serrano, who first attended Michigan Pride in 1992, said the quality has declined. "The quality of what goes on at Pride has gone down. The people who put it on are not doing a terrible job, but it does not have the professional flair it used to have."
He added he is not surprised by the lack of volunteers or fundraising shortage the organization is experiencing as a result.
Hall, Serrano and Lambrix all concur that new leadership is necessary if the organization is going to survive, though each has his own take on it. Hall thinks that the event disappearing for a time might encourage new people to get involved, Serrano thinks the organizational leadership is tired, while Lambrix said he does not know if anyone is even interested in leading the organization anymore.
