August 1993 - TBPG is born

Sometime in early 1993, Bob Page and Dale Frederiksen attended the Triangle Guild in Raleigh. They liked what they saw and Bob asked Gary Palmer to explore interest among the gay and lesbian community in the Triad in forming a similar group. Gary arranged a preliminary meeting with Allen Broach, Ron Johnson, Dawn Chaney and Frank Denny to discuss the feasibility of organizing a "guild" type group here.

The idea met with tremendous enthusiasm from the beginning. Other "clubs" had existed in the Triad beginning in the 70's but by the late 80's they were effectively defunct. In fact, in 1993 the only way for gay and lesbian people to meet one another was through existing social networks or the bars.

The planning committee moved quickly. A second meeting with an attendance of about 30 was held at the Broach Theatre followed by a standing room only meeting at the Sunset Café in July. There were about 80 attendees. The meeting style was open forum with an opportunity for everyone to speak. An interim board consisting of Ron Johnson, Chris Conner, Cameron Stell, Lennie Gerber, Dawn Chaney and Bruce Francey got the ball rolling.

A key consideration in the discussions was the importance of building an organization that would be attended and supported by the men and the women in our community. Most agreed that long-term success would require the support of all of us. Most also agreed that a membership balanced by gender could best be achieved if the board of directors itself was balanced by gender.

By December of '93 a full board was elected by the current membership (77-81 strong - many original members are still among us) and included Sharon Provo and Jeff Lawson as co-presidents, Cameron Stell - vice president, Bruce Francey - treasurer, Eliza Taylor - secretary, Dawn Chaney and Bill Guill - members at large.

The rest is history. We have succeeded in our intention to have a great balance among men and women. We are very proud that our members range in age from 20's through 70's and that we attract both singles and couples. If you've been around from the beginning, you know it hasn't always been easy. But mostly we have been blessed with a talented group of community volunteers who put this organization first, work well together and are determined to make our monthly meetings and social events warm, welcoming, interesting and informative. If you are new to the Guild and/or the community, be assured that your journey is easier now because this organization has made getting to know you and helping you to know us a priority.

Below are a few words from some of our founders on how well the Guild has succeeded in our efforts.

Eliza Taylor:
"The Guild has provided a wonderful opportunity to move beyond private social settings and to have an alternative to the bars and to network, organize, educate and socialize in a much more effective way than we had ever been able to do before. I think the Guild has fulfilled any hope and expectation we ever had."

Ellen "Lennie" Gerber:
"The Guild has succeeded far beyond my wildest dreams and expectations. It is so important that each of us feel the responsibility to support this GLBT community organization. As long as we do, we insure it will always be here for everybody".

Gary Palmer:
"Till this day Bob Page probably doesn't know what his simple request to contact people did for me. I'm not from a white-collar background and I was frightened to call the "pillars of the community." It was a challenge I feared, but one I learned I could do. What a breakthrough. I was pushed and eventually I learned how to be effective and became involved in all kinds of community activities. It changed my life. As for the Guild, it is the gateway to our community. It has been a breeding ground for new organizations and for growing our community leaders. This is where we get together and get to know each other and where we have time to discuss our needs and brainstorm ways to address them".

Bill Guill:
"The establishment of the Guild was like an outing of the gay community. Over the years most of our organizations met in peoples homes. There was lots of concern about preserving anonymity. We had to be willing to go public and make contract arrangements with organizations like the Embassy Suites and the Marriott Hotels as gay and lesbian people. I think the Guild has made a major statement within the Triad that we are a viable community. Today it seems easy but back then it was a huge step. It laid the groundwork for people to feel it is natural to meet as a gay/lesbian group and feel safe doing it. Once we felt secure we were able to grow in new directions because each new accomplishment raised our level of self-esteem both as individuals and members of the greater community. It has buoyed us to move in new directions such as the establishment of the Guilford Green Foundation and its affiliation with the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro".

Bob Page:
"I just think it is a great organization and a wonderful way to meet people, hear a well informed speaker and learn what is going on in the community. Looking ahead, I would like to see more people get involved and I hope that our membership becomes more diverse".

Dawn Chaney:
"The Guild provides a wonderful environment for our entire community to meet and to share information. I congratulate all the leaders of this organization for their outstanding contributions to our community and to the community at large. It is organizations like the Guild that give meaning to who we are and support for our future".

Judith Kobler:
"I wasn't here in the beginning. My partner Joyce and I didn't arrive in North Carolina until February 1995. I didn't know anyone else here except my employer. Today I am a well-integrated and active member of our community. I count many of you among my friends. But how would I ever have gotten to meet you without this Guild"?

NOTE: During the 1970's and continuing for about eight years, the GAU (Gay Academic Union) was a thriving organization in the Triad. That name was used because we were affiliated with a national organization of the same name. Members definitely were not academics, though many were. For a year or two, the GAU met in people's homes. Then the group grew too large and we met at the Unitarian Church off Freeman Mill Road.

The Triad Business and Professional Guild promotes networking, professional development, personal enrichment, and social opportunities for gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgender, and our allies in the Piedmont Triad. Our membership is almost equally divided among men and women, representing all ages and encompassing scores of occupations. This organization was formed to fill a need for people to express pride in who they are and what they do.

Whether you are a student, a retiree, a doctor, or a worker at a manufacturing plant:
The Guild is the right place for you! Don't be put off by our name.