Hello , June is drawing to a close with a bang this year! Here in Seattle, Pride month closed with pride! Even though the parade was once again cancelled due to ongoing COVID restrictions, there were still pockets of celebrations and televised lectures and tributes. I loved seeing the painted faces and multi-colored flags on kids, cars, bikes, and buildings. The rights and freedoms of this community are hard-fought and deserve to be celebrated in this moment in time, even as that battle continues in politics and courtrooms, bakeries, and the military. Unless you have been absent from your devices and the internet in the last couple of weeks, you must have noticed that registration for this year’s Forum in San Diego is open! Our theme, Lighting the Way Together came from the sense of unity we achieved in last year’s virtual Forum where a beacon was lit as we came together in a unique way. This year, IACP worked to bridge the worlds of those restricted by diverse COVID dictated boundaries. We have extraordinary live and on-line events – amazing speakers, workshops, surprise online fun and games in an exciting new interactive Virtual Forum platform, Gather Town. Gather Town is a video space that allows folks to wander in and out of conversations and get togethers as easily as if you were in the hotel itself. It’s a breeze to use – I figured it out without direction - which says anyone can leap in and participate. Look for my avatar wandering around the place with the biggest grin and hopefully a margarita in hand! I intend to say hello to as many folks in Gather Town as I do in the hotel. Stay cool, my friends and remember October is on the way! Anne Lucas |