Barbara Zoloth

How are you actively and currently involved in same sex ballroom dance?

I have been privileged to serve as founding member and of NASSPDA’s Board of Directors since January 2007, initially as Co-Chair and now as President. I am delighted with the progress and growth of the organization. My commitment is to the development and success of this transparent and inclusive membership organization dedicated to growing and supporting the same-sex ballroom communities of North America. I continue to actively compete in international standard same-sex events and to serve on the volunteer organizing committee for April Follies in Oakland, CA. I also helped form and serve on the Board of the Bay Area Same-Sex Dance Association, a non-profit corporation formed to oversee the production of April Follies and other efforts to increase the same-sex partner dance community in the SF Bay Area.

I began same-sex partner dancing socially in the mid 1990’s. My same-sex ballroom dancing started in 2002 when I prepared for and competed that year at the Gay Games in Sydney. I have been an active competitor in same-sex international standard ballroom ever since. Competitions include the 2006 Gay Games in Chicago, the U.S. Same-Sex Championships in Orlando Jun 07, in New York in 2008, in California in 2009 and the 2010 Gay Games in Cologne.

I have served on the organizing committee for the 2007 and 2008 California Dreaming competitions, the 2008 through 2010 April Follies competitions and am currently working on April Follies 2012.
In 2005, three other dancers and I co-founded Rainbow Ballroom, an organization dedicated to producing same-sex ballroom social dance events in the Bay Area. Rainbow Ballroom convened three community meetings, including the meeting out of which came the community’s commitment to form NASSPDA. Since the fall of 2010, I have been one of 3 organizers of Dance Ambassadors which, under the auspices of BASSDA, produces bi-monthly same-sex social dances.

I am firmly committed to the growth and well-being of a transparent and inclusive membership organization dedicated to growing and supporting the same-sex ballroom communities of North America. I was fortunate to be able to retire from my day job in the summer of 2011 and will continue to devote a large part of my time to supporting the work and mission of NASSPDA.

What relevant leadership experience, such as serving on a board of
a membership driven or non-profit organization and/or experience in helping
to create such an organization, do you have?

I have considerable experience applying my skills to various non-profit organizations. Those skills include wide-ranging computer applications (spreadsheet analysis, financial reporting, database development, website maintenance and support), extensive financial skills (PhD in Economics, MBA in Finance, and 28 years working for a major commercial bank), and effective facilitation skills. Several of the Boards on which I’ve served were actively engaged in issues of social justice and equity which helped me form my commitment to working for greater inclusion. My board experiences have included facilitating meetings, drafting documents, maintaining and enhancing websites, creating databases, improving financial systems, and writing publications. In 1995, I served as a fulltime Interim Executive Director for Spectrum for 4 months.

The non-profit organizations which I have served include the following:

• North American Same-Sex Partner Dance Association, Board member, co-Chair and President, 2007-present
• Bay Area Same-Sex Dance Association Board member and Treasurer, 2010-present
• National Center for Lesbian Rights (a law firm dedicated to protecting and expanding the rights of all lesbians), Board member 2000-07, Vice-Chair 2003-05, Audit Committee Chair 2005-07, Policy Committee 2003-05, Nominations Committee 2000-07
• Rainbow Ballroom, founding steering committee member 2005 to present
• Spectrum Center of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Concerns (a social service agency in Marin County serving the lgbt community), Board member1990-95, Board Chair 1992-94, Finance Committee, Fund Development Committee, Personnel Committee, Fulltime Interim Executive Director Jan-Apr 1995.
• Campaign to End Homophobia (a national organization devoted to ending homophobia through education), Board member 1989 to present, Treasurer, President, Coordinator of Homophobia Educators Resource Service, website development and maintenance, co-author of pamphlet on “Homophobia”
• Speaking of Lesbians (lesbian speakers’ bureau), founder and director, 1989-90