Volunteer
The enthusiastic and indomitable spirit of HRC volunteers is an essential aspect of the organization’s success and it continues a long tradition of GLBT activism. The Columbus Dinner is planned each year by an all-volunteer Columbus Dinner Committee. The Dinner Committee is led this year by Co-Chairs, Ryan Fournier and Mollie Levin.
Volunteer Opportunities
Depending on your area of interest or background, there are many volunteer opportunities open each year on the National Dinner Committee and its subcommittees. Each subcommittee is led by a team of co-chairs and works to develop key aspects of the Dinner.
Table Captain Sub-Committee
The foundation of the Dinner's attendance is built around table captains who commit to filling tables of 12. The Table Captain Sub-Committee hosts events focused on securing table captains, developing their table attendance and acknowledging their commitment.
The 2008 Co-Chairs are Rick Harrison and Mary Ann Potter Lewis.
Corporate Sponsor Sub-Committee
The success of each National Dinner is greatly attributable to the kind sponsorship of corporate America. The Corporate Sponsor Sub-Committee reaches out to the corporate community along with HRC staff to secure their support.
The 2008 Co-Chair is Ron Guisinger.
Marketing/Communications Sub-Committee
The Columbus Dinner Program Book chronicles the night's events and gives friends, local businesses, and corporations the opportunity to support the Dinner. The Marketing/Communications Sub-Committee solicits ads and helps to design the book, invitation as well as secure media sponsorship for the Dinner.
The 2008 Chair is Joel Diaz.
Silent Auction Sub-Committee
For the competitive among us, the Silent Auction is an exciting night-of part of Dinner festivities that offers everything from vacations to furniture. The Silent Auction Sub-Committee networks locally to secure items for the auction.
The 2008 Co-Chairs Ryan Fournier.
Volunteer Sub-Committee
HRC owes much of its event success to its volunteer force. The Volunteer Sub-Committee provides a pool of volunteers for pre-Dinner events and for the night of the Dinner itself. Volunteers on this sub-committee have the opportunity to attend the Dinner and assist with ushering, greeting, assembling gift bags and the Silent Auction.
The 2008 Chair is M. Mary Mason.
Meet the Co-Chairs
Ryan Fournier
Ryan Fournier is a graduating senior at The Ohio State University. He has been extremely active in the LGBT and OSU communities since his freshman year. This is Ryan's first time serving as the Columbus HRC Dinner Co-Chair.
Before this role, Ryan served as the student body president of The Ohio State University. He was the first openly gay president at Ohio State and the first in the Big 10 conference.
His election received national attention – Ryan spoke in front of the leadership of the Democratic National Committee in New York City, St. Louis, Washington D.C. and in Columbus. Ryan was also highlighted in the Columbus Dispatch, Columbus Alive, C-Bus Magazine, Instinct, Outlook, the Advocate, and by Time Magazine writer Andrew Sullivan. He served as Grand Marshall of the Columbus Pride Parade along side former OSU President Karen Holbrook, was honored by Columbus City Council for his services to the Columbus community and spoke at the 2006 HRC national dinner in Washington D.C.
During his tenure at Ohio State, Ryan lobbied and secured $958,000 from Columbus City Council to replace all lighting in the off campus district, served on the Board of Trustee's Presidential Search Committee and stands proudly among the brothers of Sigma Phi Epsilon. He also started the first HRC student chapter with good friend Kinsey Holloway - a way to get more college students involved with the organization, an effort he is very passionate about.
Ryan currently is a summer intern at the law firm of Kirkland and Ellis in Chicago, Illionis and will be attending Loyola University Chicago School of Law in August.
Mollie Levin
Please stay tuned!