The message below went out on Monday, July 30, 2012 to Standing on the Side of Love supporters. You can sign-up for these emails here.
After two fantastic years managing the Standing on the Side of Love campaign, I have made the difficult decision to step down as Campaign Manager. Thank you so much for granting me the privilege to act as a guide on our shared journey.
I cannot convey in mere words how much this campaign has affected me personally and reshaped how I think about my professional advocacy. Every day, I remain in awe of the incredible passion for justice that each and every one of you holds as a guiding principle. I have been so fortunate to work with lovely, dedicated, talented, and fun colleagues at the Unitarian Universalist Association, and to meet equally inspiring people all across the country.
The individuals who brought this campaign to fruition—Rev. Bill Sinkford, Rev. Meg Riley, Adam Gerhardstein, Fred Garcia, Susan Leslie, the Leadership Council at the UUA, and our partners at Fission Strategy—infused it with so much heart. It was easy for me to pick up the baton and run with it. And it has been so heartening to see congregations and individuals across the country use this campaign as inspiration, and as a prism, for your advocacy.
New challenges await me. My plans are to return to the world of political & communications consulting and non-profit management—the work I was doing prior to joining the UUA team. I have signed on to work with two great organizations—Justice at Stake, which is committed to an independent judiciary, and Farm Forward, which seeks to reduce farm animal suffering and advance sustainable agriculture. I will also continue officiating weddings, which is one of my great joys in life. This is an ideal time for me to make a change, given my own upcoming wedding Labor Day weekend.
I will step down as campaign manager in mid-August, but will continue to assist my colleagues with the transition to a new campaign manager. Stay tuned for a job description! I’m heartened to know that the next leader of this campaign may be reading this email right now, ready to breathe new vision into this incredible movement.
Thank you for the inspiration, for the partnership…and most importantly, for the love!
Peace,
Dan Furmansky
Campaign Manager
Standing on the Side of Love
(Photo credit: Imari Kariotis)
