February Members Meeting
5:30-5:45 Arrival – Greetings
Attendance: Ken, Angel, Rachel, Richard, Phil, Dustyn, Andrew, Claire
​
6:00 Updates:
-We have a sponsorship for Muskegon Pride Festival – given in exchange for $$ for DEI training
for board.
-CommUNITY Pride has a new home on qproplus.com
-New stickers are ordered to replace for all partners since the old site was removed.
-Volunteer log on QPro+ website – please use this to log hours you have spent working on our
projects.
-Newaygo Pride booth cost - $20 – I am also asking if we would like to be a sponsor - $50
(approved) – May 30
-Muskegon Pride is holding a contest for a free sponsorship at festival 2026 – see flyer for
details – we have currently received $600+ in donations so far – entries due by March 10 – I
have flyers here for Shiba, Earthwise, Arbor Circle, Life Circles/PACE, Legacy Home. The cost
of the $500 sponsorship is coming out of the Grand for CommUNITY Pride, held by Muskegon
Pride ($1000 – we are also using this grant money for the contest flyers, postage, new Stickers
and previously for the Holiday Shopping flyers.
-Next month meeting will be our 1st Networking event for CommUNITY Pride members – Let’s
Connect – Business, Community, Pride - as well as our regular QPro+ members – here at
Earthwise – we will provide coffee, water, tea and a light snack for those attending – 5:30-7:00 –
same as meeting time.
January Members Meeting
5:30-5:45 Arrival – Greetings – called to order 5:30pm by Ken
Attendance: Ken Kevin Andrew Angel Dustyn Claire
5:45 Introductions- Referrals:
Claire – Legacy Home Realtors – buy/sell – bring the best people to West Michigan
Kevin – Arbor Circle – Parenting/Adoption classes & assistance
Andrew – Shiba Sequoia Forest – planting projects – philanthropic efforts to help homeless
Anges – Earthwise Studio & Shop – Community gathering place – Rental venue – Photography
Dustyn – Life Circles/PACE – helping aging community members
Ken – Aflac for business and individual – peace of mind protections for what life throws at us
​
6:00 Updates:
2025 Year in Review – newsletter
The QPro+ newsletter was emailed to 168 contacts – take a look at what we
accomplished in 2025! Some great strides were made in supporting each other and our
CommUNITY Pride partners, supporting Muskegon Pride, Newaygo Pride, Break Into Your
Pride, Juneteenth etc… Read all about it.
​
6:10 Old Business:
$275.00 in unpaid contributions for 2025 still outstanding. – Some has been since paid
2026 member options/choices – complete today please – Several have made their commitment
for 2026 – some asked for financial reports to see where monies were spent – coming soon.
​
6:20 New Business:
Considerations for 2026
Morning meetings 7 or 7:30 for networking - Every 3 rd meeting network event –
Conversation revolved around keeping current meeting time in the evening until Summer –
consider morning meetings at that time when it may be easier for those with children not to
conflict with getting off to school etc.
​
Meeting Minutes January 21, 2026
-Quarterly Networking Events – invite CommUNITY Pride partners using grant funds Mkg Pride –
Muskegon Pride agreed to provide those specific funds for events completely focused on
CommUNITY Pride partners and building the safe list – No QPro+ specific events for those
funds.
-CommUNITY Pride partner contest for a Sponsor Booth at festival in June – Communicated
with Nick (president Mkg Pride) & Dustyn to format an invitation for the contest – hopefully to go
out before February 10.
-Muskegon Pride Festival – sponsor booth for DEI training w/ board – DEI seminar completed
with the Mkg Pride Board January 25, 2026 – Engagement was robust, conversations were
uplifting, we all learned something and commit to continuing support of the entire LGBTQIA2S+
community in any ways possible.
-Newaygo Pride – May 30 - $25 – planning to participate again for 2026 – May 30 - $25 booth
fee
-Break Into Your Pride – Byron Center – planning to participate again for 2026 – no booth fee –
date yet unknown.
-Additional conversations held around how to continue to help The People’s Table, The Giving
Table
-Angel proposed a queer speed dating at Earthwise – sponsored/held by Earthwise and to be
supported by QPro+
-Robust conversation around how to support the entire queer community in a way they NEED
US TO focusing on listening to understand, not listening