Spring of 2022 Newsletter

Happy May! We here at Pride SMC hope you and your loved ones are having a lovely spring if you’re in the Northern Hemisphere, and a wonderful fall if you’re in the Southern Hemisphere.

Thank you for your interest in Pride SMC is the first official Affinity Group of the Saint Mary’s College Alumni Association aimed at fostering community and engagement among LGBTQIA+ alum and allies of Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, IN. Founded in 2021, Pride SMC was started by LGBTQIA+ alums to create a safe, healing, and supportive community among LGBTQIA+ alum to foster engagement and programming to give voice and visibility to the SMC LGBTQIA+ community of the present and past.

Pride SMC Presence at Reunion

We’re moving up in the Reunion world! Once more Pride SMC will hold a panel for Reunion, and this year, there will be a double-feature. The Pride Panel will be present at both weekends, June 4 and June 11, 2022, 3 pm-4pm ET. This year’s panels will be held in Carroll Auditorium. If you will be on campus, and would like to be a part of either or both panels, please let us know! We want to help your voice be heard!

Communications

In expressing interest in Pride SMC, a few alums mentioned not wanting Facebook to be our only means of communication. In addition to our private Facebook page, we have a private Pride SMC LinkedIn group presence, and an emailed newsletter (like this!) sent to those who have shared their email address with us. In addition, we’re always looking for suggestions of other platforms to use in order to best serve our fellow alum. If you have any ideas or would like to volunteer your expertise, please feel free to reach out via our email!

Supporting the Campus Community

Once again, Pride SMC has sent snacks to the LGBTQ+ Center on campus for students studying for their exams. Elayne reports, “I have been in the center all day and many students are in here studying and enjoying the snacks!” 

These photos were sent to us by Elayne Swafford, Executive Administrative Assistant, Division for Inclusion and Equity from our previous gifting. 

Supplying snacks is a small gesture whereby those frequenting the Center will not only keep up their energies, but also be reminded that Saint Mary’s Pride SMC alums are supporting them for who they are no matter how they identify.

Become an Official Pride SMC Member

Through the collection of memberships and donations, we are able to plan events for students, alum, and staff that aim to foster a rich and tight knit community among LGBTQIA+ students, staff, alum, and allies. We have three membership/donor options you can choose from:

$25 Annual Membership

$250 Lifetime Membership

Give what you can. Any and all donations are appreciated.

Follow our Pride SMC Memberships & Donations page to become a dues paying member. Provide us with your mailing address, and we will send you a Pride SMC button to wear proudly!

If you have the means, a Lifetime Membership is truly impactful at this time as we plan events and programming, as well as continue to grow our membership and presence. Thank you to any and all who are able to provide this type of monetary support! 

The formation of this group would not be possible without the support and work of our entire community. On behalf of every Pride SMC officer, we extend our sincere thanks. 

Since our work is truly a group effort, we are always open to suggestions for events, ways to improve, and information to share on social media and other ways to be involved.

If you would like to have a more active role in our group, please reach out via email about volunteer and committee opportunities!

Thanks for reading!

Pride SMC

pridesmcalumgroup@gmail.com

P.S. Always be you!