SOUTHERN NEVADA OF PRIDE, INC. HOSTS ANNUAL MEETING

Las Vegas, NV, January 26, 2015: The Board of Directors of the Southern Nevada Association of PRIDE, Inc. held its 2014 annual meeting at the LGBT Center on January 21, 2015. Updates to bylaws and standard operation procedures where introduced and approved by the board. Many of the changes where a reflection of the addition of SNAPI’s big move to hire its first employee, the position of Executive Director which was added in August 2014. Ernie Yuen, former President, was selected for the position.

SNAPI also approved adding a vision statement to its bylaws: “To solidify and empower our community to work together toward a culture of diversity and acceptance”. This is an over reflection of inclusion for SNAPI. New committees were introduce and approved, Las Vegas Pride Magazine, Orgullo Latino Las Vegas were also included to the current SNAPI list of active committees.

SNAPI President Jorge Garcia Solorio presented the Annual President Report- some of the highlights were the reinstatement of SNAPI’s 501c3, he was happy to report SNAPI’s 501c3 was retroactively restored back to December 15, 2012 when it was originality removed by the IRS. Garcia Solorio also reported the launch of SNAPI’s Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine, a non-profit LGBT Las Vegas community focused publication. He said, “2014 was a very challenging year for the SNAPI Board. Through hard work and dedication we managed to produce a profitable festival and night parade with over 45 events throughout a 10-day long celebration.”

Orgullo Latino Las Vegas is a new Latin festival scheduled for June 2015 was also approved by the SNAPI Board, the vision for this festive is to recognize the talents and contributions of the LGBT Latinos and Latinas. Las Vegas PRIDE Family Bingo has also found a new home at Alexis Park. Las Vegas PRIDE Family Bingo is held the first Wednesday of each month.

Annual elections of Board Directors and Executive Committee were held during SNAPI’s annual meeting, congratulations to the 2015 Board of Directors

Executive Committee:
Jorge Garcia-Solorio, President | Member since 2011
Julie Kokoczka, Vice President | Member since 2013
Brady McGill, Secretary | Member since 2010
Lucas Rangel, Parliamentarian | Member since 2011

Directors:
Frankie Sanchez | Member since 2011
Clair Koetitz | Member since 2014
Lyndon Marquez | Member since 2014
Hi-d Burgener | Member since 2014
Kawika Oliveria- Aweau | Member since 2015

Executive Director:
Ernie Yuen | Member since 2003

Those interested in becoming a board member, may visit https://lasvegaspride.org/directors_qualifications.html for more information.

# # #

If you’d like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with Jorge Garcia-Solorio, please e‐mail him at president@lasvegaspride.org. For more information about SNAPI or Las Vegas Pride, visit www.lasvegaspride.org.

The primary objectives and purposes of SNAPI are: To educate the general public to the needs and issues affecting the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community; to provide educational outreach to persons directly or indirectly involved in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community; to advocate and facilitate the exchange of ideas and resources between the various non‐profit Nevada lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or related organizations; to promote a positive image of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and pride; to provide inclusive and diverse representation within the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community; to recognize and celebrate the substantial achievements in our community.