January 2009 - President’s Letter

Dear GBBC Members,

It is with great pride that I write this letter as President of the Greater Boston Business Council (GBBC), your LGBT chamber of commerce.  Having been a member of GBBC for many years, I have had the pleasure of being part of working with some great people.  Today, in my new role, I look forward to the future of the GBBC with new goals for us to accomplish.  With that, we start the 2009 new year celebrating our 20th Anniversary as Greater Boston’s Premier LGBT Business Council.  To imagine what started small in a living room one night in 1990, today has reached local, state and national recognition.

Over the past few years, the GBBC has grown and moved in new and exciting directions.  With numerous social activities, networking events, luncheon groups, speaker events, and collaborative events with other outstanding LGBT organizations, we have set a new cornerstone in place for our organization and members.  It is heart warming to hear people mention“…the GBBC is my LGBT Business Chamber that I am proud to be part of.”  Over the past couple of years we have seen individual and business memberships grow, while our Corporate Members now include reputable local, national and international corporations.

In 2008, the GBBC launched a new web site that now offers more than ever.  When you visit http://www.gbbc.org you will see the new look of the GBBC, information on the LGBT community, GBBC news, social activities, networking events, member benefits, online directory, photo gallery of our past events, GBBC Newsletter registration, our mission and even our new logo.  We were even recently honored for our contributions to our community by the Boston PFLAG organization with the “2008 Distinguished Community Leadership Award.” 

Finally, looking forward, we have plenty of work ahead of us, however before the first month of 2009 is even over, we are proud to announce that the GBBC is now an affiliate of the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) in Washington, DC.  The NGLCC representing the LGBT business community nationwide.  In addition, our active members will receive a tremendous amount of additional benefits offered by the NGLCC.  Indeed, the GBBC will represent Boston’s LGBT community at the National NGLCC conference in Seattle in May 2009 and present at a forum.

As benefits for active GBBC members continue to grow, we strongly suggest you take advantage of the financial savings and member benefits by joining the GBBC today.  You can learn more about the GBBC and become a member all by visiting http://www.gbbc.org.

Happy New Year to everyone, and may 2009 bring you many good fortunes!  I look forward to seeing many of you at our events and meeting new members too.

Sincerely yours,

Edward Travers
President