Table Captains play an integral role to ensure the Dinner is a success. Becoming a Table
Captain is easy and an excellent way to make your Dinner experience more meaningful; you
take a special role in promoting the Dinner, and you have the opportunity to make your
own table of ten special by inviting friends, family and colleagues to join you.
Any individual, couple, business or charity group can become a Table Captain, and every
Table Captain will receive special recognition in the Dinner Program Book. You may become
a Table Captain by contacting Chris Walker at
chris.walker@hrcseattle.org
What Is A Table Captain?
Table Captains are key participants in the success of this Gala Dinner, making it one of the most
successful in the nation each year. By stepping up to be a Table Captain, you commit to working to
fill a table for the September 25th dinner. Many Table Captains fill more than one. You do not have to
buy a full table personally and fill it, although some Table Captains take that route. Most HRC Table
Captains instead ask their table mates to purchase their own tickets, which attracts new and returning
attendees to engage in HRC’s efforts for the ensuing year.
What Is The Suggested Process To Organize A Table?
Filling your table begins with extending the invitation. Invite friends, family, neighbors, colleagues,
or whoever else you feel may have an interest. The best invitation for your guests is a personal one.
Invite them in person, by telephone, or e-mail. There are sample invitations found attached to this
email. You can use these as they are, just fill in your name, or change them to suit your style. Or,
invent your own. The most important thing is to invite. Don’t wait until the last minute. People’s
calendars fill up quickly. Getting on their schedules as soon as possible will give you the highest
likelihood of successfully filling your table. Being clear about the date, cost, and method to buy
tickets gives people the information they need to take action. Even if they don’t buy their tickets
right away, you will have set an expectation.
What If Someone Asks Me Why I Should Attend?
Let them know that this year is a vital one for LGBT equality. Given the powerful political, corporate
and individual relationships HRC has built over the years, it is uniquely positioned to influence
hundreds of national, regional and local efforts. Workplace equality, marriage equality, repealing
Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, and other pro-LGBT federal and state legislation all rest on our involvement.
This is a crucial moment to help HRC take action. The Dinner allows you to make an impact on LGBT
equality. The event serves as one of the primary revenue-raisers for HRC’s work and is critical for
HRC to carry out its vision for LGBT equality. Beyond making an impact on our future, the dinner is
a fun and energizing evening. The silent auction has wonderful items to bid on, including travel,
artwork, and one-of-a-kind experiences. The people at your table, and throughout the event, will be
great company. And your table mates will walk away from the evening knowing they’ve made an impact
in LGBT equality.
What If I Cannot Fill My Table In Time For The Event?
We are eager to have you fill your table and create the best event for you and your group that evening.
But you will not be penalized for unsold seats. Smaller groups may be combined, or you and the guests
who are joining you that evening may have other individual ticket-holders assigned to your table. We
want this to be energizing and fun, so give it a try!
How Do I Respond If Someone Is Uncomfortable With The Ticket Price?
I understand that $200 seems like a lot of money, especially in a challenging economy. But your dollars
have incredible impact thanks to HRC’s powerful relationships and connections. This dinner is one of
the primary annual fundraising activities of HRC, and they rely on the Pacific Northwest’s support to
help them achieve success in:
- passing pro-LGBT legislation
- ensuring our families and jobs are protected from discrimination
- electing fair-minded politicians, and
- a myriad of other issues including aging, coming out, health, and the military ban
HRC fights for LGBT rights on a national level. HRC is working to mount efforts in other states for
marriage recognition and workplace equality. They’re mobilizing people in key states like California,
Arkansas, Arizona, and Florida to enact pro-LGBT legislation. Our financial support really does have
an impact of national proportions. Encourage them to explore the HRC website (
www.hrc.org) to
learn more about all the things that HRC does.
Where Do I Purchase Tickets?
Tickets can be purchased via the Dinner website at
www.hrcseattle.org/dinner/tickets
Why Is There A $7.25 Handling Fee Per Ticket?
Almost every charity event we have been able to identify has a per ticket handling fee. HRC is no
different, but in the past covered this fee from it’s own resources. HRC’s leadership has determined
that this is not a wise use of HRC resources to cover handling fees for event tickets; from early
feedback, many of the members who are involved in and support HRC through different avenues seem to
agree this is a sound decision. We hope you will appreciate HRC’s commitment to focusing organizational
resources on core priorities instead of event costs.
Thank You To Those Who Have Already Signed Up!
| Ackerman, Michael | All, Lacey | Black, Stephen & McNamara, Kevin |
| Bolton, Pat | Boone, Chris and Schmidt, Lance | Boyd, Tracy |
| Cacy, Jeff | Cantu, Edgar & Winterrowd, Adam | Cohen, Peter & Lieberman, Marty |
| CORP_Microsoft | Desilet, Drew | Dittmer, Bryan |
| Eisner, Jennifer & Marc | Fenton, Terry & Harte, Charlie | Foss, Steve & Ristine, Shane |
| Frey, Mark | Friedman, John & McReal, Marshall | Gaspari, Kevin & Thoelke, Kent |
| Gibbs, Steve & Turner, Jeff | Gorr, Brian | Guyette, Corrin |
| Johnson, Glenn & Melancon, Michael | Jurich, Michael & Valdepenas, Rolando | Kallshian, Sander |
| Kiepprien, Curtis | Liesche, Jochen | Long, Michael |
| Longoria, Karola | Lupo, Kim | Martinek, Jim |
| Maynard, Rick | Miller, Ken | Minnick, Chad |
| Moser, Kevin & Tiderman, Bret | Park, Blake | Pepin, Dr. Craig & Levine, Kyle |
| Potter, Chris | Shaver, John | Stasio, Michael & DePriest, Scott |
| Teater, Kyle | Thorvilson, Rich | Torgerson, Brian |
| Trovato, Dave | Waldman, Ben | Walker, Chris |
| Walkinshaw, Brady | White, Amy | Wilson, Sidney |