GALA names new board members

North Texas Gay & Lesbian Alliance (GALA) recently elected two new members to its board of directors and elected a new slate of officers. According to a statement, those new officers and board members bring experience, diversity and passion to the organization, which is committed to celebrating diversity and enhancing equality LGBT North Texans in schools, workplaces and communities.
The new GALA president is Jeanne S. Rubin, who lives in Frisco with her wife of 16 years, Lisa Mashigian, and their Shiba Inu mix, Scout. Rubin represents GALA in a number of organizations in North Texas, including the Plano and Frisco chambers of commerce and the chambers’ public police/government affairs committees. She recently ended a six-year term on the Equality Texas state board.
Rubin is a graduate of Frisco City Hall 101, Leadership Frisco and the Citizens Police Academy. In 2014 she won the Spirit of Community Leadership Award, presented by the League of Woman Voters of Collin County, honoring her work on behalf of GALA. In her spare time she loves camping, is a member of a book club and enjoys playing in the dirt in her organic garden.
New GALA board members are Cristina Hayes of Plano, the organization’s new secretary, and Kameron Lewellen of Bedford. They join existing board members Vice President Dawna Hubert of Plano, Treasurer Rosemarie Odom of Frisco, Immediate Past President Bob Shimmin of Dallas, Kim Payne of Carrollton, Rich Milam of Plano, GALA Youth Chair Michael Wren of Plano and founder Dawnetta Miller.
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition March 25, 2016.