2016 Bisexual Organizing Project Board of Directors
Leah Yoemans, Co-Chair
Leah@biorgproject.org
Leah Yoemans is passionate about education, advocacy and creating community for bisexuals. Leah has been an activist and organizer in queer, non-monogamous, and bi+ communities for several years. Leah became involved with BOP first through community discussion groups and then started volunteering at various events such as PRIDE events around the state, assisted with the Bi+ Story Project, and volunteered with BECAUSE conferences. Leah enjoys playing Australian rules football, hiking, and spending time with her family. Leah lives in Minneapolis with her spouse, two daughters and cats.
Timid Robot Zehta, Co-Chair
timid@biorgproject.org
Timid Robot Zehta is committed to sex-positive intersectional feminism. He has a built-in empathy for outsiders. Timid is a Systems Engineer (computer stuff) by trade and enjoys photography. He has enjoyed the support of the Bi+ Community Discussion group and hopes to give back to the community. Timid lives with his flatmate, Mochi cat, in Powderhorn Park.
Whitney Briggs, Treasurer
whitney.briggs@biorgproject.org
Whitney Briggs joined BOP's board in January of 2016 as treasurer. Whitney also serves as the Finance Chair to Wells Fargo’s PRIDE Team Member Network in Minnesota and is an Administrative Assistant to the Wealth Management segment of the company. She joined the PRIDE Team Member Network to bring a voice to the table in support of issues that affect the bi+ community. Shortly after joining PRIDE leadership she was introduced to the Bisexual Organizing Project through a presentation they put on for local membership and decided she needed to find a way to get involved with this organization. Whitney lives in Brooklyn Park with her finance and three cats.
Jeff Burfeind, Secretary
jeff.burfeind@biorgproject.org
Jeff Burfeind is super excited to begin engaging in advocacy and working towards an ever broader Bi+ community. He loves hanging out with family and tearing around Bluff country on his motorcycle. He lives in Lake City with his cat, Herman.
Shawna McNamara, Director
shawna.mcnamara@biorgproject.org
Shawna is a bisexual activist. She has worked in various venues over the years as a talent agent and other things while always maintaining a firm foot in bisexual organizing. Her passion lies in the focus of educating and bringing awareness to society regarding the bisexual community, while also focusing on creating inclusive spaces in as many places as possible.
As a talent agent, dancer, singer, and fashionista - Shawna will bring her unique experience of the arts to the board to bring theatrics to the team for BI VISIBILITY!
For fun she likes spontaneity with a variety of activities, placing travel as a top priority. Owning around 200 pairs of shoes, Shawna is the board member you will often find in heels, fully embracing Femme Visibility!!
Cary Crawford, Director
cary.crawford@biorgproject.org
I’m from the Midwest, born and raised here. I have lived in the Twin Cities for 26 years. I have had a lot of different jobs, but spent the last 19 years in education. I tutored in a Native American school for 6 years, and taught in an ESL school for 13. I have mostly worked with adults. I am currently looking for an volunteer position in an ESL school working with kids. I love to swim, walk, skate, read and write poetry and prose.
My favorite season is summer because I can get outside for activities. I’m an outside girl. So’s my dog. I’m the facilitator for the BOP book club, where we have lively and interesting discussions about books, and our experiences with bisexuality. It’s a safe place to share and explore issues. I’ll be working on putting together a quarterly newsletter so if you want to help, or have ideas, contact me at the BOP email for me.
Lo A. McDonald, Director
lo.mcdonald@biorgproject.org
Jessie Miller, Director
jessie.miller@biorgproject.org
Jessie Miller is a disabled bisexual badass. A non-native of MN, she has led various rebellions, marches, and uprisings over the last 6 years. Most recently, she founded the no longer operational LGBTQ Guard, a volunteer-run buddy system to reduce hate crimes and increase safety. Jessie has been involved in BOP for the past two years, volunteering at BECAUSE, and even leading SpeedFriending events for the Bi+ community.
A.L. Genaro
Access and Inclusion Committee, Chair
algenaro@biorgproject.org
Camille Holthaus, BECAUSE co-chair
camille.holthaus@biorgproject.org
Camille Holthaus is passionate about creating community for bisexuals and advocating for true bi+ inclusion in LGBTQ spaces. She has diverse experience with small non-profits and event organizing. Camille started her community organizing in 1990 as moderator of a sex positive discussion group. In 1993, she co-founded and moderated Bi Group at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa. The group continues today as The Grey Agenda. That work led her to host the bisexual discussion room at the 1994 6th (and final) North American Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Studies Conference: "In Queery, In Theory, In Deed." Camille became involved with BOP through presenting at the 2008 BECAUSE conference where many of the people she had met in 1994 were also attending and presenting. In August 2013, Camille joined the BOP Board and that fall she helped coordinate the retreat which wrote BOP's Strategic Plan 2014-2019. In January 2014 she was elected Chair of the Board of Directors and served a two year term. Camille became Secretary of the Board of Directors in January of 2016. Camille lives in Minneapolis with her two sons and two dogs. She also serves on the Technical Advisory Board and the Finance Committee at Theatre in the Round Players.
Colleen Waldie, BECAUSE co-chair
colleen.waldie@biorgproject.org
Leah@biorgproject.org
Leah Yoemans is passionate about education, advocacy and creating community for bisexuals. Leah has been an activist and organizer in queer, non-monogamous, and bi+ communities for several years. Leah became involved with BOP first through community discussion groups and then started volunteering at various events such as PRIDE events around the state, assisted with the Bi+ Story Project, and volunteered with BECAUSE conferences. Leah enjoys playing Australian rules football, hiking, and spending time with her family. Leah lives in Minneapolis with her spouse, two daughters and cats.
Timid Robot Zehta, Co-Chair
timid@biorgproject.org
Timid Robot Zehta is committed to sex-positive intersectional feminism. He has a built-in empathy for outsiders. Timid is a Systems Engineer (computer stuff) by trade and enjoys photography. He has enjoyed the support of the Bi+ Community Discussion group and hopes to give back to the community. Timid lives with his flatmate, Mochi cat, in Powderhorn Park.
Whitney Briggs, Treasurer
whitney.briggs@biorgproject.org
Whitney Briggs joined BOP's board in January of 2016 as treasurer. Whitney also serves as the Finance Chair to Wells Fargo’s PRIDE Team Member Network in Minnesota and is an Administrative Assistant to the Wealth Management segment of the company. She joined the PRIDE Team Member Network to bring a voice to the table in support of issues that affect the bi+ community. Shortly after joining PRIDE leadership she was introduced to the Bisexual Organizing Project through a presentation they put on for local membership and decided she needed to find a way to get involved with this organization. Whitney lives in Brooklyn Park with her finance and three cats.
Jeff Burfeind, Secretary
jeff.burfeind@biorgproject.org
Jeff Burfeind is super excited to begin engaging in advocacy and working towards an ever broader Bi+ community. He loves hanging out with family and tearing around Bluff country on his motorcycle. He lives in Lake City with his cat, Herman.
Shawna McNamara, Director
shawna.mcnamara@biorgproject.org
Shawna is a bisexual activist. She has worked in various venues over the years as a talent agent and other things while always maintaining a firm foot in bisexual organizing. Her passion lies in the focus of educating and bringing awareness to society regarding the bisexual community, while also focusing on creating inclusive spaces in as many places as possible.
As a talent agent, dancer, singer, and fashionista - Shawna will bring her unique experience of the arts to the board to bring theatrics to the team for BI VISIBILITY!
For fun she likes spontaneity with a variety of activities, placing travel as a top priority. Owning around 200 pairs of shoes, Shawna is the board member you will often find in heels, fully embracing Femme Visibility!!
Cary Crawford, Director
cary.crawford@biorgproject.org
I’m from the Midwest, born and raised here. I have lived in the Twin Cities for 26 years. I have had a lot of different jobs, but spent the last 19 years in education. I tutored in a Native American school for 6 years, and taught in an ESL school for 13. I have mostly worked with adults. I am currently looking for an volunteer position in an ESL school working with kids. I love to swim, walk, skate, read and write poetry and prose.
My favorite season is summer because I can get outside for activities. I’m an outside girl. So’s my dog. I’m the facilitator for the BOP book club, where we have lively and interesting discussions about books, and our experiences with bisexuality. It’s a safe place to share and explore issues. I’ll be working on putting together a quarterly newsletter so if you want to help, or have ideas, contact me at the BOP email for me.
Lo A. McDonald, Director
lo.mcdonald@biorgproject.org
Jessie Miller, Director
jessie.miller@biorgproject.org
Jessie Miller is a disabled bisexual badass. A non-native of MN, she has led various rebellions, marches, and uprisings over the last 6 years. Most recently, she founded the no longer operational LGBTQ Guard, a volunteer-run buddy system to reduce hate crimes and increase safety. Jessie has been involved in BOP for the past two years, volunteering at BECAUSE, and even leading SpeedFriending events for the Bi+ community.
A.L. Genaro
Access and Inclusion Committee, Chair
algenaro@biorgproject.org
Camille Holthaus, BECAUSE co-chair
camille.holthaus@biorgproject.org
Camille Holthaus is passionate about creating community for bisexuals and advocating for true bi+ inclusion in LGBTQ spaces. She has diverse experience with small non-profits and event organizing. Camille started her community organizing in 1990 as moderator of a sex positive discussion group. In 1993, she co-founded and moderated Bi Group at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa. The group continues today as The Grey Agenda. That work led her to host the bisexual discussion room at the 1994 6th (and final) North American Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Studies Conference: "In Queery, In Theory, In Deed." Camille became involved with BOP through presenting at the 2008 BECAUSE conference where many of the people she had met in 1994 were also attending and presenting. In August 2013, Camille joined the BOP Board and that fall she helped coordinate the retreat which wrote BOP's Strategic Plan 2014-2019. In January 2014 she was elected Chair of the Board of Directors and served a two year term. Camille became Secretary of the Board of Directors in January of 2016. Camille lives in Minneapolis with her two sons and two dogs. She also serves on the Technical Advisory Board and the Finance Committee at Theatre in the Round Players.
Colleen Waldie, BECAUSE co-chair
colleen.waldie@biorgproject.org
