Meet the Committee / Laurence O'Meara

When did you become a committee member?
I have been involved in Reading Pride since January 2004.

When/Where did you hear about Reading Pride?
After a friend of mine found on the web that Reading (yes Reading of all places) was having a pride that year in September. And I thought well if they have a web page, a venue, a date, things must be happening, and I'd like to help out.

What have you done for Reading Pride in the past?
At that first meeting I opted for Acting Treasure and Press Officer. Since then I have done different official (and unofficial roles) in the group, but my main roles are still Acting Treasure, which involves banking admin, and writing up the official Audit for the AGM and Companies House (all using my Excel and Word, handy bit of software), also Corporation Tax return, and providing the budget for the years event (yep Excel again).

What do you do for Reading Pride now?
My main role is Health & Safety Officer, which covers as the title says, Health & Safety (H&S) of the event but includes the operations/logistics/site timing of ordering fencing, marquee, positioning of the market stalls deliveries of equipment, generators on the site and being on site on the day of the event from 6am to 11pm at night.

Would you recommend volunteering for Reading Pride?
Yes – But we do need new people/groups to get involved, not just on the day or the week before, we need to organise throughout the year, so if you can help, please step forward.