The Tiffany Club's annual "First Event"
was held from January 22 through the 25th at the Crowne Plaza
in Woburn. Innvestments had about a dozen gals in attendance
for most of the event but especially for the banquet on Saturday
the 24th. A wide range of seminars were held and several vendors
were in place to make the occurrence one of the better events
of the year.
The event kicked off with a pool party. After listening to the
conversation going in the pool between Nancy N. of IFGE and our
Brenda R., I figured the whole scene, discussion and water was
too deep for me. Friday and Saturday there were several seminars
hosted primarily by Diane Ellaborn. Other therapists were on hand
to add to the mix. These included Christine Becker, Ari Kane,
Ari VanDerVen and David Maderios to name just a few. One interesting
seminar featured Diane along with six other folks ranging from
therapists to a lawyer and medical doctors. The seminar was to
bring the transgendered and the health care providers together.
It was a very interesting experience to hear what each of these
individuals had to say. Randi Ettner, Ph.D., author of the book
"Confessions of a Gender Defender" was also part of
this panel. Her book, a psychologist's reflections on life among
the transgendered was in high demand at the IFGE book store.
As always, Jim Bridges was on hand to weave
his magic in transforming what is into what it wants to be. Also
Donna Cognac and Barbara from Florence's Fashions were also doing
makeovers and turning drolls into dolls. Also for those with some
loose change, Jim and Barbara each had a display of fashionable
clothes and accessories. For those who needed a special gown but
did not want to purchase one for only one or perhaps two events,
Theresa' Gowns was also on hand to show you the latest in high
fashion that you could rent for the evening. High heels and super
shiny fingernails, wigs and makeup were also on the agenda as
well as photos by Photography of Distinction. As always, Vanessa
was there with "Synchronicity", the IFGE bookstore.
Friday night was the traditional fashion show
with Carolann weaving her magic. This was one of the longest shows
accomplished to date. In addition to clothes from her "Models
Resale" store, items from Florence's Fashions and from Jim
Bridges were also shown. All in all, this was a super show. Even
the buffet food was good. A lot of hard work went on behind the
scenes to make this the success that it was. Good Job!!
Saturday evening was the main banquet and again
I found the food to be very good. Tiffany awards were then handed
out with most going to gals who had provided special support to
TCNE throughout the year and to those who had made things happen.
Jonel Peterson (who else but) was named Miss Tiffany for the past
year. Of surprise was the presenting of a lifetime achievement
award and a dozen roses to Candy Scott from Innvestments
for the special support that she has provided to many members
of the "T" community. This presentation almost brought
Candy to tears and was completely unexpected. Carolann Gillard
was also presented with an award, a dozen roses and a lifetime
membership to TCNE, one of only 2 ever awarded. These awards to
both Candy and Carolann were very much appreciated. Key speakers
for the evening were Dr. Randi Ettner and (F2M) Deputy Sheriff
Tonye Baretto Netto, founder of Transgendered Officers who Protect
and Serve (TOPS). The speakers were excellent and the messages
imparted to all was very absorbing. Attendance for the banquet
topped 200. All in all a very, very nice event. Oh yes, the event
was taped by Arts and Entertainment (A&E) Television. It is
schedule to air sometime in the July time frame. Watch for it.
YOUR INNVESTMENT
is a publication of Innvestments,
P.O. Box 2194, Orleans, MA. 02653-2194 / P.O. Box 354, Sagamore,
MA 02561-0354. Innvestments is a non-sexual service organization
founded to support and to provide a socially acceptable outlet
for the crossdressing, transvestite, transsexual, trangendered
community primarily in Southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod and
the Islands. All rights reserved. Permission to reprint any article
in Your Innvestment is hereby granted to non-profit similar
organizations provided that publication and authorship credit
be given. Any commercial use of Your Innvestment material
is hereby prohibited. Some material may have previously appeared
in print. Publication and authorship rights of material reprinted
from other sources remain with its originator. The editor/s of
Your Innvestment are not under any obligation to accept
information and advertisements. Information and advertisements
may be published in any form deemed acceptable. Any information
about services, products or sympathetic locations published in
Your Innvestments is not considered an endorsement of such
by the staff of Your Innvestments or the Board of Directors
of Innvestments. Innvestments is also know in open
source publications on Cape Cod and the Islands as Cape Cod
Cross Dressers (Triple C-D).
Liz W..................................President
Robyn Roberts..................Vice President
Brenda L...............................Treasurer E-mail Brrendaa@aol.com
Candy Scott..............................Board
E-mail Candyscott@capecod.net
Jean-Marie J.............................Board
Membership (including newsletter)
is $30.00 per-year with a $15.00 meeting fee. Meeting fees payable
only for meetings attended. Subscription only rates are $10.00
per-year.
Innvestments will
be holding its first oriental dance class on Saturday, 14 February
1998 at 3:00 P.M. Cheri Berens, who gave a wonderful demonstration
at the January meeting (see January newsletter), will be our instructor.
(Cheri will also be presenting a full program for our entertainment
at the Valentine Party.) The class will last for one hour, which
means you will be back at the hotel with plenty of time to get
ready for the evening festivities. Wear anything you are comfortable
in, and you can come in guy or gal mode. Of course, all significant
others are welcome. The class will take place at Cheri's large
dance studio in Dennis, here on the Cape. The cost will be only
$10.00 per person and future classes will be scheduled according
to the desires of the group, although you are not obligated to
continue.
For anyone who wants to car pool, please meet
Denise Steale at the XXXXXXX Inn at 2:30 P.M. If you want to drive
to the studio directly, the directions are as follows: Take Route
6 (Mid Cape Highway) to Exit 8. At the end of the ramp, turn left.
After approximately 1 mile you will reach Route 6A where you will
take a right. Travel 3 miles into Dennis until you reach the intersection
with Corporation Road (you will have just passed the Cape Cod
Playhouse on the left). Take a left onto Corporation Road,
and then a right into the first driveway. There is plenty of parking
in front of the barn. Enter the studio from the back of the barn.
If you have trouble locating the studio you
may call Cheri at 508+385-2789. If you have questions before hand,
please call Denise at 508+428-5040. Even if you are only slightly
curious, come along and find out what oriental dance is all about.
You are sure to have some fun.
Innvestments has
received a proposal for a group workshop/discussion program to
be conducted for a minimum of eight 2-hour sessions. The program
would be scheduled to meet every other week. There would be a
fee of $25.00 for each session (8X25.=$200.00) to be fully paid
by the beginning of the second session. A certificate of completion
would be awarded at the end of the eight sessions. The facilitator
would be Ari Kane of Theseus Counseling Services. The proposed
topics for group discussion would be as follows:
_ Images and gender messages
_ The art and practice of visual/virtual reality.
_ My relationship with my other self(ves).
_ Relationship issues as a: (a) parent; (b) sibling; (c) spouse/S.O.
_ Relationship issues with: (a) parents; (b) sibling(s); (c) spouse;
(d) others.
_ Crossgender behavior and your belief system.
_ Impersonation and Impression. (Remember: All the world's a stage...)
_ Critical issues for crossgender "T" folk.
_ The ideal and real...for the next decade.
_ Other possible topics as requested by the group.
If you are planning on taking your gender journey
to the ultimate end, programs such as this would be of great benefit.
Should you desire to participate in this planned program, please
contact Candy Scott at 508+563-3160 or Ari Kane at 207+621-0858/617+499-9543.
Program to start by the middle of March 1998.
I have a goal to
be one with myself and finally achieve peace. I feel like a caged
lioness or Rip Van Winkle, who after forty-years is just now set
free, or awakening to a New World. For forty plus years I have
been caged by society and by my own fears and inhibitions.
I recently stepped out of the cage that I have
lived in all of my life and I am moving along a path to a new
life. Sometimes I step gingerly, carefully watching every move.
At other times I find that I rush ahead jumping in the unknown,
feet first. Then, there are those times that I am forced to retrace
my steps in order to regroup, gather my strength and courage,
and assess my situation before I move onward once again.
The path away from the cage is littered with
obstacles and surprises. There are also many different roles that
must be played in order to successfully move on down the path.
These roles are like guarded checkpoints, at which you must perform
before you are waived forward. Some of these checkpoints and roles
you must tackle on your own. Other checkpoints may be passed with
assistance from your sister, mother, friends, therapist, significant
other, or even sometimes a stranger, who may offer a helping guiding
hand. These supporters can make your travels far smoother and
easier than if you traveled alone.
Many animals that have been caged for years
and who are then set free are unsure of what to do. This is also
true for people who have been incarcerated for long periods of
time and then have trouble making a life for themselves in society
once they have served their time. So it is for some of us. Some
of us never leave our cages, afraid of the unknown that lurks
outside while others step out of the cage only to falter and fail
at the new roles and situations now faced. The rest of us overcome
the many and varied pitfalls and difficulties and make a new life
for ourselves.
Playing the roles required to move ahead can
be one of the most challenging and rewarding parts of the journey.
Imagine trying to compress a lifetime of roles and role playing
into a period of one to three years. That is what is needed in
order to make the transition successfully. All of us are trained
and socialized by people around us so that as we grow up we learn
the expected behavior in any one of a number of life's situations.
Yet if you do not accept the norm as your way, you are ridiculed
and left wondering, what is my way?
There is no road map that will guide you down
the highway there are only rough guides that give you outlines
of where to go. You are on your own to fill in the fine details
and make the best of your situation. Some of the paths you take
in life take you down a well worn trail while others, you may
need a machete to cut your way through. Although there may be
similarities to other travelers experiences, each journey is separate
and distinct.
The next meeting of the discussion
group will be held on Monday evening, the 23rd of February at
Karin Ferron's A-Plus Electrolysis shop on 1 Old County
Road in Pocasset. Should you need directions, call Candy.
Just in case you missed out, here
is a look at last year, 1997, in fashion.
_ Suffering for style came back with stiletto heels. Sensible
women overheard observing a cute young thing wearing stilettos
and bare legs on a chilly day: "Do I have pain centers in
my body that she doesn't?"
_ Liberation, the 1990's version, took the form of innerwear worn
out in the noonday sun. Women let their bra straps peek out of
tank tops and slipdresses all summer, as if to say to anyone who
dared disapprove, "It's my bra strap. So shoot me."
_ Feminine, colorful cut-velvet slipdresses and velvet trimmed
cardigans, all which originated in a tiny London boutique run
buy a bunch of aging hippies who buy no advertising, stage no
fashion shows, keep their store's door locked and put no prices
on garments.
_ The power suit, much touted, was the trend that did not happen.
_ Perfumes that explore a range of emotions.
_ Slipdresses, they won't die or even fade away.
_ Leather: Any time, any place, any season, any color, any price.
_ Designer warmup suits, especially those that mix and look well
with regular clothes.
_ Return of the miniskirt. The best skirts of the year all hovered
around the knee.
CANDY'S
CUPBOARD
_ As of one week before the
Valentine's Party, we only have a few signed up to attend. Please
give me a call if you are planning to attend and have not as yet
sent your registration in. Thanks.
_ Tracy P. had a very good article about her computer
home page printed in her work newsletter.
Tracy's home page is a kaleidoscope of color, form and sound which
overwhelms the visitor with its sensory displays. Popular music
selections play while the visitor peruses the site. It is updated
several times a month. She has had over 14,000 hits to her site.
She also has added two "listening-in" features, a police
scanner and a direct link to astronauts in space.
_ Did you ever have the problem that your obliques are
killing you? For most folks, if their cryptics are in excellent
shape, their obliques are generally fine. O.K. Liz, figure
that one out!
_ For those of you interested in political activism,
there is an organization named "It's Time Massa-chusetts"
or ITMA. ITMA is a local chapter of "It's Time America"
(ITA). It is a public advocacy organization dedicated to seeking
legal protection for people with gender-variant expression. To
find out more you can contact Penni Ashe, 1630 Worcester Road,
Apt 212C, Framingham, MA 01702-5439. E-Mail: Penn45@ultranet.com
or World Wide Web: http://www.ultranet.com/-penn45/itma/ Penni
is also a member of the Sunshine Club in Western Mass.
_ Another organization, in case your interested, The Royal
Commonwealth Society (RSC) was in-corporated in May of 1996 as
a non-profit organization whose main purpose is to raise funds
to support non-profits who service the Gay/Lesbian/Bi/ Trans/HIV
communities by sponsoring and hosting various fund raising events.
As the name implies, each member of the RSC holds a title of nobility
commensurate with the level of service to the organization. A
new member is invested the title Lord or Lady. Within a fully
recognized court the highest titles one can hold are Empress
and Emperor.Should you want more info call: 508+753-4777.
_ Two first's just took place this past month.
Liz made her first trip alone to a mall, The Warwick Mall in Rhode
Island. Brenda L. also did her first mall walk by herself to Filene's
in the Cape Cod Mall. Both had very good experiences, each with
the help of very friendly service clerks. Liz was able to try
on several different outfits, all with no problems and Brenda
bought a sweater, again with no problems. Ra Ra Sis Boom Ba!
_ The last discussion group held with Morf in Rhode
Island on the 28th of January was not good at all. The meeting
was super and mixing with another group was excellent but
the discussion turned out to be very bad. I think that we should
all take some lessons from this. First, mixing with other groups
is super. It allows a good blend of ideas and the meeting of new
people and making new friends or renewing old friendships is always
exciting. Two: discussions are just that. They are not edicts
cast in stone but are a full mix of your ideas, her ideas and
my ideas. What you think/ believe is absolute, no one else may
think/believe is absolute so please allow for other points of
view. Also, a moderator is needed to keep the group focused on
the subject. The subject was: Now that your out of the closet,
where do you want to be in 1-year, 2-years, 5-years. The discussion
got bogged down too much on the mechanics of being transgendered
and passing in public. Not good! But I would not give it a failing
mark. The atmosphere was neat, the hospitality was above and beyond
(thank you Sindra) and the people were super. Lets all try better
at the next discussion group meeting which is to be held on Monday
night, February 23rd at Karin's A-Plus Electrolysis shop in Pocasset.
If you need directions please call me at 508+563- 3160.