February 1998
Our February meeting will be held at The Pride Center & MCC Church, Waller Ave. (next to Imperial Center), Lexington, KY., Saturday, February 21 at 7PM.
February 20-22, True Spirit Conference, Laurel, MD. Contact The American Boyz, PO Box 1118, Elkton, MD 21922 (transman@netgsi.com)
Wednesday, February 25th, "Images of Blackness", 8pm at Lexington Bar Complex. See Dawn's column for more details
March 24-29, IFGE Crossing Borders Convention, Toronto. Brochures available.
March 27-29, Come Together Kentucky, Northern Kentucky University
Contact outfront@nku.edu
3rd Tuesday of each month- GLSO Networking Night
6:30pm Lexington Pride Center.
Editor's Note: On Saturday, February 14, Dawn's aunt, and the person who acted as her mother, Luella Brown, passed on from cancer. All of us in the transgendered community, the Bluegrass Belles, and those who consider Dawn to be our friend, share our caring and sympathy for her and her family at this time of reflection and remembrance.
I'm a snob. No not a slob , a snob. I mean in terms of my life style and who I associate with, I am a snob. I attend high society functions with my husband, shop at the finest stores, drive the finest cars and live in a nice home. I wear designer labels and have a very high opinion of myself. More important than that; my snobbery is within general real society, not in the GLBT Society. Here I am, the total opposite of that stereotype, as many of you have come to know - A fun, outgoing, independent, confident transsexual woman.
Why is this distinction neccessary ? Well it seem that we have some pseudo- snobs in the transgendered community! You know the type, don't have a pot to piss in terms of passing and a window to throw it out of in terms of social skills. Yet, they are the ones who constantly don't want to be seen in the same company as another transsexual or transvestite. Now ain't that a blip! I personally think it is a shame that a person cannot be accepting of anther person because of differences. Case in point: When I was a member of another group years ago, I always would implore the leaders to go out with members on shopping trips, restaurants and shows. "Do this and you will educate many," I said. I was not only rebuffed, but was made fun of by the leadership. Yes, the same leadership who wanted to make a difference in the community. Well, nice try! I found it sad when so-called open TRANSSEXUALS ran and hid from other transsexuals or crossdressers because they wanted to "be normal." Well I have news for all of you: It is one thing to be cautious because of job and family, but it is another to be paranoid! You cannot be "normal" if you continue to run from your fears, because in the end you will never be able to reconcile with your true self!
When I started this group with the help of Anne, Marj,Mitzi, Jamie and others, it was to combat the stereotypes of transgender and put a real face on it, rather than the weak, tired old face it had. We are a group that is committed to change both inner and outer. It is my goal to see this group mature into something that no one will be ashamed to belong to. A group in which people can say with pride ",Yes I belong to that group, and not only do we have fun, but it's helped me be a better person." 1997 was a great year & 1998, so far, is even better. Why? Because there are no Pseudo - snobs in this group, only people busy having fun, discovering their real selves, and tackling their issues.
Everyone is different and everyone has a breaking point, even me. Stress is a fact of everyday life, and the way we deal with it can be as helpful or as destructive as we want. There are many in the trangendered community who have let stress and fear ruin fun times and great relationships. Why? They spend too much time in the past and none in the future. I've learned many things since my coming out in 1991 and still more since living full time as of 1993. One thing is that people are people, and not everyone will give you a chance. To survive you need to find a quiet place, one where you can be yourself. This is the primary mission of this group: a quiet, party place where you can be yourself!
Alas, there are some who need more than that. I am speaking of the transsexuals who are not comfortable being around others who are TG. For those of us who are comfortable, it is because we have private places we go where we are known for who we are, not for what we are. I belong to a country club that is members only, a private place. Not only that, I go to a resturant that many TG's go to that is a private place for us (Marjorie has been there too!) I know of some TG people whose private places include bookstores, clothing shoppes, and theatres. These are our spaces and we all respect that. Everyone needs their space. Even the strongest of us all.
On Wednesday, February 25, 1998, Ebony Male and the Robert H. Williams Cultural Center will again sponsor "Images of Blackness IV" at the Bar in Lexington. Tickets are $5, and the show starts at 8:00 PM. I am the emcee this year. 1997s IOB was a great success, and I'm sure that this years will be, too.Come early, it normally sells out, and I'd like to see some Belles there!
HB 298 is a state wide hate crimes law that is up before the Kentucky House Judicary Committee. As a result of work by the KFA, It's Time! Kentuckiana, and members of the Bluegrass Belles, an amendment will be introduced that will insert "real or perceived gender" into this bill. Last Thursday I met with the sponsor of the amendment, Rep Kathy Stein, and the bill 's original author, Representative E. Porter Hatcher, for more than 2 hours. We have the votes to get it out of committee, now we are looking for votes on the floor. I need Transgendered hate crime stories from both inside and outside the state. You can send them to me at Dawn Wilson, 603 E. Main St.,Lexington, Ky. 40508. Or email me at dwils00@ukcc.uky.edu. We need them no later than February 14th
Love,
Dawn.
DALLAS DENNY RESIGNS AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF AEGIS
During the December meeting of the board of AEGIS, Dallas Denny announced her intention to resign as Executive Director, effective at the beginning of April. The Board reluctantly accepted Ms. Denny's resignation.
Applications for a new Executive Director are being accepted by Marisa Richmond, the Chair of the AEGIS Board (P.O. Box 92335, Nashville, TN. 37209), and Gianna Israel, the Vice Chair of the AEGIS Board (P.O. Box 424447, San Francisco, CA. 94142). Applicants are asked to submit a cover letter outlining professional and gender community accomplishments and interest in the position. The applicant should also submit a recent c.v. and at least one letter of recommendation. Applications need to be received by March 15, 1998.
LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES PROTECTS TG EMPLOYEES
From It's Time! Ohio, Columbus, OH.
It's Time, Ohio! is pleased to announce that Lucent Technologies, the leading producer of telecommunications products, has adopted an Equal Employment Opportunity policy statement that includes protection for transgendered and intersexed employees. In the EEO policy statement, Rich McGinn, president and CEO of Lucent Technologies, said "Demonstrated commitment to equal opportunity is an investment in our people and our future growth. Consequently, a company that attracts, selects, develops and retains the best will remain the industry leader. Lucent's ongoing efforts in this direction will provide us with a critical, competitive advantage in the marketplace."
Lucent is leading the way in the creation of an open workplace. Lucent's new EEO policy contains specific language to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity, characteristics, or expression. Lucent's wording creates a separate, but equal, status for transgendered employees, next to the protection for sexual orientation. To our knowledge, Lucent Technologies is the first large company to provide specific language in its EEO policy to protect transgendered employees.
Lucent's wording protects transsexuals ("gender identity"), intersex ("gender characteristics") and crossdressers ("gender expression".) The wording goes beyond these three narrow categories, protecting people whose gender presentation is nontraditional, including masculine women and feminine men. Lucent's wording goes beyond a promise not to hire, fire, or promote based on gender issues or sexual orientation. Lucent also prohibits any discrimination or harassment of our employees. Lucent's policy is to: ... prohibit unlawful discrimination or harassment because of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship, sex, marital status, age, physical or mental disability, one's status as a special disabled veteran or veteran of the Vietnam era, or because of a person's sexual orientation, gender identity characteristics or expression, in any employment decision or in the administration of any personnel policy;
It's Time, Ohio! would like to encourage other organizations and companies to follow Lucent's example, and add specific transgender language to their policy statements. To that end, we are making available the text of the Lucent Technologies EEO policy and the text of the glossary, specifying the meaning of these terms
For a numerous years, this has been a staple motto of the United States. This column is devoted to applying the same principles to our Community.
MAKEUP, PART 2: BEARD COVERAGE, PART II
So now, having completed the previous step of beard coverage, your face looks somewhat like Morticia's! Unfortunately, when you cover the beard shadow, you also cover your normal facial coloration. That doesn't look very appealing, so how do you retrieve that color? That is where the other two makeup
products (of the three that I mentioned in the first Beard Coverage article) come into play.
The key to reviving the life in your face is in identifying the original colors in your skin and replacing them with makeup. Anticipate needing pinks, yellows, beiges and browns. Some will even need traces of blue and green to achieve the most accurate shade match. Fortunately, to keep the GGs happy, there is a very wide selection of colors and availability from a host of cosmetic companies! Experimentation remains the key to success, and is also a part of the enjoyment. But where does one find foundations with these unique shades?
Don't even look for foundations for this purpose!! Wrong planet! Retrieving those shades is not impossible, though. I have become particularly fond of using brush-on blushes and eye shadows for restoring my underlying facial tones. These powders give me very precise control over the amount of each hue that I apply and the location where I apply it. Don't, however, overutilize these hues. It's always easy to add more color at any point in the routine (ever try to take some color back?).
I find that a pink blush over my beard area is all that I usually need over a carefully applied opaque foundation, but I'm considering further experimentation with some yellows in an attempt to achieve an even more natural result. My current preference in pink blushes for this color replenishment is Cover Girl in Seashell Pink. You may need a lighter or darker pink, depending upon your individual skin tones. A few light coats over the foundation works much better than a single heavy coating. These powder blushers and shadows also serve to "set" the foundation. More can be applied over any of the other makeup products that you may choose to apply over the foundation at any later time. Always remember that, in general, less is better.
For those of us with a particularly dark beard, more therapy is often needed. My theatrical makeup advisor says that yellows are good to obscure the blacks and grays of the darkest beards. Yellow powders are the more difficult to find, but are available. More than likely, they will be found with eye shadows. I would recommend always using any yellows, greens or blues after using the pinks. If you use too much yellow, you may appear jaundiced! (overuse of the blues or greens is indescribable). Use all of these colors sparingly and carefully.
You have completed this stage of your makeup when your foundation blends imperceptibly into your cheeks and neck. Expect your appearance to remain a bit sallow or "flat" even at this stage.
"Set" any foundation that did not receive a set with the blush or shadow colors with a light brushing of a loose, transparent powder. I use Corn Silk Medium Translucent loose powder and brush it on my entire face and neck with a large and very billowy soft brush. To achieve the best results without creating a snowstorm of powder in the air, first dip the brush into the powder container to "load" it with powder. After withdrawing it, tap the brush a couple of times over the container to knock off the excess powder. Then brush lightly onto your face. Any remaining excess can be removed by another light brushing with an "unloaded" brush.
Remember that the best results will always be achieved if you strive to match your normal skin coloration. The ultimate makeup goal is to appear as though you are wearing no makeup and your skin is free of blemishes.
Since writing the original segment on restoring a more normal coloration to the "Morticia" face, I have performed a trial run utilizing shades of yellow powder eye shadow to aid in beard coverage. For this test, I used Dream Cream eye shadow (1.7 Gm) by Jane (I forgot the price).My only comment is - INCREDIBLE !!!
In reference to the application technique described in the original article, I applied the powder, using a blusher brush, to my beard area immediately following the Signature opaque foundation. I used enough to produce a slightly yellowish tinge. I followed this with the Cover Girl Misty Pink powder blush and the remainder of the several steps. In my opinion, the results were beyond impressive. Not only was the blue-gray of the beard shadow completely eliminated, but a very near totally natural skin shade resulted ! This degree of coverage persisted for fully 9 hours, at which time I grudgingly had to shower. Personally, I'm sold !! And this is now a permanent step in MY makeup routine. I have also had the recent good fortune to have discovered two additional sources of yellow powders for beard coverage to present for inclusion in your bag of tricks (you can bet that I'll try them also):Buttercream eye shadow by Cover Girl, - almost imperceptibly lighter than Dream Cream by Jane. Yellow Neutralizer Powder by Physician's Formula, 4 Gm at $4.28 - a moderately darker yellow than Dream Cream I would expect the Cover Girl and Jane products to be interchangeable. The Physician's Formula product will probably be most useful for those of us with the heaviest and darkest beards.
You are now at the point in your makeup routine that is just beyond the starting point for the average GG. This is where the fun really starts! More next time!
PLEASE feel free to send your experiences and suggestions for inclusion in subsequent articles. Your contribution will be identified by adding your E-mail address. It is NOT necessary 2BA member 2BA contributor. Jennifer Comer
"People, what have you done,
locked him in his golden cage,
Made Him bend to your religion,
Him resurrected from the grave,
He is the God of nothing,
If that's all that you can see,
He is the God of everything,
He's inside you and me,"
"My God", Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull)
My parents often told me when I was growing up that politics and religion were 2 subjects best avoided in social situations. I've found many of their rules to be good guidelines for life, but I've made a habit of discussing politics in many social situations. I will now violate their religious prohibition, but I think I have good cause to do so. 2 ecclesiastical matters have crossed my desk in the past few weeks, and they are germane to discussion in transgendered circles, both involving the church in which I was baptized and confirmed, the Episcopal Church.
Dawn has written eloquently on her faith and its great importance in her life, and many others in the group have had significant religious experiences, both good and bad. Many churches don't exactly roll out the welcome mat to GLBT people, and members of this group have told me about being shown the door by their churches once their transgender status was revealed. I have my beliefs, Christian but not in a fundamentalist manner, and I've studied most of the world's religions as a part of my study of political science. It has been obvious to me from an early age that most organized religions are worshiping the same monotheist deity, and that the worldwide rivalries and warfare that exists between religions is merely an excuse to hate other people who are different. I also have a healthy suspicion of people who attempt to interpret Scripture - I have a fairly decent mind, and have the capability of pulling the King James Version (or Q'uran, or Torah, for that matter), down from the shelf, and read and interpret it for myself. In fact, when I hear a "holy man" quote Bible verse and interpret its meaning, I enjoy pulling out the Book, just to see how far out of context the charlatan is going to make his point. I'm rarely disappointed - verse can be used out of context to make nearly any point you like.One's attitudes and feelings about the Almighty, no matter what form or lack of it takes for you, are yours to determine, and it's the job of each human being on this earth to respect the beliefs of other human beings as long as they are not used to suppress, oppress, or deny basic human rights to others.
Anyway, I was raised in the Episcopal Church, which is also referred to as the Anglican Church. It was formed as a result of King Henry VIII of England wishing to divorce Anne Boleyn, and the Pope at the time denying his request. As kings are wont to do, he retaliated by forming his own state religion, based obviously on Roman Catholicism, but rejecting some tenets of the Catholic faith. Any Catholic attending an Episcopal service, or vice versa, finds the liturgy to be familiar. Episcopalians tend to be free-thinking, and question central authority, much as King Henry VIII did. The Epicopal Church has installed new bishops at both the national and local levels recently, and guess what? They like us! (From a press release) The Episcopal Church on January 10 installed its new, gay - friendly presiding bishop, Frank Griswold III. In speaking at the ceremony, Griswold did not name the issues of same-gender marriage and ordination of sexually active gays and lesbians which have brought the U.S. Anglican group close to schism -- but he did speak of the Anglican tradition's "unique capacity for diversity," "God's love for the whole mix and muddle of the world" and the idea that "Different dimensions of truth, different experiences of grace, can meet together, embrace one another and share the bread of life." He also expressed that, "My hope is that in five years the stridency that so seems to preoccupy us and the press, the strident voices in the church, will be more temperate, and that we all realize we are part of the same communion." He was one of more than 100 bishops who signed a statement in 1994 that sexual orientation is "morally neutral" and that "faithful, monogamous, committed" gay and lesbian relationships are worthy of honor. He'll be serving a nine-year term in a role with little direct authority but many opportunities for listening, discussing and persuading. Griswold's former post as Bishop of Chicago will temporarily be assumed by Bishop Herbert Donovan, Jr., formerly bishop of Arkansas.
Nearly the same time I received this bit of news, The January issue of "Episcopal News" hit my mailbox, and contained a column by the new Bishop for the Diocese of Kentucky, the Rt. Rev. Ted Gulick. In short, he likes us, too. Here are some excerpts of his remarks:
Our present prayer book makes a bold statement: "You are sealed by the Holy Spirit in baptism, and marked as Christ's own forever" The rubric says that the bond established by God in Holy Baptism is indissoluble. We are profoundly stuck with each other because God has acted in our Baptism to graft us into a family. Whether we are old or yourg, black or white, rich or poor, Chinese or Canadian, Republican or Democrat, married or single, sick or well, sinner or saint, gay or straight, we are sisters and brothers.
For some reason this issue has given birth to what many of us call "selective literalism." If we don't read scripture literally in its condemnation of same sex expression, then we are not teaching the true faith. No person that I know advocates exploitative or predatory sexuality, however, some of us know that God has always had a few good gay/lesbian clergy living disciplined lives, and that the Church has been blessed by their care, commitment, and love of God and God's people. I don't believe that all Episcopalians must approach the reality and issue of homosexuality as I do, but I do know that views I have expressed are held by many in the Anglican family.
Our primary task is to preach "good news" of Jesus Christ, who had nothing to say on the subject (or sexuality and gender identification - Ed) and who always dined with outcasts!
My goal in this is not to sell you on the idea of attending the Episcopal Church. Indeed, I have issues with the Church as well, most notably in its failure to provide any spiritual support or guidance for my parents in their waning days, after they had been faithful communicants for many years. However, on one of the rare occasions Father Michaud visited my parents at the Masonic Home, Mom "outed" me to him. Most of us would probably react with anger at our parents "outing" us to anyone, but I knew that she needed to talk to clergy about my transgenderism. To his credit, Father Michaud made it clear that there was no ecclesiastical problem with transgenderism, and indeed that gays and lesbians are welcome in the Episcopal Church. I spoke to him shortly thereafter, and thanked him for making that clear to Mom. She has been very accepting of me, and others like me ever since. He wasn't very knowledgeable on the subject of transgenderism, so I explained it to him, referred him to some web sites to learn more, and he in turn referred me to the group that meets at Calvary Cathedral for GLBT people.
It's easy to assume, when you are confronting your fears and guilt about being transgendered, that you are unwelcome at places of worship for being transgendered. It is true that many religions won't accept an open transperson. That is their loss. No matter how you define a deity, it's not rational to believe that any deity would hate anyone they created in their image, as all adherents to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam believe. There are many organized religions and individual congregations that will welcome us as we are without judgment. In addition to the Episcopal Church, the MCC and Unitiarian Universalist churches make a point of welcoming all. Of course, individuals within congragations may have a problem, but that is their problem as individuals, just as it is in society at large. It is perfectly OK to have faith, belief in an higher power, and still be openly transgendered; in fact, if you are a religious person, you probably will find the influence of faith to be a stabilizer while you go through the highs and lows of dealing with gender issues. Ask other TG people that you know, and they will probably be able to recommend friendly congregations that you can visit if you see fit. And, don't automatically assume your present congregation is unfriendly; it might be worth having a confidential chat with the clergyman in charge about your gender issues. Just remember, if we are to be respected, we must respect in kind - each one of us has different beliefs, and it is imperative that we accept each person's version of truth as valid for them. That's all we seek from others, right?
Freedom and Mascara!
Anne Casebeer
By Jami Ward
(Note: Jami Ward is a regular contributor to TG Forum)
I've been accused of being childish, and
it was not meant as a positive comment about my character. I
understand what people mean when they use that epithet, though:
that the person is either selfish, ill - mannered, spoiled,
irresponsible, or all the above. Sure that's how kids are
sometimes, but as the parent of two-year old, I now can see that
being childish is not always a bad thing.
First, my son knows how to play, and I mean to really PLAY. But then again, that's his job nowadays, and he does it very well. Through his play, he is capable of deriving pleasure from the simplest of acts. In addition, with his running and jumping and climbing, he is keeping physically fit. Doing a good job and keeping fit are good things.
Second, my son is not shy, but neither is he pushy. He says "Hi" or "Hello" with a smile to practically everyone he meets. If he doesn't get a reaction, he doesn't pursue it. If he does get a response, he has no problem initiating a conversation. Of course, not everyone can understand what he's talking about yet, but HE sure knows what he's saying. Being an outgoing, happy person is a good thing.
Third, my son is an adventurer who is not afraid to explore and take risks. Nor is he afraid to try again when he fails. But he is also not afraid to ask for help or to admit his inadequacies and to reach out for the comfort of the ones he knows will be there for him. Being an independent person who knows one's limitations is a good thing.
Fourth, my son is honest. I know he's not really old enough to have learned how to lie yet, and as much as know it won't happen, I'd like to hope that he never will. Today, if you ask him a question, if he knows the answer, he will tell you what it is. If he has an opinion about something, he will not hesitate to tell you what that opinion is.
Also, he is good looking (no, that's not a biased opinion) but he isn't vain about it. He's happy with who he is. Of course, he doesn't know much about being anything else, but being an honest and confident person is a good thing.
Finally, my son loves to learn. He is a like a little sponge or a recorder that's always on. He soaks up the world. But he is also learning to love. He shares things with his entire family, including the dogs. He administers smiles and hugs and kisses as a means of expressing his feelings to the ones he cares about. Continuing to learn and to love is good.
My son is not unique in any of these things, though. Most kids are just like him. We can all learn so very much, both good and bad, from children. Yes, they can be very self-centered and very selfish and very forgetful and very short-tempered and even very frustrating, and so can we big people. But children can also be totally accepting and loving and honest, and so can we. We should remember the negative childishness as we seek to better ourselves, but we should also never lose sight of the positive aspects of being a child. There's few of us that couldn't stand to both grow up a little more and to grow a little younger, too.Jami Ward
Five of you knew this already, but the evening
of January 11 some Belles went to the Kentucky Theater
downtown, Lexington's artsy - underground - sex cinema house, for
a screening of the British TS film, "Different for
Girls." The Kentucky is one of my fave haunts when I'm
out solo as Marjorie. Just now I cannot recall the last time I
entered the place as my manly self. That particular Sunday was
really a treat for me, to be able go with five TG mates, watch
the picture and celebrate our nature. The experience cemented a
bond of transgender kinship in the sense that I feel like I
belong somewhere. Finally! This feeling impressed me even more
strongly all next day and lingered on after.
I've not heard who decided to make this movie or why. My point is not to review the story, but rather to explain my reaction to it. It seems like as good an introduction to lives of the transsexual as any, for the general public. Certainly it's better than many because it is not dealing in sensationalism. Instead it acts out common life experiences of transgenders, and not only the post-ops. Didn't you feel awkward & different at school, and didn't the other kids pick up on that? Don't we have towork on our intimate relationship problems, or help family members to adapt their perceptions of us? What about your 4-inch heels in the closet? I know you have them -- or regret having purged the pair you once had. Haven't we crossed paths with law enforcement officials, some of whom are not real understanding? I know you have, because the six of us talked about these things in the lobby once the film was over, and for so long it got to the point we were the last ones left in the theater.
"Different for Girls". Be sure to see it when you can.
Marjorie DeMaille
This month, a few words about outreach. As you all know, I am the Outreach Coordinator. What that means, quite simply, is that I am usually the first person most people contact, when they make contact with our group. This does not mean, however, that other member of our group should not undertake a little outreach when the opportunity presents itself.
Outreach is all our jobs. It helps our group to grow, and be strong. It helps many new crossdressers and transsexuals come out of the closet, so that they can grow, and learn to come to terms with who and what they are. It means that we can all meet new people, make more friends, and have a great time together. That is what a support group is for.
That said, I would like to offer kudos to two of our members, who recently have made some contacts, and have met a few of us, so far. These people were met originally in chat rooms on the computer. I, myself, have met more than one person who later became a member through the chat rooms.
Bonnie and Erica, who have been coming to our group now for nearly six months, have, this month, made two new contacts, and for this, I offer them my sincere thanks and praise. They were, I feel, initially worried that I might think that they were going over my head, as Outreach Coordinator. I want to say to all: Nothing of the sort!! Outreach is all of our jobs!
What, exactly, is outreach, anyway? Outreach is far more than just getting new members into our group. In fact, that is probably the smallest portion of outreach. The much bigger portion of outreach most of us do, everyday, without even realizing it. The biggest portion of outreach is outreach to the general public. Just ny being out and around, as who you are, you are doing outreach!
Often, you may be the first transgendered person that a person has ever seen, outside of the talk shows. They will draw thier impressions of transgendered people based upon what they see in you. If you are friendly, polite, and courteous, usually, you will leave a good impression in thier minds of transgendered people. Of course, that is not always the case, as some have already made up their minds, long ago, about people like us, based upon thier prejudices.
Unfortunately, prejudice is a real thing, but it can be overcome! When I first moved here to Louisville, there was a relative of Anne, with whom I am living, who did not approve of me, and did not like me, just because I was a transsexual. Since then, his opinion of me has turned around 180 degrees! And why? Because he was finally able to see that I was very different that he supposed.
I was helping Anne to take care of her mother, and visiting her parents in the nursing home, quite frequently, as well as visiting other people in the nursing home, with whom I have since made friends, although, when I first visited them, I didn't even know them. Many people at this particular nursing home looked at me with a jaundiced eye when I first started going there. Now, everybody who works there, and lives there is glad to see me when I come by.
This did not happen overnight! This happened because I, over a long period of time, demonstrated to these people that I was a kind, courteous and caring individual! This is probably the biggest part of outreach, and all of you are capable of doing it, and should be doing it. The only way we will gain acceptance in the larger society is by getting out in the larger society, and showing them that we are good people, and care about the same things they care about.
Bonnie and Erica have done a great job with the two contacts
they made this month, and have done a great job with that larger
portion of outreach. Many others in our group have also done a
great job with that larger portion of outreach. All I have to say
is, Keep it up, group, you're all doing a wonderful job!