February 2003

Masthead 2003

NEW BEGINNINGS
Happy Chinese New Year-Happy Valentines Day
JANUARY MEETING MINUTES
Truck driver drops suit against Winn-Dixie
TIME
Let Images change your image!
Newsletter News
Bits and Pieces
Upcoming National Events
Upcoming Local Events
Upcoming Meetings
Publication Notice and Club Policies

NEW BEGINNINGS

When Harry S. Truman was President of the United States, he had a slogan that he used a lot. That slogan was "The buck stops here." And as we move forward that is a slogan that will also be adopted by your leaders. If you have a question, ask. If you have a concern or ideas to better the group and the rest of our "partners", speak up.

The good of our group is the most important quest we have to fulfill. Your questions will be answered. Your concerns will be addressed and brought to resolution. And your ideas to better our group will be implemented, as possible to do so. These things are paramount. We are at a time of new beginnings as partners in our group. Put simply, "Partners" are individuals who unite together for a common goal or good. And as "partners" we have a whole lot of common goals and good for us to try to accomplish.

Some thoughts are as follows:

1. A mentoring program for new partners to the group (Mother Ducks).
2. To find secure places for meetings to broaden our horizons.
3. Setting up outside the group activities such as attending plays, movies, etc. that would of interest
4. Working on contact with other transgender groups or organizations in our local area, and finding ways of mutual benefit
5. Outreach efforts to vendors, helping professionals, the public in general, etc.
6. Finding speakers of interest to our partners.
7. Focus on spouses and family concerns, and stressing their role as equal "partners" in Alpha Omega
8. Sponsor "non-dressed" group activities for those wishing to participate.
9. To find creative fund-raising venues for funds to be dedicated to outreach and possibly charitable use.
10. To have fun in sharing our time and efforts as partners in our group.

As we start with new beginnings, I am sure you, as partners, will come up with more thoughts for us to build on. We can accomplish much as partners. Our objectives are noble and worthy. So I ask of you, to be a part of the new beginnings, and be a partner. Your time and efforts will be worth it.

Respectfully,

Gloria Sue Fenton

Chairman

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Our February Meeting has a lot of fun in store as well as some serious business. By a happy accident we’ve chosen Chinese Potluck as the menu theme for this month’s meetings and guess what? We’re also close to Chinese New Years. So break out the cheong sam’s if you’ve got them, (no you don’t have to bind your feet) and bring a favorite Chinese dish to dinner (and yes that means your spouse). Sherry is bringing a wok (and making fried rice), so cooking from scratch can be done. I’ll be bringing a Chinese dessert (and I’ll bet that no one else has ever had it!). You can take out and warm up as well. And for people who aren’t familiar with Chinese food, sure you can bring something more familiar.

So much for the East. Our February meeting traditionally salutes Valentines Day, and focuses on Spouses and significant others. Kathleen is preparing a list of questions for couples to answer that should enhance communications.

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The January 11, 2003 meeting was called to order by Diane Frank, Acting Chair of the Board. There were thirteen people in attendance. The first order of business was to discuss and decide on re-instating membership and offices to those who had recently resigned. This was a necessary first step to determine if we could hold a legal meeting. Following discussion a vote was taken, and it was decided unanimously to re-instate memberships and offices to those who affected individuals. This action gave us the necessary quorum to conduct business. Diane Frank will be writing to Jane Ellen, Tri-Ess chair notifying her of this action.

The next order of business was to establish groundwork for Vision and Mission statements. This was achieved by giving each person cards to write their ideas on. These cards were then collected and posted for all to review. Everyone then voted on the top five concepts they felt best exemplified the Vision and Mission statements for our group. These ideas were then recorded and will later be published on our web site to flesh out a working Vision statement and Mission statement.

The concepts for the Vision statement follow:

1. Support

1. Emotional
2. Spiritual
3. Resources

1. A group to help others find their own paths of discovery
2. Vibrant, fun group, growth oriented
3. A social group for heterosexual cross dressers
4. Equal partners in a common cause
5. Individuals seeking support through friendship, fun, and serious discussion

The concepts for the Mission statement follow:

1. To provide social activities and spousal support, and to provide spousal support

for cross dressers

2. To provide interesting, informative meetings and activities resulting in members who

look forward to attending with anticipation

3. Giving inherent worth and dignity of every person
4. Promote non-dressed events for others to get to know the other side of us
5. Establish relationships with cross dressers, partners, and families
6. Extend ourselves to the community

After reviewing these lists, it was decided by vote that the term "family" needed to be added.

The Treasurer’s report was limited since we don’t have full records. To date only the last month’s report has been provided. Our new treasurer, Diane Brennan, has made several attempts to secure a full accounting of Alpha Omega’s treasury, accounting records and membership list from without success.

Action items for the next month include trying to renegotiate our rent at our current location as well as seeking alternative venues for meeting that might be more affordable for our current membership level. Committee chairs are asked to work on policies and procedures for their areas.

Next month’s meal will be a potluck with a Chinese food theme.

As of this meeting officers are as follows:

Gloria Fenton – Chair

Diane Frank – Director of Communications

Kathleen Fenton – Director of Family Support

Abby White – Director of Membership

Diane Brennan – Director of Finance

At this point, we are merging the vacant position of Director of Outreach with Communications. Kathleen Fenton will assume the position of Secretary to the Board, and Gloria Fenton will assume the position of Tri-Ess Liaison. Sherry White will handle the e-group. Sheila will be co-editor of the newsletter along with Diane Frank.

The meeting was adjourned.

Minutes respectfully submitted by

Kathleen Fenton

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Fidel Ortega, 365Gay.com
Monday, January 13, 2003 / 04:38 PM

SUMMARY: A man fired by Winn-Dixie because he sometimes dressed in women's clothing on his own time has dropped his lawsuit against the company.

A man fired because he sometimes dressed in women's clothing on his own time, in his own home, has dropped his lawsuit against the employer, saying he did not think he could win in the nation's conservative political environment.

Peter Oiler, a former truck driver for supermarket giant Winn-Dixie, was told that if word "leaked out" that he was a cross-dresser, it could hurt the company's reputation and result in a loss of business. The 23-year employee of the company has been battling Winn-Dixie for more than two years in a wrongful termination lawsuit.

A federal judge ruled against Peter Oiler last September and refused to reconsider the case in November. Oiler said further defeats might have set back anti-discrimination efforts for gays and transgender people.

"I'm afraid I would have done more harm to the cause than good," he told the Associated Press in an interview.

Among the reasons Oiler cited for his concern that the judicial landscape is turning more conservative was the Republican sweep in the November elections and President Bush's renomination of conservative Mississippi Judge Charles Pickering to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Oiler's appeal would have gone to the 5th Circuit. However, there would be no way of knowing whether Pickering, should he be confirmed by the Senate, would be assigned to hear the case.

In his September ruling, U.S. District Judge

Lance Africk wrote that Oiler is not protected by the federal law against sex discrimination.

Congress has refused 31 times to amend the law to ban discrimination on the basis of gender or sexual identity, and it is not the federal court's job to dictate policy, Africk ruled.

Meanwhile, Oiler may end up back in court, this time as the defendant. Winn-Dixie is demanding Oiler pay its costs to defend itself. Court records show the amount is more than $9,000. A Feb. 5 hearing date has been set on the issue.

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Start 2003 with a super new look!
By Sheila Wagner

Can you benefit from a visit to Images at 12778 State Road in North Royalton, Ohio? If you wear a dress and enjoy looking your best you need to meet two very attractive and competent ladies, Gail and Cathy Caluios. Gail operates Images, a bridal and formal wear store at the front of this two business complex, while sister Cathy operates a full-service beauty shop, Caluios Coiffures, at the back of the building.

On several occasions last year, Gail held Sunday afternoon open houses at Images. Importantly, the place is fully stocked with bridal gowns, and formal wear (in our sizes girls) for just about any occasion. I paid $69 for a gown that was listed in the $400 plus range at on one of those occasions. During my visit, I was encouraged
by Gail to try on anything and everything. "You can't tell until you try it on if it's going to work," she said, "and let me know if you need help with zippers. I'm here to help."

Gail, age 33, and an alternative rock singer, describes herself as a shoe person and a clothes horse with a real eye for clothing. If anything, that's an understatement. In a few seconds, literally, she will check your skin tone, hair color (wig or natural) and tell you what color(s) are right for you and which are not. Better, she will tell you if the gown you have selected fits properly or just doesn't work. Then, in a minute or two, she's back with an armful of gowns. The real surprise is that all of them will fit and all of them look good on you.

"I've been working at Images (owned by her mother) for 12 years full-time," she said, "but I've been in the business helping mom since I was 15. "We have 1200 bridal and formal gowns here ranging in sizes from 4 to 30," said Gail. "We also have a broad selection of shoes ranging in size from 5 to 14, undergarments including strapless bras, tummy control slips and crinoline slips, plus a wide array of necklaces and pierced earrings (clip-ons can be ordered)." Images also stocks a nice selection of gloves, purses, garters.

Not a stay at home person, Gail makes regular trips to New York City to check out the latest styles in bridal and formal wear. "We are beginning to see more feminine touches on the new gowns and more embroidery. This includes ruffly soft accents at the sleeves and hemlines. Patterns are more lacey, with both sequins and beads, yet the lines of the gowns I've seen remain simple and delicate." Colors, according to Gail, are trending toward the pastels, namely white and ivory. "I'm also seeing lots of pinks, lilacs, light greens, light blues and lavender," she said. Finally, this homegrown expert said anything a girl wants can be custom ordered. The only service she does not provide to crossdressers (for the moment) is an on site seamstress. "But I'm working on that problem right now and hope to have a satisfactory solution soon," she said.

Before we get to Cathy, another word about Gail. She is absolutely a cutie, sweet, friendly and decidedly gender friendly. She'll tell you that as you drive up to Images you will see four bridal mannequins in the window, each with a different colored wig. I learned later that those wigs belong to Gail who wears them when she performs. She is genuine, a great conversationalist and, yes, a businesswoman. Although she is very open to those of us in the crossdressing community, she is also in business to make money. In other words, ladies we must be remember that our calls to her must be about business because she has plenty of customers waiting in line to spend big dollars for weddings. We represent incremental business to her and as such are welcome. At the risk of sounding preachy (not my intention) we need to respect her time. Hey, that way, we'll be invited back often and warmly.

Now, let's talk about her sister Cathy an honest-to-goodness make-up artist. She has worked backstage with Cats when it was in town and understands the human face, color, wigs, cosmetics, everything. When I met her on a Thursday she was blond. When I showed up for my nearly three hour appointment on Saturday, she had silky black hair. She looked great both ways girls, she knows what she's doing. I called Cathy for an appointment because Gail described her as the "hair wizard." That was good enough for me. I made an appointment immediately. The cost was $90, but the transformation was striking. She pulled the hair back and up on my $190 Henri Margu synthetic ash blond wig. Then she piled it higher and higher, then a little lower...and finally she stopped at a place that seemed just right for the shape of my head, face and neck. "Notice that when I put the hair up on your head, it peels off the years," she asked. "Looking into the mirror I could hardly believe the difference between what I had been doing with hair and make-up and what Cathy had accomplished. I looked at least five years younger (Actually you should ask someone else about that, I see what I want to see.) Bottom line: She’s a pro, and the pros know how to turn the male face into a female face.

Now let me backup a moment and tell you what she did with make-up. She must have spent 90-minutes on my face. Somehow she removed my jowls with cosmetics, she turned my eyes into raccoon eyes and then softened the harshness of that look with layer after layer of make-up and did the same with my face. She gave me natural looking girl eyebrows, she gave me cheekbones, she gave me great looking girl lips and she never stopped moving. She went back to her palette of colors, back to my face, to my right side, to my left side, down under my chin, behind me and would even look into the mirror. She was catching the light as it hit my face from every direction.

Impressive to me was the steadiness of her arm and hands when she applied the mascara, several coats, and several colors. And then, after nearly a three-hour flurry of activity I was done. No, I wasn't! "What about your nails, I want to do your nails," said Cathy. So a professional did my nails for the first time. What a treat, she even had a speedy little nail dryer. Then I was done.

The next 30 minutes were spent selecting the clothes I would wear to the Alpha Omega meeting. I arrived with a number of outfits, shoes, etc. and Gail helped pull that part of the transformation together. Finally, Cathy, Gail and Shannon, who assisted Cathy, sat down and discussed the remainder of the evening. It was strictly girl talk and it was fun. When I left North Royalton for my AO meeting (a rather long drive) I felt absolutely confident that I could move about as a girl in the real world if I chose to do so. That night I chose not to and, in fact, I may never choose to do so. But knowing that the look created by Cathy was honestly that good, that believable was reward enough for this heterosexual crossdresser. For those of you who might want to share the experience, you can reach Gail at 440-237-1965 or Cathy at 440-582-5299. And, no, I'm not on the payroll, nor would I ever dream about a commission. As a member of Alpha Omega my only interest in writing this story is strictly informational.
In that spirit, you now have another great resource for assistance in Cleveland, another entry to make in your crossdressing file. If you're new to the fun world of crossdressing be sure to contact us at Alpha Omega.

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By Diane Frank

There’s a new beard cover out that’s claims to be better than dermablend, and they’re offering free samples in exchange for a used dermablend tube.

Mail your used tube to

Take My Dermablend®
c/o Neostrata Co., Inc.
4 Research Way

Princeton, NJ 08540

Alternative contacts 800-225-9411 or custsvc@neostrata.com

(Originally reported in the Oct 2002 issue of Transgender Community News by Amanda Richards)

During the interregnum (there’s a $64 word for ya), I had to attend to the AO hotline. We had an interesting call from someone who claimed to be an editor for a magazine from NY called Details. Seemed she wanted to know what a heterosexual crossdresser was and how that was different from a homosexual crossdresser. I blush to confess that due to the timing of everything I didn’t learn of the call until long after it was made, and it sat neglected and lonely in our voice mail box for about two weeks. When I tried to call back, I got no answer. Write it off as yet another prank. (Oy! And let me tell you those do happen... lots of people think it’s funny to call and give someone else’s name as urgently in need of contact and support, and give work, home and cell phone numbers. IT’S NOT FUNNY KIDS!) But, I digress.

Coming back from Boston, the other week I was perusing the magazine rack, (no NOT that part of the magazine rack), when what should I spy with my little eye but Details magazine for January/February 2003! I open the mag and what does my same little eye but an article titled "More than a Woman". Alex is an 6’3" ex-football player who becomes Minerva Steel by night. The pics for the article are good, although the article describes in loving detail an outfit with a Kimono that really deserves a picture. Overall a very positive picture was presented. Alex is engaged, having determined he’s straight and his fiancée goes out with him. She says, "When Alex is in drag, people always flirt and compliment her. A real girl just can’t compete". Of course, where Alex goes is another story, since the only place Minerva Steel exists is drag bars. Support groups or any semblance of interest in a normal woman’s life are outside his comprehension or interest. This Minerva is no feminist, even if she’s a sight to behold.

I had the fortune, or misfortune to have New Year’s to myself as my beloved partner was traveling at the time. I attended the New Year’s production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch at Cleveland Public Theater. Dinner, followed by the Show followed by a party afterwards. I’m pleased to say that the stage production is much more uplifting than the rather depressing movie version. And despite the press Hedwig isn’t about a transsexual, or about being transsexual or finding one’s gender identity. It’s about finding love and whether one can find completion from a relationship with another person. All the other stuff is just window dressing. The show was ably performed, two women serving dinner hit on me, and I was asked to dance at the after party. I had a glorious time. Let this be an inspiration for single guys who think that minor eccentricities in wardrobe will render them forever un-dateable.

"What", you exclaim, "it cannot be", that Moi has missed an opportunity. Tis true. I just got back from LA where an exhibit called "Fashion and Transgression" was running at the University of Southern California’s Fisher Gallery. I just couldn’t get to the exhibit given what else was on my schedule. Among the material in the exhibit are photos and documents referring to "Barbette the Enigma", an high wire artist in 1920’s Paris.

Barbette was actually a young man from Texas who contrived to perform his high wire act while giving the audience the impression it was performed by a nude (except for jewels on the breast and belly) woman. This is somehow, in manner not made clear in the review, connected with the show’s thesis that one year’s fashion faux pas are next year’s mode in demand.

The exhibit runs through April 12^th, in case you happen to be heading to the left coast.

You can find more information about it at

http://www.usc.edu/org/fishergallery/exhibitions_current.shtml

The Article from the LA Weekly can be read at:

http://www.laweekly.com/ink/03/11/style-athey.php

The mirror has two faces:
Barbette Applying Makeup
by Man Ray, 1926; courtesy
of the J. Paul Getty
Museum, Los Angeles

According to the January 31^st issue of the Gay People’s Chronicle, State Representative Dan Brady will introduce a bill protecting the civil rights of GLBT citizens of Ohio. Considering the story about Peter Oiler earlier in this issue, we will be following this effort with great interest. Now what does a well-dressed lobbyist wear?

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http://www.femmegetaway.com

www.tri-ess.org/spice

www.rmtsk.org/holiday

www.ColoGoldRush.org

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Friday and Saturday February 14, 15 @ 8:00 PM

Sunday Feb 16 @ 3:00 PM

Cleveland Public Theatre

Dealing expressly with gay, lesbian, bi and transgender issues, Wild Plum brings life to new works and new voices to classics. Working through a collaborative effort of playwriting salons and workshops to empower authors who wish to transcend stereotypes and gender bias. Big BOX marks the debut of this promising new company, led by Artistic Director Denise Astorino.

Cleveland Public Theatre

6415 Detroit Avenue

Cleveland, OH 44102

phone: (216) 631.2727

fax: (216)631.2575

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This newsletter is copyright 1998-2003 by Alpha Omega, Tri-Ess Chapter. All right reserved. Articles and information contained in this newsletter may NOT be without advance permission from the individual author. Write to editor@aosoc.org in order to contact the author. When permission is granted, a copy of the issue containing the reprinted material must be sent to Alpha Omega within two months after the material is published and proper credit is given to author and source.

The opinions or statements contained in this newsletter are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Alpha Omega. Contributions of articles are welcomed, but may be altered in the editing process, with the author’s intent retained, or may be rejected, whether solicited or not. Absolutely no sexually explicit material may be accepted or printed.

Alpha Omega is a non-profit social support group for heterosexual crossdressers and their wives or partners. Also, members from related organizations, helping professionals, and approved guests are welcome when cleared through Alpha Omega’s officers.

Meetings are the second Saturday evening of each month unless a special event is scheduled that takes the place of the regularly

scheduled meeting. The location of the meeting or event is only released to members or others with the approval of an officer. Members and

visitors must be 18 years of age or older. We will exchange newsletters with any other similar group. Send all correspondence to Alpha Omega, P.O. Box 2053, Sheffield Lake, OH 44054.

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