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La Femme Silhouette

 March 2003

 

Masthead 2003

Table of Contents

Moving Onward
Spinning, Printing and Drawing
February Meeting Minutes
The Phoenix

My Duties
A word from the Other Half
Slinging Scissors

Newsletter News
Bits and Pieces
Upcoming National Events
Upcoming Local Events
Upcoming Meetings
Publication Notice and Club Policies

 

MOVING ONWARD

In the next few months, Alpha Omega has much to do. Vision and Mission statements will be drafted. A new constitution will be forged. Policy and procedures will be made for our different committees. An Alpha Omega Pledge will be written. New member packets will be put together. A new brochure will be created. Letters will be formulated to be sent to vendors, helping professionals, etc. Visits to other groups and organizations in the Transgender Community will be done. New resource links will be looked at. Articles for the newsletter and web page will be needed. New speakers will be sought out.

And, on top of all that, and all the other things that may come up, will be putting on monthly meetings that bring us all together as partners in the Alpha Omega family. The officers of Alpha Omega are dedicated, not only to fulfilling our duties, but to making sure every meeting will be an experience to be looked forward to by all who enter our doors.

There will always be some business to be done at a meeting, but beyond that is much more. Partnership, a sense of family, friendship, caring, compassion, and even fun, smiles and laughter, are all components to making a gathering of Alpha Omega, not just a meeting, but an event with meaning. Instead of referring to our gatherings of Alpha Omega as meetings, I suggest we call them "Reunions" as in family reunions. When someone enters our reunion, I want them to feel that they are a partner in something unique and wonderful, and that as a partner in the Alpha Omega family they are never alone.

A sense of belonging to something greater than myself was one of the greatest gifts given freely to me more than fourteen years ago when I joined Alpha Omega. That spirit instilled in me the desire to pass that feeling on to others over the years, and I have tried to never fail in that quest. Today, I renew that desire within myself, and will strive for all Alpha Omega partners to do the same.- Gloria

Together, as partners in the Alpha Omega family, we can make a difference in this crazy old world we live in for ourselves and for others. Helping others discover themselves as human beings, and as a partner in our family is my fondest wish and hope for Alpha Omega. Please, join me in the tasks ahead, and in making our reunions something special.

Sincerely,

Gloria Sue Fenton

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Spinning, Printing and Drawing

Changing Names means a lot of work.

Diane S. Frank


Changing our affiliation and name has been my primary concern for the last month. That means re-spinning the Alpha Omega Website. I hope by the time you read this that our new domain name will be active www.alphaomegasociety.org . There’s the matter of new business cards, and newsletter design as well. Since we’ve dropped TriEss, we need a new logo. I’ve been working on some ideas, Here’s my working version for the moment.

 

 

 

The symbolism ought to be pretty obvious. Blue and male on the outside, where we start out at the beginning- alpha. Inside pink, and the Omega figure modified with a sweet smile and a sweep of the hair, the endpoint.

If someone else has ideas, please draw it up and send it in. I wish I could offer a prize, but isn’t the satisfaction of seeing you artwork in print around the world.

Our March meeting features Sister Bernadette Manning. Sister Manning has worked as a Juvenile Probation Officer, and presently has a practice in Marriage and Family Therapy as well as Pastoral Therapy. She took her vows with the Sisters of Charity, and attened Alleghehy College where she earned a Bachelors degree in Sociology and a Masters degree in Educational Counseling.

In addition, Sister Manning is a Certified Labyrinth Facilitator and a Reiki Master.

Sister will give a presentation on relaxation techniques and lead group exercises. She will make group and individual recommendations...and best of all she’s excited about coming

 

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FEBRUARY MEETING MINUTES

MINUTES OF THE FEBRUARY 8, 2003 ALPHA OMEGA MEETING

The February 8, 2003 meeting of Alpha Omega was called to order at 8:00 p.m. by Gloria Fenton. In attendance were: Twelve were in attendance.  Gloria introduced Penny who was attending her first meeting.

New business: Gloria reviewed emails about a member and her current situation. She thanked all those who had used the e-list to provide support and comfort to her.

The major topic for the evening was that TriEss had offered us forming chapter status. We are no longer recognized as an existing, chartered chapter of TriEss; but are being given the opportunity to re-apply and rebuild as a forming chapter. Correspondence with TriEss states the reason for this decision goes back to problems sixteen years ago when the chapter was first chartered. In addition the Board of Governance decided that we couldn’t have enough TriEss members to have a TriEss chapter. Thus, our status at this point is as an independent group with no ties to TriEsss which may apply for forming chapter status.

To become a forming chapter we need to sign the Questions of Commitment. Gloria read the questions in their entirety to the group. Also read was the "Why TriEss?" article which had been printed in the CLE newsletter. Diane Frank then read her "Declaration of Independence" which stated her views on the Questions of Commitment. Discussion was then held on the decision of whether or not to accept forming chapter status to TriEss. Abby motioned not to accept the Questions of Commitment and Debbie seconded this motion. Diane Frank motioned to close the discussion on this topic, and Abigail seconded. The vote was taken, and the decision was unanimous (14 to 0) not to sign the Questions of Commitment. The vote included two proxy votes (Sheila and Diane Brennan) which were received prior to the meeting.

Other business: As a new, independent group there is much work to be done. The officers will be working on policies and procedures which will then be submitted to the group for approval. Other topics that were mentioned for consideration were setting up as a non-profit organization, liability insurance, and a name change. Discussion was held on the idea of changing our name. Pro’s included the need to separate ourselves in people’s minds from the TriEss association which we will no longer have, and to identify ourselves as an independent group. Con’s included the loss of identity and name recognition we enjoy from many years as Alpha Omega. Diane Frank motioned we table the discussion, and Abby seconded. A vote was taken, and the motioned carried.

An interim meeting (work session) to work on the constitution, vision and mission statements, policies for the group and budget matters will be scheduled before the next group meeting.

Next meeting: Abigail told us about our March speaker who will be working with us on relaxation techniques. The meal will have a bit of Ireland theme since St. Patrick’s Day is near. Sherry will bring a brisket and vegetables. Kathleen will bring Irish stew. Diane Frank will bring Buckwheat groats (Kasha). Penny will bring bread. Desserts and snacks are open.

Minutes Respectfully Submitted by

Kathleen Fenton, Chair of Family Support and Secretary

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THE PHOENIX

In Egyptian mythology there is a story about a bird that had a life span of about five to six hundred years. The bird was called "The Phoenix". And when the life force of the Phoenix neared its end, it would consume itself in fire. In doing so, the Phoenix was reduced to ashes. From those ashes, though, the life force of the Phoenix was renewed and would then rise from the ashes to live again for another five to six hundred years. This legendary "Phoenix" has become a symbol of renewed life and spirit.

Alpha Omega is now, itself, at a time of renewal of the life and spirit that created our group many years ago. As the "Phoenix" did, Alpha Omega will revitalize its vision and mission for those who are, and will, become partners in achieving our goals and objectives. Creating and giving a spirit of extended family to our members will be an integral part of our vision and mission. So, too, will be the desire for Alpha Omega to not only be vital group within itself, but to be a vital part of the Transgender community in our northeast Ohio area.

The symbology of the "Phoenix" will be a guiding principle for Alpha Omega for now, and for our future. Alpha Omega is alive and well, renewed in purpose, and ready to take wing.

Gloria Sue Fenton

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MY DUTIES

(AS I SEE THEM)

  1. Newsletter articles – as a leader and as a member.
  2. Preside over meetings.
  3. Set meeting agendas.
  4. Work with and support fellow officers in their missions.
  5. Be the liaison to TriEss, CLE, and other groups, as needed
  6. Keep meetings fun, interesting, and exciting.
  7. Be a morale booster.
  8. Be the best group cheerleader I can be.
  9. Write letters, make phone calls, as needed.
  10. Let every member at a meeting know how glad we are that they are there.
  11. Take the time to talk to and listen to everyone I can at a meeting.
  12. Make myself available for questions or concerns when needed.
  13. Go to other groups, etc., to spread the work about Alpha Omega.
  14. Be a part of panels, etc, in the Transgender community.
  15. Bring concerns to resolution as soon as possible.

What do you think? Please, let me know.

Gloria Sue Fenton

Chair of the Alpha Omega Society

 

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WORDS FROM THE OTHER HALF

Like so many of us, life is hectic for me right now. But it seems that "hectic" is a normal state of being any more. My job takes up a lot of my time and energy. Then there is the inevitable family crisis. The current one is dealing with my uncle’s recent stroke, and providing support for both he and my emotionally fragile aunt. Then there are the "secretarial" duties for Gloria. Bless her, she is a prolific writer, and her head is crammed full of ideas that need to get on to the computer so they can be read by someone other than myself. Since Gloria is a self-proclaimed dinosaur when it comes to computers, that means I spend a lot of time translating her hen scratchings into legible format to share with others. Of course, there is the usual routine of house work and handling financial matters. (You know those darn bills that just keep coming in month after month after month.)

But somewhere in there is the need to find time for Alpha Omega. I can not tell you how good it is to once again look forward to a meeting. It is wonderful to anticipate seeing friends and having a good time with them. This is a feeling I sorely missed over the last couple years. I feel refreshed by our new beginning, and energized with the need to help establish a solid foundation for our future.

I know that all of the wives/partners in our group have ideas for helping to move this group forward. As chair of the Family Support group, one essential is making new people feel welcomed and comfortable. One thing we will be doing toward this end is assigning a guide for all new people who enter our doors. This idea is one that more than one of us has had, but it was Sherry who came up with what I think is the perfect name for our guides, "Mama Ducks". Since Abby and Sherry were frequently the first contact new people had with the group, it was natural for the new person to cling to the one familiar person they had when they first attended. Sherry said it reminded her of ducklings following a Mama Duck. So, "Mama Duck", it is. We will have a roster of experienced members, and assign a Mama Duck to all ingenues from this roster. The Mama Duck will provide guidance until the new member can "fly" on their own.

I would also like to see something from the wife’s/partner’s perspective in each newsletter. Suggestions for a title for this section would be welcome. But, please, not something like "The Wive’s Corner". In this group we are not shoved into a corner. We are equal partners with equal standing.

Until next time,

Kathleen


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Slinging Scissors is a good place to pull yourself together

By Sheila Wagner


If you haven't met Jill Kinsner at Slinging Scissors you're in
for a treat. Not only is she a friend to the crossdressing community, she is very helpful in the make-up department. Joining Jill in being helpful to us is another gg, Terry (I don't know her last name). She works on hair, your own or your wig. For the record, Jill does make-up work period. Terry does hair period. While that might not work for some of you it sure worked for me as I began my journey out of the closet and into public as a crossdresser.


The security and privacy offered at Slinging Scissors was very appealing to me a frightened newcomer. Would these people try to walk off with my credit cards? Absolutely not. Not even close. Would they laugh at me? Again, an emphatic no. To the contrary they were fully supportive and I don't mean just Jill and Terry. The staff at Slinging Scissors is aware that some of the incoming calls are from crossdressers. Politely they write down your femme name and you are entered for an appointment with Jill or Terry in exactly the same way as any gg customer


At first, I simply called Slinging Scissors and talked with Jill and or Terry. Without telling them who I was, I discussed the possibility of having a complete transformation session with Jill. After three months of talking on the phone, I finally got up the nerve to drive to Strongsville where the salon is located. For those who may be interested, Slinging Scissors is located at 15304 Pearl Road about 1 mile south of the intersection of Pearl and Rt. 82 near South Park Mall. The facility is part of a newer, modern building and is connected at the South side by a bank. It is very clean and orderly inside and you will not feel out of place.

Back to my story. I carefully packed a garment bag with several changes of clothes, some make-up of my own, a wig, shoes, undergarment and tossed them in the trunk of the car. I drove to the salon in drab, heart pounding through my chest. I had already driven by the salon and had decided I would park at the rear and walk around to the front. As I went through the front door, the reception desk was to my immediate right. I walked up and said I had an appointment with Jill.

Then I about keeled over. The receptionist asked my name. In a stage whisper I said my name Sheila....I didn't want the two ladies sitting in the waiting area to hear. As I said my name, Jill came bounding around the corner, said Hi, shook my hand and hurried me around the corner.  Now listen up because this is one of the best parts about spending time with Jill, she charges $25 an hour. When we went around the corner I was confronted with a long, empty room. There are probably four or five tanning beds, but nobody was using them, so we had the place to ourselves.


After passing all of the tanning booths, we reached a pair of private rooms where Jill does her work for the gg's and us if we want the service(s). She does facials and nails along with tanning and is listed as an aesthetician.  
Let me backup for a minute. Terry and I have had a number of phone conversations about wig colors, wig styles, and proper fitting. At that time, she told me she has every other Friday open. "I would be willing to go with you to a wig store and walk you through the process," she said. As I recall her fee for this service was $20 per hour...maybe $25.


I have yet to take her up on the offer because I didn't think I needed help. Now I know better. There is nothing worse than buying a good wig that just doesn't work. So I may yet ask Terry to go shopping with me.  Now back to my walk through at the full service salon. Suddenly I realized that I was at the back of Slinging Scissors and that my car with my large, heavy garment bag was just a few feet away on the other side of a security door.

But first, things first. Jill and I talked for about 15 minutes about what I wanted to have done. Then she walked me past a couple of restrooms, one for the help, one for customers...both very clean. The back door was next.  
In two minutes, I had my things in her private room complete with a door, four walls and a ceiling. She turned on some soft tunes and we got started. Believe me, for a newcomer dressing in public for the very first time, it couldn't have been any better, any easier. I enjoyed affordable prices, a very nice lady with a good sense of humor, and total privacy. No one, repeat no disturbed us. She opened one or two large cases with lots of make-up, brushes, the works. "Ok, are you ready," she asked. "Let's start with the foundation, and we were underway. Periodically she would back up and look carefully at her work. On occasion, she would start over because she saw something she didn't like. In other words, she is flat out serious about doing her best and making us look our best.
Roughly 2 1/2 hours later she was finished. "Look in the mirror and tell me what you think," she asked. "What I saw was surprising and pleasing. First my eyes had never looked that good, she creates beautiful eyes. Still it was difficult to decide how successful we had been until I put on my wig and dress which I did very quickly. Now the vision of what could be accomplished with some professional help began to take form. Again, this was my first time and I was impressed then and I am still impressed. Jill opened the door to one of the tanning booths revealing a full length mirror. When I saw myself from top to bottom the look was convincing.


Still I was shy about going out and needed more validation. Jill also said she could experiment with many different looks. That's what I needed to hear. Just as fast as I became Sheila, I got undressed and back to my drab self for the ride home. That's right ladies, I spent $50 for a 15-minute look at myself. Three weeks later I was back for another look, and two weeks later back for yet another look. This was fun even if I was dressed as Sheila each time for only a few moments. Jill took pictures at one of those sessions.

Along the way she invited the beauticians working on the other side of the salon to come back to meet me. To a person they were interested in what Jill had done for me and they approved. All of them. Buoyed by their opinions, I made yet another appointment with Jill. This was the big one. Instead of jumping out of my dress and washing off all my make-up, this time I was going to drive from Strongsville to the Alpha Omega meeting site...more than a one hour drive. As Sheila!


What happened next is hard to explain. Jill did a particularly good job that warm September Saturday. When I left Slinging Scissors and the door shut behind me, I was on my own. Everything I was wearing was all girl, not a hint of anything male. I drove up I-77 to I-480 to I-271 to I-90 and beyond. What a thrill. Most amazing was the complete calmness I felt moving through traffic. There was also a feeling of confidence. I felt that I looked good, and I felt that I should behave like a lady if I looked like one. In a few more minutes, I experienced one of the most memorable moments of my life. I walked through the front doors of the meeting place and was greeted warmly by Abby, Diane, Laura, Joan, and so many others I still can't remember all of the names. Apologies to anyone I left out.
Some of you have been to Slinging Scissors for an open house last year. For those of you may not have made that event and are looking for a pleasant and professional experience. Write down this number and keep it handy (440-238-8004). Call it and ask for an appointment with Jill or Terry and mention that you are a member of AO.
Like Cathy and Gail, the Images girls featured in last month's Silhouette, these are very nice ladies who are able and willing to help us with our special needs. I may have been slow out of the gate, but I will never forget their kindness and their patience. Without them, I would still be wandering around somewhere in a very deep, dark closet.
Next time, I'm going to do a short feature on Wigs 'N Things in Fairlawn Village. If anyone has another story idea, let me know and I'll do my best to cover it for you. Let me know.

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Newsletter News

I’ve been sorting out who our newsletter goes to and asking groups all over the country whether they want to continue to receive this newsletter. I’m pleased to report that so far, no one has indicated a desire to drop us

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Bits and Pieces

By Diane Frank

Not Family Fare!

I attended the Wild Plum Theaters evening of Three One Act plays on GLBT themes. The fun part was that Mary, who I’d met at the Ohio Independent Film Festival greeted me with a big smile, and impulsively took me to the seats she had saved up front so she could see her girlfriend’s performance better. She also introduced me to three of her friends, and the directors of the show. The directors were pleased to meet me because they’d been unable to find any transgender related scripts to work with. I offered to be their guide to some of the themes and conflicts that could be of use, and to introduce them to some of the colorful characters in the Cleveland area. But that was also the bad news: The bisexual and the gay plays were so overtly sexual that I can’t bring myself to report on them here. The two character lesbian play that Mary’s girlfriend Mary was performing in was a nice character study of people trying to break down barriers in a relationship. Unlike the bi and gay plays it would make sense between any two people.

Legal Issues, Again

Randi Barnabee spoke on a number of legal cases she is handling in the trans community at the February meeting of Akron Transpride.. While most of the issues Randi addressed were of concern to transsexuals, I did ask Randi’s comments on the Peter Oiler case. Randi had sent a briefing to the attorneys in New Orleans, but didn’t hear back from them. She thought Oiler’s decision not to pursue the lawsuit was disappointing, and felt that there was legal basis for hope.

Randi has also been trying to find out exactly what provisions are being drafted for the GLBT civil rights legislation to be proposed by two state legislators. Unfortunately, she hasn’t heard back here either.

Something Different

Friday March 7th is Shabbat across America. Chevrei Tikva has asked its members to bring family or friends to services that night, starting with a potluck meal (Kosher-no dairy). Anyone interested in sharing the experience with me should get in touch. Rabbi Rembrandt is wonderful and I’ve found the congregation a warm and welcoming place.

Breaking News, Cleveland GLBT Leadership Summit

One of the first questions a spouse is likely to ask on learning her husband is a crossdresser is, "is he gay?" Given that concern, what was I doing at a Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender Leadership Summit? What could we possibly have in common, what could we talk about? Given the ground rules for the meetings, I can’t repeat what other’s said there. But I can say that I see some things where we share common ground. First is the issue of employment security. We are all concerned that about losing jobs because an employer doesn’t like our off-the-job activities. Second, we share a concern for our public image. We all want people to see us as the people next door with a well tended yard and a mortgage to pay. Personally, I intend to support the center in its effort on these issues. I’d like the members of the Alpha Omega Society to consider whether they’d personally like to lend their support and also whether Alpha Omega as an organization should lend support.

The meeting itself featured county Supervisor Peter Lawson Jones as a speaker and was attended to two Cleveland city councilmen. Another speaker was from the Cleveland Foundation. Speaking with someone afterwards it was pointed out to me that if we achieved 501c3 status, we might get funding for printing a decent sized run of our brochure and thus have something for helping our outreach efforts into the African American, Hispanic and other minority communities. The luncheon speaker was Dr. Gary Gates from the Population Studies Center and The Urban Institute. Gates has collaborated on with Richard Florida of Carnegie Mellon on understanding why some cities succeed, and some flounder. A change in the methods used by the US Census Bureau allowed Gates to see where centers of gay populations were. Curiously these overlapped with Florida’s studies on technology innovation and urban economic success. They collaborated and refined the statistics to show that the same tolerant diverse environments that attracted gay populations also attracted technological innovators. The hypothesis remains controversial to say the least, but Gates proved an able lecturer to spell bound audience.

It was a long day. After nine hours in pumps I can certainly wish for better shoes.

-Diane

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Upcoming National Events

Eureka Femme Getaway

April 3-6

Eureka Springs, Arkansas

See

http://www.femmegetaway.com

A YANKEE DOODLE OF A SPICE, July 9-13,2003Windsor Locks, CT

www.tri-ess.org/spice

HOLIDAY EN FEMME, November 6-9, 2003

Denver, CO

www.Holiday-EnFemme.org

www.rmtsk.org/holiday

COLORADO GOLD RUSH, March 6-9, 2003

Denver, CO

www.ColoGoldRush.org

DIGNITY CRUISE #17 – EASTERN CARIBBEAN, Feb 23- Mar 2, 2003www.pmpub.com/cruise17.htm

PUTTIN’ON THE GLITZ 2003, Feb 28 – Mar 2, 2003 Phoenix, AZ

Glitzball.tgharmony.org/2003

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Upcoming Local Events

Nothing so Far this month

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Upcoming Meetings

March Meeting- Saturday, March 8th, 2003

Topic: Our speaker will be the counselor of one of our Members. More details will follow on our website.

Menu: To be announced

April Meeting- Saturday, April 12th, 2003

Topic: Fashions and advice from "Susan's Fashions"- tentative

Menu: To be announced

For the latest information check our web site frequently.

 

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Publication Notice and Club Policies

 

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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