The church is having there first service in the new building tomorrow. Gloria and some other members are going to check out the facilities. The building should be ready the first of December.

The chili cook off will be in January.

Peggy has looked into Liability Insurance. The cost is $150 a year. A vote was taken and the insurance was approved. The papers will be sent to Peggy.

WEBSITE: Lisa reported on our web site. In one week we will be able to buy Amazon Books through our site. We have had 275 hit on our site. That is an average of 45 to 50 a week. Cheryl reported that there have been 41 hit made to the Rainbow Trail Significant Other site.

Gloria suggested we have an Alpha Omega Cookbook.

BE ALL: Gloria went to the last organization meeting.

Marla looked into some newspaper ads. She suggested we put adds in the Scene Magazine and Free Times. We voted to have these ads.

Naomi suggested when she was here last month that we should have a help line. Lori has asked about call forwarding. Right know we have a stand alone line and are unable to have call forwarding. An answering service was suggested. Lori will ask about other options. Lori talked about multi ring service. The cost is $4.00 a month. She will get more information.

Kathleen moved that we adjourn the meeting, Cheryl sec.

Respectfully Submitted,
Elaine Benton
Secretary/Treasurer

1998 has been a very good year for Alpha Omega so far because of the hard work and efforts by many people in our group. Some of these efforts include the following:

Alpha Omega's web page was begun, and as a group, we can take a lot of pride in our foray into the "Information Super Highway." Our web page is being noticed (190 hits in October 1998), and will be a definite part of Alpha Omega outreach and will be an aid in gaining awareness and membership.

We now have a web page for Spouses and Partners as well. This page will also be an active part of outreach for the years to come. The Spouses and Partners are an integral part of what Alpha Omega is all about, and we can all be proud to call them friends.

At January's meeting, Lisa will, for our program, give a display of our web page; and we can discuss ways to help make it bigger and better than ever.

I may be a dinosaur from the stone age when it comes to computers, but I do understand the impact this tool has, and can have for the future. For those of you who know your way around a computer keyboard, this could be an opportunity to give a little help to the group.

We have had increases in membership contacts, and the Internet has been an important facet of that happening. Our Interview Committee has been busy this year, and as always has done a fine job of being our "First Contact"; with people seeking information.

There has been an initial meeting for a Constitutional Review. Our constitution is a vital, living document that defines what Alpha Omega, as a group, stands for and what our goals are. Reviewing a constitution is not very exciting. But it is a task which needs to be done every so often. Early this next year the review will be completed, and the results will be presented to the membership.

Many people have gone out this year to find some new and exciting speakers and to give us a start for speakers for this next year. At present we are hoping to have Dr. Sheila Kirk for our April 1999 meeting. And we were well pleased to have had the opportunity to meet Naomi Owen of Chi Chapter and the Board of Tri-Ess as our speaker for this last October. We were pleased her partner, Rachel, could be with her also.

We also have had excellent speakers on make up, deportment, psychology, and Dr. Antone Feo's insights for an outreach program to professional care givers.

As a thought for next year, I am hoping we can persuade Peggy Rudd, a doctor, author, head of the Wives and Partners segment of Tri-Ess, and spouse of a cross dresser herself, to be our speaker October 1999.

Alpha Omega was, as a group, asked to be represented in a series of seminars sponsored by the Lesbian, Gay Community Service Center that focused on Gender and Gender Issues. These seminars were done to promote knowledge and understanding of the total spectrum of gender identity, and to increase awareness of the common needs and goals of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered Community. Hopefully, there will be more seminars that Alpha Omega and its members can be a part of.

Alpha Omega has also ventured to volunteer to assist Paradise Club in its efforts to put on the 17^th "Be All" that will be held in Cleveland in June of 1999. It will be good to help our friends in Paradise Club in this worthy endeavor, and open up some doors of communication between our groups for the betterment of all.

In December, for our 1998 Christmas Party, Alpha Omega will have its first get together in our new meeting place.

Our newsletter "The la femme Silhouette" has continued, in my humble prejudiced opinion, to be one of the best newsletters available.

It is you, the membership, the ones who work on the web pages, who write the articles, contact the speakers, hold an office, serve on a committee, bring in a fantastic meal for a meeting, do an interview, and many other things that have made it possible for Alpha Omega to become a Tri-Ess Commended Chapter for 1998.

Next year at the 1999 Holiday En Femme in Houston, when we will, as a group, be honored at the Awards banquet, I hope there will be a few of our members there to accept the award. We will work towards that goal.

If we work to make Alpha Omega the best it can be for ourselves and those we have yet to meet, that in itself will be quite a reward for the effort.

So what does 1999 look like so far? Well, let's just say that if we can arrange speakers like Sheila Kirk, and Peggy Rudd from national levels, bring in exciting local speakers, help with the 1999 "Be All," add what could be some very exciting touches to our web page and newsletters, do more seminars and public outreach programs, develop our membership, add a few other special ingredients, and above all, help others and have fun -- well, the sky could be the limit.

As a couple things to think about for some fun projects -- how about TV Dinners - a compendium of Crossdressing Cuisine - the Official Alpha Omega Cookbook.

What Is A Girl To Do? - an ongoing humorous series of unpredictable situations with multiple choice answers - perhaps this could also become a book with entries from several writers. (See next month newsletter for an example.)

There are many things, as a group, and as individuals that we can do, and your thoughts and actions are needed to make them happen. Every little bit helps.

This Christmas party will make ten years that Alpha Omega has been a part of my life. And just like ten years ago, I still get butterflies in my stomach on every meeting day. Back then it was because there was so much for me to learn about myself and this crazy part of my life, and I had no idea where my Road of Discovery would lead. But there was always someone there at a meeting to share a smile, to listen, and to encourage me.

Now I have those same butterflies because I hope I am worthy of being someone who can share a smile, listen, and encourage someone like I used to be. I owe that to them, because someone else did it for me.

Together we can change the world for everyone that reaches out to Alpha Omega, whether it be a cross dresser, a spouse or partner, a family member, a helping professional, or anyone else whose life is affected by crossdressing.

We can all spare a smile to help someone feel better about themselves, can't we?

Be proud of being a part of Alpha Omega. The adventure awaits!!

Respectfully Submitted,
Gloria Sue Fenton
President, Alpha Omega

The teen-aged girl mouthed those words in astonishment as she gazed at me through the window of the Park side Restaurant on the Saturday afternoon of the Riverside Gala Weekend in downtown Franklin, Pennsylvania. Lisa, Cheryl, Audrey, our new friend Sally and I had ventured into town for some shopping and a bite to eat when the gaggle of young teens happened by. Unsure of herself, she ran to catch up with her friends but soon returned to again see for herself that which she could not comprehend. Once more she said, "That a man!" I nodded in agreement, smiled, and waved for her to come in with her friends.

Mouths agape, jaws dropping nearly to the floor, the incredulous group of seven teen girls pressed themselves against the entrance of the café while their brazen leader led the charge of questions. Shouldn't you guys be on the Jerry Springer Show?" she asked. "You are really guys, aren't you?: she continued. Next came the expected query. "Are you gay? "No," we replied. "Many of us are married, with children." "So why do you do this?" The brave young teen continued. "We do this because it fun and we like it." Not satisfied, the girl pressed on. "But you're dressed like a girl!" Pointing out her jeans, sweatshirts and Chicago Bulls jacket, we politely countered that she was dressed like a boy and in fact, the entire group of young girls were. Of course, they didn't quite see it that way, justifying their feminine attire because their denims were bell-bottomed.

We continued to assure them that we weren't freaks!  And in fact, we were very normal men in all ways.  Again, the pack leader spoke, "Do you get hurt by what people say?" Sally replied, "Well, if you say nasty things about us, sure.  How do you feel when people speak badly to you?" The young girl began to understand.  We were asked if we'd ever been threatened or what would we do if we found ourselves in a similar situation.  I told her not to let my wearing a dress confuse her..  that underneath, I was still a man and would take whatever actions were necessary to defend myself.  "But you've got boobs! "another of the gal gang said strikingly to me.  Not knowing how naïve these girls were who'd probably not ventured very far from Franklin confines in their young lives, I assumed the worst and explained that they were indeed fake.  In one of the funnier takes of this encounter, Lisa jumped in and all too able demonstrated the enhancement technique by removing one of her breast prosthesis and laying it on the table where she sat.  Again, t he look on the girls' faces was nothing short of bewilderment.  It was indeed a priceless moment.!

In the course of out interrogation, we continued to talk warmly with the girls, telling them that many men crossdress, that we're otherwise normal, functioning, productive, upright members of society.  We weren't interested in drawing attention to ourselves.  We did this because it felt good, it was fun, and it was a release.  Cheryl added G.G. perspective:  "Doesn't it feel good when you girls dress up?" Again, they didn't quite buy into the similarities, but we could sense that the astonishment was turning into curious fascination.

The questions continuedj. "So you guys, like, shave you legs and stuff?" "Yep,"I countered.  Several of us showed how we have to contend with hairy legs, arms and the like.  "And you can walk in those heels?" Their leader asked.  I demonstrated facility with my 2 ½ inches, parading down the aisle and back.  The teens remained nearly mesmerized with us.

Seeing that it was time for the Park side to close for the day, I proposed a reading/research assignment for the girls, suggesting some library time to gain more understanding of the terms, "cross-dressing" and "transgender." I offered up similar internet keywords to help their search.  Young girls being what they are, they giggle, but continued to walk with us as we left, peppering us with questions that we did our level best to answer, all the while being gentle and friendly.

The lessons to be learned?  There were several.  Onec you never know when the opportunity to reach out to the unknowing will present itself.  When in public, be prepared.  Expect the unexpected.  Give honest, intelligent answers! And never pass up the opportunity to be a goodwill ambassador for the transgendered community.  Encounters like this will hopefully educate society and help erase many of the unfounded, stereotypical misconceptions of that which we as crossdressers do.

It was a bit saddening to see the early inklings of prejudice in some of these girls but it as also easy to see how such misconceptions are formed largely from a lack of knowledge of our uniqueness.  Hopefully their positive 20 minutes encounter with a handful of crossdressers will change that a candle lit in the darkness of ignorance.

It a bit brighter in Franklin, Pennsylvania.

The time is 6:00 a.m. on November 14^th, 1998.  I am sitting at my dining room table checking out articles for the December newsletter, and also going over ideas for new activities for the group.  The group, of course, is  Alpha Omega, and it is a meeting day.

I woke up at 5:00 a.m. and could not get back to sleep.  This is a pretty common situation on meeting days because as soon as I wake up my mind starts thinking about the group as a whole, and the meeting that day in particular.

There is no such thing as "just another meeting" in my viewpoint.  Each meeting is special and unique, and full of possibilities, and sometimes concerns.  There are many concerns running through my mind about today's meeting.  Due to our old meeting place no longer being available, and our new place not quite ready, we had to make arrangements for an alternate meeting place.  Looking around for possible meeting places, to be checking availability of a meeting room for privacy of our conversations, a place convenient to get to, a place that was affordable, a place where our members would feel comfortable going to, and a place we could get on short notice.  Then there was the matter of since it is just for one meeting, do you tell management about the nature of our group, or do you try and plan around that?  Many of our members, be it cross dresser or spouse/partner, are not comfortable being dressed or being with someone who is dressed, in public places.  That does have to be considered.

One place that we checked wanted over $200.00 just for a room, with meals averaging $15 to $20 dollars each above that.  There may be a few dollars in the treasury now, but we don't want to spend it needlessly.

We ended up making arrangements at a local steak house that had a meeting room for up to thirty people.  The $50.00 deposit for the room would be deducted from the tab for meals.  We could order off the menu with several meals in the $15.00 or less range, and the place was convenient to get to, and had a room available.

Since it was a one time deal, we decided not to mention the nature of our group, and asked our members to bear with us for this one meeting to be a non-dressed meeting.  The good news was, we had made arrangements for an interim meeting place instead of having to possibly cancel a meeting.  Some of the not so good aspects were:

(1)      Even though we suggested it being a non-dressed event, just the fact the meeting was being held in a public setting would keep some people away.

(2)      Then because we had asked the meeting be a non-dressed event, that in itself would keep others away.

(3)      No matter what decisions we could have made, the great probability would be that attendance would be low for the meeting --  just from past experience.

(4)      Another item that was concerning me this morning was that I had found out the evening before that our speaker had cancelled out on us.  So now a program needed to be created.

Being an Alpha Omega officer can, at times, be a very stimulating experience for the little gray brain cells, and you can't always please everyone.  I am also concerned about our December meeting at our new meeting place.  We need to try and get a count for those members, spouses, partners, family and friends who will attend.

We still need to check out the new facility to see how we can arrange tables, chairs, etc. for the meeting.  There are the little details like food, music, decorations, flowers, etc. to fine tune.   And, as always, for me, for any meeting, there is the concern that all will go well and that everyone will have a good time and be satisfied for being there.

After you take all of the aforementioned things, then add a little Constitutional review, helping with the "Be All", new aspects of the web page, setting up programs for  future meetings, winning an award from our National organization, and a few other items racing through my mind; I will be keyed up all day, because I want so much for the meeting to be special for everyone.

This is a self-imposed responsibility that I feel not because I have to.  It is because I choose to.  Ten years ago my life was totally changed forever because of an Alpha Omega meeting.  And every meeting is an opportunity for someone else's life to be changed.  That is the real reason I will have butterflies in my stomach all day until I have the meeting this evening.

This meeting could change someone's life!  And YOU and I can be a part of that.  How could anyone think a meeting to be boring or not important when the opportunity to change someone's life is part of the equation.  You never know when YOU might say just the right word, or show the needed compassion, of give that smile of understanding to another, and it makes all the difference in the world to their life.

We may join Alpha Omega to learn about ourselves, but as we do  learn and become part of the group, we become part of a greater whole that goes far beyond our own personal needs.  And the more we explore beyond our own personal needs, the more we will learn about ourselves.

YOU and I can change a person's life.

YOU and I can change the world.

YOU and I reached out to change our lives  and somebody was there for us.  Now it is our turn, and our responsibility when someone reaches out to us.  And all the little things count.

I hope the day never comes, whether I am an officer or not, that I don't feel those butterflies of anticipation on a meeting day.  For now, though, I will sit here with butterflies in my stomach, and worry about all the little things that are a part of a meeting day.

I wonder whose life YOU and I might change today.

After much anticipation, the long-awaited weekend was here.  I had heard so much about it from others who had attended that I could barely work the night before.  Lisa and I had planned to leave early Friday afternoon and make the leisurely drive through beautiful PA to Franklin.  I really wanted to leave the minute I reached her house and put the pedal to the metal (thank heavens, I wasn't driving).  Lying down for a nap after working all night was useless.  Finally it was time to leave after packing the car.  Would you believe I packed more than she did!!  Traveling with Lisa seemed so normal.  I kept forgetting about her being dressed and was startled to find people staring at what I have found so natural (I've come a long way, Gloria!). 

Franklin PA is a quaint town surrounded by gentle tree-covered mountains.  The town seems fairly quiet and sedate.  Not exactly the place I would expect to find a gathering of crossdressers  out for a good time.

We entered the Inn and found that our room was clear down at the end of a long hall.  I would imagine that hall was really long to those wearing HIGH heels.  I'm a tennis shoe wearer (if I can't barefoot it) and that hall got longer each trip down it. 

The buffet the first night was in anticipation of Thanksgiving and left nothing to be desired except the bog berries (cranberries).  We all ate heartily and watched our pantyhose stretch.  Obviously we ate too well.  Back on the perpetual diet I go.  Several of the CDs including our own Charlotte participated in a talent show.  One especially impressed me with the fluid motions of her hand movements.  I should be so graceful (maybe I wouldn't fall out of bed!).

Yes, I actually did and of course I blamed it on Lisa.  At 7:10 AM the first night, yours truly, sleeping on the wrong side of the bed, was rudely awakened by the sounds of an alarm.  I rolled over right onto the floor.  Of course, Lisa thought it was hysterical and I had to threaten her life if she told.  I knew she wouldn't say anything but from the look on her face and the various innuendoes she threw out, I figured it was but a matter of time before everyone would know.   But she never told,  just teased the daylights out of me.

Saturday started with a great breakfast.  I could see a second lifetime of dieting ahead of me.  Allie stopped by the table and off we went to the wives tea held by Janet Jackson.  I couldn't begin to tell here all the information that was shared.  She did manage to get quite a conversation going that lasted into the couples' tea.  It was interesting to find that although we came from all different facets of life, the concerns we had were the same ? how to make life with our CD easier on us, the CD and the family.  Janet and Charlotte did an excellent job. 

After the teas, off we went to tour the town.  Shopping with a group of CD is more fun than you could believe.  Formals seemed to be the focus of the day.  While in the upstairs of one store, a little boy spotted the "gals"and decided to keep an eye on them.  Obviously his mother was not too pleased since it didn't take her long to call him down and POOF they were gone. 

Since shopping expends a lot of energy and thus nourishment needs to be replenished, we decided to stop off at a local restaurant for lunch.  I'd love to make a few comments about the impropriety of boobs on the table but I'll leave that for Marla.  (See her article elsewhere in this newsletter).

A formal dinner took up the evening and I must say everyone dressed beautifully! Not a hussy in the crowd.  Now I am in my third lifetime of dieting as I stuff myself with prime rib!.sigh.  I'm not crazy about ventriloquists but I did find "granny" amusing.  The vulture dummy really took my fancy.  I wanted to bring him home (Lies, don't you think Joe the cat could use a pet vulture?) but Lisa said no.  Oh well.

After the banquet and after changing to something less formal, we headed for the lounge.  Ladies, Marla is really a great announcer.  Talk about a sexy voice.  Don't worry, Olena.  I was getting to you.  That lady really knows how to shake her "anatomy".  I thought she would never get tired.  I was worn out watching her.

Sunday morning brought the good-byes!.Not only to this year Riverside but also to Riverside itself.  This was the first and last for me.  Next year and thereafter it will be held in Erie.  The quaintness will be exchanged for the big city but the friendliness and camaraderie will remain.  Tired, Lisa and I drove home to take a nap.

Would I go again?  Absolutely!  Would I recommend it to other partners?  A definite yes!  Although attendance was down this year, I have to commend Erie Sisters for a job well done and thanks for a great time.  I don't know how else I could have gotten Lisa away from her computer for a weekend (not that she is a puterholic..let just say she NEVER turns it off!)

My name is Tim Frost, I am with TransFamily of Cleveland. On December 3rd at 7:00 P.M., Dr. Sheila Kirk will be speaking.

She wrote the book on hormones for Female-To-Males  and Male-To-Females.  Recently she has opened up the Transgender Surgical and Medical Center, located in Pittsburgh, Pa.

If you are interested in attending, please call Karen Gross at 440-646-9177 and let her know how many will be attending.  Light snacks will be provided and there will be a free-will offering to help cover the costs of the room.

Please come!

The TransFamily meeting with Sheila Kirk will be held at the Radisson Hotel, Route 91, north of Ohio Route 2 in Eastlake.

The room is reserved in the name of Robert Gross, CPA

This year Alpha Omega Christmas Party will be at the new location and will begin with social time at 5:00pm and the meal starting at 7:00.  The Alpha Omega Tabernacle Choir will provide entertainment followed by the presentation of the annual awards.

There will also be a gift exchange with a $10.00 limit.  Participation is optional; bring a gift, get a gift.

We had excellent attendance last year and hope to do even better this year.  Everyone please attend and celebrate the season with Alpha Omega !!

This Month:  Alpha Omega Annual Christmas Party and Awards Ceremony.

January:  Web Site Demonstrations by Cheryl & Lisa.

February:  Open.

Nominations for Officers for the coming year.

March:  Open.

Final nominations and election of officers.

Ø     17^th Annual BE ALL
Cleveland, OH
June 2 ? 6, 1999
www.beall.net

Ø     S.P.I.C.E. Convention
Minneapolis, MN
July 14 ? 18, 1999
www.firstnethou.com/brenda/spice.htm

Ø     Holiday en Femme
Houston, TX
Nov. 10 ? 14, 1999
www.firstnethou.com/brenda/holiday.htm

Brochures for these events are available at our meetings.

Merry Christmas

and

A Happy New Year