President Diane Vernon called the meeting to order. She welcomed everyone on this Valentine’s Day.

TREASURER’S REPORT: Balance in checking is $1,623.45. Petty Cash is $50.00.

Dues are due at the end of March. Dues are:

Full Member $25.00, Couples Membership $35.00, Associate Member $20.00.

COMPUTER COMMITTEE: Diane Brennan reported on our Web Page. Lisa created our web page.

IFGE Convention in Toronto March 24^th. Be All is in Pittsburgh.

March is election of officers. Cathy Anderson will be the speaker. Her program will be on voice.

Diane asked for nominations for officers.

Secretary/Treasurer: Cheryl was nominated by Gloria. Elaine will also run for re-election.

Vice President: Marla was nominated by Kathleen. Olena was nominated by Peggy.

President: Gloria was nominated by Allie. Diane was nominated by Peggy.

Kathleen made the motion we adjourn the meeting. Diane Brennan seconded. The meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully Submitted,

Elaine Benton

Secretary/Treasurer

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NOTE: A few days after the meeting we found that there had been confusion about which Diane had been nominated for the office of president. A phone call to the nominator clarified it. Diane Brennan, our vice president, is the individual who was nominated for the office of president. – Ed. Elf

Mmmmmmm mmmmmmmmm Good!

For the February meeting Gloria had a brain storm of an idea. "Significant others" night off for Valentine’s Day. I know Kathy and I thought this was the greatest plan for a meeting, and we would enjoy the evening by socializing and keeping out of the kitchen.

Gloria, you outdid yourself this time. I know you did not put this together in five minutes. You were up early Saturday morning making your spaghetti sauce and doing all the little extra’s to make the Valentine’s Day meeting the huge success that it was. Thanks also to VP Diane for helping Gloria set up the tables and decorate the room. It really did have that "Valentine feeling." The rose was an extra special touch. Gloria, you are a great shopper, even for roses. They looked so real, but the nice part is that mine looks as good as the day you gave it to us.

Gloria’s dad thought of the group again, and donated a treasure chest that he made. Charlie was the lucky winner.

I know many of the other ladies were involved in helping. Thanks to all of you for your efforts. The spaghetti was mmmmmmm mmmmm good as always, and thanks to everyone else who donated food.

I would also like to thank Peggy for bringing the salad and bread to this meeting. But, also Peggy has brought a good part of the meal for the last six months or so (I’m not counting. I just know she helps a lot), and the group does not want this to go unnoticed. It is people like Peggy who want to get involved that make the group the success that it is today.

Another work force that is behind the scene every month. Gloria and Kathy are the ones who make sure we have pop, coffee, plates, etc. every meeting, and come early to set up month after month.

Again, thanks for a great meeting. It was great to see Rhonda and Eva back, and also our friends from New York.

See you for the wearing of the green.

Karen

Following is a letter from Tatiana:

The wedding was VERY romantic, it being Valentines and all. The lovebirds were completely devoted to each other. Like you said earlier, not a credit cards width between them. I crossed dressed for the wedding in male drag, except for pantyhose and shoes, by wearing my tux, a plain white shirt, and black tie. Hair was worn down as is my non-work custom and was introduced to all as Tat which raised a few eyebrows. But I've gotten ahead of myself.

The tale started 3 weeks before the wedding when it became certain that Fran's cousins husband, the good reverend, would be unable to perform the ceremony at the church in N. Carolina. There was some family business that needed attention back in Texas and they had to be there by the 12th and were not sure when they would be able to return.

So what to do, eh? Postpone? Not our intrepid couple.

Plans were formulated to meet with the Bishop of the Mormon Church here in Canton. But would there be a problem? The Mormon Bishop in Wadsworth had soundly admonished Frannie that she "Shalt NOT be a female" and must cease and desist post haste! But was the Canton Bishop wise to the proclamation or would things be OK?

The appointment was made. Dressed as native's in male and female garb according to local custom, the couple set out by car to consult with the Bishop. At the intersection of Dressler and Everhard (Cantons most busy intersection) the car promptly broke down. Police cruisers and tow trucks eventually appeared to rescue our couple, who quite naturally arrived at the church well past schedule. Would the Bishop still see them? Yes, and so phase one of the plan was complete.

Now, cars are quite expensive to repair and this one was no different. One alternator, one bill. $465 dollars exits couples account.

But, the car is healthy. The Bishop has agreed to consider marrying them and has set up the second appointment. Everything is OK. Or is it? What is that strange dripping sound coming from the crawlspace under the kitchen? It wouldn't be the pipes to the sink would it?

Well sure, what would be more natural? So its off to the builders supply for more $$$ and two days of crawling around under the floorboards to make repairs. Then off to work again on Monday.

And Fran is indeed working. She has landed a very nice contract repairing a little old house that has, you'll never guess what. Suffered water damage from burst overhead water lines? And the damage is severe enough that the job requires two so friend Carl from Cleveland

Is recruited to assist. Cleveland is much too far away for commuting so our couple accepts Carl into their home for the duration. Two weeks! And the job has to be done before Fran can get married and leave for honeymoon with the voluptuous Gail. So its 12 hours a day of very hard labor.

So, our couple is up to the challenge as love is a great motivater. But.... with just one week to go Gail’s sister (her favorite) has a stroke. She thinks she has backed out of her driveway, run over the mailbox and settled into the ditch. In actuality, she has traveled 2 miles from home on the wrong side of the street and then finally run into the ditch. An off duty police officer witnessed the whole thing, trying in vain to stop her. She died in her sleep the Thursday morning before the wedding. Gail was devastated.

Yet, Fran was by her side and god knows, Fran has seen her share of hardship. Who could god have sent that would be a better angel? He does work in mysterious ways. So the morning of the 14th Gail woke bright eyed and gazing at her Frannie said joyously "I'm getting married today!" And nothing could stop them now.

At 2:00, I had picked up the flowers from the florist. at 2:30 I was chauffeuring the merry couple to the church. Our good friend Barbara as matron of honor and Barb’s brother along with his wife were following in the car behind. Nothing hindered our passage. The sun shown brightly. Love was hanging stickily in the air.

The service started just past 3:00. The wedding party being outnumbered by the attendant Mormons who were out enforce. There being no less than two Bishops, Bishop wives, a pianist, a singer, a poem reciter, a scripture reader, and some others that just couldn't pass up a Valentines Day wedding for the sheer romance of it.

Then just a small amount of tears by yours truly as the couple said "I do." And what a kiss! Congratulations and cake with punch all around.

And married they are, and married we hope they will always be.

The wedding party then spent the next few hours at a local Italian eatery where we consumed each a small portion of Champaign and a very large ration of food. There was good cheer and love throughout our very special little group and we were all a bit sorry to see it end.

I returned the couple home at 7:30ish and helped carry in a few gifts. The bride declined the grooms offer to carry her across the threshold. Yes, where there is age, often there is wisdom. And I declined an invitation to stay and bask in the warm glow of their love (I'm no turnip either).

They were off to Michigan the next day to be with Gail’s family. The funeral was Monday. Tuesday was a scheduled flight to Florida to visit Gail's parents near Tampa. The couple will return home Friday.

Well dear, whew! What a story.

Love as always.

Tat

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REMINDER: FINAL NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS WILL BE HELD AT THE MARCH MEETING.

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by Marla

While this gal is more of the catalog type, I do admit to having a favorite place to shop occasionally. I shouldn’t call it a "place" as much as it is an "experience". The "experience" I’m referring to is GABRIEL BROTHERS in Kent.

GABE’S (as we veterans call it) is just that. . .an experience in tremendous selection at unbelievably low prices! The low prices are a result of the Gabriel Brothers’ philosophy of buying first line name brand close-outs from places like The Limited, Victoria’s Secret, etc. . . as well as factory seconds.

Gabe’s is a huge operation approximating a K-Mart in size. Every Monday, new shipments of fresh stock arrive, so early week shopping is advised to get the best of the best (and these places really move the goods!!).

We’re not talking environment here, gals. Gabe’s is totally non-frills, and in fact, the atmosphere is a bit of a free-for-all with racks and racks of everything imaginable jammed throughout. Designer labels abound, as well as some not-so-well known names. You’ll find everything (sometimes lying on the floor) from career attire to casual. . .from lingerie to shoes. . accessories to make-up (yes, even make-up). Sometimes it takes a bit of patience to sort through the disarray of the racks, especially after they’ve been picked through by thrifty shoppers, but the prices are absolutely unbelievable!!! A bit of patient looking often finds a gem hiding on the racks. Yours truly found one of her career style favorites, a nearly two hundred dollar suit for $65.00. Foundation make-up and cologne for a fraction of what I’ve paid elsewhere. I can seldom leave without making a purchase of some sort.

A word of caution: Gabe’s does buy seconds. . .and they’re usually marked as such. You’ll just need to use a judicious eye before deciding to buy. I brought home what I thought was a real bargain only to find a tear in the fabric that I hadn’t noticed in the store. Nonetheless, the bargains abound at Gabriel Brothers.

By the way, you’ll also find a good selection of men’s causal wear here, too. Designer label jeans for $12.00. Good looking sweaters for under ten bucks!! Gabe’s is also a great place for towels, throw rugs and close-out buys on an unusual variety of things from snack foods to lawn furniture. You’ve gotta try it to believe it, gang!

Gabriel Brothers is on Route 59 in Kent, not far from the KSU main campus. It’s closer that you think. . .and well worth the drive!

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!!ALL THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN PSYCHO-KINESIS RAISE MY HAND.!!

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Hi all. . .Sorry I missed the last few meetings but things have been happening in this crazy family of mine. . .As always some of it is good and some is bad. . .

My precious son and his family came home on leave from Cube the beginning of January. He returned specially to give his sister away. (Although she now belongs to someone else, she keeps coming back home). . .I can’t tell you how proud I was to see him in full dress uniform marching her down the aisle. It was very impressive and, of course, I cried.

The next day, my fourth granddaughter was baptized and again we had another day of celebration. We celebrate everything. By the end of the day I was totally exhausted but deliriously happy or as Marla would say, "just delirious." For the next two weeks I spent as much time as I could with my family. For I have come to realize that this time can be very precious and very limited. Who knows the next time I’ll get to see Mike, Shannon and the kids. With just the passing of a few months, they had changed so very much. But this is life nowadays. Families are spread all over the world. Thanks for the Internet. I had him take the blasted McIntosh to Cuba with him. Let him fight with it. I give up. Hopefully soon he will be online. However, this is very limited in Guantanimo Bay. They have only one server and that is limited to a few. He will have to be placed on a list. Even then only 40 are allowed on line at a time. But it sure will save on phone calls. For him to call me, it is $.50/minute, but for me to call him it is $2.00/minute. How’s that for expensive!!!

We decided to take a brief detour while driving Mike and crew back to Norfolk VA for his flight back to Cuba. We went to Scranton PA to visit my dad and take to him the great grandchildren that he had never seen. I found him in bed looking terrible. Later we found out that he has multiple myeloma which is terminal. Knowing that my dad is dying has given me a new perspective on life. It is so very precious that each of us should take full advantage of every minute.

Times a-wasting girls! January 1^st is the usual time for making decisions about the changes in your life. And January 2^nd is usually when they are broken. I know. I am just as bad as the rest of you. I have the mega-pounds to lose. . .the books I haven’t read. . .the rooms I haven’t painted. . .the list is endless. . .I took a long look at my list the other day and I changed it. . .I put at the very top of the list. . .ENJOY MY BLESSINGS FOR THEY MAY BE SUDDENLY TAKEN AWAY. . .It seems simple enough. . .But actually it isn’t. . .This crazy world of ours is so used to running that we can’t take the time to stop and enjoy where we have been. I’m as guilty as the rest of you. I’m so worried about work, money and all the stuff I have to do that I’ve put aside the stuff I want to do. And now for some it is too late. . .I know that I will never see Spain with my dad as we had hoped. . .He’ll never take me water-skiing again or we will never wander through the woods on a summer day. . .For those it is too late, but it is not too late for me to do these things with my children and grandchildren. . .And the same goes for you. . .and so today, take out that list of have-to’s and put at the top of it at least one I-want-to. . .

See you at the next meeting. . .love and peace to all. . . . . Cheryl

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Well, after two years you’re finally going to be rid of me! It’s been fun, it’s been a blast, it’s been, uh, well, uh. . .you know. Actually boys and girls (mostly girls), it has been a real privilege to serve as your president these past two years. Gosh, where does the time go? It seems like only yesterday we were at the Manor, and I was the one who steered us to the present site, for better or worse. I think it has turned out for the best, although it has made our Toledo area folks a little distant. Certainly was good to see Rhonda and Eva last meeting, though!

All I all, I think that we’re on the right track. . .our location is certainly superb from many aspects, although you can’t please everyone. Hats off to Diane, Lisa, Marla, and others for assisting in putting us into the computer age with our own home page on the ‘net. Undoubtedly this will be instrumental in further growth of our chapter. And a continuing special kudos to Lori for "womaning" the help line and leading our interviewing efforts. . .we’ve added some exciting new blood to our roster. Thanks too, to all the kitchen elves. . .many of the wives and SO’s,. . .and others too numerous to mention who delight us with monthly goodies. (I will mention some, though. . .Peggy who is always there, plus Gloria and Kathleen, Karen, Cheryl, et al. I hope the coming year sees many more getting involved, as. . .like an army. . .we seem to march on our stomachs! I must really acknowledge the assistance that Gloria has provided over the past two years in keeping things moving especially when I have been out of town.

Last but not least, I encourage the new slate of officers to remember that while we do have an organizational structure, by-laws, etc., etc., etc., the main purpose of our group---and what keeps us coming back each month. . .is the social and educational aspects of our "Order" {Of the Garter[Belt]?} Keep the fun in Alpha Omega and we will continue to grow. . .I hope you will keep the business part of our meetings focused and as short as possible as I have (mostly!) tried to do.

Let’s all remember that we get out of any organization what we put into it! There are opportunities for everyone. . .get involved with whatever talents you possess!

As for me, I do not intend to fade into the sunset, but will be serving the organization in a different capacity, so you’ll still have to put up with me!

Love,

Diane Vernon

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By Gloria Sue Fenton

It was seven years ago that I was nominated to become president of Alpha Omega for the first time. I had been with the group just over two years by then, and I knew deep within myself that I had this feeling of need to repay the debt of love I felt to Alpha Omega.

I had no qualifications for holding the office, other than a desire to do the best I could for the group, and for the friends I knew because of everything they had given me. Alpha Omega and Tri-Ess gave me the foundation for me to learn and discover who I am as a person. From that basis I found pride in who I am, and I felt peace in my heart and mind, that had never been there.

My life was changed in so many ways as "Martin" and as "Gloria". I felt so alive and free, and I wanted everybody who was like me to find this same joy. Alpha Omega, and Tri-Ess, in a sense, gave a purpose to my life. That purpose was to do what I could to help others so they wouldn’t have to know or have to live in a hell like I did for so long.

I am no great crusader, or great leader. I’m just someone who cares passionately that groups like Alpha Omega and Tri Ess and other support groups should be there when someone reaches out a hand to us. We can not make them walk through the door. That has to come from within themselves. But we can do what we can to make sure the door is open for them when they are ready.

I take a lot of pride in Alpha Omega, and of being a part of an organization that is there for the support of other crossdressers, as well as the spouses, partners, family, and friends who know them and who are a part of their lives.

Because of Alpha Omega I have met some of the best friends I have ever known in my life. I have shared some laughs and some tears, as well as seeing many find their own road of discovery and feeling joy for them.

For three-and-one-half of the last seven years I did serve as President of Alpha Omega, and, hopefully, I did a few things right along the way. Although I haven’t held an office for the last three years, I have tried to be active within the group and serve as best I could. That is important to me.

Once again I have been nominated for President, and I am honored by that. If elected, I promise I will do the best I can to be a good leader for Alpha Omega. And with your help, Alpha Omega will grow in numbers and in the scope of outreach and activities for the future.

I may be a dinosaur as far as computers, but many of you are proficient; and I am sure we can find ways to expand our presence on the web, and make contacts with helping professionals.

It will also be time for a review of our Constitution in order to update it where needed, and keep it a vital living document for the basis of our group. Work can also be done to put together the information we have for a Vendor’s list; and also, to possibly assist Debbie with the Alpha Omega history that she is working on.

Outreach will be a very important project, and I know many of you have ideas along these lines that can be explored.

I would encourage activities for getting together aside from meetings – whether the occasion be dressed or not. The experience of sharing our friendships should be an ongoing adventure.

And on top of all the support, outreach, education, and such, I will do what I can to keep fun a part of all our meetings.

Alpha Omega is not just one person. Alpha Omega is all of us opening our hearts with caring, reaching our hand out in friendship, and doing the things we can for the good of all.

In the last nine and some odd years, I have given of my time and energy to Alpha Omega because I believe so deeply in the good this group can do for others because of all I have discovered in my life.

Be proud of our group and give it your support.

Sincerely,

Gloria Sue Fenton,

Nominee for president of

Alpha Omega

P.S. As Diane Vernon steps down as President of Alpha Omega this month, I would like to take a moment to thank her for her time and efforts on behalf of our group.

You have served well. Take pride in that.

Alpha Omega is proud of you.

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Cathy Anderson, one of our newer members, will be the speaker for the March meeting. Her topic will be "voice". She will be using both audio and video tapes to assist her with her presentation.

This should be a very interesting program. I personally want to thank Cathy for her efforts to help us.

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From Marla

These are by no means original. . .But they might ring a responsive chord within you. I know they did with me. Enjoy. . .

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I want to take just a little space to say

To the Ladies of Alpha Omega who gave us "Regular’s of the Kitchen Crowd" a much appreciated night off for Valentine’s Day.

The atmosphere was indeed soft and romantic. The food was delicious. And having the time to spend just relaxing and visiting with friends was wonderful!

Ladies, I’d be proud to have any one of you for my Valentine.

Love,

Kathleen

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THINK GREEN . . .IT’S ALMOST ST. PATRICK’S DAY!!

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