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Alpha Omega Minutes March 13, 1999

We are extrememely sorry to announce that our meeting minutes for this month will not be available until the next newsletter.

ALPHA-OMEGA IN 1999

You may be wondering what thrilling , exciting, thought-provoking, and fabulously fun activities may be in store for Alpha -Omega for this next year. Of course, there is always the standard committees such as the

General Affairs

Finance

Interview

Web Sites and Newsletter

Christmas Party and Awards

All of which are a total blast to be a part of. These are committees that you simply must do, Darling, because they are so very cool and of course so are you.

Then, of course, there is the Outreach Committee which will have a couple special tasks this year. We will be working on an updated version of the Alpha Omega video tape for all you movie star wannabes out there. Also we will be establishing a mailing and email campaign, in the greater Cleveland area to begin with, to let helping professionals and others know that Alpha Omega is alive and well and ready to be of help.

Now to me anyways, this is just beyond cool. All of the above committees need people to give a little bit of their time so that group business is handled smoothly, that finances are reviewed and budgeted, that interviews are done in timely manner and that our first contact with potential new members is positive and rewarding, so that our web pages and newsletter will become even bigger and better than they are, so that we can have an effective outreach program and be known for what we can do to help people, and lastly to set up our Christmas Party for a special night of celebration for the group. These are exciting things, and your help is needed.

Also this year we will begin a "Special Projects Committee".Because of her splendid sense of humor, her writing talents, her enthusiasm, and the fact that just because she is an officer now, she is automatically a part of all committees, I am going to ask Olena Maria to be chairperson of the Special Projects Committee for this year. This committee will start the ball a-rolling on the Alpha-Omega Cookbook entitled TV DINNERS, with recipes, pictures with humorous captions, nutritional information, and baking and cooking stories or jokes.

Also the committee will start to compile jokes, humorous anecdotes, etc. for another possible book entitled WHAT IS A GIRL TO DO?An example of a possible entry for this compilation will be another article for this newsletter, so look for it. Along with these items other things such as new name badges, Alpha Omega business cards, etc. can be explored and developed. I hope, Olena, that you will agree to chair this committee as I feel you could do a marvelous job in organizing it and making it a lot of fun.

We will also be looking for more libraries to put books into through the Tri-Ess Library Project.Alpha Omega has books in three libraries right now and there are many more to go.

For those wanting to give a hand to Paradise Club for the "Be All" Convention they are sponsoring, let me know so details can be worked out.Kathy, Cheryl, Lisa, and Ihave helped the "Be All" by coming up with addresses, stuffing envelopes, and mailing Be All brochures to almost 60 places within about 4500 miles of Cleveland.

We are putting together a group that will trek to Houston, Texas this November to the Holiday En Femme where Alpha-Omega will be honored as an Outstanding Chapter of Tri-Ess. Take pride in this accomplishment because each of you helped to make it happen.

This can be a year of great excitement and fun for us as a group and as individuals. Together we can make wonderful things happen for everyone that enters the partnership of Alpha-Omega.

See you in April to get things started,

Love always,

Glo

ONE MORE TIME WITH FEELING

Once again it is time for Alpha-Omega to start another year. And once again, I have been honored to be chosen as President of Alpha-Omega.I promise to all of you in Alpha-Omega that I will do my best to be a good leader.

For this year as fellow officers, I am pleased that Olena Maria has stepped forward and was chosen as Vice President, and that Elaine will continue her position as Secretary-Treasurer. I am sure we will be a good team, and will make every effort to make this next year interesting and fun for everyone that joins us.

I want to encourage everyone to come to the meeting, join the committees, help work on this year’s projects and be a part of something wonderful. From personal experience I can tell you that your efforts to pitch in and help the group to be vital and to grow, can and will be rewarded. Believe me, it can make you feel really good to see a smile on another’s face, or to hear a room full of people talking and even laughing. It can warm your heart to hear someone tell of their own personal growth or come to you for advice. You can help to make a difference in the life of another and that is a feeling and a knowledge to take pride in. I want everyone to know that experience.

Everyone of us (Crossdresser, Spouse, Life Partner, etc.) is a partner in helping Alpha-Omega to be the very best group it can be. Everyone of us can do something to make a difference and help another.

Become involved in Alpha-Omega because we, your partners, need you. We need your smile, your friendship, your caring, your helping hand, your thoughts, your feelings, your emotions and the special uniqueness that only you can give to all of us. The amazing thing is it is not difficult at all to find something you can do that helps us all.

Here is a list of a few things for you to think about that can truly help the group:

Help set up the tables, chairs, and other preparations for a meeting
Help clean up afterwards so it is light work for everyone (Kathy will bless you!-Asst. Ed Elf)
Join a committee and become active in it
Write newsletter articles
Clip articles from other newsletters, newspapers, magazines that can be used for the newsletter
Help to staple, fold, stuff, and mail the newsletter
Help do an interview for a prospective new member
Bring food for a meeting
Find a speaker for a meeting
Put on a meeting if you have a special skill or interest
Talk with others and share your experiences and feelings
Help work on the web pages for those of you that really like to work with computers
Become a pen pal or big Sister to a newer friend
Find ways of getting together outside of meetings (dressed up or non-dressed up) SHARE TIME WITH FRIENDS
Help work on one of the group’s projects
Mail letters, do emails, etc as part of an outreach program
Give handshakes, smiles, laughter, and hugs freely (Asst Ed Elf-..smile, I can do this)
Help take care of providing the supplies (COKE, Pepsi, paper plates, cups, etc.) for the meetings
Come with ideas for themes for certain meeting nights to add a little fun
Be a greeter for new people at meetings and help them become acquainted and comfortable
And maybe the most important of all, BE AT THE MEETINGS AND OPEN YOUR HEARTS TO OTHERS

These really are just a few things that each of us can do that can make a difference.

You are never too old to be a partner in Alpha-Omega. You are never too new to be a partner in Alpha-Omega. Alpha-Omega needs you, me and all of us.

There are still many others out there looking for someone to talk to, someone to care, and a group like ours that can help them find their Road of Discovery.It is a noble challenge we face to be there with an outreached hand, and a caring heart, for those that may seek our help.

Alpha-Omega is a good group.

Alpha-Omega is good at what we do to help others.

Alpha-Omega is a partnership of friends reaching out to find new friends.

Be proud of being a part of this partnership and do what you can to make it even better.

Respectfully submitted,

Gloria Sue Fenton

President, Alpha-Omega

BIG-TIME ANNOUNCEMENT

I am very pleased to let you all know that Alpha-Omega will be honored to have Dr. Peggy Rudd (author of several books from the wives’ perspective of being married to a crossdresser) as our guest speaker for our National Speaker’s meeting on October 9, 1999. Dr. Rudd, aside being an author, is also the Tri-Ess Director of Spouses and Partners Support, is in charge of the annual S.P.I.C.E. Conference (Spouses and Partners International Conference for Education), and helped establish the "Dignity Cruises" that have become very popular. Dignity Cruise #11 will take place November 14-21 this year.

Alpha-Omega has been pleased to have had Jane Ellen Fairfax, Chairperson of the Board of Tri-Ess; Mary Frances Fairfax, Secretary of Tri-Ess and Jane Ellen’s SO; Samantha Walls, Treasurer of Tri-Ess; and Naomi Owen, Vice Chairperson of the Board of Tri-Ess as previous speakers and we look forward to having Dr. Rudd added to this list.

As the wife of a crossdresser, she has shared her insights with others in several books including MY HUSBAND WEARS MY CLOTHES and CROSSDRESSERS AND THOSE WHO SHARE THEIR LIVES.

Invitations will be extended to other neighboring groups and the October meeting should be a lot of fun.

Thank you Dr. Rudd for sharing this time with us.

(Asst Ed. Elf-.Just a reminder, Dr. Rudd’s books can be purchased at our website bookstore through Amazon Books giving you great reading material and Alpha-Omega some minute financial gain. Check it out at www.triess-alphaomega.org)

Have I Got a Deal For You!

What does Tri-Ess do for you as a member for just $36.00 a year for a single and $48.00 a year for a couple? Well boys and girls I’m just pleased as punch to tell you what I think on this matter. Take a look at this list of benefits and see what you think.

Femme Mirror quarterly newsletter about 80 pages of really good reading from CD’s, spouses, and other caring people
Membership directories so you can maybe find others in your area or with similar interests and make contact
Sponsors the Holiday En Femme a national convention for you and others
Sponsor the S.P.I.C.E. conference The Spouses and Partners International Conference for Education to help spouses and partners with their concerns.
CD web page access and online forum
SO web page access and online forums
Sweetheart Connection the spouses and partners quarterly newsletter
Provides speakers for local chapters or events
Helps sponsor booths at shows such as the National Social Workers Convention as a form of outreach for everyone’s benefit
Provides material to chapters for outreach programs
Provides support to form chapters
Handles referrals to chapters from those that contact Tri-Ess
Provide a Big Sister program
Provide mail forwarding service to provide security in making contacts with others
Pen Pal program
Works with many other groups and organizations in the Transgendered Community such as IFGE, AEGIS, and others
Provides books on crossdressing through the Library Program to local libraries
Helps sponsor the Dignity Cruises
Provides a network of volunteer support and friendship around the country and beyond
Provides Certificates of Appreciation from Tri-Ess for special speakers and others that have made great contributions to Tri-Ess and Local Chapters
Provides a Tri-Ess phone helpline and email address so you can ask questions or get information about Tri-Ess
As a Tri-Ess member you can make contact with and talk with all the Board of Directors and Officers you can’t do that with a lot of national organizations.

I’m sure there is more that could be added if I thought about it for a little longer. So if your dues are coming up for renewal, or if you have momentarily forgot, or are just starting on your road of discovery, then send in that $36.00 or $48.00 and be a part of something that does so much for all of us. For couples make sure both of you join up for Tri-Ess and Alpha-Omega.We are all partners in this.

Now how’s that for a deal!

Love always,

Gloria

What is a Girl to Do?

A certain green-eyed blonde, that shall remain nameless for reasons of total anonymity, is walking through the local mall one day when one of her bra straps breaks. Before she can make repairs (with the roll of duct tape in her purse) her one breast form falls out of her blouse and onto the floor.

What is a girl to do?

Reach down and pick it up while yelling at the top of your voice "who left this water balloon on the floor" while you head for an exit.
To avert attention from yourself, you ask in a loud manner if the guy walking in front of you dropped something out of his pocket-and then exit during his embarrassment.
You casually reach down, pick it up and say "My, my, I’d lose my head if wasn’t attached and head for the rest room to make repairs.
You look astonished and yell "It’s a mouse!" and run screaming for an exit.

The answer is, of course E.

E.Not losing a moment, you remove your other breast form and pick up the one from the floor. Using the two breast forms and your purse,you do an impromptu juggling act collecting enough money to buy yourself a new bra.

ALONG THE RAINBOW TRAIL by Cheryl

Hmmmmm-.What shall I talk about this month? I suppose I could talk about my MS office assistant who happens to be a cat. He is so bored, he is curled up on my page sleeping-.LOL. I could mention the demise of the CDSObookclub.It turns out that it was only a temporary list (BooHoo! And after we read only two books. SOB!!!) The CDSO online forum is growing by leaps and bounds and there is even talk of a combined CD and SO list. The Rainbow Trail (our web page) is being visited frequently.Frown-but this is not stuff to make an article out of. Maybe I should ask Gloria of the prolific pen where she gets her inspiration. Better yet, maybe I’d better leave well enough alone and muddle on valiantly.

This month starts a new year for us.Alpha-Omega has a lot of irons in the proverbial fire. So do we. It’s time for our own SO Big Sister program to fly. We have enough regulars attending that we could manage to take newbies under our wings and give them the extra special TLC they need. I guess that means I need volunteers. How about it, Sherry? Would you consider setting it up? We need articles for the newsletter’s Rainbow Trail.I’m surely not the only one who can put their feelings and concerns on paper. Kathy, where are you? (How’s that for a subtle hint?) Our web page has only one member listed, me of course. Come on, girls!Give me the info and I’ll be glad to publish it on the page or you can publish your own page and I’ll be glad to link it. Those of you who surf the web, I could use input for the featured monthly article. Believe it or not, I do have a life aside from this computer and the Rainbow Trail.So how about a hand?Then I can spend more time with Lisa (see, I have an ulterior motive-..grin) Just as you need time together to let your relationship grow, so do we. The more you do, the more time I have to develop other ideas. The more you do, the more you learn. The more you do, the closer we all are.So don’t just sit back and talk about what can or should be done. HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!

On the homefront, Lisa and I (along with Gloria) have made our flight reservations for Houston in November. Holiday En Femme look out! Here we come!!!!! Matt and I have made all our arrangements for July’s SPICE conference.Any one else going?This is a first for both of us.Grandchild #7 is due in July (thanks Ari!) and #8is due in December (thanks Beth!) So this is really going to be a busy year for us. Life can really be exciting, can’t it!!!!!!!

By the way, have you visited the Rainbow Trail lately?

FIIRST ANNUAL RADIO BROADCAST OF THE IBTV NETWORK--.

And so it began-..An evening full of mystery and witticisms written and created by our own Olena Maria. To say this was a historic (or is that hysteric) event is an understatement. With a brilliant cast of thousands the first broadcast was a resounding success.Who will ever forget such immortal lines as "You have been accused of being unfaithful to me" as spoken by the great Lady Gwyneth and followed by the slap that was heard around the world. (My hand still stings but at least Lisa is a little more careful in what she does around me--grin)Surely everyone remembers the inspired conducting by our own Kathleen as she led the IBTV Orchestra in such notorious kazoo selections as the theme previously attributed to the Lone Ranger but recently adopted as A-O’s own. Who would ever have thought of having the orchestra members each play at their own tempo. A night of originality that we hope will soon be followed by the second episode. Thank you, Olena!

SPECIAL NOTE: To Olena, Marissa, Paula, Abby, Lisa, Cheryl, and Kathy; the orchestra, the production staff, and the audience of "It's A Mystery to me. . .What are You?". The play was wonderful and fun, and provided great entertainment that everybody enjoyed. Thank you so much!!

Great job, Olena!!!

Gloria,

And now for something totally different - - -

IT'S A MYSTERY TO ME

( A CRITICAL REVIEW)

The March meeting of Alpha Omega was the setting for a truly unique theatrical experience. (I am still trying to recover from its effect on me.) Alpha Omega, long known for its tradition of trend-setting avante garde productions, once again pushed the envelope to new heights.

Needless to say, a thought-provoking and intense script , soulful direction, and superb acting technique were indeed highlights that were truly missing from the IBTV production of "It's A Mystery to Me. What Are You?" which was a recreation of an old-time radio drama.

In an attempt to be NOT too critical, I must admit there were certain qualities about this production that did entice me to stay throughout the entire performance. (The ropes tying me to the chair I was in, not withstanding, of course.) The subtle musical score, from its eerie depiction of fog, through to its spellbinding and riveting love theme and final closing, was, I dare say, the greatest experience of accomplishment that a kazoo orchestra can achieve.

Also, memorable was the high quality of the sound production. Why, I can still almost feel the slap that Lady Gwyneth gave to Sir Cedric.You could picture the action of the production just from the sounds, with your eyes closed. (At least that way you didn't have to see the production, which helped.)

Bravo, bravo, to Sound and Music.

ON a more commercial note, the interspersing of promotional advertising by the sponsors into the script did help to provide, not only humor and whimsy, but a delicate penache of counterpoint into the author's nave literary attempts to create laughter and pathos.

Bravo, Sponsors. (The advertising during the production also allowed me to compile my shopping list so that the evening was not a total waste of MY writing talents.)

I must also try to be fair and compassionate to the actors who tried to breath life into a script that couldn't have survived even on full life support. But, even so, there was very little method to their method acting.The real acting was in the audience which bravely kept cheering and urging the actors on, hoping the production would get better. But, alas, the end of the play came before that could happen. Sir Cedric, Lady Gwyneth, Inspector Peiyoit, and Giles the Butler, are the sad characters of this frivolous malfeasance of words.

The author, and as you may have noted, the rest of the production entourage shall not be named in this column for fear of their careers being totally destroyed because of being associated with this scandalous cacophony of simplistic, mediocre achievement.

In other words this production truly was fitting of the Alpha Omega Players and the depth of their talents!

Author!! Author!!

B. Alder Dash

Literary Critic and Assistant Janitor for the Fort

Washington Post

UPCOMING EVENTS

April: New officers assume office. Selection of committees.

May: Alpha Omega Auction featuring Vanna White and Vanna White

17th Annual BE ALL

Cleveland, OH

June 2 6, 1999

www.beall.net

S.P.I.C.E. Convention

Minneapolis, MN

July 14 18, 1999

www.firstnethou.com/brenda/spice.htm

Holiday en Femme

Houston, TX

Nov. 10 14, 1999

www.firstnethou.com/brenda/holiday.htm

Brochures for these events are available at our meetings.