Renaissance of South Eastern PA
ROSE
December 2007
The ROSE Newsletter
Volume 1 No 1
Edited by – Ellen Davidson – CeeDee578@aol.com
Published Dec 13, 2007
There will be a meeting of Renaissance of South East PA on Friday December 14, 2007 at the
MCC Church 130 East Main St. Mountville, PA. The doors open at 7:30 PM – meeting at 8:30 PM.
Please enter at the back.
A Message from the ROSE President:
Merry Christmas everyone, Yes, it is that time of year again, The Christmas season is upon us and everyone will be enjoying the company of family and friends, exchanging presents, traveling to visit relatives and friends and enjoying a wonderful Christmas family dinner together. This is my most favorite time of the year because it brings family and friends together and creates a happy and joyous atmosphere. I would like to take this time to wish everyone a wonderful and joyous Merry Christmas and hope that the New Year will grant all your dreams and wishes.Since this is the first of many newsletters from ROSE, I believe I am going to begin with introducing our Renaissance Chapter in this newsletter, why we are here, who we are here for and programs and events.
Rose began meetings in March of this year in Mountville, Pa. and we have been enjoying the wonderful presence and company of many wonderful people from all points of the spectrum at our meetings. We are here to provide Support, Education and Guidance to the wonderful people who attend our meetings and also provide a relaxing atmosphere to meet in and enjoy each other’s experiences, dreams and discussions. At our meetings we all socialize and enjoy each other’s company and stories. Our programs are based on what members and visitors are seeking in the way of knowledge, support and education as well as entertainment and socialization. We like to provide programs that are requested by members and visitors to our meetings because our reason for being here is for them. Who all are welcome to our meetings, Everyone considered Transgender in the entire spectrum of the Transgender community, which also includes Drag Queens / Female Impersonators, whichever term suits the need. Who are those who are Transgendered, lets see... anyone out of the norm of society that they determine normal in the area of Gender and /or sexual orientation whether it be male or female, male to female or female to male, adult's, children or adolescents, all fall into the spectrum of Transgender. The Transgender journey does not only focus on one set of people or community, it has no particular routine or any special way to center someone out to be Transgender, no normal avenue of activity. It affects the whole worlds population in any country or religion, occupation, profession or race and it can begin in the womb of any baby-bearing female in the world. We all start life in the womb as a female and that is where it begins. The Transgender spectrum is a very wide and deep subject and filled with many communities and communities within communities and a subject that is so very vast and difficult that even ourselves have a hard time trying to understand and comprehend and one reason why we are here to help and support. Transgender Communities range from simple cross dressers who only wear the under garments of the opposite sex to those who are Transsexual who dream of transitioning and who have made the complete journey. When you come to a meeting you are always welcomed with open arms and greeted as a sister or brother. We are all family here, no one person is any better then the next person, regardless of who you are or where you are in the Transgender spectrum we all work together to help each other and those seeking support. Our doors are open to anyone in the TG community seeking support and to those who are supporters and family as well as supporting friends. No one is ever turned away from our meetings who need our help and / or a place to relax and just be themselves in safety.
Our December meeting was to be a catered Christmas dinner for members and visitors but at the last minute the caterer had to back out due a conflicting schedule. So, our December meeting will be a general meeting with our Transgender Forum and General Discussion. Of course if anyone needs further support or help we will be there to provide that as well in private or in a group atmosphere.
The New Year is just around the corner and we are planning to bring this in with a special new years Dinner for members, guest and visitors with a Pork and Sour kraut New Years Dinner. We will be sending out more information about the New Years dinner and program shortly. If you are interested in attending this new years dinner please contact us as soon as you can so we can schedule the number attending to be catered. Along with the New Years Dinner we will have a special guest who will be speaking about the use of Hormone therapy, the good and the bad and the misuse and how it can help or cause you a lot of pain and misery. This will be a very important program for those thinking of hormone therapy or taking hormone therapy at this time....
We have a lot planed for the upcoming new year and hope to see a lot of new faces and old friends at some of the meetings. Our membership is growing with leaps and bounds and ROSE is steadily becoming known as a Premier Transgender Support Group in the Community. We are proud of our work so far in the community and intend on continuing our work and help in the community and making lots of improvements and putting new ideas to work that members and visitors give us. We will soon be working with several other Groups locally such as Pflag and Common Roads as well as a new group called Curve. Together we hope to give a lot more support in the community for Trans Children, Trans Adolescents and Trans Adults.
Hope to see some of you at our New Years Dinner,
Have a Merry, Merry Christmas and A wonderful Happy New Year
Michelle Lynn GreyFeather
Michelle Lynn GreyFeather,
President / CEO
Renaissance of South Eastern Pennsylvania
Mid Winters Reflections
Hello Girls, Gals, Ladies, or whatever else you choose to call yourselves. Hello Ole Gal Winter! Goodbye! Ole Gal Winter! Bring us spring! Despite me being born in one of the coldest months of the year (January) I do not like cold weather! And probably should have been born in Arizona instead!
As the Holidays set upon us, yet once more in the circle of life, this is traditionally a time of reflecting back on everything that happened earlier in the year and everything that we have gone through or may still be experiencing.
For me; I look back to a cold February Night when Michelle, Ellen, Cathy & Myself gathered in a restaurant to discuss a proposal that Michelle had: A support group that everyone from Drag Queen (or Drag King) to Post Op Transsexual (FTM & MTF) could join. The emphasis would be on Education, Help, Support, and Fellowship. We also did not want to exclude anybody period who may be transgendered because the four of us have been to other meetings where just that same thing has happened and we ourselves were shunned because we didn’t fit the clique! Girl! , Trust me when they made me they threw away the mold!
We elected officers, moi being one, and then we set out to find a name that everyone would agree on. Someone came up with R.O.S.E. and we were on our way! Some thanks must go to Michelle GreyFeather who was instrumental in getting this going and kicking it in gear! She had the computer, loads of time and an I refuse to give up type of attitude that is often necessary to push this project into manifestation. Actually, a lot of thanks should go to Michelle!
Some ten months later and here we are! Michelle, were the birthing pains too much? I remember those times of having to get there early to put up our makeshift curtains held together with safety pins as Michelle, Ellen and myself, climbed ladders, chairs, tables, heating units, ect. Just to hang these damned curtains!
To be honest with you all (no I am not a Southern Belle but I do like the accent, among other things) it was worth it! Meeting all of you and helping people, just the feeling of community is what it is all about. Even the time when I told Michelle I was planning on leaving because I did not like a decision that “we” had made. I am glad I chose to stay.
Sisters, let us not exclude each other in our mad rush in this weary season, let’s be there for each other regardless! Let us show some dedication to community. Let us reach to others that are not like ourselves, just because one is a TS and one is a Drag Queen, no one TG is better than the next TG.
With that, my name is Dianna, and I will be writing articles for my column called: “Dianna’s Den” I have a lot of ideas that I will be exploring in 2008, and I wish all of you Happy Yule Tide or Seasons Greetings.
Ta Ta! Dianna
Cathy’s Chatter
I would like to welcome all the members and non-members to the first ROSE newsletter. I will begin with introducing myself. I am Cathy, I love to write and I will be a regular contributor to this newsletter. Most times it will contain whatever has crossed my mind in the days prior to doing my column. I welcome any comments or criticisms as we should all be free to think our own thoughts. Naturally, the writing is just my worldview and is in no way an attempt to change the way others perceive what I write about. Each and every one of us has our own philosophy with we which we view the world. You know, a little over two thousand years ago, a child was born and no one at the time could even begin to imagine the issues this child would eventually stir up. One of the ideals this child would teach throughout his short time on Earth is unconditional love for our fellow man. That means acceptance of that person as she or he lives, without prejudice. It is too bad that such a world does not exist. It is shameful that there are individuals wasting time hating and killing other humans because of what they believe in or what they are. Fortunately, that child that came into this world and left us his worldviews and philosophies, also brought with him a gift that can never be taken away by anyone’s prejudices or hate. All we need to do is accept it. Just my thoughts. Merry Christmas.
Cathy
Ellen’s Corner
Hi Everybody,
Merry Christmas and a Happy, prosperous, and Healthy New Year
On Saturday, December 1st, I attended a great Christmas Party and sleepover at the Canna Country Inn at Etters. This party was sponsored by another TG organization to which I belong. I am including the web site for you to check it out. http://www.cannainnbandb.com/
We were small in number only about 11 people actually attending others planned to be there and supposedly made commitments, but for one reason or another couldn’t make it. What we lacked in numbers we made up for in enthusiasm. The food was great for potluck and turned out to be a sumptuous feast with roast turkey, filling, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, Swedish meatballs, and cocktail shrimp, wine, cheese, fruit, rolls, exotic breads, and desserts rounded out the meal. And of course we had numerous and varied libations.
The accommodations and amenities at the Inn are fabulous with private rooms each with a television, King Size beds, private bathrooms, game room with bar, two large lounges with TVs, several fireplaces, large kitchen and banquet facilities. Outside there is a luxurious lighted Hot Tub, that I visited after midnight in a lime green bikini (sorry you missed it, I am not going to do it again!). It was about 29 degrees outside and the water temp was about 101 degrees. I didn’t want to get out of the water – it felt great and I had to be almost dragged out of the hot tub.
Sunday morning we were treated to a breakfast consisting of eggs any way you wanted them, sausage, ham, bacon or other breakfast meats, toast, French toast, coffee, orange juice and etc. I understand somebody wanted a Mimosa.
Let’s look into the possibility of having a Christmas Party like this for ROSE next year.
By the way it has been brought to my attention that we are no longer considering the GLBT community but now we are going to place the emphasis where it belongs. For us it now is the TLBG community
(Trans, Lesbian, Bi, Gay).
Web Site of the month – check it out: http://www.lauras-playground.com/index.htm
This Newsletter needs a name. Does anyone have any ideas? Please let me know at the meeting or send me an e-mail. Thanks
Ellen Davidson
December CALENDAR for the TLBG Community
Fri Dec 14 – Renaissance of South East PA meeting – 8 PM – MCC Church – Mountville
Sat Dec 15 – Drag Show – 9:30 PM – CC’s - Sunbury ............... http://www.ccsbar.com/
Fri Dec 21 – Holiday Customer Appreciation Night – Club XS - York ....... http://www.clubxsyork.com/
Sat Dec 22 – Christmas Party and Drag Show – 10 PM – Club Z – Williamsport ...... http://www.clubzbar.com/
Mon Dec 24 – Christmas Eve Party – Club XS ...... http://www.clubxsyork.com/
Tues Dec 25 - Merry Christmas
Wed Dec 26 - Major after Christmas shopping
Fri Dec 28 – Drag Show – 10 PM – Club XS ....... http://www.clubxsyork.com/
Mon Dec 31 – New Years Eve Extravaganza BAL Masque – Advance tickets $15 – Club XS ....... http://www.clubxsyork.com/
- New Years Eve Party – 10 PM – Stallions - Harrisburg .... www.stallionsclub.com
- Other parties almost everywhere
Tues Jan 1, 2008 Happy New Year with the Mummer's Parade
Transgender Cartoon of the Month
End
