[Adrian]

Having worked through my family and friends over a lot of years gradually sharing the news about the true “me” I can agree that the starting point has to be your SO if you are in any meaningful relationship.

Quote:

I hope I’m not preaching, however the longer the delay in telling the SO or even others increases the horror. Unless you’re a person who is a master of deception for life, I reckon the SO will eventually find out.

But on that point I disagree. A few years back there was someone pretty charismatic and persuasive in the NSW community who urged people to do what had to be done and “come out”. The damage that resulted from such blunt, unmeasured advice was in my view totally avoidable.

The reality is that across the gender diverse spectrum we have varying needs to express ourselves, which in turn have to balanced against the varying needs of our relationships.

Granted, if you feel inside you are going to spend the rest of your life as a female then you need to get started on warning anyone close to you of the tsunami that is about to hit them.

But that is only the tip of the iceberg of gender diversity. The vast majority of us live in a continuum where deciding if there is a need to “come out” to our SO is not a clear cut decision.

I firmly believe that only the individual can make the call on this, and also that the decision must be re-evaluated regularly as you go down your journey of personal discovery.

Maybe this is a topic for a Katoomba breakout?

[Adrian]

Photography

Everyone is of course welcome to take their own photos at TransFormal (provided that you respect our photography policy)

[
But this year we thought it would be nice for everyone to have a special memento of the dinner of Saturday night.
So we have engaged a professional photographer Connie who will take lots of photos of you and your friends during the evening.
This way everyone has a permanent record of the event with lots of happy shots of themselves and friends new and old.

Don’t worry if you don’t want to be in the shot – Connie will ask for an OK! And red NO PHOTO stickers will be available as usual.

A disc containing photos of the whole evening will be mailed after the event to those who deposit $10 and their address in an envelope in a BOX which will be located on the Transformal Central wing (1st floor hotel) from Saturday morning to Sunday afternoon .

[Adrian]

Quote:

Is it possible to pay that $10 in advance, via TrannyTix, and email the address info to Connie?
Jenifur Charne

No – sorry. This initiative is kindly being run by Caroline… and we both agree that a “low-tech” solution will work the best for us, and the photographer. Using Trannytix has a high set-up overhead and ongoing fees.

[Adrian]

Breaking News!!

I’m excited to announce that Venus Vamp will be entertaining us at TransFormal. Venys Vamp is Sydney’s dark princess of Burlesque.

Some of you may have seen Venus recently at the NSW Art Gallery. She is the subject of a stunning portrait hung in this year’s Archibald Prize .

On the 18th May we will have the opportunity to see Venus live as she takes us back to the Weimar Berlin for a show of vintage decadence and carnivalesque delights.

Don’t miss this treat – buy your tickets NOW!

[Adrian]

New to Transformal in 2013 – our supper (or is that super) entertainment.

Leave plausibility behind on a voyage into the improbable!
As we challenge you and your team to sift through the unlikely, in search of the truth!
Join us as we explore the shaky foundations of our knowledge.
This is no trivia quest – this is a challenge to “Believe it….or not”.

Believe it or not – it is happening on Friday Night at the Supper Reception.

This event is FREE to Weekend and Value ticket holders

The TransFormal weekend from Friday is close to capacity.

If you want to enjoy the entertainment and workshops we have lined up then don’t delay in purchasing your ticket.

We still have plenty of tickets available for the Saturday night TransFormal.

Please tell your friends about this unique event!
And please support TransFormal

We have very few events to celebrate as a community in Australia. Without your active support there will be even fewer!

[Adrian]

March 2013 – Good Friday

A quiet night in Sydney – but a fun evening for a few hardened Glebe addicts.

[Adrian]

Quote:

We are currently recruiting a diverse panel of volunteers – hopefully representing as wide a range of opinions as we can. If you would like to sit on the T Q&A panel please email Amanda to discuss.

I’m still looking for perhaps two more people to volunteer to sit on our panel.

To ensure a wide as possible range of opinions I am seeking the help of
– someone who is still very much closeted and currently unable to express themselves freely,
and/or
– someone who lives their chosen gender expression full-time.

If you have any doubts if you fit into these broad categories, or if you just have a burning desire to be on the panel, please contact me.

[Adrian]

Quote:

I’m still looking for someone to act as the contact point for lunch on Saturday.

Penny and Kristen have kindly volunteered to co-ordinate this event.

[Adrian]

I have sent out a newsletter in the past few days to everyone who has purchased a ticket.
If you don’t have a newsletter – look in your spam/junk mail folder.

If you can’t find it there let me know…

Amanda

[Adrian]

Deafening silence….

Hard to believe there is nothing interesting to talk about….

perhaps I should schedule an hour of silent meditation instead?

[Adrian]

The TransFormal program has now been finalised.
With about 22 activities planned over 3 days we ran out of space for any more!
Read all the details on the web site.

Tell all your friends!

And buy your tickets NOW!!!

[Adrian]

There is time and a small room available for a breakout discussion on Saturday morning from 11:30 to 12:00.

If there is a topic that you would like to get together with a small group and discuss…then let me know… and the room could be yours.

It doesn’t have to be life, the universe and everything sort of stuff… just something that we might gain from discussing together face-to-face.

Suggestions? Volunteers?

[Adrian]

Would you like to be the hostess for lunch on Saturday?

Unfortunately Clare cannot make TransFormal this year, so I’m looking for a volunteer to make lunch at the Paragon Cafe go smoothly.

What’s involved?
– Contact the paragon before the event,
– Advise them of the likely numbers turning up
– Try to ensure everyone gets fast service as there is plenty happening at the Hotel
– Give advice to anyone looking for lunch

Best done by someone who has lunched at the paragon before….

Anyone interested?

[Adrian]

I’ve received many offers from members who are “closeted” to participate on the panel.

All I can say is collectively thank you – and I do appreciate you being prepared to talk to us all.

Before Peter and I make what is going to be a tricky call and select a panel, is there anyone coming to TF who is essentially full-time and who could add their perspective of the issues they face.

[Adrian]

I’m still looking for someone to act as the contact point for lunch on Saturday.

And, as there are over 7 people in the hotel on Thursday night perhaps someone would like to either organise a meal, or at least act as a contact person.