Subject: Forward Motion Progress Report
Conf99FTM@aol.com
Date: Thu Aug 26 1999 - 13:42:16 CDT
FORWARD MOTION:
Celebrating Cultures, Advocacy, and FTM Lives
October 8-10, 1999
Hilton Burbank Airport
Burbank, California
The Forward Motion Conference Organizing Committee (COC) wants to give you
some updates, some further information and, most importantly, to keep in
touch so that you will know that we have not forgotten you. We are working
busily to make Forward Motion a success.
FIRST THINGS FIRST: DEADLINES LOOMING!
If you have not already registered, there's a registration form at the bottom
of this email message for your convenience. Please notice that
pre-registration ends on September 15. After September 15, all conference
registration will take place at the hotel and will cost $35 more.
If you have registered and will not be able to attend, the deadline for
receiving a full refund is August 30. After that, 50% refund requests in
writing will be honored if postmarked by September 30.
WATER ... WATER
Being Southern Californians, we take an inordinate amount of pride in the
fact that not only do we live in a desert, but we also import unbelievable
amounts of water from anywhere we can find it so that we can change the
landscape and no can tell it's really a desert. (It's a Hollywood thing.) To
that end, one of the swimming pools at the Hilton will be reserved for the
exclusive use of conference registrants. Bring your swimming suits so you can
play, splash, swim, and generally have a good time. (Temperatures in the Los
Angeles basin vary, but can be as high as the 80's or 90's during the
daytime, with much cooler evening temperatures, in early October. Bring a
light sweater or jacket for the evenings.)
If you like to work out, you can take advantage of the hotel's fitness
centers; one will be reserved exclusively for the use of Forward Motion
registrants.
AND NOW, A WORD (OR SEVERAL) ABOUT OUR PROGRAM...
The program, while taking it final form, is moving forward daily. Sessions
will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, October 8, and conclude at 5:05 p.m. on
Sunday, October 10. With help from Program Subcommittee members from all over
the United States -- and a few from other countries --, and input from other
sources, the COC is planning to offer a rich, diverse program with a wide
variety of sessions.
The program is roughly divided into different topical themes.
Some examples are:
Body Modification -- includes confirmed sessions on non-surgical genital
modification, testosterone changes from medical perspectives and from lived
experiences, chest surgery by Dr. Michael Brownstein, chest contouring and
phalloplasty by Dr. David Gilbert, and surgery results as part of Maxwell
Anderson's "Transgender Maleness" visual presentation.
Spirituality, Well-Being, and Introspection -- a few confirmed sessions are
Jewish religious services on Friday morning, a Metropolitan Community Church
worship service on Sunday, a discussion of the role of spirituality in our
lives, and a workshop on God's acceptance of transgendered people with
Christian Bible study.
Relationships -- confirmed workshop topics include relating to men and women
outside the queer community, and other workshops covering issues of interest
to FTM parents and to parents of FTMs.
Sexualities -- confirmed are separate workshops on issues and experiences of
gay, hetereosexual, queer, bisexual, FTM issues and experiences, a general
sexualities discussion, sessions on trans-trans intimacies, leathersex, and
dating dykes, "Sex Changes" to address SO's issues and experiences of
sexuality with their FTM partners, a safer sex education workshop, and
"Toying Around" and "Feel Great About Sex" both sponsored by Good Vibrations
and conducted by professional sex educator Ray Rea.
Transition -- a few of the confirmed sessions are "Long Term-Living in FTM
Bodies," "Prosthetics, Products, and Passing," two show-and-tell sessions, a
voice workshop, a discussion of the issues of transmen over 40, a workplace
issues workshop, and "What Now? Post-Transition Men."
Health and Therapy -- a few confirmed highlights: a basic fitness workshop,
and Marci Bowers, M.D., will be speaking on gynecological health for
transitioning FTMs. Friday there will be a block of programs of special
interest to service providers: two linked sessions on therapy with FTM
clients, with Kit Rachlin, Ph.D., presenting results of her survey on FTM
satisfaction with the therapy we receive and a focused panel discussion about
how to provide and improve therapy for FTM clients, as well as sessions on
Substance Abuse and Recovery in FTM Populations and HIV/AIDS: Research and
Prevention.
Caucuses, raps and dialogues -- confirmed highlights include a number of SO
sessions, youth issues, youth-adult dialogue, people of color issues, and
FTM-MTF dialogue.
Expanding Our Horizons -- confirmed are workshops on No-Ho, No-Op, Lo-Do-Ho
issues and experiences, alternative identities, transgender butch issues and
experiences, transgender butch-FTM understanding, and transgender fminism.
Of Historical and Academic Interest -- confirmed are separate presentations
on the lives of unsung FTM pioneer Reed Erickson and FTM International
founder Louis G. Sullivan (with video clips), the history of transgender
activism in Southern California, "The Balkan Sworn Virgin: A Traditional
European Transgender," a reading by anthropologist Jason Cromwell, Ph.D.,
from his forthcoming book about FTMs, and panel discussions about teaching
transgender studies, researching FTMs, and the future of transgender studies.
Community-Building -- some confirmed topics are starting your own support or
social group, overcoming racism in our community, and SO community building.
Making Culture -- a few confirmed highlights are workshops on making your own
'zine or newsletter, a reading by mother-authors Mary Boenke and "Just
Evelyn," writing and recording our stories, a hands-on workshop to help you
create your own gender imagery, a panel of people who are making culture, and
a time to meet authors of published books.
Politics, Advocacy, and Leadership -- some confirmed session will discuss law
enforcement and criminal justice issues, the Gender Identity Disorder
diagnosis, and the Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria
Association's "Standards of Care."
A Saturday night highlight will be "The Art of Loren Cameron: Photographs
from 'Body Alchemy' and New Works 1999," presented by Jamison Green, past
president of FTM International.
Three town hall meetings are scheduled to give us an opportunity to move
forward on issues of concern within our community: health care issues,
FTM-MTF tensions and alliances, and setting our political agenda.
Two AA meetings will take place during the conference.
The program is growing with each minute, and this progress report only given
you some samples, so expect much more to choose from when you arrive.
CULTURE
TranArt '99 will be open throughout the conference, thanks to curator
JordyJones and his assistant Percy Wise. We will also have a video room
throughout the conference, curated by Jayson Barsic. To submit artwork for
TranArt '99, please contact JordyJones at jordyjones@artjack.com. To submit
your video or to suggest videos for the viewing room, please contact Jayson
Barsic at jaybrd67@aol.com.
PARTY! PARTY! PARTY!
Our entertainment director extraordinaire Ilya Pearlman is hard at work so we
can throw a fabulous Friday night party at the hotel. Live musical
entertainment and dancing! Win a night on the town in "The Dating Game,"
hosted by the incomparable Kate Bornstein! (If you wish to be a "Dating Game"
contestant, there will be Friday afternoon warm-ups and interviews.)
Saturday night there will be a reception for the artists exhibiting in
TranArt '99, followed by a PFLAG Transgender Network reception. We will let
you know about some Saturday night off-site party options when you arrive.
ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVITY
Aside from the almost ever-present layer of smog and various and sundry
other things you can see that you're breathing in the atmosphere of SoCal,
some individuals have chemical sensitivities that can cause them to become
very ill. The substances which trigger these reactions may seem quite
harmless, even beneficial, to people who do not have these health concerns.
Smoking is not allowed in any of the indoor, public areas of the Hilton
Burbank Airport; both smoking and smoke-free guest rooms are available, and
you may smoke in the outdoor areas of the hotel.
Scented products such as perfume, cologne, hair products, skin lotion, and
sunblock may give you the feeling of being in the center of a strawberry
field, but the person sitting next to you may be having a very different,
adverse reaction. So, before you slather on the scents, remember that a
little goes a long way and there is much to be said for subtlety and
under-statedness.
YES, THERE ARE HOTEL ROOMS AVAILABLE
As of August 26, the Hilton Burbank Airport still has plenty of rooms
available for the special conference rate of $92 per night (up to four person
occupancy). An upgrade to a Junior Suite is also available for the low rate
of $127 per night. Room rates are subject to city room tax and sales tax. A
Junior Suite includes a wet bar and a refrigerator -- definitely something to
consider if you have several people sharing the room expense.
For hotel reservations, call 1-800-HILTONS. To get the conference room rate,
be sure to say that you are reserving a room at the Hilton Burbank Airport
for the FTM conference. If you encounter any problems making reservations
through the 1-800 number, please call the Hilton Burbank Airport directly at
1-818-843-6000 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time and ask to
speak to "Meetings and Conventions."
LET YOUR FINGERS DO THE E-WALKING
Thanks to a donation from Online Partners, OnQ and gay.com, Forward Motion
registrants with AOL accounts will have free access to their accounts in the
hotel's Business Center. Please visit OnQ and gay.com, and express your
appreciation for their generous support of our community.
COMPLIMENTARY SURGERY CONSULTATIONS
Michael L. Brownstein, M..D., FACS, has graciously offered to provide
complimentary consultations during the conference. If you would like to
schedule a consultation with him in advance of the conference, you could call
him, toll free, at (877)
255-2081 or email him at mlb@brownsteinmd.com. You may also reach Dr.
Brownstein through his homepage: http://www.brownsteinmd.com.
STYLIN' T-SHIRTS
There is still time to pre-order Forward t-shirts emblazoned with the Forward
Motion logo, designed by artist JordyJones. Ordering information is on the
conference registration form.
GEOGRAPHY LESSON
Los Angeles County contains the nation's second largest city and many small
cities. Burbank is one of those small cities. The Hilton Burbank Airport is
in the San Fernando Valley, over the hill from downtown Los Angeles and
Hollywood, and is between Interstate 5 and the 134 Pasadena-Glendale Freeway.
The hotel is located, essentially, in a suburb, so you can walk for a long
time and really not get anywhere. Bus service and cabs are not easily
available in Burbank, but you could phone a cab to pick you up at the hotel
for some sightseeing excursions; don't forget that you will need to phone a
cab for your return trip.
For sightseeing or shopping, the hotel offers free shuttles to the Media
Center, which has retail stores, restaurants, and movie theaters, and to
Universal CityWalk located right next door to Universal Studios and a
mega-theater complex.
Burbank also offers tours of NBC Studios and Warner Bros. studios, within a
short driving distance. Hollywood is about a 30-minute drive, with West
Hollywood -- formed so that there would be a gay and lesbian enclave outside
of LAPD jurisdiction, and the first municipality in SoCal to enact
anti-discrimination protections for transgendered people-- only a few more
minutes. The famous Sunset Strip is in West Hollywood (on Sunset Boulevard);
many gay nightspots and A Different Light are on Santa Monica Boulevard in
West Hollywood. (Caution: driving times vary tremendously according on
traffic conditions.)
Disneyland is about 50 miles south via Interstate 5, in Anaheim. Los Angeles'
Griffith Park, the largest public park within city limits in the United
States, is only about 5 miles south via Interstate 5 and offers the Los
Angeles Zoo, the Gene Autry Western Heritage Museum, and Griffith Park
Observatory made historic by "Rebel Without a Cause."
If you need a rental care, Enterprise Rent-a-Car is about a two-minute walk
from the hotel.
GETTING FROM A TO B
Now for the Big Question: How do I get from A (anywhere I am) to B (Hilton
Burbank Airport)?
The Hilton Burbank Airport is located at 2500 N. Hollywood Way, directly
across from the Burbank-Glendale Airport, in the City of Burbank.
If you are driving from points south of Los Angeles, take Interstate 5 north
to the Hollywood Way exit in Burbank. Make a left turn under the freeway onto
Hollywood Way and drive about one mile to Thornton. Turn left onto Thornton,
and the Hilton will be on your right -- you can't miss it.
If you're driving from the north, take Interstate 5 south to the Hollywood
Way exit in Burbank. Turn right onto Hollywood Way, proceed about a mile,
turn left onto Thornton, and the Hilton will be on your right.
There is ample parking at the Hilton Burbank Airport. For registered hotel
guests, the fee is $7/day with in-and-out privileges. (And now we'll take a
moment to snicker at all the obvious jokes.) For those not registered as
hotel guests, the fee is $9.35 with no in-and-out privileges.
If you are flying into the Burbank-Glendale Airport, you may take the free
shuttle provided by the Hilton Burbank Airport. This is a small regional
airport, with only two terminals, so it should be easy to follow directional
signs to the shuttle stops.
If you are flying to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), the Hilton
Burbank Airport has contracted a special rate with Super Shuttle: it will
cost you $15-20 per person to be delivered to the hotel door, as opposed to
$25-35 on other carriers.
If you have not yet made airline reservations, remember that discounted
conference airfares are available through Gunderson Travel at 1-800-899-1944
or 1-310-657-3944. When booking your flights, please keep in mind that the
program starts at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, October 8, and concludes at 5:05 p.m.
on Sunday, October 10.
VENDORS
Our vendors' space will be available for those of you who wish to sell
products, provide information about a community organization, or conduct
research on our community. For further information, please contact Justin
Tanis at jagedwardt@aol.com.
SEE YOU IN OCTOBER!
Questions?
Email: Conf99FTM@aol.com
Regular mail: FTMCLA, P.O. Box 922342, Sylmar CA 91392-2342
Media contact: Nick Adams, 323-658-6775 x11 or FM99Media@aol.com
***************************************************
FORWARD MOTION:
Celebrating Cultures, Advocacy, and FTM Lives
REGISTRATION FORM
Please note: We cannot process online registrations. Please print out this
registration form and send it, with your registration check, to: FTMCLA/P.O.
Box 922342/Sylmar CA 91392-2342
Name:_________________________________________
Mailing address:_______________________________________
City, State, Zip:__________________________________________
Country (if outside USA):_________________________________
Telephone:______________________________________________
Additional registrants (same address):______________________
______________________________________________
______________________________________________
Name for badge:_________________________________________
E-mail address:_______________________________________
I'd like to volunteer! Area(s) I can help in are:_______________
______________________________________________
I have Special Needs (i.e., Sign Language interpreters, wheelchair access,
child care, etc. Please be specific)
______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________
Registration fees:
$ 90 - Postmark 7/1/99 - 9/15/99
$125 - at the door Friday
$ 75 - at the door Saturday
$ 25 - at the door Sunday
T-shirts (additional $15):
__ Medium
__ Large
__ X-Large
__ XX-Large
Make checks payable (in U.S. funds) to:
FTMCLA
P.O. Box 922342
Sylmar CA 91392-2342
I would like to make this Conference happen and help others attend by my
additional donation of $________. (Thank You!)
Help! I may need financial assistance. I can only afford to pay $_________.
__ I am planning to stay at the Burbank Hilton for ____ nights.
Refund Policy: (must be cancelled in writing)
100% if postmarked by 8/30/99
50% if postmarked by 9/30/99
Bad Check Policy:
Writers of bad checks will be liable for all applicable bank charges.
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