From: Diva Las Vegas organizers (dlvorg@geekbabe.com)
Date: Fri Jan 07 2005 - 22:39:37 CST
In this mailing:
Org List
Starting to zero in
Zingers -- going once
Big Sisters
Help
Golf, Tea, Pity
Numbers game
HM poo-poo
NSD II
Mainstream-Alternative, etc.
Summary schedule of activities
Administrivia
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Org List:
This is the DLV 2005 Organizational Mailing List (dlvorg@geekbabe.com)
Replies to this message will be forwarded to the DLVORG list and not
the DLV-Announce or DLV-Discuss list.
Ongoing activity database appears on the web at:
http://www.geekbabe.com/annie/org05arc/acts.html
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Starting to zero in:
Early mailing. Long mailing. I'm "flushing the 2004 queue" on this
mailing. It contains about everything received prior to last Wednesday.
Stuff received after will come out this next Wednesday.
. . . . .
Lots of things are happening. ...
Big news is that we've landed the Michael Cagle Show for our final
Saturday! Film at 11. Megathanks to Aiko for making this one happen.
And, yes, it will really happen this year. :)
. . . . .
As to the schedule. We need to work toward setting the "anchor
activities", meaning those that are high-interest-general-interest
in nature in stone as to timeslot.
If there are any primary evening activities, as well as the daytime ones
of high interest, that need to be rescheduled, particularly those which
may cause a chain-reaction of reshuffling other activities, the
rescheduling needs to happen sooner rather than later.
. . . . .
Latest registration numbers:
Totals:
Validated primary attendees: 51
Validated SO's: 12
Total validated headcount: 63
As you see this is a phenomenal response! We're way ahead of the point
on the curve where we were last year or 2003!
One thing to note for the people on the ORG list is that nobody here is
assumed to automatically be signed up. Please register if you have not
already.
There are still a number of conspicuously missing names. {hint} :)
For those who registered to test the screens, you do not need to
re-register. (Yes, Gina is megacool!) :)
. . . . .
UR Not Alone:
Is anybody a registered member of UR Not Alone (www.urnotalone.com)?
We don't appear on their April 2005 events calendar and it appears that
they are only accepting additions from registered members. If you are,
please list us from April 24 - April 30 with www.geekbabe.com/dlv/ as
the web site and dlv@geekbabe.com as the e-mail contact address. Thanks.
. . . . .
DLV Web site hits:
I may have spoken too soon regarding web site hits being off. Since
Christmas they have been consistently above the level they were a year
ago and in a few cases much higher. Most noted increase was December 26,
which showed 1209 hits this year compared with 855 for December 26,
2003, for a 41% increase!
Another big "pop" was last Sunday and Monday just after returnee
registration opened.
What was observed in early December may have been just a fluke.
For all of these numbers I'm counting a "hit" as an actual .html page
pull, excluding all graphics.
General mailing list count was 519 as of this morning. This is after
the chronic undeliverables were purged last week.
. . . . .
BIG THANKS!!!!!
... to those who found the e-mail update bug on the registration screen!
That one looked like it could have been a show stopper for some. Turns
out that the updates were properly recorded, but the new update didn't
properly carry over to the next screen.
Please continue to report any problems with any of the screens we use.
Thanks. :)
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Zingers -- going once:
One concern I do have, and this is a "Going Once" notice to those who
are in that lately-elusive "mainstream/upscale" bar contingent, is that
I want to be sure that everybody here in ORG is in agreement as to how
much we use Zingers.
The way the wind is blowing, it looks like we will be using Zingers far
more than we've ever used any other single facility in the history of
DLV.
So far we have Zingers down for the following:
1. Welcome Celebration, Sunday.
2. Eating Out Night, Wednesday.
3. Pity Party, Thursday (see below).
4. Annual Mixer, Friday.
5. Michael Cagle Show, Saturday (pending).
I'm also sure that whether we schedule it or not, Zingers will be the
place people congregate after the last activity on the final Saturday.
Personally, I don't want to relocate any of the above. I can't think
of a better place for any of them.
I just want to be sure the people here are in agreement that we should
be using this one place for so many of our activities.
Comments? Going once ...
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Big Sisters:
Nora writes:
>>Big Sister coordinators: Have you been receiving the volunteer
>>responses?
>Yes, to date I have received 3 requests to be Big Sisters. No requests
>for a big sister.
Good. Looks like all is working.
I do see that a few more have come in with registrations.
And -- thanks to all who volunteered to be Big Sisters. Your Little
Sisters will sure appreciate it! :)
The Big Sister requests will most likely start around February 1, which
is the first date on which the newcomers will be registering.
>I do have a minor problem. I will be away on vacation from 4/9 4/18. I
>hope to have all the matches made by then. I guess Crystal can complete
>the few additional ones that will be coming in during the time that I
>am away.
If Crystal can't do it or gets overloaded, I'll be willing to fill in
too. Please enjoy your (other) vacation! :) Thanks.
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Help:
Jenni writes:
>Do you need any help in any categories this year?
Do we need help? -- Is the Pope Catholic? :) :) :)
Seriously, thanks for asking. :)
The area in which we need help with most as of this time is filling
in the schedule, particularly some of the prime evening activities.
We need some ideas, as well as the people to actually make them happen.
If you want to propose or suggest something, please go right ahead. If
you want to volunteer for something but don't know what, just say so.
If you (or anybody else) needs an idea right now, a good project for
somebody who wants to do some research is to look over the various shows
playing in Las Vegas and zero in on a few that our group might like to
do.
Thanks again for asking. :)
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Golf, Tea, Pity:
Mindy writes:
>hey girls..
Hey hey, my my ...
>well sorry to be out of touch for so long.. major medical problems but
>getting them under control..
Good to hear that things are under control. :) We're for ya! Hang in
there. :)
>on the issues of the events diane and i host/hostess ...
>tea.. would consider the 4 seasons again if we get a consenses.. lets
>get some feedback
Tea fans?
Ladies? Gentlemen? Would you prefer Four Seasons, or something like the
Cobblestone Corner last year?
Comments? Mindy wants to hear some chatter from the infield! :) :)
. . .
>golf... at this point i still dont have a concenses as to the day..
>wed would be nice as it is easy.. thurs makes it for everybody to have
>to get out fast fotr the thurs activities.. need to decided on which
>day real soon..
Well, the way things look like they will be turning out, Tuesday has
the Night Of The Soiled Doves, so not very many will be bright-eyed
and bushy-tailed on Wednesday morning. :)
Thursday and Friday evening will have major activities.
Wednesday evening will most likely be lower-key, so I might suggest
Thursday if you're concerned about fallout from those partying the
night before.
>also because of the medical problems (and cost) if anybody could front
>the 100 doller deposit (thats a bargin) usually 2 to 5 hundred.. but
>they will do it for us for 100.. your personal golf fees would come out
>of the hundred and the balance would be refunded to you the day of the
>tourn.. contact me if you can do this
Golfers?
. . .
>garden party.. still looking to move but we will have the traditional
>sat garden party someplace somehow.. i have some backup plans just in
>case. be as in the past donation at the door.. or if you want to help
>in advance
IMAO, the home setting, complete with kids, dogs, neighbors, relatives,
etc., is ideal for this, but if it has to be moved, we will understand.
This activity is often cited as one of the most favorite of DLV. I've
always enjoyed it personally.
. . .
>pity party is scheduled for thurs (subject to the limo and big show
>schedule) it will be held at zingers no cover and will run from 8 pm to
>whenever.. again we will be looking for people to perform in a show..
Ok, we'll get this on the schedule and put a note in one of the mailings
about performers. I'm assuming that the text I have for last year WRT
performing is ok to use again.
Thanks for the updates, Mindy. :)
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Numbers game:
Aiko writes:
>Annie, since we don't have a registration fee, and DLV is not about the
>bottom line, how does DLV compare in attendance with the convention
>type TG events?
Well, lately we've been larger than Fall Harvest and smaller than
Southern Comfort. I'm sure we're (still) smaller than FanFair, Be-All,
and most of the others since their model requires a critical mass of
so many bodies to survive.
One thing I'm fairly certain of is that we're the first regularly
recurring t* event to break 100 without any paid advertising or any
significant media coverage. We really don't need it. We have a very
good footprint on the web and excellent word-of-mouth exposure.
Now, one thing to keep in mind, and this is gonna happen eventually,
although I don't think it will this year. At some time, it may be next
year, it may be 2015, the variance due to any of several factors is
going to exceed the growth rate and we will see a decrease in headcount
from some year to the next year.
This will happen. Not if but when, and every t* event I'm aware of has
seen this at one time or another, even those which are noted as being
the largest and most successful.
When this happens, it won't necessarily mean something is wrong, just
that circumstances have dictated a smaller turnout that year.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
HM poo-poo:
Densie writes:
>>I'm not married to any of them, so feel free to poo-poo them or
>>For Sunday evening let's do Happy Hour and Dinner at Hamburger Mary's
>Pooh-pooh, I hate the place.
You do???!! What's wrong with it?
If you don't like the food there, you can go there for Happy Hour and
then eat someplace like Hofbrau (across the street), Hard Rock (across
the other street), Milano's (about a block south) or a few other places
in the area.
. . . . .
>>Basically have two options, one a mainstream casino bar, and the other
>>something like Karaoke at Flex.
>Karaoke at flex!
Yes, that looks like it will be one option. Actually, I'm thinking that
it might be the option I will choose. :) I know that you and I are much
too shy to go to any kind of a mainstream casino bar. :) :) :)
. . . . .
>>Zingers will most definitely happen multiple times.
>Hopefully Ray Martinez will still be performing. He might just boot
>Michael Cagle out of the DLV entertainer of the year slot.
I think that's Lou Martinez, but I don't know how long their gig is.
Monica? Mari? Are you listening in? Anybody else know for sure?
And yes, if we have multiple strong contenders for Entertainer Of The
Year, we'll do a popular vote on the follow-up survey like we did a few
years ago.
. . . . .
>We have definitely decided to start the 24th, right?
Uh-huh, that is correct.
>There is another event 22nd-24th that I wanted to go to, but I can't
>imagine getting from there to Vegas without getting a serious speeding
>violation.
Well, you don't have to be there on the 24th. You can always come in
fashionably late on the 25th. and get in on most everything. Let's see,
if you arrive early on the 25th instead of on the 24th, you'll miss ...
uh ... Hamburger Mary's. I'm sure you won't want to miss that. :) :) :)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
NSD II:
JoAnn writes:
>Some observations regarding the {Night of Soiled Doves} II----------
>The trip out to the Chicken Ranch in cars I thought was fun, also it
>was an opportunity to visit with other 'sisters' in a small group as we
>traveled to the Event, and it was cost effective [shared the gas cost]
Agreed. I do think that carpool is the most effective way to do
something like this.
>The gift idea, I believe, is a 'delicate issue'. I gave my boa [the
>one reference is the last org. e-mail] to one of the ladies because we
>really hit it off -- lady to lady- !!! -- it just happened on a
>'emotional' level.
>DIVA, I believe, needs to be careful that we do not 'institutionalize
>the 'gift idea' beyond the 'event pin'. If our people who attend the
>event wish to give something extra that is 'a special girl to girl
>event' and should not be formalized. When I have traveled to other
>parts of our 'world' -- I carry small items that I give as the occasion
>presents itself. I believe that same 'tenor' best serves our Group and
>should be carried forward at the NSO II, while giving all of the
>ladies we meet our 'pin of the year' to commemorate the event.
I do think flowers and the pins are appropriate gifts, and I do agree
that we don't want to OD on things like this.
I also agree with Aiko that we should pay our way, so to speak, meaning
to make sure that they don't lose money on our BBQ thing, should
something like that happen in conjunction with NSD II.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Mainstream-Alternative, etc.:
Monique writes:
>Hey ya'll....it's been a long time since I've participated in the
>DLVORG group, too long. Sorry I couldn't make to DLV'04 but, for those
>of you that don't know, I lost my Father to brain and spinal cancer
>right about the time DLV'04 was occurring. I hope, if all goes well,
>to be at DLV'05 and in my plans on being there....I've decided to drop
>in my 1.5 cents worth (hey, gasoline prices have gone down so I have
>to drop my prices as well to be market competitive. LOL).
>I like Annie's idea of the HH and Dinner at HM prior to the Welcome
>Celebration on Sunday. HM's has always been good to our group and the
>food is OK yet inexpensive.
>I also like Annie's idea for Monday, the "Mainstream-Alternative'
>night. I would be happy to be the 'hostess' for the mainstream venue
>that evening. Question is where to have it. I would suggest the HRC
>(not the casino, just the restaurant, as that is right across the
>street from HM's).
Ok, we will put you in charge of a Mainstream Option for Monday evening.
Where you have it will be up to you, of course, but if I'm hearing the
"more mainstream" crowd correctly, they are hoping for something like a
casino lounge in a high-midscale to upscale type of property.
Please let us know the venue for this activity as soon as you decide.
>Count Monique in as backup for registration as well. I'd also be happy
>to help out with Tootsie as co-registration hostess, if she needs one.
While we appreciate your offer, we're finding that that the various
back-end duties, which includes check-in hostesses, are very well
covered. As of now we have far more volunteers for check-in than we
will ever be able to use.
Where we do need help this year is in the planning and coordination of
the activities, particularly those for the empty timeslots in our prime
evenings, such as Thursday prior to the Limo Tour and Saturday evening.
In 2002, you did a very good job in coordinating a production show, and
we would like you to consider being the organizer of another production
show.
If you want to help out where it's needed most, this is the area where
we need it. :)
>The SBS Garden Party. Ya know, Mindy has spent the last 2 years of
>opening her home up to us to host the Garden Party. She's really gone a
>mile and a half, at least, to host us sisters. While the location and
>atmosphere is nice and very relaxing, maybe it is time to give Mindy a
>break this year. She's doing other things with DLV, so I'm open for
>suggestions as for an alternative location for the Garden Party.
>My thought, off the cuff, is the courtyard @ the San Remo. Despite the
>hotel votes (yes, I do read the DLVORG mailings...LOL), it is a very
>nice setting, with a pool and beautiful flowers. Obviously, we would
>have to check with the San Remo about brining in covered dishes,
>etc...glass near the pool area...alcohol being served, etc. Just an
>initial thought.
I would say that this should primarily be up to Mindy and Nora, who are
on record as being the Garden Party hostesses for DLV 2005, as to where
the Garden Party is this year.
Mindy? Nora?
>There is also the possibility of using one of the public parks around
>the Strip, but again, there is the question of permits, etc.
IIRC, alcohol is verboten in public parks in Clark County. Also, the
statute that sparked the persistent rumors of the "Awful Restroom Law"
in Las Vegas does apply to public parks in Clark County. (Citation in
the DLV FAQ.)
>Like
>Annie, the Garden Party which was initiated into DLV 2 years ago, IMO,
>is a 'sacred event' and should not be scrapped. I just don't want to
>see Mindy go out of her way like she has done the past 2 years, unless
>she wants to do so. I would like your feedback, comments, etc. as to
>the location of the Garden Party on Saturday.
>Sorry, not keeping up...who's coordinating the DVTour on Monday?
That be me. :)
I'm thinking of a driving tour of the south end of the Valley. Start
with brunch in Pahrump or Baker. (Baker is about 1/2 hour longer, and
except for fans of Bun Boy and/or Mad Greek -- they both have their cult
following -- it's probably better to go Pahrump.) Both routes enter the
Valley via Shoshone. First over the passes and down into Badwater, which
is a very scenic drive. Badwater is the lowest paved road in this
hemisphere.
Then up northbound, catching Artist Drive (assuming the road re-opens on
schedule - some of the Palette is still visible from the main road,
IIRC), Golden Canyon, Devils Golf Course, and then up to the Visitor
Center.
Then back via Zabriskie Point, assuming again that the road re-opens
on schedule. If not, we'll have to go back via the Beatty route.
Option will be Dante's View, but that will add a good hour to the trip
and the road is not the best.
Another option might be for Gina (and/or anybody else) who has a 4wd to
take the west road instead of the Badwater route. This comes closer to
the actual bottom of the Valley, but you will miss out on some of the
more scenic stops. I've actually driven this road in a regular passenger
car, but I wouldn't recommend it for all.
I know somebody mentioned Scotty's Castle, but that will add 3-4 hours
to the trip. I think it's best to save that for another trip, perhaps
next year, covering Scotty's Castle, Ubehebe Crater, and the north end
of the Valley.
>Sorry to be out of touch so long sisters. I've been quite active in the
>GLBTIQ community when I left Nashville in 2002 and moved to Denver. I'm
>now in Ohio and hoping to find a new job (or as some of the sisters
>ask me..."What do I want to do when I grow up?"....LOL) somewhere
>where I can continue to make a difference in our T-community. This, I
>will tell ya'll, Diva and SCC in 2001 made quite a difference in my
>life. I learned so much about myself and my other sisters and our GLBT
>brothers. And ya' know, Diva'01 was the start for me to grow to the
>person I am today.
>It is through the socializing, the commoradity, the getting together
>that makes all the difference. I've been proud to be a volunteer for
>Diva-02-'03 and I hope to be able to contribute to ya'll again. In the
>meantime, have a Wonderful Holiday Season. May God Bless ya'll and
>let's ring in a GREAT and AB FAB 2005!
>A side, yet sad note, on the fewer DLV webpage previous hits than on
>previous years. Well girls, I don't know how to tell ya'll this, but
>DLV is beginning to lose its charm and intimacy.
>Annie warned us of this a couple of years ago, and with the RR issues,
>the POP docs, DLV, as I hear it through the grapevine, is now being
>viewed by others as more like a convention and not a vacation. I've
>tried to educate everyone that ask me about DLV that we're a vacation,
>not a convention.
>But yet our numbers are suggesting that we are becoming a convention.
>I know, I've been to SCC (500+ people), our most successful Colorado
>Gold Rush 2004 had over 120+ people, and DLV has had nothing but
>glowing and wonderful growth since I've been involved with Diva 2001.
>This is something that Annie and a few others on the DLVORG group
>talked about in 2002...are we outgrowing and not having the same
>purpose for which DLV was founded upon? I'm not suggesting anything,
>outside of DLV does not bring in speakers, workshops, etc., as has
>been the Diva philosophy all along. I'm just telling ya'll what I'm
>hearing. Maybe that is why the webhits are down pre-DIVA'05.
If anybody was dissatisfied with DLV 2005 (or any DLV, actually) I
and the others here need to know. We need to know, very explicitly,
where the dissatisfaction lies. If anybody's expectations were not
met, again, we need to know the details, very explicitly.
I'm interpreting the "charm and intimacy" as meaning the ability to
relate to people on a personal level. The last year that DLV could
really be said to be "intimate", meaning that almost everybody got to
know almost everybody else, was 1998. The group has been too large for
it ever since.
However, in each year since, smaller circles of friends always formed
from those of the larger group. I've observed this each year, without
exception.
If you want (or anybody wants) to see the B/D/R documents go away, you
can do what you can to help make them unnecessary. First, by setting the
example, with age/size/occasion appropriate dress, ladylike behavior,
and prudent and cautious restroom usage. Lead by example. Second, by
encouraging others to dress and act appropriately. Help us bring the
no-incident record to 2 years running.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Summary schedule of activities:
Preliminary and subject to change.
Sunday, April 24:
AM Religious services (Metropolitan Community Church - SV)
6:00pm Happy Hour (Hamburger Mary's - MV)
7:00pm Dinner (Hamburger Mary's - MV)
8:30pm Welcome Celebration (Zingers - SV)
Monday, April 25:
10:00am Death Valley Tour (Death Valley National Park - MS)
1:00pm Lunch With or without Ginger (Sahara Buffet - MS)
2:00pm Walk Off Your Lunch (TBD)
PM Bowling (TBA)
6:00pm Happy Hour (Bahama Breeze - MS)
7:00pm Dinner (Bahama Breeze - MS)
8:00pm Mainstream-Alternative Night (TBA and Flex - MS/SV)
Tuesday, April 26:
10:30am Lake Mead Boat Cruise (Lake Mead - MS)
1:00pm Lunch With or without Ginger (Sahara Buffet - MS)
2:00pm Walk Off Your Lunch (TBD)
6:00pm Happy Hour (TBD)
Ev Night Of The Soiled Doves II (CR - MV)
Wednesday, April 27:
8:00am Air Tours (Airport - MS)
1:00pm Lunch With or without Ginger (Sahara Buffet - MS)
2:00pm Walk Off Your Lunch (TBD)
2:30pm Ballroom Dance Instruction (Arthur Murray - MV)
6:00pm Happy Hour (TBD)
Ev Eating Out Night (Several - MS)
Ev EON get-together (Zingers - SV)
Thursday, April 28:
10:00am Art Tour (Museum(s) - MS)
1:00pm Lunch With or without Ginger (Sahara Buffet - MS)
2:00pm Walk Off Your Lunch (TBD)
6:00pm Happy Hour (TBD)
Ev Pity Party (Zingers - SV)
Ev Limo Tour (Vegas, baby! - MS)
Friday, April 29:
1:00am Charles Bar (Bellagio, Allegra Bar - MS)
11:00am Shopping trip (Mall(s) - MS)
11:00am Secret Garden / Dolphin Habitat (Mirage - MS)
1:00pm Lunch With or without Ginger (Sahara Buffet - MS)
2:00pm Walk Off Your Lunch (TBD)
6:00pm Happy Hour (Carluccio's - MS)
7:00pm Dinner (Carluccio's - MS)
8:30pm Annual Mixer (Zingers - SV)
Saturday, April 30:
AM-PM Garden Party (TBD)
8:30pm Michael Cagle Show (Zingers - SV)
11:59pm Rocky Horror Picture Show (Paradise Theater - SV)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Administrivia:
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