From: Diva Las Vegas organizers (dlvorg@geekbabe.com)
Date: Wed Nov 17 2010 - 04:43:48 CST
In this mailing:
Org List
JoAnn's words
Activity suggestions
Hotels for DLV 2011
Schedule strategy
Hotel Hostess Program, etc.
Comportment thoughts
Marketing and video
Beginner Open House and missing e-mail
Administrivia
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Org List:
This is the DLV 2011 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.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
JoAnn's words:
As I previewed this e-mail I'm impressed by all of the things being
discussed and the ideas that are forthcoming. It tells me that we are
getting a good start to make Diva 2011 its own unique year, rather than
a repeat of another past year. As I have stated several times
previously, all of this does not happen unless we have the volunteers
behind the ideas.
Thanks for sharing ideas. At the same time, Annie and I look forward
to hearing from all of the others in the Org Group so we can gauge the
possible interest for these ideas by our attendees.
Keep the dialog going.... JoAnn
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Activity suggestions:
Eileen writes (slightly edited):
Hi, and all the best wishes as you begin putting together DLV for 2011.
These sound like they would be fun additions to the list of activities
to do in 2011.
* Dinner at a true Mexican restaurant
* Pool Party
* Group breakfast before going to bed
* Fashion advise
* Hoover Dam tour
* Bowling
* Gun Show
I enjoyed every event I participated in this year. The Church
services, the pajama party, dancing at the Paris, the High Tea,
and the closing Dinner at the Bahama Breeze were some of the
highlights for me. This year was my 4th and best DLV!
. . . . . . . . . .
Thanks, Eileen.
All of these are workable and many of them have been done at
DLV in prior years. Please (you and everyone) keep thinking of
which items on this list and on the previous lists that you
would like to work on. When we advance to the scheduling phase
we'll be calling for volunteers for specific activities.
And, all, please keep the suggestions coming! :)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Hotels for DLV 2011:
It's time to decide on our suggested hotels for DLV 2011.
For those who are new, we accept nominations in the form of
the naming of a particular hotel from the ORG folks, and then
we vote, up or down, on each hotel which has received both a
nomination and a second. All volunteers, voting status or not,
can nominate (and second) the hotels, and participate in the
discussion on the topic.
We then announce the suggested hotels for the coming event on
the web site and in a general mailing. Historically this has
happened early December.
One topic which seems to pop up every year is that of some
kind of "primary" hotel, whether exclusive or not.
Last year we rejected two motions, both on the subject of some
kind of "primary" or "most suggested" hotel, so I do not think
it's worthwhile to spend the energy to re-visit that concept
this year.
The floor is now open for hotel nominations and seconds. Any
subsequent nomination of an already-nominated hotel is considered
to be a second.
. . . . . . . . . .
Having said that, I (Annie) would like to place the following
hotels into nomination:
1. Imperial Palace. Why? Because it's decent, affordable, and
has a long history (every year since 1997) of hosting our
attendees.
2. Paris. Why? It's avowedly GLBT-friendly, we've had a good
history with that particular property, and it satisfies the
need for a more-upscale suggested hotel.
Do we have a second on either or both of these?
Do we have other nominations?
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Schedule strategy:
As JoAnn discussed in the last mailing, we can divide our
evenings into three somewhat broad categories:
>(a) maximum attendance seeking single activity evenings,
>(b) as to being a multi-track/option evenings with equally
>desired activities, and
>(c) Feature/Anchor evenings having other very desired
>activities.
Let's look at this as the basis of a schedule we will be
developing over the next few months and agree upon some
of the basics of how we plan the week, from a very high
level, prior to any actual assigning of timeslots to the
particular activities.
Let's use the terms MAX, ANCHOR, and MULTI as follows:
MAX: Our days where the evenings are reserved for single-track
maximum-attendance activities (Welcome Celebration, Ending
Bash) with other various activities occuring afterward.
ANCHOR: Days with the evenings hosting featured activities
(Limo Tour, NSD, etc.) with other lower-key options available.
MULTI: Days with multi-track evenings, hosting several dining
and after dinner options, none of them designated as featured.
If we place these in a tabular form with our weekdays, we
get a table as such:
Sunday: MULTI
Monday: MAX
Tuesday: ANCHOR
Wednesday: MULTI
Thursday: ANCHOR
Friday: MAX
This gives us the "slow start" on Sunday, with worthwhile
activities, but nothing highly featured or maximum-attendance
in nature. Monday would be the big opener, with some kind of
a big dinner and welcome gathering similar to what we had at
Firefly in 2010 and at Blue Ox in 2008 and 2009.
Friday, our last evening, would be a final large gathering,
supported by after-dinner activities such as dancing, clubbing,
etc.
The other evenings, as well as the days, would be made up of a
mix of the old and new, as appropriate.
I believe this is a good overall strategy for the week. Comments
on this, gang?
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Hotel Hostess Program, etc.:
Beverly writes:
Last year was my first opportunity to attend DLV and I thoroughly
enjoyed myself as well as the effort put forth by so many to make the
week fun. I am hoping to attend again in 2011.
The reason for this email is to make a few suggestions for the
upcoming event. First is the hotel hostess program.
I stayed at Sahara last year and was warmly greeted by Jane on my first
afternoon gathering. What a wonderful way to start my DLV experience.
Jane was friendly and outgoing, quick to extend a hand to the new and
not so new attendees.
I understand that Jane may not be able to attend this year for which I
am truly sorry. If I am able to attend, I would like to offer my
services as either a hostess, co-hostess, or just a helpful sister at
whichever hotel I decide to stay.
I think that this service is especially important early in the week,
like the first two or three days. After that it could become something
more along the lines of a daily checking in spot for 15-30 minutes, just
to make sure no problems have developed, therefore not requiring the
hostess to be on site for an extended period each day.
Another suggestion to go along with the hostess program is to have a
hotel staff member also present during the first meeting to welcome the
guests and assure them that the hotel fully supports their attendance
and appreciates their patronage.
My second suggestion is for those early risers looking for a little
exercise. Perhaps there could be planned an early morning walk/run for
those desiring some physical activity. I got up a several mornings and
enjoyed a brisk 30 minute walk around the area. One morning as I was
coming in another sister was just heading out to do the same.
A coordinated activity would have been fun and a great way to get to
know others. No cost involved, little planning needed, a win all around.
This could even be coordinated at the daily hotel gathering for the next
day or the rest of the week. The same could be true for organizing a
morning breakfast activity as well.
Thanks again to everyone who helps plan the event as well as those
making suggestions or just attending. I look forward to meeting many
more of you next year.
. . . . . . . . . .
Annie responds:
Thanks, Beverly.
First, I think you most likely mean Holly, not Jane. Holly was
the one who took the lead on the Hotel Hostess Program for DLV
2010 and who has stated she will not be able to be with us in
2011.
If we're to do the Hotel Hostess program again for 2011, we
will need somebody to take the lead on it.
If you would like to take this on, I don't envision anyone else
arm-wrestling you for the priviledge. :) However, if you (or
others) wish to do so, please put your hat in the ring sooner
rather than later, as a program of such scope needs to be planned
for in the overall strategy of the event, and not shoehorned in
later, having to work around other plans which are solid.
As far as getting a hotel staff member to meet with the DLV
people, I can see the big advantage of helping the newbees to
feel more welcome, but I also can imagine it opening up some
cans of worms. My hunch is that you will have varying degrees
of luck at the various properties as far as getting a hotel
staff member of any level of authority to particpiate. I also
think that those employees most willing to participate would
likely be from the sales or the slot host areas as opposed to
management or hotel operations.
One particular can of worms, the topic of which is bound to
come up in any meeting with the hotel staff, is that of the
hotel's policy (or non-policy or made-up-on-the-fly policy)
regarding restrooms. I would suggest that you think long and
hard before taking that particular can in the direction of
the can opener! If you choose to open it, be sure you're
ready to hear things that you don't want to hear. Enough
said on that one.
As far as a morning walk, or a morning breakfast/coffee, the
only way to see if it will work is to try it.
One thing I would suggest is that you make those scheduled
activities as ad-hoc and word of mouth things are iffy at best.
Ginger did have a "Walk Off Your Lunch" thing going for a few
years, but that was dropped due to lack of participation. You
may have better luck with one in the morning. One thing to keep
in mind for any morning activity is that the bulk of our people
are not early-risers. Typical come-back-to-life time would be
from 10:00am to noon.
Please keep these thoughts coming in, everyone! :)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Comportment thoughts:
Cynthia writes:
Annie and JoAnne, I have a Phase I Brainstorm ie. Senior Moment to
share:
I love Rosada's theory here: Comportment is absolutely essential to
projecting your image in public. How you carry yourself, how you seat
yourself and how you stand up, how you move in heels, table manners,
jestures, postures, conversation technique, all these things differ
between men and women. Cognitive differences affect those around you as
well as you subjectivily. How you act will affect the way you look and
feel. The more feminine you act, the more feminine you will look, and
feel. Others wil notice you more too, you will be more attractive.
Anyway, I'm for having three days of open house again and adding some
group comportment sessions to them for anyone that might be interested -
nothing rigorous or demanding, you know, just some simple coffee
clatches and note comparisons and critiques on whose doing it right and
who could use some improvement, and suggestions on how to make it
better, from the group.
There's plenty of books at the library on it and lots of videos on
YouTube too - go to the trannie section. Female mimicry is not easy,
cats do it better than humans but they've got two extra legs, its
natural for them, us humans have to be trained, if not herded.
. . . . . . . . . .
Thanks, Cynthia.
Something such as a combined Beginner Open House and Comportment
Workshop can definitely happen, if we have the volunteers to
make it happen.
Sarona does have "First Refusal Rights" to coordinate a
Beginner Open House this coming year. If she wants to do it
again, you can work with her toward a combined effort, or if
Sarona doesn't want to do it this coming year, you can take
the lead on it.
Anyway, please keep thinking along these lines. :)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Marketing and video:
Nikki writes:
Just some thinking out of the box in regard to marketing DLV
on the website. The site in it's dialogs explains the mainstream
nature of DLV. Mainstream is a scary word to a lot of part time
girls out there. In the photo sections there are many great
pictures of DLVers having fun at various activities.
I think more photos of us actually mingling with the public or
with venders would be a great tool of encouragement. Perhaps
even having a photo section devoted to that.
Another thought is a video. An animated look at what goes on
at DLV.
Of course the I don't want to be seen rules would still apply.
I'll probably be filming myself in several locations around
Vegas next year as part of my personal "real world" series of
videos that I'm planning for YouTube.
Just some thoughts.
. . . . . . . . . .
Annie responds:
Thanks, Nikki.
As far as web site suggestions, I would ask you to please
"hold that thought" until we get back to the slow season
after DLV 2011. I'm not envisioning any additions or changes
to the web site (per se), except for minor updates, until DLV
2011 has concluded, simply due to the fact that all of us,
myself included, need to focus our "DLV Energy" on planning
and implementing the activities for the upcoming event.
We could do a section on the "Introduction" page showing the
interaction of our attendees with the general public if we
thing it would be a good thing. However, I do see positive
and negatives about something like this. Please be thinking
(you and everyone) about this.
As far as video, the only reason we don't have any video on
the site is that nobody has produced any. If you would like
to take on a project to produce one or a few brief videos
showing life at DLV, I'm sure it could be effectively used
to promote the event.
Comments on this (video), gang? Good idea?
One qualification, however -- and this goes to all of us,
myself included, not just you. All of us need to keep our
attention and energy focused on the activities for DLV 2011
as our first priority. Please don't take this the wrong way,
"Pet Projects" are a Good Thing<tm> and unquestionably benefit
the event, if we have the time and energy to do them in addition
to our fair share of activity coordination. I admit that I have
one pet project going on in the background with a hopeful roll-
out around the first of the year, but I've assured JoAnn and
Ginger and the others that my first priority will be doing
more than my fair share of the activities for 2011.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Beginner Open House and missing e-mail:
Sarona writes:
>Cynthia Phillips says you are trying to reach me, but this is
>the most recent email I have from you.
+Subject: [dlvorg] Programming, Ground Rules, Hospitality, etc. ...
+Date: Wednesday, November 3, 2010, 4:53 AM
>Am I missing some?
Yes, the ORG mailing which went out early morning on November
11. The system logs on our side show that Yahoo accepted it on
your behalf at 3:31am (CST) on the 11th.
We have been getting occasional reports of "black hole" e-mail
from Yahoo users. (I have a feeling that there's more of it
which has not been reported.) In one case a general mailing
(which does have the fingerprints of a bulk mailing) ended up
in the "spam" folder in error. Please check your "spam" folder
and see if it's there. In all reported cases (including yours)
we've been able to verify that Yahoo accepted the mail on the
user's behalf.
If it's not there, the direct link to the archived copy of
last week's ORG mailing is here:
http://www.geekbabe.com/annie/org11arc/0013.html
This year we've been dilligent about getting the ORG mailings
out on time, weekly with very few exceptions. The archives
are always on line here:
http://www.geekbabe.com/annie/org11arc/
If you don't get one on Wednesday, or Thursday at the very
latest, you can always check there to be sure.
>... currently I do not know if I will be in the USA or Asia
>in early April. I know I will be here / LasVegas for my
>anniversary in midMarch but we might 2nd honeymoon in ...
>Europe, Hawaii, Miami or someplace new
We certainly hope that your plans will include DLV for this
coming year! :)
Anyway ...
What we are curious about is getting some first-person feedback
on the three Beginner Open House sessions which you ran last
April. We have yet to hear any substantive feedback from anyone
who attended these as to how they went, did they serve their
intended purpose, and should they be repeated?
There's some discussion on this in last week's mailing as well.
Anything you can tell us about those sessions will be helpful.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Administrivia:
This is the Diva Las Vegas 2011 organizational list.
One address for all items regarding this list, additions, removals,
changes, submissions, questions, etc.:
dlvorg@geekbabe.com <--- NOTE: all lower case
Diva Las Vegas 2011
April 3 - 8, 2011
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Archives of this list appear on the web at:
http://www.geekbabe.com/annie/org11arc/
To unsubscribe: Simply reply to this message with the word UNSUBSCRIBE
in either the Subject: field or the first line of an OTHERWISE BLANK
message body. The word "unsubscribe" (case is insignificant) should be
the only item in the subject field or the first line of the message,
justified to the left.
To send material to this list: Send submission as regular e-mail to
the address: dlvorg@geekbabe.com
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.5 : Wed May 18 2011 - 06:36:26 CDT