From: Diva Las Vegas organizers (dlvorg@geekbabe.com)
Date: Wed Nov 24 2010 - 08:22:36 CST
In this mailing:
Org List
JoAnn's Thoughts
Mexican Dining
Activity discussion
Hotel Scoreboard
Hotel Hostess Program
Hotel concern
Pet Projects
Jill Curtis
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 Thoughts:
It is really interesting to read the activity suggestions
you all are posting. Only by brainstorming, without judgment,
do we get fresh ideas. Love it!!! One more week and we move
on to Phase II-- Programming.
More Lodging suggestions? Please tell us why you like the
place. That really helps.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Mexican Dining:
Rosada writes:
I want to host an evening or late afternoon dinner at a Las
Vegas Mexican restaurant.
How soon should I start contacting some of the places I have
in mind to be the locale for our Mexican evening? Any advice
as to what else I need to ask other than time, date, location,
number of diners (would be unknown until later), how to pay,
menu items, bathroom facilities. Am I missing anything?
Do I need to wait until after January to start making
arrangements or is that too late?
Never done this so be easy on this "virgin". Let me know so
I can get started on this.
. . . . .
Annie responds:
Let me see if I can answer most if not all of your questions.
Sorry if this appears longer than you expected.
It's not too early to be thinking about things, or even
making some prelminary plans. You can be thinking about
possible timeslots, but it's a bit early to actually lock
in a day/time since we haven't finalized a strategy of
how our evenings will look like yet.
What I would first do is to think of the scale of the
dinner you wish to have. It could be as simple as a small
one-of-many-options "Eating Out Night" type of thing with
anywhere from a handful to 10-15 or so diners, or something
a bit larger such as a second-track option against a feature
activity, or a main-track option which would preceed a feature
activity (as we've done with Trevi prior to the Limo Tour),
running 20-40 or so diners, or even a large single-track dinner
to be used as part of our two major gatherings, in which case
you could expect as many as 100 or even more. For the larger
affairs, you'll always have a certain number of attendees
who will attend to socialize (and drink) but eat elsewhere.
As to how to pay, as you probably know, our people detest
prepayment, although in some cases we've done it. You
will get a better turnout if it's to be paid at the
activity and if a full menu (as opposed to a limited or
"party menu") is available. Separate checks are always
nice, and our people prefer them, but this is not always
available.
You'll also need to decide the degree of formality you
wish regarding a sign-up and/or headcount. This can be
anything from "no sign-up, just show up", to "sign-up
required, those not on list will be turned away" and
various other options such as "sign-up requested but
not required" and variations of that. We actually have
it down to giving you a fairly accurate headcount in
most all situations.
As to restroom arrangements, let me first quote chapter
and verse from our guidelines. The "Major Venue" guidelines
would apply for a larger gathering, and the "DLV Mainstream"
guidelines would be for a smaller affair in a mainstream
restaurant. I'm unaware of any Mexican restaurants in Las
Vegas which would qualify as a "Safe Venue", so I'm omitting
that part.
+Restroom Policy for Activity Organisers:
+2. Major Venue activities: In these situations the venue
+hosts should be advised of the type of group we are. No
+commitment to special arrangements should be made unless
+agreed in advance by the current DLV organising group.
+3. DLV Mainstream activities: Venue hosts should not be
+advised of the nature of our group and special arrangements
+should not be discussed.
These are, of course, guidelines or "best practices" and
not hard and fast mandates.
My personal advise is to not bring up the topic of restrooms
unless the venue staff does, and if they do, be polite but
firm in stating that we expect full and equal access to all
facilities. You can assure them that if anyone from our
group misuses a restroom they will be dealt with very firmly.
If the venue staff pushes back on this, it's probably best
to take the business elsewhere.
For those who are new to coordinating a dining activity I
often suggest a "minimalist" approach. Pick a venue and
pick a night when you know it will not be crowded. Then
either contact the venue staff and make a reservation or
even show up unnanounced. I prefer to split up the group
and use available tables, as opposed to insisting on one
long specially-arranged table and the wait staff almost
always appreciates that.
I've found that when you phone or stop in and say that
you'll have 15-20 showing up, they start talking about
such things as deposits and mandatory gratuities, even
limited menus, but if you just show up cold and use
available tables, they will be more than happy to serve
you with little formality.
Of course any larger affair will need to be arranged for
with some necessary degrees of structure and formality.
Anyway, it's your baby, and you'll need to think about
the scale and scope of what you want to do.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Activity discussion:
Kimberly Kael writes:
>These sound like they would be fun additions to the list of
>activities to do in 2011.
>* Dinner at a true Mexican restaurant
I'm positive this would be a popular choice, and there are
some great options.
>* Fashion advise
I think this is a great idea if we can get someone with
professional rather than merely personal experience. What
works for one person won't work for someone else, after all,
but we could all use a little insight having not had those
teenage years of experimentation to learn from. Has anyone
had good experience with a professional service or anything
of the sort that would fit the bill?
>* Hoover Dam tour
I've definitely wished for this one in prior years. It would
be fascinating but if I remember correctly there are some
logistical challenges reported by someone who tried to organize
it in a prior year. I can't seem to find the message in
question, though. Does that ring a bell for anyone?
>* Bowling
I had originally thought this might be tricky but after a
bowling night out with a group of lesbians at a conference
this year I can report that it was a ton of fun and that
bowling in a dress with fairly long natural nails was actually
surprisingly practical.
. . . . . . . . . .
IIRC the issue with the Hoover Dam Tour was that whoever was
thinking of doing it was trying to combine it with the Lake
Mead Boat Tour and the whole thing started to get unmanageable.
It's too bad that we're not able to have our previous Dam Good
Tour like we had from 1998 thru 2001.
As for bowling, it did happen once at Sam's Town. It was going
to happen again but there was some kind of an issue regarding
the size of deposit they asked for in order to hold lanes for
that particular date/time.
Either of the above would be very possible and would both be
relatively low-maintenance activities for anyone who wanted
to coordinate them.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Hotel Scoreboard:
One particular note, if you're submitting a nomination for a
hotel, please state words to the effect of "I nominate" very
explicitly. Otherwise it's difficult to tell if you intend
to nominate the hotel or simply intend to discuss it.
This list will be ongoing as we select our suggested hotels.
(In order of nomination.)
Imperial Palace: Nominated, seconded.
Paris: Nominated, seconded.
Harrah's: Nominated, seconded.
Rio: Nominated, pending second.
MGM Grand: Nominated, pending second.
. . . . . . . . . .
We're now in the last full week of November. Let's keep the
floor open for one more list cycle for hotel nominations and
one cycle after that for seconds and any remaining hotel
discussion. In two weeks, we will vote.
As with last year, we'll be limiting the hotel selection
process this year to one and only round, so if you have a
hotel in mind which is not on the list above, please nominate
it ASAP. Fans of other hotels (such as the Sahara) who have
been silent so far, please get the nominations in. The clock
is ticking! :)
. . . . .
Katie writes:
I second the nominations of 1 and 2. I have stayed at both and
never had a problem.
I would like to ad the Rio and Harrahs to the mix I have also
stayed at both with no problems, They are both nice clean places
with easy parking and early morning coffee shops.
. . . . .
Vanessa writes:
I stayed at the MGM Grand dressed twice in 2010... once for
Diva Las Vegas and once for a dressing weekend...staff was
great, many restaurants, shopping and shows and room rates
at $90/night for standard rooms.... easy valet vehicle pick
up/drop off and located right on the intersection with Tropicana,
NY-NY, and Excalibur with walkways across the main streets right
in the hotel... monorail station in the hotel and great pool and
spa area.
I would recommend MGM Grand for Diva Las Vegas.
Annie responds:
We're assuming that you intend to nominate the MGM Grand as a
suggested hotel for DLV 2011. If this is not the case, please
let us know.
. . . . .
Annie writes:
I will second the nomination of Harrah's.
. . . . .
Kimberly Kael writes:
>2. Paris. Why? It's avowedly GLBT-friendly, we've had a good
Yes, you can always count on me to second the Paris: I hereby
second the nomination. I've stayed there three years and think
it's a great facility, location, and have never had any problems
with the staff. On the contrary, they've been helpful and
respectful about my appearance during each and every visit.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Hotel Hostess Program:
JoAnn and I (Annie) have been discussing the Hotel Hostess
Program, and we have some thoughts on this ...
(from a conversation ...)
j>I suggest that we consider a Hotel Hostess Program that is
j>"flat" in its organization. By that I mean, each site has
j>its "team leader" and makes its own success or not in the
j>'here and now'
a>That would work.
j>By that I would mean that there is no higher level of
j>organization/authority than the "team at the site"
j>with its volunteer leader.
a>True, the Hotel Hostesses would then answer directly to ORG
a>instead of going through an overall lead.
j>Thus, I suggest that we be watchful and avoid hierarchy!
j>[aka "convention vs. vacation"]!
a>Understood. very true and good point!
j>Maybe have a limited number of hotels getting a "hostess"??
j>would be 'ok'*
a>A way to do this is to simply say that hotels which have a
a>volunteer lead Hostess (by January) will have the service
a>available for 2011 and those which do not, do not.
j>Yes, if not having at least three hotels in the program we
j>revisit in 2012!
a>If the Hotel Hostess Program is to be meaningful, I do agree
a>that we need a certain minimum level of coverage, and three
a>is most likely a good threshold for said level.
We're in agreement that if we have the Hotel Hostess Program
this coming year, it needs to be of a certain minimum level
of quality to be meaningful, and that requires a certain
in-advance showing of commitment from the volunteer force.
We realize that due to real-world situations, it may not be
possible to have coverage at all of our suggested hotels, but
that a meaningful Hotel Hostess Program will have an appearance
at a certain minimum number of our suggested hotels.
Another factor to consider is the date at which newcomer
registration opens, so that those who will most benefit from
a Hotel Hostess will know a the time they register that a
Hostess will or will not be available at the hotel they select.
Due to our earlier DLV date, newcomer registration may open as
early as the second week in January this year.
So, what we would like to do is go forward with the Hotel
Hostess program, conditionally, modifying it just a bit from
last year, with a definite go/no-go trigger date of the first
of the year.
We would like to establish the following for this year's
Hotel Hostess Program:
1. Each of our suggested hotels will have a volunteer Lead
Hostess who will be responsible for that hotel's daily gathering.
The Lead Hostess will be encouraged to seek assistance from
others staying in that hotel in order to equitibly share the
load.
2. We'll go forward with the Hotel Hostess Program if we have
Lead Hostess volunteers for at least three of our suggested
hotels by the first of the year. Should this level not be
reached, we'll table the Hotel Hostess Program for 2011 and
re-visit the concept for DLV 2012.
3. To assure maximum participation, we will encourage all Lead
Hostesses to select day(s) and time(s) for the daily gatherings
in advance so they can be included on the final DLV schedule.
(Cut-off for the schedule is approximately one week prior to
DLV.)
As of this writing we don't know what our hotels will be, but
in just a few weeks we will. At that time we'll be calling for
volunteers to take the lead for each hotel. If you are one who
wishes to support the Hotel Hostess Program, please watch for
this call for volunteers shortly after our suggested hotel
selections are solid.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Hotel concern:
Katie writes:
>Another suggestion to go along with the hostess program is to
>have a hotel staff member also present during the first meeting
I can appreciate what the suggester is trying to get at here
which is Hotel buy in to our way of thinking but I don't think
this is a good idea at all. The Hotel staff like any hotel
anywhere should not be included in our planning. In a Convention
yes Definitely they would need to know who we are but not with
an event like this.
>... the hotel's policy ... regarding restrooms. I would suggest
>that you think long and hard before taking that particular can
>in the direction of the can opener!
We had bad Issues with the Boardwalk once and it ruined some
peoples vacation. I agree with Annie. Open this can of active
worms and they will just leap right out at you. It only takes
one Hotel official in an important role to spoil something
like this and Remember you are staying there all week long
and have to live with whatever decision they arrive at.
Under the radar Girls. That way success is in Our hands and
not theirs.
Hope this doesn't offend.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Pet Projects:
Chantel writes:
Hi Everyone,
Last year, I had some scary moments and some very memorable times at
DLV. I hope to return this year if time and resources permit.
I know the first priority of the organizers is to organizing next years
event, but I couldn't help thinking about the category of "pet projects.
Since this is the year of volunteering and "giving back," I want to
throw some ideas out there. Would DVL as a group be interested in any of
the following:
1. Giving to homeless shelter that serve transgender
2. Donating to GLBT resource center in Las Vegas
3. Giving a scholarship to transgender youth or college student
There is a lot of energy that goes into putting on the DLV and I know
everyone time is valuable, I would volunteer to do some research and
present it to the group for a vote or we can put it on the back burner
for another time. Any thoughts or suggestions?
. . . . .
Thanks, Chantel. JoAnn will be responding to this in a
subsequent mailing.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Jill Curtis:
Moderator's note: A response to this item will be coming in a
subsequent mailing.
. . . . .
Rosada writes:
As you can see from the emails below I have been in touch with Jill
Curtis, widow of the late Hollywood Legend Tony Curtis. We saw her and
Tony last year when I hosted the Tony Curtis Book signing event at one
of the Las Vegas Libraries. Eydie and I were there, along with several
other Diva gals, but we didn't get a chance to meet them personally to
approach her with the idea that I presented her with in my first email.
And frankly, I had put it out of my mind until it resurfaced the other
day when I heard about a local horse rescue group.
I would love to work with Jill to get our girls involved in raising
money for her Shiloh Horse Rescue Operation. What do you think. It's
just an idea right now and I told her I would need to hear from you all.
So, can you see about putting it up for a vote and see who would be
willing to participate in this venture. I'll stop here and see what
happens next.
. . . . .
Jill Curtis writes:
>Hi Rosada-
>I think that sounds wonderful! I would love to do that and I know Tony
>would have liked it as well. :o) It sounds like lots of fun, thank you
>so much for thinking about me and the Shiloh Horses...
>What do we need to do next?
>Jill Curtis
. . . . .
Rosada's original message, slight edit:
>>Dear Mrs. Curtis,
>First of all, I want to convey my deepest condolences for the passing
of Mr. Tony Curtis this last September. I was among the crowd who
honored your husband at the Las Vegas Library last April when he was
promoting his book and talked extensively about your Shiloh Horse
Sanctuary. We couldn't stay till the very end unfortunately because of
our schedule but we were able to stay through most of the video showing
the highlights of his extensive film career illuminating all those great
roles he portrayed on film. My favorite of all his movies though has to
be "Some Like It Hot", and I'll explain to you you why in the next
paragraph. But before I do, I want to share with you an idea that I and
the other gal, named Eydie that attended the Las Vegas function with me
that day.
We thought how it would be nice if we held a Shiloh-sanctioned fashion
show in honor of Tony Curtis, and donated the proceeds to your horse
rescue operation. We thought we could, with the blessing of the powers
that be, call it the "Some Like It Hot" Fashion Show. Now, I'd like to
explain who I am, and tell you about the group i'm with, and why the
movie "Some Like It Hot" is my favorite Tony Curtis movie.
.. I'm with a group, a rather large one, of transgendered and cross-
dressing folk, that meets in Las Vegas for their yearly vacation known
as Diva Las Vegas. You can find us on the internet under Diva Las Vegas
- It's A Vacation, Not A Convention. It will explain all about the Diva
group. It was at Diva Las Vegas 2010 that I was hostess for our group
that attended the Tony Curtis book signing event at the Las Vegas
Library in April of 2010. While we were watching you and Tony, and
listening to you talk about his movies, his life, and Shiloh, I am there
sitting with my partner and another gal from the group, and we looked at
each other and thought wouldn't be nice if we could help in some way,
perhaps by doing a fashion show with some of our gals modeling some of
the fashions from various beginner designers from the Las Vegas area.
This would be a win-win for Shiloh, the local designers in Las Vegas
that wished to participate, and for us because news of the fashion show
would bring us positive exposure. If we could not get local designers,
then perhaps we could get local stores, i.e. Macy's, J.C. Penney's, etc
to lend some outfits that our gals could model for the fashion show.
Again, it would be win-win for all of us.
If this is something you would like to explore further, now or perhaps
at a later date please let me know. Our next Diva Las Vegas Vacation is
next April. I appreciate any thought you may have on this matter, and if
you aren't interested, I will truly understand.
P.S. I'm attaching a photo of me and Eydie at the Tony Curtis Book
Signing last April in Las Vegas. I'm the on the right.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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