I introduced myself , and I listened to the things that were said, considered all the things that were not, and became aware of so many things that you could not have put words to. I looked into her eyes and his, and I knew the pain and felt the sorrow. There was no escaping from it.

After I saw my other patient that night in the intensive care unit, we had time to just sit, to talk, to listen,and to share. I held her, and we cried together. I wiped her tears, and we shared that special moment. She told me of their meeting 38 years ago. How he loved working with wood, and how she was always busy raising the kids. She said they had looked forward to being retired, and she described all their plans. The had planned a trip to Hawaii in August, and now no matter what she was not going to cancel it. "Because he will be there," she said softly. She knew he probably would not, but she wanted that so badly. We talked; she shared some funny times; and we even had some small laughs.

I was given this gift, as I have been given it so many countless times in my life. It is a very humbling experience,and it is experienced all over the world, in every hospital, every day by multitudes of nurses. The gift we have been given, is the reminder that we have just so much time, to share, and to make things right, and that the trivia in life is just that. So please benefit from this gift. Carry love and this gift to everyone at all times, because you touch so many lives and you matter more than you know.

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By Heather

On March 31st of this year I had the great honor to be invited to SMYAL. This is a non-profit, public and privately funded, organization located in Washington D.C. The organization serves gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, transgendered and questioning youth between the ages of 13 - 21. The organization was founded in 1984 and has become a well respected, community based organization.

I was introduced to SMYAL through my girlfriend, Laura. She had gained a knowledge of SMYAL through her association with TGEA (I am also a member of this organization). The Associate Director of SMYAL had contacted TGEA and informed them that his population of transgendered youth was growing to such an extent that he felt he was in need of transgendered adults to provide proper counseling and guidance for these youth. He had requested two volunteers to fulfill this mission.

On the 31st of March we were asked to come to SMYAL for an orientation and perhaps a meeting with one of the groups. We arrived at 2:00 PM and spent the next several hours introducing ourselves and being introduced to the staff of SMYAL. Besides Laura and myself, a third adult counselor candidate, Thomas (F to M) was also present. I was impressed to find that the staff included a licensed clinical psychologist, and several counselors holding advanced degrees in psychology along with several interns (graduate students from several local universities).

The meeting ended at approximately 4:30 PM. We then took a tour of the facilities. SMYAL is located in a free standing house on 7the street, SE. They have a fully equipped computer room, a group meeting room, and several rooms devoted to one-on-one counseling sessions.

At 5:00 PM we were invited to stay and participate in the group session that was to take place. About 15 youths attended this group session. The youth in attendance were all gay or lesbian (the transgendered group was not scheduled for that evening). The youth were predominately black, inner city , and disadvantaged.

We introduced ourselves to the group and were informed by the Associate Director that we were to be the topic of the nights discussion!

We discovered very quickly that despite their cultural disadvantages...these kids were bright!. They asked some very deep and probing questions covering all aspects of transgenderism from work and family relations, "coming out", hormones, and descriptions of our personal journeys into the transgendered community. The hour session quickly went over time and the director had to cut our meeting short. Many of the youth still had several questions that they wanted to ask!

The feedback from the meeting was immediate. Many of the youth came up to us after the meeting and told us that before talking to us they considered us "weirdo's", "freaks" or "sexual deviates"...but now they can see that we're just regular people (and except for the fact that we crossdress, we're really not very exciting people).

Their post-discussion observations of who and what we are was heartwarming. If served as first hand confirmation that, at least for this group, we had been successful in breaking down the stereotypical view of us that is held by much of the public at large. It is hoped that when this group of youth return to their schools or to their work, they will tell their peers of their encounter and thereby spread the word of our "normalcy" to additional members of the population.

Since the initial meeting detailed above, I have been invited to return to SMYAL on May 5th. At this meeting we will meet with the transgendered group and set up a schedual for weekly or periodic counseling sessions with the group.

While I do not offer my time and services to SMYAL as a direct representative of Tri-Ess, it is in my heart always. I conduct myself as a professional and maintain standards that are consistant with the principals that Tr-Ess has instilled in me. The message that I hope is contained in the above narrative is that: "WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERECE". We must become involved to educate the general public that we are not freaks of society. We are just hard working, honest, everyday people that happen to have a "hobby" that is somewhat unusual.

BE INVOLVED!

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by

Jessica Frances

Two weeks age, I found myself in the hospital. A team of people rolled me into the examining room and started to work. IV lines were attached, monitors brought up and the sound of the famous little beep, beep, beep filled the room. There were so many pairs of hands working on me that I lost track of what order my clothing was coming off. However, I can definitely remember a tugging at my feet.

"Oh no, I thought, not my socks-please don’t remove my socks".

"Too late, they’re off. Oh well, I’m busted".

A cardiac nurse starred at my feet.

"Hey, Marci, come here-look at this."

Marci walks over, look down and says: "Wow."

Two other technicians join the group and comment in a likewise manner.

The cat is out of the bag. There, for the whole world to see are ten little sculpted, manicured piggies wearing my famous Yves Rocher "Cranberry" nail polish. Of course, in my own defense, I will tell you that I would never do such a thing. Jessica, on the other hand, is not above such carryings-on.

Anyway, all is well; I am back on the active duty list. The next day, I am having breakfast and the very same nurse walks up to my bed grinning like, well, you know…brushes the hair off my forehead and says:

"How ya doing, cute stuff?"

"Oh, fine" I say. "How about you?"

"Oh, I’m good," she says. "I’d like to talk about your nail polish."

"Oh yikes" I reply, "Am I in trouble with the hospital?"

"Oh no, not a bit". We only wanted to know what color and brand it was and where you got it."

"Oh, it’s called Cranberry and it’s from Yves Rocher."

"I knew it," she said, "I told the others that that was no drug store stuff. You have very good taste. Anyway, don’t worry-you’re secret is safe. We removed it last night while you were sleeping. No one saw it but us."

"Thanks," I said, "you’re a pal."

"No problem," she said.

Today, as I worked at my computer at home, the Fed-X truck rolled up. As I signed for the small package, I didn’t recognize the return name or address. I opened it and saw a small tube of lipstick from Yves Rocher along with a note saying:

"Hey, cutie, we got you the matching lipstick. Love, the girls from cardiac."

Thousands of hugs,

Jessica Frances

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By

Lucy Stone

When Chi Epsilon Sigma (CES) was formed in 1997, no Tri Ess chapters existed on the East Coast between New Jersey and North Carolina. Being located in Baltimore, CES provided easy access for Tri Ess members living in the Washington/Baltimore metropolitan area, but for those of us living in southeastern Virginia, it was a four-hour drive, which was about the same distance to another chapter in North Carolina. From the very beginning, CES encouraged members living in locations remote from Baltimore to start new chapters.

The formation of Rho Tau resulted from the combination of CES encouragement and the desire of several of us living in the Richmond/Tidewater area who wanted a chapter closer to home. In 1998, we started the process of organizing a chapter in our geographic area, using the approach that was used so successfully to establish Chi Epsilon Sigma in Baltimore. By May 1,1999, we had identified a sufficient number of potential members to hold our chapter-forming meeting on in Williamsburg, VA. Nineteen potential members were present. At this meeting, Rho Tau was selected as the chapter name, officer selection was initiated, and plans for preparing the chapter charter were initiated. In June, we completed chapter organization, and our bylaws were submitted to the National Director of Tri Ess. Early in July, we received our charter, and we have been off and running.

What have we accomplished as a chapter so far? We have:

• more than doubled our number of members while maintaining a 100% participation in Tri Ess
• always welcomed wives/SOs who full chapter members and participate in all chapter activities
• evolved a unique self-support system for partners and CDs by partners and CDs
• developed, in partnership with Tri Ess, the Transgender ID program to make available Transgender IDs to all Tri Ess chapters with the proceeds being shared by Tri Ess and Rho Tau to outreach programs
• instituted a program to place books in public libraries in the Richmond Tidewater area
• instituted a fellowship program to help members attend annual S.P.I.C.E. conferences
• proposed to and were accepted by the S.P.I.C.E. Board of Directors to host the S.P.I.C.E. 2001 Conference in Richmond, VA

For our efforts, the Tri Ess Board of Directors designated Rho Tau as:

• a Tri Ess Commended Chapter in1999
• a Tri Ess Flagship Chapter in 2000

As we celebrate our second birthday, members of Rho Tau are proud of our accomplishments, and we say thank you to Jane and Mary Fairfax, the other directors of Tri Ess and our CES sisters who provided the guidance, encouragement and advice that helped make it possible.

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Call to Order

Lucy Stone called the meeting to order at at 7:00PM after a potluck dinner

Welcome to new Members

Donna

Program Speaker:

Chapter President Lucy Stone made a motion to establish two fellowships to cover registration at  S.P.I.C.E. 2001 with the required funding, $376 coming from the Rho Tau Treasury.  The motion was seconded by Robyn, and approved unanimously by voice vote.  Further information will be supplied to all Rho Tau members via email.


Announcements:
Heather Sinclaire mentioned several political action groups that are seeking people to volunteer their time to further the cause of transgender rights.

Adjournment:

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at
8:30 pm


Respectfully submitted,

Jessica Frances (acting on behalf of Secretary Bobbi Jean)


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