From Friday evening through Sunday, October 8-10, we will have a program that you will both enjoy and remember.

The conference officially begins with our social-mixer at the Embassy Suites Hotel with Polynesian-Hawaiian entertainment hosted by James Kent in a exciting show of comedy and dance.

You may pick up your registration packet from noon until 6 PM on Friday. The Mixer will begin at 7:00 PM with light snacks while you greet old friends and make new acquatinances. The entertainment will last until 9:00 PM.

Saturday morning begins with a special breakfast in the Atrium, followed at 8:45 AM in the main ball room with announcements and introduction of our morning speaker at 9:00 AM. Honey Ward will be speaking and encouraging us to unfurl our own personal banners with a talk you will not want to miss.

Following our general opening session will be four separate workshops of interest to chose from:

1. Presentation regarding legal rights of gays and lesbians
2. Session with a Family Fellowship member, and family
3. Coming Out issues with Honey Ward and Kelli Peterson. They will be offering positive ways of communicating with family and friends the obstacles each person has had at one time or another.
4. This session is being reserved for those who want to meet in small groups to discuss the opening session with one another.

1. For the women: a session that I think you will find of particular interest and have meaning in your life on "Embracing your Spiritual and Sexual Self." This will be facilitated by a much respected therapist in the Reno area, Dr. Nancy Lee.
2. For the men, we have a well known psychiatrist from the area, Dr. Ed Lyon who will offer a presentation on "What you might have always wanted to ask your shrink, and couldn't!"
3. During this same time period there is a session dedicated to the Young Adults for their special interest and activities.

1. The women will have another session relating to Womyn's Issues with Cathylee Crandell
2. Session on living singly
3. Couples workshop

We have tried to arrange the schedule so as to allow as much free time as possible in the afternoons and late evenings for those who want to visit the various clubs and shows that are available. Afternoons you can enjoy the lake with a bicycle ride, a tour around the lake, hiking trails are nearby, gambling or just simply resting on Saturday for the gala entertainment and banquet.

I understand that Imelda and her friends are going to try very hard to put in an appearance. Our finale to the evening will be our after dinner speakers, Kelli Peterson and Col. Grethe Cammermeyer giving us food for thought to blend and tie in with the days activities. It will be a full, event-filled day which I am sure everyone will find something of interest.

The rest of the evening will be dancing in the cozy, smoke free hotel bar complete with DJ, or entertainment and dancing at other attractions which are within walking distance.

Sunday is another full and exciting day. Following a wonderful breakfast, we load on the buses to the boat loading area for our cruise of beautiful Lake Tahoe where we will also enjoy lunch. Then we will return to the hotel for a concert with Bing Young and Karin Randle, two talented professionals whom I am sure you will enjoy. A very special "Sunday gathering" has been planned for the conference end, with a sundown vigil march from the hotel to the lake (.5 mile). Other groups from the area will share this activity for victims of violence. Speakers will address us at the lake from various state legislative bodies regarding the need for and what we might do to see that each state introduces bills to enable protection and more rights for the gay community.

It's a full two days and a half planned for your enjoyment and enlightenment.

I need to mention once more the importance of getting your reservations made at the hotel and your reservations in for the conference. The deadline for taking advantage of early registration is September 1st. Time is passing quickly, don't let it catch you unprepared for a great weekend celebrating our 21st Annual International conference.

Call 1 800/988-9850 or 1 800/988-9820 for your hotel soon in order to get your special Affirmation Rates.

Tell your friends and bring your family for a great vacation. Hope to see you all in October!

Colley