1/7 Bi Net Meeting Notes

01-13-10

Hi all,

Finally got my notes compiled from last Thursday’s meeting. Present were Beau H., Jim and Vangie, Lividia, LaTisha and myself. Beau began the meeting by taking questions and explaining how the Bi Suite will work, and how to handle volunteers. A book club/reading from our favorite bi books was discussed.  I read from Lividia’s Bisexual’s Guide to the Universe, in particular the sections that told us what movies were must-see. Please forward this on to anyone who might care, and even those who don’t (yet). There are a couple people whose emails I don’t have, so I will copy/paste this into a facebook message, as well as post it on the CC10 section of articles on Bi Net.

Action items:

Jimbeau is in charge of creating a sign big enough to sit on an easel that will go outside the Bi Hospitality Suite, announcing our presence there. Can you also be our official photographer for while you are there?

Andi will make handbills and flyers with the dfwbi.net website/facebook, to be available and/or passed out at the conference. If you know of a special need/event, please let me know.

Renee will make sure there is an iPod/speakers and/or boombox in the room with ambient music for the three days of the conf.

Matt, please find out (and let us know) if Bi Net Usa will be bringing any swag (buttons, t-shirts, banners, handouts, whatever) with them to offer up in the suite. ALSO, has the dinner with BRC/BiNet Usa people been planned? If so, give us the deets, if the membership at large is invited, I mean.

Volunteering at CC10

Days that need to have the hospitality suite monitored: Thurs, Fri and Sat, 8am til 10pm. It is basically a hotel room that is not meant for lingering in, but for networking, grabbing a snack, passing through to say hi, get info about DFW and DFW Bi Net, and to meet and greet conference goers.The other suites include: People of Color, Transgender, Youth and Elderly. Some have gone to great length with decorations and the like, but Beau says that it’s not really necessary. The Youth Suite is generally the most popular and well-travelled.

As we find people to volunteer, make sure they do ALL of the following:

1) sign up online at the creatingchange.org website volunteer page;
2) are prepared to show up at the sheraton on Jan. 31 for a one-hour orientation between 12 and 6;
3) will give you a time commitment of no less than four hours total in volunteer hours for anything related to cc10, but in shifts of two hours at a time for the suite. If they can work 2 hours each day, great, but they need to be clear about their availability or the room will go unmonitored for that time;
4) give you their first and last name spelled correctly so Beau can make name tags for their free entry into the conference;
5) check the online pdf of the conference schedule so that they can work around workshops they plan to attend.
SEND ME NAMES of those who are interested in being there. They need the right nametag to attend for free.
Beau, did I miss anything?

Looks like the workshop schedule will change often between now and then; the schedule is currently online, but conferences are notorious for last-minute tweaks. Keep this in mind as you are considering your volunteer time. Two people per “shift” at a time is recommended.

Robyn has agreed to a get-together with DFW Bi Net folk on Wednesday, Feb. 3. I haven’t confirmed the date/time with her again since our first exchange. But I hope to hear back soon. An Indian restaurant near the hotel was poised for consideration, so I will ask Robyn first if she likes Indian food ok. If not, we’ll find a different place for dinner.

I hope to take off Thursday so that I can attend the bi institute. Anyone else doing the same? Is anyone getting a room at the Sheraton for any part of the conference? I haven’t yet, and didn’t think I would, but may do so since it starts so early. If I can still get a room, that is.

Here’s what I’ve read from the website about this Bi Institute:
Bisexual/Pansexual/Fluid Organizing Institute – Thurs, Feb. 7, 9a until 6p
(Allies are welcome! Help make your group/community more bi-friendly/inclusive.)

Spend a focused, fun, productive day with bi/pan/fluid leaders to learn how to grow bi and bi-friendly groups and communities at the local, regional and national levels. You’ll identify issues, brainstorm solutions to challenges, set goals, pinpoint strategies, develop media skills/campaigns and special projects, target funding, learn a little history (BiNet USA turns 20 and the Bisexual Resource Center is 25) and network with others. Plus it won’t all be work: we’re planning some playful socializing surprises in a supportive, safe environment. Yes, you can come out as bi, fluid, pansexual or bi-friendly! We’re especially eager to train younger activists, elders, people of color, and folks who don’t feel they “quite fit in” with other groups, queer or otherwise. Help plan and lead the next wave of bi activism!

Facilitators: Angel Fabian, Denise Penn, Ellyn Ruthstrom, Estraven, Faith Cheltenham, Gary North, Luigi Ferrer, Matt Goodman, Penelope Williams, and Robyn Ochs

Questions, comments, suggestions, holler back. CC10 is the big thing in the works right now. Once this is over, I think the following is on the books for discussion:

A name change, overhauling the website
An education series/working with the RCD library
Picnic in the spring
Get-together at Andi and Renee’s in March
Anythin else?

andi.reis@gmail.com