On another note, it takes work to put on one of our meetings. The church must be set up prior to the meeting, a meal must be provided, a program scheduled, supplies purchased, a newsletter written to inform everyone of what is happening in the chapter, meeting fees collected, bills paid, cleanup after the meeting, etc. The list goes on, but the point is that only a few people participate in this. I know it doesn’t sound like much fun, but it is essential to the success of our group. The comradery and unity that occurs during this work time allows for new ideas and the sisterhood we all value. Your help is badly needed. All of the work should never fall to a select few. All aspects of the meetings should be shared equally so that all of the members experience. both the work and the play. Take on a job you haven’t had be-fore. Volunteer to come a bit early and set up tables, hang curtains, or make the coffee. Please keep in mind, you can be reimbursed for any food expenses. Just save your receipt and give to the treasurer. At the next meeting, you will have the opportunity to sign up for a job you choose. if everyone participates, you will only have to help out once or twice a year. In each newsletter, the list of volunteers will be published as a reminder. Thank you in advance for your cooperation and willingness to help out.

Diane Brennan

Back to Table of Contents

Membership in Tri-Ess and in a local chapter, go hand in hand. You can be a member of Tri-Ess without belonging to a local chapter, but you cannot belong to a local chapter without also belonging to Tri-Ess. It’s simply part of belonging to a national organization.

When I started seeking support for my crossdressing I contacted two Cleveland area groups. The first group to respond to my cry for help is a local organization. It is an open group that has no national presence. The next evening, a member of Alpha Omega contacted me. Alpha Omega is a closed group and part on a national organization. I chose Alpha Omega. A few weeks later, while discussing my crossdressing with my Mother, she asked about ‘this group’ to which I belonged. I told her all about AO. Hearing that it was a single chapter of a much larger, national organization made her feel that it wasn’t some little group of strange people, which I am sure she was initially thinking. The fact that AO is part of a national organization adds credibility to our group. As a member of that organization, it added credibility to me.

There are a lot of little groups out there. They come and they go. Tri-Ess has been around for a long time now. As a national organization of over 1300 members it has the power to stay around for a lot longer.

Most, if not all, of us have felt like we were the only ones that had these feelings about crossdressing. Then we locate a group and find out that there are 20 or 30 others like us. Some of us find TriEss and find out that there are thousands like us.

As crossdressers, we are trying to integrate our lifestyles into the rest of society, a group of billions. Why work from a group of 20 or 30 CDs when we can work from a growing national organization that today has a base of over a thousand and continues to grow. Tri-Ess in a non-profit organization and no one makes any money in this. In fact the Tri-Ess Board pays for all of their own travel and lodging. Presently, the dues received from members fall short of covering the costs of everything that Tri-ess does for us. Tri-Ess sponsors many programs and performs outreach all over the country. Some of their funds go to chapters to assist chapters in outreach. Some goes to start new chapters. Some goes to sponsor booths at conventions of social service organizations. The list goes on and on. Tri-Ess provides much needed support to CDs all over the country and much of it goes unnoticed and certainly, without thanks. Some of it is invisible, like credibility.

According to our constitution, to be a member of Alpha Omega, you must also be a member of Tri-Ess International. And if you don’t, remember, a chapter of Tri-Ess is, by definition, a local gathering of Tri-Ess members. if you haven’t joined Tri-Ess already, or if you have let your membership slip, please, fill out one of the TriEss applications at the next local chapter meeting. It can do more good than you will ever know.

Huggers

Lisa Ann

Back to Table of Contents

NOTE: None of the web addresses below is correct.  Please find them in our National Resources section or Via the Triess National Website.(August 2002)

Cheryl

This month I thought I would enclose the letter that I send to SO’s new to Triess as a reminder of just what is out there for us all:

"Dear