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   The Yankee Belle  
May 2002 	Tau Sigma Nu Epsilon Chapter	Volume 3, Number 5
a Flagship Chapter of Tri-Ess International
P.0. Box 7681, Nashua, NH 03060-7681
http://www.geocities.com/tri_ess_ne/

Marcia Gray, Chairperson
marciag52@hotmail.com
Joy G., Newsletter Editor
joyg51@hotmail.com




CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Saturday, May 4, 2002
SO LUNCHEON
ROM Restaurant
Route 131
Sturbridge, MA

Saturday, May 11, 2002
3:30PM - Board Meeting
4:00PM - General Meeting

Saturday, June 8, 2002
3:30PM - Board Meeting
4:00PM - General Meeting

SPICE X CONFERENCE
Richmond Virginia
July 10, 2002 through July 14, 2002

Saturday, July 13, 2002
4:00PM - General Meeting

Saturday, August 10, 2002
3:30PM - Board Meeting
4:00PM - General Meeting

En Homme FAMILY PICNIC
Saturday August 24, 2002
Dave's and Vicki's
Manchester, N.H.
NOON til ????

Saturday, September 14, 2002
3:30PM - Board Meeting
4:00PM - General Meeting

Saturday, October 12, 2002
3:30PM - Board Meeting
4:00PM - General Meeting
TAG SALE


HOLIDAY EN FEMME
November 6 - November 10, 2002
New Jersey

Saturday, November 9, 2002
3:30PM - Board Meeting
4:00PM - General Meeting

Saturday December 11, 2002
HOLIDAY PARTY


CHAIRING MY THOUGHTS

STATE OF THE CHAPTER

Okay, I realize it's traditional for the President to do the State of the Union address in January, even the year in which he has just been sworn into office.  Well, in case you hadn't noticed, I'm not the President (and to avoid any political controversy I'll leave it at that...although we have all heard the stories about Bush and a certain cheerleader outfit when he was at Yale).  Anyway, I thought this would be a good time to review where we are and where I see us headed.

To begin, let me thank all of you for your support, caring and assistance.  Whether or not you like how I have performed as Chair, you have all acted for the best interests of Tri-Ess New England and that's the bottom line.  Now in our third year, many of the bumps in the road have been smoothed out and for that I am grateful to the efforts of my predecessors, Gerri and Kim.  But they, like me, didn't do it all on their own.  They needed your efforts and you responded magnificently.

Membership continues to increase.  Again, this is a reflection of you folks.  We are an organization that people want to join.  The organization is a dynamic being, growing, changing, adapting all the time and is a reflection of the membership.  That we continue to grow indicates a vitality and health and it is a pleasure to be a part of it.  As we continue to grow, we will, at some point, reach a point where it becomes reasonable and a good idea to create additional regional chapters.  How these will interact with TENE is beyond my ability to foresee.  But we are fortunate to have Tri-Ess International's Director for Chapter Development as one of our founding members (Gerri Buchanan for those of you who may not know).

I believe we are one of the model chapters for an S.O. group.  Based on what I have observed and heard at S.P.I.C.E., our ladies are among the finest group, if not THE finest, of S.O.s in the organization.  I cannot imagine how different (and less fun) this chapter would be without their input and participation.  The chair recognizes and salutes you.

Speaking of S.P.I.C.E., hey gang, we're it in 2003.  I know that there's a tremendous amount of work that needs to be done but I know that it will be done.  Why?  Well, for one thing, Joy is chairing it.  I've watched her for years organize and plan and believe me, she's the best.  I know that S.P.I.C.E. 2003 will be a success because I also know the people who will be helping her.  After the events (which I will not document here) leading 


to this year's S.P.I.C.E., we have the opportunity to really show how it's done.

The new TENE science fiction group is another example of the vitality in this chapter.  It's an indication that we are growing and adapting to include new interests.  More important, it shows that the membership enjoys interacting with each other on a basis apart from our common reason for being here.  I look forward to seeing this group grow and thrive.  Do I sound optimistic?  You bet I do.
Marcia


Highlights of the Last Meeting

The meeting was called to order at 4:00PM on Saturday, April 13, 2002.  Everyone in the circle introduced themselves.  Several 2002 Executive Committee members were present.  S.P.I.C.E. planning continues and sign up sheets were circulated asking for volunteers to work on committees.  [See Joy's SPICE Rack.]  Reminders were made regarding membership renewals.  Val spoke about the SO's Luncheon coming up May 4th in Sturbridge MA.  Gerri asked members who did not receive the Newsletter by e-mail to let him know so that he can correct his group list.  Gerri also shared a thank you from the church pantry for our donations as well as upcoming TG events with the membership.  SOs met separately while the CDs talked about S.P.I.C.E. and how it normalizes many SOs fears and concerns.  Discussion groups were followed by a feast of various Italian dishes.  The group adjourned and several members went on to party at Friend's Landing.

Tri Ess N.E. Monthly Meeting

Saturday, May 11, 2002





The doors should be unlocked and access to the church hall available at 3:00PM.  There are rest rooms available in which to change.

The Executive Committee meeting will start promptly at 3:30PM.  (Unless, of course, we get stuck in traffic somewhere between here and there.)  The general membership meeting will begin around 4:00PM.  We are hoping that Avalon will be making a presentation on skin care and make up techniques.

This month dinner will be
  
         
We are asking members to bring sandwich meats and cheeses, various salads and slaws, rolls, beverages, desserts, etc.  Please post what you will be bringing on the e-group so that we can be sure there is something of everything.

Dinner will be followed by clean up.  The meeting will be over by 8:00PM.



PLAYGIRL

This "Title" from most everyone's perception, is a term probably originated by Hugh Heffner, and intended to identify females that are sexually playful.  The "Playgirl" Magazines were published with the intent of exciting these females through the stimulating articles and photos of well-built and endowed male models. 
There are many other avenues that a person's mind can explore when they concentrate on the variety of definitions and the connotations of the two words, "Play" and "Girl"
"Play"- Children are always engaging in varied activities that are labeled "Play".  Play House, play Mommy, play Daddy, play Doctor, play school and play cars and trucks to name a few.  At different ages their activities change in many ways, but terms like play House and play Doctor still serve as an adequate descriptive label for many of these activities. 
"Girl"-Has the ability to correctly categorize many different phases of female lifestyle; baby girl, pre-teen girl, high school girl, dancing girl, and call girl for a few.
The term "Play Girl" as I relate to it, suggests that I step out of my male persona and play at being a "Girl".  What a delightful suggestion! ! !  It does infer that it is not a permanent action, just a playtime activity, and when the allotted time is up you MUST return to your regular lifestyle.
"Play Girl"- can be an order or a desire, but I'll bet that everyone who signs their e-mail post and adds the letters "CD" after the femme name, has wanted to have it both ways.
I am a "Playgirl"! I like to play "Girl". I would, under some situation, even like to be a "Working Girl", like secretary, nurse, etc.
Living in a rural NH town, the same town for my whole life, I have become notorious, known by almost everyone.  They know my vehicles, friends, patterns, and habits.  The desire to "Play" strikes everyone no matter what age or environment, and what do you do about it?
The "Play Girl" manages to find a few secluded moments inside the house when there is no one else at home.  Or he/she takes an outfit outside after dark, changes clothes in or behind the woodshed, the fence, or the hedge, and cautiously walks around the property, or ventures out along the rural road.  He/she is hoping that there is no one else out there walking in the moonlight, and also hoping that no one hears the sounds made by the "Heels" while walking along the paved road.
The nights with a clear sky and a nearly full moon are few, factoring in the temperatures out there, you can change that to a VERY few.  Now add in free time to engage in "Play Girl" activities, and the courage to become a "Play Girl", and you are down to single numbers.  Out of the total of 365 days in a year, you can't break it down small enough to set a percentage of the days when you can vent some of that desire to play "Girl"
You discover a group of "Play Girls", you join, they meet once a month, add twelve to the number of times that you get to "Play", and now you are close to a figure of about 1/2 of 1% of your year is spent as "Play Girl" time.  Venture out for an "Enfemme" weekend affair, and spend EVERY minute dressed, and you are really getting close to 1/2 of 1%.  Go on a Tri-Ess sponsored cruise-7days and six nights, and you can chalk up nearly enough time to approach that magical 1% mark.
We are frowned on, laughed at, and the butt of jokes and comedy shows, but you can be sure that the desire to play "Girl" will never wane.
"Thank Heaven For Little Girls" is a nice musical phrase.  It could be the Theme Song, the official song of TENE or even Tri-Ess International.  Well maybe "I Enjoy Being A Girl" would serve as well.  "I Enjoy Being In Tri Ess".  "Thank Heaven For Tri Ess".
A heartfelt THANK YOU goes out to Gerri Buchanan and Pat Wells, and to all who have worked with them, for all of the effort, energy, and hours they have devoted to making G.T.North and Tri Ess New England into the successes that they were or have become.  These two groups have over the past several years produced an abundance of friends who also thoroughly enjoy almost 1% of their free time-their chance to play "Girl".
If you as a member of Tri Ess and TENE even remotely appreciate the privileges available through your membership, try to repay a portion of this good fortune by getting actively involved. 
Plan an activity, write an article for the newsletter, find a closeted cross dresser and bring him on board.  You are an expert.  You know the signs, you remember the times that you accidentally wandered through the lingerie aisles in Sears, Wal Mart, and slowly past the display windows of Victoria's Secret.
Assist Joy, Sara, and Marcia with Spice 2003.  It is a first for New England, let's make that event the greatest ever.  This is our chance to shine, our day to roll out the Red Carpet.  We need to pull out all of the stops, and get the word out to everyone that we possibly can.  All of our activities are shrouded in secrecy to protect the identity of those involved.  Everything that we can do to safely spread the word will directly benefit each and every one of us as eventually the veil is lifted allowing the world to understand and accept the fact that men do enjoy wearing dresses.
Tri Ess is your club, your safe haven, nurture it, water it, put it in the light so that it can grow, and as it grows, take "Slips" (pun intended) from it.  Start them growing to create more safe havens, all over New England and also the whole United States.
Growth = Recognition, and that = Freedom. 
I am nearing my 72nd birthday.  I still hope that I can live to enjoy the day when it is permissible for either Jamie the male, or Jamie the female to walk out the front door of my home.  What a freedom it would be, not to have to sneak around, as I do whatever I wish for the day.
"Thank Heaven for Tri Ess"!  May we help a million more "Play Girls" find freedom of expression.  May we soon be an accepted "norm".
Jamie