Click on the Activity/Event title to view the details. Click on the presenter's image for workshops (light yellow) to view their bios. Times & events are tentative and subject to change. We will post the most up-to-date information as we receive it so please check back often. The final schedule will be posted by mid-January.
| Time |
Activity/Event |
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Presenter/Host |
Location |
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9:00A |
Tiffany's Closet |
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Marlboro |
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9:00A |
Friends of Bill W. |
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.meeeting. .time.
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Hudson |
.meeeting.
.time.
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If you think you or someone you know is having a problem with alcohol, please feel free to attend this open meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous during the First Event Conference. Meetings will be held each morning , Thursday thru Sunday at 9AM.
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9:00A |
Body and Brain Yoga |
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Ms. Emmy Nim
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Northborough |
Ms. Emmy
Nim
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This class will concentrate on light stretching, proper breathing, meditation, relaxation and an introduction to Tai Chi. Loose and comfortable clothing such as Yoga pants, sweat pants, T-shirt and socks are needed, Shorts are not recommended. The class will slowly progress from simple stretching to prepare for further exercise, instruction on proper breathing and explanation why proper breathing is important everyday. You'll be taught ways to relax and meditate for everyday life, and accumulation of energy. Introduction to Tai Chi to show further ways to relax and focusing on rebalancing your body.
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9:00A |
Great Brows Now |
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Donna Witt-Henderson
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Southborough |
Donna
Witt-Henderson
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You see the brows you love in magazines: fluffy, perfectly groomed, stunning - yet you have trouble achieving that look. Well stop wishing for Great Brows and start today to learn how to design and create the brows you thought impossible !
Donna Witt-Henderson will show you how, step by step, to easily design your brows - to your features and face shape. Once you've got your design - then you will learn to Shape, Shade and Shave your brows into the beauties you've imagined !
Donna will provide you with a Twinkle shaver, brow pencil and instruction sheet so your brows with be 'close-up' ready !
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9:00A |
Newcomers' Orientation |
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Ms. Lida Mullendore
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Wayland |
Ms. Lida
Mullendore
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Welcome Newcomers to the First Event Newcomers' Orientation.
Please join us each morning at 9 am where we will welcome you personally and answer any questions.
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10:00A |
Beginning Pool Clinic |
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Ms. Lida Mullendore
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All Star Lounge |
Ms. Lida
Mullendore
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Have you ever wanted to learn how to play pool? It’s easier than you think. Lida will teach the basics including stance, bridging, stroke, and “ghost ball” aiming. All equipment will be provided. 10 AM Thursday, 10 AM Friday, and 10 AM Saturday at the pool tables in the lobby.
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10:00A |
Successfully traveling by air while presenting en-femme |
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Geeta Tg
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Southborough |
Geeta
Tg
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Workshop Description: If there is one Transgender topic that I'm asked to speak to more than any other it would undoubtedly be air-travel while dressed "en-femme", that is - as a woman. The mere thought of negotiating the numerous challenges - be it identity documentation, TSA screening, interaction with those seated next to you on the aircraft, or simply being on public display are such that most members of the community will never rise to this particular challenge. From my point of view I think this is unfortunate since flying en-femme is not only do-able, but I have found it to be one of the most fulfilling accomplishments on my transgender journey.
In this workshop we will cover everything you need to know to travel by air successfully and enjoyably as a transgender person. With part of my career spent in the employ of a major airport authority, and throughout the career flying at least a dozen flights a month to over 60 countries, the presenter will cover every part of the airport/flight experience in detail as it applies to our community, including profiling, Whole body scanners, identity reqirements, how to handle enhanced searches, what to wear ( or not ), and most importantly -- how to open up to enjoying a well planned/friction-free transgender travel experience.
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10:00A |
History, Biology and Balance |
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Allyson Fox-Hale
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Sterling |
Allyson
Fox-Hale
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History: Start with the first transgender in 1503BC and walk through historical time line to today, showing key people in history to talk about it, showed it, dressed in it. Touching both Male to Female as well as Female to Male.
Biology: Touching on the XX, XY, XXY, X0 but adding in as well the Testosterone receptors or inability of the receptors during pregnancy.
Balance: I talk about what happened to me, how I was “outed” at work, since I work in the Department of Corrections and serve in the Ma. National Guard, what I needed to do to be comfortable with both as I transition to become the woman I need to be. How I “owned” it all, walked tall and made a strong foundation of friends and supports in both lines of work
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10:00A |
Fake Trans News |
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Mrs. Dawn Ennis
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Westborough |
Mrs. Dawn
Ennis
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Our enemies have not been silent as we wage war for our rights. How should we respond when we see reports in right-wing and mainstream media that lie, attack, stereotype and misrepresent the facts? We'll examine some high profile reports that were shot down and others that perpetuate the myths of trans ppl as perverts, deranged and deceptive.
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11:30A |
Advanced Pool Clinic |
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Ms. Lida Mullendore
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All Star Lounge |
Ms. Lida
Mullendore
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So, you already know how to make shots, but getting the cue ball where you need it next remains elusive. Lida will teach the principles and techniques for position play including speed control, the “natural angle,” tangent line, draw (backspin), follow (topspin), and English (sidespin). All equipment will be provided. 11:30 AM Thursday, 11:30 AM Friday, and 11:30 AM Saturday at the pool tables in the lobby.
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11:30A |
Breaking the Binary: A Conversation |
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Michael Delsine
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Southborough |
Michael
Delsine
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What does is mean to be non-binary in 2018? Unlike many workshops which are designed as PowerPoint driven presentations by subject matter experts, "Breaking the Binary" is intended as an open space forum, which is based on inquiry, reflection, and learning, bringing out the best in both individuals and the group as a whole.
Michael Delsine is a 40-something entertainment professional (actor, director, writer, producer) who moved to New England five years ago from Los Angeles and has been living openly as non-binary since beginning HRT in July 2016. Her interest in facilitating this discussion is bringing together a diverse group of conference attendees who identify across the gender spectrum to share their experiences and challenges in identifying as trans in today's world.
The room is setup with chairs in a circle such that participants are encouraged to share and respectfully respond to the conversation that develops. Michael's role as facilitator is to guide the conversation asking the questions that spur deeper exploration of what it means to be part of the trans community, no matter how you identify. This common ground dialogue is a powerful tool for fostering personal validation and community inclusivity.
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11:30A |
Native American Concepts of Gender |
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Dr. Kenneth Dollarhide
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Sterling |
Dr. Kenneth
Dollarhide
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Over 175 Native American Nations and Tribes understood gender goes well beyond a binary. In most of these Tribes third and fourth gender individuals were seen as sacred and holders of special spiritual power. They would often hold special status within the Tribe or Nation serving in many capacities. For example, among the Lakota, the winkle often served in important spiritual traditions, they were often given orphan children to raise because they were seen as the ideal parent, they gave secret spiritual names, married, and served as story tellers among many other things.
With the invasion of the European these transgender individuals were seen as "evil" or as "devils" both of whom were rejected by the Christian God. As a result they were used as live food for dogs and alligators. They were killed and abused in many ways by both soldiers and priests. In some Christian cemeteries they could not be buried because they were an abomination to God!
In spite of everything in many tribes and Nations they still exist and still play an important role in tribal affairs.
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11:30A |
About Face -The Alchemy of Makeup |
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Ms. Tabitha Beldon
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Sudbury |
Ms. Tabitha
Beldon
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Ms. Tabitha Beldon of My Changing Room - Boston - brings it with the ever popular Alchemy of Makeup workshop. This intimate sharing of the joys and power of transformation with makeup covers important techniques with specific focus on M to F transition issues.
There will be discussion about color theory, product reviews (what goes where and why and do you need it). We will provide tips to solve particular problems such as the ever elusive beard cover, getting eyeliner right, and drama vs. balance. We will learn now to create realistic day looks and how to easily bump that look up to a full glamour evening look.
Included will be demonstrations with attendees and plenty of time to take questions and provide suggestions
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11:30A |
Building a Personal Support System to Live An Authentic Life |
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Ms. Gabrielle Spierer
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Westborough |
Ms. Gabrielle
Spierer
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Gabrielle will share her experiences building a support system. They will include: How to overcome fear to move ahead in our lives. Getting support from family and friends. Expanding support by developing a chosen family and making new friends. Going to counseling to build internal strength and become authentic, joining support groups, and how to find those people. Gabby will also discuss building a strategy and coming out on the job successfully. She'll share her experiences of coming out on the job in an environment where she dealt with the public as an independent contractor serving at will, having no protection and almost 1,000 customers.
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1:00P |
FE18 Opening Luncheon with our special Guest Speaker.. Donna Price |
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Salon C |
Join us for for the FE18 Opening Luncheon
Our very special guest speaker is the self described NOTORIOUS Donna Price, who has been living large and visibly as a OUT transgender woman, attorney and activist. Donna has been on the front lines of so many events this past year from The political debates, in her home of Charlottesville and the recent Virginia elections. She was also honored this year as one of the OUT 100. She will share much of her journey with all of us.
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2:30P |
Anything STILL Goes: the Wide Wide World of Sex Determination |
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Ms. Marie Lamonte
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Southborough |
Ms. Marie
Lamonte
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If you look at just about any species that uses sex to reproduce, it's pretty easy to tell the two sexes apart by looking at their bodies, what's usually called the "biological" or "gonad" sex (hint: the genitals, people!). But, when it comes to "psychological sex" (the sex of the brain, including sexual orientation and gender identity), it's not so easy to tell the sexes apart, and this is true for many animals besides humans. Animals have evolved a dizzying array of methods to produce male and female "gonads" (the ovaries and testes in humans). For most animals, the choice between male gonads and female gonads is "either/or", and the other steps of sexual differentiation inevitably follow (but not always!). But what is really cool and fascinating is that psychological sex can be a spectrum of many potential states, and it can change over time, and, for the most part, how those things happen is still a mystery.
In this workshop you'll hear about how sex determination (including our current "best guesses" about how psychological sex is determined) happens in humans.
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2:30P |
Will Religion Trump Your Transgender Rights? |
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Rachel Alpert
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Sterling |
Rachel
Alpert
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Opponents of LGBT rights are back in the Supreme Court. Last year they pressed the Supreme Court to invalidate transgender bathroom rights. (The administration change sent that case in limbo.) Now, shepherding a Colorado baker into the Supreme Court as a religious freedom champion for refusing to make a cake for a gay couple, they are pressing religious and “free speech” exceptions from all federal AND state anti-discrimination laws. What will happen to transgender – and all LGBT - rights?
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2:30P |
Living your life as a Trans person: Finding Joy and Happiness in Discovering Yourself |
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Ms. Stephanie Horne
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Sudbury |
Ms. Stephanie
Horne
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This session is focused on the issues facing transgendered individuals who are dealing with many issues that in life, as all people face every day, added to the fact that we also have to deal with our Gender Dysphoria. In this session we will have an open discussion about the things in life that are difficult to deal with as a Trans Person and ways to identify joy and happiness with things you can control in your lives as well as those things you can't control and how to you cope with them.
The objective is to discover what works fr you as an individual learning from how others have coped and what you can do to reach out and find help to make life more pleasant and find a path to reach your personal goals in your gender journey.
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2:30P |
Coming out to Children, spouses and family as transgender |
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Diane Ellaborn
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Westborough |
Diane
Ellaborn
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What happens the "next day" after coming out to your loved ones as transgender? This participatory workshop will explore how to do planful successful telling, how to process initial and long-term reactions. Gender Specialist Diane Ellaborn will present developmental guidelines about how to tell children of different ages in their life and review guidelines for telling your spouses, family and children. Transgender individuals will present their successes and challenges. There will be time for questions and discussions.
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4:00P |
Transgender Personalities in History, Parts I and II |
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Melissa Morton
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Southborough |
Melissa
Morton
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Since humankind began to define the boundaries of gender behavior, there have been people who have defied or crossed over those boundaries. Hear about some of these individuals, from the 15th to the 21st centuries. Some of them were male to female, others of them were female to male. Some of them were transgender for most of their lives, others for only brief but significant periods in their lives. The deeds of some of these people have inspired books, plays, operas, and even beverages. All of them left a legacy of some sort. A brief biography of each individual profiled is available upon request.
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4:00P |
The Art Stove Top Home Brewing |
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Samantha Ambrose
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Sterling |
Samantha
Ambrose
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1-2 Hour Presentation of the fantastic hobby of home brewing, fine ales, excellent wines and Ancient Meads.
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4:00P |
Flawless Foundation with Color Correction |
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Sephora Burlington
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Sudbury |
Sephora
Burlington
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Sephora Makeup artists
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4:00P |
The Power of Voice: Finding And Expressing Your True Self |
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Ms. Linda Marks
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Westborough |
Ms. Linda
Marks
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The roots of voice originate in the spirit and soul. Having a voice allows us both to express and share our internal experience and to say things others need to hear us say. It hurts our hearts when parts of our voice are silenced or disallowed, by us internally or others around us. Our voice also allows us to communicate a sense of authentic identity. So, as we become more comfortable with who we are, it is important to learn how to have "authentic voice," so that we can show up as ourselves in our lives and in the world. We all have a unique voice and it is important to be comfortable speaking and being heard.
This workshop will include heart meditations and other experiential exercises to help us explore our authentic voice and become more comfortable and familiar with our voice as a channel to express our life energy and use our heart's power in ways that are meaningful to self and others. This workshop will include singing as a way to enjoy using our voices for fun and self-expression and to connect with others without being limited to the spoken word.
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6:15P |
Thursday Night Dinner OUT |
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Lobby |
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Come gather in the lobby to catch your bus to the selected restaurant. Further details on timing tbd
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9:00P |
Dance Party with DJ Greg |
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All Star Lounge |
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SHOW ALL
