[dlv] Diva Las Vegas 2016 updates ...

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This is the Diva Las Vegas 2016 announcement mailing list.

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instructions below.
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In this mailing:

Diva Las Vegas 2016
Flamingo room special extended
Major gatherings at DLV 2016
Our working schedule and activity highlights
New Attendee Welcome and Orientation
Church Ladies and Party Animals
Misunderstandings and disappointments
Summary schedule
Administrivia
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Diva Las Vegas 2016:

Welcome to those who just joined our mailing list. If you have any
questions or concerns, please let us know.

If you missed our "kick-off" mailing sent out earlier this month, you
can read it on line here:

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=3341

Many common questions about our event are answered, often in depth, in
our (updated and corrected) Frequently Asked Questions list, on line
here:

http://divalas.vegas/faq/

It should be noted that when our domain was updated on January 1, an
older, obsolete copy of the FAQ was erroneously copied to the new
domain. This has been corrected and the FAQ is current as of January 12.
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Planning is proceeding on schedule for Diva Las Vegas 2016.

We're looking forward to seeing all of you in person at DLV 2016 this
coming March!

As of this mailing, we have 112 individuals signed up to attend. It's
still too early for any kind of a total headcount estimate but we will
keep posting updates as the date approaches.
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Flamingo room special extended:

Our initial block of discount Flamingo rooms sold out quickly.

Additional rooms have been added and as of this writing there are
five rooms left in the DLV discount block.

You can read the details of the Flamingo special rates on line here:

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3330

This includes specific instructions on how to book your room under this
offer.

This offer officially expires February 15, but it is expected to sell
out long before this date.
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The Flamingo is one of our three suggested hotels for DLV 2016.

For those who want a more upscale hotel we are suggesting the Paris,
located just south of the Flamingo on the Las Vegas Strip, and for those
who wish a less expensive room and have adequate transportation, we are
suggesting the Four Queens downtown.

Details about our suggested hotels for DLV 2016 are on line here:

http://divalas.vegas/dlv2016/2016hotels.html
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Major gatherings at DLV 2016:

There will be two large major gatherings at Diva Las Vegas 2016.

The first will be our annual Welcome Celebration, which will include
Happy Hour, Dinner, and the New Attendee Orientation. This will happen
on Monday evening of DLV week.

The second will be our Diva Las Vegas 20th. Year Celebration and will
occur on Thursday evening of DLV week.

These two activities will be the two largest gatherings of our 2016
event and we're encouraging all to make plans to attend both!

Please stay tuned for further details about these and other activities
for Diva Las Vegas 2016.
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Our working schedule and activity highlights:

Beginning with this mailing we'll be including a summary of our working
schedule in most general mailings. This will be placed at the bottom of
each mailing in which they appear.

Please note:

PLEASE DO NOT USE THESE WORKING SCHEDULES AS A FINAL AND
ACCURATE SCHEDULE FOR DLV 2016!

These schedules are INCOMPLETE and many of the listed items are subject
to change of day, time, location, etc.

You can watch how our schedule develops by following it as these
mailings come out between now and March.
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Beginning very shortly we will begin posting Activity Highlights in
the Diva Las Vegas Discussion forum.

These will be posted frequently between the end of this month and the
middle of March.
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New Attendee Welcome and Orientation:

If you are new to Diva Las Vegas, we very strongly suggest that you make
every effort to attend our New Attendee Orientation, which will be held
at 5:00pm on Monday of DLV week.

This will be an informal session between the new attendees and some of
the senior DLV volunteers. No, we're not going to lecture you! We'll
address any questions and concerns that you may have and we'll review
many of the things that will help you have a smoother and more enjoyable
event.

This will be in the same venue that will be used for our subsequent
opening evening festivities.
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Church Ladies and Party Animals:

These questions came about from a comment received in feedback last
year, stating it would be nice to know which of those attending are more
subdued and refined, and which are major party animals.

We've opened up the topic on the DLV Discussion Forum, which includes
the associated mailing list and Yahoo group. The DLV Discussion Forum is
on line here:

viewforum.php?f=2

It's all in fun, and here's what we're asking:

Question 1: Where do you, personally, stand on the "Church Lady to Party
Animal" scale, with 1 being a total prude and 10 being a total wild
party girl (or guy)?

Question 2: Where do you, personally stand on the "Jeans and T-shirt to
Put On the Dog" scale, with 1 being extremely casual in style of
presentation and dress, and 10 being totally glitzy, flamboyant in dress
and presentation?
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Misunderstandings and disappointments:

We want to be sure that everyone who attends Diva Las Vegas enjoys it
and makes the most of it!

This includes YOU!

We also realize that many of you, particularly those who have to travel
cross-country or overseas to attend, are spending a meaningful amount to
participate in DLV. We want to be sure you have a good return on your
investment!

As well as a monetary investment, we know that many attendees think
about, and dream about DLV during the months leading up to it. We want
to be sure your "emotional investment" pays off as well!

Immediately below is a list of some of the very common pratfalls
experienced over the years by DLV newcomers (and sometimes by
returnees as well):

1. Assuming that Diva Las Vegas is similar to other major TG events such
as Be-All, Southern Comfort, etc. Although we emphasize that we are
quite different, this is the number one reported misunderstanding about
our event!

2. Failing to notice and observe various deadlines and cut-offs, in
particular the deadlines for sign-up and payment for some activities.

Please be sure you note DATES and TIMES for cut-offs!

3. Failing to report things that do not work properly or do not happen
as expected. If something malfunctions when you're on our web site,
please report it. If you do not receive an expected e-mail, please let
us know about it! If someone does not get back to you as you expect,
please report it!

Please proactively follow up on anything which is unclear to you or
anything that does not happen when you expect it!

4. Failing to, or forgetting to print out such things a the schedule,
the map, list of contact numbers, etc. Please do not be a "Low
Information" attendee!

5. "Burning out" by biting off more than can comfortably be chewed. DLV
can be a very intense event and it is never intended that anyone attempt
to do all or most of the available activities.

Please familiarize yourself with our schedule as it develops and plan
your days according to your desires and your limits.

6. Punctuality, or rather the lack of it. Attendees bear all of the
responsibility for showing up late to a DLV activity!

The consequences of showing up late to an activity may be as simple as
having to wait a bit longer for a seat, but may indeed involve such
things as forfeiting a reservation or even being left behind for a
carpool activity!

7. Expecting everything to be "just so".

While we do strive for excellence and consistency, please keep in mind
that our volunteers are just that - volunteers - and not professional
event promoters!

Our activities are independently planned and implemented by different
volunteers and there will be differences in organizational style,
leadership style, and yes, some inconsistency can be expected. If things
are not exactly to your liking, you'll enjoy things much better if you
please "go with the flow" as much as you can.

8. Couples and groups frequently miss out on things!

Those who attend as a group or couple often skip activities unless
everyone in the group or couple wants to do them. Please do not feel
compelled to be "glued" to your partner or your group! If there is
something that you want to do, then do it!

9. Missing activities by getting into a time crunch. This was reported
"frequently" or "occasionally" by about 35% of those responding to last
year's post-event survey. (Better than in 2014, but still too many.)

10. Procrastination, general and specific. Registering late, waiting to
sign up for activities until some are full or in a waiting list state,
failing to arrange for a necessary ride in time, etc., etc.

11. Assuming a greater degree of structure of the event itself.

Before the event, we're quite structured and very precise in what we do.

Then we launch the event and it kind of runs on autopilot. The event
itself is far more informal and less structured than the lead-up to it.

If anything is wrong or anything is unclear, please let us know as soon
as you can so that we can do something about it!
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Summary schedule:

Diva Las Vegas 2016 schedule
Tentative and subject to change
All times Pacific Daylight Time
PLEASE DO NOT USE THIS AS THE FINAL
AND ACCURATE DIVA LAS VEGAS SCHEDULE.

Monday, March 28:
8:00am: Katie's Koffee Korner
12:00am: Lunch With Ginger
5:00pm: New Attendee Welcome and Orientation
6:00pm: Happy Hour
7:00pm: Dinner
8:30pm: Welcome Celebration
9:00pm: Official Group Photo
10:00pm: Late Night Dancing

Tuesday, March 29:
8:00am: Katie's Koffee Korner
9:00am: Diva Las Vegas Invitational Golf
12:00am: Lunch With Ginger
6:00pm: Happy Hour options
6:00pm: Delaney's choice
6:00pm: Ginger's choice
6:00pm: Beverly's choice
6:00pm: Cami's choice
7:00pm: Eating Out Night
7:00pm: Cami's choice
7:00pm: Ginger's choice
7:00pm: Delaney's choice
7:00pm: Beverly's choice
8:30pm: Evening activity options
8:30pm: Cami's choice Show Option
10:00pm: Late Night Dancing

Wednesday, March 30:
8:00am: Katie's Koffee Korner
9:00am: Side trip - Shiloh Horse Rescue
12:00am: Lunch With Ginger
2:00pm: Art Tour
5:00pm: Happy Hour
6:00pm: Dinner
8:00pm: Erotic Heritage Museum
10:00pm: Late Night Dancing

Thursday, March 31:
8:00am: Katie's Koffee Korner
9:00am: Pistol and rifle shooting
12:00am: Lunch With Ginger
2:00pm: Creative Wigs Seminar
8:00pm: DLV 20th Year Celebration
10:00pm: Late Night Dancing
11:00pm: Flamboyance Drag Show

Friday, April 1:
8:00am: Katie's Koffee Korner
12:00am: Lunch With Ginger
3:30pm: Carnaval Court
9:00pm: Limousine Tour
10:00pm: Late Night Dancing

Saturday, April 2:
8:00am: Katie's Koffee Korner
12:00am: Lunch With Ginger
10:00pm: Late Night Dancing
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Administrivia:

This is the Diva Las Vegas 2016 Announcement mailing list.

This list is limited to announcements and other high-importance items.

Replies to this mailing will be forwarded to: dlv@divalas.vegas
Submissions/questions should be sent to: dlv@divalas.vegas
Abuse/complaints should be sent to: abuse@divalas.vegas

Questions/answers and discussion items are redirected to the DLV
Discussion Forum, which may be subscribed to separately or viewed on the
web. To subscribe to the DLV Discussion Forum, send a brief message to
dlvdisc@divalas.vegas and state that you wish to receive the DLV
Discussion Forum.

To view the DLV Discussion Forum on line, visit the URL:

viewforum.php?f=2
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One address for all items regarding this list, additions, unsubscribe
requests, changes, submissions, questions, etc.:

dlv@divalas.vegas <--- NOTE: all lower case

Archives of this list appear on the web at:

viewforum.php?f=4
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Diva Las Vegas 2016
Monday March 28 thru Saturday, April 2, 2016
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
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