[dlv] Looking forward toward DLV 2006 ...

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This is the Diva Las Vegas 2006 announcement mailing list.
This list contains only announcements and high importance items.
See information on DLV Discussion Forum below.
If you no longer desire to receive this list, see instructions below.
Replies to this message will be forwarded to: dlv@geekbabe.com
Submissions/questions should be sent to: dlv@geekbabe.com
Abuse/complaints should be sent to: abuse@geekbabe.com
. . . . .
In this mailing:

Welcome everybody
Returnee re-registration is open
Things to come
Behavior - Restroom - Dress
Volunteers
Spreading the word
Getting to know you
Big Sisters
Administrivia
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Welcome everybody:

This is the "kick-off" mailing for Diva Las Vegas 2006. Quite a bit of
information appears below, so please read carefully, and let us know if
there's anything that requires a clarification.
. . . . .

IMPORTANT DATE NOTICE:

Just to be sure everybody got the word and has the correct dates, Diva
Las Vegas 2006 will happen from Monday, April 17 thru Sunday, April 23.

Please disregard any previously announced dates.

If you see anybody announce or post the incorrect dates, please correct
them. If they don't make a timely correction, please let us know and
we will contact them.
. . . . .

Happy New Year!

Hope everybody enjoyed the holidays. :)

We've had quite a number of new people join this list over the past
few days and weeks. Welcome! Hope to see you in April! If you have any
questions or concerns, please let us know.

We have a great group of people -- second to none -- working on DLV
2006. Several new and enthusiastic volunteers, and, of course, our cadre
of veteran enthusiastic volunteers. :) Really a great group! :)
. . . . .

Headcount:

This is the subject everybody always asks about! :)

Although we won't have an accurate headcount until DLV actually happens,
we will be posting registration numbers and projections as the
registrations come in.

Based on the activity on the mailing lists, the web site hits, and
sheer guess, :) I'm projecting the DLV 2006 total headcount to be
somewhere between 100 and 140.

Again, we're expecting a varied mix of attendees, people from all points
on the TG spectrum from those just peeking out of the closet to those
who are fully transitioned, SO's, friends, admirers, etc.
. . . . .

Attending DLV:

For those new, or those who are unclear about what to do if you want to
attend, the steps you need to take if you want to attend can be summed
up:

1. Read the web site (http://www.geekbabe.com/dlv/) to be sure you know
what DLV is, what it is not, and if DLV is something you would want to
attend. (I'm assuming that since you are on this mailing list, that you
have done that.) :)

2. Register for DLV. Re-registration for returnees is now open (see
instructions below), and registration for newcomers who are members
of this list will begin in February.

3. Make your travel and/or hotel reservations, if necessary.

4. Show up and have a great time!

Simple, isn't it? :)
. . . . .

Our mailings:

These mailings will contain only announcements and other items that are
important.

You can expect this mailing list to come out every 1-2 weeks until
mid-March, depending on the need. Mailings will almost always be made
on Saturday night or Sunday morning.

Beginning around March 15, it will come out as needed, sticking to the
Sunday schedule as much as possible.

As last year, all discussion, chit-chat, questions and answers, etc.,
have been moved to the DLV Discussion Forum. The DLV Discussion Forum is
available in two forms, first as a mailing list, and second as a web
forum. Content is the same on both.

This year, to keep the volume of the general mailings down a bit, the
soon to be weekly dress and activity items will be moved to the DLV
Discussion Forum. Links to the current items will appear in the general
mailings.

If you would like to receive the DLV Discussion Forum by e-mail, please
send in a brief note to: dlvdisc@geekbabe.com and state that you wish to
subscribe to the DLV Discussion Forum.

To participate in the DLV Discussion Forum on the web, please visit the
url: http://www.geekbabe.com/dlv/dlvdisc/

You may read and post via this URL or by e-mail.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Returnee re-registration is open:

Re-registration for returnees is now open.

In most cases you will be able to use express re-registration, which
only takes a minute or so.

Many of you who previously attended will receive a personalized
clickable express re-registration link via e-mail within the next
few hours or so. Some of you may have received this already.

If you don't receive this (if your e-mail address changed since you last
attended, you probably won't), if it does not seem to work for you, if
you want to do it NOW, or if you just want to do it the hard way :) use
the url:

http://www.geekbabe.com/cgi-bin/dlv/dlvreg1.cgi

If you have any difficulty registering on line, or if you see any kind
of unexpected result or error message, please report it. If anything is
wrong, e-mail dlv@geekbabe.com and we will check out the error and help
you get registered.

Registration for newcomers who are members of this list will begin
February 1, 2006. General DLV registration opens March 1, 2006.

ONE VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: When you register, depending on circumstances,
you should receive either a confirmation e-mail or a validation e-mail
very shortly afterwards.

IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE THIS, SOMETHING IS WRONG AND WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT
IT! If you don't receive anything, write to dlv@geekbabe.com and explain
the circumstances.

The most common problems we see, and we do see a number of them each
year, are mis-typing your e-mail address when you register and bounces
due to "mailbox full", "user not accepting mail", etc.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Things to come:

Here's a summary of our timetable regarding some milestones that we will
pass in the next few months:

January 1: Re-registration opens. This just happened. Most of you who
attended DLV between 2001 and 2005 who did not change their e-mail
address should be receiving their re-registration note shortly. See
note above.

February 1: DLV 2006 registration opens for newcomers who are on this
mailing list. Big Sister request sign-up opens at this time.

March 1: General DLV 2006 registration opens.

March 26 (Sunday): Activity sign-up begins. Those who are registered
will be sent a mailing with a clickable link to a screen for all
optional activities which require a hoop jump or a headcount. This
is a one-stop-shop for all of these.

April 12: Registration closes, activity sign-up closes, Large Final
Mailing is sent out.

April 17: DLV! :)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Behavior - Restroom - Dress:

Let's get these subjects on the table and over with for this year ....

In the past, we've pussyfooted around these topics, hoping not to
offend anybody.

That will not be the case at DLV 2006. The feedback from DLV 2005
indicates that the vast majority of DLV attendees wish to obey the
rules and want action taken should others not do so.

There are two very important rules in effect for DLV 2006:

1. Have fun! Have a LOT of fun! That's what DLV is for.

2. Don't have fun at the expense of others!

These two rules are the basis for all of our behavior, dress, and
restroom policies and guidelines. If you don't want to obey rule 2,
sorry, DLV is not for you.

Here's the way it's going to be:

We're not going to burden the 98%+ of you who know how to dress and
behave with yet more rules, regulations, dress codes, hoop-jumping or
whatever. You know how to dress and behave and we want to treat you
like adults and let you concentrate on having fun at DLV.

We will, however, be taking very prompt and very firm action should
action be needed.

What we primarily care about are what we call the "Mainstream"
activities. These are the ones occuring in general public venues.

Anybody who shows up for a mainstream (open to the general public) DLV
activity in an outfit clearly inappropriate will be sent back to change.
No discussion, no negotiation. Anybody who gets confrontive when told to
go change will be dismissed from all further DLV activities. Period!

Our "mainstream" activities will be very clearly designated "Mainstream"
on the final schedule.

If you're of the "This is just my style, get used to it!" attitude,
sorry, the DLV mainstream activities are not for you.

For those activities which we call "Safe Venue" and "Major Venue"
activities, such as those in GLBT bars, "alternative" lounges, Night Of
The Soiled Doves, Rocky Horror Picture Show, etc., you are on your own.
. . .

Restrooms:

The DLV organizers and volunteers can't prohibit you from using any
public restroom facilities.

Likewise, the DLV organizers and volunteers cannot grant you permission
to use any particular public restroom facilities.

For the most part, you are on your own to decide what public restroom
facilities, if any, you will use. However, when you register for DLV
2006, you must agree to follow our restroom guidelines, which require
you to use public facilities discreetly and individually (never in
groups) during DLV.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Volunteers:

Diva Las Vegas runs entirely on volunteer help.

Although we had a great response to our call for volunteers after DLV
2005 and most of our needs are well covered, there are a few areas in
which we can use some additional help, including ...

1. ACTIVITY COORDINATORS and ASSISTANTS. We still have a few planned
(and unplanned) activities that need to be "adopted" by one or more
people who are willing to do the busy-work necessary to make them
happen. If you are interested in helping along these lines, please
hit REPLY and say so.

2. VOLUNTEER DRIVERS. If you will have a vehicle at DLV and don't mind
giving others rides to and from our activities, please indicate this on
your registration form on the web when you register.

3. BIG SISTERS. (See notes about the Big Sister program below.) If
you've attended DLV in the past and would like to help out those who may
be new to DLV or new to public exposure, please say so. Just reply to
this mailing stating you wish to volunteer as a Big Sister, sign up
as a Big Sister when you register.

4. SPREAD THE WORD. See notes below.
. . . . .

I realize many of you do not yet know if you will be able to attend,
but it's fine to conditionally volunteer.

Yes, it's ok to volunteer to "help out any way you can". You will be
taken up on your offer. :)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Spreading the word:

I've lost count of those who have written to the effect of "... if only
I knew about this earlier ...". This has happened most years, right
after DLV has just concluded. It's a shame to have people miss out. We
certainly don't want to see this repeat right after DLV 2006.

This is one thing you can do right now, without much effort, whether or
not you are actually planning to attend.

You can help spread the word in the following ways:

* If you are a member of a local support group, put a blurb in the
newsletter or announce it at a meeting.

* If you're on a mailing list or e-group, and you have not seen it
announced there, please make a brief announcement. Ditto on the
newsgroups you frequent.

Please use some common sense and restraint here. If the group is
sexually oriented, as opposed to socially oriented, please refrain from
linking to us. Also please be sure to not post announcements in too many
groups at once, as we don't want to be on the receiving end of spam
complaints.

* If you see one of those "TG Event Listings" that does not include DLV,
make a submission. We're already on most of the major ones, but I'm sure
there are those where we aren't. (Please be sure we're on the 2006
listings, we still get a lot of web referrals from 2005 listings and
before.)

* If your community has a local GLBT paper, submit a note to them for
their "Events and Activities" listing. Most will have an ongoing column
such as this.

* If you have a personal website, include a link to DLV at the url:

http://www.geekbabe.com/dlv/

* Use your imagination!
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Getting to know you:

If you would like to make the acquaintance of other DLV attendees prior
to April, there are a few things you can do to make yourself known and
to get to know the others.

* Many of us have personal web sites. A great way to become acquainted
before the big event in May is to take a look at each others' sites.

We keep a running list of web sites of DLV people (see below), and if
you have a site and it's not listed, we would love to list it.

Due to the fact that personal web pages appear, disappear, and move
frequently, we are starting our list from scratch this year.

Just send in your URL to dlv@geekbabe.com (or just hit REPLY) and we
will add it to the list.
. . . . .

* Share photos of yourself in the DLV Gallery. Several people from all
DLV years, 39 at last count, are already featured. To view the gallery,
visit the URL:

http://www.geekbabe.com/dlv/gallery/

PLEASE DO NOT SEND PHOTOS TO THE DLV LIST ADDRESS, IT WILL NOT WORK.

To submit photos for the gallery, please send them via e-mail using
any of the standard file attach methods to: annie@annie.net

PLEASE DO NOT SEND PHOTOS TO THE DLV LIST ADDRESS, IT WILL NOT WORK.

You may send anywhere between 1 and 5 photos for the gallery, with at
least one being a clear face shot if possible. Individual .jpg images
are preferred. Any sane format will be accepted. No nude, slut/fetish
or "adult" theme photos please. You may also send in the following
information for inclusion in the gallery:

1. The years you have attended DLV. (The gallery is open to all, not
limited to those who attended in the past.)

2. Your personal web site URL. Optional, noncommercial sites only, no
"adult" sites please.

3. Your email address. Optional, this will be encoded so it will be
clickable by most browsers, but not readable by most spambots.
. . . . .

* Participate in the DLV Discussion Forum. It's on line at the URL:

http://www.geekbabe.com/dlv/dlvdisc/

It's also available by e-mail. Write dlvdisc@geekbabe.com to join.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Big Sisters:

Big Sisters are volunteer DLV veterans who are standing by to help as
needed, either prior to DLV, or during DLV.

Big Sisters are intended mainly for those who are new and don't have
much public exposure, or those who may be feeling a bit uneasy about the
upcoming trip, but Big Sisters are available to anybody who wants one.

If you haven't been out in public at all, if you're new to public
exposure, your exposure has never been in the mainstream before, or if
there's any reason you feel uneasy or uncertain about the upcoming trip,
the Big Sisters are here to help, either before DLV, during DLV, or
both.

The Big Sister program for DLV 2006 is coordinated by Nora and Crystal,
who will be focusing their primary DLV effort toward this program.

Before DLV, if you would like to correspond with somebody one-to-one
about concerns regarding DLV, just send a brief note to dlv@geekbabe.com
and say that you would like to get in touch with a Big Sister. Examples
of concerns might be questions that you don't feel comfortable asking on
one of the mailing lists, request for an honest fashion critique, etc.

During DLV, if you need some fashion advice, Big Sisters can help.

If you are uneasy and can't get the nerve to walk out of your hotel room
(this has happened), phone us, we'll have a Big Sister meet you, assure
you, and escort you if necessary.

If you're new and don't know any of the others at DLV, the Big Sisters
will gladly introduce you to the others and help you get acquainted.
There's no such thing as an outsider at DLV!

If you would like to be put in touch with a Big Sister, just send a note
to dlv@geekbabe.com and we'll get you in contact with one.

Also, if you have attended DLV in the past and would like to volunteer
to spend some time helping others, please say so and volunteer to be a
Big Sister. (Just reply to this mailing and state you would like to
volunteer to be a Big Sister.) The primary qualification is the desire
to help others.

You can also sign up to have a Big Sister, or volunteer to be a Big
Sister on the web as you register.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Administrivia:

This is the Diva Las Vegas 2006 Announcement mailing list.

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

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
dlv@geekbabe.com and state that you wish to receive the DLV Discussion
Forum.

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

http://www.geekbabe.com/dlv/dlvdisc/
. . . . .

One address for all items regarding this list, additions, unsubscribe
requests, changes, submissions, questions, etc.:

dlv@geekbabe.com <--- NOTE: all lower case

Please do not send binary attachments (photos, etc.) directly to any DLV
list or forum, as the list processor will not properly handle them. If
you want to send photos and the like, mail to: annie@annie.net

Archives of this list appear on the web at:

http://www.geekbabe.com/annie/dlv06arc/
. . . . .

Diva Las Vegas 2006
April 17 - 23, 2006 (Please disregard any previously announced dates.)
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
. . . . .

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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .