Keystone Conference March 11-13, 2010

This reporter’s ears are still ringing from the sounds of Burning House. They literally burned the house down with their Motown/R&B/Disco, and more styles to cap off the Keystone Conference Spring Fling Gala Dinner Saturday night.

After a sumptuous repast, Donna Rose gave the Keynote address encouraging those in attendance to be true to themselves without apology. Her message was well received and resonated with the audience who gave her a standing ovation. Whereupon the dance floor filled up and everyone danced the night away!

For someone who has enjoyed countless professional conferences over the years, the Keystone Conference offered me the opportunity to explore new vistas, meet friends and make new acquaintances. I’ve always benefited from presentations and interacting with presenters at conventions, and there’s always a certain synergy that gives everyone something to ‘take away’ in terms of education and personal growth.

Jennifer dutifully showed up at the registration table at 8 a.m. on Saturday after Friday night on the town.

I was able to attend on Friday and Saturday and found the offerings, the people, the food and activities to be just what the doctor ordered for this part-time t-gurl. Friday’s luncheon featured a wonderful presentation on ‘Presenting a Positive Image.’ A contest was held prior to the conference and two lucky winners spent the day Thursday getting makeovers and a shopping extravaganza under the tutelage of four consultants that included Amanda Richards of True Colors Make-Up Artistry, Lady Ellen of Le Femme Finishing School, Kate Cartmell; who spent years dressing hundreds of women in her capacity as manager of Macy’s Women’s Ready to Wear, and Casey Sheehe, District Sales Manager for Avon/Central Pennsylvania Area. Both gurls made their debut and were warmly received by the audience, many of whom must have been green with envy!

Co-Chairs Jeanine Ruhsam & Kristy Snow with Saturday’s Luncheon speaker Mara Keisling try on their glasses to ‘Envision Trans Equality.’

Following the afternoon sessions there was a Charity Auction conducted with the help of the LGBT Center of Central Pa. where conference attendees could bid on the ‘Date of Your Dreams’ for Saturday’s dinner and dance.

Participants had three restaurants to choose from and buses shuttled the groups into beautiful downtown Harrisburg and continued running back and forth to the hotel for those who stayed into the wee hours to enjoy the club scene.

After Donna Rose’s Keynote Address, the dance floor filled up to the music of Burning House.

Saturday’s luncheon included a Keynote Address by Mara Keisling, Executive Director of the National Center for Transgender Equality who provided a humorous and informative presentation on the political/activist side of things, particularly with respect to passage of ENDA legislation. Each table at the luncheon contained cardboard ‘glasses’ encouraging participants to ‘Envision Trans Equality’ that created a rainbow effect when the wearer looked towards a source of light.

Everyone was elegant and gorgeous and had an opportunity to present their most positive image to each other, the hotel staff and all the hotel guests they encountered. This year there were 225 in attendance, nearly a hundred more than last year. Co-Chairs Jeanine Ruhsam and Kristy Snow as well as all the volunteers and sponsors who helped make this event a success are to be congratulated and commended for their tireless efforts to make this event a success and their energy will most certainly result in an even bigger and better conference next year.

Tags: 2010, TransCentral PA Keystone Conference Harrisburg March 11-13

Category: Product Review, Transgender Community News