| The bi-monthly e-magazine of the River City Gems | January-February 2011 |
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Join Our Email List!
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We are pleased to welcome new members Joanne M., Vicki W. and Diana M. to our River City Gems family! |
New Membership Year begins March 1!
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The River City Gems membership year runs from the first day of March to the last day of February, which means...it's time to RENEW! Your support will enable us to continue serving the needs of our community through social events, education, and outreach. You can join or renew your membership at any Gems event or online.
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| Upcoming Events | New Girls' Night Out-Feb 19
Gems Drab Gab-Feb 25
Gems Mardi Gras -Feb 26
Gems Monthly Social-Mar 12
Dress Barn Event -Mar 26
For more information, visit our Upcoming Events and Community Calendar pages!
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Greetings!
2011 is already well underway, and our January-February issue of Facets is packed with timely news and information to help you get this year off to a great start. There are reports on some very special Gems events - our Holiday Party, Anniversary Social, and Bunco Game Night - as well as a selection of articles on topics ranging from how get a California ID card with an en femme picture, to how to maintain a glamorous look during the winter months.
For those contemplating facial feminization or other surgery this year, you'll want to read a pair of in-depth articles by Karen - one describing her own FFS experience, and one discussing the tax deductibility of SRS and other transition-related expenses.
We kick off this issue by introducing nine people who, along with our amazing volunteers, will be working hard to make 2011 the greatest year yet for the Gems: our River City Gems Board of Directors.
Enjoy!
Your Facets Editorial staff
p.s. If you have an idea or an article to contribute for our upcoming March-April issue, please drop us a line at facets@rivercitygems.org. |
Meet Your 2011 Board of Directors!
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The River City Gems would like to introduce our Board of Directors for 2011! Some are veterans and some are new to the Board this year. Click the link to read a full bio of each of the nine members serving on the 2011 Board.
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Third Annual Holiday Party is Biggest Gems Social Ever! by Tilda A.
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71 guests came to the December Holiday Party and Gift Exchange at the Gems' regular host hotel in Sacramento, making it the largest attendance ever at any of these monthly events. In fact, only the summer luau and fall Sparkle events draw a larger turnout than this. The attendance at the Holiday Party included 52 paid members, 10 non-members, and 9 first-time visitors. It is always gratifying to see so many new people showing an interest in our organization and enjoying themselves at a standout party like this one!
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Gems Celebrate Triumphant Third Anniversary! by Tilda Ampersand and Marla M.
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This January at the Gems' regular monthly social, the third anniversary of the Gems as an official organization was observed and celebrated with gusto. A large turnout of 47 guests attended this event, making it all just that much more fun!
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| My Facial Feminization Surgery Experience by Karen S. |
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Facial Feminization Surgery (FFS) is an umbrella term for a number of different, but related, surgical procedures including scalp advancement, forehead contouring, brow lift, cheek implants, face lift, neck lift, nose job, upper lip shortening, chin feminization, jaw tapering, and/or a tracheal shave. FFS is considered cosmetic surgery so it is not covered by most medical insurance. Depending on the doctor and the specific procedures elected, the cost of FFS starts in the low thousands but can exceed $50,000. My FFS cost almost $40,000 -- I am blessed that I had acquired enough assets to cover the cost. A recent study found that fewer than 1 in 5 trans women undergo FFS because of the cost. In this article I will discuss my surgery, how I chose my doctor and how FFS changed my life.
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| Tax Deductibility of SRS and Other Transition Expenses by Karen S. |
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On February 2, 2010, in an 11 - 5 decision, the United States Tax Court ruled in the case of Rhiannon O'Donnabhain V. Commissioner of Internal Revenue that Gender Identity Disorder (GID) is a disease (their term, not mine) for purposes of the tax code. The court relied on the Standards of Care for Gender Identity Disorders (SOC) published by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) as the generally accepted guidelines for treating GID. The court ruled that Rhiannon O'Donnabhain's hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and sex reassignment surgery (SRS) were completed in accordance with the SOC and were deductible as medical expenses. This part of the ruling is nothing less than fantastic! While the court disallowed O'Donnabhain's deduction for breast augmentation, I believe the entire decision dramatically opens the doors to much wider deductibility of certain transition expenses as long as the SOC guidelines are followed closely. The purpose of this review is to explore how the decision may allow deductions for certain transition-related expenses beyond HRT and SRS.
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Roll 'Em Ladies! Bunco Babes Have Game Night Fun by Rachel M.
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Bunco is to ladies what poker is to men: a fun night out with friends! And as we all know only too well, the River City Gems like to have fun with their friends, so a Bunco Night seemed like the perfect idea for a Gems event.
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How to Get a California ID with an En Femme Picture by Melissa Hansen
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Being asked for a legal picture ID is commonplace these days. While I never experienced a problem showing a driver license displaying a male picture while en femme, I never liked doing it. One way to address the issue is to get a California ID card with your en femme picture. The State of California will issue an official ID card in addition to a driver license. While your personal information such as name, address, height, weight and sex has to be the same on both, the pictures do not. This enables you to have a driver license with your male picture and a state ID with your female picture.
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| Tricks of the Trade by Carollyn Olson |
|  Winter Glamor
The recent cold weather sparked a discussion among a few of my friends about tips to maintain your glamor in the winter.
Spring and summer seem to have so many more possibilities especially with regards to clothing. The summer sun and the chance to cultivate a healthy tan or even a 'glow' lends itself to maintaining a more natural glamorous look.
Until spring returns and the temperature gauge begins to climb, what can be done to heighten your looks during the colder months?
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Tricks of The Trade: A Beginner's Guide to Cross Dressing on Sale Now
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|  Are you somebody who's new to cross dressing or a veteran who could use a little tune-up? And for only $12?
If so, my newest book Tricks of the Trade -- A Beginners Guide To Cross Dressing might be what is needed.
The book is 25 chapters and 100 pages, with illustrations and information that includes dressing appropriately, female deportment, buying a wig, applying makeup, how to talk and much more.
The book includes contributions from River City Gems member Melissa Hansen and Vanity Club sisters Nancy Wichmann, Brenda Faulkner, Jenny Nelson, Michelle Popkov, Lilly Williams and Kathleen Danielle, and photos from Ava Alba, Cristy Garcia, Tiffany Lloyd's lips and Jenny Nelson's fingers. And, Heidi Phox is on the cover.
The book is $12 and can be purchased by contacting me or Mark (800-359-2116) at MagsInc or by visiting the publisher's website at www.magsinc.com.
For more information, please drop me a note at:
carollynolson@yahoo.com
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"Weird" Looks, Acceptance, and Having a Friend by Allison R.
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I had volunteered to help out my friend, Bodhi, who is fixing up a rental unit. We met at her house then drove to Windsor to begin the day's work. As it would be a "work day," I wore work clothes: my "boy boots," cargo-type pants (which I consider my pants for "grotty" stuff) and a woman's t-shirt with short sleeves.
By lunch time, Bodhi drove us to a nice little Mexican grocery store that also sold meals. I had a great lengua burrito (beef tongue, in case you're wondering) which was deliciously tender. I had asked the lady to make sure that it was "picante, muy picante" and it was indeed spicy! It never entered my mind to worry about perspiration while wearing my "hair alternative"! Not to worry, a nice cold 7-Up to go along with the lengua burrito cooled the heat.
Now, the purpose of this story is to relate what my friend Bodhi was experiencing.
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The River City Gems is a nonprofit organization with a mission
to improve the lives of transgender individuals and their
families by providing education, resources, peer support, social
networking opportunities, outreach programs, and services
focused on the specific needs of the male-to-female transgender
community. Contributions are fully tax deductible under section 501(c)(3)
of the IRS code.
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www.rivercitygems.org | info@rivercitygems.org | facets@rivercitygems.org
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