Southern Comfort Moves to Florida Beginning in 2015

[Guest LizMarie]

The Southern Comfort Transgender Conference has signed on with the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau to bring its 2015, 2016 and 2017 events to South Florida.

This first of the Southern Comfort conferences — billed as the largest gathering of the transgender community in the world — will take place next year at the Bonaventure Resort & Spa in Weston, Sept. 27-Oct. 3.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/fl-broward-transgender-conference-20140908,0,2323835.story

[VickySGV]

Yep, that is what we heard on Saturday night at 8:00 PM from the SCC board of directors. I am still thinking about it, since I have been going there for 5 years now. I had some prior "intelligence" on some of the business issues involved, which included a "guaranteed occupancy return" at the Atlanta hotel. The contract called for a minimum guaranteed number of hotel registrations and banquet units. I could see some of the points there, since the dinners had less than 60% (by my count of empty tables) of the contracted food units. On the other side of that, I ended up making some gripes on the quality of the food service this time. I even had a gripe on the service on my breakfast on Sunday which was off SCC's official clock.

My main reservation on this is that the city of Ft. Lauderdale is trying to make the place a tourist center for LGBT people, and that this is tied up in the mix of the other segments. The FL/Fl rep made me nervous in his presentation that we were financial trees to be shaken loose of our cash. That was what I took from it, and not really what he said. I do know most of the members of the board, and believe them when they say it is a dire financial situation. I do agree that we had too few participants this year, and that has been a trend. More later!!

[KathrynJulia]

Thanks Liz

I'm going to put that on my calendar for next year. I've been interested in going to Southern Comfort the past couple of years. Last year I was having FFS surgery and this year was SRS surgery. Next year should be easier to go and take in the conference. Everything I've heard about Southern Comfort is that it's a lot of fun, and it's and opportunity to learn a lot while being a good opportunity to network with other trans ladies.

Sounds like a plan. Kathy

[VickySGV]

I should have mentioned earlier, that I and Joann60 were at the conference, and while the actual content of the sessions was still very good, it was obvious that some of the presentations were losing their appeal and audience.

[Guest So-kool]

Even though the SCC conference is right near me in Atlanta, i think it will be a good thing to change the location and the entertainment options.

I think the classes and seminars are loosing ground in large part due to the information being readily available on the internet and returning attendees have already attended in prior years. I felt like i was watching a re-run many times.

The focus should be on meeting other people and networking. Promoting interactive events and avtivities will help. Granted there are lots if opportunities to meet people but there is not much of an encouragement fo a shy person or someone overwhelmed by someones presence such as a newbie coming up to talk with a seasoned veteran.

I for one did not meet any trans men because i did not approach any and none had approached me. Maybe things like team building activities used by corporations would help bring people together. The big sister program is a great program for the new folks. The parties were nice, and there were lots of chances to mix and mingle and dance but i feel the classes can be cut back and substituted with other things. Networking is a much more efficient way to learn how to help your own specific needs and should be encouraged a bit more. But all things considered the conference was GREAT and just needs an overhaul due to the changing times. Good move by the board to recognize and correct.

Just my two cents.

[VickySGV]

In all fairness, it does take a couple of years to get used to speaking to "old timers" although none of us bite. Another thing I hit the board up on this year and a couple of others, was making our name tags so you can read the names without a magnifying glass. I realize now that I was near So-Kool because of a bathing suit picture she posted on another site where we are friends, and I feel pretty bad we did not get in a hug. I was in my old broad one-piece green suit and she was in one darn cute one I never would have had the guts to try on. As I said, for me this will be change (and that has its problems), and for So-Kool it will be improvement without those problems. My first year there, I never expected to become an "old timer".