Southern Comfort -- A second hand report

[Carolynn]

A Second Hand Report on Southern Comfort.

Hi. I have not seen anything by anyone from this forum on the just completed Southern Comfort experience in Atlanta, so thought I would distill the comments from three who attended as a sorta report.

Estimated total attendance: @ 1,000 minimum. Some were single day attendees as at the BE-ALL conference in June, so there were more on Friday night and Saturday.

Costs: One (CLM) said she spent about $2,000, another (J) spent about $300, and (H) reported spending about $660. Variables seemed to be

A) how many sponsored events people signed up for, how many hotel special dinner meal (expensive and taste was reported universally as “eehh”.,

and

B) how many Amanda Richards Makeovers which several could not say enough about. One said she was sure she had enough makeup on to rival Tammy Faye but it was well applied and looked great.

1. One attended with a “scholarship” gifted by donations from Dr.s, Ousterhout, Speigel, Chernoff, and several electrologists and others who also had “seminars” of interest to those interested in surgeries, either facial or SRS.

2 There were five in the group who traveled together and split costs, and some shared a room, which helped with costs.

3. They also did a LOT of shopping, some more than others, but often at local resale shops. One (J) reported for “about 35 bucks, I ended up with 3 skirts, and 4 tops in addition to the two I brought with me. Like I said, (A) knows how to make a dollar scream for mercy!”

4. All reported the event to be emotional, and for most it was the first time they were able to be “themselves” for an entire week and be around other people to share the experience with.

One understanding spouse even wrote in on one forum to thank the organizer of the trip for taking such good care of her mate.

All reported it to be stimulating, and expressed the desire to return again next year, which will be the 20th anniversary of Southern Comfort.

And that is a short distillation of their comments.
Carolynn

[Virginia]

Thanks, Carolynn.

I know the time that I went, three years ago, that long Anyway, it is a great experience and to be among so many folk with the same mind set is a great opportunity to feel at ease with who we are.

I think the experience for me overall helped me to say, "screw-it" this is who I am and here's Virginia, deal with it!!!!

I have only been to one other conference and that was the Diva Las Vegas and it was fun too.

I would recommend that any of our sisters who can go to any of the various conferences around the country DO IT!!!!

Virginia

[Kendra Lynn]

I've been to the IFGE convention several times and enjoyed that. That is generally the closest event of this kind to me.
(though I have now also learned about a conference in Harrisburg, PA).
"Southern Comfort" sounds like a lot of fun, but I can't justify the expense.
Peace-- Kendra Lynn

[Kimberly Huddle]

I was at this year and last years SCC and had a ball. Last year I only went for two or three days and hated myself for it when I found out how much fun it was. This year I was there for the entire week. :-)
The thing about the SCC that I like, is that pretty much by definition, any one going there is not going to be the shrinking violet type. Most of the folks that attend the SCC and other events like it, tend to be the out going and fun kind of people - people that are a ball to hang out with. I've never had more fun than when hanging out with dozens of other TG's.
The cost IS a bit high. Anyone that has done any traveling at all knows that the incidentals add up pretty fast. Little things like lunch, dinner, coffee, drinks, shopping, etc. Before you know it, you blow through a couple of hundred dollars and aren't entirely sure where it all went.
The good news for me though, is that as a result of all of the traveling I do for my job, I had thousands of points with the hotel chain the SCC event was at and so I got my room for free. I also have thousands of points with several airlines and so didn't have to pay to get there either. I DID still have to pay for the conference, and so when you add that to the incidentals, I'd say I easily went through $600-$700. I am no where near being well off, but I've got to tell you that it is some of the best money I ever spent.

If your bored, I wrote a fairly long blog about it with plenty of pics:
http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuse ... =512096056