Ford, GM, Chrysler, um, no  … Beaver … coming back in Detroit …

In a stunning sign of ecological recovery, beavers have returned to Detroit for the first time in perhaps a century.

Leave it to beaver to prove river cleaner

A propitious omen, no doubt.

As the NYT obit says, “she helped redefine rock ’n’ roll femininity” back in the 60s … big hair, short skirts … and a sad, sad life.

I just finished reading Ethan St. Pierre’s blog on the recently held IFGE conference in Washington, D.C., and I wholeheartedly agree with his characterizations.  You can talk all you want about how lighter-than-usual the attendance was, but once the Board found itself locked into a poor time slot (February in D.C., are you kidding me?) the decision was made to make the most of it - and to Denise LeClair’s much-deserved credit, the conference went on.

Was it smaller than past IFGE conferences?  Of course it was.  We can thank, to some degree at least, the economy and the  aforementioned time of the year (it was a balmy 14 degrees when my partner Mari and I pulled into the hotel on Thursday morning).  Was the hotel less than perfect?  Not at all.  Actually, the Hilton at Mark Center was quite nice, albeit a bit spacious for a conference of 125 or so.  Were there not enough workshops?  Hardly.  There were well over 60 sessions - the same as at any past IFGE conference -  with a wide array of topics and speakers.  Did any noteworthy speakers show up?  Of course they did, why wouldn’t they?  Because it was too cold??  Diego Sanchez, Mara Keisling, Phyllis Frye, Kelley Winters, Denise Leclair, Bree Hartlage, Yvonne Cook-Riley and myself took turns at the podium during the conference.  As did the very-deserving Trinity Award winners for 2009 - Lisa Mottet, Spencer Bergsted and Gunner Scott.

But an interesting thing happened in Alexandria that I never felt at any conference I attended before.  A  sense of togetherness and camaraderie seemed to permeate the proceedings.  It was present everywhere, from the luncheons and dinners, to the workshops and to the lobby bar each afternoon and evening.  It’s a bit hard to explain, but I believe it had much to do with the intimate nature of this year’s gathering.  The attendees, more than at previous conferences, seemed to be there with a purpose, with a sincere desire to connect with one another for the greater good of the transgender community.  Work was being done.  Relationships were forged.  There existed a profound positive energy, a feeling of connectedness.

This feeling carried over to the IFGE Board meeting where Bree Hartlage was installed as the new Chair along with Andrea Von Kaenel as Vice Chair and new Director Allyson Robinson.  While we adjourned with a renewed mission, the entire IFGE Board understands that it cannot end there.  Quite the contrary.  We have to go out and back up what we say - to have our actions as a Board and as an organization align with what we say we’re going to do.  And it’s not just about putting on a dynamite conference once a year.  Yes, that is hugely important, but IFGE cannot be a one-trick pony, and we do not intend to be.  We have to be much more than that to a community that can clearly benefit from our collective actions.  
 
So, do we run off half-crazed in an effort to prove our relevance to the transgender community?  Not at all.  A mindful approach to the task ahead, with clear and consistent direction from the Chair, as well as shared accountability across all the officers, directors and comittees - will ultimately carry the day for IFGE.

Well, not exactly, but I can’t help but believe that one of “the usual suspects” will put some of that spin on this news story …

COEUR D’ALENE - Police in the Lake City are investigating a reported rape on North Idaho College’s campus involving a cross-dressing man who attacked a student in a bathroom.

Coeur d’Alene police are not commenting on their investigation at this point only to say they do not feel students are not in danger because the victim said she knew her attacker.

NIC student Janea Kelso heard about the alleged rape from a friend who got an emergency alert on her phone.

“It’s scary considering this is a small school,” Kelso said.

The text message said a man dressed as a woman was hiding in the first floor bathroom of the Meyer Health and Science Building and raped a woman last Friday. Kelso says teachers warned female students to be careful.

“They just said be careful when leaving class go in buddy system,” she said.

The victim told police she knows the rapist, who is described as being white with brown hair and is clean shaven. The attacker is 48-years-old and is not an NIC student. Police are not releasing the man’s name and no one has been arrested

NIC administrators notified students of the attack and said security officers are watching for suspicious people but they are not adding additional patrols.

“We have no indication since this was according to police someone known to her, we don’t believe nor does our security or police that is someone looking for targets at this time but still urging everyone to be vigilant,” NIC vice president John Martin said.

Police have declined comment on the case but did say that a rapist is not roaming the streets.

Students on guard after alleged rape at NIC