Nov 2014 News for DFW Voice Feminization Group

Our first three meetings (Aug, Sept, and Oct 2014) all had from 16 - 18 attendees, with some of the same faces at each meeting, and some new attendees each time. Overall I would estimate our group has 30 people in varying stages of advancement in their voice feminization training.

The exercises, discussion, and educational content from the meetings has been mostly well-received. However, most of us need better educational materials and homework assignments. We also need to organize the various notes and documents from discussions on a website, and need a discussion forum to carry on followup conversations.

For that reason, I've decided to create this website, along with a separate dedicated Meetup.com site, to better cater to our needs as a group. If you'd like to attend our meetings, please do join us on Meetup.com.

Introducing a new Kathe Perez program for our Group

In addition, I've sought the help of a leading innovator and expert in voice feminization therapy, Kathe Perez, to help our group make the substantial progress we all need. Many of us can't afford professional speech therapy, and I heard pretty clearly from our group that they would be highly interested in discounted products from Kathe. After speaking with Kathe about this, I found that she was very willing to help us out with a group rate and a custom-tailored program for our group.

So, I'm excited to announce the DFW "Voice Makeover" program for our group, kicking off at our Nov 15 meeting. The initial promotional meeting is free, and 3 month program is very affordable at a total of $67. Please check it out and contact Sheila Allen if you're interested in participating.

Voice Feminization SIG Kickoff Meeting from Aug 2014

Recently a group of trans women and gender queer folk in the Dallas area commenced a recurring monthly meetup dedicated to mutual support in retraining our voices to match our gender identity. 

Announcement of the First Meeting, Aug 2014

Introductory meeting at the GEAR Resource Center (Blue/Yellow Room) for the Voice Feminization SIG (Special Interest Group), for those wishing to study and practice with others. The event is free, but seating is limited. Experience level will range from total beginners to those who have had prior voice feminization training. 

Voice feminization requires a lot of practice and some education about best practices and techniques. Whether or not you have received professional voice therapy, success requires commitment and ongoing effort. If you are determined to work toward developing a feminine voice, possibly even a beautiful feminine voice, this group is here to help you boost your knowledge and motivation with encouragement, ideas, resource sharing, group practice exercises, and the support of friends. 

The first meeting will start with a presentation by Sheila Allen, who is a beginner herself but has put together a presentation collecting the high points from a number of videos, audio files, and tips from experts. This presentation will focus on understanding the goals and stepping stones, the tools we’ll need along the way, and ideas about how to can collaborate and learn together going forward. During this three hour meeting, we’ll cover these topics at a high level, including supplementary audio/video resources and tools (such as mobile apps), with some time for discussion on each, with practice exercises at the end.

- Inspirational Example Videos to Show What’s Possible
- Goals for this SIG
- Surgery Option
- Voice Training Resources
- Resource Sharing
- Mindset
- Body Language when Speaking
- Cultural Differences
- Best practices in caring for voice
- Practice song list
- Dealing with “off days”
- Sneezes, Coughs, and Laughing
- Concepts of Voice Feminization
- Speech trainers
- Exercises for Practice

Afterward, some of us will be going out for dinner and general socializing, and all are welcome to join (we may want to setup a separate Meetup event for that!)