We are transgender people, professionals who work with transgender people, and spouses, families, and friends of transgender people. We are physicians, mental health professionals, attorneys, educators, executives, pilots, chefs, factory workers, fishermen, farmers, you name it. We are healthy and unashamed, and we have been putting on this fabulous one-week event called TransWeek (formally known as Fantasia Fair) every year since 1975.

52 Weeks a Year

 

Planning for TransWeek begins more than one year out. People from all walks of life work hard all year long to build a flawless and inexpensive TransWeek. There’s a lot to do, and doing it is immensely satisfying!

During TransWeek, volunteers staff the office, collect tickets, see to the needs of presenters, update the schedule, set up video equipment, take deposits to the bank, manage the Fashion Show and Follies, introduce speakers, and do a dozen and more other things. TransWeek would not be possible without them.

Volunteers

TransWeek attendees volunteer for all sorts of tasks, from taking tickets at lunches and evening events to making bank runs to helping in the office. Our volunteer team, coordinated by Sibil Greiner, changes from year-to-year, but is essential for keeping TransWeek running smoothly.

Volunteering is a great way to overcome your fears and get to know people. Please consider helping us out!

 

 

Emily Sheldonq
Backstage Follies


Professionals Donate Their Time

 

TransWeek would not be the TransWeek without its professionals. Psychologist Maureen Osborne and Licensed Clinical Social Worker Carole MacKenzie work throughout the week with partners of trans people and trans people themselves. Carolyn Wolf-Gould is the medical director of the Gender Wellness Center in Oneonta, NY. She runs the writing workshop, a space for exploring the written word as a way to build community with one another during TransWeek. Provincetown’s Dan McKeon takes professional photographs. Attendees with experience in a variety of industries provide their assistance as well

 

The Committee

 

The Planning Committee works throughout the year to plan and implement TransWeek. The committee maintains this website, publishes the Participants Guide and other TransWeek-related materials, manages registrations, solicits and selects speakers for the many workshops, sells ads, and publicizes TransWeek. They coordinate these many tasks by participating in bi-weekly telephone conferences.

In May, members of the committee travel to Provincetown to negotiate and sign contracts for banquets, lunches, and meeting space.

During TransWeek, the committee has hundreds of tasks, the most important of which are greeting and registering arriving attendees, staffing the TransWeek office, holding a welcoming reception on Monday, making sure meal counts are accurate, and depositing proceeds in the bank.

Dee LaValle

Dee LaValle grew up in Southeastern Massachusetts. She is married and has been with her spouse for 37 years. They both have been blessed with two amazing teenagers. Dee began her transition almost six years ago and has been a Fair attendee ever since.  Dee was named Fair Director in 2018.

Dee works for an international multimedia corporation, she currently is a Manufacturing Engineer/Operations Scheduler, responsible for the Northeast region. In her career she has held numerous senior leadership positions in Management, Operations, Procurement, Distribution/Logistics, Sales, and Marketing. Her skills include team building, project management, statistical analysis, Six Sigma, and Lean manufacturing.

Jolie LaValle

You can call me Jaye or Jolie. As far as I know, no relation to Angelina. My loving spouse Dee and I have been married for 26 years. She came out to me in 2015. I was born and raised in Massachusetts, graduated from Wellesley College, now working in the financial services industry. Dee and I have one daughter in her first year of college with her sights set on law school. Her goal is to become a human rights attorney. Our son is 14, finally playing high school football. His dream? Playing for the NFL. We have a black cat who runs laps around the house and a dog who is determined to protect us from all who enter his domain. Call us the LaValle family with a capital V.

Rhonda Williams

How do you explain Rhonda in 150 words or less? She is a force. Rhonda is a spirited, energetic, passionate advocate and activist in the transgender community in the exceedingly backwards galloping state of Arkansas. As a cis wife to a trans woman, Rhonda writes and blogs about transgender issues, and is outspoken and active in her local LGBTQ community. Rhonda is also an engaging speaker and loves to entertain whenever a crowd gathers.

This is Rhonda’s 6th Fair, 5th to co-host Follies, and 4th year on the Committee as manager of social media and marketing. Rhonda is extremely proud of the work the Committee has done to make sure each Fair is the best yet. Though she will most likely embarrass herself in some way, Rhonda hopes you will kindly overlook it and have a fabulous Fair!

Kate B.

Kate is a transitioning trans woman, and she and her spouse of 25 years have two amazing grown children. This is Kate’s fifth fair – with 2020 being hilariously remote – and she is proud to serve as registrar and technical advisor on the FanFair Committee. In the off season, Kate is a cyber security specialist, project manager, and avid drone flyer. She hopes everyone has a wonderful time at FanFair 2022..

 

Jennifer

Jennifer is attending her second Fair in 2021 (having been shut out in 2020!) and is a planning committee member for 2021.  Not being an out or transitioning transwoman, Jennifer has made the most of, and enjoyed immensely, attending trans gatherings for the past decade and being herself. In addition to the Fair, she’s made many appearances at First Event and more recently Keystone. Jennifer is looking to contribute any way she can to make this year’s FanFair a rousing success.

Lauren

Lauren is originally from the Midwest but has spent most of her life in Georgia. She is married to a great guy and has been blessed with two kids. Her older child is part of the LGBTQ+ community, as are her parents.

Lauren attended her first FF in 2021 to support her parent, as she is a proud advocate and supporter of the LGBTQ+ community. She fell in love with the attendees, the atmosphere, and the acceptance so much that she knew she wanted to return, join in, and help as much as possible.

Getting Started at the Fair

Sunday

Fair check in (@Boatslip 1-5 pm)
Review your welcome packet and Fair schedule for the week
Stroll around town and get your bearings
Attend the Welcome Reception

Monday

Check the day's schedule
Kick Off Brunch
Attend the Welcome Dinner/Dance

Tuesday

Check the day's schedule
Attend the Newcomers Lunch

You've settled in. You've got the hang of it.
Enjoy the Fair!

Daily

Afternoon Key Note and Workshops
Mingle in the courtyard at the Crown