Register NOW for BOLD 2008!! CLICK HERE

BOLD: Bold, Old(er) Lesbians & Dykes
4TH Annual Westcoast Conference
Vancouver, BC
Sept 4-7, 2008
Lesbians of all ages welcomed!

WE'RE BACK!

Pat and Claire are plotting BOLD: Bold Old(er) Lesbians & Dykes 4th Annual West Coast Conference and you’re invited!!

BOLD is a conference of lesbians & dykes 50 years and older AND younger friends, lovers, partners. Each year we are drawing younger women in our midst.. this is good! Our focus still remains, however, on the “old(er)” lesbian and dyke.

BOLD has become a popular annual North American lesbian experience and gathering attended by women from across Canada and the US.

Technical Difficulties: Due to a computer glitch all your emails to Sounds & Furies were lost so please resend any information to soundsfuries@shaw.ca.

COAST PLAZA HOTEL BOOKINGS

"Book your room now atThe Coast Plaza at special BOLD rates 3 days before, during and 3 days after the BOLD conference. The Coast Plaza is a friendly and gay friendly lovely hotel situated in the heart of the gay village, a few blocks from the beach and Stanley Park, and surrounded by shops, theatres, and restaurants."

Rates for BOLD Conference participants (Can. $):

NEW!! To book at BOLD special rates - see below- you can book online ONLY until next Monday August 25. After August 25, to get the BOLD rates you need to call the Coast Plaza (no online booking). The Coast Plaza is a popular destination spot and rooms are selling quickly, especially on September 5, so BOLD rate or not, if you want a room do it now! If you need a roommate(s), check out our website for info.

Comfort Room: $162 + taxes for 1-2 women and $20 for 3rd person

One-Bedroom suite w/living room & kitchenette: $202 for 1-2 women and $20 for 3rd + 4th

Click here for the Registration Form!

To book online:
1. go to www.coasthotels.com
2. Under room reservation, select date of arrival, # of nights' stay, and hotel (Coast Plaza Hotel & Suites, Vancouver).
3. Enter the booking code: CPS-GFC2965 (BOLD's code).
4. The room rates for the conference should appear. Follow prompts to complete the reservation; a confirmation will be emailed back immediately OR, do one of the following:

Write to: Coast Plaza Hotel & Suites, 1763 Comox St, Vancouver BC V6G 1P6 Canada
Telephone: (toll-free) 1-800-663-1144 or 604-688-7711
Email: plazares@coasthotels.com

A major credit card is required to book online. Rooms may be viewed at www.coastalhotels.com Check in: 30 pm, Checkout; noon.

BOLD 2008

WE have singer/songwriter/lesbian icon FERRON performing on Saturday evening AND presenting two workshops!

We have Evelyn C. White, Alice Walker’s biographer, presenting on Friday Evening.

We have a pre-conference boat cruise with dinner and dancing on Wednesday September 3.

We have a women’s marketplace so you can spend your lesbian/dyke $$’s on woman-made products.

We have a booking at the Coast Plaza – comfortable and accessible.... Where even your dog is welcome!

We have an exciting and new lineup of workshops, presenters and social events. See the Conference Program below.

We are back in force, and we hope you are too...

Looking at the evaluations from 2007, we think so. Here’s what you said:

Safe, thought-provoking, interesting. It’s about my community.

Thanks; a terrific bunch of workshops.

I really like this place! Staff EXTREMELY FRIENDLY always greeting me wherever I was - efficient, quick to give service and honour requests.

Great hotel and location. Staff very accommodating. Food excellent. Terrific weekend all round, well organized and amazing energy.

Diversity amazing; Set a tone of goodwill, acceptance and mutual respect.

Great to be in an all-lesbian gathering, have an opportunity to stretch my mind and perspectives, learn new things, see old friends, dance, have fun.

Of course, we heard if things weren’t quite right — you couldn’t choose which workshop to go to, or which sandwich to put on your plate. Choices, choices, choices. It’s so darn hard!

 
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

New! All conference activities are on the totally accessible 2nd and 7th floor (7th floor is one floor above the 2nd!) Note: BOLD organizers reserve the right to make changes to this schedule, if deemed necessary. Every effort will be made to notify registrants beforehand. Please check this website regularly for updates.

WORKSHOPS: Visit the workshop page for full details!

Wednesday, September 3 6:30pm - 9:30 pm
Pre-BOLD BOAT CRUISE/DINNER/DANCING
For early arrivals and local women. Enjoy dinner and dancing on a scenic Vancouver harbour (and beyond) boat cruise. Board at Granville Island; directions will be emailed to registrants
$65 CA per person. Send cheque to Sounds & Furies.

Thursday, September 4 3:30 - 6:00 pm
REGISTRATION FOR BOLD begins on the ground floor of the hotel lobby
Everyone must register and pick up their name badge and registration kit

Thursday evening 7:30 pm - 10:00 pm
WELCOMING RECEPTION on the Conference level, 2nd floor
BOLD registration continues.

OPENING with 1st Nations Elder, Florence Hackett.

Florence's Indian name is Turtle Woman, given to her by her grandmother,
Annie Wilson of the Homalco tradition. Florence is a strong believer in its traditions - she proudly speaks her native language. Florence's contributions as an activist and an organizer are lengthy and admirable. She has worked for many years as advocate and counselor to
Aboriginal women around issues of employment, alcoholism, parenting; as well as working with women in prisons and developing programs and training counselors to do similar work. She is a founding member of the Aboriginal Alcoholics Anonymous movement in BC; she works to find the resources to teach some of the original native art and crafts of her people to the next generation, both for their self knowledge as well as to take pride in their tradition, and also as a means of employment.

A founding member of the Aboriginal Women's Action Network (AWAN), Florence has participated in a Canada-wide 'Women's March Against Poverty and Violence" and has been a speaker at rallies and
conferences.

INTRODUCTION to BOLD presenters, Pat Hogan and Claire Robson

SOCIAL CONTINUES with cash bar, music of Dorothy Dittrich on piano.

Friday September 7:30 am - 9 am
SINGLES BREAKFAST at the Sylvia Hotel
$17 CA per person; send cheque to Sounds & Furies

Friday Evening Presentation in the Ballroom, 2nd Floor, 7:00 - 9:00 pm

THE UNIVERSE PROVIDES: ALICE WALKER, JANE RULE AND THE ART OF BIOGRAPHY

Evelyn C. White will discuss her ten-year journey as the official biographer of Alice Walker and the support she received from the pioneering lesbian author/activist Jane Rule (1931-2007). Author of the acclaimed biography Alice Walker: A Life, and Chain, Chain Change: For Black Women in Abusive Relationships, Ms. White has published articles, essays and reviews in many major publications, including Ms. magazine.

Following Evelyn White’s presentation there’ll be dancing to midnight!

Saturday Afternoon, September 6
Outdoor Activities. Choose from:

Stanley Park Bus tour & stroll (sign up at conference)

Introduction to Dragonboating. Coach/Instructor: Margaret Hobson

(Extra activity/cost. See registration form) Following her surgery and treatment for Breast Cancer, Margaret has paddled with Abreast in a Boat...the worlds first breast cancer survivor dragonboat team. She is currently coaching Abreast in Richmond and Sisters in Sync, Vancouver’s first and only lesbian dragonboat team.

Or, take time out for — shopping, theatre, walks on the seawall, cafes.
Take a nap and be ready for tonight!

Saturday Evening, September 6

5:30 pm - 6 pm: Pre-dinner Social, cash bar

6:00 pm: Buffet Dinner begins. Choices of delicious, beautifully presented main dishes (for omnivores & vegetarians alike), salads, vegetables, decadent desserts.

7:30 pm: Featured Canadian Singer/Songwriter/icon: FERRON

9:00 pm – 12:30 am Dance to Dj’d music from then to now!

Sunday Morning, September 7

9:30 am to 11:30 am REFLECTIONS Those who attended last year will remember our glorious closing! Four conference participants will share their experiences of BOLD ’08. A conference elder will call in the directions and invite us to honor and remember our foremothers.s

WORKSHOPS: Visit the WORKSHOPS PAGE for details!

SLIDING SCALE: Many women stated on their evaluation that they were willing, and wanted to pay more in order to support this conference. We appreciate this support and generosity and have decided this year to increase the bottom end of the sliding scale by only $10, our first increase. The top end has increased as well for those who are able to pay more; this helps keep our low end as low as possible.

BOLD ON FACEBOOK! We’re inviting all BOLD women – whether or not you’ve attended the conference yet – to join our Facebook group. Simply go to www.facebook.com and sign up to become a member. Once you've done so, look for 'groups' (top left menu bar), then search for Bold Older Lesbians & Dykes. It's an open group and easy to sign up and you can control how the limitations of what you receive. If you experience difficulty, email invite me to BOLD on facebook and you will receive an invitation via email. Let’s not wait until September to get together. We can do it on Facebook!

Until we meet again (in September..or sooner)

Pat & Claire

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 3RD ANNUAL BOLD CONFERENCE - 2007

Many thanks to our amazing presenters, sponsors and guests for making the 2007 Conference another memorable success. Attendees, both new and old, had a great time in our beautiful city, meeting and workshopping with lesbians from the USA and Canada.

Some highlights which come to mind are:

Lilliana Kleiner's workshops and film presentations (originals): "The Song of Lilith" and "Tango D'Amour", the Argentine Tango.

Val Wilkin's Flirting Workshop which kicked off the weekend and gave tips which were well used during the conference!

A surprise workshop with MLA, (Member of the Legislative Assembly), Libby Davies speaking on political strategizing, how to approach elected officials, and the like.

Geraldine Goyer and Lilliana Kleiner's erotic Argentine Tango dance on Friday night brought Gasps of delight from the crowd.

Singer & songwriter Heather Bishop gave a rousing and heartwarming performance effortlessly displaying her amazing talents and showing again why she is a true Canadian Idol.

Register NOW for BOLD 2008!! CLICK HERE

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Bold Workshop Page - for full workshop details.