Dinner 4 8 14th January 2012 Plennary Session for the 28th Jan 2010

Preamble:  

I don’t know how do I invite the African Lesbian to be part of this journey. Dinner 4 8 is looking for volunteers. You are all invited to another plannery session. THE MAIN SHOOTING IS ON THE 28th JAN 2012

 I came out very late in my life. I came out to white friends who accepted my being, but I felt like tea leaves in a white tea.  They have communities and societies. They socialize in eateries, clubs, and homes and had common life. They had book clubs, movie nights, camping, poetry sessions. Their business are interconnected. Basically they are a society.  I love being a  carefree lesbian. Until the African lesbian stories came out, being raped and murdered. I suddenly became a subject of discussion in the lesbian tables.

They were all asking what is being done by the African Lesbian to gain ground and momentum. I did not know. I do not know.  I asked my friends of color to help mobilize my kind, and to engage with my African Lesbian community. I was told that it’s my battle to fight, mine alone. I am black they are white, it’s my black government, it’s my culture and my people.  We are a society of our own, we a black capable and able.  

And that they can only do this much. The rest is upon us to fight fix and correct. They can help if only we need help. The question is, do we need help.  I am sure there is a lot of good work than so far everywhere in the country. But it is not enough to mobilize the government and have structure systems in place. We are where we are as an African lesbian cos we want to be here. It is also within our capacity as human beings to be the change we will like to see.

So the message is let’s MOBILIZE OURSELVES. Create the society we will like to live in.  

In January 2012, we all tend to take RESOLUTIONS, amongst which we will save money or to lead a healthy financial life. I am hoping to invite a few who have just started working, who need advice about money investment and have a guest speaker to share her or her advice about how can we best do this. All lesbians are invited. There will always be a need for their participation. Even as audience in background, who knows we might have to put a projector and the screen. It is called dinner 48 cos, only 8 seats at the table. We are writing our history.  BE PART OF IT.

NEEDS:  Jan 14^th 2012

Resource	Purpose	Name
Scripter	To highlight the theme of the event so that all answers and questions are with the proposed topic. A	?
An events Planner	To organize invitations, guests to invite and that all runs smooth in that day	?
A chef	To share on the meal of the day.	?
An interior designer	To help coordinate the layout of the space of the event	?
Videographer	To video shoot and edit the shoots	Have two in mind, keen to participate
Guest Speaker	An expert in the topic covered	Have one in mind, but not a lesbian
6  Volunteers	To be part of the group	Not even one yet.

Dinner 4 8  Plenary Meeting Report

Preamble:

I attend task team meetings and some NGO’s (LGBIT) meetings. Just  to get grips of what is happening in  LGBTI  community industry. But also to note the gaps. I have been told many a times that the African Lesbian seems to be illusive, or she does not take herself seriously or she is an alcoholic who is governed by alcohol. They say if you want see her, tell her there is alcohol, women and sex. For a moment I thought that is an insult. And yet in reality I am beginning to believe it. Who is the African Lesbian, and what does she want.

When I came out as a lesbian, I wanted to see material about the real life stories of the African Lesbian; I wanted to know the reality stories are told about culture, lifestyle, and acceptance. I wanted to know who I come out to. It was obvious that there is no structure, a formulated structure, and gay men seemed to have planed it all. I made a promise to myself that one day when I can, I want to be part to a progressive lesbian community. So dinner 4 8 is one of the efforts done to create awareness on what matters about being a lesbian.

I wanted to host the plenary session at Love and Revolution, cos that is owned by lesbians. Also  cos it is one place where change is spoken of through poetry song and the dance. Unfortunately it was closed; they close at 13h00. But I went next door sat close to the area, so that when I see a lesbian coming through, I will invite them to join me there. Only four pitched, and they are my friends. You think they pitched cos they are lesbians who wants to see the change, or cos they are my friends. I had an open tap of R1000, our drinks were R160.

Now, here is this person whose social responsibility is directed towards working together to help change the perception for African lesbians, and also to create awareness and demystify mysteries about being a lesbian.  And mobilizing from the ground, or grass root by engaging with on core issues. And none of those who were vocal and supportive of the Dinner 4 8 were there. The question is, is it relevant. Should it be done.

The minutes of the Dinner 4 8 Plenary  meeting.

I outlined that I will be allocating a minimum amount of R2000 for the dinner, that other lesbians who feel it will be adding value can contribute towards the kitty.  A three meal course is prepared shared at the table. We plan to do it anyway. Guests will be selected by the crew, depending on their expertise and understanding.

1.       We agreed that the purpose of Dinner 4 8 is:

·         To showcase positive African lesbian lifestyle by inviting upcoming and successful lesbians to dinner for a meal, where as the young have role models to look up to.

·         To showcase lifestyle through careers as subjects covered will require expects, hopefully from the (African) lesbian community

·         Invite existing experts like chefs, audiovisual specialists to put together the complete 12months programmes, including scripting, and editing, also designers to showcase and sample their interior designers, graphic designers etc.

·         To discuss in length relevant subjects that impact on the African Lesbian: culture,  identity stereotypes, sexuality health, and subjects that are a mystery to many e.g: changing sex, butch parenting,

·         It is meant to bring together a scattered talent to be molded into being for the generations yet to come, and for ourselves and as a community to share our reality.

2.       We brainstormed on subjects that can be discussed, what could be shared; what the outcome should be. What we were not sure about who are the most relevant lesbians to invite and engage.  Also whether Friday Dinner, or Saturday as the best day to host the show.

Month	Theme	Who are invited	Crew Requirements	Outcome
Jan 28th	Financial Planning	A successful lesbian who has made it through advance financial planning, and 5 lesbian who want a financial mentor, and	A scripter An events planner A chef A interior designer   A videographer an expert in financial planning	A better planned future.
Feb 24th	Love and Relationship	Three couples one who has been in a long term relationship, just married, and or engaged to be married	A scripter An events planner A chef A interior designer   A videographer A relationship advisor	Lesbian Marriages are marriages too
March 30th	Lifestyle Theme: Cuban	6 Individuals for dinner to share on their coming out stories	A scripter An events planner A chef A interior designer   A videographer	Lesbians are humans with purpose too
April 27th	Legal implications’ of being a lesbian	Two lesbian in the legal fraternity, task team gov representative  and individuals with questions	A scripter An events planner A chef A interior designer   A videographer	Learning the constitutions
May 25th	The lesbian entrepreneur	Two CAILB representative, 5 businesses	A scripter An events planner A chef A interior designer   A videographer	Business opportunities and success stories
June 29th	The Lesbian  Parenting	6 lesbians parents, married, single and	A scripter An events planner A chef A interior designer   A videographer	Pros and cons of lesbian parenting
July 28th	Lesbian Fashion	2 Fashionistas,2 Fashion designers, 2 image consultant	A scripter An events planner 2 Models A chef A interior designer   A videographer	Different lesbians clothing lifestyle
August 25th	The Lesbian Cultural Woman	7 lesbians from various cultural background	A scripter An events planner A chef A interior designer   A videographer	Impact of culture To lesbians
Sep 29th	Spring: Sex Health Issues	6 lesbians to talk about their sexuality, guest sexologist	A scripter An events planner A chef A interior designer   A videographer	Health Sexuality awareness to lesbians
Oct 27th	Travel	7 well travelled lesbians	A scripter An events planner A chef A interior designer   A videographer	Travel Aspirations
Nov 24th	Books	7 lesbians to review books	A scripter An events planner A chef A interior designer   A videographer	A reading lesbian nation
December 16th	Year End Celebration	20 lesbians for dinner	A scripter An events planner A chef A interior designer   A videographer	A year end celebration

3.       Next Step

For lesbians to find which subjects they will conversant on. Register with the yet to be appointed convener.  

Dinner 4 8 Panel is looking for volunteers:

·          Project Convener
·          Vidoegrapher, we already have two individuals who are keen
·         Chefs: I have included my name. Fundi Ndaba
·         Guest show hosts for topics

All interested parties can forward their contact details to diner48@gmail.com  and state their interests 

         Meeting adjourned. Next meeting   on the 14^th January 2012