September 6-8, 2002

The 25th annual Affirmation National Conference will take place on the weekend of Friday, Sept. 6th through Sunday, Sept. 8th at the Alexis Park Resort & Spa in exciting Las Vegas!

This year's theme "We Are FAMILY" brings us together to celebrate and learn about the great diversity found in "Our family" of Affirmation!

Las Vegas is a fabulous city, known as the "Entertainment Capitol of the World"! "Vegas" offers fun and excitement as well as the natural beauty of the desert.

Early Registration for the Affirmation Conference, "We Are Family", in Las Vegas ends on August 15th! After August 15th the registration rates for the conference will increase. Save now by registering early!

In addition to the whole conference early rate of $75, the conference is offering partial attendance rates for those wishing to attend some segments of the conference but cannot attend the whole event.

The registrations are pouring in at a very fast pace! Don't miss out! We all would love to see you there! Any further questions on registration, scholarships, or the conference can be sent to Ricky Gilbert or Michael Lambert.

Schedule of Activities

FRIDAY Night ($30)

6:00pm-7:15pm Poolside Reception
(music, food, drinks, and getting to know you)

7:30pm-8:45pm "Tunes and Toons" with Steve Benson & Dan Barker (Pulitzer Prize winning, Editorial Cartoonist for the Arizona Republic, and grandson to Ezra T. Benson, Steve Benson and his friend, Musician & Composer, Dan Barker will perform wickedly funny satire on topics such as the religious right, the boy scouts, etc. with songs & cartoons)

9:00pm-10:00pm "LesboHomo!" Las Vegas Gay and Lesbian Chorus (the chorus will perform with costumes the songs from the musical "Oklahoma" but with a decidedly queer twist)

SATURDAY Morning ($30)

8:00am-9:00am Continental Breakfast

9:00am-9:50am Workshops

"Yes, I Am Strong, I Am Woman"
(a positive and fun exploration of who we are as women in the Queer community)

"How to Date and Find Your Mate"
(creative ways to find that perfect woman or man for tonight or for a lifetime.)

"A Peculiar People...Mormons and Las Vegas"
(a colorful, historical visit of Las Vegas and the pioneer beginnings of this Mormon founded "Neon City")

10:00am-10:50am Workshops

"Out and Connected on the Internet"
( a fun multi-media, interactive class on queer websites including a chat room reader's theater.)

"United We Stand, Divided We Fall"
(facilitated by motivational speaker, Wes Miller, this discussion group will focus on the unique similarities and differences that Lesbian & Gay Mormons share)

"Next Generation Mormons"
(this panel of Gay LDS youth will explain how they are going were no Mormon youth have gone before, featuring Aaron Cloward, founder of Utah's Gay LDS Youth group and Erik Kruse, founder of Northern California's Gay LDS Youth group)

11am-11:50am Workshops
"I Am What I Am"

(an "everything you wanted to know about transgender/intersex people but are afraid to ask" panel with noted Las Vegas Therapist, Dr. Gerry Earl and also Aidan Keys, conference coordinator for the 2001 FtM (female to male) Conference in Seattle, Rebecca Marie Nay, formerly known in Affirmation as Ryan Michael Nay and current Chapter Development leader, and Tia Owens, past Affirmation Executive Director and our favorite resident intersexed member.)

"Be All That Two Can Be"
(ideas for helping those who are or want to be in a longterm relationship)

"Living The Beautiful Life"
(first there was Martha Stewart, then television's "Trading Spaces," learn how to make your life a little more beautiful.)

12:00pm-5:00pm Free Time
(a scavenger hunt in the Desert Passage at the Aladdin Hotel and also a Gamofite Luncheon will be held during this time.)

SATURDAY Evening ($30)

5:00pm-6:30pm Awards Banquet

8:00pm "Confessions of a Mormon Boy" - Steven Fales at the Clark County Performing Arts Center (Steven Fales, former son-in-law to Mormon Author/Playwright, Carol Lynn Pearson, will perform his one-man, off-Broadway show, sharing his experiences of life as a Gay Mormon)

SUNDAY ($40)

8:00am-9:30am Continental Breakfast

9:30am-10:30am A Family Memorial
(The memorial will remember those of Affirmation through shared stories, etc. that have died by suicide, AIDS, hate crimes, and other causes. The Affirmation AIDS Quilt will be on display.)

10:30am-12:00 Devotional "Beacons of Truth" with Mary Ann Benson, Lani Graves, and the Wasatch Gamofite Choir

(The Wasatch Gamofite Choir will sing 2 musical numbers, Mary Ann Benson, wife of Steve Benson, will speak on her search for spiritual truth outside of the LDS church, and Lani Graves, PLFAG & Family Fellowship member and mother of a gay son, will speak on how we can become "Beacons of Truth.")

12:00-12:45pm Bon Voyage Luncheon

Accommodations

Located across the sreet from the renowned Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and about half a mile between the world-famous Las Vegas Strip and McCarran International Airport, the Alexis Park Resort & Spa is a classic bungalow-style hideaway with 20 acres of greenery, streams and waterfalls. The all-suite, non-gaming resort is an oasis amidst all of the excitement and entertainment of Las Vegas and situated in the heart of Las Vegas.

The resort offers one-on-one personalized service, a state-of-the-art conference center, 500 beautiful and serene guest suites: three swimming pools; a European-style spa, salon and state-of-the-art exercise facility; and immediate, easy access to all that Las Vegas has to offer.

The Alexis Resort has reserved the deluxe standard suites around it's third swimming pool exclusively for Affirmation!

The deluxe standard suites contain either a king or two double beds and a queen sized fold-out sleeper bed. Each suite is tastefully decorated in soft classic earth tone colors and elegantly appointed with custom furnishings detailed in the finests woods and art pieces.

All suites provide the amenities required for your comfort and convenience including two telephone lines with a computer accessible data port, remote controlled 27" TV, Iron, ironing board, and hair dryer. All guests of Alexis Park have access to concierge services, room service, guests services, free safe deposit boxes and business service center. Make your reservations now!

Hotel Registration

Call Toll-Free Hotel Direct Reservations at 1-800-582-2228. Let them know you are with the Affirmation conference. Room rates are $130 per night for 3 people (can sleep 4). That's just $43 a person per night for three persons! Just $32 for four people!!

For more info and a look at the hotel check out www.Alexispark.com .

Click to View Map and obtain driving directions from anywhere in the USA.

Finding a Roommate

Finding a roommate can be difficult for those of us who do not live near a large city with Affirmation chapters. Use this online database to make some connections!

Highlights from previous conferences

Will this be your first time to an Affirmation conference? Curious about what takes place? Take a look at these reports on the last three year's conferences.

1997 - Salt Lake City, UT
1998 - Portland, OR
1999 - Lake Tahoe, CA
2000 - Washington D.C.
2001 - Long Beach, CA

Conference Registration

Conference Registration Form.   Please complete and mail with registration fee to address on form. Remember that registration for the conference does not include hotel reservations. Call hotel number above to arrange accommodations.