Destination Denver!

As you know, NAFSA is planning its 51st annual conference for May 23 to 28, 1999 in Denver. The conference will take place at the Colorado Convention Center and the Adam’s Mark will serve as the headquarters hotel.

Accommodation
A few SIG members will be staying at a B&B called Merritt House (phone 303-861-5230). Another place that has been recommended is the Queen Anne Inn (phone 303-296-6666).

SIG Business Meeting
Please plan to attend our annual business meeting on Wednesday, May 26th at 1:45 p.m. Location has not yet been assigned, but it will be listed in the final conference program.

SIG Social Event
Please join us on Wednesday evening, May 26th, at the Merritt House Bed and Breakfast Inn, 941 East 17th Avenue, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Cash bar with hors d’oeuvres provided by the SIG. Come and mingle, then perhaps out to dinner or the bars.

Conference Program
Among the hundreds of workshops and conference sessions to be offered at the conference are two sessions of particular interest to SIG members. Please make note of session times and try to attend.

Coming Out: Help and Advice for any Adviser
Wen., May 26, 8:00 to 9:15 a.m.

Best of Region VIII. This session will introduce the issues and needs of international students who are developing a gay/lesbian identity (including both counseling and legal issues) and provide resources which advisors can use. Case studies will look at the many facets which need to be addressed when an international student comes out to an advisor. Presenters and organizers are Bo Keppel (current Lesbigay SIG co-chair) of East Stroudsburg University and Scott King of Old Dominion University. Gisela Nansteel of Lehigh University will chair.

Emerging out of the "Don't Ask, Don’t Tell" Mentality in Education Abroad
Thur., May 27, 10:30 to 11:45 a.m.

By avoiding the complexities of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender issues in education abroad, we miss a tremendous educational opportunity for all of our students regardless of sexual orientation. This session will cover many GLBT issues of importance from recruitment to re-entry. Participants will leave with an action plan for changes in education abroad advising for all students. The session will be chaired by Carol Lebold, University of Massachusetts-Amherst. Presenters include Bo Keppel, East Stroudsburg University, J. Scott Van Der Meid, Boston University, Julie Trimpe, IES, Teri Heimer, St. Edwards University, and Joel Gallegos, University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Also, please make time to stop into the following poster session to learn more about all of NAFSA's SIGs.

Poster Session: Getting to Know NAFSA's Special Interest Groups (SIGs)
Tues., May 25, 2:15 to 3:30 p.m.

This poster session will introduce NAFSAns to the wide variety of SIGs available to them. The SIGs have this opportunity to have on hand members who can speak about their SIG and written information explaining what activities the SIG has been engaged in. Lesbigay SIG members are welcome to drop in. Also, check with Bo Keppel who is coordinating the representatives of the Lesbigay SIG if you wish to be of assistance. Kathleen Sideli, former co-chair of the Lesbigay SIG, is coordinating this poster session and has been pleased with the positive response from NAFSA and the other SIGs to this first-time event.

Regretfully, Nadine Kato, who was to have offered a session entitled 'Working with Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual International Students in the United States,' will not be able to attend the conference and the session has been canceled.