fat folks gathering in August

[firecat]

I just signed up for Big Summer Fun, a convention for big folks sponsored by the NAAFA organization, which is dedicated to improving quality of life for fat people. They are specifically hoping to attract people who are not NAAFA members as well as those of us who are.

The convention is taking place at the San Mateo Marriott San Francisco Hotel near the San Francisco airport on August 10 through August 14 (with some early bird activities, including a sightseeing tour by bus, on August 9). There are workshops, pool parties, dances, an auction, a fashion show, vendors, a hospitality suite, and so on.

Hotel rooms are available for $75 per night and up.

Convention events can be purchased as a package (super early bird rate until May 22, discount rate until July 15) or individually. Details at Big Summer Fun.

I hope to see some of you there!

Comments

[marykaykare.livejournal.com]

I'd love too, but the timing's just all wrong. This year worldcon is first weekend in August with the big Tolkien conference in Birmingham the following weekend. So I'll be in Birmingham. Sigh.

MKK

[cha.livejournal.com]

You know - I was quite interested int hat - went to the website and had the SHIT scared out of me heheh - I mean, they basically claim that no diets work - that I'll gain back all the weight of lost and more (which so far definately isn't true) and then I thought hmmm... aren't they kind of doing what they say that others do - which is making broad generalizations? I thought some of the informatin on their website was very dismissive - like remarking "I just feel better when I'm thinner" (i'm doing that from memory) - isn't proven. Well, does it matter? I, for one, do feel better when I'm NOT 334 lbs...which is why since 2002 I've been steadilly going down from there. I agree with much of what's there - but some of it I thought was yucky. I'm sorry to write all this here - but you just lucked into getting me while I was in a "readin'" mood :)

[firecat]

I haven't read everything on the naafa or bigsummerfun web sites. But there's lots of evidence that a large majority of people who lose a lot of weight gain it back within 5 years. I'm one of them. That doesn't mean you will be one of them.

It does mean that fat people ought to be treated for our medical conditions (instead of being dismissed with "lose weight and it will go away") and not discriminated against, since lots of us have not been able to lose weight permanently.

Anyway, most people at the events have spent a fair amount of time losing weight and some are currently losing weight; as long as they aren't shilling for weight loss at the event and don't mind that other people aren't trying to lose weight, they're welcome.

[cha.livejournal.com]

it sounds like a great event! I'm tainted... I joined a group here called "women living large" which was advertising itself as a group for women 200+lbs who were living actively and healthily and wanting to do some advocacy regarding size-rights. The first meeting I went to...I watched a woman eat an entire strawberry shortcake... and I had taken my Mom with me...and I didn't know what to make of it.

There has to be a happy medium for everyone right?

heh - and I've never lost weight permanently ;) I mean - I figure I'm doing good at still being down by like 50 lbs since 2002

[firecat]

So the woman eating strawberry shortcake made you uncomfortable, like the group was a fraud?

[cha.livejournal.com]

interesting question... it made me uncomfortable because the first information I got from them was a pamphlet talking about how fat people generally eat exactly like or slightly less than fat people. I guess, eating an entire strawberry shortcake -w asn't my idea of that.

[firecat]

My understanding is that fat people don't as a group have different eating habits than non-fat people.

Which means, since people who aren't fat sometimes have strange eating patterns, fat people sometimes have them too. In other words, some people sometimes eat a lot of sweets at one sitting, and those people might be either fat or thin.

Granted, since women's eating, and especially fat women's eating, is scrutinized and judged, it's rare to find a fat woman eating a lot of sweets at one sitting in public. So I guess I can understand its seeming shocking to you, to the point where might have overshadowed what the other women might have been doing or the purpose of the group.

[cha.livejournal.com]

That's very true...and there were many more things about the group that I found quite disheartening -b ut - I know that all groups have problems like that - especially when they're minorities themselves. In the end I did work with one woman and go to do a public presentation to the Human Rights Commission :)

[firecat]

I'm sorry the group had problems. I'm glad you found someone to work with and did some activism! You rock.

[cha.livejournal.com]

I hope it's ok - to keep having this conversation here :) I was thinking about this mini-convo we had while I was at the gym this morning...and part of my problem with the women at the group might have been something I should have owned. When I showed up there - my impression would be that their goal was to break stereotypes...and I guess - ie. eating an entire cake - seemed very much like re-inforcing a stereotype to me. But, I guess that was the stereotype that I had in my own head. I don't know...ya made me think heh

[firecat]

my impression would be that their goal was to break stereotypes...and I guess - ie. eating an entire cake - seemed very much like re-inforcing a stereotype to me. But, I guess that was the stereotype that I had in my own head.

A lot of people have that stereotype.

A local fat activist sometimes puts on events that attract the media, and she asks people who are participating not to eat anything while they are there, because she fears the media will focus on that and not on the purpose of the event.

...and I see her point, and think she's a wonderful asset to the fat community. But I won't go to her events (at least the ones that are several hours long) because I'm not interested in going hungry just so the media don't have an opportunity to stereotype me.

[starcat-jewel.livejournal.com]

Y'know, I'll bet that's the only place we'd ever get decent sales on our "Woman of Substance" T-shirt. It's been on the website for 4 years now, and I don't think we've had a single sale; nor does it sell when we put it out at cons, where there are a number of plus-size women who don't buy into the "Thin Is In" mindset. I'm befuddled; can you provide any input as to why this shirt was, not merely not as popular as we thought it was going to be, but a complete and total flop?

[firecat]

What web site?

[starcat-jewel.livejournal.com]

http://www.instantattitudes.com -- he'd actually taken it off the site in favor of something newer, but I'm getting him to put it back up so you guys can look at it. Input from anyone very much appreciated, either here or via e-mail.

[firecat]

Thanks. I actually have a T-shirt that says "Women of Substance," but it's different from that one; the the lettering is larger and less fancy, and it features a stylized image of a large woman; I think she might be raising her fist or something.

I don't think the T-shirt I have is available any more.

Compared to your other offerings, which are clever and funny, the "woman of substance" t-shirt is kind of plain. I'm not sure the font goes well with the statement, since the font is kind of fancy.

Also you charge more for larger sizes, and some large people find that irritating. (Note: I know that the t-shirt manufacturers do it too, and it would be complicated for you to distribute that cost across all your sizes. So I'm not asking you to change your policy.)

So those might be contributing. I don't know.

[kshandra]

You know, there's actually been a NAAFA table at the last few local cons (largely because I think the person staffing it is married to the person staffing the Mars Society table)...would you like me to put her in touch with you the next time I see her (which'll be Memorial Day, most likely) and see if she'd be interested in stocking some of those shirts at the table?

[starcat-jewel.livejournal.com]

Yes, please! Thank you so much.

[porcinea.livejournal.com]

Yes, please, what web-site? I searched for "woman of substance t-shirt" but didn't find anything relevant. (Though I did stumble across HTTPanties: http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts/ladies/6792/ )

[kshandra]

I'll be in hardcore playa mode by then, but if I don't spend all my money (whatever I might have at that point) on camping supplies, I'll try and stop in.

[auntysocial.livejournal.com]

Need a room-mate?

[firecat]

Yeah! That would be great!

[auntysocial.livejournal.com]

Email me at LAvocado@sbcglobal.net to work out the details.

[fattest.livejournal.com]

Hey, if you are coming to town for this I want to come and crash the pool party or something.

[auntysocial.livejournal.com]

That would be great!

[fattest.livejournal.com]

You are a saint.