Ashley, Lyndzi, and I will be at the University of Wisconsin -- Milwaukee this week for two showings of "When Two Won't Do" the documentary on polyamory. It's put on by UWM's SEXPO series and the Department of Sociocultural Programming.

Here is the link to the list of events: http://www.aux.uwm.edu/Union/events/concerts/socio.html

Ashley and Lyndzi will be at the UWM Student Union on Tuesday, November 17th at 7:00pm for the first showing with a panel discussion including them and one other member from the Coming Out Poly sponsored Young Milwaukee Poly Group.

I will be at the UWM dorms (which I believe requires a photo ID to attend) at the same time on Wednesday, November 18th.

If you're interested in attending either show, please do. We'll be discussing it at the group on Wednesday evening, which will be meeting at its regular time -- 7:00pm at the Tool Shed.

Also (from Lyndzi), if you're not on the google group then you haven't been up to date on the Thanksgiving plans. It will take place at Lisa's house, which we will give the address out to everyone that's interested via email or at the group itself, on Sunday, Nov. 22nd (That's this Sunday, for the people like me that can't believe this month has gone so fast!). It's a pot-luck function, like the Poly Picnic, so bring something to pass if you're able to. Hope to see you then. ^__^

This past Wednesday we had the first meeting of Coming Out Poly Milwaukee, which is also dubbed the Young Milwaukee Poly Group at the Tool Shed. Ashley (Nyla) and I were afraid that there would be a rather meager turn-out, expecting only those people who we had personally invited to join us for discussion. We were thoroughly excited, however, when 25 people ended up showing to the group. It was beautiful, and we want to thank everyone who came out for doing so.

To me - and I think to Ashley and Lyndzi - it was wonderful to see so many people coming out to support us. The community has gone from a nearly silent minority to a visual group, and it's great. You are all part of our network now, and we welcome you with open arms because everyone within the poly circles needs to have people to connect with, to interact with, and to find comfort in. We hope that this group will be the beginning of a much larger movement here in the city to be able to provide in a way that there has been nothing previously.

With that being said, for all of you who made it out to the group - and for those who may have had other plans (or even had second thoughts) - we welcome you.

So I guess we're official. Milwaukee's liberal paper, The Shepherd Express, has mentioned us via their sex columnist on SexPress. I hope this brings about good tidings for the group, the community, and the city. I hope it shows people that we're more open than people believe; I also hope it allows others interested in poly or involved in poly to come forward and be a part of the community.

Recently, Nyla, Elle, and I met with some new, young, poly friends. Betty and Dan (not their real names) were very inquisitive, open-minded, and sweet. We've not really had much experience with the younger poly crowd, as people in our age bracket seem to be insecure about their own position in the world and in the community. Dan said something to us that I think rings true for a lot of those interested in poly or just starting out. "Is this normal? I mean, is what we're doing - what we're going through - normal?" Polyamory, in short, is not normal; or, rather, it's not the accepted norm. However, there are some situations that are normal for a poly relationship. So I replied with "Yes. You're still normal."

I think it's important for those just starting out in a poly relationship to have others to speak with who treat their relationship like it's normal. It makes it easier for people to accept, I think. If you keep it secret, then it seems like you're hiding something or that you're ashamed of it. Nyla, Elle, and I have been very open about things for the past year to most people who are regulars in our life. To them, our relationship is uncommon and unknown, but it's not strange, and they don't look at us with distaste. That, I think, is important. I also believe that having a community like the one we're building, will slowly and steadily bring about more and more knowledge and exposure to polyamory and thus allow people to be more and more accepting of it.

So thanks, Laura, for the kind exposure to us and our way of life. Thank you, more so, for allowing us the use of your space because it means a lot to have people as open-minded and kind to turn to. I think I speak for everyone in the family when I say "Welcome" to everyone who - I hope - will become part of our community.