Tri - Ess

[Martha G]

I have seen this organization on the web and wonder if any of you girls belong


Is it worthwhile joining?

[Melissa73]

ive seen it, never attended... but id like to..... i hear there is a membership fee to join!

[Fiona123]

There is a tri ess chapter in minneapolis. I live 70 mi away. I never been to a meeting though. I wonder if any of my mn sisters could comment?

[mykell]

hi martha,
i found tri-ess years ago and the fee did keep me from joining, but i was more secretive then also....the one opportunity to get to an outing for the holidays was meet with inconvenience when i even had a sister here vouch for me, i was passed about for vetting that never occurred.

i now have started my own meet-up and i also attend pflag meetings, i will copy some links,
http://www.meetup.com/

https://community.pflag.org/

just add your closest large town and it will show the most local locations, with meetup just add key words crossdresser, MtF, LGBT friendly, ect. and it will list the closest meet-ups....

[Sarah Doepner]

There are several chapters around the nation. We have one in Salt Lake and it's been around for several years now with a small but stable membership. We do have fees and by-laws, but the reason for all of that is we consider ourselves to be a resource for the crossdresser and their family. The by-laws give us the structure we need to be accepted in the wider community and offer our best efforts toward confidentiality. The fees primarily go to provide a safe place to meet, offer education, do some outreach, schedule a variety of social events, participate in the wider LGBTQ community and do what we can to help everyone involved understand they are not alone nor are they to blame. Here is a link to the national organization. Maybe you will find a chapter near you. Each one has their own schedule and focus, so your mileage may vary from what you might find here in Utah.

[Dana44]

I've tried to get in contact with the Austin Tri-ess and they never responded. I wonder if they are still there.

[Chelsea B]

I contacted the chapter here in Los Angeles months ago for membership materials, and got no response. I assumed they were defunct with a web site still online.

[Georgette_USA]

I have not heard of Tri-Ess in years. Didn't know they were still around. They were one of the organizations I heard of in the 70s.

[Kate Simmons]

From what I've understood Tri-ess tends to lean towards married couples with an understanding wife.

[ShannonDragon]

I belong to the local CD/TG/TS group here in Indianapolis - IXE.
We have a small annual fee that helps pay for our web site and PO Box.
Also have a small meeting fee as we pay rent where we meet.
The closest Tri-ess group to us is in Chicago - Chi Chapter but I've heard they have dropped their Tri-ess affiliation.
At one time, you paid dues to both the national and local organization.
They were a male heterosexual CD group only

[Phoebe Reece]

Tri-Ess is still in existence. It is not as big or influential as it was some 20 years ago. I have been a member continuously for the past 15 years and also was a member in it's formative years in the late 1970's and early 1980's. Today, the national organization runs a website and publishes an online magazine (for members only) once or twice a year, and is a source for some information pamphlets about crossdressing. The national Tri-Ess organization doesn't do much more than that these days.

Tri-Ess chapters are another story. The local chapters is where real outreach occurs for the membership. Chapters have meetings, go out in public, help counsel wives / S.O.'s, do outreach at universities and colleges. But each chapter is very different. Some chapters meet for only a couple of hours once a month. Other chapters have activities that span entire weekends. Membership in some chapters may number only half a dozen, while some others may have 50 or more. Each chapter has its own organization and By-Laws and its own dues structure and requirements for membership. The only way to find out if a chapter nearest you will meet your own needs is to contact the chapter directly and find out first hand.

If anyone is interested in finding out more about the Sigma Epsilon chapter, based in Atlanta, Georgia you can send me a PM or email and I'll be happy to fill you in on what my chapter does.

[heatherdress]

I attended several Tri-Ess meetings as a welcomed guest. I found everyone to be very friendly and I enjoyed the meetings, but not enough to become an on-going member. The "dues" were very reasonable and simply covered the cost of the meeting room and refreshments. The meeting had agenda. It was held in a hotel and there was a room to change if you did not want to travel dressed. There was about 20 members in attendance.

This was my experience: I made contact with the local Tri-Ess leader and spoke to him a few times by phone. He invited me to their monthly meeting in a local hotel. He said I could attend dressed or not dressed. I chose dressed and packed my outfit. He met me in the hotel parking lot on a Saturday afternoon. We had a coffee together and he provided history and group rules (primarily privacy rules). He then brought me to a room where other members took turns dressing and introduced my to everyone. When everyone had arrived, we stared the meeting with introductions for me and another new prospective member. There were several "old business" topics discussed (past events). The there were several social events discussed where responsibilities were established. There was a guest "speaker" who gave a presentation and led a discussion on legal issues, rights, law enforcement concerns etc. There was then some open discussions which were enjoyable and everyone participated. We ate a pot-luck meal together. Shared stories. Then everyone went down to the hotel bar where we had a room and enjoyed a few hours socially. Some spent the night in the hotel. Some them went home. I went to a few more meetings which were similar.

Spouses were welcomed if married, but did not attend the monthly meetings I was at. I was told they were welcome, but usually only attended functions and events. The Tri-Ess group was an older group. All were nicely dressed - heels, dress, hair. They planned bi-monthly outings at restaurants and shows. Most were long-time members but had minimal affiliation with other Tri-Ess groups. The most important benefit of members were their strong and lasting friendships. Everyone knew each other, liked each other and helped each other when needed. They maintained contact by email messaging and shared ideas and experiences almost daily. I did not join because I found a Meet-Up group closer which were more active, larger and more diverse.

[SANDRA MICHELLE]

I used to go once a month to the Chi-TriESS with my wife, it was really a good place to go back about 12 years ago. We stopped going when I started feeling guilty about my wife giving me all the support and me not really reciprocating. I went through a period of "too bad for you woman" not a good stage of my life. We are all good now but I never went back to the meetings, I prefer to go out more on my own or my wife and I go shopping enfemme and to the casino at times, she is my rock.