Re: [UUPoly-L] Introduction of myself and the Chicago Poly Conference

"Richard Keenan" <RiKeena1@wsc.edu> · Mon, 09 Feb 2009 20:27:49 -0000

Hey, Alan...good to hear from you and that you're happy in Chicago and helping to make
things happen there...I am planning some adventures in my own life...Starr King School
for the Ministry has accepted me for MDiv candidacy and I'm starting a career change to
the UU ministry.  That means moving to Berkeley and the Bay area in Summer.  So I'm
looking forward to getting back to civilization.  
          In another vein, I'm thinking of an article for your festival paper..."What
ever happened to skyclad"...Love & blessings on you and yours. 

Richard Keenan, Ph.D.
Department of Communication 
Wayne State College
Wayne, Nebraska  68787

>>> Alan Salmi <alan.salmi@yahoo.com> 2/8/2009 10:17 PM >>>

Hello Everyone,

I'm new to the list, so I though I would give an introduction.  I will officially be a
member of the Unitarian Church of Evanston on Feb. 22nd if all the paperwork goes
through, although some years ago, I was a member of 2nd Unitarian in Chicago.  I have
been a lifelong spiritual pilgrim and identify myself primarily as a NeoPagan
Hermeticist with Taoist leanings (I know, it's a mouthful!). After some reflection last
year, I "came out" poly after dating a wonderful woman who was poly and a professional
philosopher.  While that has transformed into a friendship (largely due to the one hour
of distance between us), it led me to a new label for myself.

I have to admit, however, that the signs were there from early on:  I got to know the
boyfriend of the girl I had a mad crush on in highschool, with no jealousy, I read
Heinlein, went to science fiction conventions where experimentation in relationships was
common (even before the word polyamory was invented by Morning Glory and Oberon) and had
a relationship with a girlfriend who was a "groupie" of an particular band member (what
the hell, I thought, every woman in the audience wanted the guy and he wanted MY
girlfriend, which I took as a large compliment!).  So, that label became appropriate.

Since then, I've been trying to read poly books, listening with some regularity to
Cunning Minx's podcast and going to her book club a few times (she's here in Chicago
with me).  I've also become involved with organizing the Chicago Polyamory Conference,
our first attempt here in the Windy City to do a hotel style convention with guest
speakers, etc.  We have several people giving talks:  Robyn Trask (founder of Loving
More), Cunning Minx (well worth hearing from all her adventures with the podcast),
Oberon Zell-Ravenheart (from the "first family of polyamory" and a personal favorite of
mine), Pepper Mint (an activist from San Francisco) and Lakshmi Devi and Ananda Santosha
(tantric teachers and poly coaches).  

So, in this economy, we offer a great chance to meet other poly folks in a nice warm
hotel in the midwest for a great price.  We need early registrants to make this thing
happen, so check out the site:  http://chipolycon.org/ 

Finally, if there are list members in the Chicago area, I'd be interested in knowing,
perhaps we can do a UU Poly meeting here!

Love more,

Alan Salmi, L.C.S.W.
Psychotherapist
Consultant
Lecturer
"Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible."
-Frank Zappa
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