Thank you ladies, and gentlemen, for your support for Treasure Beach’s first-ever “Ladies Who Dare!” benefit production of Eve Ensler’s award winning play, “The Vagina Monologues,” Saturday, April 30th, 2011 at Frenchman’s Reef Restaurant and Bar.

The Treasure Beach community’s, (and beyond’s,) response was overwhelming – tears of joy and gratitude bubble up from within just thinking about it. The “Healing Advocacy Fund” for “Suzie” is becoming a reality.

Thank you to Elizabeth and Owen, owners of Frenchman’s Reef Restaurant and Bar, whom generously donated the space for our “theatre.” Thank you to Conrad, manager at Frenchman’s Reef. Thank you to Harvel Powell (Siwind) for loaning me chairs and a lamp. To Gloria Gibbs, for the loan of the lush greenery. To Aleshia Abrahams for the flowers, floral design, display and helping me clean up the next day. Thank you to Vincent Trenchfield (A Ganar participant) for handling ticket and merchandise sales.

And now to the cast: Thank you to Dr. Glenda Simms for priming the crowd in her own unique, inimitable style; the rest of the daring cast, Marie Sparkes, Eva Forde, Ingrid Blackwood, Jennifer Martin, Kamla Williams, Abby Brooks, Francine Binns, Cleopatra Dixon, Pettia Gay Williams, Rebecca Wiersma, Jean Genus, Saredia Trenchfield (A Ganar), Channoy Henry (A Ganar), Jodia Williams (A Ganar) and Jodi Ann Blake (A Ganar.)

I want to add that the young members of the A Ganar Leadership program whom participated as cast and crew, claimed, without a doubt, their “Future Leader” crowns. They are truly future leaders not only of Treasure Beach, but our world.

Abuse can often be akin to the uninvited guest at your party – you’re not so certain that you know them, but other people are familiar with them and are in fact quite comfortable with them it seems. But, you have a funny feeling you can’t shake. You’re not sure, something’s not quite right… Still, not wanting to be rude you hold your breath and let them in.

Ending abuse against women and girls, is not a case of them and us. It is not a case of pitting women and girls against men and boys. The Vagina Monologues' purpose, beyond entertainment and education is to inspire dialogue. To get us (all of us – women and men) talking about an issue that though it permeates our society (and, in truth, societies around the globe, knowing as it does, neither color line nor socioeconomic boundary,) is shrouded in secrecy. To see The Vagina Monologues, or to be in it, can assist in opening up much needed dialogue, for oneself and others, about abuse and its suffocating sidekicks, pain, shame, secrets, insecurity and fear.

I absolutely know that dialogue, daring to say, to tell, to speak out loud, is the critical first step toward acknowledgement, truth, and healing.

Ultimately, it is we women whom raise the boys and girls who grow up to be abusive men and women so it is critical that we are able to recognize abuse in its myriad guises for what it is.

I think Treasure Beach is ready for the dialogue.

I will be scheduling a follow up discussion and workshop in the near future.

Until then, thank you again, (those named and not,) for your support in word, deed, thought, action, or simply, online dialogue.

I feel swell about the overtone of your general points.It gives me hope that we can come together as men and women and arrest the ills that men and women are subjected to.The mature and responsible manner in which you expressed the intent and desire of the women you represents are very heartened and can points to the direction in which our society should be going.Until our society can recognize men and women irrespective of colour class or creed as valuable members of our society, we'll be like a dog chasing its tail.