Dotti Berry
SO Program - Overview and Welcome Message (no session)
Presenter: Dotti Berry
SO Lounge, on Monday May 12 at 9:00AM
2025 Esprit Theme for SO’s and Couples: TBA
Presenter Info
Dotti Berry, CEO of Training2Transform Global Communications, was “Born to Coach.” This is her 21st year (22 if you count the year she was an apprentice for Dr. Sandra Cole during her last year) as facilitator of the Esprit SO/Couples Program, working with both Significant Others and Couples.
She is a Consultant, Coach, Trainer/Facilitator & Speaker. She worked on her doctorate in Human Sexuality. She studied with Brian McNaught, called the "Godfather of Gay Sensitivity Training" by the New York Times, at the Thornfield Annual Conference on Sexuality, where she completed a special track on corporate diversity and gay and transgender issues in the workplace. She works passionately for the acceptance and inclusion of the community of transgender, gender diverse, and gender questioning individuals, saying, "Not only should they not be left behind, we must invite them to lead the way and take a place at the head of the table." During 2017, Dotti and Brian McNaught created live hangouts called “Talk With America.”
Their intention was to:
- Create a place where we can meet and talk with wisdom, grace, and humor about how we are reclaiming our realities and envisioning our future.
- Compassionately listen as we engage with people in our lives who have different attitudes and opinions about issues we hold dear.
- Respond, vs react, as we take actions that reflect the values we hold true
- Embrace transformational vs adversarial interactions
Dotti says, “If we really, truly want to hear and understand how our family, friends, or antagonists feel, there are ways to make it easier for them to talk, and for us to listen. What we did at Talk With America has application to what we do at Esprit through the SO/Couples program.”
Dotti has coached the expansive spectrum of gender diverse persons one-on-one, and has also keynoted conferences. Additionally, she has facilitated groups for SO's and couples at other conferences such as Fantasia Fair, Southern Comfort, and IFGE (International Foundation for Gender Education), in addition to her ongoing work with Esprit.
Dotti has authored various articles, and since 1985, has worked with both youth and adults one-on-one, as well as facilitated seminars and workshops for organizations, universities, corporations, religious institutions and Leadership classes. Sodexho, Info Quest Clinical, the Girl Scouts, NCCJ (National Conference of Community and Justice), the University of Kentucky, Women Out Front, and Soulforce are some of the diverse groups who have secured her services in the areas of executive coaching, personal transformation, LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) issues, diversity, team-building, and non-violent process.
Two Women & a Poodle, Dotti Berry, her spouse, Robynne Sapp, and their standard poodle, Rylee Joy, completed a year long journey, www.GayIntoStraightAmerica.com, in 2005/06, with the intention of engaging hearts and minds, creating authentic connections, and transcending differences that separate us. They traveled throughout the state of Washington in 2012, speaking about the importance of The Freedom to Marry for ALL. Unfortunately, they lost Rylee Joy, their black Standard Poodle on April 6, 2016. They welcomed a new addition to their family, a red standard poodle, Baylee Joy, who attended her first Esprit in 2017. During Thanksgiving, 2018, they added another family member, Willow, Baylee Joy’s mother. The family of four look forward to being at Esprit 2024!
Message from Dotti Berry: The SO program at Esprit is invaluable for Significant Others, as well as couples who attend together. Whether you are attending for the first time or have attended multiple times, constantly creating your relationship in the “moment” is essential to its success and its ability to thrive in the midst of whatever obstacles you encounter.
Facilitating the SO program isn’t about doing “presentations.” The descriptions below merely serve as the foundation for the particular session. I facilitate the process, and we work with what each of you brings into the group session. YOU are the reason the groups work. It is the information and insights you share about your own personal journey that are key as others witness your process and vice versa. When you ask your personal questions and share your personal story, you enable others to tap into the reservoir of insights that are yours.
If you’ve participated in the past as a SO or as a couple, please join us again. Each year is new because you are constantly evolving and re-inventing yourself if you are alive and growing. You are not the same people as you were last year. You are like any any person/couple in relationship. You have new issues/situations which come up on a daily basis.
And if you think you have “done that already” because you already participated in the SO/Couples program at Esprit in the past, trust me, you haven’t! And it’s all the more reason to attend. Why? You could have “done it already” in a past year, but because you haven’t yet attended Esprit 2024, you haven’t addressed your relationship in the present...and that is what keeps it alive and vital.
The nuances of each relationship are different, adding texture and meaning to life in an expanded way as they are explored. Refuse to succumb to the ordinary and simply “survive” as an individual or as a couple in your relationship. Commit to examining and bringing to light all that is and relish the opportunity to discover how to thrive vs survive, whatever it takes!
Contact Information: Dotti Berry , CEO, Training2Transform Global Communications 1-360-305-0909 coachdottiberry@me.com
On Sunday evening there will be an icebreaker Cocktail Party for all of the early arrivals at Esprit. Snacks will be provided by Esprit and wine, beer and cocktails will be available from the no-host bar. The party starts early in the evening and is a great time to renew old friendships and see what folks have been up to since the last Esprit.
What's pickleball? This fast-moving court sport is rapidly becoming a fad all across the nation! Take a badminton-style court, slightly overgrown ping-pong paddles, two or four maniacal players, throw in a whiffle ball and watch the action start!
Join Esprit's own Sandra Finlay on Wednesday morning for an enjoyable round of golf at the beautiful Dungeness Golf Club in Sequim. Please note that this is NOT a course for inexperienced golfers!
Please note - this is a signup option only so we can gauge interest and numbers.
Suzanne has extensive past and current experience in law enforcement. She will teach you about awareness, avoiding risky situations, moving safely through different surroundings, a variety of self-defense moves, and how to handle interactions with the public and the police. Although this is a self defense course, movement is kept to a minimum and "dressing down" is not necessary.
As a great closing to our week together, Ginger Chien entertains us with a story or two. Her tales are always funny, touching and thought-provoking, and her engaging, personal style will captivate you from the outset. Please stay for this special treat and the end of our Farewell Brunch.