Pauline Miriam, Founder/Event Promoter
Hot Flash is the brain child of Pauline Miriam, a political organizer from the 70′s (anti-war, gay liberation, lesbian liberation, the 70s women’s movement). Finding herself unexpectedly single at age 50, Pauline found her options for meeting women her own age were extremely limited. With necessity being the mother of invention, Hot Flash Dance Parties was created.
Thirty-six years of volunteer political movement work and leadership positions beginning at age 12 (President of my Phila. B’nai B’rith Girls Chapter) laid the foundation for Pauline to begin Hot Flash and the rest is history.
Now in its eighth year, Hot Flash Inferno has grown beyond the wildest dreams of Pauline, with dances throughout the West Coast, Arizona and Texas.
Voted “Best Women’s Dance Regardless of Sexual Orientation” in Best of Seattle 2008 Magazine, Pauline hopes to continue producing some of the best retro women’s dances in the country.
And, by the way, after eight years of independently fierce living, Pauline has settled into quiet domesticity with her loving sweetheart, Joyce, who she met at a Hot Flash dance.
Joyce Schiltz, Hot Flash Boi Friday
As our in-house graphic designer and bookkeeper, Joyce’s attributes are razor-sharp. Her acumen with our records is met by her incredible social skills. Found close by Pauline on most occasions (or otherwise on the dance floor), Joyce is the woman whose shoulders are the broadest as she is tactful, thoughtful and always finds a way to calm and control any situation. You’ll find an easy smile and welcoming shoulder with Joyce.
Aurea Astro, Seattle Staff Videographer
Aurea Astro is our videographer and social butterfly extraordinaire. She has become a familiar face – and smile – fluttering about the dance floor taking names and making friends. She is also our longest running 20-something patrons, citing, “It’s where I belong!” Never without her video camera, often packing extra audio equipment and notepad, Aurea has singlehandedly built an impressive video library alongside our extensive photo gallery. Check out www.youtube.com/hotflashdances for event highlights, city sizzle reels, and her signature series of “rapid fire Q&A” with Hot Flash attendees. Friend her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/aurea.astro; you’ll be glad you did!
Alley Hector, Web Designer and Administrator
Alley Hector designs and develops websites for LGBT community members and non-profits and does technical support for a bicycle infrastructure and advocacy consulting company. She has been the founder, edit-in-chief and technical director since 2008 of a successful blog for and about the Portland queer community, qPDX.com. This combo might make her a perfect Portlandia parody but she likes it that way. The heart of a geek with the liver of a party girl, Alley came on board for a full redesign of the site Fall 2011.
Tracy Hyslop, Social Media Administrator
Tracy is a 4th generation Oregonian who will never tire of the Pacific Northwest and the progressive environment it provides. She is currently pursuing what she loves: social media, nightlife, entertainment, and everything queer. Yes, she does have other interests, but you’ll have to ask her about those!
She is a self-described geek, loving everything techie to Trekkie to the obscure. Her friends state she can keep a secret indefinitely, is loyal to a fault, and prone to harmless mischief in her constant pursuit of memory-making moments. Tracy can be characterized as a doer of life who is eager to see where the next path leads, and is known to masquerade as a really nice girl in her spare time.
LOCAL SITE MANAGERS
Kelcie Kopf, San Diego Site Manager
Kelcie is originally from Texas and moved to San Diego three years ago. She started a social group for lesbians that now has over 430 members and is growing everyday. In addition to organizing the social group, she has been active as an organizer for the Dyke March, a member of the Women’s Advisory Council for the LGBT Center and is the volunteer coordinator for San Diego Indie Fest. She’s heading up San Diego Hot Flash Dances and has had a blast with all the ladies so far and is looking forward to expanding the Hot Flash inter-generational community in San Diego!
Jana Rifkin, Long Beach, CA Site Manager
Jana has been in the hospitality industry for over 20 years. She has worked as an event planner for several of the top promoters in the country doing alternative events for women. She started her own party staffing company, A-List Party Staffing Service in 2005 and then took ownership of Hospitality Party Helpers in 2007. She has promoted events in West Hollywood, the San Fernando Valley and Long Beach. Jana believes in community accountability and will be including local fundraisers at Inferno. She is currently producing several TV shows in California, Chicago, and the NorthEast. She is looking forward to becoming the new site manager for Inferno Hot Flash Long Beach and is looking forward to meeting new women, making new connections and helping the community to have a great time always!
Marie Brand, San Francisco Site Manager
Originally from Southern California, Marie has been living in San Francisco for the past 8 years and knows a good time when she sees one! You can usually find Marie in the middle of the malay at your local queer dance spots, dancing her booty off. Marie has been working and volunteering with the GLBTQ community for the last 12 years and is really excited to be able to work with Inferno dance parties. Marie brings with her a bright smile, an easy going personality and a passion for creating accessible and fun good times for the local lesbian community. She comes to Inferno ready and willing to shake a tail feather and hopes to help create an even bigger and better Inferno party….”LET’S TAKE THIS TO VOLCANO STATUS”
JoLynn Otto, San Jose Site Manager
I am so proud to be working with the Inferno team. I remember well my first SF Inferno dance in February 2011. I immediately thought, “Wow, I’ve explored women’s clubs from Paris to NY during my youth, and I’ve been living in the bay area all my life…but I have NEVER seen a women’s dance of this caliber!” I was so impressed that I took a trip to Oregon a few months later to check out the monthly Inferno Dance in Portland. More importantly, I took the trip to personally meet the Inferno founders. As a long time community activist, I found myself very curious and keenly interested in these women. Who are the women with the magic touch behind Inferno? Everywhere they go, they literally set thelesbian community on fire with their dance parties. Given San Jose has been without a women’s club for a long time, I felt if anyone can light a fire in my home town and bring the women’s community back to life it’s definitely Inferno! Well, it took less than a year to bring that vision to fruition, but that’s exactly what happened! Although, I have primarily been doing the photography and event promotion for SJ Inferno, I now look forward to bringing the full breadth and depth of my LGBT work experience to Inferno. My experience includes over a decade of grass-roots leadership and community service to the South bay LGBT community. On a more personal note, I feel there’s nothing more rewarding than seeing the joy and special energy that’s created when women finally have a place to come together.
