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
Cari Boatright Cagle, Eugene Site Manager
Formerly of San Francisco by way of Eugene, has been active member of ACT UP!, a group of individuals committed to direct action to end the AIDS crisis. Additionally, she is an RN, a former director of two free clinics serving the medically indigent, a builder, a published author, a former professor, and a photographer. She is committed to LGBT causes and is especially active in working towards legalizing marriage for same-sex couples and ending DOMA. She is excited to be working with Eugene Hot Flash Dances and making it the premier once-a-month hot spot for the Eugene Lesbian community.
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!
Nadia Kelley, San Francisco Site Manager
It was love at first sight when Nadia came to our debut event in SF in Nov. 2010. She was immediately hired as our Bay Area Site Manager in-training and has successfully graduated. Her energy is infectious, accented by a pixie smile suggesting that she knows much more than we think. Nadia is passionate about helping create a hot space for women to meet and have a great time. Talk to her if you have any suggestions or comments throughout the Bay Area parties.
BJ Costilla, San Jose Site Manager
The newest member of our crew is BJ Castillo. We met BJ when she lived in Phoenix and attended our parties. She has since relocated to her native South Bay and continues her stay as our San Jose Site Manager.
“Hot Flash Inferno has been a long time coming. We are very delighted to be able to have an event for women who have careers and are settled but would like a safe, welcoming place to meet and dance our hearts away. I promise to make this a fun and pleasant experience for all of the South Bay Area women.”
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Dawn Kowalewski, Portland and Eugene Staff Photographer
Dawn Kowalewski travels from Portland to Eugene to photograph the warm and wonderful ladies (and many new friends) at Hot Flash events—and loves it! She is a foreign patent paralegal by trade but hopes to someday shoot weddings and portraits (especially for the LBGT community) full time. When she isn’t slaving in the corporate environment, you can find her shooting and processing hundreds of photos, cycling and dancing with her wife Monika, cooking elaborate vegan meals, or out walking their five dogs. Pink Dawn Photography is available to capture your portrait and wedding/commitment ceremony anytime & anywhere.
Stacy Wolf, Seattle Photographer
Comfortable behind the lens or dancing with the crowd, Stacy captures the Seattle Hot Flash Inferno experience. Noted for being one of the friendliest dances in Seattle, staff like Stacy make it easy to maintain our reputation.
JoLynn Otto, San Francisco Photographer
JoLynn has been a long time community activist, spiritual teacher, artist and photographer in the south bay LGBT community. After seeing how she captures moments in her photography that others miss, we knew she was our photographer of choice for all of our Bay Area parties!
