TOQ2026

January 28, 2026 – Subject to change

– 7:45am – Queens Arrive and start Prep
{Ken and Joey}. – Desha/ Photos
– 10:00am – Welcome, House Rules, Queens Intro with Team of Queens
– 10:15am – First Speaker
– 10:45 am – Queen Walk
– 10:50 am – Re-set the room {Find A Queen – mirrors}
– 11:00 am – Women of Wisdom Panel
– 11:45 am – Queen Walk
– 11:50am – Re-set the room {3 things – wood Crowns }
– 12:00pm – Ken Glover (Defend your Crown) – Charcuteri Boards handed out (or in the boxes)
-12:20 pm –
– 12:45pm – Cake Ingredients
– 12:50pm – Queen Walk –
– 1:00pm – LUNCH
– 1:20pm –
– 1:30pm – Ken Glover
– 1:45 – Kings to Queens Panel
-1:50 – Reset the Room
– 2:00-





January 23, 2026
Happy Friday Queens!

(this will probably be the longest update….but please read it thoroughly)

I want to thank you all for your continued support and strength. Every year, I walk away saying, I’m done, I’m not doing this anymore. It’s too much! And then something will happen, that lets me know…. Queens is necessary. Thank you for your support. I simply could not do this without the contributions from each of you. This year, I am changing our structure slightly, with hope that it gives the TOQ’s some down time so that WE can all “rest and retreat” as well.

******THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2026***********

I know that most if not all of you will be here on Thursday. I am not planning any activities for the group. I would like for you all to arrive and settle in. If there is something that you all want to do and I can provide some guidance, let me know. But I will not “personally” be making any group plans for us. I think I have heard from most all of the TOQ’s about your arrival times. Auntie Glenda is on the fence about coming back this year, she has a cruise planned and trying to manage both, so we may or may not have her to help with logistics. She cleaned the heck out of that kitchen, last year!

We have a block of rooms at the Embassy Suites, which includes a free shuttle between the LAX airport and the hotel. I will come back and add the phone number (please save to your phones). Keep in mind, the Embassy provides a daily breakfast, has a full restaurant if you need something in between, and has a daily social, I believe at 5pm. As well this properly has an indoor pool, gym, street parking and is a short distance from Dockweiler Beach.

Due to some maintenance, we are moving our venue to Redondo Beach (we will return to the El Segundo Women’s Club in 2027). With that being said, you do NOT need to get a rental car. I would suggest that as we get closer, you all convene and just get an Uber to/from the venue for Friday/Saturday. If we decide to go out “during the evening” after the retreat, I believe we can manage between my car, Tiffany’s car, Beverly’s car and Ro’s Truck. On Saturday, the cars will be used to transport. To uber between the venues (El Segundo to Redondo Beach) will likely be “about $25 each way”. Sharing an Uber would be suggested and cost effective.

*********FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2026***********

On Friday, we will have the Retreat and I hope to end the day around 4 (still working on planning).

Tiffany, Ro, Beverly and I will have already taken care of the event bags/washed all the linen by the time you all get into town (Dena will also be here early on Thursday). However,….AFTER the retreat, please plan to help prepare food for Saturday. This venue wants to charge “extra” for the use of the kitchen, so we will be planning accordingly. We will need lettuce washed, chicken cut up, and veggies sliced (salad bar). I also want to do individual charcuterie boards, so we will need those prepped. They will be small and simple…just something for people to nibble on until lunch in served.

It’s up to the group if you all want to to an outing on Friday night. I just discovered a list of jazz clubs that I didn’t know existed. The outing is optional not mandatory. Don’t feel pressured to go if your body is not regulated.

***************SATURDAY MARCH 7, 2026****************

Saturday (we are at a new venue this year and we don’t have as much flexibility,…..). We can set up at 8am (we have done it before and if we stay on task (y’all tell Bev to stop talking….I’m teasing Bev!), we can set up that hall in 1 hour. The most tedious task is those seat covers. We have 10 tables and 100 chairs (we will likely need 30-50). I’ll create a designated team member for each task. Example: Jaria will handle the set up up for the entry and set up the dresses) Tiffany will set up the food table for contential . Someone will need to help me set up the stage area. That means….everyone else should be doing something else (smile)….. Again, Queens… we have ONE HOUR – AND WE GOT THIS…. WE CAN DO IT! The doors will open at 9:30 (and we can continue, but we want the space to be ready to receive by 9:30am. We have to be OUT of the venue by 5:30pm… so before the crowning ceremony (yes, I will do it this year), we can clean as we go. If we do it this way, this will be effortless if we stay on task. We will need to pack up the tables. My brother will be in town to take care of my dad. So between him, Adrian, and Ro’s husband. I don’t think we (the Queens) will need transport the items this year, but we do need to pack everything back up. A childhood friend, Joey mentioned he plans to be in town during Queens and if so, he will be available to help if needed. Thank God for good help.

OH OH AND OH….before I forget….. I need for the Team of Queens to learn the Boots on Ground line dance. We are gonna have some fun during the Intro (all of us). Ohhhh ohhhh ohhhh ohhhh… I got my Queens and my Crown! (bring your Crowns from previous years). I’m going to make badges for the TOQ’s this year. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Saturday NIGHT, we will celebrate a job well done and another year of QUEENDOM! I think Queens will be different this year…. even for the TEAM… at least this is my prayer. I know that Jaria is praying for us too (even though she hasn’t told me….I feel it).

***********SUNDAY, MARCH 8, 2026**********

Church is optional….. I know this is customary for us. But it has always been optional. I can tell you that we have about 5 new Queens coming to the conference this year because we wore our crowns to church. For our stay and play, I was thinking we would either do one of those hop on/hop off bus tours or the wax museum – collectively we can decide. I have personally never done either in Los Angeles (but I do a hop on/hop off bus tour in every city I visit). That is just a suggestion. If you all want to do our customary something “on the water”… we can plan for that too. Tiffany had suggested going to Catalina Island. There is also Santa Barbara and San Diego, we can do a day trip via Amtrak and have lunch “on the water” in a beautiful City which would be fun (keep in mind, that means an EARLY EARLY RISE). We can also (anyone can look/research) something local “on the water” I’m open to all suggestions!

Im trying to be as transparent as possible for a smooth transition. Questions… PLEASE ASK THEM BEFORE HAND…. During the Conference, someone will be designated to make a decision so that I can present Queens the way I want it in my head…. (which means… I can’t manage the Team and a million questions FROM the team). Ya’ll know what to do by now! …..and the bigger point is…. I TRUST YOU TO MAKE A DECISION! Don’t second guess your self…. call a shot, like a Queen!

Lastly if ANY of you want to list your business, brand of book in issue of CAREER Magazine, let me know. I will be wrapping that up in the next two weeks, it has to go to the printer a week before Queens.

Love to you all….