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Leather Leadership Conference, Inc. |
July 1, 2007
July 1, 2006
April 9, 2006
Dec 7, 2005
April 20, 2005
April 19, 2005
Mar 14, 2005
Feb 11, 2005
Feb 2, 2005
June19, 2004
April 8, 2004
Mar 24, 2004
June15, 2003
April 12, 2003
June 16, 2002
April 15, 2002
April 13, 2001
Sept. 25, 2000
Special Notice
Press Releases
For Immediate Release -- permission to repost granted.
Contact: media-contact@leatherleadership.org
New LLC Board Members Elected
The Leather Leadership Conference is pleased to announce the results of its annual election to the Board of Directors.
Effective July 1, 2007 Sheryl Dee of California is re-elected to a second term on the Board. Incoming Board members are Stephen Bloom of Phoenix AZ, Pat Baillie of Albuquerque NM, Warren Williams of San Francisco CA and Stephanie "Sassy" Lynn of Minnesota.
Leather Leadership Conference is an organization dedicated to strengthening the SM/Leather/Fetish community through the development of the leadership skills of community members and fostering a greater sense of connection between and within community groups.
The LLC Board of Directors is composed of nine members and to maintain leadership and continuity, their terms expire on a rotating basis. In recently concluded annual elections, four new members were elected to the LLC Board of Directors.
Join us for LLC-XII in San Francisco, CA on April 11-13, 2008
More information about LLC can be found at www.leatherleadership.org or contact us at Board@leatherleadership.org
For Immediate Release
Contact: media-contact@leatherleadership.org
New LLC Board Members Elected
The Leather Leadership Conference is an organization dedicated to strengthening the SM/Leather/Fetish community through the development of the leadership skills of community members and fostering a greater sense of connection between and within community groups.
The LLC Board of Directors is composed of nine members and to maintain leadership and continuity, their terms expire on a rotating basis. In recently concluded annual elections, four new members were elected to the LLC Board of Directors.New members who were elected for 3-year terms are: Jennifer Skrukwa, a sex-activist from Vancouver BC, Canada; Jared Keen, a leather-activist from Arizona; and Alan, an attorney from New Jersey. Jonathan Krall, a sex-positive community organizer from Virginia was elected to a 1-year term. New board positions commence July 1, 2006.
The LLC Board would like to thank Cynthia Wright, Lolita Wolf and Libby Warren, whose terms have now expired, for their years of dedication that served to help shape LLC, Inc. to where it is today.
Join us for LLC-XI in Minneapolis, MN April 20 - 22, 2007
For Immediate Release
Contact: media-contact@leatherleadership.org
New York City - April 9, 2006 Record Attendance at Leather Leadership Conference-X Nearly 350 people attended the tenth annual Leather Leadership Conference over the April 7-9 weekend in New York City , where the first conference was held in 1997. In attendance at the Hotel New Yorker in mid-town Manhattan were elected leaders and active members of dozens of SM/Leather/Fetish groups, as well as individual community members, from 26 US states, Washington DC , three Canadian provinces and Germany . "An Exponential Experience" was the theme for the weekend. The conference opened on Friday with remarks from New York State Senator Tom Duane welcoming the assembled to his district. The honorable Mary Frances Berry, former chair of the US Commission on Civil Rights, gave an impassioned keynote address positioning freedom of sexual expression as a fundamental human right. Both speakers received thunderous standing ovations. The weekend was full of some 75 seminars, workshops and presentations on topics ranging from activism to events and volunteers to organizational development. Sunday wrapped up with more sessions and an emotional closing ceremony. Matt Foreman, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, gave the endnote address which called for those in attendance to embrace the sex in sexual politics in order to move the community forward. The conference concluded with the announcement that LLC-XI will be held in Minneapolis over April 20-22, 2007 at the Minneapolis Hyatt Regency Hotel. For more information about the Leather Leadership Conference, visit LLC 11
For Immediate Release
Contact: media-contact@leatherleadership.org
LLC, Inc. Granted Non-Profit Status, Launches Scholarship Program
The board of the Leather Leadership Conference, Inc. is pleased to announce that after a five-year review by the Internal Revenue Service, LLC, Inc., has been granted a coveted 501(c)(3) non-profit status as an educational organization.
To make immediate best use of this status, LLC, Inc. has established a scholarship program to help underwrite the cost of attending its annual conference for those in need.
Individuals interested in supporting this effort may make tax-deductible contributions to LLC that will help ensure the presence of community members who might otherwise not be able to attend the annual skills building, leadership development conference.
Donors may request that their scholarships monies be restricted to certain demographics (such as gender, ethnicity, geography, or sexual orientation). The LLC Scholarship Review Panel, consisting of LLC emeritus board members Jack McGeorge, Glenda Rider and John Weis, will take such considerations when distributing scholarships.
Contributions of any amount can be made towards scholarships on the www.leatherleadership.org Web site or by snail mail at LLC Scholarship Fund, 192 Eighth Avenue, #2, NY, NY 10011.
For more details please see Scholarships and Scholarship FAQ
For Immediate Release
Contact: Alan
media-contact@leatherleadership.org
LLC Board application deadline is April 26.
Each year, the Leather Leadership Conference, Inc., sponsors the world's only gathering intended specifically for leaders and active
members of Leather, fetish and BDSM organizations.
LLC is governed by an elected, nine-member Board of Directors, and
each year, three seats on the Board are up for election to a three
year term. Applications to be a candidate in this
year's election must be postmarked by April 26, 2005.
Leaders and active members of Leather, fetish and BDSM
organbizations interested in serving the national community as
members of the LLC, Inc. Board of Directors are invited to submit an
application for candidacy.
To download an application, Download application.
For Immediate Release
Contact: Alan
media-contact@leatherleadership.org
Leather Leadership Conference IX
The weekend of April 8-10, 2005, saw nearly 250 leaders and active
members of Leather and BDSM clubs gather for Leather Leadership Conference
IX at the Phoenix Crowne Plaza North hotel in Phoenix, Arizona.
Friday evenings' opening session began with drumming and Native
American Fancy dancers performing outdoors under a clear sky, then
continued with the keynote address "Vision, Passion and Direction;
The Right Stuff for Authentic Leadership" delivered to an
enthusiastic crowd by Master Skip Chasey.
The next two days began with breakfast speakers, Master Z of Dallas
on Saturday and Sierra on Sunday, and included thirty seminars and
workshops on a variety of topics. Among many excellent sessions,
presentations by Robert Bienvenu, slave caroline and David Stein
generated lots of discussion.
Attendees traveled from 26 states and three foreign countries
(including Australia and three Canadian provinces) to attend LLC IX,
and counted among them 36 title holders and members of at least
72 different clubs. The weekend was characterized by a relaxed feel
and lots of active networking in the warm sunshine of the hotel's
patio, and the many volunteers as well as the staff and management of the
Crowne Plaza North Phoenix produced an event which went smoothly
from beginning to end.
Sunday wrapped up with "Leather Nation, Leather Self; A Closing
Argument for the Leather Leadership Conference IX," an endnote
address by slave marsha, followed by the handoff from the Phoenix
LLC IX Local Organizing Committee to representatives of LLC X,
scheduled to take place at The New Yorker Hotel in New York City on
the weekend of April 7-9, 2006.
The LLC IX keynote and endnote addresses are available on the
website of the Leather Leadership Conference, Inc., at Library
For Immediate Release
Contact: Alan
media-contact@leatherleadership.org
LLC IX Hotel discount extended; Phoenix warm and sunny!
Attendees at LLC IX now have until March 25 to take advantage of a special
$89.00/night hotel rate, single or double occupancy, good Wednesday, April 6
through Sunday, April 10.
Follow http://www.leatherleadership.org/llc9/hoteltravel.htm link for
details
By arriving early, you can enjoy the warm spring sunshine and numerous
tourist attractions available in the Phoenix area. How's the weather where
you are?
Phoenix weather; http://www.wunderground.com/US/AZ/Phoenix.html
Arizona tourist attractions; http://www.arizona-leisure.com/
Pre-conference Reception scheduled for Thursday night.
Folks arriving early can meet and socialize at a mixer scheduled for 7pm at
the host hotel. Look for information at the registration desk!
Call for Posters still open.
As we look forward to having a larger and more diverse poster session during
the conference, we have extended the poster submission deadline. Posters
will be accepted until March 25. Visit http://www.leatherleadership.org/llc9/callforpresentations.htm for more
information on submitting for a poster session.
For Immediate Release
Contact: Alan
media-contact@leatherleadership.org
LLC IX Advertising Opportunities
The annual Leather Leadership Conference (LLC) is the world's only
gathering designed specifically for leaders and active members of
Leather, fetish and BDSM clubs, typically with more than 100
different organizations represented. Your advertisement in the
program booklet for the upcoming LLC IX in Phoenix April 8-10 will
bring awareness of your club, business or event to this unique
network of leaders and influential members from across the United
States who will in turn take that knowledge home with them. An LLC
IX program advertisement is a special opportunity for you to target
these opinion makers who are of special interest to you.
LLC IX advertising rates;
Back cover, inside cover $150.00
Full page 7.3" X 9.4" $100.00
Half Page 7.3" wide X 4.7" tall $65.00
Quarter page 3.65" X 4.7" $40.00
Program will be Black/White/Grayscale
Art Specifications; %100 @ 150 DPI, Grayscale, preferred format .JPG
For more information visit the advertising and sponsorship page of
the LLC IX website at;
http://www.leatherleadership.org/llc9/advertisesponsor.htm
For Immediate Release
Contact: Alan
media-contact@leatherleadership.org
LLC IX April 8-10. 2005
Phoenix and the beautiful Valley of the Sun will be the setting for Leather
Leadership Conference IX over the weekend of April 8-10, 2005!
Leaders and active members of Leather, fetish and BDSM clubs are invited to
come and enjoy this unique learning experience hosted by the LLC, Inc.,
Board of Directors and Phoenix' local leather community. There will be three
days of meetings, seminars and presentations all focused on the issues and
opportunities of Leather leadership, set against the backdrop of springtime
in Southern Arizona with its warm sunshine and many attractions and varied
activities. The Phoenix local organizing committee has secured a very
favorable hotel rate beginning three days before the conference and
extending three days after the conference ends, making it possible for LLC
attendees to expand their stay to take in local attrractions such as the
Grand Canyon and numerous outdoor activities as well as Phoenix's rich
nightlife and large and varied Leather/fetish/SM community.
Conference registration is just $80.00 until March 15! Visit the LLC IX
website at ttp://www.leatherleadership.org/llc9/index.htm to register and
to check out hotel, travel and local tourism opportunities. LLC IX from
April 8-10, 2005 is fast approaching--hope to see you there!
June 19, 2004
For Immediate Release
Contact: Alan
media-contact@leatherleadership.org
Annual elections
In recently concluded annual elections, sheryl dee of San Diego was chosen
as the newest member of the board of directors of the Leather leadership
Conference, Inc. A licensed clinical psychologist and life coach, sheryl
dee is American Leatherwoman 2003 and Ms San Diego leather 2003. She is
an
experienced presenter on topics related to slaves, submissives and girls
and
is one of the founders of the Leather Girl movement. Elected to second
terms on the board were Alan of New Orleans and Michelle Sigler
of Oklahoma City. All three terms are for three years.
LLC, Inc. board of directors for 2004-2005
The members of the board of directors of the Leather Leadership Conference,
Incorporated and board offices for the 2004-2005 term are;
Cynthia Wright, Los Angeles, Chairman of the Board.
Sheryl Dee, San Diego
Alan, New Orleans, Vice-Chairman of the Board
Larry Manion, St. Louis
Jack Rinella, Chicago
Michelle Sigler, Oklahoma City
Graylin Thornton, San Diego, Board Secretary
Libby Warren, Boston
Lolita Wolf, New York, Treasurer, LLC, Inc.
LLC 9 location and date
Leather Leadership Conference 9 will take place in Phoenix, Arizona,
April
8-10, 2005. Check the LLC, Inc. website at http://www.leatherleadership.org
for periodic updates on LLC 9.
April 8, 2004
For Immediate Release
Contact: Alan
media-contact@leatherleadership.org
News from Leather Leadership Conference 8, April 2-4, 2004
From Friday, April 2, through Sunday, April 4, 256 leaders and active members of more than 90 Leather, S/M and fetish clubs in 33 states, the U.K. and Israel gathered at the New Orleans Airport Hilton hotel for Leather Leadership Conference 8.
Organized around the theme "Routes to Power," the conference opened on Friday with a keynote address from attorney and BDSM activist Travis Wilson of Houston, Texas, who emphasized openness in approaching the future. Saturday's session featured 45 workshops dealing with issues of personal, economic, legal and organizational power, community issues and power and defending our lifestyle. Sunday morning saw six panel discussions, each concluding one track, as well as conference poster sessions. On Sunday afternoon author and therapist Dossie Easton of San Francisco delivered the closing remarks, once again emphasizing the need for openness in what we do. The conference concluded with the reading of a conference position paper developed by LLC 8 attendees. Titled "A Destination Proclamation; a Roadmap for Change in the Leather Community," the position paper consists of nine points of action recommended for individuals and organizations in the Leather, S/M and fetish community.
Elections to be held for the board of LLC, Inc.
Each year, three of the nine seats on the LLC, Inc., board of directors are up for election to a three year term which begins in July. Applications for seats on the board are encouraged from individuals reflecting the full diversity of the Leather/S/M/fetish community. The application form for membership on the board is available on the LLC, Inc. website at www.leatherleadership.org
News from the LLC, Inc. board of directors.
In board elections for the upcoming year, Cynthia Wright of Los Angeles was re-elected as LLC, Inc. Chairman of the Board. Graylin Thornton of San Diego was re-elected to the position of Board Secretary, and Lolita Wolf of New York City was re-elected to the post of Treasurer. Alan of New Orleans was elected as Vice-Chairman of the Board, replacing Glenda Rider of Baltimore, who is not seeking re-election.
LLC 9 location announced;
The LLC, Inc. board is pleased to announce that Leather Leadership Conference 9 will take place in Phoenix, Arizona, the weekend of April 8-10, 2005. Be sure to check the LLC, Inc. website for news of LLC 9 as it becomes available!
March 24, 2004
For Immediate Release
Contact: Alan
media-contact@leatherleadership.org
Travis Wilson of Houston, Texas will present the keynote address at
this year's Leather Leadership Conference (LLC) in New Orleans, LA.
Wilson will address "Leather Leadership in a Changing World".
"This is an important topic for the leather community," he says.
"As
leaders, educators, activists and everyday participants in our lifestyle,
it
is important that we understand the new challenges that will be
confronting our community in the coming years, and develop the leadership
skills to help our community confront those challenges in positive ways."
Wilson is a lawyer specializing in estate planning, small business, and domestic relations practice. He has represented many clients with alternative lifestyles over a number of years in both their business and their personal legal concerns. He has also represented several Leather organizations in issues ranging from their organization structures, to mediating disputes within the groups themselves. He is a member of the Kink Aware Professionals network and is listed in the Legal section of the group's web site.
Registration Coming to an End
If you haven't already registered online
(http://www.leatherleadership.org/llc8/registration.html), you
should do so at your earliest convenience. Online
registration will close March 29 at midnight. On site registration will
be
available, but receiving registrations online helps us
to be better organized by having name, badge information, and welcome
packages prepared in advance. It also means we can provide more accurate
attendance figures for food and beverage counts, programs, and seminar
Rooms Still Available
A quick check of Hotel & Travel page shows there are still rooms
available at the conference rate of $83 per night. However, it does appear
that some of the room preferences (non-smoking, bed size) are very limited.
If you want a room that will meet your specifications, we suggest you
make
a reservation very quickly.
You can make room reservations online at /www.leatherleadership.org/llc8/hoteltravel.html.
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact us. Contact information can be found at http://www.leatherleadership.org/llc8/contactus.html.
Join us in The Big Easy at LLC 8!!
For Immediate Release
Contact: Glenda Rider
media-contact@leatherleadership.org
New Board Members Elected;
In an election concluded on June 15, three incumbent LLC, Inc. board
members were reelected and two new members elected to the nine-member
board. Reelected were Libby Warren of Boston, Lolita Wolf of New York
and Cynthia Wright of Los Angeles. New board members chosen are Jack
Rinella, a Leather author and educator from Chicago, and Michelle Sigler,
a Leather activist from Oklahoma City. New board terms began July 1.
April 12. 2003
For Immediate Release
Contact: Glenda Rider
media-contact@leatherleadership.org
LLC Board chooses Officers for 2003-2004;
During the annual meeting of the LLC board of directors coinciding
with this
year's LLC in Boston April 11-13, the board's current officers were
reelected. They are; Cynthia Wright of Los Angeles, Chairman of the
Board
of the Leather Leadership Conference, Inc.; Glenda Rider of Baltimore,
Vice-Chair; Lolita Wolf of New York, Treasurer; and Graylin Thornton
of San Diego, Secretary.
New Orleans named as host city for LLCVIII
Also during the annual board meeting the LLC board formalized an agreement
to hold LLCVIII in New Orleans, the first time a Leather Leadership
Conference has been held in a southern city. Dates for LLCVIII will
be April 2-4, 2004, and the host hotel will be the New Orleans Airport
Hilton. LLC board member Alan was named as liaison to the
New Orleans organizing committee, which is headed by Timm Holt, an officer
of the Lords of Leather, and Ted Carter, an officer of New Orleans Bondage
& Leather Enthusiasts (N.O.B.L.E.) New Orleans' winning
bid was supported by sixteen clubs across the Gulf Coast region from
Texas to Florida. The New Orleans committee expects to announce the
theme for LLCVIII and submit a request for proposals for presentations
for LLCVIII by late August.
June 16, 2002
For Immediate Release
Contact: Cecilia Tan
media-contact@leatherleadership.org
Boston's Leather Leadership Join Efforts on National Convention
(Boston, MA) -- The seventh annual Leather Leadership Convention (LLC) will be held April 11-13, 2003 at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel. The local host committee announced today that the LLC 7 board shall be led by a triumvirate of three co-chairs: Natalie Lane, Vivienne, and Michael Moran. All three have had experience in running or chairing various SM/leather/fetish community groups: Natalie on the service board of the Boston Dungeon Society, Vivienne as chair and treasurer of New England Leather Alliance (NELA), and Michael as president of The Brotherhood.
Also appointed to the board were Amy B. (secretary), Bryt (treasurer), and Cecilia Tan (media relations). The rest of the board positions are held by representatives of the individual task committees which include: Daniel (design team), Danny (volunteers), Sabrina (registration), Puppy (fundraising and sponsorship), and Mistress Ren (community outreach). Tim Davis and Match Stick will head the programming committee, and Tweekie was named as webmaster.
The task committees will meet individually, each according to their own schedule and need, while the LLC 7 board will meet monthly. At this time no more board positions will be added, but individuals wishing to get involved may volunteer to help those committees seeking volunteers. For more information, send email to info@leatherleadership.org.
LLC, Inc. is an organization dedicated to strengthening the SM/Leather/Fetish community through the development of the leadership skills of community members and fostering a greater sense of connection between and within community groups. At LLC 7, workshops and seminars will be offered on organizational management, activism, personal skills, public relations and other topics to help leaders and activists become more effective. The annual conference also provides a forum where attendees may share their knowledge and experience with one another, fostering a greater sense of unity and understanding within the community as a whole.
April 15, 2002
For Immediate Release
Contact: Cecilia Tan
media-contact@leatherleadership.org
Boston To Host Seventh Leather Leadership Conference
(Boston, MA) -- The city of Boston has been selected as the site of the 2003 Leather Leadership Conference (LLC). The selection was announced at LLC 6 in Los Angeles by the LLC national board. Boston was among several cities bidding to host the annual gathering of leaders and activists in the SM/leather/fetish communities.
The Boston host committee included representatives from over 20 groups and organizations in the six New England States and upstate New York. The conference will be held at the Boston Park Plaza hotel, one of Boston's premier convention venues, from April 11-13, 2003. The host committee included representatives from many diverse SM/leather/fetish communities, including gay men, lesbians, bisexuals, heterosexual couples' groups, social organizations, fundraising groups, and local businesses.
LLC, Inc. is an organization dedicated to strengthening the SM/Leather/Fetish community through the development of the leadership skills of community members and fostering a greater sense of connection between and within community groups. At LLC 7, workshops and seminars will be offered on organizational management, activism, personal skills, public relations and other topics to help leaders and activists become more effective. The annual conference also provides a forum where attendees may share their knowledge and experience with one another, fostering a greater sense of unity and understanding within the community as a whole.
LLC 7 will be the first time the conference has been held in New England. Past Leather Leadership Conferences have been held in New York, Chicago, Washington D.C., San Francisco, and Los Angeles. For more information, visit www.leatherleadership.org.
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Lolita Wolf, Director of Outreach
media-contact@leatherleadership.org
Fifth Annual Leather Leadership Conference A Success
April 13, 2001: The fifth annual Leather Leadership Conference hosted nearly 200 leaders and activists from 21 states across the country, as well as the District of Columbia and one Canadian province in Chicago April 6th through 8th, 2001. This year's conference theme, Motivating By Example, was evident with the organization of the event by a cohesive group of volunteers led by Lord Suttle and MJ of Suttle Cares Leather Foundation.
Educational workshops in Organizational Management, Personal Skills, Community Issues and Activism were led by Joseph Bean, Mark Frazier, Allena Gabosch, Judy Guerin, Hardy Haberman, Jack McGeorge, Charles Moser, Ph.D., M.D., John Warren and others.
LLLC, Inc. is pleased to announce the addition of Graylin Thornton to the board of directors. "Graylin brings a skill set in fundraising and conference planning that is very useful to this organization," said Jack McGeorge, LLC, Inc. board member.
Next year's conference, LLC-Six, will be held April 12th through 14th, 2002 in Los Angeles. The conference co-chairs are Olga Cox, Carlos Populus and George Wong. "Choosing next year's venue in a timely manner allowed us to pick a date that will not conflict with other major events or holidays, said John Weis, Chairman of the LLC, Inc. board, "It also gives the host committee plenty of time to plan."
Proposals are being sought now for the next LLC conferences in 2003 and 2004. For more information and a bid proposal form, please contact Lolita Wolf at LolitaSSC@aol.com
The Leather Leadership Conference (LLC) is an organization dedicated to strengthening the SM/Leather/Fetish community through the development of leadership and management skills of existing and potential new leaders and activists and fostering a greater sense of connection between and within community groups.
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Lolita Wolf, Director of Outreach
media-contact@leatherleadership.org
Leather Leadership Conference Announces 6 New Board Appointments
The Leather Leadership Conference, an organization dedicated to developing
and strengthening SM/Leather/Fetish community leaders and activists,
is pleased to announce the appointment of six new board members. They
are: Glenda Rider of Baltimore, MD; Dean Walradt of Dallas, TX; Cynthia
Wright of Garden Grove, CA; Billy Lane of Seattle, WA; Libby Warren
of Brighton, MA; and Diana Bourne of Kissimmee, FL.
They will join Jack McGeorge of Woodbridge, VA, and John Weis and Lolita Wolf both of New York, NY, who currently serve on the LLC, Inc. board.
The six new directors were chosen from among 18 applicants by a 15-member selection committee. "We were extremely fortunate to have had an incredible pool of talent from across the country and Canada from which to choose," said Gil Kessler, committee chairman.
Selection committee member Viola Johnson concurred, "I was honored to be a part of the committee. I am delighted that so many qualified people wanted to serve on the LLC board. Clearly the conference is fulfilling a vital and much needed role in our community."
"We have a great team in place and we can now move forward with the important tasks of selecting the site for LLC-V in Spring 2001 and of finalizing our by-laws," stated LLC founder John Weis. "LLC continues to grow and change as the SM/Leather/Fetish communities participate in the development, planning and production of this annual skills-building conference. I trust everyone interested in seeing it succeed will stay involved and help shape its future."
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