MVK Newsletter
November 2008
Introduction
It's been said that Hallowe'en is a gift for queer people, and that should be expanded to include kinky people. Enjoy the one of the few times of the year you can wear your fetish gear in public and nobody notices or minds.
As you know, we've decided to forego our usual first weekend party in November and focus on creating an even better event for December 6th. We really do miss you, and look forward to seeing you all for a great event in December.
Those of you who volunteer or have thought about volunteer with us will appreciate some exciting news about our storage solution! Check out the news section.
Messages from the Board
Annual General Meeting discussion
MVK had its second annual general meeting on October 4th. Thanks to the roughly 30 people who attended our year in review, our open discussion and our election.
First on the Board's agenda is financial stability. The MVK board has committed to completing our incorporation as a non-profit society. This will allow us to move ahead with many funding opportunities in the first quarter, and to help clear the existing debt from the previous year.
Once those steps are completed, it is our goal to work towards building stronger alliances with other like-minded organizations, increasing opportunities for shared education, increased outreach and community involvement, development of a broader variety of workshops and demonstrations, greater visibility of MVK the non profit organization - owned and operated by the community, and the replacement of present dungeon equipment and introduction of new stations.
In the longer range plans are the creation of weekend destination events with workshops and demonstrations.
Election Results
Our voting members made their voices heard and elected the following people to the board of directors.
President:
ladyRose
Former acting treasurer and she will continue to work as our party coordinator.
Vice-President:
Peter Tupper
Involved in the Vancouver BDSM scene for fourteen years, former President of Metro Vancouver Kink, he's served as the publicist for the National Leather Association of Canada, BC chapter, and later the Other Side. He wishes to apply his writing talent and contunie to serve as our communication coordinator.
Secretary:
ginger
Experienced management administrator with private and publicly held organizations, she has many years as an active BDSM lifestyle volunteer in Eastern and Western Canada organizations, as well as offering her time while living in Seattle with the recent expansion of space for The Foundation and The Centre, previously known as the Wet Spot. She is eager to leave a legacy by sharing her experience and knowledge in the BDSM culture, as well as bringing a solid administration knowledge, she will be a great addition to our team.
Treasurer:
Greg
Former vice president and volunteer coordinator
Directors at large:
He is trained as a librarian and hopes to contribute his organizational skills to MVK.
Kinbaku artist and the founder of Lifestyle Images, a fine art photography project on alternative lifestyles. He has also served on the boards of several local and national not for profit organizations, professional lecturer and author.
Co-host of the Naughty Table Dinner, an established figure in gothic community, it is his intention to improve community cohesion and communication.
Interested in human interactions, ideas and consent development, it is her goal to carry out the mandate of our organization, to provide education and safe environment for us to explore the lifestyle of BDSM.
Fabulously queer, founding member of VASM and was involved in various kink organization's development. Believing in building a community that he lives in, it is our pleasure to have him back as director and equipment coordinator.
The new and returning board members are honored to serve their community, and thanks the community for their support.
In response to Community request, the Board has created the new elected position of Ombud. The ombud is not a member of the Board, but rather an impartial liason between the Community and the Board. If you have a concern or issue with how MVK is being run, contact Ms. Ava in person or at mvk.ombud@gmail.com and she will raise the issue for you with assurance of anonymity. She will then work toward resolving the issue between you and the Board.
No Vancouver Dungeon play party in November
After some consulting with our community, Metro Vancouver Kink has decided not to host the Vancouver Dungeon play party in November 2008. However, don't be sad. There will be lots of ghost and goblins going on at other events:
October 31st, Ghost Ship III (www.cruiseyt.com/ghost-ship.shtml)
Nov. 1st, Sin City Halloween Night (www.sincityfetishnight.com)
Nov. 7-8: Sagacity 8th birthday bash in Victoria (http://www.sagacitygroup.net/main/events/birthday)
Your new board is working hard on a spectacular event for December 6, 2008. Mark that date in your calendar!
MVK Events
Slick bath house party: we hope to be back
Due to lost of our venue due to issues beyond our control, Slick, our bath house event, will be put on haitus until further notice.
Vancouver Dungeon play party: Dec 6
Mark your calendars! Vancouver Dungeon is coming back for Dec 6. Look forward to a great workshop and play party in the evening, plus a hands-on event in the afternoon as well! Stay tuned.
Community Calendar
Ghost Ship
A four hour party cruise through English Bay and beyond, featuring house, goth and industrial music as well as MVK's dungeon equipment in the play area.
Date: Friday, October 31st
Boarding: 7 pm
Departure: 8 pm
4 hour cruise (back at midnight)
Partial proceeds to Greater Vancouver Food Bank
$30.00 before October 15th
$40.00 after October 15th
(Online, or at Little Sisters, Priape or Deadly Couture)
$45.00 dockside (if available)
Includes Light Meal
(GST included)
For more information, see http://www.cruiseyt.com/ghost-ship.shtml
Bizarre Fetish Ball
Back for a second year, the Bizarre Fetish Ball features Bianca Beauchamp, Empress Stah and Anastasia Pierce. Includes dance floor, play stations and fetish vendors.
Saturday, November 15th, at the Biltmore Cabaret
For more information, see http://www.bizarrefetishball.com/2008.htm
Features
BDSM organizations matter
By Peter Tupper
Metro Vancouver Kink began in 2007. Today, even mainstream book stores carry manuals on BDSM play. The Internet gives people access to support and instruction (and entertainment) for many forms of alternative sexuality. Many cities have play parties. What is the purpose of a non-profit, community-based BDSM organization, in the tradition of TES or the Society of Janus, when other institutions provide many of the same services?
Organizations matter because they spread knowledge and demonstrate social norms, neither of which are taught by mainstream culture. BDSM is not only a body of procedural knowledge, such as how to bind or flog safely, it is an ethos. That ethos is the difference between dominance and submission, and abuse, and that is best taught by example.
Organizations matter because while people may be born kinky, nobody is born a part of the kink culture. People need a helping hand to initiate them, to make that step from contemplation to action. That hand should be from someone who is not motivated by commerce or clique-building or pushing his or her “one true way.”
Organizations matter because BDSM is the most visually striking example of alternative sexuality. Now that the sight of two men kissing doesn’t quite shock the way it used to, culturally conservative forces need to deploy images of BDSM to rile up their supporters. They use that to attack events like the Folsom Street Fair, as a way of attacking GLBT people. Thus, kinky people need representatives and advocates.
Organizations matter because people working together outside of the corporate and governmental sectors are a key indicator and component of a healthy democracy. That applies whether the group is running BDSM play parties or collecting butterflies.
That is why MVK exists as an institution, and why we need people to make it exist.
News
MVK gains on site storage!
MVK has scored a major coup in moving our equipment from a storage locker off South West Marine Drive to on-site storage at the Capri Hall. Not only does this save us a significant amount of money for storage and transportation, it makes setup and teardown faster and easier for our volunteers.
Sagacity celebrates 8th birthday
Sagacity enters into its 9th year of socialising and sharing with gatherings, workshops, and play parties. Sagacity is the largest group of kinksters on Vancouver Island, and looks forward to presenting a weekend extravaganza of fun and learning. Nov.7-8 in Victoria
Link
Max Hardcore sentenced
Paul Little, aka Max Hardcore, was sentenced by a Tampa Bay court to 3 years and 10 months in prison for selling and distributing hardcore adult videos involving humiliation, golden showers and vomiting.
Link
UK BDSM people protest criminalization of pornography
CAAN (Consenting Adults Action Network) has been protesting changes in UK law that could criminalize the possession of pornography in January 2009.
Link
Masthead
Publised monthly by Metro Vancouver Kink Society. Edited by Peter Tupper, vice-president and communications coordinator.
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