LEATHER ARCHIVES ON SOUND FOOTING

For Immediate Release
Contact : Executive Director Rick Storer

6418 N Greenview Ave
Chicago, IL 60626
773.761.9200

www.leatherarchives.org


Leather Archives and Museum Begins the Decade Financially Strong

The Leather Archives & Museum is beginning the decade fiscally strong and with exciting plans to further its work of preserving, archiving and displaying the history of the international fetish community. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, located in the Roger's Park neighborhood of Chicago, set record development goals in 2009 despite the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression.

President and Founder Chuck Renslow, who also founded the International Mister Leather Contest in 1978, emphasized the generous and growing support of individuals and leather organizations in the past year : "Thanks to our expanding support base, as indicated by a nearly fifty percent increase in membership dues as well as a fifty percent increase in contributions from individuals and organizations, The Leather Archives & Museum stands strong on a solid financial foundation. Indeed the organization is more fiscally resilient now than ever since its founding in 1991."

Mark Frazier, a recipient of the Pantheon of Leather Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006 who joined the LA&M's Audit Committee in 2009, reported that the annual audit indicates a 26% increase in the operating fund. "The LA&M is poised to expand its programming in the new decade, and hopefully establish an endowment fund to ensure the preservation of the fascinating history of the leather tribe for years to come."

The Board of Director's fiscal management in the past year permitted the LA&M to purchase the historically significant mural, "The Gold Coast Man," that was created by Dom "Etienne" Orejudos in 1966 to promote the legendary Gold Coast Bar in Chicago. The LA&M has several major initiatives for 2010, including the long-awaited Women's Leather History Project, the acquisition of the Marcus Herandez and Fakir Musafar collections, and the purchase of a new computer system to help preserve our leather history in a digital format.

The most recently filed Federal Form 990 as well as the financial returns for two prior years may be viewed at www.guidestar.org. For more information about the Leather Archives & Museum, view the organization's website at www.leatherarchives.org or call Executive Director Rick Storer at 773.761.9200.

NY RAWHIDE LEATHER CONTEST plus RON PERKOV!

The New York Rawhide Bar has just announced that it will hold its first leather contest the weekend of March 12. This, by itself, would be great news, but they've also just announced the contest's Saturday night entertainment - Billboard Dance Chart star, Ron Perkov. Perkov often works with famed DJ, Tony Moran, and if you're not familiar with his music, check out this video. It's sure to be a hot weekend at the Rawhide!

HEART OF AMERICA LEATHER CONTEST - SCHEDULE

THE HEART OF AMERICA LEATHER MAN & BOY CONTEST 2010 -- IT'S HERE!

2010 Heart of America LeatherMan and Leatherboy Weekend, February 5-7, 2010 in Kansas City, Missouri.


To start the weekend off on Friday night we are proud to announce the Official HOAL Meet & Greet ~Blackout Party starting at Missie B's @ 2100 hours~ featuring our Cigar Party & Demos! Join us as we introduce our contestants and staff for the weekend.

Saturday there will be world class educational classes presented by top notch presenters, followed by a luncheon prepared by the staff of Missie B’s & Bootleggers.

Here is the Class schedule: Classes are Free. Location is Missie B's- 805 W 39th Kansas City, MO 64112.

12:30pm

Master Malik- Mummification: A Journey Inward

Janet Ryan- Leather History in Pictures

1:30pm

UltraDomme- Fantasy to Reality

Sir Dart- Bondage Bullfighting

2:30pm

Sir David - Rough Body Play and Deep Tissue Bruising

Mid-Afternoon feel free to take a break and enjoy shopping on the Country Club Plaza, Power and Light District or just relax before the evening festivities start promptly at 2000 hours.

Sunday the victory brunch will be @ Missie B’s at 11:00am featuring the new Heart of America LeatherMan and Leatherboy 2010

A very Special Thank You to the Heart of America Full Event Sponsors:

Missie B's~The Leather Shop~The View on The Hill~Dogs World of Fun

Questions, Concerns or General Information:
Producer boy elena-


(c) 2002-2009 - KC boys of Leather

SENATOR MCCASKILL ON DADT

Two months ago, I wrote Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) regarding the anti-gay military policy, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." I'm posting her response, which appeared in my email today.

February 1, 2010

Dear Mr. Christopher,

Thank you for contacting me with your thoughts on the discharging of gay and lesbian
service members from the military. I appreciate hearing from you and welcome the
opportunity to respond.

The Pentagon's current policy on gay men and women serving in the military, commonly
referred to as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," reflects the belief that a service member's
sexual orientation is a private matter. Members of the military are not permitted to
ask about another service member's sexual orientation, and gay service members are
not to discuss their sexual orientation. The U.S. military has supported the policy
based on concerns for readiness and unit cohesion. The practical effect of "Don't
Ask, Don't Tell" is that it prevents gay men and women from serving openly in the
military.

Questions regarding the usefulness of the policy of dismissing service members who
reveal their homosexuality have been raised in recent years by military leaders.
Former Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff General John Shalikashvili (Ret.) and
former Secretary of Defense William Cohen have called for the repeal of this policy;
and former Secretary of State Colin Powell has called for a review of the policy he
helped craft. On November 17, 2008, 104 retired generals and admirals signed a
letter in support of the repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.

While numbers released by the Pentagon reveal that fewer gay service members have
been discharged since the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq began, personnel serving
in critical operations for the war on terror, like Arabic and Farsi linguists, have
been forced to leave the service.

President Obama has stated that it is time to end the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"
policy, and I agree with him. As our Armed Forces seek to add personnel in the
coming years, and the services' recruitment and retention policies are reviewed, I
believe that Congress, working in concert with our military leaders, should reverse
this policy . We must recognize that thousands of brave, gay Americans have served,
and served well, in our military.

Again, thank you for contacting me. Please do not hesitate to contact me in the
future if I can be of further assistance to you on this or any other issue.



Sincerely,

Claire McCaskill

United States Senator

P.S. If you would like more information about resources that can help Missourians,
or what I am doing in the Senate on your behalf, please sign up for my email
newsletter at www.mccaskill.senate.gov.