This thread will serve as the information section for the 2026 candidates for OhioSMART Board of Directors. Feel free to ask questions in person at the Annual Meeting on Saturday, January 17, 2026 at 7:00 PM!

This thread contains the questions asked of the candidates, their responses, and the voting section of our by-laws.

Each applicant answered the following questions for review:

1. Are you running for an officer position, at large position, or both/either? (Additional option: Board Alternate)
2. List any experience you have with nonprofit organizations.
3. Please list any other leadership experience in any setting.
4. List the top three areas you would like to devote your time and energy to in OhioSMART leadership.

Scene Name: Vexation

1. Officer Position
2. Treasurer of local fraternal org 2014-2024, At-large board member of OhioSMART 2023, Current treasurer of OhioSMART 2024-2025
3. Professional engineer 1999-present, Box office bitch 2024-present
4. Ensuring accuracy and transparency in all financial matters, Updating and improving OhioSMART's documentation, Simplifying membership and admission options

Scene Name: Neon

1. Both/Either
2. OhioSMART munch coordinator 2024 to present. OhioSMART board alternate member August 2025 to present.
3. I have work experience as a project manager leading projects both internally and for customers. Part of my work has also included developing and standardizing documents and practices.
4. Beyond assisting with the general running of the organization, I would like to help further develop our procedure manual, work to increase member activity, and improve upon our procedures.

Scene Name: ServiceElevator

1. Officer Position
2. 2 years on the OhioSMART Board. Prior involvement with non-profits and large interdepartmental teams in graduate school.
3. In all roles I've served, in the last 8 years: I have been heavily involved as a manager of multiple research projects, memory management (both academic and corporate), Data upkeep / dissemination, and manual / SOP writing.
4. 1. Website updating for membership use (ex., orientation on the website) 2) creating a board shadow and training program 3) Creating clearer volunteer roles and training

Each Active, Founding and Emeritus Member shall have one vote in the election of the Board of Directors. Such votes may be conducted during the annual meeting of the membership as permitted by resolution of the Board of Directors.

No member may vote whose annual membership dues are unpaid. Membership must be current as of the Monday of the week voting occurs.

All members in attendance will first have an opportunity to ask questions of any of the candidates on the ballot, though members are encouraged to ask questions via the online forums ahead of the meeting time.

Members will first receive a ballot to elect up to 3 individuals from the Officer ballot. If someone attempts to elect more than 3 individuals, that ballot will be invalid and not counted in the final results.

Once the Officers are announced, voting will then commence for the At-Large ballot. If a candidate is listed on both the Officer and At-Large ballot, but is elected on the Officer ballot, they are no longer eligible for an At-Large position. Members may vote for up to 2 individuals on the At-Large ballot. If someone attempts to elect more than 2 individuals, that ballot will be invalid and not counted in the final results.

Additionally, we had two applications for Board Alternates that are listed below. Board Alternates are individuals who want to assist the board but may not have the availability or experience for a full board position at this time. These are board appointed positions.

Scene Name: ItsCherry
Scene Name: Kare_B

Email at info@ohiosmart.org for questions about the meeting itself, and we will see you on Saturday, January 17, 2025 at 7:00 PM!

Good evening! As a reminder, our Annual Meeting and Board Elections are on January 17, 2026 starting at 7:00 PM! Doors close at 7:30 PM. Please note: You must be an active member 24 hours prior to voting, on time, and present to vote.

This meeting will host our annual Board Elections and the current board will be holding a vote on changes in our membership By-Laws. The current proposed changes are listed below:

A vote will be held on adding the following:

ARTICLE XI

11.5 Special Event Committee Members shall be granted voting privileges akin to a board member when planning special events. They are beholden to the ethics and standards set by the board. Work delegated to this group will work autonomously from the Board’s daily operations. These committee members are appointed and removed at the board's discretion. 

1. When voting for special event provisions, a majority vote of at least 60% must be met to execute a decision. The Board is within its rights to override a vote, using the procedure outlined in article V, should there be a disagreement about any vote including Committee members.

2. Committee members will submit fiscal and project updates periodically to the board in meetings separate from Board meetings throughout the year. The secretary is required to take meeting minutes of each session.

In addition, the following will be added to governance of the organization:

The special event committee members shall serve as the arbiter of special events, as defined and delegated by the Board.

Please note, once voting on the By-Laws has concluded, we will be asking membership to hold the vote on installing the new board members.

Applications for the OhioSMART Board can be found here and are due no later than 01/03/2026 at 11:59 PM. All answers will be posted for the membership on Fet Life and on the website no later than 01/06/2026 at 5:00 PM.

As a thank you for your continued membership and voting, all those who attend the voting portion of the evening are invited to join the party after free of charge. As a reminder - you must be an active member 24 hours prior to the event to come and vote!

Please reach out to info@ohiosmart.org if you have any additional questions or concerns,

Thank you,

OhioSMART Board of Directors

On January 18 at the Annual Elections, the following individuals were voted onto the Board:

Chair @ServiceElevator
Treasurer @Vexation_
Secretary @KaRe_B
At Large @Jane_Cottontail
At Large @Leo_Moon_27

In the following weeks they will transition into their new roles! Thank you to everyone who came out and voted! And congratulations to our new board members!

This thread will serve as the information section for the 2025 candidates for OhioSMART Board of Directors. Feel free to ask questions in this thread, or in person at the Annual Meeting on Saturday, January 18, 2025 at 8:00 PM!

This thread contains the questions asked of the candidates, their responses, and the voting section of our by-laws.

Each applicant answered the following questions:

1. Are you interested in running for an Officer position, an At Large Board Member Position, or both/either?
2. List your history in the BDSM Community, including participation/leadership in special interest groups, volunteering experience, etc. Be sure to note any current BDSM leadership positions held.
3. List any other experience you have with non-profit organizations.
4. List any other leadership experience, in any setting.
5. List the top three areas you would like to devote your time and energy to in order to improve OhioSMART.
6. What specific goals do you have for your time in OhioSMART leadership?

Vexation_

1. Officer position
2. Ohio SMART Board At-Large 2023, Ohio SMART Treasurer 2024
3. Treasurer of Chariot of Eternity OTO local body 2014-2024
4. N/A
5. Continue to provide robust and timely financial accounting to the board and membership
   Assist with establishing Standard Operating Procedures for all board-related activities (including treasury functions)
   Find ways to automate or simplify activities required for operating Ohio SMART and its treasury
6. Establish new standards for internal (board-only) and external (membership) financial reporting

Jane Cottontail

1. At-Large position
2. Started attending OhioSMART in 2019. Play Space Monitor Regularly. Volunteered at past events. Participation in the greater Cleveland rope community.
3. Volunteered with Flaming River Con and Burning River Roller Derby.
4. President of College Club for Recreation Games
5. I want to give back to the community and support the board however I’m needed. I will attend almost everything, and I already arrive to most things early, so I can help with setup and run desk. I will also be available to welcome new people, PSM, and help as needed during parties.
6. Assist with the creation of a social Discord server. Collaborate with the greater Cleveland rope community to create new opportunities. Help bring special guests to events.

ServiceElevator

1. Officer position
2. I held an at large position last year and have been a member since 2021. Throughout my time at SMART, I have volunteered and organized a number of positions; as well as teaching/planning some Smart Ties classes.
3. STI outreach and health education in Grad school for Older Adults.
4. Project Management and Accounting/Payroll at my day job. Community organizing and Project Coordinator for research in Grad school.
5. SmartTies. Creating a consistent Volunteer Team that works with the Board. Rebuilding the Consent Liaison Role.

• Increase/Change Cyber Security and transition away from google services
• Continually updating our Policy/Procedure with our Legal counsel due to Post Election changes to laws for Non-Profits (e.g, HR 9495).
• Updating Our Website (e.g., vetting guide, penetration rules, ect)
• Contacting Presenters in Advance to bring out people from further away
• Planning for Outreach in advance and asking volunteers to man those tables/events more consistently.

Grey/Leo_Moon_27

1. At-Large position
2. I joined SMART when we opened back up in 2021. During my time within SMART, I have volunteered for multiple positions. I have been a proud member of the "Brute Squad" and a runner for Fetish Flea for the past 3 years. I enjoy volunteering for PSM shifts especially when interest for the shift is low. I am the current Queers SIG leader, and I have enjoyed breathing life into it for the past 2 years. I enjoy that our events bring regulars as well as new faces to SMART.
3. During my time in college, I was a "Panhellenic Delegate" for 2 years in my sorority and helped the different Greek Life organizations work together, plan events, and help the community. Another role I held for 3 years was the "Spirit Coordinator", where I helped with yearly skits for the talent show and plan events to get people interested in Greek Life. I also have non-profit experience in my professional life, and have for the better part of a decade.
4. I have been a volunteer coach for 3 years.
5. Increase interest in member volunteering. Fostering a positive, safe, and educational place for everyone. Broaden the horizon of what kink means.
6. By election time of 2026, I will have been able to bring in more diverse classes and find more opportunities for outreach.

Kare_B

1. Officer position
2. I started at OhioSMART in 2018. Throughout that time, I volunteered as a PSM, at Fetish Flea, and assisted in opening and closing at the old dungeon. Prior to COVID-19 I assisted in a Board Alternate role and came back in 2022 as the Munch Coordinator after the position became vacant. During this past year I have assisted OhioSMART as an At-Large Board Member. Outside of OhioSMART, I attend Dark Odyssey Summer Camp (2021 – 2023) and Fusion (2023) events. When attending, I stay with a group called The Compound and remain socially engaged with the group throughout the year. When at camp, I tend to act as a runner for supplies and generally volunteer when my skills and time align with group need. Finally, I am a general member of Titans of the Midwest and will lend a helping hand with marketing or other items when needed.
3. I have professionally worked with and in nonprofits for over 15+ years. In addition, I have a Masters in Nonprofit Administration with an emphasis on a Leadership in Nonprofits. I have planned events for over 2,000+ individuals and dealt in annual budgets over $100,000+ in my roles. I have led staffs of over 30+ and have vetted vendors from start to completion in all my roles post grad school. I have experience handling professional debit/credit cards and with reconciling budget lines with accounting. Finally, I have volunteering for nonprofits in some capacity since high school. Outside of kink, I currently am volunteering with Flaming River Con.
4. In my previous field, I was a mentor to younger professionals in the field and sat on a nonprofit leadership council in a strategic role which was responsible for a membership of over 6,000 individuals. In my current field I lead multiple projects across multiple settings in a globalized company.
5. These are in no particular order: Continue to work on administrational items which include (but are not limited to): firming up guidelines/best practices for the organization in writing, creating a larger feedback circle for membership, and bringing in presenters that represent the interests of members Continue my work with Fetish Flea 2025 to become a full weekend event with multiple days of presentations and vendors for our 30th anniversary. Work more closely with NCSF and other appropriate nonprofits to establish a consent liaison role, in addition to learning more about how to strengthen volunteer opportunities within OhioSMART.
6. Expand on what has been created: Writing down board best practices, creating more opportunities for feedback, and bringing in a diverse set of presenters that represent the interests of members.
   Continue my work with Fetish Flea: Particularly with vendors and marketing. I would like to expand when we market and how we market. Truly, the work that was started this year was a large push and I will like to see it expand. We had many different types of play parties, panels, educational events, and just fun things (like WhoDunIt and BINGO!) at the dungeon. There were various Special Interest Group events, another volunteer training (first time in the past couple of years), and Fetish Fleas vendors expanded into two dungeons this year! I want to continue the work for OhioSMART in an officer role.

Each Active, Founding and Emeritus Member shall have one vote in the election of the Board of Directors. Such votes may be conducted during the annual meeting of the membership as permitted by resolution of the Board of Directors.

No member may vote whose annual membership dues are unpaid. Membership must be current as of the Monday of the week voting occurs.

All members in attendance will first have an opportunity to ask questions of any of the candidates on the ballot, though members are encouraged to ask questions via the online forums ahead of the meeting time.

Members will first receive a ballot to elect up to 3 individuals from the Officer ballot. If someone attempts to elect more than 3 individuals, that ballot will be invalid and not counted in the final results.

Once the Officers are announced, voting will then commence for the At-Large ballot. If a candidate is listed on both the Officer and At-Large ballot, but is elected on the Officer ballot, they are no longer eligible for an At-Large position. Members may vote for up to 2 individuals on the At-Large ballot. If someone attempts to elect more than 2 individuals, that ballot will be invalid and not counted in the final results.

Post questions to the candidates below, reach out to us on FetLife or email at info@ohiosmart.org for questions about the meeting itself, and we hope to see you on Saturday, January 18, 2025!

It is time for OhioSMART’s Annual Board Elections! Elections will be held on 1/18/2025, during our January Third Saturday event. At this time, we are soliciting volunteers to run for the OhioSMART Board.

As a member, you can run for an at large position, an officer position, or both. To run you must be in good standing at least 90 days prior to the January 18, 2025 event. Officers include the President, Treasurer, and Secretary. Along with the two at-large board members, these officers comprise the OhioSMART Board.

If you are interested in applying, please email info@ohiosmart.org and ask for an application.

The application process consists of a few open ended questions about your relevant experience and the energy you hope to bring to OhioSMART. Once you have applied,

the answers to those questions will be made public on Fetlife and our website so individuals are able to access the information and make decisions on who they wish to vote for. All answers are due by midnight on 01/03/2024 so that they can be made public on 01/04/2024.

Please note: Board Members are volunteers. All Board Members are required to be at multiple OhioSMART events which can include: First Friday, Third Saturday, OhioSMART Ties, Special Interest Group Events (Gamers, Queers, etc.), and OhioSMART Members Only Parties. Additionally, Board Members are required to attend board meetings once a month. As a Board Member, you will be asked to work a couple of hours for each party in some capacity. This can include: setting up, running register, resolving issues, working with presenters, etc.

When individuals have expressed interest, the OhioSMART Board Members have also appointed Board Alternates, which serve as individuals who are trained in some capacity on Board related duties, but are unable to fulfill a full Board Member role at this time. If you are interested in a Board Alternate role, please email into info@ohiosmart.org for the application.

At this time, we will have one or more openings on the OhioSMART Board and we are actively seeking applications. If you love OhioSMART and have time relevant skills in party planning, account, writing, PR, etc. we would love to see you run!

As a reminder, voting will take place on January 18, 2025 during our Third Saturday event. All members are allowed to attend and vote, however; all non-members are not able to enter the event until voting has completed. The party is free for those members who come to vote.

Each year at Fetish Flea, OhioSMART holds a raffle basket donation and drawing for its Coalition Partner, the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom (NCSF). This year we are starting the call for donations and the hype early! The NCSF will be tabling for Fetish Flea and we are very excited to have them!

If you would like to meet a rep in person on November 16, don’t forget to save the weekend dates!

Don’t know what the NCSF is? Check out the details below:

The NCSF’s mission states:

The NCSF is committed to creating a political, legal and social environment in the US that advances equal rights for consenting adults who engage in alternative sexual and relationship expressions. The NCSF aims to advance the rights of, and advocate for consenting adults in the BDSM-Leather-Fetish, Swing, and Polyamory Communities. We pursue our vision through direct services, education, advocacy, and outreach, in conjunction with our partners, to directly benefit these communities.

Want to learn more about the NCSF, you can find all their information here.
Want to friend the NCSF on Fetlife for updates? You can find their Fetlife profile here.

What does it mean for OhioSMART to be a Coalition Partner?

As a Coalition Partner, OhioSMART works with the NCSF to provide strategic and policy planning, set general goals for the Board to follow and implement. We also attend the Annual Meeting and quarterly Town Hall Meeting to discuss issues impacting us currently. In turn, they provide us with resources and guidance on how to best navigate political, legal, and social items as they come up.

Call for Donations, Raffle Items:

Each year, OhioSMART offers you the chance to win raffle baskets during Fetish Flea as a fundraiser to benefit the NCSF. This year, we are collecting donations at each play party until October 20. Theme baskets and items in the past have included: Coffee Baskets (coffee gift cards, tumblers, local coffee/teas), Aftercare Baskets (stuffies, blanket, handmade soaps, chocolate), Toy Baskets (handmade floggers, blindfolds, paddles).

General Information:

Yes, Cash and Card are accepted!
Ticket Prices:
$1 for 1
$5 for 6
$20 for a Chest Wrap or Root to Boot

Your next steps:

• Mark your calendar for the 2024 Fetish Flea Market weekend (November 15 - November 17)
• Bring your donation items to any of our upcoming play parties
• Save up some funds to help support a great organization

This thread contains the questions asked of the candidates, their responses, and the voting section of our by-laws.

Each applicant answered the following questions:

1. Are you interested in running for an Officer position, an At Large Board Member Position, or both/either?
2. List your history in the BDSM Community, including participation/leadership in special interest groups, volunteering experience, etc. Be sure to note any current BDSM leadership positions held.
3. List any other experience you have with non-profit organizations.
4. List any other leadership experience, in any setting.
5. List the top three areas you would like to devote your time and energy to in order to improve OhioSMART.
6. What specific goals do you have for your time in OhioSMART leadership?

NymphBella or just Bella

1. Officer Position
2. I have been in the BDSM scene since 2015. I began volunteering early on for large events like KDM and fetish flea, and eventually took over the TNG sig in 2019. During the pandemic I was approached to join the board, as a board member was leaving and have served as a board member since then and currently am the Chair.
3. N/A
4. In my day to day job I am in charge of direct management of staff and daily planning. I ran the Smart TNG group for SMART and have been on this board for a few years as well.
5. This year I would really like to focus on consent based safety initiatives in the space/bringing back consent liasons, new ideas for volunteer incentives/volunteer coordination, and community engagement ideas with our SIG groups.
6. I would like to spend my last year on the board helping create lasting protocols to keep SMART the consent based ecducational space it is but also finding new ways to bring in lasting educational opportunities for our membership to grow in their journeys. I would also like to bring back consent liasons and work through our consent policies to make them more thorough and also open and accesible to the community and those with concerns that need to be addressed.

Stahr

1. Officer position
2. I've been an OhioSMART member for approximately 9 years, and if elected, this will be my third calendar year serving this organization. Prior to my appointment to the board, I volunteered regularly at the space, and ran the kitchen for several years for the Flea.
3. I have volunteer experience in special interest committee for a professional organization I belong to, and a many hours of science and women's health outreach volunteering experience under my belt.
4. In my professional life, I have been a long-term executive chef, a chef de cuisine, a team lead, lab coordinator, and manager. I have managed teams of up to 15 individuals.
5. I think the next big frontier for OhioSMART is focusing on growth, so the thre areas I am interested in working on this year are:

• Expanding membership, including increasing accessibility and inclusivity.
• Continuing the trend of innovative education for the membership.
• Increassing the number of events to keep the community involved.

1. Using the three objectives above, my main goal during my tenure would be to continue to help provide the local community with a safe and welcoming place to learn and grow.

Korvin

1. Officer position
2. I have been attending BDSM events for over 10 years. I have primarily attended OhioSMART but have also attended larger events such as Winter Wickedness, Southeast Leather Fest, Power Exchange Summit, and more. I have been on the board for SMART in 2022 as well as a prior year of which I don't quite recall. I served in an At Large position both times. I am also the coleader of the SMART Queers SIG
3. I have been on the board of directors for OhioSMART
4. I was part of a planning committee that developed a large first-year event which continued for at least the following 2 years which I also helped to plan. I have been both an assistant instructor and full Black Belt instructor at a martial arts school in which I was in charge of leading classes for a variety of ages and skill levels. I have been on the OhioSMART board of directors twice prior.
5. • I would like to see party attendance grow

• I would like to do more community outreach.
• I would like to help minimize volunteer/board burn-out"

1. I would like to help our organization continue to grow and develop. I want it to continue to be a safe place where people can have fun, feel safe, learn new things, and feel welcome.

ServiceElevator

1. At-Large position

2. So far, I've only ever volunteered and been an attendee at kink events.

3. Much of my research work was done in partnership with for profit orgs and non-profits, whose mission statements include a focus on community building, education, and sex positive expression at any age.

4. Many of the things I do have experience in supervising, expense report/book keeping, leadership skills but much of that work was done in for profit academia or corperate without any title or prestige attached to it.

5. I notice a ton of folks come to hangout, which is nice. Community and connection is so important. However, folks are paying to come and play or learn at the space. There's a ton of factors that stop folks from playing together. However, I think the biggest barriers fear of rejection and not knowing the socially appropriate 'rules' of negotiating with folks you know or have watched before but aren't in a dynamic with.

• Participation and engagement at events;
• Potentially the TNG group as I was told that needs more help there;
• expanding the courses taught and networking for guest speakers.

Kare

1. Both/Either
2. I started at OhioSMART in 2018. Throughout that time, I volunteered as a PSM, at Fetish Flea, and assisted in opening and closing at the old dungeon. Prior to COVID-19 I assisted in a Board Alternate role and came back in 2022 as the Munch Coordinator after the position became vacant. During this past year I have assisted OhioSMART with their marketing, planning for Fetish Flea, and taught two educational classes at the new space. Outside of OhioSMART, I attend Dark Odyssey Summer Camp (2021 – 2023) and Fusion (2023) events. When attending, I stay with a group called The Compound and remain socially engaged with the group throughout the year. When at camp, I tend to act as a runner for supplies and generally volunteer when my skills and time align with group need. Finally, when individuals from other orgs need a hand and reach out, I will work with them on mini projects. For example, I just completed a small marketing insert for Titans of the Midwest.
3. I have professionally worked with and in nonprofits for over 14+ years. In addition, I have a Masters in Nonprofit Administration with an emphasis on a Leadership in Nonprofits. I have planned events for over 2,000+ individuals and delt in annual budgets over $100,000+ in my roles. As far as staff and vendors, I have led staffs of over 30+ and have vetted vendors from start to completion in all my roles post grad school. I have experience handling professional debit/credit cards and with reconciling budget lines with accounting. Finally, I have volunteering for nonprofits in some capacity since high school. Outside of kink, I currently am volunteering with Flaming River Con (which I hope you all came to the recent Panel OhioSMART hosted with them!).
4. At work the sole administrator of several systems, so I lead multiple projects on those systems throughout our company. As a project lead, I am often heading up multiple plans in other departments that involve the system I work in (In addition to my own system projects). In my previous field, I was a mentor to younger professionals in the field and sat on a nonprofit leadership council in a strategic role which was responsible for a membership of over 6,000 individuals.
5. Disclaimer: These areas are not listed in order of importance, but just listed.
   My first area would be outreach and education. I would really like to get OhioSMART back out to presenting at local CONS. Prior to COVID-19, we were presenting at Flaming River Con, Con on the Cob, etc. and I would like to see OhioSMART get back to that.
   My second area would be education. I would like to see presenters coming in with a diverse range of topics from all over that are interesting to our membership.
   My third area would be garnering feedback from membership. I think there are a wide range of topics which need to be readdressed and reassessed in the new space: educational opportunities, accessibility, volunteering, SIGS, etc. But we can’t do that without membership feedback. "
6. Specific goals which align with the areas mentioned above, if you have additional questions, please ask, I can get more in depth: Have a specific feedback form for individuals to fill out to garner feedback on topics pertaining to OhioSMART, then have an Open House to address, assess and vote on possible outcomes from feedback. Get us back to hosting panels on consent and basic BDSM principles at Cons, starting with Cleveland Concoction in March (if we are accepted). Outline classes for the year, starting in earlier and months in advance to help us pinpoint who can come and teach to budget and get presenters in on time.

Vexation_

1.Both/Either
2. Current at-large board member of Ohio SMART
3. Treasurer of CLE local body of OTO (fraternal org) for 9+ years, facilitator of Our Proud & Pagan SIG at CLE LGBT Center
4. -
5. Business operations, POS workflow, Outreach through adjacent groups
6. Keep this bird flying

Each Active, Founding and Emeritus Member shall have one vote in the election of the Board of Directors. Such votes may be conducted during the annual meeting of the membership as permitted by resolution of the Board of Directors.

No member may vote whose annual membership dues are unpaid. Membership must be current as of the Monday of the week voting occurs.

All members in attendance will first have an opportunity to ask questions of any of the candidates on the ballot, though members are encouraged to ask questions via the online forums ahead of the meeting time.

Members will first receive a ballot to elect up to 3 individuals from the Officer ballot. If someone attempts to elect more than 3 individuals, that ballot will be invalid and not counted in the final results.

Once the Officers are announced, voting will then commence for the At-Large ballot. If a candidate is listed on both the Officer and At-Large ballot, but is elected on the Officer ballot, they are no longer eligible for an At-Large position. Members may vote for up to 2 individuals on the At-Large ballot. If someone attempts to elect more than 2 individuals, that ballot will be invalid and not counted in the final results.

Post questions to the candidates below, reach out to us on FetLife or email at info@ohiosmart.org for questions about the meeting itself, and we hope to see you on Saturday, 1/20/24!

It is time for OhioSMART’s Annual Board Elections!

Elections will be held on 1/20/2024, during our January Third Saturday event**. At this time, we are soliciting volunteers to run for the OhioSMART Board.

As a member, you can run for an at large position, an officer position, or both. To run you must be in good standing at least 90 days prior to the January 20, 2024 event.

If you are interested in applying, please email info@ohiosmart.org and ask for an application.

The application process consists of a few open ended questions about your relevant experience and the energy you hope to bring to OhioSMART. Once you have applied, the answers to those questions will be made public on Fetlife so individuals are able to access the information and make decisions on who they wish to vote for. All answers are due by midnight on 01/05/2024 so that they can be made public on 01/06/2024.

Please note: Board Members are volunteers. All Board Members are required to be at multiple OhioSMART events including: First Friday, Third Saturday, SMARTTies, and OhioSMART Members Only Parties. Additionally, Board Members are required to attend board meetings once a month. As a Board Member, you will be asked to work a couple of hours for each party in some capacity. This can include: setting up, running register, doing an odd PSM shift, resolving issues, working with presenters, etc.

Officers include the President, Treasurer, and Secretary. Along with the two at-large board members, these officers comprise the OhioSMART Board.

When individuals have expressed interest, the OhioSMART Board Members have also appointed Board Alternates, which serve as individuals who are trained in some capacity on Board related duties, but are unable to fulfill a full Board Member role at this time. If you are interested in a Board Alternate role, please email into info@ohiosmart.org and someone will take down your name and information.

At this time, we will have one or more openings on the OhioSMART Board and we are actively seeking applications. If you love OhioSMART and have time relevant skills in party planning, account, writing, PR, etc. we would love to see you run!

**As a reminder, voting will take place on January 20, 2024 during our Third Saturday event. All members are allowed to attend and vote, however; all non-members are not able to enter the event until voting has completed.

We are excited to have @haifisch- and @KaRe_B teaching October's class on Monster play! You don't want to miss this one!

Dreaming of Dracula? Tantalized by tentacles? Wanton for werewolves? Then this class is for you!  we dive into all things Monster Play!

At the end, we have carved out a class show and tell portion. Feel free to bring all your favorite play items to show off and talk about - we can't wait to see them!

@haifisch- (she/her) is a Cincinnati-based submissive and ropeslut. she has been active in the scene for over 5 years and loves to soak up knowledge offered by others while giving back to the community. As a fat, queer woman practicing consensual non monogamy, she strives to create inclusive spaces and promotes active unlearning of societal standards of beauty and sexuality. she was awarded the inaugural Cincinnati Critter Title in 2022 and World Pet in 2023. her professional background is in bioethics, gender affirming care, and HIV care and prevention. This unicorn believes in the power of laughter and experiences the most joy when pursuing absurdity through kink.

@KaRe_B (they/them) is a Cleveland-based agender switch and wax enthusiast. They have been active in the Cleveland scene for over 6 years and have been bopping around to regional events for the past 4. Kare enjoys creating inclusive spaces for kinksters over food and drink as OhioSMART's Volunteer Munch Coordinator. Their passions include: accessibility in kink and mutual aid within general Cleveland community. Much like their co-presenter, Kare loves pursuing laughter and experience through wild and imaginative scenes.

You can register and pre-pay right here - https://ohiosmart.org/event-5400005

Hello folks

We do not normally comment on political things, but this one affects us and it affects you. As you most likely are very aware of, the Supreme Court has struck down Roe v Wade. We write this because this has the potential to affect us and our membership rather directly. We are not telling you what to do or how to feel. This announcement is to warn what could happen next, and what steps we might have to take.

Abortion is not directly an issue of OhioSMART. However Roe v Wade was a foundational decision that is directly cited as precedent in a number of other decisions. Fundamental in Roe v Wade is that it enshrined an implied right to privacy, which informed many later cases. This overturn could affect a number of rights including:

Buying and owning contraceptives (Griswold v Connecticut, Eisenstadt v Baird)
Interracial Marriage (Loving v Virginia)
BDSM, Oral Sex, Anal Sex, generally referred to as "sodomy" (Lawrence v Texas)
Gay Marriage (Obergefell v Hodges)

The things that we do in this community, both with parties and with education, are absolutely at risk now. BDSM in general has always existed in a sort of legally grey space - the court has held repeatedly that you do not have a protected right to BDSM most recently in 2016 (Doe v Rector & Visitors of George Mason University). There's a whole history of court cases that deal with a variety of situations, but most of it isn't entirely applicable to what we do at SMART.

So at this point we on the board have to consider certain possibilities. If what we do becomes illegal. If we can no longer rent a space. If we have to disallow certain activities. All of this is, of course, subject to the interests of local and state law enforcement. It just takes one city or county making a law, or our state making a law. Or it might just be a matter if the law enforcement agencies in our city decide to focus on groups like ours. We cannot afford to just assume that these things cannot happen to us - we must be prepared.

We are a community largely of marginalized people. This decision has no doubt affected a lot of our members personally, and we don't want to add on to your stress. Instead we want to show you that we are aware of what this means. We are monitoring it. We will do everything within our power to keep going, we will adjust things if we have to. We will communicate these things to our members as we do, usually via our home website and through email.

We don't know exactly what the future holds, but we are preparing for worst case scenarios. And we will fight however we can. We know that this organization has existed for 27 years - prior to Lawrence v Texas, and we have changed a lot over those years. We have a certain level of adaptability, so there is nothing imminent here. But we have discussed certain failsafes - some of which we cannot discuss in writing.

This is a big deal to us for a variety of reasons. We preach consent a lot in our space and part of good consent is that it be informed. You are taking a risk engaging in kink here, elsewhere, and even in the privacy of your own home. We would not be doing our job if we weren't keeping you informed of that risk, and telling you what you're consenting to by attending our events. We hope you keep coming, and we hope that the community we build will someday help rebuild the rights we all deserve to have.