Latest News

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.

Hello all,

As we all know, COVID cases have been off the charts due to Omicron. Not only have folks been unable to attend parties due to safety, the grief and burnout isn't helping. While we don't feel the need to close completely, we will be condensing our schedule.

The schedule for the next few months is as follows:

> January 2022: will go on as usual with 1/15 Third Saturday and 1/29 Fifth Saturday Members Only w/Annual Meeting

> February 2022: 2/6 SMART Ties and 2/19 Third Saturday

> March 2022: 3/19 Third Saturday

> April 2022: Re-assess, potentially going back to normal schedule.

We understand this will disappoint some folks. To make up for it, we are working on a project that will hopefully make these remaining Third Saturday parties better and more engaging for everyone, especially beginners. Think of it as quality over quantity!

While we have your attention: don’t forget our 1/29 January Members Only Party will be our Annual Meeting where we will vote in a new Board of Directors and make some important policy changes.

Applications for board candidacy are open again, due 1/22 -- you can read more about what's required and submit your application here: www.ohiosmart.org/2021-board-elections

Your membership must be up to date by 1/24 to attend January Members Only. Membership expiration was frozen while we were closed, so if you aren't sure of your membership status, you can email info@ohiosmart.org and we can help.

We will try to keep the Meeting portion as short as possible so everyone can get to playing. As a reminder, those present will be considered quorum and the decisions made can be contested via e-mail. If 10% of membership contests, it sparks another meeting.

Thank you so much for your support during these stressful times. We hope to see you soon!

OhioSMART Board of Directors

Hello all,

January 29, 2022 is a Fifth Saturday and thus a Members Only event. We will be taking a half hour from the beginning of the party to hold our Annual Meeting make-up date where members in good standing vote on policy changes and on the 2022 OhioSMART volunteer Board of Directors.

A full announcement is on FetLife as well as in the inboxes of all members as of 12/30/2021. If you are reading this having become a member after this time, send an email to info@ohiosmart.org and we can send it to you as well.

As a reminder, your membership must be up-to-date no later than 1/24/22 to participate!

See you there!

OhioSMART Board of Directors

After much consideration, OhioSMART has revamped our volunteer program!

Our new volunteer reward system is as follows: every four (4) full PSM shifts you work earns you free admission to a First Friday or Third Saturday play party. 

The rationale behind this change: the Board as well as SIG leaders get free admission to events that they host. A play party is usually four hours (9pm-1am). Therefore if you as a member volunteer for OhioSMART for the length of a party you get into the next one free!

Furthermore, all those that attend an OhioSMART PSM Training class will earn three out of four (3/4) towards a free party! This part of the volunteer program is not new, but definitely bears repeating for interested persons.

In summary: if you attend PSM Training, and afterwards volunteer for a fulll PSM shift you earn a free party admission

ps. When you take volunteer shifts for OhioSMART, please notify board personnel and sign up on the official sign up sheets (where applicable). Without you writing it down we can’t possibly keep track of everyone and we’d really hate to not reward members for their time and effort.

Speaking of: if you have PSM’d at the new space and your name is on the PSM sheet, you are already on your way to a free party!

A big thank you to all volunteers past present and future!

See you soon,
OhioSMART Board of Directors

Friendly reminder that we will be throwing a Halloween-themed Members-Only party on FRIDAY 10/29/21. Costumes are encouraged; masks and proof of vaccination are required!

Usually, Members-only parties are the fifth Saturday in every month, but we had to move it to the Friday due to the holiday.

Your membership must be up-to-date by 11:59pm on Thursday, October 28. You can apply for membership at ohiosmart.org/join -- we fixed the form so it should work now! If you don't have a printer, we will have forms at the door as long as you've paid your dues online in advance. We won't be accepting any payment on Friday!

We've also solved the technical issues with the OhioSMART phone number and will keep a close eye on it and info@ohiosmart.org if you run into any trouble.

See you on Friday!

OhioSMART

Greetings!

The schedule for October, November, and December 2021 is set.

Notable shifts are as follows:

1.) October and November Third Saturdays are prepay only to allow for Extreme Plus rules. Tickets may be purchased at OhioSMART.org until the night before the party.

2.) Admission for 2021 parties is $10 regardless of membership status to give the community a boost after our hiatus. The usual split member/guest prices will resume in January of 2022.

3.) December Third Saturday is our 2020/21 Membership Meeting where members in good standing vote for the 2022 Board of Directors and policy/by-law changes. Voting is in-person only and there is a play party afterwards!

REMINDER: Your membership must be up to date at least 24 hours before any member's-only event.

Feel free to save and share the graphic below! If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to info@ohiosmart.org and we'll be happy to help.

See you soon,

OhioSMART Board of Directors

Please join us on Friday October 1st for our First Friday play party at our amazing new space. We will be here from 9p to 1a.

Please pre register and purchase your ticket online 

SMART First Friday October 2021

We will be requiring masks throughout the space except for in the Arch Dungeon.

***Proof Of Vaccination IS Required For Entry***

Until further notice, proof of vaccination is required for entry to ALL OhioSMART events. Please bring it even if you showed us at the open house. 

We will accept the following:

Your vaccination card in person at the event along with your photo ID

A photograph on your phone of your vaccination card and ID: together in the same image and with ALL information visible. You should still bring your physical ID with you, but we understand not everyone carries their vaccine card.

IF YOU DO NOT HAVE PROOF OF VACCINATION, YOU ARE NOT PERMITTED TO ENTER OUR FACILITY. This applies to everyone -- we're simply not willing to risk our members, guests, and their loved ones' health by taking anyone's word for it.

Please join us on Saturday September 18th for a our first play party at our amazing new space. We will be here from 9p to 1a

Ohio SMART - Welcome Back Play Party

This is subject to change based on COVID-19 conditions. We will make every effort we can to notify you of any changes.

OhioSMART applies the principle of RACK - Risk Aware Consensual Kink - to determine our COVID protocols. We assess risk based on trusted professional sources, epidemiologists, the CDC, and emerging science to protect our members, their loved ones, and our all-volunteer staff. Our protocol may be more strict than state mandates.

In short:

- Proof of COVID-19 vaccination is required at the door, every time

- Masks are required everywhere except in one separate, maskless play room

- There will be some extra sanitary guidelines in place for shared toys and equipment

- We will add a new wristband to our system so that those who are being especially careful about COVID can signal that they want space, are not willing to negotiate maskless play, and don't want to enter the maskless play room.

Please continue reading for full protocols.

VACCINATION POLICY DETAILS:

Proof of vaccination is required at the door, NO EXCEPTIONS. We will accept the following:

- Your vaccination card in person at the event along with your photo ID

- A photograph on your phone of your vaccination card and ID: together in the same image and with ALL information visible. You should still bring your physical ID with you, but we understand not everyone carries their vaccine card.

**IF YOU DO NOT HAVE PROOF OF VACCINATION, YOU ARE NOT PERMITTED TO ENTER OUR FACILITY.** This applies to everyone -- we're simply not willing to risk our members, guests, and their loved ones' health by taking anyone's word for it.

MASK POLICY DETAILS

When we decided to reopen, the vaccine seemed to protect against COVID and all its variants. Now, we know the Delta variant is able to be spread by and infect the vaccinated. Paying close attention to the development and effect of variants, we've decided to implement mask requirements.

We will require masks at all times inside the entire facility -- with the sole exception of the Arch Dungeon, exclusively during play. This accommodates both those who want to play maskless (biting, breath play, etc.) without endangering those who don't want to take on the risk. The Main Dungeon and medical rooms are mask-on zones - we recommend supplementing your safeword system with a nonverbal element as if you were using a gag. We also recommend that you find a mask that is comfortable to exercise in and wear for longer periods of time, as there are no exceptions.

For those of you who aren't familiar with the new space: the dungeon layout isn't a loop, it's linear. The Arch Dungeon is the end point after you've passed the social areas, Main Dungeon, bathroom, etc. so there's no reason to go into the Arch Dungeon unless you choose to. It's very spacious, it gets sunlight, and there's even a sink for hand-washing.

Please keep in mind that fireplay is only allowed in the Arch dungeon. Full suspension will be paused without prior DM or board member approval because the hard points aren't yet installed in the Arch Dungeon and full suspension with a mask on is an advanced skill.

SANITARY GUIDELINE DETAILS

We now know COVID-19 is spread through respiratory droplets. The likelihood of contracting COVID from surfaces is lessened, but we still want to do everything we can to mitigate risk.

Hand sanitizer will be available at every cleaning station as per usual, as well as in social areas and near high-contact zones like the nametag station.

If you want to play with gags, gimp masks, or anything that might touch your face: you should bring your own and not share with others.

Clean all shared equipment (including but not limited to the equipment that belongs to the space) thoroughly after play AND before play to further reduce risk.

NEW WRISTBAND DETAILS:

"We want to make post-pandemic play as smooth as possible, so we're adding a new wristband to our system. Orange indicates "I'm being careful about COVID/I want space/I don't want to negotiate high-COVID risk play/I don't want to enter the Arch Dungeon, etc." 

Unlike the other wristbands, which are only to be worn if you're willing to negotiate play, the COVID wristband can be worn by everyone, including those who want to simply observe. 

We want to make post-pandemic play as smooth as possible, so we're adding a new wristband to our system. Orange indicates "I'm being careful about COVID/I want space/I don't want to negotiate high-COVID risk play/I don't want to enter the Arch Dungeon, etc."

Unlike the other wristbands, which are only to be worn if you're willing to negotiate play, the COVID wristband can be worn by everyone, including those who want to simply observe.

If you only want to negotiate play with people who are being as careful as you, you can combine the orange wristband with your usual ones. For example, you can don a purple wristband, a rainbow wristband, AND an orange wristband to indicate that you are a queer switch who is being especially careful about COVID.

If you're up for maskless play in the Arch Dungeon, skip the orange wristband and look for pick-up play with those who did the same.

Proof Of Vaccination IS Required For Entry

Until further notice, proof of vaccination is required for entry to ALL OhioSMART events INCLUDING THE OPEN HOUSE ON AUGUST 21st.

We will accept the following:

Your vaccination card in person at the event along with your photo ID

A photograph on your phone of your vaccination card and ID: together in the same image and with ALL information visible. You should still bring your physical ID with you, but we understand not everyone carries their vaccine card.

IF YOU DO NOT HAVE PROOF OF VACCINATION, YOU ARE NOT PERMITTED TO ENTER OUR FACILITY. This applies to everyone -- we're simply not willing to risk our members, guests, and their loved ones' health by taking anyone's word for it.