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!