Volume 2, Issue 1	January 1999

Our next newsletter is for February. Anyone with a Valentine Message for their sweetie, send it and there will be a message board for them to see. Say is cute or say it sweet, but say it before January 25th. The next newsletter will be up by February 1st, so anything you want to send, needs to be sent ASAP.

Community News Lisa Powell, of Memphis, TN,  was nominated for "Woman of the Year" at the Pantheon of Leather Awards. The awards ceremony is being held in New Orleans Feb 5-7, 1999. For the entire list of nominees in all categories, The Leather Journal has them listed on their site. This following story is happening right here in Memphis!!! National Coalition for Sexual Freedom Action Update 25.0 January 4, 1999 by executive director Susan Wright ncsfreedom@aol.com CHILD CUSTODY As reported in the NCSF Action Update 20.0, MTV featured polyamory in their "Sex in the 90s" documentary which aired on November 22, 1998. April Divilbliss, Shane Divilbliss, and Chris Littrell were interviewed for the show, and they openly discussed their polyamorous relationship. On November 23rd, based on a tape of the MTV documentary, Memphis Juvenile Court Judge Kenneth Turner removed their three year old daughter from their custody, charging April Divilbliss with neglect on the grounds of immorality because of her sexual preferences. The court has not shown any harm was done to the child, and April Divilbliss has never been charged with neglect or lost custody of her child before. The next hearing is scheduled for January 12th to introduce evidence. The Divilbliss family needs professionals (sociologists, psychiatrists, or psychologists) who have worked with children of poly families to send statements affirming that polyamorous households are not mentally or psychologically harmful to children. The Divilbliss attorney also needs any studies that show living in poly or communal families does not hurt the well-being of children, as well as any case law on child custody involving poly or communal families in Tennessee and other states. Please send this information to the Divilbliss attorney, Asa Hoke, at acehoax@midsouth.rr.com or to NCSFreedom@aol.com. You can contact April Divilbliss at Sykashnia@aol.com - they will be taking a stack of supportive letters into court on January 12th. Reporter Alisa Weinstein covered this story in a fair and informative manner for WPTY Channel 24 on December 29th. You can thank WPTY for their coverage by sending a letter to Stephanie Croswait (News Director) at croswait@abc24.com or to WPTY at 2225 Union Avenue, Memphis, TN, 38104. Loving More magazine has started a Legal Defense fund for the Divilbliss family. For more information contact Editors Ryam Nearing and Brett Hill at Loving More, PO Box 358, Boulder CO, 80306, or Ryam@lovemore.com or Brett@lovemore.com HOW TO WRITE A LETTER TO THE EDITOR The NCSF thinks every good letter to a media organization should stress the following four points: What article or story you are writing about; That you are a member of a large and active local community; What you did or didn't like about the story. The NCSF usually includes a recommended response to stories in its weekly media update. Draw a personal connection between your opinion and the story in question, end your letter with it. Here's an example: Dear Editor: I am writing about the "Alternative Sexuality is Booming" article in the July 23 issue. I am a member of Black Rose, a Washington, DC SM organization with hundreds of members and of the National Leather Association, a national SM organization with chapters in a dozen states. I think your story provided a valuable service to your readers because it explained that people who practice SM no different from the people in the next cubicle. It's important that people realize that SM is about the safe, loving expression of sexuality. It is more than what we do, it is a fundamental part of who we are. Thank you for writing about a sensitive subject so thoughtfully and carefully. Sincerely, Jane Smith (your address here) (your phone number here) If you have any questions, feel free to e-mail media@ncsfreedom.org If you have comments about or suggestions for this list, please e-mail media@ncsfreedom.org. If you'd like to alert us to a positive, negative or neutral story about sexual minorities in your local media, please e-mail media@ncsfreedom.org. Be sure to check out the NCSF web site at http://www.ncsfreedom.org If you have something of interest that you would like to share with the community, please send the information to the webslave.

Book Reviews   by lisa Reading is how we learn about the unknown and even travel to far away places without ever leaving home. We have a list of books that are BDSM related and a review of the book. These are the opinions of the webslave. If you have a book to review, please send  the review to webslave. Different Loving Format: Paperback, 640pp. ISBN: 0679769560 Publisher: Random House, Incorporated Pub. Date: December 1995 Authors: Gloria Brame & J. Jacobs An in depth exploration of the world of Dominance and submission. It takes a clinical approach and includes interviews with people that participate in every kink imaginable. It defines each kink and lets you see that it's ok to enjoy the things we do - that there are very responsible and respectable people in this lifestyle.After reading this book, I looked at myself and said, "I am submissive, and I am proud". This is great for someone that wants to learn what is out there. I highly recommend this book! Screw the Roses, Send Me the Thorns Format: Paperback, 277pp. ISBN: 0964596008 Publisher: Mystic Rose Publications Date: July 1996 Authors: Philip Miller & Molly Devon Written in a wonderful style, the humor adds so much to this great "How To" book. It focuses on the "hands on" (pardon the pun) and safety. It is a great learning tool for both the dominant and the submissive. I cherish my copy that was signed for me, just two weeks before Philip passed away. I highly recommend this book! Loving Dominant Format: Paperback, 2nd ed. ISBN: 1563336006 Publisher: Masquerade Books, Inc Pub. Date: January 1998 Author: John Warren John Warren covers everything from before the scene to after the scene. Is full of information on many different BDSM activities - even those that most don't cover. I found this book very enlightening and even used the sample contract to some up with one of my own to give to my Master. I highly recommend this book! Sensuous Magic (sorry, no photo available) Sensuous Magic Format: Paperback, 2nd ed ISBN: 1563334585 Publisher: Masquerade Books Inc Pub. Date: November 1996 Author: Pat Califia Pat Califia highly promotes safety within the community. There are stories mixed with information in this book. I highly recommend this book. Miss Abernathy's Concise Slave Training Manual Format: Paperback, 96pp. ISBN: 0963976397Publisher: Greenery PressPub. Date: July 1997 Author: Christina Abernathy The pronouns change in this from he to she in the same paragraph. It is written for both the male and female submissive. She clearly defines differences between BDSM and D/s and was a pleasure to read. Some of these books can be found at many local bookstores. If you want to find them on the Internet, here are a few places to go: Barnes and Noble Amazon  There are a number of other books out there to read; as I read them, they will be placed here. If you have a favorite, let us know!!!!

Upcoming Topics and Workshops Topics and workshops are tentative. If you have any suggestions or comments, send them to me at obedient_one@mindspring.com January 5 - Topic - Settling vs. Getting What you Want 17 - Workshop - Cane Usage and Safety February 2 - Topic - Online Relationships - Bringing them to Life 21 - Workshop - Collar Making March 2 - Topic - Red Flags - What to Look Out For and How to End a Bad Scene 21 - Workshop - Clothes Pins Usage and Safety/Making a Zipper April 6 - Topic - Party Etiquette and Protocol 18 - Workshop - Flogger Making May 4 - Topics - Balancing D/s and the Vanilla Part of Life 16 - Workshop -Flogger Usage and Safety June 1 - Topic - 24/7 vs. Part Time vs Playing 20 - Workshop -  Rope Bondage and Safety Tips July 6 - Topic - Role Play - Bringing Fantasies to Life 18 - Workshop - Stock Making August 3 - Topic - Aftercare - What is it? Is it necessary? How do you do it? 15 - Workshop - Gags Usage and Safety - Different Types September 7 - Topic - Bottom Drop / Top Drop 19 - Workshop - Toys Found Around the House October 5 - Topic - Limits - Soft Limits vs. Hard Limits 17 - Workshop - Paddle Usage and Safety November 2 - Topic - Polyamorous Relationships 21 - Workshop - Crop Usage and Safety December 7 - Topic - Being Good and Getting What you want vs. Bad Girl/Boy 19 - Christmas Party (members only)

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Dear Subby Do you have something you want to ask an experienced submissive? There is nothing too simple to ask and the only stupid question is the unasked question. Send your questions to the webslave@clpw.net. Someone should be able to answer it for you. Dear Subby, My Master is wanting another submissive. Does this mean I am not good enough? How can this work out? Worried Dear Worried, My Master and I are a part of a triad - there is another submissive in our relationship. He and I have been together for over 2 years and she has been with us for almost a year. The key to it working is that she and I were friends before He ever took her in. The other part is that He and I talked about it before it happened and I understand that I am His and that I am number one to Him and the she is number one to us. There has to be a "pecking order" for it to work (for us). This does not mean that He loves me any less or that I am not enough for him. What we do is share out life and love with someone else and that pleases us both. There is not any jealousy with the way things are. Hope this helps. Lisa Dear Subby, Hello!  I am a submissive woman that is part of the study cell group.  I want to thank you for your hard work on the web page as it is very well put together and informative as well. I was wondering if you have any idea where my master and I can get information on Japanese Bondage.  He is very interested in the technique, but we have been unable to find literature on HOW to do it.  On the web, there are several sites that show pictures of it, but none of the technique involved.  I would appreciate anything you can come up with on this.  If you have any suggestions on whom I can speak to regarding this matter, I would appreciate it.  Thank you again! Searching Dear Searching, Thank you for your kind words... :) There is a section in Screw the Roses, Send Me Thorns (Philip Miller/Molly Devon) that covers some rope techniques. It is very informative and has pictures to help guide him through step by step. There are tips for using rope on the wrists, ankles, body harness, and breast bondage. After getting these down, he'll have the knowledge to build on. Friends of ours have gone to Hancock's Fabrics and bought different color ropes to use for rope bondage. They have red, black, and other colors (plus it is very soft!!) Screw the Roses... can be purchased locally, but they will probably have to order it. You can also go to http://www.barnesandnoble.com and buy it there. You can also contact Molly directly to order it - 908-291-9213 is the last number I had for Mystic Publications. She is on AOL as writermol - there is information in her profile Hope this helps!! Please let me know how it goes!! Lisa

1999 Calendar of BDSM Events

Leather events &  BDSM events are held all across the country and some may be close to you. Before planning to attend any event, verify the dates with the host. Links are provided where available. If you have an event you would like to see posted here, please send me the information, along with the contact person to the webslave.

January 1999

February 1999

March 1999

April 1999

May 1999

June 1999

July 1999

August 1999

September 1999

October 1999

November 1999

December 1999

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If you have an event you would like to see posted here, please send me the information, along with the contact person to the webslave

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BDSM Groups Across the Country

Here is a list of BDSM organizations across the country. We cannot recommend any particular group. If you find a group that is no longer in existance, please let me know and it will be removed. Is there a group that you would like to see listed here? If so, send me the information to the webslave and efforts will be made to get it it posted here. Please send group name, brief information, link and contact person.