|
Navigation Guidelines By-Laws PnP Contacts Community Vendors Current Newsletter Bash2009 Thank You Members Only |
**Disclaimer: The information in this newsletter is in no way a complete list of activities in the Austin/GWNN area. For comprehensive information please visit the web pages of various groups, attend munches, or ask your friends. We have made every effort to include as much up to date information as possible. GWNN wholeheartedly supports all local and area groups and hopes every person who sets out to find a comfortable place to be who they are, learn, grow and find friends is successful in their journey. Opinions and ideas expressed by individuals in interviews are their own and the Newsletter allows and encourages their free expression. The newsletter volunteers make every effort to double check the information here, but it is not impossible that we may miss something. If you note an error or mis-information, please let us know so we can correct it. There is a LOT in this issue. Save it and come back to read about area groups and interesting GWNN members, find recipes and all sorts of other interesting information. GWNN Newsletter welcomes all information from area groups about their gatherings and special events. While it would be very time and space consuming to detail every single group every month, we will gladly list your special events and parties and include web pages and links so that interested persons can find out more. If you are reading this on the web and would like to get it in your own email, we need your current e-mail address. We have had many “bouncing” e-mails from people we know are active members. Perhaps a move or a change of internet providers has meant a change of e-mail address. If you think this might be why you are not receiving GWNN e mails and special announcements please go to the subscriber's page: http://gwnn.net/mailman/listinfo/news_gwnn.net and fill out the necessary information. SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS – GWNN Election 2009-2010The official introduction of candidates will take place at the September 12th munch. Candidates will be introduced and given a very brief time to speak. Written curriculum vitae as provided by each candidate will be available. The final slate of candidates, along with bios and voting information/instructions, will be sent next week. Election of the GWNN Board of Directors for the 2009 – 2010 term of office will be held at the October munch; October 10th, 2009. PARTY ON – a partial list of area play evenings in September and October
Area Groups and contact informationThere are a number of groups in the Austin – Central Texas area. There are groups for Doms, subs, couples, men, ladies, ponies, under 30, over 30, coffee drinkers, rope lovers, pool players and just about anything else you can think of. Trying to put a complete list here would be a logistics nightmare. May we recommend that you check the following web sights for great information on area groups and much much more. There is a wonderful listing on FetLife that has a very comprehensive listing of area groups, activities and contact information.
Another very good web page is Ambrosio’s BDSM Site
GWNN Contact information & GWNN Web page linkYou can contact board members at these e-mail addresses:
Explore GWNN’s web page for up to date information. You can find GWNN’s by-laws and policy and procedures, as well as list of vendors from the 2009 Bash. Message from the President~~ a letter from Sr. Jamie ~~At GWNN’s September munch, the candidates for next term’s GWNN officers will be announced by our hard-working election committee. If my math is right, this will be the ninth time the membership has the opportunity to vote in the leadership under the existing GWNN bylaws. Much has been made of the inherent difficulties that come with our style of democracy, but at this point, the current style of government has been in place for more than half of the lifetime of GWNN. In fact, I think it’s safe to say that most of our active members weren’t around to recall when GWNN was run by a single Fearless Leader. While GWNN’s longevity is a joyful reminder of what happens when we work and play together, the immediate future and potential for GWNN can become in the months and years to come is in the hands of those who choose to continue the vision laid out for this group more than sixteen years ago. It’s important that each of us who votes next month takes the time now to get an understanding of the perspective and capabilities of those who have a desire to serve the membership next term. Please, ask respectful and thoughtful questions of these candidates and take your time to decide who you want to lead GWNN in the coming year. Then, come out and vote at the October munch. There will be no proxy ballots, and we appreciate your taking the time to be with us and vote in October. We’ll try our best to make it as positive and fun an experience as possible. Your thoughts, cares, and hopes for this group do not stop with this election process, of course. As passionate as the election cycle makes some of us, it’s what the individual members do throughout the course of the year that will decide a group’s relevance and overall health. We have faced many challenges in our shared experience of the culture and structure of a democratic GWNN. My hope is that our members and candidates remain mindful of the hardships and triumphs endured and celebrated over the past years, and that we learn from these lessons and work towards new solutions together. Most of all, let’s remember and be respectful of each member’s role beyond GWNN and beyond the kinks we enjoy together. We all do far more and connect with the world well beyond What It Is That GWNN Does. Perhaps if we keep this in mind, we can value our time together in a way that limits conflict and sets realistic outcomes for what GWNN sets out to do and not do. I urge the membership and those brave and generous candidates to keep this in mind as we all work for GWNN’s future. --Jaime P.S. Lest we forget, we have a wonderful party coming up on September 19th. So, I hope to see many of you at the munch and more of you the following Saturday as we celebrate and share what GWNN is right now! GWNN Website ReportThe following summarize the statistics from our Website for the month of August:
Pages-URL (Top 25) – What people looked at
Future plans and a pleaIn the near future I will be adding a password protected area on the site. My plan is to put the Board Meeting Minutes, By-Laws, and P&P behind this pass worded area. Visitors will be free to view the general information, Guidelines, Community, Contacts, Newsletter, and new FAQ page as well as the current Vendors page. As for the plea; I have received some feedback regarding the current graphics. I had thought the graphics were a good addition since the previous site had none. However, I was advised that we need more and better graphics to appeal to a wider range of kinky audience. This is where my talent ends as I can’t draw a straight line without the aid of a ruler, let alone a caricature. Therefore, I am requesting that if someone in the membership has or can produce a series of erotic drawings and would be willing to allow their use on the website to please contact me. Along those same lines, I will consider using actual photographs of BDSM related activities provided the subjects can not be recognized. I can do cropping or pixilation if necessary. To contact me, you can find a link on the Contacts page of the website or email me direct to webmaster@gwnn.net. Finally, since I have called upon the goodwill of the membership once, I’ll do it again. If anyone is a leader of or member of a Central Texas area group, we would like to place that group on our Community page. Please contact me at the above address with the following information:
Black & Blue SantaIt’s hard to think about the holidays when the thermometer is registering triple digits, but the gift-giving season will be here before you can flog your sweetie! Get a head start and think about the annual holiday gift drive for our friends and families who may not be able to have the kind of family celebration that we all look forward to. Once again the ever diligent AustinsBunny will be spearheading Black & Blue Santa, Austin’s program to help community families by providing a few gifts for the kiddos. As always, there are many ways to help. First we need a list of families. If you or someone you know could use a little help this year, please send their name and contact information. If you’d like to help with collecting gifts and monetary donations or shopping or gift wrapping or even taking the gifts to the families please send you name and contact information. Bunny may be reached at bostonsbunny@aol.com Featured Area GroupS.M.A.C.K. - San Marcos Area Consensual KinkBegun just 9 months ago, S.M.A.C.K. is the area’s newest group. Leaders: Tony and Susan Location: San Marcos, TX MunchFirst Sunday of the month, 4pm-6pm at: The Cedars Cafe220 N. Edward Gary St. San Marcos, TX 78666 Munches are held in the hookah bar; dress is “vanilla” casual. More Information, munch and party information: PartySecond Saturday of the month, 9pm-2am, private home in San Marcos. An rsvp to either group listed for directions and other information. Clothing - clothed to door and clothing optional once inside. The location is semi-rural and private with play areas both indoors and out. Interview with group leaders, Tony and SusanGWNN - When did you hold the first SMACK event?
GWNN - What was your goal in starting a group in San Marcos?
GWNN - What have you learned about running a group since SMACK began?
GWNN - If you were starting again would you do anything different?
GWNN - What is the best thing about hosting SMACK?
GWNN - Do your parties have “themes”? If so, what have some been?
GWNN - Has your party attendance grown since you began?
GWNN - What do you hope for SMACK in the future?
GWNN - Do you have any funny stories, or scary stories, without naming names, from SMACK parties?
GWNN - What time do you usually get to bed after a SMACK party?
GWNN - What advice would you give other group leaders?
GWNN - Any comments, ideas, or other things you’d like to share?
GWNN - Susan, will you share your rave-winning chicken salad recipe?
Tony and Susan, Interview with a Featured GWNN Member~~Featuring Undergroundsea aka Sea~~GWNN: Your profiles describe a very eclectic personality. Your degree is in EE, yet you have a lot of artistic talent and seem very ‘spiritually creative’ for someone whose field of study was so “grounded”. To what do you attribute your diverse interests? Sea: First, thank you for thinking of me for this interview and for the time you have obviously spent to research and prepare the thoughtful, intelligent questions. To respond to this question, I think this diversity comes partially from the diverse matters that appeal to me and how my mind works. My grandfather said he thought I would grow up to be a poet or philosopher because I wrote poems and said some pretty far-fetched things as a young child ;-) His words were not so off the mark because I do enjoy each subject. Academic success; an interest in science, analytical thinking, and creative design; and the professional and academic value (the ability to move to other fields) of an engineering degree led me to obtain it. I think each experience one has brings insights and value and I am grateful for what I have gained by obtaining the degree and working in the field. Upon entering college and for some years afterwards I was not engaging in much artistic or spiritual expression. I credit the return to this expression and the other half of this diversity to my pursuit of BDSM. Meeting the diverse group of people I have through the BDSM social circles, whom I likely would not have met through my professional social circle at the time, has allowed or inspired me to learn about, participate in, and express diverse artistic and spiritual aspects to which you refer. GWNN: How long have you identified as submissive/slave? What difference, if any, is there to YOU in a submissive and a slave? Sea: I have been aware of my interest in submissive feelings and female dominance since as far back as I can remember (age 5 or earlier). My earliest memories are of feeling intrigue towards mainstream films or stories that had aspects of BDSM or female dominance. I consider slave and submissive to lie along a spectrum, and slave to represent a further degree along the spectrum of how much to submit. I think each person has different components that make up the psychology of an s-type: primal, ego-related, social, spiritual, and masochistic. These components collectively define the wants and behaviors of a person. How much importance each component has depends on the person and on unmet needs. I think for slaves the masochistic (as I define it) and spiritual components (for many slaves the M/s relationship is a means to spiritual gratification) play a greater role than they do for others. I identify as a submissive. While the idea of slavery appeals to me, the collective expression of my different components determines my relationship expectations and how much I submit, and put me on the submissive part of the spectrum. GWNN: Do you think the “scene” puts too much or too little emphasis on defining roles? What advice would you give someone new about letting other people’s definitions push them into a box? Are definitions helpful, perhaps more so in the beginning, so someone new can find their place and then branch out later, as they become more comfortable and learn more? Sea: I have not thought much about whether the emphasis is too great or too little and have a neutral opinion about it. I think roles and labels serve a purpose, especially in the beginning, in that they help enable communication. How well they do so depends on how precisely they are used and interpretted. Since each is done broadly, their utility is lessened. Still, they help to convey the general ballpark of how a person identifies, which can then form the starting point for futher communication. Seeing the labels as tools and starting point for communication keeps me from feeling that they put me in a box. My advice to a new person would be to consider the different definitions given by others--which can be done through one-on-one discussions or though group or forum discussions--and adopt the definition that intellectually and internally resonates. If this interpretation becomes a matter of disagreement (say on the internet, where everyone has to be right ;-) ), I would explain the basis of my thinking to give the other person information to decide whether or not they agree. If they do not agree, fair enough. Neither has to accept or conform to the definition of the other. This agreement on definition becomes more important when entering a relationship. At that time, what matters is that both people understand how each defines the term and why, and, more importantly, how each envisions the dynamic. GWNN: How long have you been giving talks about submission? How did that begin for you? Sea: I enjoy intellectual discourse and psychology. I have been participating in discussions and theories since I first found a forum to do so, which was in 1995. As chair of TNG, I facilitated educational discussions about various subjects, including some on which I felt I had insights to share. These interests and experiences, my interest to teach, and with inspiration from some persons I admire in the broader BDSM community (Midori is my key inspiration), I sought to do seminars. In March 2007, I gave my first seminar at a Club FEM party in Houston about the psychology of service submissives, followed by repeating this seminar at DomCon Los Angeles in April 2007. GWNN: Your main topics seem to revolve around psychology in bdsm and psychology of submission. Do you have a background in psychology or it mostly things you have learned from observation and interactions in the bdsm world? Sea: My interest is in psychology as well as how to articulate this psychology and have effective communication. Aside from taking a social psychology course in college, I do not have a background in psychology. I find psychology fascinating. The ideas I present come from this interest, observations, and an ability to introspect, analyze, and suggest models to communicate these ideas. GWNN: Do you view speaking and presenting seminars as a sort of service to the community? Does presenting seminars and speaking help fill that desire in you to do service? Sea: I began the seminars to provide information that would be useful to dominants. So perhaps there is some amount of BDSM-type service associated with the seminars. More so, I see it as a general community service that is different from my BDSM service. I often say words of appreciation for those who run groups, initiate events or groups, volunteer their time, or host activities at their home. I think these people give something to the community. I appreciate their service to the community and it is these collective contributions that make a community what it is. I see my seminars as part of this broader collective effort. When I have traveled or presented at events where there is a fee to attend the event, I have also been compensated via complimentary entry to the event or otherwise. And I also consider the seminars part of my intellectual expression. So they mean different things to me. GWNN: Can you give us a brief description of your talk: The Psychology of Service Training? Sea: By service in the context of this seminar (also referred to as Psychology of Service Submissives) I mean acts of labor done to bring comfort or convenience to a dominant: domestic service, chauffeuring, etc. I think different dominants and submissives enjoy service for different motivations, which means that a given dominant and a given submissive might not be compatible simply because each enjoys service. One has to dig deeper to identify the motivations and see if they make for compatibility. I then discuss different archetypes of service submissives. Identifying these archetypes helps to determine compatibility. I talk about how to uncover the archetype and then discuss how what a dominant does has potential to boost or sap the motivation to provide service for the different archetypes. GWNN: You have been involved with various types of bdsm themed performance art in the past, are you still doing that type of thing? If so can you tell us about anything that is coming up? Sea: Hosting or arranging fetish nights began as a contribution to the community and then evolved into an outlet for creativity. I eventually formed a troupe with friends called Underground Bliss. We are no longer actively doing shows. From time to time I play a role in fetish shows done by friends. Other performances I have done this year include a BDSM-themed dance on stage and stand-up comedy for a BDSM audience. Presently I do not have any planned performances. As for general events of this type, there is an area in the FetLife group Austin Kink Information Central that lists upcoming events of this type. GWNN: Art, food and music seem to play a role in your bdsm interests. Do you see a connection in all types of physical pleasure? Sea: I think these interests are part of the human experience. For me, the relationship between BDSM and these other forms of my human experience exist because BDSM is an important part of my identify and, thus, it affects my various forms of expressions: artistic, intellectual, social, more. GWNN: I understand you have done stand up comedy. Do you enjoy making people laugh? Is a sense of humor important to you in life? In your bdsm life? In friends and partners? Sea: I do enjoy making people laugh and humor has tremendous value in my life. I would put claim to being playful more than funny. Not everything I say in such spirits will bring laughter but it is playful. For me humor or playfulness is a positive social expression--it conveys a positive sentiment. I consider it holistic. I consider it practical because it is useful to diffuse tension. I value it in my BDSM life also. Most of my BDSM dynamics involve humor and playfulness, at times even while in a scene. When I inject humor during play, it is my way of saying that I am fine and am in good spirits. I do appreciate a sense of humor in others and like it even more when people play along with me with their own humor and wit when I am being playful or funny. GWNN: You obviously love the serving aspects of submission. Your photos would indicate that you also love the S/m aspects of bdsm. Are the two parts, the more psychological service submission and the more physical masochistic submission, connected for you? Do you feel a need or desire for both to maintain a balance in your life? Sea: I respond more to the mental aspects of BDSM. My photos overstate my interest in physical SM. I do not, at least not at the present, seek physical play for the sake of the physiological flight physical play can bring. To me, physical play has its value with respect to service (enduring it as a service for a woman who enjoys giving physical pain) or, especially at a party, as part of the dance or courting. If I have met someone at a party and we begin to play, I value this play as part of courting or becoming acquainted, or, when past the initial courting, as a BDSM relationship expression. Indeed there are forms of physical pain play I enjoy for the sake of sensation. For the most part, however, my masochistic draw to physical play comes from what meaning, symbolism, or significance it carries for me mentally. GWNN: When did you become a GWNN member? Sea: December 1997. GWNN: Do you feel that large, all inclusive groups like GWNN are important to the bdsm community? Sea: Communities exist at different levels and I think umbrella groups bring together the broader BDSM community for social and support reasons. I appreciate that we have different groups in Austin that provide a variety of activities on almost each day of the month. More specific to GWNN, I appreciate it for the umbrella group it is, for its history and how it has served the Austin BDSM community, and how it still serves as a group and as a gateway to the community with its name recognition and internet presence for newcomers doing internet searches. GWNN: What is the best Ds related advice anyone ever gave you? Sea: Put down a tarp before doing candle wax play ;-) More seriously, it was not so much advice but to help me put to words what I ultimately seek. In a forum discussion years ago, a domme responded to one of my posts about relationship expectations and said that I sought a domme with whom I could also have romantic love, and to seek such a woman. GWNN: What 1 or 2 things would tell a novice ‘s’ type? Sea: There is no one way to do BDSM. Pick the way that appeals to you and yours. You have the right to say no if something feels wrong to you. Also avoid mixing flagellant and flatulent--do not eat bean burritos before a date where there might be flogging ;-) GWNN: What gave you the idea for you Austin Kink Information Central list on FetLife? Sea: The idea first came upon seeing a post on FetLife from someone who was visiting Austin during the middle of the week and was asking about what to do. I thought it would be good to have a list of all the things that occur in Austin, each for visitors, newcomers, and those already active in the scene. I was thinking of either making a post in one of the groups, or, more so with time, creating a journal entry to which one could point people seeking such information. I then came across Atlanta Kinky Social Bulletin Board that gave me the idea to create a group to house this information. Seeing the profile of Strictest on FetLife gave me the idea for how to simplify the interface. Looking into technical details of FetLife with respect to needs for editing, updating, and maintaining the information then led to the form it has now taken. People thank me for creating the list. I think greater thanks goes to people who keep going the groups and events which allow me to create such a list. GWNN: What are your 2 or 3 favorite ways to serve? Sea: Massage, attentiveness, and anticipatory service. I will also put in a specific mention for serving breakfast in bed upon awakening--it's a clever ploy to be invited to spend the night ;-) GWNN: What are your 2 or 3 favorite implements to have used on you for play scenes? Sea: I have no favorite implements. Because I am drawn more to mental aspects, I am drawn to anything--an implement, an everday item, or a thought--which conveys evil creativity. GWNN: Are you currently in a relationship? Sea: I do not have an exclusive relationship. I do have non-exclusive relationships, or relationships I am exploring. GWNN: What are a few of the most important things you seek in a relationship? Sea: I don't think there is a dichotomy in relationships between exclusive companionship or no relationship. I think there are shades of grey. Amongst things that are important to me are social compatibility (similar interests and outlooks, compatible personality traits, etc), circumstantial compatibility (location, relationship availability, age, etc), and sexual or D/s attraction and chemistry (even if it is a non-sexual dynamic with a lesbian couple). Some of each is needed and how much of each depends on which shade of grey it is. GWNN: Do you have any favorite music/style/groups to scene to? Sea: I enjoy dark or sensual sounds for a scene setting and turn to world fusion music or gothic/industrial music for such sounds. When I am DJing or putting together a mix, I draw most upon world fusion music. GWNN: Where do you go to do Ballroom dancing? Sea: I enjoy dancing in general. Lately, my dance has been at a goth club, or at what is described as an ecstatic community dance. I have not done ballroom dancing in a while. I began to do it when I took classes at University of Texas as a student there via a course, and via a student group called UT Ballroom Dance Club. For those interested, this club, at that time at least, offered classes to non-students during the summer. As for where to go, there is a place called Go Dance in Northcross Mall which has a nice dance floor and offers lessons. GWNN: Do you have a favorite recipe you’d care to share? Sea: I blend an avacado in what is otherwise a Bloody Mary to make a daiquiri, which I call Bloody Maria ;-) For those who do not drink alcohol, I have had it or made it without alcohol more often than not. I do not spend a lot of time cooking or creating new things but enjoy doing so when I do do it. I would enjoy it even more as a social activity versus an individual activity. In general, I am a fan of mixing ideas, sometimes across different cultural cuisines. A note from “the editor”First and foremost, I would like to thank the current GWNN Board for reviving the GWNN Newsletter. I sincerely hope it is of some value to GWNN members and the community in general. I always enjoyed reading newsletters in the past and it is my goal to help make this latest publication endeavor one that grows and continues for a long time. There is a link on the GWNN web page A huge thank you goes to those persons brave enough to contribute to this first issue and to be interviewed for it. Also a thank you goes to Ambrosio for his unending willingness to do his magic internet stuff and oversee the distribution to your mailbox. Thank you, and may we all find our commonality in GWNN in the upcoming year, let old grievances die, and gather in the good fellowship we sought when we first found GWNN and others that were interested in wiitwd. Sincerely, |