2025 cLASS dESCRIPTIONS

Friday March 13th 2025

12:00PM -1:30PM 

Location: Carmel 

Class: Playing by the Rules: Legal Considerations in Kink and BDSM

Presenter: OgunNoir

Class Description: This class will highlight legal issues that impact kinksters and leather people. This course discusses both civil and criminal legal principles that kinksters should be aware of when negotiating play, consent, and contracts. This course also examines the present nature of civil rights and anti-discrimination laws that impact leather people and kinksters. 

Location: Catalina C

Class: Making Your Event Less Alcohol-centric

Presenter: Rio

Class Description: Events in our community are often held at bars. Conferences have Hospitality events. But what about those of us who don’t drink? In this class we’ll discuss mocktails, publicity, and broadening the focus so that alcohol isn't the central focus at events.

Friday March 13th, 2025

2:00PM-5:00PM

Location: Carmel

Class: Level Up your Brand: Strategies for Clarity and Connection  &.  Level Up your Brand 2.0: Workshop

Presenter: SpankCake

Class Description: 

Level Up your Brand: Strategies for Clarity and Connection

In today’s fast-paced market, having a strong brand is essential for standing out and making meaningful connections with your audience. This class will equip you with the tools and strategies needed to elevate your brand through enhanced clarity and authentic engagement. Whether you produce a contest, looking to run for a title, an educator looking to reach a wider audience, or simply curious, join us to learn some strategies that will amplify your brand’s clarity and foster genuine connections with your target audience. Join me and take the first step to level up your brand!

Level Up your Brand 2.0: Workshop

Building on the foundational principles explored in "Level Up Your Brand: Strategies for Clarity and Connection," this interactive workshop is designed for participants ready to roll up their sleeves and apply their newfound knowledge to their own brands.

In this hands-on session, you will:

• Collaborate and Share: Engage with fellow participants to share insights and receive feedback on your brand ideas in a supportive environment.

• Refine Your Brand Message: Work through exercises to sharpen your brand’s core messaging, ensuring it resonates and reflects your unique identity.

• Visual Identity Development: Develop or refine your brand’s visual elements, including logos, color schemes, and typography.

• Strategy Application: Implement actionable strategies tailored to your brand’s needs, focusing on clarity and connection with your audience.

• Expert Guidance: Benefit from personalized feedback and expert insights as you navigate the challenges of branding and gain confidence in your approach.

By the end of this workshop, you will leave with a clearer, more cohesive brand strategy, along with actionable steps to enhance your brand’s clarity and connection. Join us to take your branding to the next level and transform your vision into reality!

Location: La Jolla AB

Class: Developing and Communicating Consent Models for Events

Presenter:  Nick

Class Description: In this workshop Nick will provide an overview of commonly used consent models in the kink/bdsm community using a micro, meso and macro level approach. The workshop will include clear definitions of each model, organizational risk management questions to determine the consent model that best fits a particular event, key considerations for making organizational consent model decisions, and clear language for communicating the consent model to attendees using a risk aware approach.

Location: Catalina C

Class: Proactive Leadership in Consent: Prevention Strategies for Leaders

Presenter: Sarge 

Class Description: This class equips leaders with essential tools to proactively prevent consent violations within their teams or communities. Focusing on the dynamics of power, vulnerability, and the importance of clear communication, this session emphasizes creating a culture of consent, setting and respecting boundaries, and early intervention. Through case studies and group discussions, participants will learn practical strategies to identify potential issues and foster an environment where consent is continuously respected. Ideal for leaders committed to maintaining a safe and inclusive space, this class promotes proactive, rather than reactive, leadership.

Saturday March 14th , 2025

9:00 - 10:30 AM

Location: Carmel

Class: Value Based Vetting

Presenter: Daesha

Class Description: Let's have a real conversation about vetting. Our community is in a constant flux, ever evolving and growing as more and more individuals explore this area of life. The purpose of this class is to facilitate analytical, introspective, and observational skills that focus on cultivating a values-based foundation. Your values will be used to build a foundation of mutual trust compatible with who you are as a person. We'll also discuss blind spots and third party barriers that can create difficult challenges to overcome. This class involves PI Knowing Yourself - who you are, your values, and setting standards for who & what you allow, PII Getting to know Them - using introspective values to color correct biases, developing better analytical processing, scoping out yellow flags, PIII  Manipulation - types, common manipulative behaviors, and why the kink community is specifically attractive to those with manipulative inclinations, PIV Community Barriers & Other Social Challenges

Location: Catalina B 

Class: Fundraising for Community Impact: Keeping Funds in the Circle

Presenter: Sarge

Class Description: This class is designed to empower individuals and organizations to maximize the impact of their fundraising efforts within their local communities. Participants will explore the concept of a circular economy in fundraising, learning strategies to ensure that funds raised stay within the community, benefiting local businesses, services, and residents. Through case studies, interactive discussions, and group activities, attendees will gain practical tools to create sustainable, community-focused fundraising events that foster long-term economic growth and collaboration. Join us to make your fundraising efforts more impactful and inclusive.

Location: Catalina C

Class: The Changing Faces and Voices of Leadership

Presenter: Okodee ONYX

Class Description: How to analyze the needs of a group and its growth trajectory, and how that changes over time. A discussion on the types of leadership skills required and what happens when all of those skills are not found in one person. We’ll discuss methods of conflict avoidance and resolution, how to keep conflict from affecting the group, and how the mental health of leadership can affect the group.

Location: Catalina D

Class: Acquiring and Managing Venue Relationships

Presenter: Dantedufreak

Class Description: Come learn on how to approach venue owners and rental spaces at any stage of your event. We will go over on how to approach venues and keep healthy business relationships to include navigating profit splitting. 

Saturday March 14th , 2025

9:00AM - 12:30PM 

Location: La Jolla AB

Class: Know Better, Do Better: Becoming an Actionable Accomplice

Presenter: RoninMara

Class Description:  often people claim allyship with a marginalized community as a way of gaining social capital without doing the work to educate themselves, the work to actually listen to what the community might need, or being afraid to speak up or out when they see things happen. This class will teach practical methods for intervening, and interrupting, tools on how to assess situations, and how to move from being a self-proclaimed ally to a person who can consistently show up and do the hard work of becoming an accomplice.

Saturday March 14th, 2025

11:00AM - 12:30PM 

Location: Carmel

Class: Consent Legal Issues and Liability Risks for Groups, Events, and Clubs

Presenter: Tess Zachary-NCSF

Class Description: Since the pandemic, we are seeing completely new things around your liability risks and monetary payouts. NCSF will discuss the liability issues happening in our communities, and how your policy and procedures can be adapted to protect yourself. There are liability issues you may not be aware of that could be costly for you and your organization.

Liability is the state of being responsible for something, especially by law

Location: Catalina B 

Class: Event Organization: Don't Lose Your Head

Presenter: emmelinedivine

Class Description: You have a vision for community, but how do you do you pull it off?? How do you create bigger events? Have a clear plan of attack! Come learn how to take your idea to the finish line and how to build organizational habits to speed up your workflow. Analog and digital tips will be included as well as a list of free online resources. 

Location: Catalina C

Class: Traits of Highly Effective Volunteer Leaders

Presenter: Ms Liza and her slave, Jody

Class Description: There is no single "right" way to be a volunteer leader but there are certain characteristics that can make you much more effective and successful. These characteristics are comprised of a set of skills (that can be learned), attitudes (that can be adopted) and habits (that can be implemented). In this class, we will identify these skills, attitudes and habits and show how they can be used to bolster and enhance your ability to be a highly effective and successful leader. Participation is strongly encouraged but not required.

Location: Catalina D

Class: Awesome Silent Auctions and How To Make Them

Presenter: Rio

Class Description: Silent auctions are a great way to raise money for your club or cause. But making one that really sings, gets a lot of bids and makes a lot of money takes some finesse. We’ll go over step-by-step how to make an auction that is interesting and profitable.

Saturday March 14th , 2025

2:00PM - 3:30PM

Location: Carmel

Class: Taking a Stand: Leadership, Progress, and Advocacy in the BDSM Community

Presenter: Naria

Class Description: This interactive session is designed to guide participants from various generations in exploring the challenges and opportunities that come with being a progressive leader in the BDSM community. The session will focus on how to take a stand on key issues when organizing events, and how to handle criticism and resistance, and advocate for marginalized voices while promoting inclusivity and equity. By the end of the workshop, attendees will have a stronger sense of how to step into leadership roles that foster meaningful change, without compromising their values or the well-being of their particular community, and the BDSM community-at-large.

By the end of the workshop, participants will:

• Understand the generational differences in approaching leadership and advocacy.

• Learn techniques for effectively handling criticism and resistance when taking a stand on social issues.

• Recognize the importance of centering marginalized voices within the BDSM community, including BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, disabled individuals, and older adults.

• Identify specific strategies for creating inclusive spaces and policies that benefit the entire BDSM community.

• Identifying and implementing specific skills sets used in organizing diverse events and personnel; i.e. conflict resolution, recruiting staff, communication.

Location: Catalina B 

Class: Raising Your Bottom Line

Presenter: Daesha

Class Description: My experience with creating longevity and success in management systems through an application of values, individualized community care, and activism. Showing up is the first step in facilitating events and building the representation we seek to create but it's not always enough. Facilitating events comes with a variety challenging territories, from working with a wide range of strong personalities, to overcoming our own imperfections, handling consent incidents, complaints, and ultimately being placed in many unanticipated roles. This class aims to empower others to not only get in front of challenges but use them as opportunities to build a standard that works within your capability.

Location: Catalina C

Class: A Lens through the 5 Pillars of Trauma-informed Care

Presenter: Okodee ONYX

Class Description: What is trauma informed mean and how it relate to kink? What awareness do I need to support my community through a trauma events? What might I already do that can more effective?This seminar will focus on the 5 pillars of trauma informed care, with a lens towards kink leadership and group dynamic awareness.

Location: Catalina D

Class: Key Concepts for Clubs

Presenter: Tess Zachary-NCSF

Class Description: Compiled from 27 years of experience, NCSF will share some risks, liabilities, common pitfalls and best practices for your group, event or club.

Saturday March 14th , 2025

2:00PM - 5:30PM

Location: La Jolla AB

Class: THRIVE: Cultivating Leadership & Intersectionality in Your Community

Presenter:  Master PlaineJane

Class Description: Tired of doing the heavy lifting? Ready to see more service within your community? Then perhaps it is time for you to support and light the torch of leadership! Join Master PlaineJane for a discussion on leadership and how we inspire the leaders among us. Leading is never easy but sometimes we need the support of other leaders in order to thrive as a community. PlaineJane will discuss the qualities that are essential to a good a leader and how to recognize them in others. Master PlaineJane will also provide strategies and tips for building bridges and creating cooperation between community leaders and their missions. She'll discuss ideas for supporting leaders' growth while cultivating their inner service abilities. This class will offer resources and guides for; mentor selection, leadership skills as well as communication skills for new and growing leaders in the community. So come with questions and ideas to inspire leadership within your community- because it starts within each one of us!

Saturday March 14th , 2025 

4:00PM - 5:30PM

Location: Carmel

Class: Considerations When Selecting Behavioral Health and Wellness Professionals in Support of Event and Production Needs

Presenter: Nick

Class Description: In this workshop Nick will provide an overview of considerations for event producers and organizers when vetting behavioral health and wellness professionals partnering with their space. Not all therapists are designed alike, our training, area of expertise, special interests and ethical frameworks differ. Selecting a team of folks for the varying needs your event space may encounter is the difference between a successful outcome and making a bigger mess. Join Nick for 45 minutes of lecture and 45 minutes of open Q&A in support of the ever growing intersection of BDSM, mental health and community wellness. Please note no aspects of this workshop are to be taken as clinical advice. This workshop will not address any questions related to specific people, situations or interactions. Nick reserves the right to defer questions to consultative spaces that may result in a fee to him or a trusted colleague.

Location: Catalina B 

Class: Creating Sensory Friendly Events

Presenter: HannahTheScribe

Class Description: In this class, we’ll cover how to create sensory friendly events that are accessible to people who are neurodivergent or have seizure disorders, among other sensory needs. We'll talk about safe lighting and audio, dining options, multimodality learning, and creating space for sensory seeking/stimming. We’ll wrap up with a brief Q+A session.

Location: Catalina C

Class: Leather at the Limits: Pioneering a Virtual Frontier for Leather

Presenter: Ray's slave, Lexi

Class Description: Dive into the exciting world of virtual connections and revolutionize the Leather community! This dynamic class will guide you through creating an engaging online platform beyond Facebook, complete with insights on startup costs, website creation, and powerful outreach platforms. Discover how a vibrant digital presence can ignite growth and ensure the enduring vitality of the Leather lifestyle. Join us to unleash the full potential of your community online!

Location: Catalina D

Class: ADA ToolKits - I’ll Show You Mine If You’ll Show Me Yours!

Presenter:  shay strayfingers

Class Description: Inviting diversity in any form into our spaces takes intentionality and planning.  It also takes planning for the unexpected or perhaps the unthinkable.  While we cannot prepare for all of the possible scenarios, we can try to cover our bases.  In our efforts to do so, we will take a look at a couple of different examples created, and see what works best for you.  Life is never one size fits all, there is no fun in that!  But it is a buffet…pick from a selection of what fits for the people you serve, and keep the resources available for when and if you need them for when the need arises.  One sample I created for my work, and one was created for a professional playspace.  We’ll go through them and talk about the differences and similarities.

Sunday March 15th , 2025 

10:00AM - 11:30AM

Location: Carmel

Class: Better Sex Through Pharma: Destigmatizing STI/STD in Leather, Kink, and Sex-Positive Communities

Presenter: Master MxMita

Class Description:

Location: La Jolla AB

Class: Responsibilities of Serving on a Non-Profit Board

Presenter: Ms Liza and her slave, Jody

Class Description:  So you've been asked to join the Board of a Leather Non-Profit or Not for Profit Organization. While this is a nice acknowledgement from your Community, there are real and substantial responsibilities that come with Board membership. This class will outline those responsibilities, discuss how to faithfully discharge the responsibilities, and be an asset as a Board member.

Location: Catalina B 

Class: Marketing and advertising

Presenter: Dantedufreak

Class Description: Have you had difficulties reaching your desired audience. In this class I will go over how to utilize various tools and methods to help you get the most out of your advertisements and how to navigate various platforms guidelines to advertise. 

Location: Catalina C

Class: The Literal Servant Leader

Presenter: HannahTheScribe

Class Description: In this class, we’ll cover being a successful community leader for those on the right side of the slash. We'll talk about stigma, leveraging common strengths and overcoming common weak spots, balancing submission in a dynamic with community leadership, and more. We’ll wrap up with a brief Q+A session.

Location: Catalina D

Class: Sharpen Event Communication

Presenter: emmelinedivine

Class Description: Being an event organizer really can feel like running a circus of dancing mice. Every word counts when you are trying to communicate with 100s and more people, a simple misunderstanding can lead to dozens of confused messages. Come learn how to strengthen communication when setting up events and groups to help everyone align on the same page and execute directions more smoothly. Our words can be a powerful tool, so come sharpen your blade!