Community Matters: PRIDE!

Welcome to Pride Month! Pride is a celebration of publicly embracing our authentic sexual and gender identities. The last weekend in June is dedicated to remembering the drag queens, trans folx, and other LGBTQIA and gender non-conforming humans who stood up for their right to occupy public space in the Stonewall Uprising (learn more here). This basic human right is still under attack in many corners of America and around the world, so let’s step out and make our voices heard in support of “Sexual Freedom for Everyone”! 

Visit the CSPC booth at Trans Pride in Volunteer Park on Friday, June 23; at the Capitol Hill festivities on Saturday, June 24; and at Seattle Center on Sunday, June 25. Come get your special Pride-edition wristband! Explore more Seattle Pride Month events. 

And of course, join the CSPC community in the Pride Parade on June 25! This year's Seattle Pride Parade is the largest in the city’s history, with 272 participating organizations registered to participate in the parade–which will be lined up for 12 blocks! The CSPC’s spot is Block 3 position 15 (between University and Seneca)! 

The parade organizers will assign us two times for set up: one time for our vehicle and float to get in position and add any last-minute decorations (like, anything that would have blown off during the trip on I-5), and a second time for our participating marchers and float riders to join us. 

Join us and show off your CSPC Pride! Please email us at pride@thecspc.org to get on the list of participants. We will be sending out meet-up information to folx on the list very soon. 

Community Matters: New Board Member and Pride Festivities!

New Board Member!

The Board was thrilled to vote for Mina as our newest member at our meeting on May 12, 2023! Mina serves as the Setup and Strike Captain, a member of the CSPC’s Discord Team, and Party Champion/Host of the Sense & Sensuality Party. We are fortunate to have added a human with Mina’s energy, enthusiasm for community, thoughtfulness, and skills to the CSPC’s leadership team. Please join us in welcoming Mina to the CSPC Board!

Join the CSPC at Seattle Pride!

The CSPC’s plans for participate in the 2023 Seattle Pride events are heating up! We will be hosting a table at the Capitol Hill festivities on Saturday, June 24. We’re also hosting a table as part of the events at Seattle Center on Sunday, June 25. Stop by and see us or volunteer for a shift talking to visitors!

Our parade contingent is growing! We have tentative plans in the works to add a float to our merry band of marchers this year to allow greater inclusion for members with limited mobility to be part of this exciting opportunity. Come help carry a banner or flag, dress up, and shake your booty with PRIDE as a member of the CSPC! 

To join the CSPC’s parade group or volunteer for a table shift, contact us at pride@thecspc.org.

CSPC Mandatory Masking Policy Stays in Effect: Decision-Making Process

By Eirikah

As announced in the newsletter on March 16 and on Discord on March 17, the CSPC’s Board of Directors recently revisited the standing policy at the CSPC to require wearing N95/KN95 or equivalent masks at all times during in-person events except when actively eating, drinking, or engaging in a scene. This reconsideration was sparked by Washington State’s announcement that it was lifting the last remaining masking requirements at medical facilities as of April 3. The Board announced that it would consider a change to the masking policy at its April 12 Board meeting, for implementation on June 1 to allow for thorough messaging of the changes before they would take effect.

The result of the vote by the Board on April 12 was to maintain the existing mandatory masking policy at this time. The Board will revisit this issue again prior to September.

The Board recognizes that this decision is very important, as we consider the safety and well-being of our diverse, supportive community. In order to gather data about the impact this decision would have on our membership and volunteers, the Board broadly solicited responses to an online survey between March 16 and April 12 and hosted a two-hour online Town Hall meeting where members could talk with Board members directly about their desires and concerns. 

The proposal under consideration was to change the CSPC’s masking policy from the requirement of KN95/ N95 or equivalent masking when not actively eating, drinking, or involved in a scene to making masking optional, though still strongly encouraged as a method of protecting ourselves and others from spreading Covid and other airborne illness. The CSPC committed to continue providing free masks to those who wished to wear them.

The survey gathered data on the self-reported frequency of respondent attendance and volunteering at in-person events, and then asked how the adoption of an optional masking policy would impact their personal attendance or volunteering: more likely to attend/volunteer, less likely to attend/volunteer, or the same likelihood of attending/volunteering if the optional masking proposal were adopted. We also included an open text field for respondents to share their thoughts and ideas about this issue in writing.

271 people responded to the survey prior to the Board’s vote on this issue at the Board meeting on April 12. The survey data for various groups of respondents is detailed below:

Data table from CSPC Member Survey on Masking, March-April 2023

The comments made by the 17 attendees at the Town Hall meeting on April 3 reflected greater support for maintaining the mandatory masking policy. All of those who spoke at the Town Hall indicated that they had also submitted a response to the survey. Most comments on the survey and at the Town Hall in support of mandatory masking were focused on the health implications for medically vulnerable members; most comments in support of optional masking were focused on reducing consent and connection challenges presented by masking (difficulty reading lips in a hearing-impaired environment, etc.).

The survey construction provided the Board with several key data points toward making this decision. It allowed analysis of projected individual choice in frequency of attendance and volunteering in a specific circumstance (optional masking) with respect to their own current participation levels. It also provided an opportunity for respondents to share their feelings, reasoning, and ideas for other possible solutions beyond the proposal presented.

With the relatively even spread of survey responses by the responding population as a whole, the Board was faced with the question of whether there might be a way to inclusively support members on both sides of this question. One idea shared by multiple sources was to make the masking policy party-specific so that more medically vulnerable folx would still have opportunities to connect with their sex-positive community in a mandatory masking environment, while also providing selected opportunities for those who struggle with reduced communication and connection due to masking to attend masking-optional events.

Of course, this idea would not be possible to implement if all Event Champions were committed to maintaining mandatory masking at their events, so the Events Director queried the Event Champions about their interest in changing the masking policy at their specific event. Of the six Champion teams responding, two of six were interested in making masking optional at their event, with four teams electing to maintain mandatory masking.

With all of this information in mind, the Board drafted the Preamble and Motion below for consideration at the April 12 Board meeting:

Preamble:

• All in-person events currently require attendees and volunteers to wear an N95/KN95 or equivalent mask.

• The decision as to whether to maintain or change the current masking policy is an incredibly difficult one. 

• The removal of the final WA State masking mandate at the start of April was the catalyst for the Board asking the membership how they would like to proceed.

• The feedback collected via the online form indicates a split in membership opinion. 

• 271 responses

• (34% more likely, 37% less likely, 29% same likelihood of attending)

• The feedback also shows that our volunteers are more in favor of keeping masking:

• 70 volunteer responses

• (17% more likely, 39% less likely, 44% same likelihood of attending/volunteering)

• The virtual town hall held on April 3rd leaned in the direction of maintaining our current masking policy.

• Given that there is no clear path forward and that this is such a deeply felt, emotional issue with serious possible health implications, the Board is leaning toward a nuanced policy, rather than a one-size-fits-all solution. This policy will allow for some events to continue to require masks while others will have optional masking.

• We consulted with the Event Champions, asking them what policy they thought would best meet the needs of their regular event attendees and volunteers. 

• Any member who does not feel the decision we come to tonight represents their needs is encouraged to volunteer and be the change they want to see

• For example: Propose a new event with the policy you prefer

• The Board strongly encourages all of our event volunteers and attendees to continue wearing an N95/KN95 or equivalent mask at all times other than when eating/drinking, or when engaged in a scene. We will continue to provide masks for those without one. We also encourage our community to stay home if you feel unwell or if you have reason to believe you may be infectious with covid or any other transmissible disease. Please self administer a rapid test prior to coming to our events.

• At present and for the sake of considering this vote, Event Champions have indicated a preference for the following: 

• Fresh Meet, Sense and Sensuality (SaS), F’in Precious, and LaQueer would like to maintain the current mandatory masking requirement

• PPMT and the Myself Party would like to opt for optional masking

Motion:

The Board of the CSPC will change its current mandatory N95/KN95 or equivalent mask requirement at all indoor, in-person events to allow event Champions to alter the masking policy for their event taking place on or after June 1st 2023. Their decisions should be based on their understanding of what is best for their event and/or reflects the desires of their attendees. Any changes in policy for a specific event will need to be approved by the Board and decided before tickets go on sale. Champions of newly created events will consult with the Board and announce their masking policy prior to tickets going on sale. The Board will revisit this policy prior to the September Board Meeting, unless there is a clear need to do so before then.

The Board discussed the implications of this motion at the meeting, with concern for the plurality of members who expressed a strong need for continued mandatory masking, especially in light of the availability of other masking-optional venues in our community. The Board also discussed the long term issues that might arise from making masking policy decisions the responsibility of Event Champions rather than the Board, as well as questions about what future conditions might trigger a change to optional masking if the current conditions are not adequate. As a result of this conversation, the vote that followed was split 4 nay-3 aye, and this motion failed to pass. 

The CSPC will continue to require N95/KN95 masking when not actively eating, drinking, or participating in a scene at all indoor in-person events. The Board will continue to monitor the public health conditions and engage with the community in its decision-making processes. Thank you to all of you who so passionately shared your thoughts and ideas. You help make the CSPC the diverse, supportive, sexual, and sensual community that it is. 

Please send any questions or comments to info@thecspc.org.

Community Matters: Price Increase and Possible Masking Policy Change

Event Ticket Price Increasing May 1–Introducing Tiered Pricing

The Board approved an increase in ticket prices for in-person events at the meeting on March 8. This is our first ticket price increase in over six years, while our costs for events have grown considerably with inflation. 

In order to keep CSPC events as accessible as possible while ensuring sustainability for the organization, we will be implementing a tiered pricing system. The three price tiers will be $25 for “discounted” tickets (the same as our current ticket price), $30 for “standard tickets,” and $35 for “benefactor” tickets. Members will self-select the price of their own tickets during registration beginning May 1. 

Is money tight? Choose the discounted ticket. Got enough for some small pleasures? Choose the standard ticket. This is the price most members will pay. Able to support your community by contributing a little more? Choose the benefactor ticket to help cover the gap for members who need discounted tickets. 

The CSPC is your community; your volunteer and financial support make all our services possible.

Considering a Change to the Masking Policy

As Washington State is planning to lift the masking requirements at medical facilities as of April 3, the CSPC Board is considering changing our masking policy from the current requirement of KN95 or N95 masking when not actively eating, drinking, or involved in a scene. The proposal under consideration is to make masking optional, though still strongly encouraged as a method of protecting ourselves and others from spreading Covid and other airborne illness. The CSPC will continue to provide free masks to those who wish to wear them in the event this change is adopted.

Please complete this four-question survey to share your thoughts on this proposal. We also invite community members to join us at a members-only Masking Policy Town Hall meeting via Zoom from 7-9 p.m. on Monday, April 3, to contribute your thoughts and ideas to the conversation. Time for each speaker will be limited to allow the largest number of participants possible to speak, so please be prepared to share your comments concisely. Register for the Masking Policy Town Hall here.
We are a community for our members, by our members–your voice matters as we make decisions that impact the future of the organization. The Board will be voting on this proposal at the April 12 Board Meeting for possible implementation as of June 1.

Community Matters: Possible Price Increase and Volunteer Training

Board Considering Ticket Price Increase–Community Feedback Requested

The Board will be considering an increase in ticket prices for in-person events at the meeting on March 8. Ticket prices haven’t increased in over six years, while our costs for events have grown considerably with inflation. In order to keep CSPC events as accessible as possible while ensuring sustainability for the organization, we are proposing to implement a tiered pricing system where members self-select the price of their own tickets upon registration beginning in May. The three price tiers would be $25 for “discounted” tickets (the same as our current ticket price), $30 for “standard tickets,” and $35 for “benefactor” tickets. See more details here.

Please share your thoughts via email at feedback@thecspc.org or complete a feedback form available on our homepage. We also invite community members to join us at the March 8 Board meeting to contribute your thoughts and ideas to the conversation. We are a community for our members, by our members–your voice matters as we make decisions that impact the future of the organization.

March Volunteer Training for Registration and Monitoring

Join us on March 20, 2023, from 7-9 p.m., for our next volunteer training. Monitor training will run from 7-8 p.m. and Registration training will run 8-9 p.m. Registration will open soon–log into Volgistics and register for the training on March 20 to get the Zoom link!

Not yet a volunteer, but want to get in on the action? Join the volunteer corps today! Just complete the on-demand online volunteer orientation and submit the volunteer application located on the Volunteering webpage. It’s that simple! The more parties we host, the more volunteers we need to keep things running smoothly. The CSPC is a fully volunteer-led, volunteer-run non-profit organization created by our members for our members. Become a volunteer and help chart the CSPC’s future!

News from the Board: Considering Event Price Increase

The topic of a potential increase in event ticket prices was raised at the February Board meeting. This increase would be the first in over six years, and the decision is not an easy one. While our costs for venue rental, laundry, safer sex supplies, event refreshments, and accessibility items have all increased due to inflation, many of our members are struggling to make ends meet as well.

In order to keep CSPC events as accessible as possible while ensuring sustainability for the organization, we are proposing to implement a tiered pricing system where members self-select the price of their own tickets upon registration. The three possible levels would be $25 for a “discounted” ticket, $30 for a “standard” ticket, or $35 for a “benefactor” ticket. 

This would allow members who cannot afford an increase to continue to select the lower $25 price currently in effect, while adding higher priced tickets as “standard,” plus “benefactor” level tickets that balance out the “discounted” tickets. We will track the numbers of tickets sold at each level and member feedback, and will analyze these prior to any future increases.

May would be the earliest we could reasonably have this take effect, as we are already selling tickets for our March and April events. The Board is planning to vote on this proposal at the March Board meeting. 

We are currently soliciting community feedback on this proposal. Please share your thoughts via email at feedback@thecspc.org or complete a feedback form available on our homepage. We also invite community members to join us at the March 8 Board meeting to contribute your thoughts and ideas to the conversation. We are a community for our members, by our members–your voice matters as we make decisions that impact the future of the organization.

Intoxicants Prevent Informed Consent

At the Center for Sex Positive Culture, we do not allow the use of intoxicants of any kind, and we do not allow intoxicated people to enter or play at our events. These policies are followed strictly, and if we have reason to believe that you are intoxicated, you may be denied entry to or required to leave an event. Depending on the situation, you might also lose your membership entirely. The general rule of thumb we use is, if you cannot not safely operate a motor vehicle, you cannot enter our events.

But why?

There are a number of good reasons for this policy. First, being impaired reduces your capacity to consent to the kind of delicious fun that happens at our events. We don’t want somebody sobering up to discover they had a lot of fun that they would normally *not* have chosen to engage in. This is the stuff that consent incidents are made of.

Second, being impaired reduces your ability to gauge and monitor the consent of other people you meet and potentially play with. To put this more bluntly, having your beer goggles (or blunt goggles) on can make you come across as pushy to a person you’re interested in playing with, while you may be under the illusion that the conversation is going just fine. Being intoxicated has a tendency to create drama (another thing that we ask people to keep out of our spaces).

Third, the kind of activities many of us engage in at the CSPC can already create a potent mix of chemicals that are often described as intoxicating, if not transcendent. You can feel like you’re flying, but you should do so safely. It is unwise to mix these stimuli with other intoxicants, especially if you’re new to BDSM play and kink.

Fourth, some of the activities we do here require your coordination to be at its best. You are far more likely to accidentally strike or cut someone when you are impaired, and that will create a bad evening for both parties.

Fifth, intoxicants interfere with your ability to self-assess things like pain, numbness, tingling, etc. For many kinds of play, being able to keep tabs on your condition and report it to the person you’re playing with is critical. You want good memories from your evening of fun, not an unintended scar or nerve damage.

Finally, we lack the volunteer staff to assist you if you accidentally take too much of something, or the mix of substances and play turns out to be too much in combination. At best we would have to ask you to leave an event, and your fun is over for the evening. At worst, we might need to shut down the event so that an ambulance can come to get you, and everybody’s fun is over for the evening.

These are just some of the reasons that we adhere to this policy. What you do in your own time and in other spaces is most certainly your business, but we do ask you to keep all intoxicants out of our spaces and not attend if you find yourself intoxicated. You can always email us if you’ve accidentally taken too much of something, and we’ll happily move your ticket to another event at which you can come and take part while sober.

Stay safe and stay sexy,

The CSPC Board

F*cking Fabulous Fall Fundraiser: Wrap Up & Community Treats!

Huge gratitude from the CSPC Board and our community for your participation in the 2022 F*cking Fabulous Fall Fundraiser! Your donated items and winning bids raised $4,912 to support CSPC programming—well OVER our goal of $4,444! You ROCK!

Thanks to those of you who volunteered your time and energy to set up and manage the online auction, those of you who donated your services and your stuff, those of you who helped generate higher donations by bidding on those treasures, and those of you who supported the CSPC with your winning bids. We couldn't have done this without ALL of you!

Winning bidders were contacted directly via email to process their donations and make arrangements for receiving their items. To ease the disappointment the rest of us are feeling, here are a few follow-up opportunities:

• It's not too late to donate to the CSPC! If your bid wasn't a winner (and even if it was!) you can still contribute to the fundraiser by donating the amount of your choice here.

• 🔥Want some sweet sweet CSPC logo swag? Check out the CSPC's NEW RedBubble shop! T-shirts, water bottles, cushions, and more—available now! 🔥

• As a special thank you to our community for all the ways you contribute to making the CSPC the welcoming, sexy space it is, Board member (and item donor) Eirikah is offering a coupon for 25% off any sex & relationship coaching intensive or package with Desire Alchemy. Just use coupon code CSPCFFFF at the time of booking on her website!

• If you missed out on a particular item, be sure to check the item description for an email address or business website of the item donor to reach out and make a direct purchase. Items are still visible on the auction website.

Thank you again for all the ways you contribute to the CSPC community! 

As always, contact the CSPC with any questions at info@thecspc.org.

Stay safe, stay sexy, and have a happy holiday season!

The CSPC Board

Community Matters: New Events Director and Volunteer Training

At the December 2022 Board meeting, the Board president read a letter from Sakari regretfully sharing that she is stepping down from the Board effective immediately in order to take some time for recovery from recent health concerns. The CSPC Board would like to express our gratitude to Sakari for her years of service on the Board of Directors and as Events Director this past year. Under Sakari’s leadership in Events, we successfully returned to hosting in-person events and more than doubled the number of events (in-person and online) available for our community every month. We are sorry to lose her energy and dedication on the Board, but we look forward to seeing her continued participation in our community after some well-deserved rest and healing. 

We are delighted to announce that Jadzia has agreed to step into the role of Events Director for the CSPC. While Jadzia is one of our newest Board members, she is a powerhouse who also serves as EC Team Lead, Tasting Top Lead, and a member of the Champion team for three parties–All In, LaQueer, and Sense & Sensuality–among the many ways she supports the CSPC community as a volunteer. We can’t wait to see what the next year holds in Events! Got great ideas about Events? Share them using our feedback form here or email Jadzia at EventsDirector@theCSPC.org!

We want YOU to be the next rockstar volunteer! Join us on January 26, 2023, from 7-9 p.m., for our next volunteer training. Monitor training will run from 7-8 p.m. and Registration training will run 8-9 p.m. Registration is open now–log into Volgistics and register for the training on January 26 to get the Zoom link!

Not yet a volunteer, but want to get in on the action? Join the volunteer corps today! Just complete the on-demand online volunteer orientation and submit the volunteer application located on the Volunteering webpage. It’s that simple! The more parties we host, the more volunteers we need to keep things running smoothly. The CSPC is a fully volunteer-led, volunteer-run non-profit organization created by our members for our members. Become a volunteer and help chart the CSPC’s future!