Rio Grande Leather, LLC

Mission, History & Vision

 

(Please note that we are constantly making an effort to update and keep current our history and the changing role of RGL in our community. If you have anything to add or correct in the history or background of the organization, please let us know at riograndeleather@aol.com)

 

Mission Statement

Rio Grande Leather, LLC serves the local community by producing high-quality, entertaining educational events and contributing to charitable fund-raising that benefits the local and national community. Rio Grande Leather produces a weekend workshop event that attracts presenters with regional and national reputations, and budgets the production in order to make the event financially affordable for those in our local community who wish to attend. Rio Grande Leather also produces an annual Title Contest event that results in a Mr. RGL and Ms. RGL Title and raises money for RGL Leather Weekend expenses. Titleholders are expected to represent the "face" of RGL and to carry out RGL's mission by engaging in local community charitable fund-raising efforts, and by traveling to regional and national leather events.

Rio Grande Leather Background & History

Rio Grande Leather serves three basic functions:

1. Sponsor a contest that culminates in selection of two titleholders. RGL's interest in sponsoring a Title program lies in nurturing and developing local community leadership skills. Some titleholder's bring considerable prior experience in leadership and fund-raising to the title - others bring their enthusiasm and willingness to learn.

2. Organize and run an annual Rio Grande Leather Weekend event that brings regional and national workshop presenters to Albuquerque. This weekend event is intended to provide a local forum for the Albuquerque/New Mexico community to celebrate the glory of their leather/kink/fetish selves in a safe, secure and welcoming hotel environment. The first priority in planning for the event each year is to reflect the interests and needs of the local community. The second priority is budget the event so that the event is financially feasible for as many people as possible from the local community to attend. The third priority is to design an event that will attract the largest number of registrants as possible, by establishing a reputation for examining cutting edge topics with over-riding themes of cultural diversity while promoting our unique local New Mexico values.

3. Promote charitable fund-raising. Over the years, Rio Grande Leather has provided a forum for charitable fund-raising through the RGL Weekend event as well as the efforts of representative titleholders. Recipient organizations have included National Coalition for Sexual Freedom, the Leather Archives, New Mexico AIDS Services, Equality New Mexico, Human Rights Campaign Fund, and Breast Cancer Awareness. RGL supports the activities of local organizations through exchanges, in-kind contributions, and direct donations, including Albuquerque Pride, New Mexico Leather League, FetLife, and the Leather Wolves. RGL also directly supports and sponsors a "scholarship" fund that enables a few individuals to attend RGL each year who would not have otherwise been able to do so.

Brief History and Background

Rio Grande Leather grew out of a community vision that began in early 2004, after the producers of a longstanding title contest, New Mexico Leather, ceased activities. A group of 20 to 40 individuals, fully representing GLBT, straight, and polyamorous interest in leather, kink and fetish lifestyles came together to develop a new title organization, which was called Rio Grande Leather. Rio Grande Leather mounted its first title contest in October 2004, naming Ruben (Daddy Ruben) Gallegos as Mr. RGL 2004 and Julian Wolf as Ms. RGL 2004. Pat Baille served as Executive Producer for the contest, and New Mexico Leather League was the co-producing organization. After the 2007 contest, Pat Baille stepped down as Executive Producer, and RGL re-organized with a production team headed by Toni, Lady Katalina, Rex, and Justin.

Current Organizational Status

Recognizing that the production team is ultimately responsible for all contractual obligations and expenses, RGL was re-organized as a corporation with Toni and Justin as corporate officers. Although the long-term vision calling for RGL to re-organize as a non-profit entity has not yet been completed, Rio Grande Leather is nevertheless run in the spirit of a not-for-profit organization. There are no salaries or paid staff, and other than contracted production expenses, no one is reimbursed or paid for any services other than budgeted goods for which a receipt is provided. None of the producers, including the corporate owners, of RGL receive any financial compensation or benefits of any kind through stipend, salary or benefits.

Financial Policies

The primary source of revenue comes through registration fees for the annual RGL Weekend and any other events it produces, such as the Title Contest. There are no memberships or membership fees. However, RGL does accept sponsorships with different levels of benefits in the form of registration(s) and program advertising.

An accounting of the budget, expenses, and receipts is provided in a public forum, usually within a week or two following each RGL Leather Weekend event.

After all expenses for an event have been paid, any remaining surplus funds are carried over as "seed money" for funding the next year's event, or designated for other purposes that reflect the mission of RGL. RGL producers are frequently called upon to support other events and pay for expenses that arise during the year in the name of RGL. For example, surplus funds have been turned over to the Titleholder's Travel Fund, and surplus funds have been used as available throughout the year as donations to support or sponsor Spring Pandemonium, Albuquerque Pride, and membership in New Mexico Leather League. If surplus funds are not available, then it falls to the producers to either donate or lend money to cover out-of-pocket expenses, or RGL is unable to support and contribute in ways that would otherwise be appropriate.

If an RGL event ends with a financial shortfall, the producers take responsibility for ensuring that all contractual obligations are met.

The producers also have responsibility for ensuring that all funds that were specifically raised and designated as Titleholder Travel Funds remain available for reimbursable travel expenses to the Titleholders throughout the year.

Requirements of Titleholders

RGL does have some specific expectations for titleholders, such as participating as a judge in the following year's contest and participation in fund-raising that benefits the activities of RGL. RGL titleholders are also expected to take major responsibility for organizing and hosting the "titleholder luncheon" at the annual RGL weekend event, for which all of the fund-raising proceeds go toward the titleholders travel fund. So the more fund-raising ideas they can come up with, the better.

The goal in asking Titleholders to participate in fund-raising activities throughout the title year is to promote leadership in the community and to ensure that RGL Titleholders will develop organizational skills and fund-raising experience during the Title year. Titleholders typically benefit throughout their title year by the generosity of the community they represent and these funds provide a way that Titleholders are able to build financial stability for RGL. At this point, Titleholders are expected to organize or participate in fund-raising activities that raise a minimum of $500 for RGL. Titleholders have many options for raising these funds. For example, they could show up at a series of events representing RGL, and auction off an article or two. They could organize or participate in a series of benefit shows to support other community causes, with the understanding that some percent of proceeds will help them meet their Title year fund-raising commitment. They could help to solicit sponsors for the RGL Weekend Event, which in turn might help defray registration costs for the rest of the community.

Most folks who have volunteered or participated in community organizations understand that the responsibility of organizers, producers, or boards of directors for community organizations involves steering the organization toward financial stability.

In this case, the funds generated by Titleholders' fund-raising efforts go toward expenses for mounting the Title Contest event, up-front expenses required for producing the RGL Leather Weekend event, and "seed" money to support a Travel Fund for the next year's Titleholders. Because RGL is committed to staging a high quality weekend event that is affordable to the majority of the community served, some of the funds are intended to defray general registration costs. The funds will also support unexpected and unbudgeted expenses that arise throughout the year, such as fees to participate in annual Albuquerque Pride events, contributions to support the activities of other local organizations (e.g., New Mexico Leather League, FetLife), public relations opportunities for advertising, and sponsorships for other regional and national title organizations.

Development of Policies and Procedures

Beginning in November 2008, the producers of Rio Grande Leather developed a set of Policies and Procedures that would serve as guiding principles for the organization. These Policies and Procedures are available for review on the website. Beginning in the 2010 Title year, all RGL contestants were required to read and sign off on them.

Vision for RGL Future

The producers' vision for Rio Grande Leather is to develop a plan for improving long-term financial stability and creative growth that will support RGL's ability to serve the local community by producing a high-quality regional event with a national reputation for cutting edge educational workshops and entertainment that reflect the unique cultural inspiration of our local community. We also plan charitable donations and scholarship funds to aid in our specific leather/kink/fetish community and Albuquerque's needful population in general.

We aspire to grow in a sensible and planned direction, based on a solid foundation of community support, tolerance for measured risk-taking, and growing financial stability. We have the support of the community and the willingness to take reasonable risks in order to achieve our goals. Now we hope to improve our financial stability.

Our Titleholders

Year	Mr. RGL	Ms. RGL	Venue
2004	Ruben Gallegos	Julian Wolf	The Ranch Bar
2005	Leo Suarez [did not complete]	Stacey Wadley	The Ranch Bar
2006	Title year was changed to reflect the upcoming year in which Titleholders would serve the majority of their term
2007	Dread Pirate Drew
2008	Crrreature	Keli (Daddy Bear)	Howard Johnson’s
2009	Craig Dill	Mistress Skye Fisk	Sandia Courtyard (former HJ)
2010	Tyler McCormick	Jayson DaBoi	Sidewinders / Sandia Courtyard

In 2010, the Title Contest was separated from the RGL Leather Weekend event and held a month earlier. The 2009 Titleholders stepped down and the 2010 Titleholders stepped up at the RGL weekend event. Jayson DaBoi went on to compete and win the International Ms. Leather Bootblack title that was held at the 2010 International Ms Leather contest. Tyler went on to win the International Mr. Leather 2010 title that same year in Chicago, making history as the first transgender man with a disability condition to do so.

 

Rio Grande Leather Policies and Procedures

Development of Policies and Procedures

Beginning in November 2008, the producers of Rio Grande Leather developed a set of Policies and Procedures that would serve as guiding principles for the organization. These Policies and Procedures are available for review on the website. Beginning in the 2010 Title year, all RGL contestants are required to read and sign off on them.

A. Roles of the Production Team, Owners and Title Board

1. The RGL Production Team is responsible for all policies and procedures related to RGL. In addition, the Production Team is responsible for all fiscal matters, including administration of the title funds and approval of expenses and reimbursements.

2. The Owners of RGL must ensure that all events related to RGL, including those held by the titleholders, meet all legal and accounting responsibilities set forward by the state of New Mexico and the US Government.

3. The RGL Title Board will serve as an advisory board to the titleholders and to the RGL Production Team, giving input on policies, contests, and events that the titleholders conduct in the community. They will be a sounding board for ideas, provide emotional support and encouragement, and resources. They will communicate regularly with the titleholders.

4. The RGL Titleholders are the current Mr. and Ms. Rio Grande Leather and the Runners Up.

B. Duties of the Titleholders

1. Titleholders are representatives of Rio Grande Leather, LLC, and the New Mexico Leather Communities and should reflect positively on RGL and New Mexico.

2. Titleholders are required to serve as judges for the Rio Grande Leather Contest at the end of their title year and to attend the annual Rio Grande Leather Weekend, which includes registration and two hotel nights.

3. Titleholders are expected to support and attend local community events and functions. They are also encouraged to attend at least one regional and one national leather/kink/fetish events, representing the RGL titles.

4. Titleholders are also strongly encouraged to run for a further regional or national title. RGL will pay contestant registration fees during the current title year for one regional or national contest.

5. Titleholders should be actively encouraging others in the community to run for a title in a future year, answering any questions individuals may have, and portraying the title in a positive light.

6. Titleholders are expected to engage in fundraising activities throughout their title year to benefit RGL, their own travel fund, and/or local, state or national organizations.

7. There will be regular communication between the titleholders and the title board. Topics might include travel schedules, upcoming events, fundraisers, expenses and other needs.

8. RGL is, as an entity, committed to open, honest, respectful, and proactive communication. Titleholders are expected to communicate promptly with the title board in order to address any problems that arise in a productive manner.

9. Should circumstances interfere with these expectations, the titleholder is required to communicate in a timely manner with the RGL producers.

C. Duties of RGL

1. RGL will provide titleholders with a medallion and an appropriate designation of the title (for example, a sash or patch); titleholders will provide an appropriate method of wearing the patch.

2. RGL will provide the current titleholders with one (1) complimentary registration for their step down year to give to the guest of their choice; it is expected that this will be used to thank a significant other or friend who has provided exceptional support during the title year.

3. RGL will pay contestant registration fees during the current title year for one regional or national contest.

4. RGL will provide support to the titleholders through the RGL Title Board and through support of titleholders' events.

5. RGL will ensure that all policies related to the travel fund are carefully administered and that all designated funds will be available to titleholders during their title year.

6. RGL is, as an entity, committed to open, honest, respectful, and proactive communication. RGL's production team and title board are expected to communicate promptly with the titleholders in order to address any problems that arise in a productive manner.

7. Should a titleholder fail to meet the above expectations, the RGL Producers, through the Title Board, will take action, including, but not limited to, providing guidance about how to fulfill the expectations, additional assistance and, if needed, a warning. Should it be deemed absolutely necessary and attempts at resolution have failed, the RGL producers may act to remove the title.

8. Should a titleholder be unable to fulfill their title year, the RGL Producers may declare the First Runner Up as the current titleholder.

9. The RGL Producers will appoint the Title Board.

D. Travel Funds and Expenses

1. RGL will maintain separate travel fund accounts for each title. Money that titleholders raise for their own travel funds will be credited for their use during their title year, up to the date of their step down.

2. At the end of the year, any funds remaining in the travel fund accounts will be pooled and divided evenly among each title account so that each new titleholder begins their year with an equal amount.

3. Funds raised during the RGL weekend specifically for the titleholder travel fund will be split evenly among the funds.

4. RGL will reimburse titleholders for expenses for pre-approved travel; titleholders will need to present receipts in order to receive reimbursement. RGL will reimburse titleholder expenses with receipts for transportation, housing at the host hotel and registration, up to the balance of available funds. Titleholders are expected to choose the most cost effective method of transportation. Any exceptions to this policy must be approved in advance by the producers of RGL.

5. Any event packages won as part of the title package are for the titleholder to use to attend that event. RGL will not reimburse titleholders for registration for any event for which they have already received an event package.

E. Fundraising

1. All money raised at fundraisers by titleholders shall be delivered by a designated representative of the RGL corporation to the RGL bank account to ensure proper accounting and credit for money raised. If the money was raised for an outside charity or third party, RGL will provide a check in the appropriate amount.

2. Funds donated by outside groups or individuals that are designated for the travel fund will be used only for that purpose.