2012 Keynote: Master Skip & slave Ldy
Service in the Leather Community
Master/slave Conference 2012
Good evening, everyone. We are Master Skip and slave Ldy, and we're honored to be here with you tonight to speak about service in the Leather community.
As we look around this room, we see faces that represent decades of dedication, commitment, and service to our community. Tonight, we want to talk about what service means, why it matters, and how each of us can contribute to the ongoing strength and vitality of our Leather family.
What Is Service?
When we talk about service in the context of our community, we're not just talking about the service that exists between a Master and slave in the privacy of their relationship. We're talking about service to the broader community – the giving of one's time, energy, talents, and resources for the betterment of all.
Service is the lifeblood of our community. Without it, we would have:
- No conferences like this one
- No clubs or organizations
- No educational events
- No social gatherings
- No mentorship for newcomers
- No preservation of our history and traditions
Every event you attend, every piece of education you receive, every connection you make – all of these exist because someone, somewhere, chose to serve.
Forms of Service
Service in the Leather community takes many forms:
Organizational Service
This includes serving on boards of directors, organizing events, managing finances, handling publicity, and countless other administrative tasks that keep our organizations running.
Educational Service
Teaching classes, writing articles, mentoring newcomers, sharing knowledge and experience with those who are learning.
Creative Service
Creating art, writing, photography, and other creative works that celebrate and document our community and lifestyle.
Support Service
Providing emotional support, resources, and assistance to community members in need.
Historical Service
Preserving our history, traditions, and the stories of those who came before us.
The Motivation to Serve
Why do people choose to serve their community? The motivations are as varied as the individuals involved:
Gratitude
Many of us serve because we're grateful for what the community has given us. We've found acceptance, education, friendship, love, and a place where we can be authentically ourselves. Service becomes our way of giving back.
Passion
We serve because we're passionate about our lifestyle and community. We want to see it thrive, grow, and continue for future generations.
Legacy
We serve because we want to leave something behind – to know that our time in this community mattered and made a difference.
Connection
Service provides us with deeper connections to our community and to each other. It moves us from being mere participants to being stakeholders.
The Challenges of Service
Let's be honest – service isn't always easy or rewarding:
Time and Energy
Service requires significant investment of time and energy, often at the expense of other activities or relationships.
Criticism and Conflict
Those who serve often face criticism, second-guessing, and conflict. Not everyone will agree with your decisions or appreciate your efforts.
Burnout
The demands of service can lead to exhaustion and burnout, particularly for those who take on too much or serve for too long without support.
Thankless Nature
Much of community service goes unrecognized and unappreciated. The work is often behind-the-scenes and taken for granted.
The Rewards of Service
Despite the challenges, service brings profound rewards:
Personal Growth
Service pushes us to develop new skills, take on new challenges, and grow as individuals.
Deeper Community Connection
Through service, we develop deeper relationships and stronger connections to our community.
Sense of Purpose
Service gives us a sense of purpose and meaning beyond our individual relationships and experiences.
Legacy and Impact
We get to see the direct impact of our efforts in the growth and health of our community.
The Current State of Our Community
Our community today faces both opportunities and challenges:
Opportunities
- Technology allows us to connect and communicate more easily than ever before
- Growing acceptance of alternative lifestyles creates opportunities for greater openness
- Increased education and resources help newcomers learn and grow safely
Challenges
- Volunteer fatigue as the same people take on multiple roles
- Generational gaps between old guard and newcomers
- Commercialization that sometimes threatens the community-focused nature of our organizations
- Geographic dispersion that makes face-to-face connection more difficult
A Call to Service
Tonight, we want to issue a call to service to everyone in this room:
To Newcomers
You may think you have nothing to offer, but you're wrong. Your fresh perspective, enthusiasm, and willingness to help are valuable contributions. Start small – volunteer for simple tasks, assist with events, help with setup and cleanup.
To Experienced Members
Your knowledge and experience are precious resources. Share what you know. Teach classes, mentor newcomers, write about your experiences. Don't let your wisdom die with you.
To Current Leaders
Don't try to do everything yourself. Delegate, train others, and create opportunities for new people to step up. Plan for succession – identify and develop the next generation of leaders.
To Everyone
Find your passion within the community. What aspect of our lifestyle energizes you? What problems do you see that need solving? What opportunities do you see for improvement or growth?
Making Service Sustainable
For service to be sustainable, both for individuals and the community, we need to:
Share the Load
No one person should carry all the responsibility. Distribute tasks and responsibilities among multiple people.
Recognize and Appreciate
Thank those who serve. Acknowledge their contributions publicly and privately. Show appreciation for their efforts.
Support Our Servers
Take care of those who take care of us. Check in on them, offer assistance, and help prevent burnout.
Plan for Transition
Have succession plans for key roles. Train multiple people to handle important tasks.
Service as a Leather Value
Service isn't separate from our Leather values – it's an expression of them:
Honor
We honor our community by serving it faithfully and with integrity.
Commitment
Service requires the same commitment we value in our personal relationships.
Responsibility
We take responsibility not just for ourselves, but for our community's well-being.
Protection
We protect what we value by ensuring its continuation through our service.
The Master/slave Perspective on Service
As Masters and slaves, we have a unique perspective on service:
Masters as Servant-Leaders
Good Masters understand servant leadership – leading by serving the needs of those in their care and their community.
slaves as Service Models
slaves understand the fulfillment that comes from service – the deep satisfaction of meeting needs and contributing to something larger than oneself.
Service as Training
Community service provides training opportunities for both Masters and slaves in leadership, responsibility, and commitment.
Building the Future
The future of our community depends on the service we provide today:
Preserving the Past
We must document and preserve our history so that future generations understand their roots and heritage.
Meeting Present Needs
We must address the current needs of our community members – education, support, connection, and celebration.
Preparing for Tomorrow
We must plan for future growth and challenges – training new leaders, adapting to changing circumstances, and ensuring our community's sustainability.
Practical Steps for Getting Involved
If you're inspired to serve but don't know where to start:
- Identify your skills and interests – What are you good at? What energizes you?
- Start small – Volunteer for simple tasks to get familiar with how things work
- Ask questions – Find out what needs aren't being met in your local community
- Connect with current leaders – Let them know you're interested in helping
- Be reliable – Follow through on commitments, even small ones
- Learn and grow – Take on new challenges as you become more comfortable
In Closing
Service is not a burden – it's a privilege. It's the privilege of giving back to a community that has given us so much. It's the privilege of ensuring that others can experience the acceptance, education, and connection that we've found.
Service is not sacrifice – it's investment. Every hour you spend in service is an investment in the future of our community and the people who will come after us.
Service is not thankless – it's its own reward. The satisfaction of knowing that you've made a difference, that you've helped someone learn and grow, that you've contributed to something bigger than yourself – these rewards go deeper than any thanks you might receive.
As we look around this room tonight, we see the results of decades of service by countless individuals. This conference exists because people chose to serve. The education you'll receive this weekend exists because people chose to share their knowledge. The connections you'll make exist because people chose to create spaces for us to come together.
The question isn't whether our community needs service – it does.
The question isn't whether service is important – it is.
The question is: What will you do with the privilege of being part of this community?
How will you serve?
Thank you for your attention, and thank you for your service – past, present, and future.
This keynote address was delivered at the Master/slave Conference in 2012 by Master Skip and slave Ldy, emphasizing the vital importance of community service and calling attendees to actively contribute to the strength and continuity of the Leather community.