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April 25th, 2020

All physical parties and events are cancelled for 2020 until further notice.

We will begin hosting physical parties and events again once it is legal, healthy and safe for our members to gather

We Are...

A social and sexual fraternity for men who engage in BDSM.
The longest-standing gay male BDSM Association in the western USA.
Active in the San Francisco BDSM community with play parties, an annual run (Boot Camp), social events and charitable fund raising.
Premier BDSM Players who mentor by example.
Safe, Sane and Consensual.
A volunteer Association with over 190 members, coordinated by a Fraternal Committee.
Open to members and invited guests with a government-issued ID verifying you are 18 years of age or older.

BootCamp 2020 has been Cancelled

By Jeff Garner

May 8th, 2020

Dear Boot Campers:

It is with great sadness that I must write to inform you that Boot Camp 2020 has been cancelled. Unfortunately, even if an event of our size is allowed to go forward in June, it would have to do so with social distancing rules that would prohibit the very activities that make Boot Camp so much fun.

I encourage you to keep a watch on our website and read the monthly Inquisitor digital newsletter very carefully to keep up with what The 15 Association is doing during this unprecedented crisis. For example, last month we threw our first online party via the Zoom application, and our next one is coming up May 16, 2020. I urge you to try to participate, as this allows for social interaction with your fellow 15 Association Members and Guests, as well as the opportunity for online exhibitionism and play.

All Run Fees paid are fully refundable. We will be handling these refunds by check. Credit card refunds are very expensive and, if you registered early, it is impossible to process credit/debit card refunds after 120 days. If you did register recently and really want a credit/debit card refund, please feel free to contact me by responding to this e-mail.

If you want a refund you don’t have to do anything. But, if you so choose to roll your Run Fees over to 2021, please go to the website and click the button that says "Cancel BootCamp Registration and Rollover Fees to Next Year." This will lock in your reservation, your housing choice, and the 2020 price for Boot Camp 2021, which is a special bonus because Run Fees for 2021 will unfortunately be increasing a little bit (we have not yet determined how much). We already know that our two greatest expenses are going to be going up for 2021. If you take no action by May 20, 2020, or if you click the button that says "Cancel BootCamp Registration with Immediate Refund," our Treasurer will send you a check. Keep in mind that if you do choose to roll your Run Fees over for 2021, you will have until April 30, 2021 to request a full refund, just as if you had registered when regular registration opens next year. If you haven't paid anything yet, your registration will just be Cancelled.

The next BootCamp is June 16 – June 20th 2021, with Setup starting on June 14th. If you want to be part of the Setup team, please note it on your registration next year.

I also wanted to take a moment to let you know that obviously Saratoga Springs and our wonderful Chef Gary are facing great financial strain at this time. With all gatherings cancelled, everything at Saratoga Springs is having to be cancelled, and with no gatherings there is no work for a caterer who feeds them. I cannot take credit for thinking of this very important issue, Ian from Canada called me to suggest that we do whatever we an to help them. To that end, if you are able and so inclined, you might want to make a donation to help them stay afloat. Gary has a “gofundme” page set up, and here is the link: Help Your Out-of-Work Caterer. When we have information on how you can make donations to help support the Saratoga Springs staff, we’ll post it on our website.

While both Saratoga Springs are Gary are businesses, and The 15 Association has a policy NOT to solicit donations for businesses (other than non-profit, charitable organizations), we did want to pass along the information for helping these folks out, simply because Boot Camp would not be the same were it held somewhere other than Saratoga Springs and were it catered by anyone other than Gary. Those of you who attend any of the other BDSM/Leather Runs know this first hand.

I know this comes as a great disappointment for you, as it did for me. Boot Camp is my favorite week of whole year! However, I wanted to let everyone know as soon as possible, so that you can make your decisions and plans as soon as possible. I will miss you all this June, but look forward to seeing and playing with you as soon as it is safe to do so. If you have any questions, feel free to respond to this e-mail, and I will do my best to answer them.

My best wishes to each and every one of you for your health, safety, happiness and continued horniness!

In Brotherhood,

Jeff Garner
Boot Camp Committee Chairman

Upcoming 15 Association Events

Get out and play with your brothers! Mark your calendars for these upcoming 15 Association Play (and other) Events:

Sat May 16 5pm – 8pm — Virtual Play Party — Online. Check 15sf.org on the day for details.
Sat May 30 5pm – 8pm — Virtual Play Party — Online. Check 15sf.org on the day for details.
Wed Jun 10 – Sun Jun 14 — BootCamp XXXII — CANCELLED!

Message from the Chairman

As you all know, our parties have been cancelled until further notice. We need to follow the orders of health officials for when we can have intimate contact as a group again. The Fraternals will use the best scientific advice and common sense to keep us safe. If our club can survive the AIDS crisis, we can survive this crisis as well, and we will.

We need to look after each other during the pandemic. Some of us are doing well, others not as well. I would ask all of you to reach out to your club brothers who may be experiencing grief and isolation. Check in with each other. A phone call may really help someone who needs it. And if you need a helping hand, please reach out to your brothers in the club and on the fraternal committee.

We hit the ground running and after cancelling our physical parties, our club is one of the first in the nation to start virtual dungeon parties. Please bear with us as we figure out how to navigate the connection of the dungeon with communications technology. After our first virtual get together, folks are ready to explore our internet kinky selves. We plan to host bi-weekly parties for the immediate future, and if the last party is any indication, we all can figure out how to play with each other even in the absence of being physically together.

Though our in-person Play Parties are cancelled until further notice, please check the website for updates. In the meantime we are extending online virtual opportunities to check in and meet up with our membership around the world.

See you all soon.

Eric See
Chairman, The 15 Association

Bootcamp XXXII — Update

The 15 Association takes this emergency very seriously and will act in accordance with Federal, State, Local, and perhaps most importantly, medical recommendations and orders. With that in mind, we also have an obligation to our Members and Guests, as well as a relationship with Saratoga Springs resort.

We are currently planning on going forward with Boot Camp XXXII, as scheduled. We are doing this with full awareness that will most likely need to cancel the run, but the sincere hope that we will be able to enjoy ourselves safely in June. We will continue to evaluate this very fluid, changing situation carefully, and do everything necessary to protect the health and safety of our Members and Guests, and will keep you all posted as this happens.

In immediate response to the emergency, we are extending the deadline for making the final payment on your Run Fees from April 15 to May 15, 2020. This will allow additional time for anyone to pay, so that if we find out we have to cancel the run, there will be a little less money and fewer transactions to get everyone their refunds.

We are also extending the deadline for canceling and receiving a full refund from April 30 to May 15, 2020. Anyone who cancels by May 15, 2020, will receive a full refund of any Run Fees they have paid. Also, please understand that if we have to cancel Boot Camp XXXII, ALL Run Fees paid will be refunded!

We understand that many of you also have airline flights and other related reservations. We urge you to contact your carriers, etc., and find out what their policy regarding canceling reservations is, and work with them. We, of course, fully understand that you may need to cancel your Boot Camp reservation(s) in order to obtain the most favorable terms from your airlines, rental car agencies and/or hotels, etc. We also understand that a few of you flying from foreign countries may be facing travel restrictions due to the pandemic that will prevent you from being able to fly to the U.S. If such travel restrictions are still in place as of May 15, 2020, the run will almost certainly also have to be canceled, due to local or medical guidelines, and, in any event, we’ll make sure you receive all the information we can provide to make an informed decision to obtain a full refund of your Run Fees.

Please also note that the dates for Boot Camp 2021 have changed, the correct dates are Wednesday, June 16, 2021-Sunday, June 20, 2021, with Set Up starting Monday, June 14, 2021.

Leather Lifeline

The SF Bay Area Leather Alliance has set up a local fund for the SF Bay Area kinksters and leather folk who need immediate assistance. Donations to and requests for funds should be sent to ball.leatheralliance.org.

Mental Health

The current COVID-19 circumstances can create a great deal of mental and emotional distress. If you find yourself in need of assistance, help coping, etc., PLEASE use the resources below for help. Please DO reach out for help:

Crisis Centers & Hotlines:

800-309-2131

Alameda County 24 hour Crisis Line

800-273-TALK

Contra Costa Crisis Center

408-279-8228

San Jose and Silicon Valley Contact Cares 24 hour Crisis Line

415-206-8125

San Francisco General Hospital

415-575-0150

Stop AIDS Project

800-273-2437

HIV Nightline

Kink-Friendly Therapists*:

Edward Santana, MFT, Ph.D.
https://www.DrEdSantana.com
582 Market St, Suite 2004
San Francisco, California 94104
(415) 644-3400

Heath Schechinger, Ph.D.
https://www.drheathschechinger.com/
2140 Shattuck Ave. Suite 511 Berkeley, California 94720
(712) 579-2873

Jonathan Burstein, MFT
http://www.jonathanburstein.com
3120 Telegraph Ave., Suite 3 Berkeley, California 94705
(510) 982-6202

Nick Venegoni
http://www.holistictherapysf.com
San Francisco

* Providers listed are only suggestions and have NOT paid nor received funds to or from The 15 Association as an organization.

Patreons

Patreon contributions can be made to:

The Leather Journal — recording our history for over 30 years!
https://www.patreon.com/theleatherjournal

SF Catalyst — Home Dungeon to The 15 Association
https://www.patreon.com/sfcatalyst

Member News

Extension for 2020 Annual Dues

Payment of Annual Dues has been extended to December 31, 2020. Financial assistance is also available through the Jones Fund. Submit your request online through the website.

Facebook

Connect on Facebook! Current events, Play Party details and connections to members and their guests. Join the FB Secret group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/15secret/

Leather and LGBTQ Cultural District

www.sfleatherdistrict.com OR Facebook page: Leather and LGBTQ Cultural District; www.facebook.com/sflcd

Other News and Events

Other events of interest to 15 Association members:

Sun May 9 5pm – 8pm — Ball Gag: A Kink Celebration & Fundraiser

The SF Bay Area Leather Alliance will be hosting this virtual event as the Leather and Kink Communities are invited to gather online to support those who are struggling during the COVID-19 crisis. There will be live performances by local folk, live auctions and a celebration of the Leather & LGBTQ Cultural District’s 2nd Anniversary with fun contests.

Live auctions of kinky gear and artwork will raise vital funds for the Bay Area Leather Lifeline (BALL). You can find items here: ball.leatheralliance.org/gag

The event emcee is Lenny Broberg. Entertainment will include performances by Danny Nguyen, Shay Tiziano, Sadie Payne, Star D. Love and Justin Hall. Contests sponsored by the Leather & LGBTQ Cultural District to celebrate their 2nd Anniversary include Best Beverage, Best Outfit and Best Pastry. Details at contests.sfleatherdistrict.org

BALL is a fund to help kinksters and leather folks in the SF Bay Area who need immediate assistance due to sudden income loss during the COVID-19 crisis. All proceeds raised during this event go to BALL. BALL is part of the San Francisco Bay Area Leather Alliance, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. For direct donations and requests for assistance, visit ball.leatheralliance.org

Got News? We want it!

Do you have News or Events our members would have interest in or enjoy outside the Dungeon?! Whether you are producing an event or just attending one others may not be aware and wish to participate. Our Community has much to offer and a variety of tastes so don’t hesitate to e-mail by the 25th of the month for publication in the following month’s issue. Inquisitor editor: Tyler Fong tazpuppy15@gmail.com.

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2020
Sat 5/30 5pm–8pm	Play Party
Sat 6/20 2pm–4pm	Fraternal Meeting
Sat 8/22 3pm–5pm	Fraternal Meeting
Sat 10/24 3pm–5pm	Fraternal Meeting
Sat 11/21 3pm–5pm	Fraternal Meeting

2021
Wed 6/16 2pm–6/20 12pm	BootCamp XXXIII