The Exiles Annual Elections 2024

  • The Exiles Annual Elections 2024

    Elected Directors Ballots, Policies & Procedure Updates, and a copy of current Bylaws

  • Welcome Exiles Members!

    This is your online ballot for the election of new Directors for the Exiles - your chance to shape the leadership of our organization! These elected leaders will guide us over the next year, so your vote is crucial.

    Please make sure to cast your vote by 12:00PM Pacific Time on Sunday, April 14, 2024. To speed up the confirmation process, kindly include your member number on the ballot. If you're unsure of your membership number, no worries, you can still vote without it.

    If you have any questions about the voting process, feel free to reach out to info@theexiles.org.

    Thank you for your dedication as an Exiles member - let your voice be heard by voting!

    • Identification 
    • Elected Directors 

    • Vote for one person for each position, or vote "None" if you don't support the candidate, or provide a write-in vote under "Other".

      If you want to know about the structure of our 501(c)3 organization, here is a copy of our most up-to-date Bylaws and current Policies and Procedures, which are undergoing updates. To engage in this process, please attend our business meeting and join our Policies and Procedures Committee.

      Bylaws Link

      Policies and Procedures

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    • Lipstick Honey

      You're in luck! Lipstick Honey has another year as your Exiles CoCoordinator. Need a refresher for all that is Lipstick Honey and an update on everything she has done during her leadership? Here you go! 

      Lipstick Honey is a cis queer, primal, femme, switch, leatherwoman currently residing in fist-deep Dallas. Her Daddy affectionately calls her baby bear as it pulls on her sassy, defiant, yet playfully loving heartstrings. She joined the kink community in the summer of 2019 and quickly, after that, found the leather community in Eastern Iowa. Lipstick Honey experienced immense heated pleasure when attending the CROP dungeon, where she learned more about her desire to feel the weight of a flogger, various delicious forms of impact, and the love of bondage. During the pandemic-Zoom-life era and the years to follow, she's been able to attend several conferences, including Flame, IMsLBB, WoD, CLAW, and SPLF, and became highly active with the Exiles community. So dripping wet with community involvement, she quickly was appointed CoCoordinator of the Exiles and actively leads this non-profit organization through their commitment to education and servicing the leather community. 

      During her time as CoCoordinator, Lipstick became the International Woman of Drummer. When she is not traveling to WoD regionals, she attends weekly Elected Director meetings to ensure teamwork and accountability. Lipstick ensures smooth transactions by having a heavy hand in curator program presenters and collaborating with Folsom Street Community Center for educational space rentals. When her teammates need her help running events, you can find Lipstick stepping into the roles of host for the online munches and assisting with orientation. You'll find her recording detailed meeting minutes at our monthly biz meetings every month. And let's remember the epic 25th Anniversary that Lipstick had a massive role in making a smooth success in the organization, planning, and hosting! 

      CoCoordinator (2 year) Open

      Our community is looking for a passionate member to fill the open CoCoordinator position, serving alongside our current CoCoordinator, Lipstick Honey, who has one year left in her term. This role, vital for guiding our organization, has a 2-year term. 

      We are eager to see new leaders step forward.

      Interested in this opportunity or want to nominate someone? Please join us at the April Biz Meeting. This is your chance to shape the future of our community.

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  • honeycrisp

    honeycrisp (she/her) is an extraordinary service pony and beloved candidate for re-election as the Membership Director. With a heart as golden as her favorite fruit, honeycrisp's love for apples is as delightful as her spirit! 🍎🐴

    Beyond her enchanting apple-related charm, honeycrisp's talents extend far beyond the barn. Her journey, which began over 10 years ago, uncovered her affinity for rope bondage, a side of her that finds true bliss in the embrace of a rope. Not to mention, her experience at MTTA’s slave Training Weekend in 2017 which was a validating moment, showing her that her unique journey is a valid path all its own. Let's not forget her incredible organizational skills – for the past four years, she's been the mastermind behind her hometown munch calendar.

    But that's not where her magic ends. honeycrisp is the unsung hero who tirelessly improves our website and membership processes behind the scenes. In need of tech support? Look no further! She's the Zoom maestro, always ready to tackle any technical challenge and lend a helping hoof at just a click away.

    If you're lucky enough to spot honeycrisp in the wild at our online munchies, classes, or Biz Meetings, consider yourself truly fortunate! Her involvement doesn't stop there – she's an integral part of Team Dimples, offering unwavering support to the Orientation Crew. With honeycrisp, every moment is a joy, and her commitment knows no bounds. She's not just a service pony; she's the embodiment of passion, dedication, and a touch of whimsy in our vibrant community! 🌈

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  • Mat North

    Mat (she/her) is a vibrant and enthusiastic individual who is running for Treasurer for the Exiles. Mat has been an integral part of the community, having supported the organization before it evolved into the Exiles. With a knack for navigating QuickBooks and a talent for deciphering legal jargon, she brings a playful energy and a wealth of experience to the table.

    A self-identified cis lesbian butch with a penchant for polyamory, Mat currently resides in Oakland, CA. Her journey in the kink community began with the support of influential women who guided her in embracing her identity. It was through this path that she found her way to the Outcasts and discovered the queer world of kinky education. Though she temporarily drifted from the leather and kink scene, she rekindled her connection in 2012 and has been an active member of the Exiles ever since.

    With an infectious enthusiasm, Mat is eager to breathe new life into the organization as we continue to transition out of the online covid-pandemic-world. Her vision is to revitalize in-person programming and reinvigorate social interactions, bringing the community together once more. As she steps forward cautiously into this changed landscape of the Bay Area and the land of Zoom, you will find Mat hosting Exiles events and wholeheartedly encouraging in-person socializing again.

    • Additional Directors 

    • We have additional Directors appointed through a business group vote. Keep an eye on your Exiles’ membership email for the bios of the current nominees. At the upcoming April 17th meeting, the following positions will be appointed:

      • Recorder: Manages minutes and keeps records organized
      • Newsletter Editor: Prepares and distributes The Lunatic Fringe
      • Outreach/PR Director: Handles publicity, outreach, and newsletter edits
      • Orientation Director: In charge of providing BDSM 101 education
      • Doorkeeper: Manages program entrances
      • Steward: Reports and acknowledges concerns at Exiles events
      • Anti Racism DEI Director: Develop and implement tailored DEI strategies
      • Accessibility Lead: Ensuring that spaces, events, and information are accessible
      • Website Manager: Maintains the official Exiles website
      • Volunteer Coordinator: Recruits and oversees volunteers
    • Final Notes 

    • YOU'RE NOT DONE YET!!

      Please review your ballot carefully. Once you click submit, changes cannot be made. Feel free to use the back button to review or adjust your responses before they are officially recorded. Click SUBMIT only when your vote is finalized.

    • Election Results

      The results will be announced at the April Business Meeting and will also be shared on the website and through the membership newsletter. 

    • About Privacy

      If you're worried about the confidentiality of your vote, here's how it will be handled. The outgoing CoCoordinator is the appointed Vote Counter, ensuring impartiality as they are not a candidate. The online results will only be accessible to the Vote Counter. The ballot system will separate member information from the votes, sending the Membership Director only the necessary details for verification. The Vote Counter will receive the compiled voting results in a spreadsheet format for counting.

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