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1. What is a Master/slave contest how does it work?
   From the Judges Manual for IM/s:
   
   Basic Philosophy for the International Master/slave Contest and Titles
   
   The producers of the International Master/slave Contest are committed to providing the leather/BDSM community with an International Master and an International slave who will represent the Master/slave community and lifestyle with integrity and competence. The holders of the International Master and International slave titles will be the spokespersons for the Master/slave community, and as such, one of the most important attributes of the titleholders should be the ability to clearly and effectively communicate what it means to them to live and identify as Master or slave.
   
   It is expected that the holders of the titles will take every opportunity to educate the leather/BDSM community on the Master/slave lifestyle, and will actively seek out venues that will allow them to speak on Master/slave issues, whether that be through speeches, seminar presentations, participation on panel discussions, writing articles, etc.
   
   The International Master and slave titles are not about a particular “look,” dress, body type, gender or sexual orientation. There is no required set of protocols that International Master and slave are expected to follow.
   
   Contestants are not required to have a formal “platform”; however, questions from the judges regarding any specific plans or goals the contestants might have should they win the titles are quite appropriate.
   
2. Who are the producers of the NorthWest Master/slave contest?
   
   The producer for the NorthWest Master/slave contest is smOdyssey, Inc.
   
3. On what basis are the contestants judged?
   
   Contestants are judged in five areas:
   
   i. an interview with the judging panel
   ii. a two minute speech (by each Master and each slave) given to a live audience
   iii. Presentation, a short (10 minute) synopsis of a seminar or class to be given by the M/s couple at Leather events
   iv. “Pop Questions” answers to randomly selected questions are given by each Master and slave on stage during the contest
   v. M/s dynamic – observed by the judges throughout the contest weekend. This is a subjective measure of the degree to which each competing couple models an identifiable M/s dynamic.
   

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Master Skip



Skip Chasey (a/k/a Master Skip) heads a family of spiritually grounded leatherfolk in the City of Angels, where he is a practicing spiritual director and certified Grief Recovery™ counselor and also earns a living as a missionary among the savages of Hollywood. He is a co-producer of the Southwest Leather Conference, a core instructor for the APEX Academy/Butchmanns Experience, and a co-founder of People of Leather Among You (PLAY), a social and educational group for Southern California men and women interested in the integration of spirituality and leather/fetish sexuality. In 2000 Master Skip addressed a crowd of almost oe million people at the Millennium March on Washington, and since then has given the keynote address and presented more than a hundred programs on the spiritual dynamics of SM and D/s relationships at noteworthy leather events throughout North America. He is a past recipient of the Lee Montague Memorial Award for Outstanding Community Service from Avatar Club Los Angeles, where he is an active member, was named Best Trainer at the 2002 International Puppy Contest, and in 2005 was honored with the Pantheon of Leather Community Choice Award. Master Skip presently serves on the board of directors for Butchmanns, Inc., a non-profit educational organization dedicated to self-actualization through the mindful use of physical practices and the conscious exchange of personal power for spiritual awareness. In his own words, Blood may be thicker than water, but leather is thicker than blood.



Master Bob



Master Bob, Northwest Regional Master 2006, calls the Portland and Willamette Valley kink communities home and is an active member of Portland Leather Alliance, MasT PNW, Portland Dom's Group, Dungeon Monitors Association, South Valley BDSM Group, and the Eugene S/M Discussion Group. He co-founded and hosts the monthly Corvallis and Albany munches and is the producer for Leatherwoods an annual outdoor kinky camping event in the lovely Willamette Valley. In his professional life he runs his own personal motivation business, www.SolutionMentoring.com and is a certified life coach specializing in relationship and personal growth issues.



In and out of the leather community he is passionate about helping others to live more joyful and fully authentic lives, and has established and organized fun and supportive environments for his community, moderated and facilitated discussion groups, mediated conflicts, participated on panels, and presented interactive workshops on various topics ranging from M/s dynamics to S/M technique to "Conversations on Spirituality and Sexuality". While he understands that being out is a luxury not everyone can afford he feels fortunate to be able to choose this path for himself and his slave because he feels modeling wholeness by telling the truth about who and what we are, despite the perceived risks, is an act of authentic leadership to which he aspires. It is his hope to honor both our unique differences and our shared common experience, building bridges of understanding both within our local leather communities and within our larger circles of influence.



slave jan



slave jan, Northwest Regional slave 2006, began her slave journey six years ago when her head finally caught up with her heart and has been happily in service to Master Bob ever since. They began the shift from a floundering, ho-hum "equal partnership" twelve-year marriage to a negotiated power dynamic relationship at the turn of the millennium and slowly over a year and a half's time found themselves spirit led to living a consensual M/s lifestyle. Currently she is a member of the Portland Leather Alliance, MasT PNW, subRosa, South Valley BDSM Group, and the Eugene S/M Discussion Group. She assists in producing Leatherwoods and co-hosts the Albany and Corvallis Munches. Through moderating discussions, participating on panels, presenting workshops, writing and sharing other expressive arts she helps others to explore and celebrate their own unique paths to self discovery.



Midori



A writer and lecturer on a wide range of sexual topics, Midori has a degree in Psychology from the University of California, Berkeley, and vast indispensable experience as a pioneering San Francisco sex educator. A regular advice columnist for Men's Health, Midori has appeared on HBO and BBC, and has been featured in Vogue, Playboy, Der Spiegel, Cosmo and more. Multifaceted, she is a skilled photographer, artist in Japanese rope, presenting to art institutions such as Tanzquartier, Vienna and Das Arts in Amsterdam. She's the author of bestselling books "The Seductive Art of Japanese Bondage" and "Wild Side Sex".

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ORIGINAL: SimplyMichael

Two old and dear friends of mine just called me to let me know they WON the international Master/slave title!  They are totally totally stunned and quite humble about it but I don't have to be so HURRAY for them!

Years ago when I heard about this stuff I blew it off as stupid, I mean how to you compete for who is "best" at being a couple?  The competition is actually more about how much you give back to the kink community and what sort of leadership do you provide.

http://www.southplainsleatherfest.com/regionals.php

They are the sort of couple that lay several myths to rest.  They are deeply, madly in love.  They don't play with anyone else.  She is anything but a meek churchmouse.  That dominants can't be playful and mischievous.

They have worked really really hard for this, traveled all over the US lecturing and speaking, raised tons of moneys, primarily for NCSF, and started a local chapter of MAsT along with a strong effort to bring together the diverse elements of the scene locally.

Congratulations guys!  I am very very proud...