With massive losses facing communities of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama due to Hurricane Katrina, International LeatherSIR & Leatherboy has announced an immediate relief fund specifically in support of Leather tribe family members and businesses in the Leather Communities affected. "New Orleans especially hit hard by this disaster needs our support not just nationally but internationally also, from Leather Family members worldwide," said Master Mike Zuhl, President of DCI Productions, producers of the International LeatherSIR & Leatherboy Contest Weekend. "Our hearts go out to all those afflicted by this disaster, but that is not enough...."

Mike Zuhl states, "relief funds for this and other disasters are not Leather Tribe based. Our purpose is to collect and distribute donations specifically for members of the Leather Family, not recognized by broad based public programs." The Red Cross and other government based programs do a fine job, but none of them focus on the needs of the Leather Community, needs that remain unrecognized by many communities at large; needs that may be very special. New Orleans, Biloxi and Mobile will be the immediate focus, but the ILSb Relief Fund is not limited to those communities.

We ask that all members of the Leather Tribe worldwide, especially our family of Title Holders, our brothers and sisters, solicit your localities for donations of all kinds in support of this critical effort. Nothing will be ruled out. Monies in the afflicted areas will stay in the community and support Leather Tribe victims of this disaster.

"Hard goods" will be collected and distributed based on local and individual need. All types of donations will be considered and offered to benefit Leather Tribe members.

The International LeatherSIR & Leatherboy Contest Weekend , October 6 - 9, 2005 will present the Titleholders Celebrity MARDI GRAS Auction on Friday night Oct. 7th to further collect and donate funds towards this crises. Your participation is not only appreciated, but brings our family members together at an important time of need, and in our history!

To volunteer your services, send your donations (monetary or otherwise), or for more information please contact:

PLEASE PASS THIS IMPORTANT ALERT ALONG TO YOUR OTHER MAIL GROUPS. FURTHER DETAILS TO FOLLOW ON THIS CRITICAL SITUATION

Respectfully,

In Caring & Leather Brotherhood,

Mike Zuhl
Lou Molnar
International LeatherSIR & Leatherboy Contest Weekend
(Co-executive Producers)

To make a donation to this fund directly, go to the ILSb Leather Tribe Based Relief Fund web site.

See below to read more about the ILSb Relief Fund!

1) What types of aid does this fund intend to distribute (monetary aid/goods/etc.)?

Currently we are accepting monetary contributions and items that can be sold at auction during the International LeatherSir and Leatherboy weekend in Atlanta on Friday, October 7, 2005. In the near future, we hope to accept “in-kind” services, such as airline tickets, movers, outplacement services, and other services that might be useful to affected
leathermen and women. At this point, we do not have the ability to store or distribute “hard goods” such as canned goods, bottled water or clothing.

2) When and how will this aid be distributed?

The main fundraising event for the ILSb Leather Tribe Relief Fund will be held on Friday, October 7, 2005, in Atlanta during the International LeatherSir and Leatherboy contest weekend. We recognize the urgency of the need and encourage donors also to consider the American Red Cross and other organizations that are already providing disaster relief in the Gulf Coast region. Our leather brothers and sisters in New Orleans have told us that they are still trying to determine what types of relief are needed in the leather community. We have assembled a board of directors, which includes residents of the affected areas, who will guide us in determining where and when to distribute the funds collected. We intend to make the first distribution of grants immediately after the ILSb 2005 Weekend in October 2005, and additional distributions before the end of the year.

3) How does one qualify and apply to receive this aid?

The initial grants will be made on October 7, 2005 to well-known local and regional organizations who will be selected by the board of directors, based on the needs of the leather community. Those organizations will not be required to apply for grants. Before the end of the year, we intend to make additional grants to individuals and organizations who are located in the region affected by Hurricane Katrina and demonstrated involvement in the leather community by attending, joining, or sponsoring leather events and organizations.

4) Who makes the decisions about aid disbursement?

The distributions will be determined by the board of directors, which includes Todd Cole, President of the Lords of Leather, the New Orleans-based leather Mardi Gras crewe; George Hester, also a member of the Lords of Leather; Dr. Alan Bowers, Mr. Louisiana Leather 2005; Mike Zuhl, President of DCI Productions; Lou Molnar, founder of The Spirit of Leather Foundation and co-executive producer of ILSb 2005; and Matt Vertz, lawyer and co-executive producer of ILSb2005. The board will seek advice and guidance from other leather clubs and organizations such as the
Crescent City Outlaws, Knights d’Orleans club, the Cavaliers Motorcycle Club, and MAsT New Orleans, as well as the local and regional aids service organizations and GLBT community centers in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama,and surrounding states. Input from all segments of the leather tribe is strongly encouraged.

5) Will information about how the aid was distributed be made public?

The first distribution of grants will be publicly announced at the International LeatherSIR and Leatherboy event on Friday, October 7, 2005. Subsequent grants will also be announced publicly. The only administrative costs that are anticipated are the credit card service fees charged by PayPal and/or DCI’s merchant services provider. Event promotion and production costs are being assumed entirely by DCI Productions and its corporate sponsors, and will not be deducted from the funds raised. There is no paid staff.

6) Has this fund existed in the past, and what are the future plans for this fund?

The ILSb Leather Tribe Relief Fund was established specifically in response to the Hurricane Katrina disaster and its effect on the leather community of the Gulf Coast region. All of the members of the board of directors have a well-known history of service to the leather community. Todd Cole is working on obtaining § 501(c)(3) status for a charitable arm of the Lords of Leather organization, who have been serving the leather community for 23 years. DCI Productions
Inc., which has produced the International Mr. Drummer and International LeatherSir events for the past seven years, is backing the ILSb Leather Tribe Relief Fund. Prior to this disaster, Lou Molnar began the process of establishing a leather community-based charitable foundation, The Spirit of Leather Foundation, which will be formally organized in the near future.

Mike Zuhl at 412-889-9605
or
Lou Molnar at 469-951-9743