Ten years ago the Atlanta Eagle held a ‘Jail and Bail’ fundraising event. One young Atlanta man was jailed and ‘tortured’ at this event- it was his first experience with SM.  After this event, he began to attend classes given by Atlanta S/m Solidarity and found his way to Master Doug Harris for boy training.

To this day this gentleman gives his time to the community just as Jack Stice did. In the late 90’s he served as Secretary of Knights Angels, he served on the Board of Southeast Olympus in 2003. He was Vice President for 2 years and is currently serving his 3rd term as Club President of Atlanta S/m Solidarity. His service is not limited to the gay leather community either. He was on the Board of Southeast Olympus in 2003 and is on the current committee as well. The CAP group is highly appreciative to have him as Treasurer and a Board member.

He is, in his own words, ‘quite the leather social butterfly’ and attends both the Gwinett and DeKalb Munches, Atlanta Regional Munch gathering and as many leather events locally, regionally and nationally as he can afford.

In fact, this will be his 9th year as a guest at SouthEast LeatherFest. I am very happy to present a Jack Stice Memorial Community Service Award to David Nelson for his ongoing and tireless service to the Atlanta community.

*****

In 1997 a group of leatherfolk met in a basement bar in the southside Five Points area of Birmingham, Alabama. For the previous 2 years folks from the Birmingham area had been coming to Atlanta looking for the kinky kindred. They heard, on occasion, of kinky Alabamians from here and there. It was known they existed, but there were no channels of contact, no social networks, no Halloween bashes, Fetish Balls, Kinky Christmases…nothing in the heart of the state.

Twenty-four people walked through the doors that Saturday afternoon in 1997. They ate, drank, talked and made friends. Then, they made plans to meet again. But how would they find each other online, how would they know to meet again, what would the group be called? As one member stood there, looking around the tables where they now stood, he realized that all the chairs in which we'd been sitting were covered in burnt-red cherry leather. The group’s name was found: The Red Chair.

After a year of meeting in local restaurants and bars the group found a private meeting place for educational opportunities. In 1999 a Leadership Team was created for the growing group.

In the year 2000 The Red Chair began to host Dungeon Parties along with regular educational presentations at local hotels. A private building was found in early 2001 and in a few short months a small crew of dedicated Red Chair members gutted the facility and renovated it into a 4000 square foot dungeon and meeting space. On April 7, 2001 the first educational presentation and dungeon party was held at the new building.

In August of 2005 the ownership of the building swapped hands and a sizable rent increase led to the demise of the dungeon. On November 5th of this past year The Red Chair closed it’s door as a dungeon.

The Red Chair Remains as a strong viable organization even without a facility to call their own. As the oldest BDSM group in Alabama they continue with educational classes, munches and play parties at private locations. The group has strong ties with North Alabama Power Exchange, Central Alabama Power Exchange and many other groups in the southeast. The Red Chair is also a proud supporter of NCSF.

For dedication to the lifestyle and support of the community SouthEast LeatherFest is proud to present a Jack Stice Memorial Community Service Award to The Red Chair.