GMSMA has enjoyed a great deal of success over its fourteen year history.

But, like every other volunteer organization, we regularly face the challenges of winning new members, keeping the old(er) ones, and activating all of them. It takes a lot of work to keep GMSMA going; we're always on the prowl for a few more souls willing to share the burden.

Every summer, the president and chairman send a letter to members and prospective members urging them to join GMSMA and become active in one of our committees. The various GMSMA committees regularly talk at their meetings about getting new members. Different GMSMA officers get up at Wednesday night meetings and pitch membership and involvement.

You've undoubtedly heard the pitch: Here's what you get by joining GMSMA ... join because you get a discount at meetings ... join because you get to attend our educational events... join because you get a free subscription to NewsLink ... join a committee because it's the best way to get to know other members and ... and so forth.

All that is true. You do get great things by joining GMSMA. And yet, that's not enough. It's not the whole story, or even its most important part. We've spent so much time discussing this one side of the organization-building equation, that I fear we've shortchanged the organization and failed to project accurately its importance.

I'm as guilty of this nearsightedness as anyone else. I've repeated the litany of "gets" often enough to know it by heart. And I wouldn't want even to try to count the number of meetings I've attended where we've endlessly searched for yet another new goody we could offer as an incentive to spark membership or reinvigorate the committees.

Don't get me wrong - I'm all in favor of finding new (and, I hope, exciting) things GMSMA can do for its members. But that search may have blinded us to some of the realities about building an organization like ours.

So what does make a voluntary organization grow and prosper? Why should men join and help build GMSMA?

Of course, some people initially join a volunteer group because of what they get out of it. The enticement might be that nifty Sierra Club calendar or a special discount at museums and plays. The goodies are attractive and are sometimes an excellent marketing tool.

But other people join and most stay to help out because they support the goals and work of the group and because they want to give something back to their community.

And that's the side of the organization we've shortchanged. I want us to start telling men that they should join GMSMA and become active because what we do is important. Our activity makes a difference in the lives of the people of our community.

Tens of thousands of men (and many women, as well) have taken advantage of our meetings, workshops, seminars, and publications. They've found a friendly, safe space to learn more about their sexuality, to share with other like-minded people, to polish their skills at meeting people and building relationships, to sharpen their technique, and to learn about the broader issues that affect them.

Along with many others in the community, GMSMA helped create the political and social climate in which the psychiatric profession felt it necessary to revise their definitions of us in the DSM and remove the stigma of illness from adult consensual s/m.

Through our leadership role in building Pride Parades, marches on Washington, Stonewall 25, the Leather Pride Night Committee, the Leather Celebration, and similar events we've helped make it possible for tens of thousands to come out and for millions to learn a bit about our community. Those events helped open the door for s/m-leather people around the country. I can confidently say that all those events would been substantially different and some wouldn't have happened at all without GMSMA.

We have a very positive record and a great reputation. GMSMA memberships and membership activity make all that possible.

If you support that kind of activity, you should support GMSMA. If that means sending dues, even from far away, that's great. If you live in the area and have even a little time, volunteer to help out.

GMSMA memberships and membership involvement help insure the continued existence of a safe, non-sexually competitive space to meet and talk about our sexuality. They help keep us at the heart of the gay and lesbian community.

Our programs and educational activity help people overcome the shame and fear about sexuality that's imposed on all of us. Our safer sex education and s/m technique explanations help save lives. Our community activity helps us and everyone else out there who remotely identifies with our s/m-leather sexuality to be prouder and more self-confident.

Yes, join GMSMA because you do get great things - and the greatest of these may well be the sense of helping to build an organization that's changing our world.

-- Bruce M.

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