2010 conference location, organizational structure, and more

Here is the message I sent to the Google group last night:
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First of all, I am thrilled to announce that Sex 2.0 will be in Seattle next year, and the venue will be the Center for Sex Positive Culture! The director of the Center, Allena Gabosch, is super excited about Sex 2.0 and is behind our mission 100%. I can’t think of a more perfect venue. You can read all about the Center at their web site, http://www.sexpositiveculture.org. They’ve been open for ten years, which is pretty freakin’ awesome.

We do not yet have a date, but it will be sometime in summer 2010. It will definitely be after the Seattle Erotic Arts Festival. As always, we’ll work to make sure we minimize conflicts w/ other events as much as possible.

I also have a strong lead on a block of rooms at the super-cool sex-positive Hotel Max: http://www.hotelmaxseattle.com. They offer “kinky kits” in their rooms, among other things. Perfect tie-in, right? (Argh… no pun intended!) I’ll keep everyone posted on that, of course.

Yay for Seattle 2010!!

Next up: It’s been said that a conference’s third year can make it or break it. Sex 2.0 is growing, and as you know from the discussions we’ve had here on the list over the past two weeks, we all share the concern over how to manage that growth and keep Sex 2.0 the unique event it is. So, going forward into year three, we’re making a few changes.

First of all, we’re dropping the word “unconference” from the description, since that seems to ruffle some people’s feathers. Sex 2.0 will remain community-driven and committed to our core ideas of everyone having something to teach and something to learn; this event will continue to be what you make of it, with everyone expected to contribute something to get the experience they want. I’m not willing to keep fighting a battle over the word “unconference,” though, so we’re nixing it. It’s more important that we have a great time, rather than what we call it!

Next, in planning for the 2010 conference, Sex 2.0 will have a steering committee. This was the logical decision after listening to feedback from participants for the last two years, including goals and questions for next year. The steering committee’s reason for existence is to help in the guidance of the event: the direction in which it moves and grows, and what we want to offer as a safe, social and educational gathering. In no way does this committee reflect on the planning of events in various cities, but rather it exists to ensure the spirit of Sex 2.0 remains consistent. Each year, a team of local organizers will be responsible for on-the-ground logistics, planning, and implementation in whatever city the conference is taking place.

Input from everyone is always needed, but in having this committee, it lessens the need for the planners of the event itself to be so burdened. Sharing the stress is always good – it’s ensures that no one is overwhelmed; and personally, I feel that an important part of a supportive community is taking care of each other and being accountable in this way.

Membership on the steering committee is open to people who have attended at least two Sex 2.0s. This requirement is to ensure that committee members have a good grasp on the mission and history of the conference. These are not permanent positions nor set in stone in any way; membership will naturally change from year to year. The maximum number of people for the committee is 13 – because that’s how we do it at Sex 2.0, we subvert societal paradigms that arbitrarily label some numbers “unlucky!” If you would like to be on the steering committee this year, please reply to the group or email me.

Finally, remember, if you have not taken the survey yet, please do; even if you have given your input on the group, please include as much feedback as possible in the survey, so it will be there in delicious analysis-friendly format. Access to the survey will close May 30, and you can find it here: http://sex20con.com/2009/05/16/2009-sex-20-participant-survey/

Hotel chains removing adult videos

Reposting from Pro-Porn Activism:

One by one, hotel chains, which provide a major chunk of revenues for feature porn companies, are yielding to pressure from anti-porn groups to remove sex vids from their in-room video menus. Marriott may be the latest. Here’s the scoop from AVN:

avn.com/law/articles/29757.html

Well, if that’s the way the antis want to play, they’re not the only ones who travel, patronize hotels and can put on the squeeze. Write to Marriott and other chains that have already caved and let them know, loud and clear, that you will not be enjoying their hospitality in the future, not because you like dirty movies (even if you do), but rather because you don’t care to leave your dollars with companies that allow extremist organizations to dictate their policies.

Money talks. Make yours shout out.

- Ernest Greene