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Marilyn's
Step-down Speech

I am so thrilled and deeply honored to have been able to represent the Northwest region for the last year, or really 9 months.

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You know, when you run for a title you’re often asked what you will do if you don’t get the title. Before we were awarded this title we served our community, taught classes, and showed up. So what happened after getting this title? Well, we continued to serve our community, we continued to teach, and we continued to show up. So what was different? The title was a public commitment to serve. It opened doors. We were able to reach out to communities and venues who were interested in having titleholders present or visit. So it enhanced our contribution in a way that has been deeply satisfying. While not bringing the International title to the Northwest was a disappointment, it won’t stop us. We already have teaching engagements and visits planned to 3 or 4 conferences and several other venues throughout the coming year.

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You know, even though I wish I had been awarded those titles I didn’t get, I don’t have any regrets. Running for individual titles helped me learn about myself and push myself in new ways. Running for titles with my slave has strengthened our relationship and our dynamic. We are immensely proud of our contestant baskets, our donations to auctions, our classes, and our representation. We’ve connected with some amazing people in our various contestant classes. We’ve put ourselves out there so that more of you know us, and deepened our connections.

Let me say, if you’re even thinking about the possibility of running, do it! You’ll have a unique experience, you’ll learn, you’ll grow. Prepare yourself for not being awarded the title so you’re not devastated if you don’t get it, but put your heart into it. Notice I don’t talk about “losing” in a contest. While it may sound trite, you never lose when you put yourself out there to this community. I love how the community embraces not just the titleholders, but the other contestants as well.

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I realized I should probably be thanking people in this speech, but the number of people who have helped and given of themselves is way too big, even if I could remember all of them. To the people who donated to our baskets, helped us prepare us for our title runs, opened their doors to make us feel welcome in their communities, attended our classes, invited us to present, educated us when we needed it, and for so much more, thank you, thank you, thank you. Special shout out to our sponsors for our Northwest and International runs, the Exiles, MAsT San Francisco, and the Bears of San Francisco. Shout out to Frank La who made my patch harness, and Mr. S who put Rio’s patch on her vest. Another one to Mike Gelfand who produced our step-down video. And especially to our handler Deb Wade, and her wife Schon who helped us in many ways, including doggie care at conferences. They are truly our family.

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At the risk of giving away my age by saying this, I have been in this community for 38 years. 38 years. Well over half of my life. I grew up here. You taught me how to be a responsible adult. You taught me how to be ethically poly, how to be true to myself and my mastery, how to have honest communication even when it’s hard. You made me face my own racism, classism, gender-ism, and more. You’ve taught me a level of generosity of spirit, money, time, and energy that I might not ever have learned. As the video said, you are my chosen family, and for that I am eternally grateful.

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Rio and I will always be your Northwest Master and slave 2023, which I understand means that Ms. Rhonda owns us forever. And you know what? I’m OK with that. I want to continue to serve the Northwest community for many years to come. Thank you for being the community I want to be a part of and serve.

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Rio's
Step-down Speech

There are so many of you to thank, I can’t begin to name you all. We had more than 30 people contribute their time and energy, plus make donations to our contestant basket and silent auction, and the support we’ve received from you has been amazing. You know who you are, and we are deeply indebted to you.

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I’ve put myself out there in public a lot this year, especially about being a recovering alcoholic. It was scary to get up on stage at South Plains and ‘come out’ to hundreds of people. But my mother’s life showed me that if you hide your secrets and run from your demons, they will chase you, the rest of your life. The only way to overcome them is to stand up and face them.

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This title year has been exhilarating, and I wouldn’t change a moment of it (well, except I wish it was longer). We attended 52 events in our 38 weeks, and traveled over 9,000 miles. Having the opportunity to connect with people online, to travel and teach across our region, and to meet wonderful folks, has given me memories I’ll never forget. I believe we made an impact, talking about and teaching about authority-based relationships, plus I got to drive in the snow for the first time in 20 years!

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What I’ve learned from those travels is that people and our connections with each other are what’s important. Going to places like Laramie, Wyoming and Boise, Idaho has shown me how resilient we are in small communities, where it still takes ‘knowing someone’ to be invited to parties, parties which are held at private homes and rural ranches. There are no kinky stores, no dungeons, but they hang together as a community to create fabulous experiences for each other. We can learn a lot from them.

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I feel like I let down our region by not winning the International. I may always feel that way. But my heart is in the Northwest, with you, where it always has been, and where it will continue to be. You are my leather family, and I love you all.

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