04/02/2008 WVQN LEATHERBEAR ARTICLE 34:
WV CLAW NATION
Leatherfolk and Bears from Akron, Atlanta, Canton, Charleston, Cleveland, Columbus, Huntington, Ironton, Kentucky, Michigan, Parkersburg, Pittsburgh, Steubenville, Toledo, Wheeling, and other places gathered together as a community to support the efforts of CLAW Nation in Charleston, West Virginia, this past weekend.
WV CLAW NATION
Leatherfolk and Bears from Akron, Atlanta, Canton, Charleston, Cleveland, Columbus, Huntington, Ironton, Kentucky, Michigan, Parkersburg, Pittsburgh, Steubenville, Toledo, Wheeling, and other places gathered together as a community to support the efforts of CLAW Nation in Charleston, West Virginia, this past weekend.
The CLAW Nation tour has raised $3,681.00 this year in West Virginia; beginning first on February 8th at the Polo Club in Huntington raising $1,500.00 with beneficiaries of Tri-State AIDS Task Force and Leather Archives & Museums; then at the second event this past weekend March 28th and 29th at the Tap Room in Charleston raising a final total of $2,171.00 with beneficiaries of Charleston AIDS Network and Leather Archives & Museums. In addition, HIV counseling and testing was provided along with leather awareness being increased through leather workshops.
All of the support from everyone in West Virginia attending the CLAW Nation events is so much appreciated. Thanks to the Mountain State Knights, the Mountain State Bears, West Virginia Rainbow Pride, Tri-State AIDS Task Force, Charleston AIDS Network, the newly formed LGBT support group “We’re OK in Charleston”, and West Virginia Queer News. Thanks to CLAW, Pantheon Productions, Straighthell.net, Swiss Navy Lube, DJ Arana and RECON for their donations.
Thanks to all the support of those who helped on February 8th in Huntington, West Virginia with boots-to-balls raffle, leather jock auction, jell-o shooters, and dollar-a-whack paddling.
- Leather Titleholders were John “Flash” Prichard, Mr. Great Lakes Olympus 2007; Nick Daemous, Mr. Pittsburgh Eagle Leather 2008; Slade Andrews, Mr. Kentucky Leather 2008; Jeff Knauff, Ohio Leather Sir 2006.
- Bear Titleholders were Joe Dawg, Mr. Mountain Bear 2007; Herbie Vinson, Mr. Mountain Grizzly Bear 2007; Stephen Sigmond, Mr. Mountain Daddy Bear 2007; and Marty Adams, Mr. Mountain Cub 2007.
- Other thanks goes to Garrison Designs for donating leather pride ballons, the owner of the Polo Club Dave Bayes, Bill Tucker, Julia DeVille, all Entertainers, the DJ, the Doorman, and the Cleaning Staff.
- Thanks goes to Stephanie Michelle Williams who was Emcee Extraordinaire.
Thanks to all the support of those who helped this past weekend March 28th and 29th in Charleston, West Virginia beginning with the Leather Welcome Party Friday night proceeded by the Saturday activities of Leather Brunch, Leather Workshops, HIV Counseling and Testing, Leather Dinner, the Leather Memories at the Living AIDS Memorial Garden, and the Leather Bear Party.
- Thanks to the Leather Titleholders who were "The Iron Goddess" and Miss Great Lakes Olympus 2007; Brian “Captain” McCoy, Mr. Pittsburgh Eagle Leather 2006; Stephen Blake, WV Drummer 2000; Lady Justice, Daddy MAXX, WV Drummer 1999; boy davey, Mr. Great Lakes Olympus 2006; John “Flash” Prichard, Mr. Great Lakes Olympus Leather 2007; Jeff Knauff, Ohio Leather Sir 2006; and Stephen Blake, WV Drummer 2000.
- Thanks to the Bear Titleholders who were Joe Dawg, Mr. Mountain Bear 2007, Marty Adams, Mr. Mountain Cub 2007, and Steve Sigmon, Mr. Mountain Daddy Bear 2007.
- Thanks to the Leather boys who sold jell-o shots and boots-to-balls raffle tickets who were boy billy, Tigger, Steve, Chip, and John Brown.
- Thanks to the workshops and presenters that were Flogging 101, Brian “Captain” McCoy; Marty Adams, Hanky Codes; Bryon Hanes/Randall Davis, Leather Institute for Education Detroit; Stephen Blake, Safer Leather Sex; and Chuck Anziulewicz, HIV Counseling and Testing.
- Thanks to the owner of the Tap Room Robert Sheets for all his donations and support, and all of his bartenders and Little John for being DJ.
- Thanks to the Blue Grass Kitchen for hosting us for Leather Dinner, the Living AIDS Memorial Garden, Inc. for giving us the garden space to remember our Leather and Bear friends, and Food Among the Flowers for donating leather pride balloons.
- Thanks to the two artists who donated items to the silent auction, Chad Bryon and Roi Stevens.
- Thanks to Stephanie Michelle Williams who was Emcee Extraordinaire.
On a closing sad note, thanks goes to Eugene Lewis Mills who was one of our bartenders this past weekend at the Tap Room. He worked really hard to help make our event a success. Sadly, he was discovered in his apartment Monday morning with multiple wounds. According to media reports, the crime is under still under investigation by local police. Please keep him in your hearts and thoughts, as he is in the hospital in serious condition at the time of this writing.
In Leather Bear Pride,
Steve Tompa
Mr. Mountain Leather 2007
04/23/2008 WVQN LEATHERBEAR ARTICLE 35:
CLAW BOUND
As my leather journey continues, I am headed to Cleveland this weekend to the Three-time Pantheon Award Winning "Event of the Year", CLAW.
CLAW is certified 501 (c)(3) Non-profit Corporation dedicated to fundraising, education, volunteerism and all charitable needs of the leather community. They are dedicated to the principle that people into leather are normal, happy and healthy, and they teach each other the truth of that principle. They produce a large annual convention (the Cleveland Leather Awarenss Weekend) in Cleveland, Ohio every year, and several smaller events around the country throughout the year. CLAW is 100% Non-Profit, and has donated over $100,000 for community charties.
This weekend is going to be full of hot leatherfolk from all over. I'm looking forward to seeing many leather friends and family that I have met in the past at other leather events. To see pictures of some of the leather titleholders that will be attending, click here: LEATHER TITLEHOLDERS
The event will include skills workshops, silent auctions, vendor mart, art show, dinners, and dance/fetish parties with themes including cowboy, boots, cigars, bear, sports gear, and so much more. To see an entire list of events, click here: CLAW EVENT SCHEDULE
On Sunday afternoon April 27th, I'm very excited to be a co-sponsor of the Tits & Tats Breast Cancer Fund-Raising Event with Peter Schwarz Mr. New York Eagle Leather 2008 and coordinated by Lady Justice Miss Great Lakes Olympus 2007.
A special thanks goes to WV local artist Roi Stephans for donating a portrait for the Tits & Tats Breast Cancer Art Action, by donating a picture he drew of the coordinator Lady Justice Miss Great Lakes Olympus Leather 2007 with co-sponsors Peter Schwarz, Mr. New York Eagle Leather 2008 and myself Steve Tompa, Mr. Mountain Leather 2007. We're hoping to raise lots of money off this portrait for the charities.
I am excited to see my dear friend Tina McKay, who I met in Steubenville, Ohio when she and I judged the Mr. and Miss Great Lakes Olympus 2007 competition at Club MAXX. Tina now feels like leather family to me. Tina has spent a great deal of time and effort coordinating this show that closes out the CLAW event festivities on Sunday night.
Thus when Tina asked if I'd like to be involved in the "Leather & Rouge" show production on Sunday night, I said yes with open arms. The theme is "leather tour of duty" so I'm digging through my closets this week to find my leather army soldier and uniform gear.
Again, I am excited to be CLAW BOUND for this weekend. Cleveland is only four hours from Charleston, West Virginia. If any of you want to come join all the fun and support the events, click here: CLAW PACKAGES & TICKETS
In Leather Bear Pride,
Steve Tompa
Mr. Mountain Leather 2007
CLAW FAMILY MEMORIES
"Jane Howard quotes, "Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one." This quote was exemplied in Cleveland this past weekend at CLAW7 with leatherfolk from all over coming together as family building a national leather charity.
04/23/2008 WVQN LEATHERBEAR ARTICLE 35:
CLAW BOUND
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As my leather journey continues, I am headed to Cleveland this weekend to the Three-time Pantheon Award Winning "Event of the Year", CLAW.
CLAW is certified 501 (c)(3) Non-profit Corporation dedicated to fundraising, education, volunteerism and all charitable needs of the leather community. They are dedicated to the principle that people into leather are normal, happy and healthy, and they teach each other the truth of that principle. They produce a large annual convention (the Cleveland Leather Awarenss Weekend) in Cleveland, Ohio every year, and several smaller events around the country throughout the year. CLAW is 100% Non-Profit, and has donated over $100,000 for community charties.
This weekend is going to be full of hot leatherfolk from all over. I'm looking forward to seeing many leather friends and family that I have met in the past at other leather events. To see pictures of some of the leather titleholders that will be attending, click here: LEATHER TITLEHOLDERS
The event will include skills workshops, silent auctions, vendor mart, art show, dinners, and dance/fetish parties with themes including cowboy, boots, cigars, bear, sports gear, and so much more. To see an entire list of events, click here: CLAW EVENT SCHEDULE
On Sunday afternoon April 27th, I'm very excited to be a co-sponsor of the Tits & Tats Breast Cancer Fund-Raising Event with Peter Schwarz Mr. New York Eagle Leather 2008 and coordinated by Lady Justice Miss Great Lakes Olympus 2007.
View full size
A special thanks goes to WV local artist Roi Stephans for donating a portrait for the Tits & Tats Breast Cancer Art Action, by donating a picture he drew of the coordinator Lady Justice Miss Great Lakes Olympus Leather 2007 with co-sponsors Peter Schwarz, Mr. New York Eagle Leather 2008 and myself Steve Tompa, Mr. Mountain Leather 2007. We're hoping to raise lots of money off this portrait for the charities.
View full size
I am excited to see my dear friend Tina McKay, who I met in Steubenville, Ohio when she and I judged the Mr. and Miss Great Lakes Olympus 2007 competition at Club MAXX. Tina now feels like leather family to me. Tina has spent a great deal of time and effort coordinating this show that closes out the CLAW event festivities on Sunday night.
View full size
Thus when Tina asked if I'd like to be involved in the "Leather & Rouge" show production on Sunday night, I said yes with open arms. The theme is "leather tour of duty" so I'm digging through my closets this week to find my leather army soldier and uniform gear.
View full size
Again, I am excited to be CLAW BOUND for this weekend. Cleveland is only four hours from Charleston, West Virginia. If any of you want to come join all the fun and support the events, click here: CLAW PACKAGES & TICKETS
In Leather Bear Pride,
Steve Tompa
Mr. Mountain Leather 2007
04/30/2008 WVQN LEATHERBEAR ARTICLE 36:
CLAW FAMILY MEMORIES
"Jane Howard quotes, "Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one." This quote was exemplied in Cleveland this past weekend at CLAW7 with leatherfolk from all over coming together as family building a national leather charity.
For me, it was great seeing many of the folks who I have met at many of the CLAW Nation parties who feel like family to me. For those of you who do not know me, I am Mr. Mountain Leather Steve Tompa and am also the CLAW Nation Coordinator. For those of you unfamiliar with CLAW Nation, it's a way for us to come together as family within the leather community bringing the power of our numbers to the individuals in the community who want to raise money for important local and national charities.
This first CLAW Nation tour was an unqualified success with 20 men bringing together their leather families to host 23 parties in 22 different cities across the United States. All of these parties were a big success with the help of sponsorship from Recon, CLAW, Straight Hell.net, Swiss Navy Lube, Square Peg Toys, Pantheon Productions, DJM Arana, and Folsom Street Fair celebrating their 25th anniversary this year (so let's all meet in San Francisco in Septermber!)
Special congratulations goes to Randy Wrisinger for the Spirit Award at the Motown Sash Bash in Detroit, MI and to Olivier Pratt and sparky for the Powerhouse Award at the Leather Carnival in Oklahoma City, OK.
Thanks goes to the sponsors of the tour one more time as they helped pay for the t-shirts and other expenses so that all the money raised by the parites went to the charities. And the final total is in....the CLAW Nation tour raised $21,759 for 20 different charities, including Leather Archives & Museum, Leather Leathership Conference #14 (which will be in Detroit in 2010), The Institute for 21st Century Relationships, The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, and AIDS and LGBT Service organizations in 16 cities. The 20 men hosting the CLAW Nation parties represent hundreds of volunteers and thousands of donors and all deserve congratulations.
The best news of all is that CLAW Nation tour is going to continue all year long. We are taking dates between June and September for a summer tour. You choose the date, any city, any venue, any kind of party, any community charity. CLAW and Recon will help make every fund raiser a big success.
As Jane Howard quotes, "Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one." The CLAW Nation summer tour is forming now. Please contact me with your date, city, and venue so we can get you signed up now for the summer tour and raise money in leather for our important local and national charities.
In Leather Bear Pride
Steve Tompa
steventompa@yahoo.com
MEMORIES TO SHARE FROM CLAW AND LEATHER FAMILY
I am honored to be pictured with my leather brothers below James Finley Mr. Detroit Eagle 2008, Freddie Marshall Mr. Chicago Leather 2008, Matthew and Pavelich Mr. Toronto Leather 2008 as we celebrate the "Spirt Award" with Randy Wrisinger who hosted Motown Sash Bash. Randy proved in February 2008 that there "ain't no mountain high enough" to keep our leather spirit apart. I love Randy Wrisinger. He is family for life.
Leather is family. Leather is love. Sometimes we just know we will be in touch for the rest of our lives. I am honored to be pictured below with CJ Smith Mr. Club XS Leather 2008 
I have the honor to be pictured below with Pedro Diaz Mr. Golf Coast Florida Leather 2008 and CJ Smith Mr. Club XS Leather 2008. Sometimes we just know when we meet new leather family and friends that is is NOTHING we won't do for them. 
I have the honor to be pictured below with the CLAW7 ice sculpture holding my treasured "Bob Miller International Volunteer Award 2008". April 26, 2008 will be a day I will never forget as I was honored with this award presented by Mary Elizabeth Boyd, the First Lady of Leather. I will treasure this award for the rest of my life. 
I have honors to be pictured below with Randy Wrisinger Mr. Michigan Leather 2008. Randy exemplified the meaning of leather family to me shortly after winning his Mr. Michigan Leather title when he and his Partner Rich welcomed me in their home with open arms for Motown Sash Bash weekend. Randy has a heart of gold and means the world to me. 
And with great honors, I have the priviledge to spend time meeting about two dozen members of the IML Class of 2008 who are pictured below. These guys were remarkable to meet at CLAW7.
Leather family is wonderful. I am honored to be pictured below with IML Classmates CJ, Michael, Chris, Randy, and Peter.
Leather family is the best. I feel honorned to be pictured below with IML Classmates: CJ, Michael, Chris, Randy, Peter, Freddie, and Kelly. 
MEMORIES TO SHARE FROM CLAW AND LEATHER FAMILY
I have the honor to be pictured below with Kelly Courtney Mr. Cellblock Leatherman 2007 holding leather art at the Leather Brunch sponosored by MML. This piece of art was amazing. The mat is leather and the hot leather man is made of wire and attached to the back with fishing line and toothpics.
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I am honored to be pictured with my leather brothers below James Finley Mr. Detroit Eagle 2008, Freddie Marshall Mr. Chicago Leather 2008, Matthew and Pavelich Mr. Toronto Leather 2008 as we celebrate the "Spirt Award" with Randy Wrisinger who hosted Motown Sash Bash. Randy proved in February 2008 that there "ain't no mountain high enough" to keep our leather spirit apart. I love Randy Wrisinger. He is family for life.
View full size
Leather is family. Leather is love. Sometimes we just know we will be in touch for the rest of our lives. I am honored to be pictured below with CJ Smith Mr. Club XS Leather 2008
View full size
I have the honor to be pictured below with Randy Wrisinger Mr. Michigan Leather 2008 as we celebrate our awards. Randy with his "Spirit Award" and myself with my "Bob Miller International Volunteer Award".
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I have the honor to be pictured below with Pedro Diaz Mr. Golf Coast Florida Leather 2008 and CJ Smith Mr. Club XS Leather 2008. Sometimes we just know when we meet new leather family and friends that is is NOTHING we won't do for them.
View full size
I have the honor to be pictured below with the CLAW7 ice sculpture holding my treasured "Bob Miller International Volunteer Award 2008". April 26, 2008 will be a day I will never forget as I was honored with this award presented by Mary Elizabeth Boyd, the First Lady of Leather. I will treasure this award for the rest of my life.
View full size
I have honors to be pictured below with Randy Wrisinger Mr. Michigan Leather 2008. Randy exemplified the meaning of leather family to me shortly after winning his Mr. Michigan Leather title when he and his Partner Rich welcomed me in their home with open arms for Motown Sash Bash weekend. Randy has a heart of gold and means the world to me.
View full size
And with great honors, I have the priviledge to spend time meeting about two dozen members of the IML Class of 2008 who are pictured below. These guys were remarkable to meet at CLAW7.
View full size
Leather family is wonderful. I am honored to be pictured below with IML Classmates CJ, Michael, Chris, Randy, and Peter.
View full size
Leather family is the best. I feel honorned to be pictured below with IML Classmates: CJ, Michael, Chris, Randy, Peter, Freddie, and Kelly.
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Leather family is PRIDE. I am once again honored to be pictured with IML Classmates CJ, Michael, Chris, Freddie, Kelly, Randy, Peter, and Randall.
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