Our History
The Story Continues…
Meetings continued over the next few months on every 4th Saturday. Play parties were started using someone’s home or apartment and volunteers were the backbone of the organization. CAPEX had begun to bring in National presenters such as Jack McGeorge, Bob Deegan and Jay Wiseman. By the fall of 2000, CAPEX had outgrown their play party venues of using someone’s home and began to try a new process in the area of having play parties in Hotels. Several hotels were approached and the group began using them for their play parties. Crews of volunteers would show up on the day of the meeting and party and essentially breakdown the room furniture and set up play stations. DM’s were used to monitor the play area. Food was provided. And a great time was had by all.
There have been many milestones in the history of CAPEX. The first CAPEX Halloween party was held in October 2000 at the home of a contributor. Contributors dressed in costumes and prizes were given for the best costume. The CAPEX Halloween party has become an annual event and is looked forward to by the group’s contributors as well as members of other organizations. In the past, CAPEX has collaborated with other organizations to open the Halloween social to them as well. The last year of Together in Leather, the social was attended by over 150 people from the group as well as TIL attendees. It was an exciting site to see an entire floor in a hotel converted in to a kinky Halloween party with themes such as “I want to suck your blood” and “Along Came a Spider”. Themed parties were no new thing to the CAPEX contributors. Floor parties in which an entire floor of a hotel was rented out to the organization and the contributors. Luau themes, school girl themes, military themes were frequently used. Volunteers spent countless hours preparing the decor and the food so that everyone had a great time. The contributors also got in to the spirit by dressing for each of the themes.
CAPEX has been a leader in the Southern Piedmont area in bringing nationally recognized presenters as well as regional and local presenters. Janet Hardy, Laura Antoniou, John and Libby Warren, Vi Johnson, Victoria Gayton, Tristan Taromino, Mistress Suzan and slave ziggy and SELF’s own Lady Catherine has graced CAPEX doors, just to name a few. We continue to have great presenters educate our contributors. CAPEX believes that these presenters that give of their time and often their own money to present to local groups should be treated as special as possible. Our service and attention to these presenters has helped make CAPEX a respected group in the BDSM field.
CAPEX also believes you should give back to the community that we serve. The group has supported or sponsored many organizations and charitable causes such as, NCSF, Master Doug’s Medical Fund, SELF, Lion’s Pride, NC Leather Contest, Frolicon and many others. CAPEX believes local groups must support each other to keep the community strong. We are only as strong as our weakest link in this country where often our sexual practices are criticized and attacked. Non-reciprocal groups are recognized at meetings once a quarter so that the contributors can learn about other groups in the area. CAPEX also began an outreach program for those new to the scene called Gateway. This program meets in a non-threatening atmosphere where those that have an interest can come and learn about the basics of the BDSM lifestyle. There are often people attending that do not even know what a basic flogger looks like, much less the intricate rules of scene etiquette and protocols. The group is a discussion group only and those attending aren’t pressured to join any group. The moderators are just there to answer their questions.
Within the organization itself, the core backbone of the group is the volunteers. CAPEX as a whole rewards their volunteers with volunteer of the month, quarter and year awards. Volunteer parties have been thrown for those that have volunteered to allow them to relax and let the board take care of them for an evening. Newsletters are emailed to the contributors so that they will be kept abreast of the latest in the group and area. The CAPEX library is available for contributors to check out books ranging from self-help books, to erotic novels and how-to books. Vendors attend the meetings as well so the contributors may have a chance to buy a new toy in which to tease their partners with.
Special Interest Groups had become a part of CAPEX, including the Relationship SIG, Spirituality SIG, Dom SIG, Domme SIG, Submissive SIG and Deviations to name a few. A yearly Pig Pickin’ has become an awaited event every May as finding a social venue is impossible during the NASCAR race week. Many contributors look forward to this time so they can reconnect with their fellow contributors.
CAPEX started with a handful of people wanting to create a new group in the Charlotte area. Many kink-minded people have passed through the ranks of CAPEX. Some have excelled and become a name in the kink community throughout the Southeast. Others have found their soul-mate, their owner, their submissive and life-long friends. People come and people go. Boards change and new contributors become an integral part of the volunteer process. There have been changes. There has been drama filled times in the organizations history, like any other large scale group; but, through it all, CAPEX has remained a group dedicated to the education of its contributors and providing a safe place for like-minded people to meet, exchange ideas and possibly connect.
