A year has gone by so quickly - though Cell Block Leatherman MARK AUSTIN has accomplished so much!  He represented Chicago well at IML and has been involved in fundraising and outreach since then... but now it's time to choose his successor. Like other titleholders before him, he has done an incredible job of organizing the contest, and has garnered an impressive list of prizes for the next Cell Block Leatherman! Many thanks to Shel-don Leathers for being the major sponsor, and to all of the other businesses who have contributed.

FRIDAY we're pleased to welcome Tom Stice as the Master of Ceremonies for the weekend!  At 10 pm we'll start a Meet and Greet party, where you'll have a chance to meet our contestants on an individual level. Later, Tom will MC a formal introduction of all the contestants and our judges - and we have a diverse and talented panel to do the selection this year.

SATURDAY will be a day of activity for the judges and contestants as they have individual interviews - the part of the contest you DON'T see but which counts a lot toward the judges' impressions of the contestants and their scores. Saturday night will be the contest which will consist of three appearances on stage, and then the judges will decide who will represent us this year at IML and throughout the year. (note - there will be a door cover charge Saturday night)

An event of this size only happens because of the generosity of time and spirit by members of our leather community. I'd like to thank our MC Tom Stice (International Slave 2005), judges Mistress Joanne (retired Mistress of IML), Robin Czar (Mr. Chicago Leather 2006), William Schendel (Mr. International Rubber 2003), J.C. Cestou (Mr. Chicago Leather 2007), Contestant Handler/Alternate Judge Todd Davidson (Cell Block Leatherman 2007), Tallymaster Adrian Williams (Cell Block Leatherman 2003), Den Daddy Phil Redmond (IML judge 2008), and most certainly Mark Austin, our current Cell Block Leatherman, for their dedication and selflessness in serving our community. Their spirit most certainly reflects leather - the way it was meant to be!

Cya at the Cell Block.