Section I Membership in CROP
1.a A free Membership in CROP is available to anyone who is of legal age in their State/Country of residence. In Iowa, the legal age is 18.
1.b A free Membership may be obtained by signing the Registration Agreement under ”Membership” in the drop-down box under ”About CROP,” which is available via the internet CROP Home page, here: http://www.cropiowa.com
1.c Once the signed Registration Agreement of a prospective member has been accepted, access to the entire CROP website is available. The new member may post to the CROP website, and, after completing the attendance criteria (See Addendum I), may attend CROP sponsored Play Parties and Demos at a cost of $10 per event. If a Demo highlights a special presenter, the fee may be higher.
1.d A Paid Membership shall be available to any Registered Member in good standing. Paid Memberships may be either Silver or Gold. The cost of a Paid Membership is as follows:
For memberships purchased January thru March:
Gold = $50 Silver= $25
For memberships purchased April thru June:
Gold = $40 Silver= $20
For memberships purchased July thru September:
Gold = $30 Silver= $15
For memberships purchased October thru December:
Gold = $25 Silver= $12
A Gold Membership purchased during the membership drive in January costs $50 and entitles the holder to free attendance at all regular CROP events, with the possible exception of Demos held with special presenters, in which case a fee may be charged.
A Silver Membership purchased during the membership drive in January costs $25 and entitles the holder to free attendance at all Dinners & Discussions, Submissives’ Teas, and Munches. The admission fee to Play Parties and Demos shall be $5, with the possible exception of Demos held with special presenters, in which case the fee may be higher.
Silver members also have the opportunity to upgrade their memberships to Gold by paying an additional $25 through the end of July.
1.e Paid Memberships shall expire on the last day of February.
1.f Paid Members may self-nominate for a board position.
1.g Any Member, paid or unpaid, may be placed on either a moderated status or expelled from CROP for violating CROP rules, as outlined in Addendum I, if deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors.
Section II Board of Directors
2.a The Board shall be made up of five (5) elected Paid Members, in good standing, each serving a one (1) year term.
2.b. The Board is responsible for holding elections as specified in Section III.
2.c As soon as possible following the annual elections, the Board shall convene and elect a Chairperson, a Co-chair, a Treasurer, a Secretary, and an Events Coordinator from the newly elected officials.
2.d The Chairperson shall officiate at all board meetings, coordinate and assist other Board Members as necessary, and ensure that quarterly meetings are held as required.
2.e The Co-chairperson shall assume all duties of the Chairperson when the Chairperson is unavailable. The Co-chair shall also assist the other Directors as needed.
2.f The Treasurer shall maintain the corporate ledger and shall present a written, quarterly report to the other Board Members indicating all records of income and expenditures. The Treasurer shall be a signatory of the corporate bank account, and shall ensure that at least one other member of the Board is a signatory on the bank account. Additionally, the Treasurer is signatory on the CROP P.O. Box.
2.g The Secretary shall be responsible for taking minutes at each meeting and posting them to the Forums.
2.h The Events Coordinator is responsible for all munches, meet & greets, play parties, and other group events. The Events Coordinator may solicit the assistance of other Board Members and as many volunteer members as necessary in order to help schedule, setup, and host CROP events.
2.i One member of the Board will be selected as the Registered Agent pursuant to Iowa Code. The Registered Agent shall file CROP’s Biennial Report once every two (2) years as required by Iowa Code.
2.j Board Meetings must be held at least quarterly. Meetings may be held via electronic media (i.e. instant messenger or email) when deemed appropriate.
2.k No group business may be voted on without at least three (3) Board Members in attendance, and any item voted on requires a majority vote in order to be passed.
Section III Election of Board Members
3.a The Board shall be made up of five (5) elected Paid Members. Any Paid Member in good standing who wishes to run for a Board position must self-nominate via the CROP Forums list between the first of January and the middle of January, specific dates to be posted each year by the Board Chairperson. In order to qualify as an electable Paid Member, the member’s dues must have been paid at least six months prior to the election date.
3.b All Board Members must maintain their Paid Member status throughout the length of their term. If a Board Member’s paid status is not renewed by the end of the January/February membership drive, that Board Member’s voting rights shall be suspended until such time as their membership dues have been paid. If said dues have not been paid by the end of March, the offending Board Member shall be removed from the Board. An Interim Board Member may be appointed by the remaining Board Members if necessary.
3.c The Board term lasts for a period of one (1) year and begins immediately following the election of Board Members which is to coincide with CROP’s Annual Membership Drive in January. The one (1) year term is approximate, and depends upon the specific polling dates as set forth by the Board Chairperson.
3.d No more than two (2) members of any single household or leather family may serve on the Board simultaneously.
3.e Any Paid Member, in good standing, may vote.
3.f Online voting shall begin the day following the end date set for self-nominations, and shall run for a period of seven (7) days.
3.g The Board is responsible for announcing the polling dates via the CROP website.
3.h Votes shall be tallied by two (2) group members in good standing, neither of whom may be running for office, and, one (1) of whom must be a Paid Member. The ballots shall be kept by the incoming Secretary for a period of one (1) year. In the case that there is a tie, the tie shall be broken by any Paid Member in good standing, who is not a candidate, drawing a name (or names, if necessary) out of a hat.
3.i Results of the election shall be posted to CROP’s website within 24 hours of the end of the polling period. In addition, all of the new Board Members’ names shall be added to CROP’s FetLife group list of leaders, and the names of ex-Board Members shall be removed.
3.j A recount of votes may be requested by contacting the Board in writing (email) via the CROP website or FetMail within the first 48 hours following the election. The recount must be done by two (2) members, one (1) of whom must be a Paid Member, neither of whom shall have been involved with the original count nor have run for office.
3.k In the event of a Board vacancy, the Board may appoint an Interim Member to fill the position for as long as deemed necessary, but no longer than the next regularly scheduled election.
Section IV Removal of a Board Member
4.a Any Board Member may bring forth a motion for a Vote of No Confidence against another Board Member.
4.b The No Confidence motion may not be initiated via electronic media; rather, it must be initiated at a regular or specially held Board meeting.
4.c The No Confidence motion does not require a second.
4.d Once a No Confidence motion is made, all other Board business is suspended until a vote is taken by the Board as to whether to continue with this motion.
4.e The Board Member bringing the motion and the Board Member named in the motion may not vote. A Vote of No Confidence requires a unanimous vote of the remainder of the Board.
4.f If a Vote of No Confidence passes, a discussion of the impeachment request must be held, an impeachment hearing date must be set, and then the current meeting is adjourned. All regular Board business is suspended until after the impeachment hearing.
4.g The Board will reconvene for the impeachment hearing at the date set, and hear any final discussion.
4.h Impeachment requires a unanimous decision of the remaining Board Members. The Member bringing the motion and the defendant may not vote.
4.i If impeached, the defendant is no longer a Board Member. The Board may then continue proceedings for membership censorship or expulsion if warranted.
4.j The Board may fill the vacancy created by the impeachment with an Interim Board Member selected from the remaining Paid Members. This interim position shall not run beyond the next regularly scheduled election.
Addendum I CROP Rules
Please note the following rules for posting to the websites:
1. No trolling and no personal ads allowed. Please be courteous and ask permission on list before contacting someone privately that you don’t know. The exception is the leadership team. You may contact them at any time with group concerns or questions and they will direct you to the most appropriate person to assist you.
2. No flaming will be tolerated. A post will be considered to be a flame if it includes angry, hostile, or abusive language directed at an individual or group of individuals, as opposed to being critical of the ideas being discussed.
3. Do not cross-post anything from CROP to another site without the consent of the moderators. Always seek permission and give credit if you use another source for a post, as well.
4. No pornographic or sexually explicit posts.
5. Posts should be of a BDSM nature or related to the group or its members. If it is not about BDSM, it should be labeled as Off-Topic (OT).
6. Be courteous! Names and personal details of munches and play parties do not belong in posts. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and deserves respect whether or not you agree with them.
7. No spamming will be allowed on the website. Spamming will be defined as any post which is meant to promote a commercial enterprise or the means by which someone earns a living. Exceptions to this definition may be made by the Board. Members may advertise personal items or services for sale, within the limits of all Federal, State, and local laws.
8. We welcome cross-posting of other groups’ activities and events. We do ask that the information clearly indicate that it is not a CROP event, that the event/activity be posted no more than once a month, and that other groups’ business not be posted on our list.
9. Posts to the website are not moderated. If an inappropriate post is sent (see above rules), the person posting may be placed on moderation for a period of time determined by the moderators. Multiple incidents by the same person will be subject to further action by the Board of Directors.
Please note the following rules for attendance:
1. Public munches are open to everyone 18 and older. Since they are in a public place, please wear “vanilla” clothing…no extreme fetish wear. Discreet collars or chainmaille, gothic fashion, etc. may be acceptable as long as they are consistent with the atmosphere.
2. Members holding private parties or “get togethers” are responsible for their own criteria, screening of guests & rules.
3. To attend any CROP activity held in a private location (i.e. hotel, someone’s home, etc.) you MUST be an active member. For select CROP activities, the age requirement may be 21 or older on the day of the activity. Active members are those who have attended a minimum of three public CROP functions (munches, meet & greets, etc.) OR are an active member in the BDSM community (i.e. another group) and be able to provide references if we don’t already know you OR are known face-to-face by CROP leadership. These requirements are done as a safety measure for our members.
4. Read the following links…there’s some pretty good stuff in them and although everything may not apply to our group, it’s a good start on how to conduct yourself within the BDSM community!
An article by Jay Wiseman on munches
An article from The BRC Article Library on munch etiquette
If you have any questions regarding proper group conduct, posting, or attendance, please email a moderator!
Addendum II CROP Events
Munches
A. Munches will be held on the second weekend of each month, in the following preferred rotation: Friday night, Iowa City, no earlier than 7 p.m., Saturday night, Cedar Rapids, no earlier than 6 p.m. and Sunday brunch, Cedar Rapids.
B. Special circumstances such as holidays will be considered when the dates are set.
C. Dates and times can be changed by a vote of the board.
D. The attendees will pay their own costs at a munch (their meal, drinks, etc).
E. Munch location will be announced on the website and on FetLife at least one week prior to the scheduled munch date.
F. Attendees must be attired in clothing that is suitable to be seen in public. Discreet collars or chainmaille, gothic fashion, etc. may be acceptable as long as they are consistent with the atmosphere.
G. The munch host or hostess is responsible for:
- Finding a suitable location (privacy preferred).
- Posting munch information to the Crop website and FetLife.
- Taking RSVP’s for the munch if required.
- Arriving early at the munch to ensure location is prepared.
- Greeting all munch attendees and ensuring introductions are made if new members attend.
- Staying until majority of attendees have left.
Third Weekend Events
A. Third weekend events are generally held the third Saturday of the month; starting times vary depending upon the event.
B. The schedule of third weekend events shall be determined by the incoming board of directors. The only exception to this may be a presentation arranged by the previous board with a presenter who requires booking well in advance of their presentation.
C. Dates and events are subject to change but must be voted on by the board. If an event is altered by CROP, a member will receive a full refund if unable to attend on the new date. There will be no refunds for personal cancellations.
D. Some of the third weekend events are play parties. You must be an “active” member of CROP to attend a CROP sponsored play party. An active member is defined as having attended a minimum of three public CROP functions (munches, bar meets, etc.), or are an active member in the BDSM community (i.e. another group) and are able to provide a community reference if we don’t already know you, or are known face-to-face by CROP leadership. These requirements are made as a safety measure for our members.
General Event Etiquette and Dungeon Rules
This information is sent out along with location information prior to every third weekend event.
General Conduct Rules
Please be on time for our events. We suggest arriving early for check in. Doors will be locked at the posted start time and nobody will be allowed in after that time unless previous arrangements have been made with the event coordinator.
Smoking is permitted in designated areas only (remember, no nudity or play outside the dungeon). Please keep conversations to a moderate or low level, do not give the neighbors a reason to investigate.
Absolutely NO consumption of alcohol or drugs will be allowed during the event. If you appear under the influence of any intoxicant/alcohol/drug, you will be asked to leave the premises.
Help keep the event area (dungeon, social, and smoking areas) clean. Do not leave cups, napkins, etc., lying around. If you spill something, clean it up. Markers are provided to mark your cup/bottle with your name if you choose.
“The Opportunity To Leave” policy. Each member must be responsible for his or her own well-being. If any subject or demonstration makes someone uncomfortable, rather than stay and make others feel wrong, take the opportunity to leave. This may mean going outside for a few minutes, or leaving for the evening or longer. Because of the variety of subjects covered and the intensity of the subject matter, many people take the opportunity to leave at some point or other, and are appreciated for exercising their personal responsibility rather than passing judgment. Scenes are not always as they appear. Something that appears dangerous to you may NOT be for those involved. If you feel something is unsafe please bring it to the attention of a DM.
Confidentiality
We are like Las Vegas; what happens/said/seen here, stays here. Let’s be grown up about this, some people are still in the closet and don’t want others (outside of the group) to know they are involved. Do not give out specific information about the location or people in attendance. You may discuss generally what happened and the demo information but not the people who attended or the location without the permission of the person you are talking about.
In keeping with the idea that we are all here to have fun, the following rule applies and will be strictly enforced: Anyone found to be in violation of disclosing any confidential information will be notified and required to meet with the CROP Board to defend him or herself, member or non-member. If found guilty of disclosing any confidential information the violator will be asked to surrender their membership card (as applicable), and their name will be removed from the CROP mailing list. This will be for a period determined by the board which may be for a period of 1 year or longer.
Make sure you read the Dungeon Rules before a party. Ignorance of the rules is not an excuse.
Dungeon Rules
Any violations of these rules will result in one warning; after a second violation you will be asked to leave.
Abide by SAFE, SANE AND CONSENSUAL BEHAVIOR AT ALL TIMES.
The group safe word is “RED”. When this word is used/called out and not honored, everyone has the right/responsibility to step in and offer his/her assistance. First look for a DM, but don’t delay, ask the Dom if they heard the safe word called. If your scene involves gagging, you must use a “safe object.”
No visible cell phone usage in dungeon/play area. Cell phones/pagers should also be turned off or set to vibrate. No cameras, video equipment or recording devices of any kind are allowed unless approved. If you would like to take a picture of a scene you do, it must be cleared through a member of leadership. You must also get the consent of anyone who will be in the photograph, and warn others that pictures will be taken so they have time to step back.
Do not interrupt a scene. This means do not stand too close, do not talk or make comments, do not examine toys laid out for use, and do not ask questions. After the scene is over (including aftercare), then you can ask questions or make comments.
Do your best NOT to be disruptive in the dungeon/play area. Talking loudly (or groaning, or screaming, or laughing) in the dungeon/play area is the privilege of those playing, not of those watching. On the flip side, when playing at an event please do not expect total silence. There may be others playing or conversations regarding scenes in progress.
Types of play NOT allowed:
- No Medical Play
- No Blood Play
- No Watersports or Scat Play
- No Breath Play, including Carotid Artery Massage.
- No Sex. For the purpose of this rule, “sex” is defined as oral/genital, oral/anal, genital/genital, or genital/anal contact. In plain words, no fucking, sucking or rimming.
- Solo Play – masturbation will not be allowed.
Types of play that are limited:
- Needle play or Piercing — Scenes will be permitted, provided you discuss this with a DM beforehand, and provide for safe disposal of your own bio-hazardous waste (needles, etc.).
- Fire Play — Check with DM
- Electrical Play — No cross-chest or above-the-neck electrical play is permitted with a tens type device. High impact devices such as cattle prods or shock boxes must be used below the waist only.
- Use a spotter when any person is standing in mummification or tight bondage, or when a collar is attached to a rigid item where strangulation may occur if the person falls.
Observe the barrier rule. Any toy or fingers inserted in a body cavity must have a latex barrier applied. In other words, toys or insertables must be used with a condom, and inserted fingers must be gloved. Gloves are provided free of charge and may be found at the cleaning station. Gloves must also be used for any type of needle play. If you have any questions regarding this rule please ask a DM.
Always clean the piece of equipment that you used once your scene is over. It is also suggested to clean the equipment prior to use in case the previous person did not clean it after their scene. Cleaning supplies are provided for the dungeon/play area. If you do a wax or other messy scene, please use a tarp or drop cloth. Please clean up the equipment after yourselves! Leave all equipment free of sweat, blood, other bodily fluids, wax, toys, etc.
Do not sit or leave your toys on the play equipment or “aftercare” couch. There are stands located throughout the dungeon/play area for toy bags and/or toys laid out for a scene. The couch is intended for aftercare. Please be aware of scenes that may be ending and vacate the couch for aftercare use.
Prostitution, solicitation and negotiation of compensation for sexual services is ILLEGAL and shall not be tolerated. Violations shall result in immediate removal from the facility without refund of fees.