Report from the ECMC AGM 2019 Roma
This year’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the European Confederation of Motorcycle Clubs (ECMC) and the associated election of Mr. Leather Europe 2020 were held in Rome from October 11th to 13th. The meeting was hosted by LC Roma, who also organized a wonderful supporting program. We gladly accepted the invitation and the Leathermen of Switzerland were represented by five of their members.
Welcoming new clubs to the ECMC
For the official part, the general assembly with the delegates of the leather clubs, we had the opportunity to present the association again and apply for probationary membership. We received a lot of support in the forefront. Twelve ECMC clubs had submitted letters of recommendation and thus set a clear sign. Subsequently, our admission was confirmed with no dissentient. This is a step into full membership next year. At this point a big “Thank you” to the European leather community and their confidence in our young club!
Cymru Leathermen were granted full membership. The club International Leather and Boots Spain (ILBS) was accepted as probationary member and the young clubs Gear Club Portugal and Leathermen Club of Spain received observer status. A promising development!
Organizational decisions for the future
The General Assembly approved a constitutional change to rebuild the institutional structure to meet today’s needs and drive future development. The new statutes foresee a secretariat of three persons that jointly coordinate the interests of the association, which were formerly handled by a single secretary. The institution of a “secretariat” was deliberately chosen as differentiation from other forms like a “board”, which would have implied a hierarchical management. The secretariat is elected “in corpore” among the candidate teams, so that a good cooperation is guaranteed. The responsibilities are divided into the areas chairmanship, secretary and media moderator.
Until the next AGM, when the first secretariat team will be elected, a transition team led by Arthur Peremans (MSA) will take over the coordination of the association.
We welcome this change and the impetus to help shape the organization for the future.
We would like to thank Daniel Dumont, who has been managing the ECMC for the past 10 years!
Mr. Leather Europe becomes an official brand
Another item on the agenda of the meeting was the legal protection of the title Mr. Leather Europe. In the past, national and international titles were repeatedly registered and commercialized as trademarks by third parties and thus snatched from the community. To prevent the same thing from happening to the ECMC, the Motorsportsclub Amsterdam (MSA) has registered the title as a trademark on behalf of the ECMC, so that the Mr. Leather Europe title remains self-administered in the community. The right of use is made available free of charge to the respective association hosting the election. Bravo and thank you MSA! This is how community works.
Extensive framework program of the LC Roma
Rome and the Romans were truly excellent hosts.
The weather was perfect and the city showed its best side with up to 25 degrees Celsius and blue sky.
For those who had already arrived on Thursday, there was a Meet & Greet in the “Coming Out” bar within sight of the Colosseum. An opportunity to greet friends, make the first new contacts with beer and wine and forge plans for the night together.
On Friday, there was a whipping workshop for the inquisitive. In the evening, leather folks met once again in the “Coming Out” bar. The eight candidates for the Mr. Leather Europe 2020 election were presented and interviewed. Party mice and night owls went on to the welcome party for dancing and flirting…
On Saturday, all those who were not registered as delegates to the General Assembly could go to a city tour through Rome: Colosseum, Spanish Staircase, Vatican City, Pantheon and much more showed their best side. Rome is a living museum and the impressions collected qualify for a return.
In the evening, the election for Mr. Leather Europe 2020 was held in the restaurant La Limonaia. A great location and a four-course gala dinner provided a perfect setting. The hosts led through the evening and each candidate took the opportunity to present themselves to the international audience and make themselves popular with show acts. The title was brought to Italy Evert from the Netherlands could close its title year.
After the election we used a bus shuttle to a location that on regular days is a gay sauna to celebrate, cruise, chat, laugh, dance… A clever idea that is anything but obvious ?. Awesome!
On Sunday, a great brunch buffet was served on a roof terrace in restaurant Ristorante Le Mura. Italian delicacies helped to overcome the after-effects of a long night and the discomforts of bidding farewell. Fortunately, we know that “after the event is before the event” and so we will see each other sooner rather than later.
Thank you LC Roma for this great weekend. Well done!
Next year the ECMC AGM goes to Nice. We are already looking forward to the program of the club Evidence.