Category Issue 87

Point 87: The President’s Corner

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by Jef Saunders

Nate Janke, Derek Lowe, Westin M. Fryar, William Wood Jr., Courtney Jane Maxwell of Saint Sabrina’s

To you readers of The Point, it has been a humbling experience being the President of the Association of Professional Piercers. What I’ve learned in the past three years is that there is an enormous team of committed piercers, jewelry manufacturers, Sponsors, employees, Volunteers, Officers, committee members and Board members who make the effort every day to make piercing safer and spread the word about this wonderful organization.

We are on the precipice of the 24th annual APP Conference & Exposition, and I couldn’t be more excited. I’ve spoken with instructors, vendors, volunteers and attendees, and we all share a renewed enthusiasm for the learning that takes place at our Conference. One of the most exciting parts of teaching and attending classes is the zeal with which our attendees participate. Make no mistake, even if you are not a volunteer, instructor, vendor, or conference worker, you are a crucial part of this Conference if you are attending classes, asking questions, and coming home a better educated piercer than you left.

So much is new about this 24th annual Conference: our venue is the spectacular Planet Hollywood Resort Casino! We have a revamped and exciting Golden Ticket raffle. We also have a completely new Silent Auction! We even completely overhauled the Banquet into a new Closing Party! Considering our new venue, this year was a great opportunity to innovate, and the Conference Committee and Board have done just that.

Perhaps the conference event dearest to my heart is the celebration of the life and work of Fakir Musafar. Fakir was a mentor, boss, spiritual guru, and friend of mine, and I am looking forward to sharing memories and hearing new stories in the classes devoted to Fakir. The Body Piercing Archive has been working for well over a year to present the largest exposition of Fakir’s work ever. This exhibit will be like nothing we’ve ever seen before, and I cannot wait for our conference attendees to experience it.

As I leave the office of President, I want to say thank you to everyone who has helped me throughout my term; there are not enough pages in The Point to list everyone. Thank you to our Members, Corporate Sponsors, Volunteers, Board Members past and present, and our conference attendees. Thank you Marina. Thank you Caitlin. Thank you to the staff of The Point, who do an exemplary job (and deal with my penchant for missing deadlines). Thanks to everyone who puts work into promoting safe piercing, and supports sharing and education in our community. You inspire us all. Excelsior!

Point 87: From the Editor

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by Marina Pecorino, The Point Editor

Vivi Madero & Lally Bagdon

Well, this is my first issue as a solo Managing Editor. Thankfully, I work with a wonderful Art Director, Jim Ward, and together we have created another stunning issue brimming with pre-Conference content. If you  have  expertise  in grammar,  syntax, and the written word, and spare time on your hands, we may have a place for you on The Point Committee.

Deeper within this issue, you’ll find some important updates regarding the 2019 APP Conference & Exposition. Not only have we moved to a fresh, modern venue inside Planet Hollywood, we’ve also updated some of our Conference procedures and events.

This year, your odds of taking home a grand prize from Vegas have gotten even better; check out a quick summary and the official rules for the new Golden Ticket Raffle and Silent Auction.

We’ve also refreshed the process of certificates. Conference attendees can now receive Recognition of Attendance onsite, and travel home with tangible proof of their amazing week in the desert. Transcripts with course titles (similar to what a college graduate would receive) will be digitally available shortly after the event as further proof of an attendee’s dedication to continuing education.

The 2019 Body Piercing Archive is devoted to the extraordinary Fakir Musafar. Visit this unique exhibit with art and Body Play artifacts never before publicly displayed. Don’t forget to schedule time to view the exhibit with the guidance of a docent or four; visiting this rare presentation is one thing, but attending a guided tour lead by a personal acquaintance with firsthand accounts is another thing entirely.

This year, our Banquet has also been reinvigorated. Come join us at the Gallery Nightclub in your best Moulin Rouge themed attire for our Closing Party. Make sure to wear your dancing shoes and bring your appetite for socializing.

Details about these new programs and events are available on the Conference website and in the subsequent pages of this issue. This is an exciting year and I can’t wait to see you all. Let’s get to work!