Ready to Volunteer for an Industry Advocacy Group? (XBIZ)
Read the full article by Cathy Beardsley at XBIZ.com
It’s so easy to get caught up in our day-to-day work that we (understandably) aren't following some of the important work that non-profit groups such as the Free Speech Coalition (FSC) are doing to advance and protect the adult industry. It’s also easy to forget that before the FSC and groups like it, our industry was much more vulnerable. Some of you might remember when operators of adult toy shops were being arrested. We have it good today, but things weren’t always this way.
About a year ago, I was elected to the FSC board of directors. My company had supported FSC for many years, but it wasn’t until I accepted the board seat that I realized just how much FSC actually does, from advocating for laws on our behalf to providing services that keep adult industry workers safe, and beyond. And they’re not the only ones working tirelessly to move us forward in terms of ensuring worker safety and staving off regulatory overreach. My experience has helped me learn so much about what has been done to get us where we are today, and what is continually being done to preserve what we have. Perhaps most importantly, I’ve realized how much more there is to do. My experience has helped me expand my perspective on the businesses and industry we serve. I urge everyone to try and find some time to volunteer as well. While helping your industry to grow and evolve, you’ll help yourself grow as well.
My business has backed a number of nonprofits over the years that are more closely associated with our expertise, namely billing. For example, we’ve supported MAC, Merchant Acquirers’ Committee, a small network of professionals working to mitigate risk. FSC, on the other hand, was totally outside my comfort zone. I thought of it as serving the content producers, the actors and models, and makers of adult physical goods. It wasn’t obvious to me that a billing professional made sense for the board. However, now that I’ve become a part of FSC, I’ve realized how important it is to see things from another perspective. If you’re up for the challenge, I urge you to go outside your comfort zone as well, and get involved with an organization that advocates for the industry, especially if it’s not directly related to your day job. You’ll expand your knowledge while helping to make a difference.
