Gary Wasdin to lead Leather Archives and Museum
Tue. December 12, 2017 2:36 PM by GoPride.com News Staff
gary wasdin to lead leather archives and museum
photo credit // leather archives & museum
Unanimous support for Wasdin to lead the Leather Archives & Museum
Chicago, IL -
Concluding a multi-month search process, Gary Wasdin was named executive director of the Leather Archives and Museum (LA&M). Wasdin replaces Rick Storer, who resigned in May after 15 years with the organization. He will assume his new position on January 2, 2018.
Wasdin, who has experience as library director and administrator, received unanimous support of all 9 board members present at a Dec. 10 meeting. Three board members were not in attendance.
"Having known Gary from my local leather community here in Seattle, it will be a welcome sight to see him at the Archives the next time I am in Chicago," Mike Daggs, LA&M Board Member Mike Daggs said in a released statement. "I have great expectations for him based in my experiences in the community and the accessibility in showed while he lived in Washington. His openness and vision will be tremendous assets for helping LA&M achieve its new mission"
According to a press release from LA&M, Wasdin previously worked as a senior manager in the research libraries of the New York Public Library and held the executive leadership role at major library systems in Washington state, Nebraska and Alabama. He also served on the boards of national library service organizations.
"The search process was pretty amazing looking back," said Randall "Bear Man" Klett, search committee chairperson and LA&M Treasurer. "The quality of our finalists, input from our community, and passion to make sure the LA&M is on the right path was consistently heard throughout the process from our members, donors, staff, volunteers, and members of the community at large. Gary will continue to lift the LA&M to new heights."
"I'm excited about the great work already taking place to ensure that leather, kink, BDSM and fetish history and culture is collected, preserved and made available," said Wasdin. "In the coming weeks I look forward to working closely with staff, members of the board, and the community as we begin to build upon the great foundation that has been laid by so many before me."
Wasdin will represent the LA&M at Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend in Washington DC, January 12-14, 2018. He will release his full travel schedule in the coming weeks as part of the 2018 LA&M "Road Show" as well as opportunities to meet him at the museum in Chicago.
From a press release
Wasdin, who has experience as library director and administrator, received unanimous support of all 9 board members present at a Dec. 10 meeting. Three board members were not in attendance.
"Having known Gary from my local leather community here in Seattle, it will be a welcome sight to see him at the Archives the next time I am in Chicago," Mike Daggs, LA&M Board Member Mike Daggs said in a released statement. "I have great expectations for him based in my experiences in the community and the accessibility in showed while he lived in Washington. His openness and vision will be tremendous assets for helping LA&M achieve its new mission"
According to a press release from LA&M, Wasdin previously worked as a senior manager in the research libraries of the New York Public Library and held the executive leadership role at major library systems in Washington state, Nebraska and Alabama. He also served on the boards of national library service organizations.
"The search process was pretty amazing looking back," said Randall "Bear Man" Klett, search committee chairperson and LA&M Treasurer. "The quality of our finalists, input from our community, and passion to make sure the LA&M is on the right path was consistently heard throughout the process from our members, donors, staff, volunteers, and members of the community at large. Gary will continue to lift the LA&M to new heights."
"I'm excited about the great work already taking place to ensure that leather, kink, BDSM and fetish history and culture is collected, preserved and made available," said Wasdin. "In the coming weeks I look forward to working closely with staff, members of the board, and the community as we begin to build upon the great foundation that has been laid by so many before me."
Wasdin will represent the LA&M at Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend in Washington DC, January 12-14, 2018. He will release his full travel schedule in the coming weeks as part of the 2018 LA&M "Road Show" as well as opportunities to meet him at the museum in Chicago.
From a press release