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Consultant and Association Director NvBOA History and Overview In the spring of 1985 a small group of legal brothel owners gathered together near Carson City to discuss the idea of a “Brothel Owners’ Association.” The primary purpose of such an attempt was to create a united front against any onslaught to attack the Ranches’ continued existence. The then-new and still mysterious plague known as AIDS had created a multitude of unanswered questions. At the forefront was a possibility that this dreaded illness could be used to bring fear to our State’s lawmakers and possibly start a snowballing effect to negate our legal and peaceful operations. As an already long-time lobbyist at the State Legislature I was asked to participate in this owners’ meeting and later to act as lobbyist and consultant to this fledgling group. The owners at Kit Kat Ranch at Mound House had been personal friends for years and that relationship was the factor for contacting me. I also had known Joe and Sally Conforte, then owners of Mustang Ranches since relocating to Nevada from Oregon in 1962. At that time Joe and Sally were the only “Ranch” owners who were politically active and regularly financially supported political candidates who were known to be generally in favor of legalized and regulated prostitution in Nevada. The original group of owners that had shown support for an owners’ association included Walter Riskosky and Russ Ernst of Kit Kat Ranch, Russ Reade and Ken Green from Chicken Ranch, Jim and Linda Fondren of the then-new Sagebrush Ranch and David Burgess of Old Bridge Ranch.
I strongly insisted that the Conforte’s were most
important in being included if such an effort to organize was to
succeed. Joe would be the lynch pin in convincing the other owners to be
strong financial supporters of political candidates of both the
legislature as well as local level government. The NBA as the group called itself, soon included not only the Confortes but several other “old timers” in the business such as Eddy and Mona Gammel of Mona’s in Elko and Gloria Elliott better known as Kitty, who owned Kitty’s in Mound House. Another early supporter was Dorothy Malcomb now late of Winnemucca and the force behind the Cozy Corner in that city. The group has always been a loose-knit association with no exact set of industry standards of operation. Each owner is encouraged to support the general recommendation of the membership and to support my efforts. During the legislative session in Carson City I’m in attendance daily along with representatives of all industry groups seeking to protect their client’s best interest. I also when requested appear before local government licensing boards to additionally represent the “Ranches” when local owners believe I can be of help. My work also takes me into areas of public relations and I act as media consultant and appear selectively on radio and television both locally, regionally and nationally. I’m a big fan and supporter of the brothels based largely on the fact that legal and regulated works so much better than the obvious alternative. Making prostitution illegal does not make it go away. Our only choice as relating to prostitution is legal and successfully controlled or sadly, what happens without the benefit of what we do have in ten counties of rural Nevada: uncontrolled sex for sale activity with all the crime, drugs, and exploitation that is rampant in the illegal environment. Except for two or three exceptions, every “Ranch” is considered a member of what has evolved into the Nevada Legal Brothel Owners Association. Membership and support is optional, but more than 90% of the legal industry is supportive of our work. Jim Fondren was our second president following the charter administration of president Russ Reade. Planning retirement, Fondren passed that title to Eddie Gammel, and today Geoffrey Arnold, the owner of Donna’s Ranches in Wells and Battle Mountain, is our leader and ever-dynamic and hard-working president. I work at the grace and favor of our Board, now in my 20th year. Other Board Members include Marvin Gates of Sagebrush Ranch, James P. Martin of Sherri’s Ranch, Troy Regas, manager at Old Bridge Ranch, Deborah Rivenbaugh, manager at Chicken Ranch, and Kellie Owens, manager at Donna’s Battle Mountain. Our success rate at the Legislature in Carson City remains extremely good. We have prevailed over attempts to negate our legal status as well as other attempts to add constrictions that would additionally affect the Ranch’s ability to operate. As an association we are not an employment agency for working ladies or an information center for clients. We do however try to expand our basic areas of endeavor and influence when called upon to do so. Our primary effort remains to protect the status quo and to also act as a catalyst for mutual understanding between owners. I’ve additionally given nearly 1,000 interviews to students from the high school through college level who are interested in this most intriguing industry. I enjoy speaking before groups such as Rotary and Lions Clubs that are interested in the business and the positive effects brothels have on the local community. I may be reached at 775-323-1402. I’ll try to be both informational and helpful for what ever comes across my desk.
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