Let's start with the Board of Directors. Illuman is a not-for-profit corporation, organized for charitable purposes and tax-exempt under the laws of the United States and the State of New Mexico. We have a Board of Directors. Currently, we have six Directors; our by-laws allow from three to nine. The Board of Directors is responsible for ensuring that Illuman adheres to the stated mission of the organization and maintains its financial integrity and health. Our current Board of Directors is listed here:

Illuman is a tax-exempt organization under United States IRS Code section 501(c)(3). We have a group exemption, which means other nonprofit corporations (chapters) aligned with our mission can affiliate with us in order to enjoy the benefits of federal tax exemption and collaboration with Illuman. In order to affiliate, a chapter needs to be incorporated in its own state and comply with all of its state laws to remain in valid, active, not-for-profit status. We currently have sixteen chapters in the United States, which are listed here  There are also states/regions that have groups of men who are active in the work but not yet incorporated. There are eight currently in that status and they can be found at the same link.

Internationally, we have men who have participated in the Men's Rites of Passage all over the world. There are seven countries that have contact with Illuman and are continuing to hold Rites. They can also be found at the link above.

Illuman's leadership also includes Weavers and Ritual Elders. These are men who fulfill the faculty roles on the Rites of Passage. The Weaver "holds the container" and "weaves" the elements of the Rites into a coherent, meaningful, powerful whole, challenging the initiates while maintaining the integrity and safety of the experience. The Ritual Elder creates the magic of the rituals themselves, ensuring their transformative power and purpose. Our current Weavers and Ritual Elders are:

Illuman also has a body of leaders and advisors we call the Wisdom Elders. They are men who have been identified as holding the "heart and soul" of Illuman's work. Some are Weavers and Ritual Elders; others have long served the men's work in their states and regions. These men help Illuman maintain the heart and soul of our work: men transforming men through a power greater than our own. We currently have twelve men who serve as Wisdom Elders:

Each Illuman chapter has a Convener, a man who has been selected by his chapter to "convene" or facilitate the activities of the chapter. Recently, the Conveners selected a "Convener of Conveners" to help coordinate their activities and communication. That Convener of Conveners is Terry Frisbie of Texas.

In future issues, I will further describe the roles, meetings, and purposes of our leadership structure.