"Oh, just admit it. Even if you've never answered a personal ad, you can't help but take the occasional peek. So you've certainly glimpsed the ad in the local papers for C.U.F.F., the Charlottesville Underground Fetish Fellowship, "a discreet pansexual support and educational group..."

Huh?

A group spokesperson, who requests anonymity, says the group began in late 1993 with a personal ad. By 1996, the original three members wrote up bylaws.

Today the spokesman says, C.U.F.F. has about 50 members, each of whom shares an interest in some aspect of "alterative sexuality." He says the most common is probably "the dynamics of power exchange," aka bondage.

At the monthly meetings, C.U.F.F. members are treated to speeches and demonstrations on such topics as sado-erotic art, knotting and ropework, spanking, and scene safety. In addition, several open meetings at local restaurants -- he calls them "munches" -- are held each month. More mysterious gatherings only open to members and invited guests are also held monthly. He would not elaborate.

As for the people who make up the group, he claims you just might know a few, but he won't say who they are. After all, the bylaws mandate expulsion for "outig" other members.

Members allegedly range in age from 18 to mid-60s and are just about evenly divided between males and females, gays and straights. "Ordinary sorts of people," says the spokesman, "people you work with and people you pass on the street."" (Courteney Stuart, The Hook, August 8-14, 2002).