AANR Weekly 12 17, 2004
<br>AANR Electronic Club Weekly Report for 12 17, 2004=20=20 =20=20=20<br>>From the desk of Erich Schuttauf, Executive Director:=20 <a href=/group/AANR-NW-eNews/post?postID=SzTC2KQ3OexLuMgR1I_EHfRC6OF6QnDCli43d3hD59Kzdd6ZXKd2diZeBdFmb7tX7jyBAErzsW9lMg>Execdir@aanr.com</a><br>Open House an Eye Opener – The first key within AANR's mission=20 statement is to PROMOTE nude recreation and nude living. Last=20 Friday Carolyn Hawkins and I traveled to the Florida-Georgia=20 border on Interstate 95. There we joined Trustee Bob Erlenmeyer=20 for the state tourism board's annual open house event at the=20 welcome center on the state line. (We've attended for a couple=20 of years now.)<br>As a participating member of this board, we had the opportunity=20 to meet with hundreds of travelers. Our experience left us with=20 much good news to report. First, the tourism officials welcomed=20 us with open arms, prominently displaying the American Association=20 for Nude Recreation on event banners. Our "place at the table" was=20 in a prime spot – right next to Busch Gardens!=20=20<br>While there were a handful (and only a handful) of people who said=20 "no thank you" to our giveaways and promotional material, most were=20 very receptive. And we did not have a single negative incident or strongly negative response to our presence. On the contrary,=20 travelers showed a considerable interest, particularly among snowbirds, empty-nest couples, and out-of-the country visitors.=20<br>Among other highlights and lessons learned:<br>- A couple who regularly vacation at Paradise Valley in Georgia=20 who were impressed with our presence at the event;<br>- A couple who loved Orient Beach on St. Martin and were = =20 delighted to learn there were places in Florida where they could enjoy a similar experience;=20<br>- Several French-speaking families who nodded vigorously while I explained—in the best broken Francais I could muster from college classes-"naturisme pour famille a la mer (shore) and a la piscine (swimming pool)." A German family asked for detailed directions to Hidden River resort since they would be traveling in northern Florida.=20<br>- An Ohio woman told us how she and her husband had their first experience with nudism at Lake Como when he was hired to install a screen room – a project that took several days to complete.=20=20 They actually stayed over one evening and, although not converted into professing "nudists" remarked "It was nothing like what we expected … we have a new appreciation for the naturalness of the human body and we spend more time nude at home now." They seemed open to giving it a try this vacation.<br>- One woman managing an exhibit across from us took our "From a Woman's Perspective" brochure and read it from beginning to end during a break. She returned to ask about a dozen very intelligent questions as she planned to make a visit to Cypress Cove, which happens to be closest to where she lives.<br>- Several giveaways were popular. Emery boards with our logo, 1-800-TRY-NUDE and <a href=http://www.aanr.com>http://www.aanr.com</a> web address remain a strong choice because every person can use one. Offering one helps break the ice (and usually break the recipient into a smile), paving the way for a discussion.<br>- Officials discussed the logistics of placing a brochure in the racks of the welcome center itself.<br>What's the bottom line lesson that AANR and its clubs can take away from an event like this? That the statistics acquired from our public relations firm's polls of leisure travelers are probably accurate:=20 about one in five people really would be interested in-and consider-a nude or clothing-optional experience while on vacation.<br>Many of our clubs participate in similar programs with your state and local tourism offices. From listings in brochures to open house events, you know the value of promotion.=20=20<br>We invite you to write us with your experiences, tips, and lessons learned. And we also invite you to let us know how we can assist you in your efforts to promote your clubs. =20 >From the desk of Pat Plumstead, Executive Assistant: <a href=/group/AANR-NW-eNews/post?postID=NOH0KIgLOrY9f2QLl-OppRLxqG02kj7vfkqO0S7VG3oK10iKIuxi5GAG5XlXp9jh1N6bKah2iWb3KXk>ExOffice@aanr.com</a> <mailto:<a href=/group/AANR-NW-eNews/post?postID=NOH0KIgLOrY9f2QLl-OppRLxqG02kj7vfkqO0S7VG3oK10iKIuxi5GAG5XlXp9jh1N6bKah2iWb3KXk>ExOffice@aanr.com</a>:>=20<br>The AANR staff was treated to a wonderful Holiday Party on Wednesday of this week by Chris Walters of Lake Como. Chris took the staff to a delicious lunch at Red Lobster. What would be a party be without presents and holiday desserts – we had plenty of both! It is at this time when we realize that although many of us are away from our family, we are part of a family here at the AANR office. Thank you Chris.=20<br>All new website on the way — The World Wide Web is a great vehicle for promoting nude recreation. And with the arrival of a new year upon us, we're looking forward to an all-new website featuring a complete redesign, graphics and pictures, more member benefits and services, club services, newsroom for journalists, and much more.=20 After months of development, we're happy to report that we'll be going live in just a few weeks!<br>Has your club hosted a Chamber of Commerce or civic group function?=20 We're considering an article about the value of such outreach efforts. Please let us know about your experience with an email to me at=20=20 <a href=/group/AANR-NW-eNews/post?postID=6oZjAIao4gkOzinFevulhZKnNVF9oB3tV-zB3EwODyzWQfEbM7O8EnfTHsNdtJRMoWRdAVQzJi72mQ>Exoffice@aanr.com</a> .<br>Revised Procedure Manual from our November 2004 Board of Trustees meeting is available on the Cyber Bulletin at <a href=http://www.aanr.com>http://www.aanr.com</a> under "Ruling Documents". If you have not retrieved this document and need assistance downloading, please contact me at the above e-mail address. It can then be stored on your computer or printed. The minutes for the November meeting will be available shortly.=20<br>The AANR Directory is available in PDF format by request to Nanette Wickersham – <a href=/group/AANR-NW-eNews/post?postID=0UNWzA8W9ZGbwndNegALB-1Re4roKSAYQ-f9KGGdXudCu2YCxmGVC18asjRq0hvGShvHNVlNLWnJAWwF12nt>Membership1@aanr.com</a> . =20=20 The directory is available to officers, trustees, directors, committee members and club certifying officers.<br>>From the desk of Linda Berry, Director of Publications: <a href=/group/AANR-NW-eNews/post?postID=Gk8Aj3e79gdjXcpfaYHJNBit0ktfH1Jy_rlobp8diGdherYuvHfmzOfpy7LSzuMU9QxppQTVDNPn>Editor@aanr.com</a><br>The January issue of The Bulletin is on its way to you, and February is in production. On Wednesday of this week, 240 pages of the North American Guide went to the printer. Only 80 pages plus cover to go!=20<br>>From the desk of Carolyn Hawkins, Public Relations Coordinator: <a href=/group/AANR-NW-eNews/post?postID=4g4rv8QVr285OMkt0zO9d3UVjiyyT_7xzHndhmGwB1Vw9-imuDpQNvHHai0bITsC-yNKk37hn-nifeU>Clubinfo@aanr.com</a><br> CALLING ALL CLUBS – BE ONBOARD – SHIP SAILING 02 7-15 – 2005=20 There will be 2,150 nudists on Bare Necessities All Saints Tour onboard Carnival's Legend when it leaves Tampa on February 7th for St Thomas, St Martin and St Lucia. This is the largest ship Bare Necessities has ever offered. Many of these will be first-time nudist and when they return home on 02 15 they will be looking for a club or resort near their home to continue their enjoyment of the freedom and relaxing experience they enjoyed. We, your association will be on-board to represent you – this is one of the benefits you enjoy as an AANR chartered club. AANR will be on board the Legend to promote your club with your brochure at our booth.<br>Please send your brochure to the AANR office, attention Carolyn Hawkins, by January 18th so that we can promote your club. Don't miss this opportunity to help us promote your club. We will have giveaways for those passengers who register at our booth. If you are on the cruise, please make sure to stop by our booth.<br>We wish to thank Bare Necessities who have donated cabins which raised thousands of dollars for the government affairs program.=20=20<br>I will be out of the office until/12/27th. If you have any questions, please contact Pat Plumstead. =20 >From the desk of Patricia Orner, Government Affairs Assistant: <a href=/group/AANR-NW-eNews/post?postID=oMqgLPlbjDCZuAtdPHw7w0V3uP7ITwNAnC6V1cmMG-jr4M9DUNWJFbln-Wyhlr0u-NTyKJvdbSrRB0s>Govtaffairs@aanr.com</a><br>GAT activity saw AANR represented Nov. 16th by Erich Schuttauf and Carolyn Hawkins lead off the WESH Channel 2 News At Daybreak. Delivering boxes of food to the local food drive the TV host interviewing them told the Central Florida audience how AANR has been a part of the food drive for 11 straight years. Among other interviewed donors like Sea World, several local schools, Gaylord Palms Hotel and the Osceola County Tax Collectors office =96 GAT events like SHARE YOUR CHRISTMAS continue to reinforce the positive image of our organization. Send your GAT success stories for us to share.=20<br>On another note – we are pleased and thankful to report that we received a 28% return on the recent Assateague beach mailing. The willingness of our members to speak out continues to be the foundation needed to grow and strengthen the AANR Government Affairs Team. Requested NUDIST and I Vote buttons will reach participants before the 2005 sessions open.<br> Friends will not only live in harmony, but in melody. Henry David Thoreau<br><br><br> </td>
