AANR Weekly Report for 10/28/05
AANR Weekly Report for 10/28/05<br> Erich Schuttauf, Executive Director<br>AANR President Pat Brown and Husband Darrel Have Moved Pat and Darrel have relocated to their California address for the winter. Please use that address for correspondence with her until further notice. <br>Hurricane Update<br>We in the AANR office want to thank so many of you for the concerns, thoughts, and prayers extended to us and the rest of the AANR community in Florida as Hurricane Wilma passed through last week. While our offices were closed to prepare for the storm and due to road conditions, we were spared any notable damage.<br>Nanette Wickersham, AANR's club/member liaison, has attempted to contact all Florida clubs who 05 have been affected by the hurricane. The following is what we can tell you as of today from clubs who responded. There have been several who we can not reach due to power/phone outage.<br>Seminole Health Club: We heard from a third party that Seminole had severe damage. We have not been able to get in touch with them.<br>Sunsations: Minor damage; trees down, no power. Almost all members have checked in and are OK.<br>Sunsport: Report from Morley, that Sunsport is open with no damage, however phones are still down.<br>Sanibel Naturists: A few members are still without power, but everything else seems OK. <br>Sunnier Palms: The club currently has no power, the community center is flooded, and the new fence is down as well as some branches. They said it's too soon to tell the damage due to flooding. They are alternating the generator between the well and septic tank. <br>Sunny Sands: Some tree branches down but no significant damage <br>Cypress Cove: No damage.<br>Gulf Coast: No damage.<br>Island Group: A couple of tree branches came down and missed the power line. No flooding.<br>Paradise Lakes: No damage.<br>Lake Como: No damage. <br> AANR Mourns Loss of a Great Friend and Champion in Canada<br>This week we received regrettable news that Leon Prucyk, who spearheaded the Crocus Grove club near Winnipeg, Manitoba in Canada, passed away. Leon made a significant contribution to the lives of many members who will miss him deeply. We extend our thoughts and prayers to his wife Evelyn during this difficult time. <br> Important Information for November 2005 Board of Trustees Meeting Now Available Online.<br>In preparation for the Fall Meeting of the Board of Trustees, a number of important documents have been added to our website for review. These include:<br>Agenda for the Meeting – As prepared by AANR President Pat Brown;<br>Minutes of the Inboard and Outboard meetings of the Board during the 2005 AANR Convention – With thanks to Secretary/Treasurer Rob Phillips; and<br>Proposed Legislation for the November Meeting – With special thanks to Legislation Chair Beverly Price.<br>These documents are available in Membership Services. To select, go to www.aanr.com Select "Membership Services" and login using your password or, if it's your first time visiting, with your last name and p number as they appear on your membership card. You'll find the material in the Download Zone.<br>AANR will also be happy to mail a copy of these materials to our officers, trustees, clubs, and interested members upon request. To order a set, please e-mail Linda Berry at <a href=/group/AANR-NW-eNews/post?postID=mDh6FyNv0bmbTBpNh9ESGBfz7lthe6k_8SzRExPIoQ1KvSki0zbFT9SwrTbsPAHIRcqPaDcq_w>editor@aanr.com</a> . (Note: Because we recognize that not all clubs use e-mail reports, we will put a notice on the availability of these materials in the next club mailing as well.)<br> AANR.com and Three Clubs Receive Major Promotion from MSNBC<br>You 05 recall that a couple of weeks ago, our office sent out a message explaining that AANR and several clubs were featured in an article appearing on MSNBC.com. The article, prepared by a writer with National Geographic Traveler, debunked "Five Myths about Nude Vacations – The realities of au naturel holidays." It cited AANR as the authority for information on nude travel, providing links to the association's website, as well as DeAnza Springs Resort, White Thorn Lodge, and Cypress Cove. You can read a copy of the article by clicking here: <a href=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9696792/>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9696792/</a> , or from our Cyber-Bulletin at <a href=http://www.aanr.com/cyber_bulletin.html>http://www.aanr.com/cyber_bulletin.html</a> <br>As you read the article, it becomes evident that much of the messaging tracks what AANR and its PR teams have been communicating in press releases, on our website, and in pitches from your public relations firm YPB&R.<br>This article was newsworthy enough. Things went to a whole new level, however, when MSN computer network showcased the article on its main page on Saturday, October 22. In a single day, our statistics tracker showed that AANR.com received 16,841 unique visitors! (Statistics showing referrals from the three clubs mentioned indicate they all received strong traffic as well.) And these visitors from MSN spent considerable time on the website: they boosted the average duration of a visitor visit to an all time high of over 308 seconds per visit in the month of October. Think about this: an average of more than five minutes spent per user reading about nude recreation and AANR's clubs. That's a considerable time in the online world. <br>Now consider this: In all, the visitors to AANR's site on a single day—largely drawn from MSN users–downloaded 178,762 pages of information about nude recreation!<br> AANR Helping Members<br>This month, as it does every month, the AANR team has provided support to members facing legal difficulties associated with their enjoyment of nude recreation. We'd like to provide "snapshots" of a few cases we're working on right now – solid examples of the Association serving as the credible voice of reason:<br>Helping a member in New York whose ex-spouse is now making an issue out of her taking their two children to AANR clubs, although the family regularly visited them together while married. AANR is working with our member to provide her attorney with information about relevant case law, and even possible witness testimony about what to expect from a visit to a family nudist park.<br>Helping a member in Florida to educate his neighbors about his enjoyment of nudism in his own private, fenced yard and his wish that they respect his privacy. Recently the neighbor constructed an outside structure that towers above the one-story houses and six foot fences of the neighborhood. AANR assisted the member in drafting a tactful letter to the neighbor documenting a prior conversation on the topic, as well as providing supplemental materials about why he joins nearly 50,000 members of AANR who enjoy their backyards in the nude. Copies of a Dear Abby column in which Abby takes the side of backyard skinny-dippers seeking to avoid prying eyes rounded out the materials forwarded to this member to help him make his point.<br>Helping a member couple in Connecticut who were unsure about how to explain their enjoyment of nude recreation to some close friends and family who 05 need to spend time living in the couple's home over the next year. This couple wants to be a good resource to friends in need, but would prefer to not have to give up their enjoyment for going nude in their home. AANR has supplied written material as well as suggested a couple of basic videos from the Association including "Welcome to Our World" and "Let Yourself Be Free," to address the subject.<br>Helping a member couple in Oregon who witnessed their 12-year-old daughter removed from their home over an innocuous photo of the family taken together at their favorite club. AANR assisted the couple's attorney with case law and information in a very short turn-around during a holiday weekend. We're pleased to report that the daughter has been returned home and all charges dropped. <br> Trade Association for Nude Recreation Conference Slated for Caliente Club from November 30 – December 3, 2005.<br>Do you have a club or nude travel related business that you'd like some fresh ideas about managing? Why not consider attending the TANR annual meeting this year at Caliente club in Pasco County, Florida. Special room rates are available to those who book travel early. Conference fee is $275 with additional savings of $75 or more available to multiple attendees from the same business and TANR member businesses.<br> Topics include: Getting the most from your database marketing, marketing to Generation X, Risk Management, Starting a Business from Scratch (or building the one you have) and what we've learned from Focus Groups held in Irvine California to assess public opinions on nude travel–one held over a decade ago and one held just last year! <br>AANR works cooperatively with the businesses of TANR to encourage growth of nude travel among professionals. For more information on registering for this conference, contact the AANR office at 1-800-TRY-NUDE and ask to speak with Carol Burgos.<br><br>Linda Berry, Publications Department<br>The Bulletin: The November issue is on its way to you. The December issue features The Year in Review, with highlights from 2005. <br>Miscellaneous<br>The new list of clubs went to the printer yesterday, the new Cyber-Bulletin is online, and the 2006 Bulletin rate card is being finalized. The publications department had a planning session this week to set the print dates for next year and to brainstorm about changes to The Bulletin. <br> AANR IN PRINT<br>Carolyn Hawkins, Public Relations Coordinator<br>We are still waiting to hear from the Montel Williams Show for a future appearance.<br>We are working with Glamour Magazine regarding a short story on the growth of nude recreation. This is scheduled for the January 2006 issue. <br>I had an interview with CBS News Radio as a result from a press release sent out by Marie at YPBR. He was asking about nudists and Halloween. I explained that we had been celebrating our costumes for 75 years now as well as nude recreation in general.<br>This could start to air on Saturday October 30 in 35 seconds spots or it 05 be on October 31. It could also go on the web site. I was able to explain that AANR is The Credible Voice of Reason and for more info check out the web site or call 1-800-TRY-Nude. This is just another example of the opportunity to educate on nude recreation.<br>MSNBC.com featured an article "Five Myths about nude vacations". Again it showed that AANR is the Credible Voice.<br>Steve Vickers attended the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) last week in San Antonio Texas. This was the largest NRPA show ever and all of the brochures, lapel pins and CD's were given out. There was nothing to return and according to Steve, he could have used more handouts.<br>Steve Payne of Desert Shadows, got several minutes on Entertainment Tonight. They had a bus tour that picked up members at Desert Shadows, gave them a tour of Palm Springs and actually toured Elvis Presley's house.<br> Patricia Orner, Government Affairs Coordinator <br>GAT INFRASTRUCTURE<br>The growth of the AANR Government Affairs Team is like a tree. We have a sturdy 75 year old trunk firmly rooted and supported by deep roots. We have now grown strong regional "branches" which are all ready to develop state "limbs" – each full of leaves and blooms and fruit. Those branches have trained and highly qualified volunteer managers know as Regional Chairs. Each "state limb" needs a volunteer leader who can be the conduit between the clubs and members and the tree. Please help your Regional Chairs identify strong candidates to fill these state levels so we can move forward with the next level of this vital growth. <br> The 2006 states session schedule is available for download from the www.aanr.com <<a href=http://www.aanr.com/>http://www.aanr.com/</a>> Government Affairs web site. <br> HOT ISSUES<br>BEACH ISSUES: Shirley Gauthier reports that one of the most important assets in the success of shoreline projects is the support of neighboring clubs. This is highlighted by the positive outcomes at Rooster Rock. When AANR clubs buy-in to these CAT projects financially and with volunteer recruitment, they increase the visibility of their facility while dispelling the rumors that there are two classes of nude recreation. Let your Regional GAT Chair know who at your club will head a CAT project and don't forget that we need all possible projects to be registered with Take Pride In America (TPIA).<br>OHIO HB23: This lingering bill is hot again and we are carefully monitoring it at AANR staff and through the cooperative lobby activities in the state. Rumor has it that it 05 come to a floor vote soon and if passed with no changes from the version we reviewed yesterday – all should be OK. <br>Take Pride In America (TPIA)<br>Go to www.TakePride.gov <<a href=http://www.takepride.gov/>http://www.takepride.gov/</a>> and complete the brief registration form located under the "Volunteer" tab. If you have questions on TPIA – contact Kathy at <a href=/group/AANR-NW-eNews/post?postID=HVSuK4SV9nY6mn7HQFXd4DzpjixSVJsB-s31O2TGImXrQS6_5Jyl8ml-R8O6YutuH8da86-kThGy_iQ>Corsibare@aol.com</a> Let us know if your club has a project in 2006 planned that it can get TPIA credit. You must give 6-8 weeks notice and use the TPIA logo in your advertising of the event. AANR would like to come in the top 20 next year in total hours volunteered.<br><br> </td>
