<br>AANR Weekly Report for October 6, 2006<br><br>Erich Schuttauf, Executive Director<br>AANR Office Hosts Film Crew from The Learning Channel<br>On Monday of this week our office had some special visitors: a team of three employees working on a segment for The Learning Channel about a &quot;day-in-the-life of a nudist.&quot; The story takes a look at my family and includes footage and interviews in the office, including scenes of Eve Bratton taking calls from members, plus a visit to Cypress Cove, at-home interviews, and even a visit to our local church. Tentatively the segment is part of a pilot for a series expected to air sometime in Spring 2007.<br> AANR Helping Members and Clubs<br>Within the past two weeks AANR has taken calls from members and clubs seeking various forms of assistance. Here are some brief summaries:<br>Asylum case – I attended a hearing in U.S. immigration court in Orlando last week on behalf of a member who fears harsh persecution for advocating nudism in his home country. Both parties to the case, including the federal government, stipulated to my status as an expert witness on the subject of nudism and accepted my testimony with very little cross examination or challenge. Interestingly, the government also did not choose to challenge the petitioner's claim that the right to advocate for nudism is a basic human right. Instead, it limited its argument to the degree of persecution the petitioner would face. Asylum cases are challenging to win. Regardless of the outcome of this particular case, it says something about AANR's credibility when both sides can agree that the Association is a resource to turn to for answers.<br>Water rights issue – A northern club has contacted AANR seeking some information and assistance in a dispute with an adjacent land owner regarding the conditions and access on its lake.<br>Club with media questions – Another club contacted us today seeking suggestions for handling a media inquiry from a television station doing a story on an event within the community. The event is not related to the club in any way, but the inquiry appears to have been triggered because &quot;sensational&quot; nudity like flashing of female breasts, etc. occurs.<br> Mark Foley Situation: AANR has developed additional material<br>As events unfold within the media about the congressman's resignation, we continue to monitor them from the office with assistance from Susan Weaver and AANR's public relations team at YPB&amp;R. It is important to recognize that the immediate events of the day are not directly related to AANR's experience in 2003. It is also important to recognize that a national election weeks away creates a politically charged environment where words can be interpreted in ways not originally intended.<br>As the Scout motto reads, it is always best to &quot;be prepared.&quot; Therefore, the PR team has developed additional materials to assist with setting the record straight about AANR camps when there is an opportunity to use them in select media where it is both necessary and where there is a reasonable belief a story will receive objective treatment.<br>To date, other developments have deserved and commanded more attention than us. A few stories providing some additional &quot;setting of the record straight&quot; about the 2003 camp at Lake Como appeared in articles within The St. Petersburg Times this week. You can find one such story by clicking here: <a href=http://www.sptimes.com/2006/10/02/State/Pasco_nudists_recall_.shtml>http://www.sptimes.com/2006/10/02/State/Pasco_nudists_recall_.shtml</a><br> Linda Berry, Director of Publications<br>ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES<br>Cyber-Bulletin and AANR Web advertising space is available. Please contact Martha Young for rate information at <a href=/group/AANR-NW-eNews/post?postID=dsyuTdGjITvVuJm6Ju3OQjAb5cynVPDisHMQBTef0rf6J1ITkqUir9Pudz74-0EsxWyGu4JdSQHlLvE>bulletinads@aanr.com</a> or phone 800/879-6833, ext. 228.<br>We also have one direct marketing coupon available. The coupons are mailed to all new and renewing AANR members with their membership card. The response to these offers has been well received by the members and advertisers. The cost is $600 for six months, or $1,000 for one year. All you need to do is give us the information, and we print the coupons. <br>Club rebates can be used for advertising in The Bulletin, The Cyber-Bulletin, AANR Web site advertising, or the marketing coupons. The rebates expire December 31, 2006, and if you don't use them, you lose them. <br> The Bulletin<br>The November issue is in production.<br> Patricia Orner – Government Affairs Coordinator<br>State Legislation and News From State Net<br>There are two states (NJ, PA ) and DC in Regular Session. MA is in Informal Session. OH is in Skeleton Session. There is one state in Special Session (PA &quot;a&quot;).<br> GAT TRAINING<br>If your club is interested in GAT/CAT training – please let me know. Would you prefer on-site training – or would you prefer Tele-Training if offered?<br> GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS CHALLENGE<br>The Fire &amp; Ice Challenge is in full swing. With the new deadline of November 20 and a NEW drawing date of November 27, 2006 – each five-dollar donation gets you one chance to win an ocean view cabin for two aboard Bare Necessities Tour and Travel cruise on Holland America's Amsterdam. This is a package worth $4,500 and the ship will depart Seattle on July 20, 2007 and return to Seattle on July 27. Several clubs have begun a pool. Buy $100-$500 and if your club wins you can hold an on site drawing with AANR publicity. A fun way to do your part and help AANR protect your members rights.<br>A Final word<br>Much of my time this week has been spent reflecting on this unfortunate series of tragic events. Politics produces, especially in an election year, many rumors. I am proud to work in an organization which when offered an opportunity for public grandstanding takes the high road – the credible path – and carefully investigates allegations before they issue wild press releases. I was &quot;only an AANR member&quot; when Mark Foley chose to attack the AANR youth camps. Like many of you I was upset because I knew then, what I know now, that training our youth is an important way to ensure the future of social nudity. I was surprised when another Florida State political figure (Rep. John Quinones of Osceola County) leapt to Mr. Foley's side. As a member of the Osceola County Republican Executive Committee I know &quot;John Q&quot; well. His support of Foley ended quickly – as he became educated about AANR and the youth program. It happened – the press stopped reporting about it – and as a nudist I let it slip into history. <br>As a mother who raised two great kids who always remember that people are not to be judged by what they wear but by what they are on the inside, I sometimes wonder if I could have done more to keep a person like Mark Foley from endangering the future of our culture. As a grandmother who knows that even those in my family tree who are not nudists still pass down the values they learned. I trust that the credible voice of reason for nude recreation remains strong. I thank God for giving me a chance to make a difference in this fight for the right to exist with or without textiles – naked – the way I was born. This is my personal opinion and does not reflect any position of AANR. <br><br><br><br><br><br> </td>