No Report This Week

There will be no e-mail report this week.

The AANR Board of Trustees meeting will be in session at Cypress Cove Nudist Resort & Spa, January 22-24.

January 16, 2009
Erich Schuttauf, Executive Director

Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday
As you know, Monday honors this slain civil rights leader. On an occasion like this, it is worth noting that the nudist community has long advocated equality of all persons. For example, I am proud of the ASA/AANR’s long history of men and women serving in the position of president. Similarly, the ASA prohibited race discrimination by clubs before federal and state laws legislated equality. We have often said that one does not know a bank president from a bus driver without their clothes.
In observance of the King holiday, our office will be closed on Monday, January 19, and reopen during our regular business hours on Tuesday.

Executive Director’s Report
I look forward to meeting with the board and regional presidents next week. I will give a full report on the “state of AANR” at that time.

No Report Next Week
There will be no e-mail report next week. The AANR Board of Trustees meeting will be in session at Cypress Cove Nudist Resort & Spa, January 22-24.

Linda Berry, Director of Publications

The Bulletin
The February issue is printed and will start mailing today.

CAROLYN HAWKINS, PUBLIC RELATIONS COORDINATOR

January Board Meeting Transportation Information
If you need transportation from the airport, please give me your flight arrival information: date, time, flight number, and airline. You can also contact the shuttle driver Ed Thurman at 407/922-1112 to arrange for pickup directly.

Gasparilla Festival
For those of you who might want to bring a costume, Cypress Cove is having a Gasparilla Pirate Festival. Bring your favorite Pirate outfit and enter into the contest on Saturday night.

Cruise
The cruise is only three weeks away. If you have club brochures you would like me to take, please send about 30 brochures to Carolyn Hawkins, AANR,1703 N. Main Street, Kissimmee, FL 34744. If you will be on board the cruise you can take them with you and just bring them to the AANR table.

Positive Publicity
Pine Tree offers rooms for the inauguration.
http://www.dcexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/YeasandNays/A_buff-et_of_housing_option_at_Maryland_resort_0113.html
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28641055/
http://www.tmz.com/

Check out the link below from the Columbia City Paper regarding the 2009 Nude Chili Cook-Off at Cedar Creek Park.
http://columbiacitypaper.com/index.php/News-Commentary/Commentary/Nude-Chili-Cook-Off.html

Terry Justice, Club/Member Liaison
We only have one Directory change this week.
Sandpipers Resort in Texas has a new e-mail address:
enjoylife {@} sandpipersresort dot com

Please make the necessary change.

Debra Sue Stevens, Government Affairs
REQUEST: Print the following in your Club Newsletter or send to your members in your E-News, when timely and appropriate. We want the members to know what GAT does for them!

ARC President Offers Weekly Insight on How the Presidential Transition Relates to the Recreation Industry

In this week’s “Monday Morning Washington Updates,” American Recreation Coalition (ARC) President Derrick Crandall shares the eighth post-2008 election report, focusing on the nomination hearings and Congressional action on recovery and economic stimulus measures. Derrick reports, “… it is a busy time in Washington. And the stakes are certainly high. My next report will focus on agenda-building in the tourism community and other key developments — stay tuned!” To view the reports, visit the ARC Web site at: www.funoutdoors.com

A Nudists’ Bill of Rights – What Do You Think?
The Nudist Bill of Rights was presented to the Board of Trustees at the 2008 AANR Convention, and two open forum sessions were held to discuss the document and gather feedback. The Nudist Bill of Rights has been highlighted in The Bulletin as well. AANR’s public relations firm, Y Partnership, agrees with our consensus that the adoption of such a proclamation has multiple benefits for nude recreation. Government Affairs plans to use the Nudist Bills of Rights when having introductory discussions with lawmakers and public lands policy makers to name a few. We will continue to work on this document and would appreciate your continued support and feedback to debra_sue@mindspring.com.

A Nudists’ Bill of Rights

As law-abiding citizens, we proudly affirm that we have and are entitled to exercise the following rights. We believe that these rights are self-evident, and that they are also based in the Constitution of the United States and Canada, court rulings, and the laws of our countries:

Ø Nudists have the right to hold our system of values and beliefs…
Ø Nudists have the right to petition and be heard by our government…
Ø Nudists have the right to responsibly enjoy nudity within our homes and property…
Ø Nudists have the right to be parents, and to exercise reasonable decision-making in the upbringing of our families in a manner consistent with our beliefs and without interference by others…
Ø Nudists have the right to assemble in the nude within appropriate settings…
Ø Nudists have the right to have decisions about what constitutes “acceptable nudity” made free from considerations of race, gender, religion, or national origin…
Ø Nudists have the right to responsibly enjoy private property in a state of nudity…
Ø Nudists have the right to responsibly enjoy being nude on public lands, within appropriate locations…
Ø Nudists have a right to be free from adverse or retaliatory actions by their employers as a result of their lawful enjoyment of nudity when away from work…
Ø Nudists have a right to have wholesome nudity accurately portrayed in human history…
Ø Nudists have a right to experience life-affirming portrayals of the human body in all its stages as depicted by the performing arts, the fine arts, and in literature…
Ø Nudists have a right to be treated as law-abiding citizens rather than as criminals…

{end}

January 9, 2009
Erich Schuttauf, Executive Director

The Bulletin Did It First

The New York Times said it would sell display advertising on its front page, its latest step to seek new ways to make money as it deals with a prolonged ad revenue downturn. Real all about it at: http://uk.reuters.com/article/marketsNewsUS/idUKN0536626720090105

Update on Wayne Roberts
Wayne was operated on this week, and will be in Providence Portland hospital for about 10 days. He is resting and on pain meds. His daughter, Debbie, is keeping a close eye on him. Our thoughts and prayers are with him for a speedy recovery. We will let you know as we learn more.

Committee Reports Due Monday
All AANR committee chairs are asked to submit their reports for distribution no later than Monday, January 12, 2009. Please e-mail them to Linda Berry at editor@aanr.com.

Linda Berry, Director of Publications
Last Chance
We have already had response from 26 AANR clubs who are offering a free day pass to expired associate, direct, and club members who reinstate their AANR membership. This is your last chance to take advantage of this marketing opportunity at no out-of-pocket cost to you. Simply e-mail Linda Berry at editor@aanr.com or call her at 800/TRY-NUDE, ext. 235, to be included.

AANR-Southwest Midwinter Board Meeting
There’s still time to attend the AANR-Southwest Board Meeting tomorrow at Natural Horisun in Boling, Texas. We apologize for the date being left out of the January issue of The Bulletin.

E-Bulletin
Wow, how time flies. It is hard to believe that the E-Bulletin is in its third year. The first issue was distributed in February 2007 to 8,866 members. It has been so well received, that the distribution has climbed to 12,487. Thanks, Lynn Von Hagel, for a job well done.

The Bulletin
We’re doing the final proof on the February issue today, and it goes to the printer on Monday.
CAROLYN HAWKINS, PUBLIC RELATIONS COORDINATOR

January Board Meeting Transportation Information
If you need transportation from the airport, please give me your flight arrival information: date, time, flight number, and airline. You can also contact the shuttle driver Ed Thurman at 407/922-1112 to arrange for pickup directly.

Terry Justice, Club/Member Liaison
We do not have any changes for the Directory this week.

I would, however, like to take this opportunity to welcome John and Jill Frick, who are now the proud owners of Whispering Pines Nudist Resort in Ocean Isle Beach in North Carolina. Congratulations and welcome aboard, John and Jill.

Debra Sue Stevens, Government Affairs

REQUEST: Print the following in your Club Newsletter or send to your members in your E-News, when timely and appropriate. We want the members to know what GAT does for them!

Big Presidential Inaugural Event: FREE Exclusively on HBO

The Wall Street Journal reports that a high-profile event of the “people’s inauguration” will be aired exclusively on HBO. The premium cable channel has signed a deal with the Presidential Inaugural Committee to televise 90-minutes commercial-free from the “Opening Celebration” of Barack Obama’s inauguration. The event takes place at the Lincoln Memorial on Sunday, Jan. 18. Both Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden plan to attend. (The actual inauguration is two days later, on Jan. 20.) HBO will make the celebration available on an open signal, meaning everyone with cable or satellite service can watch it for free, whether or not they subscribe to HBO.

Polar Bare Dip At Rooster Rock Is Still On! – January 10th

Our friends, the park rangers, tell us that although the river levels are very high, we should have no problem getting to one of our usual “dipping spots” this Saturday, Jan. 10th at noon. It doesn’t look like snow will block our way, and so far the weather forecast is for sun and temps in the 50s – woohoo! Sounds like picnic weather. But we will be going to a local restaurant to defrost with hot food and drink. So join us for a nude welcome to the new year in the great outdoors.

Rooster Rock State Park is located on Interstate 84 in the Columbia Gorge, about 20 minutes east of Portland. Go to the east (right) end of the parking lot and you’ll find us near the bathroom building. Don’t be late–we start walking soon so we don’t lose our nerve!

Questions? E-mail Rooster-Sauvie Volunteers at zonkersun at yahoo.com.

Inaugural Weekend Nude Swim Near National Capital Region (Baltimore) – January 17th

Coming to Maryland-DC Area for Inaugural-Martin Luther King Weekend?  MARNA’ s got an event for you on January 17. On this day, Barack Obama and Joe Biden will speak at a Pre-Inaugural Rally in Baltimore en-route to their swearing in. In attendance will be 100,000 local spectators. If you’re planning to attend, stick around a bit later for our monthly swim. Maryland Area Naturists Association (MARNA) presents:
Inaugural/Dr. Martin Luther King Weekend Swim at 6:30.

MARNA is a family-oriented nudist club renting a large pool and social hall that is a close drive to downtown Baltimore. Parties are held once a month. Join AANR’s lone club in Baltimore city or county. Call 410-949-5391 for more information.

A Nudists’ Bill of Rights – What Do You Think?

The Nudist Bill of Rights was presented to the Board of Trustees at the 2008 AANR Convention, and two open forum sessions were held to discuss the document and gather feedback. The Nudist Bill of Rights has been highlighted in The Bulletin as well.

AANR’s public relations firm, Y Partnership, agrees with our consensus that the adoption of such a proclamation has multiple benefits for nude recreation. Government Affairs plans to use the Nudist Bills of Rights when having introductory discussions with lawmakers and public lands policy makers to name a few. We will continue to work on this document and would appreciate your continued support and feedback to debra_sue@mindspring.com.

A Nudists’ Bill of Rights

As law-abiding citizens, we proudly affirm that we have and are entitled to exercise the following rights. We believe that these rights are self-evident, and that they are also based in the Constitution of the United States and Canada, court rulings, and the laws of our countries:

Ø Nudists have the right to hold our system of values and beliefs…
Ø Nudists have the right to petition and be heard by our government…
Ø Nudists have the right to responsibly enjoy nudity within our homes and property…
Ø Nudists have the right to be parents, and to exercise reasonable decision-making in the upbringing of our families in a manner consistent with our beliefs and without interference by others…
Ø Nudists have the right to assemble in the nude within appropriate settings…
Ø Nudists have the right to have decisions about what constitutes “acceptable nudity” made free from considerations of race, gender, religion, or national origin…
Ø Nudists have the right to responsibly enjoy private property in a state of nudity…
Ø Nudists have the right to responsibly enjoy being nude on public lands, within appropriate locations…
Ø Nudists have a right to be free from adverse or retaliatory actions by their employers as a result of their lawful enjoyment of nudity when away from work…
Ø Nudists have a right to have wholesome nudity accurately portrayed in human history…
Ø Nudists have a right to experience life-affirming portrayals of the human body in all its stages as depicted by the performing arts, the fine arts, and in literature…
Ø Nudists have a right to be treated as law-abiding citizens rather than as criminals…

Saturday January 24th – Hidden Springs Bare Bowling Event

Hint: Pre-register and save $5!

With all the holidays behind us, life can return to normal and if a normal life includes a bare bowling event we have another one coming up on Saturday January 24. Our last bowling event was sparsely attended mainly because of the holiday season and I am looking forward to a great turnout for this upcoming event.

The event will be held from 7 pm until 9 pm and the cost is $13 per person if you are an AANR/TNS member or $15 per person when you are not a member, when pre-registering.

Prices at the door will be $18 per person for AANR/TNS members and $20 per person for non-members. Pre-registration for this event will close on Wednesday January 21. Admission includes the use of bowling balls and shoe rentals with the request that socks must be worn when using rental shoes.

For more information including location of the venue which will be in the greater Portland (OR) area, contact Hidden Springs at hsevents@verizon.net or leave us a voice mail at 503-841-1995.

Chris Brokke

Polar Bare Dip at Rooster Rock is Still On!

Our friends the park rangers tell us that although the river levels are very high, we should have no problem getting to one of our usual “dipping spots” this Saturday, Jan. 10th at Noon.

It doesn’t look like snow will block our way, and so far the weather forecast is for sun and temps in the 50′s – Woohoo! Sounds like picnic weather. But we will be going to a local restaurant to defrost with hot food and drink. So join us for a nude welcome to the new year in the great outdoors.

Rooster Rock State Park is located on Interstate 84 in the Columbia Gorge, about 20 min. east of Portland. Go to the East (right) end of the parking lot and you’ll find us near the bathroom building.

Don’t be late–we start walking soon so we don’t lose our nerve!

Questions? Email Rooster-Sauvie Volunteers at zonkersun@yahoo.com

Cougar Valley State Park Update

Submitted by:  Shirley Gauthier
AANR-NW Public Lands Liaison

In 2007 AANR-NW received a postcard with a beautiful picture of Oregon’s Cougar Valley State Park from an anonymous person.  The information on the postcard suggested that Cougar Valley State Park would be ideal for a new clothing optional area.  The person who sent the postcard is no longer anonymous and has become a great Government Affairs Team (GAT) volunteer.

The postcard was instrumental in initiating dialog between AANR-NW GAT and the Oregon State Parks planner.  An AANR member took the initiative to mail a postcard and a relationship was started.  While we would prefer that correspondence be signed we do appreciate members taking the time to contact AANR-NW GAT concerning any issues, challenges or suggestions about nude recreation on public lands.

After the first draft master plan for Cougar Valley State Park was distributed for public review in July 2007 a wide range of public responses were received.  As a result of the public response it was decided that OPRD is the appropriate entity to own and manage the Cougar Valley property, OPRD will suspend planning for recreational uses at Cougar Valley for five years, No recreational development will occur at Cougar Valley while the planning process is suspended, OPRD will take steps to manage visitation and enforce rules at Cougar Valley, and continue planning for natural resource management.  AANR-NW GAT will continue to monitor this five-year suspension plan.