Erich Schuttauf, Executive Director

Major Public Land Victory in California

On October 17, 2008, a team from AANR composed of Government Affairs Chair Alonzo Stevens, AANR Public Lands Liaison Steve Hubbard, and I attended a meeting with high ranking officials of the California Parks and Recreation Department including the Chief Ranger overseeing both the northern and southern districts of the state, the agency’s general counsel, and the agency’s direct lobbyist to the California legislature. This meeting followed months of discussion between Steve Hubbard and the Chief of Operations of California Parks Tony Perez.

This October session was vital because the department has announced firm plans to end nudity at San Onofre Beach. That, in turn, prompted litigation and substantial worry that the department would deviate from the long-standing Cahill Policy which is friendly to nudity and skinny-dipping in remote areas within the park system.

The Cahill Policy named for its author, Russ Cahill, says that a park officer should not intervene in cases of nudity within remote settings unless a complaint is made by a member of the general public. In such cases, the nude person(s) would then be asked to dress but not cited. Moreover, nothing prohibits a nude sunbather from returning to the location the following day.

Given that litigation is ongoing, we were frankly uncertain that any position from California Parks other than a scorched earth policy regarding nude use would be possible. AANR had been engaged in ongoing discussions about modification of the San Onofre policy, when the suit was filed, which of course were derailed. (Although an initial judicial finding has gone in favor of the naturist friends of San Onofre Beach, the case is only in its early stages and the ultimate outcome is not certain.)

While any discussion of San Onofre was strictly off the table given the litigation, AANR did obtain verbal assurances at that time that there was no plan to deviate from Cahill. As we all know, however, there is a big difference in “getting it in writing.” On March 5, 2009, in the attached letter, California took the significant step of doing this. Finally, as you will see in the letter the California Parks and Recreation Department is committed to working directly with AANR on a project to improve conditions at the very prominent Black’s Beach near San Diego. It is doing so as a gesture of good faith to the nude community.

The loss of the Cahill policy would have been a major loss to nude recreation that would have been felt far outside the state of California. Written reaffirmation of the Cahill policy is a huge victory for nude recreation and serves as one more significant example of AANR working to provide a credible voice for nude recreation.

I would like to thank Steve Hubbard for his contributions to, and major assistance in preparing, this report.

Heads Up On New Pool And Spa Laws

Thanks to Dale from the Southwest for letting us know about some changes that have taken place at the federal level regarding pools and spas.  A summary explanation appears here: www.cpsc.gov/businfo/vgpsa.pdg

Your local pool vendors and service personnel may have additional information also.

AANR-West Wants To Promote Your Club/Business

The next AANR-West event is to participate in the April 17–19, 2009 Women’s Head To Toe Expo Trade Show and Conference, at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in San Diego, California. This event attracts mainly women and provides an excellent opportunity to introduce Nakation, AANR, and social nudism.  AANR-West has worked this event for the past few years, and the attendees have always spent time at the booth showing a definite interest.  Even though this is mainly a Southern California event, the attendees travel and may want to take their first Nakation far from their own backyard, so to speak. For that reason, if your club has brochures, free offers, or anything that might attract new visitors please forward your “stuff” to Joe Panganiban, 6994 27th St., Riverside, CA 92509. Please do not send “signature required” as the mail box is secure.

Linda Berry, Director of Publications

The Bulletin

The April issue is on its way to you.

The E-Bulletin

Yesterday’s edition of the E-Bulletin reached 12,818 subscriber. Stories included Today Show Hosts Paint Nude, Act Naturally (the movie), 999 Nudes, Nude Altitudes, and Did You Know. You can be a subscriber by signing up at www.aanr.com.

E-Bulletin Advertising

The advertising space is selling quickly, so contact Martha Young at bulletinads@aanr.com or 800/879-6833, ext. 228, if you’re interested.

CAROLYN HAWKINS, PUBLIC RELATIONS COORDINATOR

Carolyn is out of the office this afternoon.

Terry Justice, Club/Member Liaison

Here are this week’s directory changes.

We have an address change for Bare Spirits in Oregon which is:

P.O. Box 321
Dallas, OR 97338

Christian Nudist Convocation (CNC) is on the move again. The new address is:

408 Harrell Street
Murfreesboro, NC 27855

Sadly I have to report that “The Point” in Wills Point, Texas, has disbanded.

Sorry to lose you. We wish you the very best of luck for your future.

Have a great, sunny weekend.

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!

Rooster-Sauvie Volunteers Need YOU!

–Mark Buchweitz

With spring approaching, it’s time to let you know that the Rooster-Sauvie Volunteer (RSV) group is encouraging AANR members to join in and help preserve, protect, and promote nude recreation at the clothing-optional beaches near Portland, Oregon.

SAVE THE DATES:

Ø May 16^th – Down by the Riverside at Rooster Rock State Park. This is part of SOLV’s annual river cleanup.

Ø August 1^st/2^nd – Rooster-Sauvie Annual Beach Party

Ø August 1^st – Day at Rooster Rock. Overnight at Mountaindale Sun Resort.

Ø August 2^nd – Day at Sauvie Island

We’re also planning some purely social events and are looking for some suggestions on the type of activities. Picnics, volleyball, kite-flying, canuding, beach bocce-ball, beach Olympics? What would you like to do at the beach?

For years AANR GAT volunteers have had fun while making our beaches cleaner, safer places for family-friendly, social nude recreation. We’ve adopted Rooster Rock and Sauvie Island through our partnerships with SOLV, Columbia Riverkeeper, and the Oregon State Park’s adoption program. We work with the park rangers and law enforcement agencies, who value our contributions.

Comments or questions about the group? Drop us a line at rooster.sauvie@yahoo.com.

See you at the beach!

Lake Associates Recreation Club (LARC) – VOTE for Nude Recreation

LARC has been entered into a contest for the best Northwest Escape in the campground category. It’s the first time that a clothing-optional campground has been entered.

Here is the link if you would like to give this Washington state club your vote:

http://best.king5.com/contests/northwest-escapes/4261/great-getaways/campground

U.S. Department of Interior – 160^th Anniversary

Provided through AANR’s membership with ARC

(American Recreation Coalition www.funoutdoors.com)

President Obama joined more than 500 Department of Interior staffers to mark its 160^th anniversary in Washington, D.C.  President Obama spoke about connecting kids with the great outdoors during his visit to Interior Department.  A partial transcript follows, but take the time to go to the 45 second clip on the Washington Post Web site:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/03/AR2009030302316.html

Here is the relevant portion of the President’s remarks:

“Throughout our history, there’s been a tension between those who’ve sought to conserve our natural resources for the benefit of future generations and those who have sought to profit from these resources. But I’m here to tell you this is a false choice. With smart, sustainable policies, we can grow our economy today and preserve the environment for ourselves, our children, and our grandchildren.

“That’s what we must do.

“For you know — you know, that our long-term prosperity depends upon the faithful stewardship of the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the land that we sow. That’s a sacred trust the importance of which cannot be measured merely by the acres we protect, the miles of rivers we preserve, the energy we draw from public lands.

Ø It’s a child wandering amidst ancient redwoods, a love for science spurred as she looks skyward.

Ø It’s a young man running his hand along the walls at Ellis Island where his grandmother once carried her every possession and the hope of a new life.

Ø It’s a family hiking along canyons carved by ancient floods or mountains shaped by shifting continents finding peace in the beauty of the natural world.

“These are experiences that enrich our lives and remind us of the blessing that we share. That was certainly the case for me. As many of you known, I spent much of my childhood in Hawaii, a place of extraordinary beauty…

“It was an experience I will never forget. It’s an experience I want for my daughters and for all of our daughters and sons to see the incredible beauty of this nation. It’s an experience that’s only possible because of the work you do each and every day.

So thank you. God bless you. And God bless the United States of America.”

AANR Legislative Tracking

Statistics for 2009:

In Session: There are 42 states, D.C. and U.S. in Regular Session. There is 1 state in Special Session. KY is in Veto Session.

States in Regular Session: AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, TN, TX, US, VT, WA, WV

AANR Statistics:

o 2,386 bills were reviewed personally by AANR in 2009.

o 322 bills have been reviewed in full text by AANR in 2009.

o 194 bills have been added to the “2009 Legislative Tracking List”

AANR encourages our membership and like-minded nudists and naturists to assist in the process of tracking bills and news impacting nude recreation.  Always contact the AANR office before taking action. This ensures that your actions are aligned with the strategy underway for any particular bill or advocacy effort.  Remember, AANR GAT works for you!