AANR Weekly Report 4-10-2009
Erich Schuttauf, Executive Director
Our Best Wishes for Your Holiday
Whether your club and family are celebrating Passover, Easter, or simply enjoying the fact that spring is arriving, this time of year is very special. We hope that you will have a great weekend.
Atlanta Journal Constitution Picks Up the Nakation Trend
This week the online site for one of the Southeast’s most influential newspapers carried a report about the popularity of Nakations. In addition to referencing the CNN story from last week, the AJC online report linked back to earlier stories about nudist resorts in Georgia.
Finally, there is a location onsite where anyone can cast a vote and comment on their favorite Nakation destination. Just click here:
My thanks to Mary Jane of our public relations firm and to Lynn Von Hagel of the publications staff for pointing out this development.
Our Deepest Sympathy
We received word from Marlene Robinson this week that her 90-year-old mother-in-law, Mary K. Robinson, widow of George Robinson, died on April 1 from a massive heart attack. Mary and George opened Empire Haven in New York 50 years ago. Our prayers are with the family and members.
Linda Berry, Director of Publications
The Cyber-Bulletin
As the warm weather approaches, it is time to think about Nakations and the beaches. Read more in the latest issue of The Cyber-Bulletin at http://www.aanr.com/cyber_bulletin.html.
The E-Bulletin
There is still one space available, which will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Contact Martha Young at bulletinads@aanr.com for details.
The Bulletin
When you’re finished reading your Bulletin, please pass it on to a friend who might be interested in knowing more about AANR and nude recreation.
Terry Justice, Club/Member Liaison
There are no directory changes this week. However, I do have a great big “Congratulations for a job well done” for two of our landed clubs.
Paradise Pines RV Park and Condo Association in Florida and Whispering Pines in North Carolina both received their charter this week by increasing their membership numbers greatly, despite the economy.
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!
Assateague Beach Cleanup – April 18, 2009
Submitted by Ray Simpson, Maryland State Coordinator
For many years there was a place on the Assateague Island National Seashore in Maryland you could enjoy if you didn’t want to have to wear a swimsuit. Government policies changed that, but you can help us get a clothing-optional section restored.
The American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR) and its region affiliate AANR-East are working for change. Change starts by showing seashore staff that those who want a nude area are good neighbors. We have a CLOTHED cleanup event planned for April 18, 2009, and we would love to have FRIENDS LIKE YOU join us. We’ll be meeting at 8 a.m. in the parking lot in front of the bath house which is located right next to the concession stand in the State Park. There is more than one cleanup event that day, so be sure you look for the group with the orange hats or ask to be directed to the AANR volunteers.
To sign up and for additional information, please contact Ray Simpson our event coordinator at raysimpson@verizon.net or 301/399-9338. Please include your name, e-mail address and phone number when signing up. We will need to contact you in case of any last minute updates or changes. We’ll see you there!
Directions:
>From Rt. 50 east, one mile before the Rt. 50 bridge that enters Ocean City, MD, turn right onto Rt. 611 and follow it all the way to the end without making any other turns, and the Assateague Island State Park will be the very last right turn and the only parking lot at the end of Rt. 611.
AANR-NW GAT Monitors Proposed Oregon Legislation
By Shirley Gauthier, Oregon State Coordinator
One of the many benefits of being a member of the American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR) and AANR-NW is that the AANR-NW Government Affairs Team (GAT) represents you.
Currently several proposed pieces of legislation in Oregon have the potential for unintended consequences to impact family nude recreation. Our AANR dues contribute to finance StateNet, a legislative monitoring service. StateNet has flagged several Oregon bills using a vast array of key words pre-selected by the AANR GA Team in Oregon this legislative session.
Once StateNet flags a bill in Oregon, an e-mail is sent to me as the Oregon AANR-NW GAT chair. I research the bill for potential impact, sponsors of the bill and pertinent information to address the process needed to proceed. I then contact AANR-NW GAT Chair Steve Hubbard, and a decision is made on the most productive process to address the proposed bills.
One legislator, a “Friend of AANR-NW” and sponsor of one bill, responded immediately to an e-mail that he would address our concerns with the bill he had drafted. After contacting key legislators, appointments were made and Willamettans President Sue Ott and I were off to visit to the Oregon capitol in Salem. The AANR office staff in Kissimmee, Florida, supplied informational packets and support.
A senator and sponsor of another bill, along with his staff, addressed our concerns and assured us that they would share our concerns with committee members. These legislators have been receptive in the past to their constituents concerns and have always given AANR representatives their time. Legislators assured us that they would notify us of any scheduled hearings concerning the proposed bills. In addition to our scheduled appointments, we were able to drop in on legislative staffers, hand out “AANR Nudist and I Vote” buttons, and continue our networking efforts.
AANR-NW GAT is not requesting any action or funds from our members on this issue at this time.
Roll Call Released Its State-By-State Ranking of Capitol Hill Clout for the 111th Congress Last Month.
And it looks a lot like the one for the 110th, especially at the top of the list. The same 10 states Roll Call judged the most powerful two years ago occupy the top slots this time around. Only the order has shifted slightly, with PENNSYLVANIA jumping from 10th to seventh, and ILLINOIS, MARYLAND, and VIRGINIA each moving down one place. The rankings are based on several factors, including delegation size, committee assignments, number of majority party members and amount of per capita federal spending received.
To view the April State Net Capitol Journal, go to:
http://www.statenet.com/capitol_journal/current#sncj_spotlight
American Recreation Coalition – April 2009 Newsletter
Provided through AANR’s membership with ARC
(American Recreation Coalition www.funoutdoors.com )
Encouraging Signs for Travel and Recreation
While reasons for concern still exist, we have been delighted by several recent news headlines projecting promising travel and recreation trends for the months ahead. RV dealers, who were hit hard by last summer’s skyrocketing gas prices and the subsequent economic downturn and credit crunch, are finally reporting increased sales, some as high as double this same time last year. While buyers are often looking more for used models, they ultimately recognize that RV camping is a less expensive means for quality family travel. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs reported last week, “The President believes it’s important to have a strong tourism industry,” and that “he would encourage people to travel.” The U.S. Travel Association applauded the statement, saying, “These comments are extremely positive for the one million employees in this industry whose livelihood depends on business meetings and events.” The February travelhorizonsT survey of leisure travelers also reported that the U.S. Traveler Sentiment IndexT has recently spiked due to an increase in the perceived “affordability of travel.” This trend appears to be a direct result of many travel suppliers’ recent efforts to stimulate short-term demand through the aggressive promotion of discounted fares and rates. These promising trends could have positive consequences for travel to national parks this summer.
Additional topics in this issue:
* Governors proclaim June Great Outdoors Month
* President champions connecting America’s children to public lands
* GO Day continues to grow!
* National Service Bill passes Congress
* Omnibus Public Lands Management Act signed
* Floorplan loans now included in TALF
* Park concessioners meet, urge public/private promotion of parks
To access the entire newsletter, click here.
AANR Legislative Tracking
Statistics for 2009:
In Session: There are 31 states and DC in Regular Session. NJ is in budget hearings. VA is meeting in Reconvened Session. There are 10 states and US in Recess.
States in Regular Session: AK, AL, AR, AZ, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, HI, IA, ID,IN, MA, MD, ME, MO, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NV, OH, OK, OR, RI, TN, TX, VT, WA,WV
AANR Statistics:
o 2,607 bills were reviewed personally by AANR in 2009.
o 368 bills have been reviewed in full text by AANR in 2009.
o 175 bills remain on 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!
