Hi folks, we hope to see you at the annual GAT Beach Party, August 1st & 2nd!

Rooster-Sauvie Volunteers are hosting the event, which starts with a beach cleanup at Rooster Rock State Park on Saturday at 9am. We will have our traditional hotdog cookout at noon, and then enjoy a refreshing swim in the lagoon, with amazing views of the Columbia Gorge.

This year we will be stationed on Sand Island. So we’ll have signs guiding you from the parking lot to Shirley’s registration table.

In the evening we head out to Mountaindale Sun Resort, where once again they are giving volunteers a free dinner at 6:30 pm, and waiving grounds fees!

Camping Fees are still the same.  $10 for Tent, $12-$15 for RV hookup. Thanks again, MSR for your continued support of public lands!

MSR also has a special sale on right now, until October of this year.  AANR members will pay only $ 5.00 per day on week-days and $ 10.00 on week-end-days; non AANR members will pay $ 6.00 and $ 12.00.

On Sunday Aug 2nd we meet at Sauvie Island at 9am, for another litter patrol, and spend the rest of the day just enjoying the beach, with views of the Columbia River and Mt St Helens.

If you can only make it for one day, that’s fine! All help is appreciated.

We’d like to make one request this year — Please do not bring more coolers, beach chairs, etc. to Rooster Rock than you can carry. The park rangers may not be able to cart a lot of stuff around as in past years. They will have their hands full on a busy summer weekend.

Thanks for your support, and we’ll see you at the beach!

Mark

Rooster-Sauvie Volunteers

zonkersun {at} 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.

Oregon State Parks Annual Discount Sale
Submitted by:  Shirley Gauthier

You can get your annual Oregon State Park pass for $20 through the month of December.  That is a $5 savings and really adds up if you regularly visit our Rooster Rock State Park nude beach. The passes are good through December 31, 2009.

The annual holiday sale started in the year 2000.  Oregon turns 150 in 2009 and there will be a lot of statewide events that increases the value of your pass.  This is a great holiday gift giving idea for friends, family or AANR members who volunteer at our nude beach.

Passes can be purchased by charging to Visa or MasterCard credit cards at (800) 551-6949.  They can also be purchased at major Oregon Park & Recreation Department (OPRD) offices, Joe’s sports and outdoor stores, and selected local businesses throughout the state.

For more information see www.prd.state.or.us/news.php?id=1164?AANR-NW.org

What won’t change is the great feeling you get from contributing to promoting, preserving and enhancing our right to go nude on public lands. You are guaranteed a great time and the opportunity to meet new nudist friends.

Glenn Littrel Operations Team Leader at Rooster Rock State Park emailed to ask if we would change our cleanup start time to 9 am for the SOLV cleanup on May 17.  The reason is that he would like to take a group photo at the main entrance at 9 am.  Well that was an easy one to agree to, as we all know how much we enjoy our group Bulletin picture.  This group photo will require we wear clothing and we will also do a nude photo shoot before the hotdog barbecue at noon.  Help spread the word that the SOLV cleanup at Rooster Rock State Park will start at 9 am.  Be prepared to sign an AANR photo release.  All AANR events are family friendly.  Children are required to have a guardian sign the photo release to be included in the group photo.

Another change will be that we are asking all participants to bring a reusable container for water.  A container can be as simple as a plastic water or soda bottle you can refill as needed.  AANR-NW will have large containers of water to refill your bottles. To be environment friendly we will no longer be providing plastic bottles of water.

Changes can be good!  AANR-NW GAT will be providing cookies in addition to veggie, kosher (thanks to Bob) and beef/pork hotdogs, buns, condiments, sauerkraut, chopped onions (thanks to Rick), charcoal and fun.  Thank you dues paying AANR members and all financial contributors for your continued financial support.

May 17-SOLV’s Down by the Riverside – Rooster Rock State Park at 9 am.  It is always our hope that we can work nude but this time of the year usually has us wearing our jackets and a huge smile.  The river level usually limits us to the textile portion of the beach.  Don’t let wearing clothing keep you away.  The hotdog barbecue and meeting new friends are always an adventure you don’t want to miss.  Thanks to the Oregon Lottery each participant will receive a reusable shopping bag.  Enter the park and follow the AANR/SOLV signs (thanks Mark) to the East end parking area.

August 2-GAT Beach Work Day-Rooster Rock State Park at 9 am.   The weather has always proved to be nude friendly and the large group of volunteers arrive ready to have fun.  This is a do not miss day at Rooster Rock.  Volunteers travel long distances to support AANR and promote and preserve this Oregon treasure.

August 2- Following the Rooster Rock Beach work day Mountaindale Sun Resort provides a dinner and free ground fees for all beach volunteers.  AANR-NW GAT will pay your overnight site fee to participate.  Join in the fun and camp overnight at Mountaindale!  We extend a huge thanks to Mountaindale Sun Resort for their continued AANR-NW GAT support promoting our work on public lands.

August 3-GAT Beach Work Day-Sauvie Island-Collins Beach at 9 am.  The morning starts with a parking area cleanup that makes its way to the beach.  Enjoy a hotdog barbecue followed by beach games and socializing with others that value going nude on public lands.  Hotdogs, condiments, sauerkraut, and propane provided by dues paying AANR members.

Questions?   Suggestions?   You can’t attend but want to financially support AANR?  Email AANR-NW GAT Chair Shirley Gauthier at sherbog@msn.com for further information.

AANR-NW GAT Beach Event Changes

A new and improved AANR adoption sign now welcomes visitors to Rooster Rock State Park nude beach. The larger sign has been relocated to a much more visible location at the entrance to the nude beach area. Bring your camera and check out the new sign cluster. The new sign reads “Adopt-a-Park Program -Thanks to this years Volunteers! American Association For Nude Recreation.” A new clothing optional sign with an arrow pointing to the beach will certainly be helpful to first time
visitors.

The first AANR-NW GAT beach event of the year is the “Down By The Riverside” (DBR) SOLV sponsored event at Rooster Rock State Park Nude beach May 17 starting at 10 a.m. and ending with a hotdog barbecue at 12:30 p.m. In order to have an even larger impact on the environment we are asking that each participant bring his or her own drinking water in a refillable container. It is important that we get this message out to our volunteers so please forward this message to your club newsletters. While we will not have a raffle drawing everyone will enjoy the addition of cookies at the hotdog barbecue. Each participant will receive a nice pair of work gloves and a reusable grocery bag donated by the Oregon State Lottery. Each new participant will receive a stamped post card they can mail in good for two free Bulletins. What has not changed is the fun, socialization, and the group picture for the Bulletin, and sense of contribution to the success of the nude beach.

Save the date, invite your friends and try to carpool to the event. Volunteers do not pay the day pass fee for this event. If you have any questions or want further information contact Shirley Gauthier at Sherbog@msn.com.

Glassbar State Park – Bring Beach

Submitted by:  Shirley Gauthier AANR-NW GAT Chair

A little known Glassbar State Park located near Springfield, Oregon was cause for alarm January 16.  An observant Rick Pierides from Seattle, Washington notified me January 16 at 5:12 p.m. that large posts had been set in cement at the access area parking lot located on Lane County property.  It appeared that the intent was to restrict access to a nude beach located in the area.

January 17 after driving to the area to verify and take a few photos of the posts I made a few phone calls and I was directed to Jeff Bishop who is the Lane County Waste Management Superintendent.  Jeff in turn introduced me to Carolyn Young the Nuisance Abatement Specialist who is assigned that area.  Jeff and Carolyn were very generous with their time and provided a wealth of information. 

Bring Recycling located next to the access parking area recently relocated to another location, which provides the opportunity for some transitions and work to be completed by the county in that area.  Jeff and Carolyn assured me it is not the intent to restrict access to the nude beach or Glassbar State Park.  Jeff pointed out that it is their intent to have a greater presence in the area and ask me to relay the message that if you see them to please approach them and introduce yourself.  Carolyn drives a truck with the County logo on it with a bar of lights across the top of the cab.  You can’t miss their lime green yellowish vests!  When I asked when the posts had been installed they smiled and said “yesterday.”  I did not have an appointment and yet both Jeff and Carolyn created time to address my concerns and questions.

My next call was to Park Ranger Paul Tollenaar- Willamette Management Unit, Willamette River Greenway.  Paul works with user groups at Glassbar Park and we discussed many of the same challenges that we find at Rooster Rock State Park.  I mentioned to Paul that AANR-NW would be most interested in networking with other user groups.  Paul asked a couple questions I could not provide answers to and I assured him I would do some research and get back to him.  Paul has a history at Glassbar Park and was most willing to share information that I appreciated and value.

Thanks to Rick Pierides an alert nudist my day was enjoyable and I was able to meet and network with some wonderful public officials.