This weekend marks the traditional celebration of Independence Day and a major event among most AANR clubs.  We extend to you our very best wishes for good weather and fun.

In observance of the holiday, our offices will be closed tomorrow so we are bringing you this week’s report a day early.  We will resume regular operations at regular times beginning Monday.

Reports of our family members, friends, and other men and women serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, elsewhere overseas, and in the armed forces here and in Canada, remind us that freedom, while priceless, is certainly not free.  We publicly thank those who have served, and also those in civilian government-from police officers to firefighters and paramedics-who help to preserve peace and freedom also.

Celebrations such as Independence Day also provide a convenient opportunity to remind the nudist community that preserving our liberty to enjoy nude recreation does not come without challenges.  There are several examples from last week and this week in which AANR has been called to assist members in need in the following areas:

Adverse Employment Consequences

AANR fielded a call from a member couple after the wife lost a steady business arrangement over nude recreation.  A client had called the wife’s supervisor to complain that she had seen a copy of The Bulletin-even though the complainant had been in the wife’s vehicle and had gone through her personal effects!  Because the complainant also made several materially false statements, we have placed the couple in contact with legal counsel specializing in defamation actions.  We also prepared a legal analysis that the members can take with them during the initial meeting with their attorney.

Nudist Grandparents

When their daughter and son-in-law divorced, an AANR member couple welcomed their daughter to stay with them for several months while she made permanent living arrangements and got back on her feet.  Our members live within a small nudist community.  As a means of re-opening custody and child support payment issues, the ex son-in-law filed an emergency motion on the basis that the children had been exposed to nudism.

For the past three weeks we have been working with these AANR members and their attorney, including telephone interviews and providing written material.

Long-Time Member’s Final Wishes Not Respected by Funeral Home

Today we received a call from the adult son of a long-time member in the upper Midwest.  He advised us that this member had passed away from cancer.  While we were very saddened with this news, we were also troubled by what the son relayed about the funeral home’s deliberate ignoring of his father’s last wishes to be interred peacefully resting au natural.without advising the family and on its own initiative.

While we recognize (as did the caller) that laws or cannons of the industry may dictate what may ultimately be done in such cases, we are also in the process of preparing a letter to the company to stress the sensitivity which must be shown to family members trying to do their very best to respect something that was important to a loved one.

Vacation Thwarted in a Most Unwelcome Way

Today, AANR Member/Club Liaison Terry Justice and I rushed electronic copies of materials to assist a family which was planning to visit an AANR club over the holiday weekend.  After one of their children mentioned the family’s plans-with, from what we understand, was positive enthusiasm-to a third party it has triggered a formal inquiry by a youth protective agency.

Carolyn Hawkins, Public Relations Coordinator
More Skinny-Dip Publicity

This is another article regarding Whispering Pines.

http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20090627/ARTICLES/906269953/1177?Title=The-Captain-It-s-time-to-strip-and-be-counted

Providence Journal

http://www.projo.com/travel/content/TRV-DEPARTURES_06-28-09_0JERGNL_v17.12eebc1.html

The links below were on about.com.

http://orlando.about.com/b/2009/07/01/dare-to-go-bare.htm

http://orlando.about.com/od/naturistresorts/qt/nuderec.htm

http://orlando.about.com/od/nudismfaq/f/nudism01.html

http://www.aboutmediakit.com/visitors/index.html

This is regarding Bonita Nudist Resort and is an example of how Capwiz
worked for them.

http://www.newschannel34.com/content/developingnews/story/Guinness-World-Record-Attempt-Skinny-dipping/0vU4iGT6Uk23f7s_C-ed8Q.cspx

Canadian paper mentions skinny-dip.

http://www.leaderpost.com/Health/Isles+actually+make+right+pick/1739719/story.html

Desert Sun

http://www.mydesert.com/article/20090630/NEWS01/906300307/1006/news01/Nudists+eyeing+Guinness+record

Publicity About Nude Recreation Continues

The link below is from the Boston Globe.  We are recommending that mothers respond with their experience of raising their daughters as a nudist or daughters brought up by nudist-comfortable mothers. Let’s see how many positive responses we can get from our members.

http://www.boston.com/community/moms/articles/2009/06/28/can_a_clothing_optional_policy_teach_her_young_girls_to_be_comfortable_as_women/

Basic info regarding nude recreation.

http://www.examiner.com/x-5585-Offbeat-News-Examiner~y2009m6d30-Going-nude-the-new-green

Robert, one of our members, sent the link below.  It appeared in the July 2,
2009 issue of the online version of the Sun newspaper in the UK.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/2511797/The-office-of-bare-trading.html#cid=OTC-RSS&attr=The+Office+of+Bare+Trading

Linda Berry, Director of Publications
Win a Vacation at Club Orient

The winner of the Club Orient Caribbean Challenge will receive a five-night stay for two in a fully-equipped mini-suite in St. Martin, French West Indies. Can you really pass up this chance to see one of the most beautiful beaches in the world? White sand, crystal clear water, a barrier reef, and three uninhabited islands in close vicinity make Club Orient’s bay the ideal tropical setting for a most relaxing naturist family vacation paradise.

It only costs $5 to enter, and all the proceeds go the AANR legal defense
fund. Club Orient graciously donated the accommodations. Enter now at:
http://shop.aanr.com/product.php?productid=155&cat=2&page=2

Web Ad Space Available

Having trouble getting noticed? Try an ad on aanr.com. Ad prices start at only $75 a month. Contact Martha Young at BulletinAds@aanr.com for details.

Sweet Deal

Is your club or business advertising in The Bulletin? If not, you should be. In this economy, everyone is competing for business. If your name is not out
there, how will you attract customers? Call Martha Young today at 800/879-6833, ext. 228. She has a “sweet deal” to fit everyone’s budget.

Terry Justice, Club/Member Liaison

We have a new club joining us this week. Please help me welcome:

Clothesfree.com
PO Box 1096
Oakhurst, CA 93644

877.261.6184

E-mail: cfi@clothesfree.com
Website: www.clothesfree.com

This is a non-landed, proprietary club.

Have a wonderful Independence Day.

For more information on Lake Bronson Club you can check out the website at www.lakebronson.com or email skinnydip@lakebronson.com.

World Record Skinny-Dip Publicity Incredible This Week

The report from Carolyn Hawkins below catalogs the publicity surrounding the World Record Skinny-Dip that will occur in just two more weeks.  She provides a comprehensive list, but I would just like to discuss one item as an example of the significant impact that the event is making.

As I consulted the statistics for visits to the www.aanr.com Web site yesterday, I noted that we received approximately 8,000 referrals in a single day from a link on the Sports Illustrated Web site.  Collectively, we received over 10,000 visitors to aanr.com that day. That is more than twice what we would average on a busy day during summer season.  It represents new people reached with the message of nude recreation and many new prospects for your clubs.

I would like to publicly thank all of those who are making the World Record Skinny-Dip happen and, in particular, Randy Savage who established the official arrangement with Guinness World Records™.

Carolyn Hawkins, Public Relations Coordinator

PR has been very busy with The AANR World Record Skinny-Dip approaching.

From Sports Illustrated

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/extramustard/hotclicks/06/24/marisa-miller-july-is-national-bikini-month/index.html

From Surfer Magazine

http://surfermag.com/features/onlineexclusives/largest_skinny-dip_across_north_america/?response=Thank%20you%20for%20your%20input.%20%20Your%20comment%20was%20will%20soon%20be%20reviewed,%20and%20upon%20acceptance%20be%20posted%20to%20the%20site.

Seattle Sports Blog

http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlesports/archives/171597.asp

Vancouver Sun

http://www.vancouversun.com/Naked+loving+stripped+down+record/1721461/story.html http://www.canada.com/Nudists+join+effort+break+world+skinny+dipping+record/1723745/story.html

Whispering Pines

http://www.newsobserver.com/1573/v-print/story/1579721.html

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/homepage/story/70507.html

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/breaking/story/793684.html

http://www.thestate.com/154/story/835921.html?storylink=omni_popular

http://www.thesunnews.com/news/local/story/948564.html

http://www.thesunnews.com/135/story/943572.html?storylink=omni_popular

http://www.thestate.com/local/story/835921.html

http://www.portfolioweekly.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&type=MultiPublishing&mod=PublishingTitles&mid=6EECC0FE471F4CA995CE2A3E9A8E4207&tier=4&id=194D8A56F9CC4B80A5844C2A65ECB9C8

http://www.wral.com/golo/blogpost/5415761/?d_full_comments=1&d_comments_page

http://www.watoday.com.au/world/dont-be-shy-now-20090626-cyt9.html

http://www.montereyherald.com/living/ci_12695217

http://blogs.starnewsonline.com/default.asp?item=2392488

Check out the video with Whispering Pines on WWAY channel 3

http://www.wwaytv3.com/video/whispering_pines_hopes_dip_world_record/06

Maryland info

http://www.hometownannapolis.com/news/nbh/2009/06/12-30/Sources-Say-Hey-lets-set-a-skinny-dipping-world-record.html

The Naturist Society received great coverage in the New York Times article “How Green is a Nudist Vacation?”

http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/24/is-nudism-a-green-vacation/?scp=1&sq=nude&st=cse

Miscellaneous articles regarding Skinny-Dip

http://www.thestarphoenix.com/story_print.html?id=1716351&sponsor

Spencer Tunick

http://www.easthamptonstar.com/dnn/Arts/SpencerTunickatMontaukPoint/tabid/9194/Default.aspx

Doesn’t mention AANR but talks about nude recreation

http://www.thecoast.ca/halifax/how-to-be-a-nudist-in-halifax/Content?oid=1144725

Naked Hiking Day got a hit

http://www.mysouthwestga.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=315842l

Linda Berry, Director of Publications

The Bulletin

Production is underway on the August issue.

The E-Bulletin

Find out the latest on The AANR World Record Skinny-Dip and more.

Not receiving the E-Bulletin? Sign up at http://www.aanr.com.

Web Ad Space Available

Having trouble getting noticed? Try an ad on aanr.com—on Thursday alone there were over 10,000 visits. Ad prices start at only $75 a month. Contact Martha Young at BulletinAds@aanr.com for details.

Terry Justice, Club/Member Liaison

Hello everybody,

I have very little to report this week. Please help me congratulate Gulf Haven Naturist Resort in

Rockport, Texas. They have met their charter and are now a full-fledged AANR Chartered Club.

Well done, Gulf Haven.

Have a wonderful 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!

Great Outdoors Week 2009

Printed by: American Recreation Coalition

Washington, D.C. – Hundreds of recreation community leaders, allies and friends groups gathered in Washington, D.C. to participate in meetings, events and celebrations of the significant contributions of the recreation community during Great Outdoors Week 2009 (June 7-13).

Accomplishments of Beacon Award recipients, achievements of the Recreational Trails Program, the status of the Scenic Byways Program, the second National Get Outdoors Day, the need to connect children to nature and more were addressed in gatherings during the week.  The American Recreation Coalition’s Legends Awards honoring the outstanding efforts and contributions of exemplary federal agency employees and recreation community leaders also contributed to the Week’s excitement.

Great Outdoors Week is coordinated by the American Recreation Coalition (ARC) and includes events co-hosted by more than a dozen national organizations and federal agencies.  Great Outdoors Week is the central feature of Great Outdoors Month, a month-long celebration of outdoor recreation that also highlights National Trails Day (June 6), National Fishing and Boating Week (June 6-14), National Get Outdoors Day (June 13), the Great American Backyard Campout (June 27) and more.

To read the full report, please visit: www.funoutdoors.com

13th Annual Cape Cod Beach Clean-up Update

Submitted by:  Bill Falconer, Cape Cod Beach Volunteers

The unpredictable New England weather and economy may have prevented some fair weather volunteers from the clean-up. Thankfully Old Sol appeared and shone brightly to the conclusion of another successful event. Officially 51 volunteers registered at the Herring Cove Beach parking lot in Provincetown, Massachusetts on June 13th. Another half dozen pitched in but wished to be anonymous.

The Sunchasers registration table was operational by 8:00 a.m. with volunteers close at hand. Soon the rangers appeared with instructions for the event and trash bags to be filled. AANR provided volunteer buttons which were issued for later use as meal tickets.

With assigned areas, the volunteers were off to commence a three-hour, five-mile beach makeover. Other non-nudist beach user groups, to gain favor with the park rangers, are copying our successful efforts. So it was no surprise that a shore fishing group held a clean-up two weeks prior. However, we still retrieved three truckloads of trash and debris, newly deposited or missed.

Volunteers young and aging came from far and wide representing Sandy Terraces, Solair, Cedar Waters, Sunchasers, Abbott’s Glen, Berkshire Vista, Pilgrim Naturist, Garden of Eden, Bare Bottom Beach Club, AANR Associates and unaffiliated friends. All returned by 1:00 p.m. to take part in the Thank You BBQ of hotdogs, burgers, sausages, French fries and cold sodas courtesy of J&J Seafood with donations from AANR-East, Bare Bottom Beach Club, P Cross and the Sunchasers.

Our purpose continues to seek modification or repeal of the ordinance banning nude beach use on the Cape and possibly a dedicated beach. Thanks to all who are working to make this possible.

THINK SUN!  Contact Bill Falconer at mrcapp@netzero.net.

Subscribe to Receive Important Capwiz Alerts
To sign-up for CapWiz Alerts, please click here and fill out the registration form.  If you are an existing member and would like to update your profile, scroll to the bottom of the page for this option.  Your participation in this program is an added benefit of your AANR membership.  Please feel free to post this information in your club newsletter!

AANR Legislative Tracking

Statistics for 2009:

In Session: There are 15 states, DC and US in Regular Session. There are 5 states in Special Session.

States in Regular Session: AZ, CA, DC, DE, IL, LA, MA, MI, NC, NH, NJ, OH, OR, PA, RI, US, WI

Prefiling for 2010 Sessions:

AL – Prefiling began 05/26/2009

KY – Drafting began: 05/12/2009

AANR Statistics:

o 3,131 bills were reviewed personally by AANR in 2009.

o 416 bills have been reviewed in full text by AANR in 2009.

o 85 bills remain on the “2009 Legislative Tracking List”

o 172 bills have been moved to the “Archived 2009 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!

As you know, last week 10 members of AANR and I wrapped up visits to Capitol Hill along with meetings with officials from several public lands agencies and even the judiciary in Washington, D.C.

Some may wonder why these visits are important. After all, most of the issues our clubs and members face occur at the local and state level. Washington seems far away.  And federal regulations don’t seem to affect them much.  Why spend time and money trying to establish relationships and position ourselves as an expert resource there?

I’d like to share a true story from among my experiences last week which may help answer that question.  It does not involve the subject of nude recreation, but is quite illustrative.

While in the office of a member of congress, I observed three men having an “animated” discussion with a staff person.  I listened with one ear as I wrote notes on material I was dropping off with the front desk.  As the discussion progressed, the three men sounded more and more desperate.

“This is killing our business.”

“We are already suffering from a downturn in the economy and now customers refuse, or are being directed to refuse, our service.”

“Most of these businesses are just like ours.  We own or lease just one vehicle and use it in our local community.  But the federal government is putting us out of business.”

Who were these men?  From what I could gather of the conversation, one was a private pilot, the other two drove “black cars.”  All three were from a place far from the marble-lined halls of Washington.

You are familiar with black cars drivers.  They are the people who pick up travelers for whom appointments have been made at the airport.  Usually you see them in the baggage claim area holding cardboard signs with names scrawled on them.

Their troubles come in the wake of recent public uproar about over-paid banking, finance, and auto executives who have sought federal “bailout” money through things like TARP (the Troubled Assets Relief Program). Washington has grilled such executives over expensive perks like private jets and limousines; scorn that began with such excesses eventually reached to the simple private aircraft chartered to reach remote destinations and black cars which are usually only modestly priced more than other forms of transportation.

New measures pending in Congress would prohibit the use of such services by any institution receiving TARP type assistance if there is any cheaper means of travel available.  Problem is, even those who have not applied for federal help are directing personnel to avoid services like black cars anticipating that they may need bailouts in the future.

However one may personally feel about the issue, it makes the point that the nation’s capitol can have a powerful business-ending impact on a very local one-person car business. (You’ll remember that it was finance, insurance, and auto executives seeking help, not private pilots and drivers.)

Let’s suppose we could turn back the clock about four years and go to those same drivers and pilots.  Suppose we asked them to travel as unpaid volunteers to Washington to share their stories during pro-active office visits.  Or to pay membership dues and donate or raise money to send other volunteers.  What kind of responses do you think we’d get?

“Why do I care about Washington, D.C.?  The local license fee that the City of ____ charges me is much more important.”

“What would we do there?  Put a face on drivers for some Congress person I don’t even know.  For what?  A few pennies on a federal gas tax or something?”

“We would never have an issue.  Congress couldn’t or wouldn’t dare to touch our business.  They probably need our cars.  Besides, if there’s ever an issue we’ll go see Congress then.”

When the American Association for Nude Recreation reports news of Washington visits I sometimes hear similar talk.

For the three men I observed visiting Congress last week, it may be too late.  The wording affecting their businesses is already in several bills. It happened because anger with a few executives in a few industries was directed at the services they and other business travelers used.  When lawmakers thought of its implications, they saw overpaid executives instead of small business owners.  Or drivers with families to support.  Or the faces that welcome a traveler in a strange town.

With these points in mind, I invite you to read the following article prepared by a Fox News congressional correspondent concerning your AANR GAT Team.  I am very proud of them and I think you should be, too.

http://congress.blogs.foxnews.com/2009/06/13/universal-coverage/

Committee Reports

All AANR committee chairs are asked to submit their reports no later than Wednesday,

July 15, 2009. Please e-mail them to Linda Berry at editor@aanr.com.

Skinny-Dip T-Shirts Available

The Skinny-Dip T-Shirts are available to clubs at the special price of $8.00, plus shipping. Contact Carol DeAldana at acctrec1@aanr.com to place your order.

Carolyn Hawkins, Public Relations Coordinator
Positive Publicity

Publicity for the AANR World Record Skinny-Dip continues to grow. The following are links to the stories this week:

http://www.wtop.com/?nid=456&sid=1697493

http://www.dentalplans.com/articles/43046/skinny-dip-across-america.html

http://wbal.com/apps/news/templates/story.aspx?articleid=29046&zoneid=2>

http://www2.pjstar.com/index.php/wessler/the_skinny_on_dipping/

I had two positive radio interviews, both out of New York, regarding the skinny-dip with WCMF 96.5 Rochester and WXUR 92.7.

Another interview I had about the skinny-dip was with The Paul & Young Ron show at Gator 98.7 West Palm Beach.

Clubs Get Publicity For the Skinny-Dip

Hometown Annapolis Mentions Pine Tree, Maryland Health Society, and Maryland Area Naturist Association:

http://www.hometownannapolis.com/news/nbh/2009/06/12-30/Sources-Say-Hey-lets
-set-a-skinny-dipping-world-record.html

Whispering Pines made the news in Myrtle Beach Online:

http://www.thesunnews.com/news/breaking_news/v-print/story/943572.html

Fraternity Snoqualmie was featured in the Issaquah Press:
http://www.issaquahpress.com/2009/06/16/dare-to-go-bare-in-skinny-dip-record-attempt/

Fraternity Snoqualmie, Kaniksu Ranch, Lake Associates Recreation Club, Lake Bronson, and Forest Murmurs mentioned in the Seattle sports blog:
http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlesports/archives/171597.asp


Cape Cod Cleanup Makes the News

http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090613/NEWS/906130329

Letter to the Editor

Naturist Bob Allen’s letter to Florida Today concerning Playalinda Beach appears here: http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20090618/OPINION/90617047/1004/Your+views++Talk+of+the+town

Linda Berry, Director of Publications
The Bulletin

The July issue of The Bulletin printed yesterday.

Cyber-Bulletin

It seems EVERYONE wants to go naked. Read more in the latest edition of the Cyber-Bulletin.

http://www.aanr.com/cyber_bulletin.html

Pine Tree Associates in Crownsville, Maryland, is having its 75th birthday.

I have been asked to extend an invitation to all AANR members to come help CELEBRATE.

For details, please call 410/841-6033. Happy Birthday, Pine Tree Associates.

Have a wonderful, sunny weekend.

This week your AANR Government Affairs Team wrapped up a string of visits on Capitol Hill.  While I have not yet had time to prepare a full report (which will appear next week), below is a sampling of the public relations attention that our team of volunteers attracted:

National Public Radio-Tallahassee Florida Web site and station (article mentions AANR and Rene Niquette, AANR Florida GAT Chair):

http://www.cncnews.org/index.php?files=story.php&storyid=QCNRo0lTAehxW9wq6BN1

National Public Radio-Maryland station featured interviews with Assateague Beach cleanup organizer and GAT volunteer Ray Simpson:

http://login.cncnews.org/download_files.php?id=1743>http://login.cncnews.org/download_files.php?id=1743

A third National Public Radio story aired on Monday morning and many, many people told us they had heard details from our press release during their
morning traffic commute.

Local NBC News affiliate in Washington

http://www.nbcwashington.com/around_town/the_scene/Nudists-to-Descend-on-Capitol-Hill.html

The Hill (an influential News Daily found in virtually every Congressional office):

http://thehill.com/in-the-know/nudists-to-lobby-on-capitol-hill-2009-06-03.html

The Washington Independent:
http://washingtonindependent.com/45803/nudist-lobby-to-descend-on-capitol-hill

ABC News:

http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2009/06/the-note-breaches-beginnings-obama-builds-credibility-and-learns-tough-part-of-tough-love.html

The Morning Coffee:

http://74.125.47.132/search?q=cache:OecT-4fN_dYJ:www.undispatch.com/node/8355+%22Erich+Schuttauf%22&cd=35&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

Power Breakfast: http://www.askyourlawmaker.org/podcast/Power+Breakfast

In addition, many of the GAT team members were interviewed by Chad Pergram, who covers Congress for Fox News.  Chad’s online column, “The Speaker’s Lobby” will contain an upcoming story about AANR’s visits, although it is not yet available.  You can access The Speaker’s Lobby here:
http://congress.blogs.foxnews.com/author/cpergram/

AANR-Florida Convention This Weekend

AANR President John Kinman will join me in attending the AANR-Florida regional convention this weekend at Cypress Cove Nudist Resort & Spa in
Kissimmee.

Agenda for the AANR Convention

The agenda for the annual meeting as well as the board meeting was sent out earlier this week. Please contact Linda Berry at editor {at} aanr.com if you did
not receive it.

CAROLYN HAWKINS, PUBLIC RELATIONS COORDINATOR

Positive Publicity

CBC Radio broadcast a ten-minute documentary about a woman convinced by her husband to go to a nudist resort on an ocean.  By the end of her adventure, her body image issues are gone. She concludes, “There will be a next time…I can hardly remember why anyone would want to wear a bathing suit or a swimsuit at the beach.”

The episode is called “What Not to Wear” and is part of the program series “Outfront.” The woman is Tracy Isaacs, a professor of philosophy and women’s studies at a major Canadian university. Privately she noted, “It is entirely a true story (as are all Outfronts-that is their mandate).”

Please listen to the broadcast here:

http://www.cbc.ca/outfront/listen/2009/09-06-04.html

Check out the link below that quotes Rosie Crow of MAHESO on WBAL in Baltimore.

http://wbal.com/apps/news/templates/story.aspx?articleid=29046&zoneid=2

Idaho makes the news at:

http://www.boiseweekly.com/boise/naked-and-not-ashamed/Content?oid=923279

Read about Sandy Terraces and Solair at:

http://newsblaze.com/story/20090610064950mcco.nb/topstory.html

Link below references “Maryland Nudists Lobby Congress for Access to
Beaches.”

http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wypr/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1516267&sectionID=1

AANR President John Kinman was on an Ashland, Oregon, radio station on Wednesday of this week. (no link not available)

Linda Berry, Director of Publications

The Bulletin

The July issue went to the printer today. I think you’ll be amazed at the photo in the center spread. See if you recognize anyone. Don’t forget to pass yours along to a friend who is not yet a member of AANR.

We sincerely appreciate the advertising support from our members and clubs. With so many newspapers on the decline, we are indeed fortunate. Thank you!

The E-Bulletin

The E-Bulletin is a great tool to introduce your friends to nude recreation. The stories are short and upbeat.  The online publication is free, and your
friends can sign up at www.aanr.com . All that is needed is an e-mail address. Subscribers to the E-Bulletin read in yesterday’s edition about Will Ferrell’s Forbidden Fruit, Nudes in Washington, Naked Wines, and Steve Vickers’ three essentials.

AANR Shopping Cart

The shopping cart has been greatly improved. You no longer need your membership number to get the AANR member savings. Just click on http://shop.aanr.com/home.php and start shopping.

AANR Message Boards

The new program for the message boards has alleviated many of the spam problems, which means that more members are connecting with other nudists.
Join them at: http://www.aanr.com/members_log_in.html.

Glassbar Island Nude Beach Volunteers (GINBV) invite you to the island on July 11 to participate in the first ever AANR Skinny Dip.  The Guinness World Records Organization has just created a new category for the largest number of people simultaneously skinny-dipping, and the American Association for Nude Recreation (www.aanr.com) is the contract association for this record-setting event.  You won’t want to miss this event!

Registration will start at 10am at the front part of the island.  As stated in the rules all participants to be counted must be completely nude during the skinny-dip.  HOWEVER, you may enter the water, take off your suit and hold it above your head!  Shy… no problem we can accommodate.

Everyone participating must sign at the time of registration a photo release allowing the photo to be used on www.glassbarisland.org and AANR affiliated publications.  CAMERA SHY….NO PROBLEM simply enter the water, take off your suit, turn your back to the camera and hold your suit above your head!  Photographs of children (under 18 years of age) will only be taken with parents(s) or grandparents in the picture.  Parent or legal guardian must sign an AANR photo release form on behalf of minor children.

Glassbar Island State Park is located just outside the city limits of the Eugene/Springfield.  Whether coming from the north or the south take the 30th St/ Lane Community College exit. If you approach from the south, simply go forward at the stop sign to the first street on the other side of the Shell Station. Turn right and go about ¼ miles.   Park on the road making sure your wheels are 3 feet from the white line.  Once you reach the yellow gate follow the signs to the island and skinny dip registration area.

Check out www.glassbarisland.org for further information contact glassbarisland@yahoo.com.

AANR and Regions to Make Most Significant Effort in Washington to Date

Beginning tomorrow, AANR members representing all regions (with the understandable exception of Canada) will be at our nation’s capital in Washington, D.C.  In all, seven Government Affairs Team members-and an extra spouse or two-will team up with others from Maryland and Virginia. Appointments have been made to meet with dozens of House and Senate offices. In addition, we will make “fly-by” visits to many, many more, stopping to answer questions and drop off literature. In all, we have come prepared with literature for at least 360 visits!

This year through the significant efforts of AANR Public Lands Liaison Steve Hubbard, several meetings have been arranged with top echelons from several agencies with the power to direct the future of nudity on public lands. What’s more, we have even scheduled informal luncheons with some members of the judiciary, so all three branches of government will be reached during the course of our visits.

Finally, we have added a new wrinkle this year by sending out press releases announcing this project to metro-D.C. media.  To date, this has resulted in coverage by The Hill and The Washington Independent The Washington Independent

We have also arranged for an interview with a Georgetown-based publication when we reach Washington.

I want to publicly thank the AANR Government Affairs teams from all regions and, especially, Alonzo and Debra Sue Stevens for an incredible amount of work which has gone into priming us for success.  I will provide details of the trip in a future report.

Should you need to reach me next week, please call the AANR office and ask to speak with my assistant Nanette Wickersham, who will be able to assist you.

SEARCH ENGINE TRAFFIC-MAXIMIZED

Those who have attended recent AANR Board of Trustees meetings know that a significant effort is being made on both our Public Relations and Brand Management fronts to maximize search engine traffic.  Put another way, we want those who consult a search engine to find AANR as a resource quickly. We have been following some excellent advice from Bill Dennis (who started the Captain Jack company) to accomplish that.  Recent efforts include an all-new blog on the aanr.com Web site called “The Alltogether.”

While we admittedly have a long, long way to go, this week we received more proof that such efforts are working.  If you visit the much hailed BING search engine unveiled by Microsoft this week http://www.bing.com and enter the word “nudist,” you will see that AANR is among the top entries.  Reports in the press say that Microsoft will spend between 100 and 200 million dollars advertising and driving traffic to the new search engine, so this is a significant development!  More traffic to aanr.com will, in turn, drive more traffic to club Web sites.

Kudos to Living Waters Spa

Living Waters was recently invited to the California State University to present guest lectures on the concept of nude recreation. This was an incredible opportunity to influence a generation of future leaders and customers. You can find a link to a YouTube video capturing this in Carolyn’s report.

White Tail Resort Makes News

White Tail Resort of Ivor, Virginia, has a story about its open house and art show this weekend, which has been garnering publicity, see

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2009/05/prweb2478244.htm

Finally, be sure to carefully review the report from Carolyn Hawkins below. A floodgate of public relations opportunities opened this week following releases and pitches for the World Record Skinny-Dip.

CAROLYN HAWKINS, PUBLIC RELATIONS COORDINATOR

PR has been very busy with the AANR World Skinny-Dip day and the Capitol Hill visit.

I had an interview with Wireless Flash News. Check out the link below:

http://dancirucci.blogspot.com/2009/06/worlds-largest-skinny-dip.html

I had an interview with the Todd and Don Show.

http://www.590klbj.com/ToddAndDon/Blogentry.aspx?BlogEntryID=10034375

Steve Vickers and I had an interview with the Austin American Statesman newspaper in Austin, TX. Check out link below for article:

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/06/05/0605kelso.html

Watch the link below for Steve Vickers video from Austin Statesman.

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/multimedia/players/brightcove.html?bcpid=1459162514&bclid=1461295912&bctid=25309195001

I had an interview with National Gold Radio, London regarding the AANR World Skinny-Dip day.

I had an interview with Ocean 98 in Ocean City, MD, regarding AANR World Skinny-Dip day and “why nude weddings.”

I had a live radio interview with Jake and the morning show on AANR World Skinny-Dip day.

Congratulations to Drakes Ridge for the article in the Chicago Sun Times.

http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/travel/northamerica/1593314,CST-FTR-small0527.article

Check out link below on the Top seven nudist clubs in Midwest:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/177187/top_7_nudist_camps_in_midwest_america.html?cat=16

Congrats to Jeff and Judy Bowman on the “Lecture on Body Acceptance/Clothing Optional Philosophy Body Acceptance/Self Acceptance” at a California State

University psychology class.  Watch the video:

http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=76D82CE4CA11EFC7

I had an interview with The Hill regarding the visit to the Capitol

http://thehill.com/in-the-know/nudists-to-lobby-on-capitol-hill-2009-06-03.html

Erich had an interview with NBC regarding the Capitol Hill visit.  We will report more on that next week

Linda Berry, Director of Publications

The Cyber-Bulletin

Laguna del Sol’s popular Master of Ceremonies at Nudestock will be featured on America’s Got Talent premiering on ABC on June 23. Read more at
http://www.aanr.com/cyber_bulletin.html.

The Bulletin

The July issue is in production.

The Alltogether

Check out AANR’s blog at http://blog.aanr.com/

AANR Shopping

The shopping cart program has been updated, which should make it easier for shoppers to make their purchases. Shop now at http://shop.aanr.com

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!

California Budget Cuts-Closure of State Parks

AANR sent out a CapWiz alert this week to California AANR members who have subscribed through the AANR Members section of the AANR Web site.  We are encouraging ONLY recreationalists in California and others who visit the California state parks to respond to this request.  Please pass this
information on to those who may be interested, nudists and non-nudists!

We MUST STOP the Governor’s plan to close over 200 of our state parks.  Just this week, the Governor announced a new proposal to eliminate state funding for our state park system-which will close more than 80 percent of the 279-unit state park system.  His proposal to cut $143 million from our state parks is 10 times worse than last year’s proposal. California State Parks Foundation (CSPF) is kicking off the Save Our State Parks campaign again,
and we need your help to take action TODAY and tell the Governor and your state legislators that gutting funding to state parks is unacceptable.

State park visitors need to make their voices heard RIGHT NOW.  Your action of contacting your legislators is critical.  To send a message to your legislator and the Governor, please CLICK HERE http://ga3.org/campaign/budget_may09 !  Our friends at the California State Parks Foundation have prepared an easy way for you to voice your opinion.  Please take three minutes to become an advocate for California state parks.

Subscribe to Receive Important Capwiz Alerts To sign-up for CapWiz Alerts, please click here  http://capwiz.com/aanr/mlm/signup/?ignore_cookie=1 and fill out the registration form.

If you are an existing member and would like to update your profile, scroll to the bottom of the page for this option.  Your participation in this program is an added benefit of your AANR membership. Please feel free to post this information in your club newsletter!

AANR Legislative Tracking

Statistics for 2009:

In Session: There are 16 states, DC and US in Regular Session. There is 1 state in Special Session.

States in Regular Session: AZ, CA, DC, DE, LA, MA, ME, MI, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, TN, US

AANR Statistics:

o    3,000 bills were reviewed personally by AANR in 2009.
o    408 bills have been reviewed in full text by AANR in 2009.
o    122 bills remain on the “2009 Legislative Tracking List”
o    133 bills have been moved to the “Archived 2009 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!

Terry Justice, Club/Member Liaison

There are no address changes this week. Please contact me at clubinfo@aanr.com for certifying officer changes.

Have a great weekend everybody.

AANR Mourns the Loss of a Member and Good Friend

This week we were saddened to hear of the passing of K Mathesius.  Those of you who have been active in the Association’s leadership for some time may recall that K was the Secretary of the Eastern Sunbathing Association for many years and was a much loved and respected supporter of AANR all her life. According to Susan Weaver, she lived at White Thorn and spent winters at Sunsport with her partner of the last few years, Tex.

One saying of K’s was that she often pronounced “AANR” with a soft “a”
sound, so it rhymed with “honor.”  She used this pronunciation because she
said it was an “honor to belong to AANR.”

With Many Thanks for Your Quick Response

Yesterday we distributed an e-mail to all clubs asking for information relating to whether your club is adjacent to any federal lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management.  Steve Hubbard, AANR Public Lands Liaison, and I would personally like to thank the many of you who responded so quickly with information.  This will be very helpful as we prepare for visits to Washington, D.C., in just over one week.

AANR Helping Members

On Thursday, AANR Club/Member Liaison Terry Justice and I worked with a husband and wife who are members of AANR/AANR-Northwest.  They have been threatened with “legal hassles” by an ex spouse should they continue to attend clubs or practice any nudity in the presence of their daughter.  We have provided written information and discussed legal scenarios with the couple.

MUZAK Update

Those who telephone our offices at 1-800-TRY-NUDE will hear an all-new Muzak greeting if placed on hold.  Set to beach music, the message announces the world record skinny-dip event, provides dates of upcoming summer conventions, and a pitch to join or renew membership.

See You in the Funny Pages

Yesterday’s Beetle Bailey comic strip depicted America’s favorite soldier and an army buddy standing near a sign announcing a nude beach.  While Beetle states that he would prefer to look for a “spectator’s section,” his friend has doffed his shorts and is ready to join in by the second panel.  The online site for this comic lags several weeks behind print content so we are not yet able to provide a link, but perhaps you can check a day-old copy.

If you’re like me, you welcome such developments. As more people are introduced to the concept of nude recreation–whether by hearing about the World Record Skinny-Dip or by reading the funnies at their breakfast table–it helps to create a more receptive audience for our message.

E-Mail Trouble Continues-But on a Smaller Scale

Our webmaster has changed servers, so our IP address had to be changed. Although many providers now recognize our new address, there are still some e-mails that are being kicked back. Please let your friends and clubs know about this problem in case they don’t receive this e-mailed report.

The inbound e-mails are working just fine.

Linda Berry, Director of Publications

Message Boards

The AANR message boards have reopened after a renovation. New features include heightened security and a slightly different interface that will make the new boards more user-friendly.

Log in to the Member Benefits section of aanr.com, click on Message Boards in the left margin and start connecting with other AANR members.

May 28 Edition of the E-Bulletin

More than 13,200 subscribers read about an opportunity to bid on Sunshine Park, the historic nudist landmark in New Jersey. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.aanr.com .

The Alltogether

AANR’s blog at http://blog.aanr.com/ is gaining in popularity. Desert Sun in California was the first club to purchase ad space on the blog, but there are more slots available. Contact Martha Young at bulletinads {at} aanr.com for details.

The Cyber-Bulletin

A great advertising spot has become available on the Cyber-Bulletin. Visit the link to see the site at http://www.aanr.com/cyber_bulletin.html . Contact Martha Young at bulletinads {at} aanr.com for pricing.

Prime Space Available in The Bulletin

Your club or business will definitely get noticed if it has a two-page spread ad in The Bulletin. The center spread is now available for a price you can’t refuse. Call Martha Young at 800/879-6833, ext. 228 for more information.

Only One Space Available

Every person or couple who joins AANR or renews their membership receives a set of coupons with special offers for members only. There is one coupon space available for YOUR OFFER.  Contact Martha Young at bulletinads {at} aanr.com for details. It will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis so don’t delay.

Terry Justice, Club/Member Liaison

Directory Changes

I would like to welcome a new club. It is a non-landed, proprietary club.

The information is as follows:

American Association for Naturist Family Recreation
P.O. Box 6662
San Pedro, CA 90734
310.404.5153
www.aanfr.com
aanfr-mbeals@hotmail.com

There is a change of address for AANR-NW:

AANR Northwest Region
P.O. Box 937
Marcola, OR 97454

Great Lakes Sunseekers has an address change:

c/o Bruce Rosander
5250 Pockington Road
Tecumseh, MI. 49286

Sadly, I have to report a club closure.

LCNC Coastal Sun Raiders of Charleston, South Carolina, has disbanded.

Have a great weekend everybody.

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!

Public Indecency Addressed at Rooster Rock State Park
Submitted by Shirley Gauthier, AANR-NW Public Lands Liaison

SOLV’s “Down By The Riverside” event provided an educational opportunity for Oregon State Park staff, law enforcement, and AANR volunteers to address public indecency concerns.  Rooster-Sauvie Volunteers, a newly formed 100% AANR club, hosted the 14th annual SOLV event.

A Rooster Rock State Park Safety meeting held in 2008 and organized by Park Ranger Lisa Midlam contributed to the creation of a sign advising beach users of indecency laws and the introduction of a visitor beach card.  This meeting included law enforcement officers (state police and Multnomah County Sheriff agencies), state park staff, and AANR members, and addressed public indecency concerns.

The sign and beach cards introduced at the cleanup welcome beach visitors, cite the Oregon State Law on public indecency and make it easy to report illegal or inappropriate behaviors by providing phone numbers for the Multnomah County Sheriff, Oregon State Police, and the Rooster Rock State Park Managers.

Multnomah County Sheriff Deputy Bryan White presented information specifically addressing Public Indecency.  Deputy White explained the law and how visitors can assist law enforcement.  Deputy White made it clear that illegal or sexual behavior will not be tolerated.

AANR is proud to partner with SOLV (http://www.solv.org/ ) and appreciated SOLV Business Manager Denise Smith attending and taking the group photo.  Thanks to Laurel MacMillan of Rural Development Initiatives (RDI) for attending.  RDI (http://www.rdiinc.org/) is a private non-profit organization.

A special thanks to the SOLV staff, Multnomah County Sheriff Deputy Bryan White, Rooster Rock State Park Rangers Mark Stevenson, Lisa Midlam, Glenn Littrell, John Cowan, David Bjorge,  Cassie Bostrom, and Gorge District Manager Kevin Price.

AANR dues-paying members who volunteer their time, energy, and finances are the driving force to promoting and preserving nude recreation.  If you missed this event join the Rooster-Sauvie Volunteers Club, August 1-2, for the AANR beach cleanup weekend at Rooster Rock-Mountaindale Sun Resort (mountaindalesun.com) and Sauvie Island.  Contact rooster.sauvie {at} yahoo.com for details.

Glassbar Island State Park – Cleanup Report for 5/16/09
Submitted by Shirley Gauthier, AANR-NW Public Lands Liaison

Glassbar Island State Park near Eugene, Oregon, became even more user group friendly at the annual SOLV “Down By The Riverside” cleanup on May 16th.   A porta-potty was installed near the nude beach area of the clothing-optional state park.  This is huge history making news for user groups.  Do take the time to do the porta-potty happy dance.

Glassbar Island Nude Beach Volunteers (GINBV) a 100% AANR club registered 29 volunteers.   Chris Orsinger, Executive Director Friends of Buford Park & Mt. Pisgah, shared that “we were glad to lend a hand with habitat enhancement and cleanup at Glassbar Island.  We look forward to collaborating in the future to advance habitat enhancement, especially floodplain restoration work that would improve aquatic habitat and water quality.”  Rick Hammond GINBV Webmaster and cleanup photographer said, “I have never seen such a diverse group at the park as I have this year on sunny days.”

Volunteers removed invasive species, planted six different wildflowers, completed litter patrols, and cleaned land belonging to the state and county.  GINBV President David Rosenblatt asked that a special thanks be given to the SOLV, Oregon State Park Dept., Lane County Waste Dept., Friends of Buford Park & Mt. Pisgah, AANR-NW for providing the hotdog barbecue, and to GINBV members who have worked daily at the park for years.

Many people visit the clothing-optional area at Oregon’s Rooster Rock State Park in the Columbia Gorge.  However, early in the season you may be disappointed that you will not be able to reach Sand Island by foot because the water level is too high.

But there is a solution so you do not miss this jewel of a clothing-optional area in such a scenic setting.  Access to Sand Island at Rooster Rock State Park in Oregon can be determined by looking up real-time water level data from the USGS website:
http://waterdata.usgs.gov/or/nwis/uv?14128870

This is data from the a water level gage upstream near the Bonneville Dam.  If the gage height (water level) is less than 12 feet, you should be able to walk to the island in dry to ankle-deep conditions.  If the water level is between 12-14 feet, an adult should be able to wade to the island with water below the waist.  The water level is usually a bit lower during the daytime than at night.

The default graph on the USGS website is 7 days.  You may enter a value to for a graph of one to sixty days duration.  You may also click on “Summary of all available data for this site ” and get historical data.

When you know it is a good time to go, walking around Sand Island is very pleasant.  As you can walk toward the east end of the island, the Columbia Gorge scenery unfolds in front of you.  The Columbia River and the Washington cliffs are to the left and the interesting sand cliffs of the island to your right.

As the dry season progresses, the beach gets wider and wider (near Rooster Rock, the Columbia River is wide, but it is also shallow with one deep channel near the Washington shore),  and you may be able to walk more than halfway out into the riverbed.  Looking into the Columbia River Gorge from the middle of the river is my favorite nude view!  Also during the dry period, it is possible to hike completely around Sand Island – about 2-1/4 miles.

So don’t overlook the opportunity to take in the scenic beauty of the Columbia River Gorge while walking naked on the beach.  The USGS website will help you determine when to go.  Be sure to stop in at the office and ask for some of the new AANR-Rooster Rock State Park welcome cards.  The cards include welcome, beach etiquette, and law enforcement numbers to call should you see any illegal or inappropriate behaviors.