Nudism/Naturism: Joining organizations

Tom Mulhall of the American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR) makes a good point in his comment to my post called Nudism/Naturism: Investment Potential: not enough nudists are becoming paid members of organizations that could lobby on your behalf for better public facilities.

How many of you have joined such organizations? If you haven’t, why not?

And what should we expect of such organizations?

Personally, I am going to be joining the Ottawa Naturists in the fall, but I will also look into the Quebec association.

Jillian

15 responses to “Nudism/Naturism: Joining organizations”

carolineheartofgold

June 27, 2013

Naturism is all about freedom so for me joining an organisation just seems wrong…

Clearly there is a dilema if everyone was like me who would stand up to fight for what we want? then again I doubt that too many would agree about what they want…

I am at my happiest when naked but do not see the attraction of naturist events like the cruise which was mentioned in one post, too forced and artificial for my tastes, I prefer sun, sand ,sea and space…

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frgbnd12

June 27, 2013

I agree with Caroline. Ostensibly, the ultimate end of naturism is for nudity to become a non-issue; joining an organization just seems counterintuitive. The original German Freikoerperkultur wasn’t primarily about nudity; it was about health with nudity being a means to that end. The activity of some organizations makes it seem like some people are treating it as an end in itself.

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Guy

June 27, 2013

My first thought was what Caroline mentioned. Freedom definitively comes first.

But let me be the devil’s advocate here. Being a Québec resident, FQN would be the organisation to join if any.

I’ll add to Caroline thoughts that the FQN is discriminating people based on age. Their yearly membership fee is $25 for people 30 y/o or less and $50 for people over 30. They may have a good reason for this, like giving a chance to younger people to experiment. But I have a bit of a problem with this. What about elderly people with limited income? And even if I can afford it, why should I pay more because I’m older? Not right.

Membership benefit is for 4 types of activities (in 4 different locations) that occur may be about 2 dozens times a year, total, for all types, on fixed date and time. Compared to other organisations I belong to which offer weekly or bi-weekly activities for a similar membership fee, we’re not too well served here.

Also, there is a fee to participate in each FQN events, which, again, carries the same age discrimination as their membership’s fee. The other organisations I belong to do not charge a fee for their weekly/bi-weekly activities. I do have to mention that FQN does accept non-members to their activities although for a higher fee.

Also, the locations of the FQN activities are all around the greater Montréal area. Not exactly accessible to people living outside that area.

For all these reasons, I can hardly justify the expense.

There would be one thing though that I would consider justifying the expense. That would be the presence of the FQN in the medias, doing something about promoting the lifestyle, lobbying to get an official status of the few real free (free as freedom) nudist/naturist places in the province and getting new ones as well.

At 55 y/o, and being a nudist for 40 years, I have yet to hear about any activities of the FQN in the public arena, be it news, radio, television, name it. The only thing publicly available is their web site. At $50/year in my case, it’s a hard sale.

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Guy

June 27, 2013

After thought…

I sure would like to have a look at the FQN annual financial reports. Can’t help wondering what would be found in there.

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Bill Bowser

June 28, 2013

Without recognized organizations like FCN, AANR, and TNS, to act on behalf of nudists we would have no political power at all. Recently in one of your blogs you asked why there aren’t more clothing optional venues. Do you really think that the mere suggestion that there ought to be more places for nude recreation will bring the local politicians to their senses and they will provide what is needed? It takes political power to get such concessions from the government. As long as we try to conceal our identities and our interest in nudism no one will take us seriously. Of course we’d all probably like to live our own nude lifestyle free from the influences of others with similar desires, but as individuals we can not make it happen. As a group we can make our voice heard where it can make a difference. It is long past time for us to “come out of the closet” and demand respect for our preferred lifestyle. I’m a nudist and I vote.

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Larry M

June 28, 2013

@Bill Bowser: Well, you lumped FCN, AANR, and TNS together. Jillian asked about “organizations that could lobby on your behalf for better public facilities.”

TNS lobbies for public facilities indeed. AANR seems to be mostly interested in looking out for its commercial resort owner members, with just an occasional nod towards free beaches, rivers, lakes, or parks. I’m an AANR member, but I suspect my desires would be better met by TNS.

Jillian also wrote “And what should we expect of such organizations?” If I had to characterize AANR and TNS by what I’ve seen in the last 8 years, I would say that AANR stands for getting people into clubs (commercial and non-profit) and TNS stands for getting public lands open to nude recreation.

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Reply
1. cheridonna
  
  June 29, 2013
  
  Larry M., AANR also supports nonlanded clubs and TNS also supports clubs as well as public lands. You haven’t been keeping up with some of AANR work. They too are trying to keep what we have and looking to help open addition . I’ve represented both organizations as an expert witness in 3 cases this past year. I’ve been a member of both since 1987.
  
  If $62.50 is too much for a couple or $40 for a single, you local club can possibly helped. I’ve assisted members, allowing them to pay it out. These are the most loyal members we have.
  
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smoothalx

June 28, 2013

I joined AANR To help promote and win spaces where nudism is accepted. We always complain that nudism is not well seen nor accepted in society and I believe that by joining I can contribute to change that.

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cheridonna

June 28, 2013

The more members who belong to our national organizations, the more clout we have when legislators attempt to pass laws that would have an adverse effect on our venues and way of life. I have been a member of The Naturist Society and AANR since 1987.

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genevieveharvey18

June 29, 2013

I have only joined my local swim. We can’t afford the membership fees for most clubs and organisations and so few of them are doing events in our area there seems no point.

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genevieveharvey18

June 29, 2013

Reblogged this on Naked Imp and commented:
Expense is prohibitive and the North East generally devoid of many organisation events. 😕

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cheridonna

June 29, 2013

genevieveharvey, There are nonlanded clubs in the Northeast that are much less expensive than the nudist parks in the northeast. Additionally, some nudist parks give schoolagers a discount. I know my club offers a $25 membership for those under 26.

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Danee

June 30, 2013

I believe 100 percent in belonging to the org that helps us. In the US, we have no National Governing body and AANR is not in tune with FKK so no, we do not support them thru membership. TNS, yes. INF, yes. They are more in tune with real fkk and its beliefs and the Action committee with TNS has done great work.

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NudistStop

June 30, 2013

My wife and I have been members of TNS and AANR for decades. Though I do not always agree with their policy direction on certain matters, they are invaluable in educating lawmakers (and agency officials) at the local, state and federal level on issues related to nude recreation. In addition, their constant vigilance for laws that would lump recreational nudity in with sex related legislation or that would unfairly limit recreational nudity helps tremendously. These organizations need the support of everyone who supports nudist freedom rights.

NudistStop

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photogreuhphies

July 5, 2013

I joined APNEL apnel.fr because I believe that people should be able to go with or without clothes as they see fit and not as dictated by outsiders (“Being offended by something does not mean you are right”).

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