The newsletter of the Naturist Education Foundation and the Naturist Action Committee.
Volume 1, Number 2. February 2020.
NACAR & NEFAR Seminar
The Naturist Action Committee(NAC) was well represented at the Midwinter
Naturist Festival(MWNF) at Sunsport Gardens in February. On Saturday of
the festival we had a quorum of board members in attendance. As a team we
gave four seminars on NAC activities.
The NAC and NEF Area Representative seminar is a seminar that is always on
the schedule. The purpose of area representatives is ground game. NAC can
track legislative activities at the national and state level but we need
our eyes and ears on the ground to get the county and local activities.
You are the fastest, most effective way for us to get local information.
We need for you: if you see something, say something.
This year’s seminar was quite special as it turn into a working session.
Our local naturists brought us concerns and ideas and as a team all of the
attendants went to work on them.
Lake Willoughby in Vermont has been on the radar for many naturists who
use it as an area of concern because of the state’s intention to improve
the facilities and make it easier to access. This is a known technique for
authorities wishing to decrease nude use, make the facility more
attractive to increase textile use. The question we asked was is there a
Friends of Willoughby group? The answer was ‘yes’ and ‘no’. The individual
who was the leading force was recently deceased. The naturist who brought
us the issue stepped up to reinvigorate the Friends of Group and then the
group went to work on how to get access to the email or voicemail and
replace them. We identified a team of local people to help organize people
to create a presence on the Lake and ensure its continued use. We made
sure the local nudists knew who their NAC board member was.
One of our naturist attendees was a policeman who announced ‘I’m a cop and
I can’t be affronted’. He then proceeded demonstrate various scenarios for
interacting with law enforcement. Vermont is unique in that there are no
state laws outlawing nudity. Some local jurisdiction do have laws. The
rule in Vermont is first come, first served. If you are sunbathing naked
and you were there first, (it helps if you have witnesses), then the
offended textile citizen has to move on, and vice versa. Never argue with
law enforcement, cover-up, don’t give them an excuse to arrest you for
‘disorderly’. The short story is know the law in the jurisdiction you are
in (VT is different than most other states), be polite and cover-up or
move along when asked. It is important to know that unless the officer
sees the illegal behavior himself, he cannot enforce on hearsay. You can
demand that the affronted person who reported you be presented if you are
being threatened with arrest.
A new clothing-optional beach on the Indiana National Lakeshore is the
goal of another of our attendees! There is federal land abutting Dunes
State Park in Indiana. It’s difficult to get to, no services and not
getting much use. Ideal grounds for naturists use. We worked with our
adventurous naturist friend on how to develop a clothing-optional beach by
just starting to use it. An understanding of the nudity laws in Indiana
and whether the state park management were going to uphold the state laws
on federal land was critical. We also identified this projects NAC board
member as well.
Several people filled out the NAC/NEF area representative form and others
shared their contact information. We look forward to working with this
group of naturists during the year.