Sunday, September 2, 2012
NAC Action Alert - Seattle, WA
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NATURIST ACTION COMMITTEE
ACTION ALERT
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http://www.naturistaction.org
**********************************************************************
Copyright 2012 by the Naturist Action Committee, which is responsible for its content.
Permission is granted for the posting, forwarding or redistribution of this message,
provided that it is reproduced in its entirety and without alteration.
DATE : September 1, 2012
SUBJECT : Seattle Parks Survey
TO : Naturists and other concerned citizens
Dear Naturist,
This is an Action Alert from the Naturist Action Committee. NAC is asking you to participate in the ongoing effort by naturists and others to establish an officially recognized clothing optional beach in Seattle, Washington.
A MESSAGE FROM NAC BOARD MEMBER MARK STOREY
A skinny-dipper friend of ours has pointed out to me that Seattle Parks & Recreation has a new online survey out. While taking it, I found three opportunities to say that I favored Seattle Parks’ establishing a clothing-optional beach. This is an easy opportunity for naturists and their allies to speak up.
Please take the five minutes needed for the survey, and be nice. When the Naturist Action Committee and the Body Freedom Collaborative met with Parks officials not long ago, officials made clear to us that they needed to know that there were actually a large number of people interested in nude beaches. Here's a chance to move in that direction. People living in and near Seattle, WA are especially encouraged to take the survey, but others can, too.
The survey is at the following URL:
http://seattleparkssurvey.com/SPR1/SPR1logn.htm
NAC NEEDS YOUR HELP TO CONTINUE HELPING NATURISTS!
The Naturist Action Committee works for the clothing-optional recreational use of public land. To do its job, NAC relies entirely on the voluntary generosity of supporters like you.
Please take a moment to send a donation to:
NAC
PO Box 132
Oshkosh, WI 54903
Or call toll free (800) 886-7230 to donate by phone using your MasterCard, Visa or Discover Card. Or use your credit card to make a convenient online donation:
http://www.naturistaction.org/donate/
Thank you for choosing to make a difference!
Naturally,
Bob Morton
Executive Director
Naturist Action Committee
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Naturist Action Committee (NAC) - PO Box 132, Oshkosh, WI 54903
Executive Dir. Bob Morton - execdir@naturistaction.org
Board Member Mark Storey - storey98@aol.com
Online Rep. Dennis Kirkpatrick - naturist@sunclad.com
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Saturday, September 1, 2012
NAC Action Alert - California
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NATURIST ACTION COMMITTEE
ACTION ALERT
**********************************************************************
http://www.naturistaction.org
**********************************************************************
Copyright 2012 by the Naturist Action Committee, which is responsible for its content.
Permission is granted for the posting, forwarding or redistribution of this message, provided
that it is reproduced in its entirety and without alteration.
DATE : August 31, 2012
SUBJECT: California
TO : Naturists and other concerned citizens
Dear Naturist,
This is an Action Alert from the Naturist Action Committee. NAC is asking for your immediate involvement in an effort to have the State of California create officially designated areas for clothing-optional recreation in state parks.
ACTION SUMMARY
1. Attend a meeting of the California Park and Recreation Commission on September 28.
2. Contact the Commission in writing.
CALIFORNIA STATE PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION
The California State Park and Recreation Commission is NOT the same thing as the State Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR). The Commission has specific authorities and responsibilities which are defined in California law. Those include the approval of general plans for units of the State Park System, classifying units of the System, establishing general policies for the guidance of the Director of State Parks in the administration, protection and development of the System, and recommending to the Director a comprehensive recreation policy for the state.
In the wake of the recent scandal involving the California Department of Parks and Recreation, NAC is looking for the appointed State Park bureaucracy to assert some leadership. The Commission has the authority and the responsibility to establish general policy and to recommend policy to DPR, and that’s what NAC is seeking.
ACTION 1: ATTEND COMMISSION’S PUBLIC MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 28
If you’re in the southern California area, NAC requests that you attend a public meeting of the State Park and Recreation Commission that is scheduled to be held in Santa Monica on Friday, September 28, 2012.
DATE: Friday, September 28, 2012
TIME: 9:00 a.m.
LOCATION:
Annenberg Community Beach House
Garden Terrace Room
415 Pacific Coast Highway
Santa Monica, California 90402
The Commission’s agenda and public notice of the meeting are available at: http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=936
The naturist issue is not on the agenda for the meeting. Regardless, we need to let the Commission know of our concerns and our expectations. Members of the public will have an opportunity to give brief statements during the public comment portion of the meeting. Whether you speak or not, your presence at the meeting is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT to lend support to the message of naturists. We seek the setting aside of areas for clothing-optional recreation in State Park units.
There are few items on the meeting agenda for September 28, and the meeting is likely to move quickly. Please plan to be at the Annenberg Community Beach House in Santa Monica no later than a half hour before the start of the meeting. Those who wish to speak must sign up to do so before the meeting commences.
NOTE: The Commission has not met since January 27, 2012. NAC was there for that meeting, and with your help and participation, we’ll make a significant showing at this meeting, too. However, at this rate, your next chance to address the Park and Rec Commission may be in late May of 2013. Don’t miss your opportunity to make a difference in September!
If you’re planning to attend the meeting, please contact:
NAC board member Allen Baylis
rab@baylislaw.com
(714) 962-0915
or NAC executive director Bob Morton
execdir@naturistaction.org
(512) 282-6621
ACTION 2: WRITE TO THE COMMISSION
If you’re unable to attend the meeting, you can still help. NAC asks that you write to the Commission. Send your comments by e-mail, fax or surface mail. Those who will be at the meeting on September 28 are also encouraged to write.
WHO SHOULD WRITE?
NAC is requesting ALL NATURISTS and other concerned individuals to contact California officials on this important matter, regardless of your place of residence. California understands the importance of out-of-state visitors who come to enjoy the state’s beaches, lakes and streams. The opportunity to provide diverse recreational opportunities applies to those visitors, as well as to California residents. While all are encouraged to make their voices heard, the participation of Californians is, of course, particularly important.
Send a letter, a fax or an e-mail. Phone calls will likely be ineffective in this specific context.
California State Park & Recreation Commission
PO Box 942896
Sacramento, CA 94296
FAX: (916) 654-6374
Louis Nastro, Assistant to the Commission
E-MAIL: LNastro@parks.ca.gov
Send a copy to:
California Department of Natural Resources
Natural Resources Agency
1416 Ninth Street, Suite 1311
Sacramento, CA 95814
FAX: (916) 653-8102
E-MAIL: secretary@resources.ca.gov
NAC encourages you to send copies of your faxes and paper mail to:
NAC, PO Box 132, Oshkosh, WI 54903.
Send copies of your e-mails to: CA@naturistaction.org
WHAT SHOULD YOU SAY?
When you write:
a) Be polite.
b) Be known. Give your name and address. If you are a California resident
or a frequent visitor to California, be sure to point that out.
Anonymous letters have very little impact.
c) Be focused. Keep your correspondence brief and on target.
d) Be positive. Remember that we’re trying to ENCOURAGE the Parks
Department to do something. Please do not take a scolding tone.
e) Be clear. Say that you SUPPORT the designation of clothing-optional
areas in units of the State Park System.
f) Be sure to make a request that your correspondence (letter, fax, e-mail)
be included in the permanent public record of the California Park and
Recreation Commission meeting of September 28, 2012.
Additional talking / writing points:
1) This is NOT just about San Onofre State Beach. Although that beach was the first State Park unit at which DPR killed its policy for managing clothing-optional recreation, it has not been the last. Ticketing for mere nudity in State Park units has spread throughout the entire state of California. A unified policy is exactly what the Commission is responsible for creating, but the present lack of a comprehensive statewide policy threatens ALL clothing-optional areas in California State Park units. Consider the implications for Black’s (Torrey Pines), Gaviota, Bonny Doon and many others.
2) Parks Department policy against clothing-optional recreation is completely out of sync with public sentiment and the expressed preferences of California residents. A public opinion survey on this topic was commissioned in 2009 by the Naturist Education Foundation and was conducted by the prestigious polling firm of Zogby International. In that statewide poll:
79 percent of Californians believe people should be allowed to enjoy nude sunbathing on a beach or other location that is designated for that purpose.
60 percent of Californians say that they are not offended by the nonsexual nudity of others.
62 percent of Californians agree that the California Department of Parks and Recreation should exercise the legal authority it presently has to designate clothing-optional areas in state parks.
View details of the 2009 NEF California Poll: http://www.naturisteducation.org/nef.ca.poll.2009/
3) Former officials of the Parks Department attempted to justify their vendetta against clothing-optional recreation by saying they were “doing the will of the people.” That was clearly no more true than many of the other deceptions for which those same officials were responsible.
4) For thirty years, the Department’s Cahill Policy allowed a means to manage for clothing-optional recreation in units of the State Park system. The nullification of the Cahill Policy has left the department with no statewide policy to address a form of recreation that’s obviously popular with the public. It’s the duty of the Commission to address matters of policy.
5) Officials of the Parks and Rec Department have pointed to lewd behavior as a reason for prohibiting nudity. In doing so, they have confused simple nudity with lewd behavior. Rangers presently have the authority and responsibility to stop lewd activity, and naturists encourage them to exercise that responsibility appropriately. However, that specific authority is separate and different from the legal authority the Parks Department has to establish areas for clothing-optional recreation.
MORE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES
Additional information and links are available, along with this NAC Action Alert on the web site of the Naturist Action Committee.
http://www.naturistaction.org
Select "Alerts" and find this NAC Action Alert under Current Alerts.
PLEASE HELP NAC TO CONTINUE HELPING NATURISTS!
The Naturist Action Committee is the volunteer nonprofit political adjunct to The Naturist Society. NAC exists to advance and protect the rights and interests of naturists throughout North America. Fighting for the clothing-optional recreational use of public land is expensive. To do its job, NAC relies entirely on the voluntary generosity of supporters like you.
After you've made your plans to attend the Commission meeting on September 28 and/or contacted the officials at the Commission and the Natural Resources Agency, please take a moment to send a donation to:
NAC
PO Box 132
Oshkosh, WI 54903
Or call toll free (800) 886-7230 to donate by phone using your MasterCard, Visa or Discover Card. Or use your credit card to make a convenient online donation: http://www.naturistaction.org/donate/
Thank you for choosing to make a difference!
Naturally,
Allen Baylis
Director
Naturist Action Committee
---------------------------------------------------------------
Naturist Action Committee (NAC) - PO Box 132, Oshkosh, WI 54903
Executive Dir. Bob Morton - execdir@naturistaction.org
Board Member Allen Baylis - rab@baylislaw.com
Board Member Charles Harris - carlopianoforte@gmail.com
Online Rep. Dennis Kirkpatrick - naturist@sunclad.com
---------------------------------------------------------------
NATURIST ACTION COMMITTEE
ACTION ALERT
**********************************************************************
http://www.naturistaction.org
**********************************************************************
Copyright 2012 by the Naturist Action Committee, which is responsible for its content.
Permission is granted for the posting, forwarding or redistribution of this message, provided
that it is reproduced in its entirety and without alteration.
DATE : August 31, 2012
SUBJECT: California
TO : Naturists and other concerned citizens
Dear Naturist,
This is an Action Alert from the Naturist Action Committee. NAC is asking for your immediate involvement in an effort to have the State of California create officially designated areas for clothing-optional recreation in state parks.
ACTION SUMMARY
1. Attend a meeting of the California Park and Recreation Commission on September 28.
2. Contact the Commission in writing.
CALIFORNIA STATE PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION
The California State Park and Recreation Commission is NOT the same thing as the State Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR). The Commission has specific authorities and responsibilities which are defined in California law. Those include the approval of general plans for units of the State Park System, classifying units of the System, establishing general policies for the guidance of the Director of State Parks in the administration, protection and development of the System, and recommending to the Director a comprehensive recreation policy for the state.
In the wake of the recent scandal involving the California Department of Parks and Recreation, NAC is looking for the appointed State Park bureaucracy to assert some leadership. The Commission has the authority and the responsibility to establish general policy and to recommend policy to DPR, and that’s what NAC is seeking.
ACTION 1: ATTEND COMMISSION’S PUBLIC MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 28
If you’re in the southern California area, NAC requests that you attend a public meeting of the State Park and Recreation Commission that is scheduled to be held in Santa Monica on Friday, September 28, 2012.
DATE: Friday, September 28, 2012
TIME: 9:00 a.m.
LOCATION:
Annenberg Community Beach House
Garden Terrace Room
415 Pacific Coast Highway
Santa Monica, California 90402
The Commission’s agenda and public notice of the meeting are available at: http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=936
The naturist issue is not on the agenda for the meeting. Regardless, we need to let the Commission know of our concerns and our expectations. Members of the public will have an opportunity to give brief statements during the public comment portion of the meeting. Whether you speak or not, your presence at the meeting is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT to lend support to the message of naturists. We seek the setting aside of areas for clothing-optional recreation in State Park units.
There are few items on the meeting agenda for September 28, and the meeting is likely to move quickly. Please plan to be at the Annenberg Community Beach House in Santa Monica no later than a half hour before the start of the meeting. Those who wish to speak must sign up to do so before the meeting commences.
NOTE: The Commission has not met since January 27, 2012. NAC was there for that meeting, and with your help and participation, we’ll make a significant showing at this meeting, too. However, at this rate, your next chance to address the Park and Rec Commission may be in late May of 2013. Don’t miss your opportunity to make a difference in September!
If you’re planning to attend the meeting, please contact:
NAC board member Allen Baylis
rab@baylislaw.com
(714) 962-0915
or NAC executive director Bob Morton
execdir@naturistaction.org
(512) 282-6621
ACTION 2: WRITE TO THE COMMISSION
If you’re unable to attend the meeting, you can still help. NAC asks that you write to the Commission. Send your comments by e-mail, fax or surface mail. Those who will be at the meeting on September 28 are also encouraged to write.
WHO SHOULD WRITE?
NAC is requesting ALL NATURISTS and other concerned individuals to contact California officials on this important matter, regardless of your place of residence. California understands the importance of out-of-state visitors who come to enjoy the state’s beaches, lakes and streams. The opportunity to provide diverse recreational opportunities applies to those visitors, as well as to California residents. While all are encouraged to make their voices heard, the participation of Californians is, of course, particularly important.
Send a letter, a fax or an e-mail. Phone calls will likely be ineffective in this specific context.
California State Park & Recreation Commission
PO Box 942896
Sacramento, CA 94296
FAX: (916) 654-6374
Louis Nastro, Assistant to the Commission
E-MAIL: LNastro@parks.ca.gov
Send a copy to:
California Department of Natural Resources
Natural Resources Agency
1416 Ninth Street, Suite 1311
Sacramento, CA 95814
FAX: (916) 653-8102
E-MAIL: secretary@resources.ca.gov
NAC encourages you to send copies of your faxes and paper mail to:
NAC, PO Box 132, Oshkosh, WI 54903.
Send copies of your e-mails to: CA@naturistaction.org
WHAT SHOULD YOU SAY?
When you write:
a) Be polite.
b) Be known. Give your name and address. If you are a California resident
or a frequent visitor to California, be sure to point that out.
Anonymous letters have very little impact.
c) Be focused. Keep your correspondence brief and on target.
d) Be positive. Remember that we’re trying to ENCOURAGE the Parks
Department to do something. Please do not take a scolding tone.
e) Be clear. Say that you SUPPORT the designation of clothing-optional
areas in units of the State Park System.
f) Be sure to make a request that your correspondence (letter, fax, e-mail)
be included in the permanent public record of the California Park and
Recreation Commission meeting of September 28, 2012.
Additional talking / writing points:
1) This is NOT just about San Onofre State Beach. Although that beach was the first State Park unit at which DPR killed its policy for managing clothing-optional recreation, it has not been the last. Ticketing for mere nudity in State Park units has spread throughout the entire state of California. A unified policy is exactly what the Commission is responsible for creating, but the present lack of a comprehensive statewide policy threatens ALL clothing-optional areas in California State Park units. Consider the implications for Black’s (Torrey Pines), Gaviota, Bonny Doon and many others.
2) Parks Department policy against clothing-optional recreation is completely out of sync with public sentiment and the expressed preferences of California residents. A public opinion survey on this topic was commissioned in 2009 by the Naturist Education Foundation and was conducted by the prestigious polling firm of Zogby International. In that statewide poll:
79 percent of Californians believe people should be allowed to enjoy nude sunbathing on a beach or other location that is designated for that purpose.
60 percent of Californians say that they are not offended by the nonsexual nudity of others.
62 percent of Californians agree that the California Department of Parks and Recreation should exercise the legal authority it presently has to designate clothing-optional areas in state parks.
View details of the 2009 NEF California Poll: http://www.naturisteducation.org/nef.ca.poll.2009/
3) Former officials of the Parks Department attempted to justify their vendetta against clothing-optional recreation by saying they were “doing the will of the people.” That was clearly no more true than many of the other deceptions for which those same officials were responsible.
4) For thirty years, the Department’s Cahill Policy allowed a means to manage for clothing-optional recreation in units of the State Park system. The nullification of the Cahill Policy has left the department with no statewide policy to address a form of recreation that’s obviously popular with the public. It’s the duty of the Commission to address matters of policy.
5) Officials of the Parks and Rec Department have pointed to lewd behavior as a reason for prohibiting nudity. In doing so, they have confused simple nudity with lewd behavior. Rangers presently have the authority and responsibility to stop lewd activity, and naturists encourage them to exercise that responsibility appropriately. However, that specific authority is separate and different from the legal authority the Parks Department has to establish areas for clothing-optional recreation.
MORE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES
Additional information and links are available, along with this NAC Action Alert on the web site of the Naturist Action Committee.
http://www.naturistaction.org
Select "Alerts" and find this NAC Action Alert under Current Alerts.
PLEASE HELP NAC TO CONTINUE HELPING NATURISTS!
The Naturist Action Committee is the volunteer nonprofit political adjunct to The Naturist Society. NAC exists to advance and protect the rights and interests of naturists throughout North America. Fighting for the clothing-optional recreational use of public land is expensive. To do its job, NAC relies entirely on the voluntary generosity of supporters like you.
After you've made your plans to attend the Commission meeting on September 28 and/or contacted the officials at the Commission and the Natural Resources Agency, please take a moment to send a donation to:
NAC
PO Box 132
Oshkosh, WI 54903
Or call toll free (800) 886-7230 to donate by phone using your MasterCard, Visa or Discover Card. Or use your credit card to make a convenient online donation: http://www.naturistaction.org/donate/
Thank you for choosing to make a difference!
Naturally,
Allen Baylis
Director
Naturist Action Committee
---------------------------------------------------------------
Naturist Action Committee (NAC) - PO Box 132, Oshkosh, WI 54903
Executive Dir. Bob Morton - execdir@naturistaction.org
Board Member Allen Baylis - rab@baylislaw.com
Board Member Charles Harris - carlopianoforte@gmail.com
Online Rep. Dennis Kirkpatrick - naturist@sunclad.com
---------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
NAC Update- San Onofre, California
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NATURIST ACTION COMMITTEE
UPDATE
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http://www.naturistaction.org
**********************************************************************
Copyright 2011 by the Naturist Action Committee, which is responsible for its content. Permission is granted for the posting, forwarding or redistribution of this message, provided that it is reproduced in its entirety and without alteration.
DATE : January 18, 2011
SUBJECT: San Onofre Update
TO : All naturists and other concerned citizens
Dear Naturist,
This is an update from the Naturist Action Committee (NAC) on the status of San Onofre State Beach in California and NAC's ongoing effort on behalf of naturists there.
SIX MORE CASES DISMISSED
NAC is once again pleased to announce dismissals of contested citations for nudity at San Onofre State Beach. Following the dismissals of the first two contested citations last month, SIX MORE citations were dismissed Friday at the request of the San Diego County Deputy District Attorney.
This brings the total to EIGHT DISMISSALS AND NO CONVICTIONS for the defendants represented by the Naturist Action Committee.
NAC is aware of other individuals who have received citations for nudity in the traditional clothing-optional area of San Onofre since the California Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) rescinded the Cahill Policy and abruptly declared the beach to be mandatorily clothed. The tickets have been issued as misdemeanor violations of title 14, section 4322 of the California Code of Regulations. Two individuals, not represented by NAC, have chosen to accept plea bargain deals for convictions under lesser charges.
California defense attorney and NAC Board member Allen Baylis represented the six whose citations were dismissed on Friday. As with the first two defendants whose charges were dropped, Baylis vigorously asserted that the recent half dozen wished to have their day in court, before a jury of their peers.
The DA's office understands that we're not bluffing. The Naturist Action Committee has a list of willing defendants, and NAC has been preparing for this challenge. NAC has enlisted the advice of outside counsel and has set aside funds for the purpose.
TICKETING CONTINUES AT SAN ONOFRE
NAC advises naturists that ticketing continues at San Onofre State Beach. Another citation for nudity was given there just this past weekend.
Of the charges dismissed Friday, one was an early ticket written by a lifeguard who is also a peace officer. However, the lifeguards at San Onofre no longer appear to be active in the process of seeking to make criminals of naturists who are merely nude in the traditional clothing-optional area.
The purveyors of the recent citations have been DPR rangers, who are acting under the direction of local Superintendent Rich Haydon. After only a couple of weeks on the job, Haydon instigated (and wrote) the order that was signed by DPR Director Ruth Coleman, abruptly terminating the Cahill Policy. At the time he wrote the order, Haydon's familiarity with the Cahill Policy was such that, in the written order, he referred to former DPR Director Russell Cahill as "William Cahill."
WHAT IS NAC DOING?
NAC is defending those ticketed at San Onofre. NAC board member Allen Baylis has been tireless in the effort. And effective.
As detailed in other NAC Action Alerts, Advisories and Updates, the Naturist Action Committee is leading an effort to have areas in California state park units specifically designated for clothing-optional use. While NAC continues to oppose ticketing at the traditional clothing-optional area of San Onofre, we are simultaneously working WITH the California Department of Parks and Recreation, as well as with the California Park and Recreation Commission, to advance the opportunities for officially accepted clothing-optional recreation.
On December 10, 2010, naturists turned out in impressive numbers to support clothing-optional recreation in California State Parks and the petition NAC and its allies had sent to the Commission, asking for designation of clothing-optional areas within units of the California State Park system.
More recently, NAC Area Representative Donald Stanton, speaking on NAC's behalf, addressed the Commission at its meeting on January 4, 2011, in Santa Rosa. Stanton, a California attorney and former Naturist Action Committee board member, requested that the matter of designation for clothing-optional areas (and NAC's petition for such) be placed immediately on the Commission's agenda. Not unexpectedly, DPR Director Ruth Coleman, whose Department received the petition in June, 2010, told Commissioners that the Department of Parks and Recreation would need more time to study the document. NAC is pressing the issue with the Commission, while maintaining a relationship with the Department at the highest level.
MEANWHILE, WE MUST NOT ABANDON SAN ONOFRE BEACH
Friends of San Onofre Beach, the Naturist Action Committee and naturists everywhere need your assistance. First and foremost, we must not abandon our beach. If we do not maintain our presence at Trail 6, the Parks Department will have successfully imposed the intolerant will of a tiny handful of bureaucrats on the large numbers who enjoy responsible clothing-optional recreation on public land. We cannot let that happen. The naturist community is depending on us to stand our ground.
CAMP PENDLETON
The traditional clothing-optional area at Trail 6 of San Onofre State Beach is immediately adjacent to a portion of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. Some who seek to escape the intolerance and harassment of the California DPR have relocated their clothing-optional activities across the fence to the Marine Base.
Although there has been no recent response from the Marines, any unauthorized presence on the military property is considered trespassing. The Naturist Action Committee does not endorse or encourage the use of Pendleton's beach for clothing-optional recreation. It's unlikely that NAC will be able to help those who find themselves facing a federal charge of trespass on a military facility.
WHOM TO NOTIFY OF TICKET INCIDENTS AT SAN ONOFRE BEACH
If you witness an incident at the State Beach (e.g., ticketing, harassment - official or personal -, user misbehavior, please contact Allen Baylis by phone at (714) 962-0915 or by e-mail at rab@baylislaw.com
Alternatively, you may contact NAC Executive Director Bob Morton by phone at (512) 282-6621 or by e-mail at execdir@naturistaction.org
LOCAL SUPPORT
Throughout the ongoing ordeal with the California DPR, the members of Friends of San Onofre Beach have done an extraordinary job of pulling their own weight for the beach they cherish. To donate to Friends of San Onofre Beach, you may send a check to:
Friends of San Onofre Beach
P. O. Box 6283
Huntington Beach, CA 92615
WATCH FOR INFORMATION FROM NAC
Watch for NAC Action Alerts, Advisories and Updates on this and other important issues affecting naturists.
You may also stay informed by checking the following web sites:
http://www.naturistaction.org/sanonofre
http://www.friendsofsanonofre.org
Get on the email list of Friends of San Onofre Beach by sending your request to: info@friendsofsanonofre.org
PLEASE HELP NAC TO CONTINUE HELPING NATURISTS!
The Naturist Action Committee remains committed to the vigorous defense of the clothing-optional use of public land. Activism on behalf of naturists can be expensive. NAC relies entirely on the voluntary financial support of people like YOU.
Won't you please send a generous donation to:
NAC
PO Box 132
Oshkosh, WI 54903
Or call toll free (800) 886-7230 (8AM-4PM, Central Time, weekdays) to donate by phone using your MasterCard, Visa or Discover Card. Or use your credit card to make a convenient online donation: http://www.naturistaction.org/donate/
Thank you for choosing to make a difference.
Naturally,
Bob Morton
Executive Director
Naturist Action Committee
---------------------------------------------------------------
Naturist Action Committee (NAC) - PO Box 132, Oshkosh, WI 54903
Executive Dir. Bob Morton - execdir@naturistaction.org
Board Member Allen Baylis - rab@baylislaw.com
Online Rep. Dennis Kirkpatrick - naturist@sunclad.com
---------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday, January 13, 2011
NAC Action Alert - Bagby Hot Springs, Oregon
**********************************************************************
NATURIST ACTION COMMITTEE
ACTION ALERT
**********************************************************************
http://www.naturistaction.org
**********************************************************************
Copyright 2011 by the Naturist Action Committee, which is responsible
for its content. Permission is granted for the posting, forwarding or
redistribution of this message, provided that it is reproduced in its
entirety and without alteration.
DATE : January 13, 2011
SUBJECT: Oregon - Bagby Hot Springs
TO : Naturists and other concerned citizens
Dear Naturist,
The Naturist Action Committee is asking for your immediate involvement and action on behalf of Bagby Hot Springs in Oregon. Bagby is a popular and traditional clothing-optional site on public land in Mount Hood National Forest.
U.S. FOREST SERVICE IS PROPOSING PRIVATIZATION OF BAGBY HOT SPRINGS
The Forest Service managers at Mount Hood National Forest have already taken significant steps that have changed the traditional character of Bagby Hot Springs. Without advance public notice, Forest Service personnel have removed the historic wooden tubs from the bath house at Bagby and have destroyed the tub materials by chopping them up and burning them. New tubs have been installed. The new tubs lack the leaks of the old ones, but they also lack the character and history.
The Forest Service management at Mount Hood has also prohibited nudity in the large common area of the Bagby bath house. Nudity is allowed now only behind the closed doors of rooms with smaller tubs.
The action is part of the Forest Service's preparation for finding a private concessionaire to operate Bagby.
NAC ASKS FOR YOU TO TAKE ACTION
The Naturist Action Committee is requesting that you
1) attend an open house that's being presented by the Forest Service
AND
2) write to the Forest Service to express your concern
ACTION 1: ATTEND THE FOREST SERVICE 'OPEN HOUSE' ON JANUARY 18
If you're anywhere in the area of Mount Hood National Forest, NAC asks you to attend a public open house at Forest Service headquarters on January 18, 2011.
DATE: Tuesday, January 18, 2011
TIME: 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
LOCATION:
Mount Hood Nat'l Forest Headquarters
16400 Champion Way
Sandy, OR 97055
If you're planning to attend the meeting, please contact:
NAC board member Don Zirbel
orcoba@live.com
(503) 970-6674
or NAC executive director Bob Morton
execdir@naturistaction.org
(512) 282-6621
ACTION 2: WRITE TO THE FOREST SERVICE
Whether or not you're able to attend the meeting, you can still help. NAC asks that you write to the Forest Supervisor at Mount Hood National Forest. Send your comments by e-mail, fax or surface mail. Those who will be at the open house on January 18 are also encouraged to write.
WHO SHOULD WRITE?
NAC is asking ALL NATURISTS and other concerned individuals to contact the Forest Service, regardless of your place of residence. National Forests belong to all citizens.
Send a letter, a fax or an e-mail. Phone calls will likely be ineffective in this specific context.
Acting Forest Supervisor Kathryn Silverman
Mount Hood Nat'l Forest
16400 Champion Way
Sandy, OR 97055
E-MAIL: ksilverman@fs.fed.us
FAX: (503) 668-1794
NAC encourages you to send copies of your faxes and paper mail to:
NAC, P.O. Box 132, Oshkosh, WI 54903.
Send copies of your e-mails to:
WHAT SHOULD YOU SAY?
When you write:
a) Be polite.
b) Be known. Give your name and address. If you are a frequent visitor to National Forests, be sure to point that out. Anonymous letters have very little impact.
c) Be focused. Keep your correspondence brief and on target.
d) Be productive. You may certainly express your indignation over the poor decisions made by the Forest Service concerning Bagby Hot Springs and the abrupt and destructive change to the tradition of benign nude use there. Who could blame you for being upset? However, you must do more than simply scold and complain. You must point out that the Forest Service has the opportunity and responsibility to manage FOR the historic and traditional clothing-optional use of Bagby Hot Springs.
e) Be part of the solution. Volunteers and activist groups, including the Naturist Action Committee, have expressed a strong interest in working WITH the Forest Service for the benefit of the public and the preservation of treasures like Bagby Hot Springs. When the Forest Service ignores help from volunteer groups and fails to keep them informed, it squanders a valuable resource. Emphasize the value of involving the public in the care of public land.
f) Be clear. Say that you OPPOSE the notion of privatizing Bagby.
Additional writing points:
a) The destruction of the historic tubs at Bagby Hot Springs is just the most visible indicator of the intent to change the traditional nature of Bagby without seeking public input. Despite specific requests to be included in considerations at Bagby, individual volunteers and interested parties like the Northwest Forest Conservancy and the Naturist Action Committee were ignored. That's simply NOT a proper way to manage a public resource.
b) The changes to the traditional configuration of the bath house and the nudity restrictions there are a slap in the face to naturists and others who understand that nude soaking is the historically authentic way of enjoying Bagby and many other natural hot springs.
c) Like most individuals and other government agencies, officials of the Forest Service are presently faced with funding shortfalls. Shedding areas and features and assigning them to private operators may seem like an attractive solution, but it creates a long term policy that shortchanges the public and is not likely to be undone when economic hard times abate.
d) Visitors to Bagby already pay for parking, and the reality is that the Forest Service is not likely to give up that revenue. A private operator will have to charge an additional fee to justify its own effort. A concessionaire will likely choose not to keep Bagby open during less profitable night time hours. Suddenly, a public treasure like Bagby becomes less affordable and less accessible.
e) The Forest Service has already sought private bidders to operate Bagby. One of those that was expected to bid has said that it's not interested AT THIS TIME. That changes very little about the concern over the lack of public notice and diminished opportunities for public involvement.
MORE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES
Additional information and links are available, along with this NAC Action Alert on the web site of the Naturist Action Committee.
http:// www.naturistaction.org
Select "Alerts" and find this NAC Action Alert under Current Alerts.
PLEASE HELP NAC TO CONTINUE HELPING NATURISTS!
The Naturist Action Committee is the volunteer nonprofit political adjunct to The Naturist Society. NAC exists to advance and protect the rights and interests of naturists throughout North America. Fighting for the clothing-optional recreational use of public land is expensive. To do its job, NAC relies entirely on the voluntary generosity of supporters like you.
After you've contacted the officials on the list, please take a moment to send a donation to:
NAC
PO Box 132
Oshkosh, WI 54903
Or call toll free (800) 886-7230 to donate by phone using your MasterCard, Visa or Discover Card. Or use your credit card to make a convenient online donation: http://www.naturistaction.org/donate/
Thank you for choosing to make a difference!
Naturally,
Don Zirbel
Board Member
Naturist Action Committee
---------------------------------------------------------------
Naturist Action Committee (NAC) - PO Box 132, Oshkosh, WI 54903
Executive Dir. Bob Morton - execdir@naturistaction.org
Board Member Don Zirbel - orcoba@live.com
Online Rep. Dennis Kirkpatrick - naturist@sunclad.com
---------------------------------------------------------------
NAC Action Alert - Calfornia
**********************************************************************
NATURIST ACTION COMMITTEE
ACTION ALERT
**********************************************************************
http://www.naturistaction.org
**********************************************************************
Copyright 2011 by the Naturist Action Committee, which is responsible
for its content. Permission is granted for the posting, forwarding or
redistribution of this message, provided that it is reproduced in its
entirety and without alteration.
DATE : January 13, 2011
SUBJECT: Oregon - Bagby Hot Springs
TO : Naturists and other concerned citizens
Dear Naturist,
The Naturist Action Committee is asking for your immediate involvement and action on behalf of Bagby Hot Springs in Oregon. Bagby is a popular and traditional clothing-optional site on public land in Mount Hood National Forest.
U.S. FOREST SERVICE IS PROPOSING PRIVATIZATION OF BAGBY HOT SPRINGS
The Forest Service managers at Mount Hood National Forest have already taken significant steps that have changed the traditional character of Bagby Hot Springs. Without advance public notice, Forest Service personnel have removed the historic wooden tubs from the bath house at Bagby and have destroyed the tub materials by chopping them up and burning them. New tubs have been installed. The new tubs lack the leaks of the old ones, but they also lack the character and history.
The Forest Service management at Mount Hood has also prohibited nudity in the large common area of the Bagby bath house. Nudity is allowed now only behind the closed doors of rooms with smaller tubs.
The action is part of the Forest Service's preparation for finding a private concessionaire to operate Bagby.
NAC ASKS FOR YOU TO TAKE ACTION
The Naturist Action Committee is requesting that you
1) attend an open house that's being presented by the Forest Service
AND
2) write to the Forest Service to express your concern
ACTION 1: ATTEND THE FOREST SERVICE 'OPEN HOUSE' ON JANUARY 18
If you're anywhere in the area of Mount Hood National Forest, NAC asks you to attend a public open house at Forest Service headquarters on January 18, 2011.
DATE: Tuesday, January 18, 2011
TIME: 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
LOCATION:
Mount Hood Nat'l Forest Headquarters
16400 Champion Way
Sandy, OR 97055
If you're planning to attend the meeting, please contact:
NAC board member Don Zirbel
orcoba@live.com
(503) 970-6674
or NAC executive director Bob Morton
execdir@naturistaction.org
(512) 282-6621
ACTION 2: WRITE TO THE FOREST SERVICE
Whether or not you're able to attend the meeting, you can still help. NAC asks that you write to the Forest Supervisor at Mount Hood National Forest. Send your comments by e-mail, fax or surface mail. Those who will be at the open house on January 18 are also encouraged to write.
WHO SHOULD WRITE?
NAC is asking ALL NATURISTS and other concerned individuals to contact the Forest Service, regardless of your place of residence. National Forests belong to all citizens.
Send a letter, a fax or an e-mail. Phone calls will likely be ineffective in this specific context.
Acting Forest Supervisor Kathryn Silverman
Mount Hood Nat'l Forest
16400 Champion Way
Sandy, OR 97055
E-MAIL: ksilverman@fs.fed.us
FAX: (503) 668-1794
NAC encourages you to send copies of your faxes and paper mail to:
NAC, P.O. Box 132, Oshkosh, WI 54903.
Send copies of your e-mails to:
WHAT SHOULD YOU SAY?
When you write:
a) Be polite.
b) Be known. Give your name and address. If you are a frequent visitor to National Forests, be sure to point that out. Anonymous letters have very little impact.
c) Be focused. Keep your correspondence brief and on target.
d) Be productive. You may certainly express your indignation over the poor decisions made by the Forest Service concerning Bagby Hot Springs and the abrupt and destructive change to the tradition of benign nude use there. Who could blame you for being upset? However, you must do more than simply scold and complain. You must point out that the Forest Service has the opportunity and responsibility to manage FOR the historic and traditional clothing-optional use of Bagby Hot Springs.
e) Be part of the solution. Volunteers and activist groups, including the Naturist Action Committee, have expressed a strong interest in working WITH the Forest Service for the benefit of the public and the preservation of treasures like Bagby Hot Springs. When the Forest Service ignores help from volunteer groups and fails to keep them informed, it squanders a valuable resource. Emphasize the value of involving the public in the care of public land.
f) Be clear. Say that you OPPOSE the notion of privatizing Bagby.
Additional writing points:
a) The destruction of the historic tubs at Bagby Hot Springs is just the most visible indicator of the intent to change the traditional nature of Bagby without seeking public input. Despite specific requests to be included in considerations at Bagby, individual volunteers and interested parties like the Northwest Forest Conservancy and the Naturist Action Committee were ignored. That's simply NOT a proper way to manage a public resource.
b) The changes to the traditional configuration of the bath house and the nudity restrictions there are a slap in the face to naturists and others who understand that nude soaking is the historically authentic way of enjoying Bagby and many other natural hot springs.
c) Like most individuals and other government agencies, officials of the Forest Service are presently faced with funding shortfalls. Shedding areas and features and assigning them to private operators may seem like an attractive solution, but it creates a long term policy that shortchanges the public and is not likely to be undone when economic hard times abate.
d) Visitors to Bagby already pay for parking, and the reality is that the Forest Service is not likely to give up that revenue. A private operator will have to charge an additional fee to justify its own effort. A concessionaire will likely choose not to keep Bagby open during less profitable night time hours. Suddenly, a public treasure like Bagby becomes less affordable and less accessible.
e) The Forest Service has already sought private bidders to operate Bagby. One of those that was expected to bid has said that it's not interested AT THIS TIME. That changes very little about the concern over the lack of public notice and diminished opportunities for public involvement.
MORE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES
Additional information and links are available, along with this NAC Action Alert on the web site of the Naturist Action Committee.
http:// www.naturistaction.org
Select "Alerts" and find this NAC Action Alert under Current Alerts.
PLEASE HELP NAC TO CONTINUE HELPING NATURISTS!
The Naturist Action Committee is the volunteer nonprofit political adjunct to The Naturist Society. NAC exists to advance and protect the rights and interests of naturists throughout North America. Fighting for the clothing-optional recreational use of public land is expensive. To do its job, NAC relies entirely on the voluntary generosity of supporters like you.
After you've contacted the officials on the list, please take a moment to send a donation to:
NAC
PO Box 132
Oshkosh, WI 54903
Or call toll free (800) 886-7230 to donate by phone using your MasterCard, Visa or Discover Card. Or use your credit card to make a convenient online donation: http://www.naturistaction.org/donate/
Thank you for choosing to make a difference!
Naturally,
Don Zirbel
Board Member
Naturist Action Committee
---------------------------------------------------------------
Naturist Action Committee (NAC) - PO Box 132, Oshkosh, WI 54903
Executive Dir. Bob Morton - execdir@naturistaction.org
Board Member Don Zirbel - orcoba@live.com
Online Rep. Dennis Kirkpatrick - naturist@sunclad.com
---------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
NAC Update- San Onofre, California
*******************************************************************
NATURIST ACTION COMMITTEE
UPDATE
*******************************************************************
http://www.naturistaction.org
*******************************************************************
Copyright 2010 by the Naturist Action Committee, which is responsible for its content.
Permission is granted for the posting, forwarding or redistribution of this message, provided
that it is reproduced in its entirety and without alteration.
DATE : December 20, 2010
SUBJECT: San Onofre Update
TO : All naturists and other concerned citizens
Dear Naturist,
This is an update from the Naturist Action Committee (NAC) on the status of San Onofre State Beach in California and NAC's ongoing effort on behalf of naturists there.
CASES DISMISSED
NAC is pleased to announce that the first two contested citations for nudity at San Onofre State Beach have been dismissed by a Superior Court judge in San Diego County.
Beach regulars Greg and Barbara Young were ticketed by Ranger Mike Story on September 12, 2010. They are among as many as twenty individuals who have received citations for nudity in the traditional clothing-optional area of San Onofre since the California Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) rescinded the Cahill Policy and abruptly declared the beach to be mandatorily clothed. The tickets have been issued as misdemeanor violations of title 14, section 4322 of the California Code of Regulations.
Although Monday’s action was the first involving contested charges, two other ticketed individuals had previously chosen not to contest their citations and had entered into plea bargains. The accepted deals in those cases had reduced each charge to an infraction, which has been compared to the severity of a parking ticket.
A similar deal was offered to Greg and Barbara Young in court on Monday. However, representing the Youngs, California defense attorney and NAC Board member Allen Baylis rejected the offer, saying that the naturist defendants were understandably upset and indignant about the charges, and they wished to have their day in court, before a jury of their peers.
It was no bluff. The Naturist Action Committee has a list of willing defendants, and NAC has been preparing for this challenge. NAC has enlisted the advice of outside counsel and has set aside funds for the purpose.
Faced with the rejection of her offer and the naturists’ insistence on a jury trial, Deputy District Attorney Chris Ryan moved for a dismissal of the charges. Superior Court Judge Richard E. Mills granted the motion and dismissed the charges.
TICKETING CONTINUES AT SAN ONOFRE
NAC advises naturists that ticketing continues at San Onofre State Beach.
The source of the citations in each of the recent instances has been Ranger Mike Story, a 2006 product of the state's park ranger academy. Story's modus operandi is to stalk his quarry through field glasses or through the viewfinder of a camera from the top of a cliff overlooking the beach.
After he sights his target, Ranger Story cites his target, hurrying down to make the confrontation by driving along the beach at speeds some have called unsafe. Although other rangers (and lifeguards) are authorized to give tickets for nudity, Mike Story is the only one presently doing so at San Onofre State Beach.
WHAT IS NAC DOING?
Citations for nudity at San Onofre are being issued under California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 14, section 4322, a misdemeanor. In close coordination with Friends of San Onofre Beach, the local TNS-affiliated beach user group, the Naturist Action Committee is working to help with legal issues. It is our continuing intent to assist persons who are cited for nudity at Trail 6, while they are nude under appropriate circumstances. The specific nature of that assistance will likely vary from case to case.
The San Diego County prosecutor's office has offered plea bargains to defendants. NAC understands and respects the matter of an individual's personal choice in accepting or rejecting such a deal. Nevertheless, standing up to the charges is an important way to challenge their legitimacy. NAC stands ready to assist those who contest the charges.
As detailed in other NAC Action Alerts, Advisories and Updates, the Naturist Action Committee is leading an effort to have areas in California state park units specifically designated for clothing-optional use. While NAC continues to oppose ticketing at the traditional clothing-optional area of San Onofre, we are simultaneously working WITH the California Department of Parks and Recreation, as well as with the California Park and Recreation Commission, to advance the opportunities for officially accepted clothing-optional recreation.
WE MUST NOT ABANDON SAN ONOFRE BEACH
Friends of San Onofre Beach, the Naturist Action Committee and naturists everywhere need your assistance. First and foremost, we must not abandon our beach. If we do not maintain our presence at Trail 6, the Parks Department will have successfully imposed the intolerant will of a tiny handful of bureaucrats on the large numbers who enjoy responsible clothing-optional recreation on public land. We cannot let that happen. The naturist community is depending on us to stand our ground.
A citation for violating section 4322 of the CCR is a misdemeanor and is certainly a legal issue that must be addressed. However, a conviction under section 4322 DOES NOT require sex offender registration. Disturbing the peace may be charged as an infraction, similar to a minor traffic violation.
CAMP PENDLETON
The traditional clothing-optional area at Trail 6 of San Onofre State Beach is immediately adjacent to a portion of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. Some who seek escape from the intolerance and harassment of the California Department of Parks and Recreation have relocated their clothing-optional activities across the fence to the Marine Base.
Although there has been no recent response from the Marines, any unauthorized presence on the military property is considered trespassing. The Naturist Action Committee does not endorse or encourage the use of Pendleton's beach for clothing-optional recreation. It's unlikely that NAC will be able to help those who find themselves facing a federal charge of trespass on a military facility.
WHOM TO NOTIFY OF TICKET INCIDENTS AT SAN ONOFRE BEACH
If you witness an incident at the State Beach (e.g., ticketing, harassment - official or personal -, user misbehavior, or shallow burial of a large marine mammal in a recreational area), please contact Allen Baylis by phone at (714) 962-0915 or by e-mail at: rab@baylislaw.com
Alternatively, you may contact NAC Executive Director Bob Morton by phone at (512) 282-6621 or by e-mail at: execdir@naturistaction.org
LOCAL SUPPORT
Throughout the ongoing ordeal with the California DPR, the members of Friends of San Onofre Beach have done an extraordinary job of pulling their own weight for the beach they cherish. To donate to Friends of San Onofre Beach, you may send a check to:
Friends of San Onofre Beach
P. O. Box 6283
Huntington Beach, CA 92615
WATCH FOR INFORMATION FROM NAC
Watch for NAC Action Alerts, Advisories and Updates on this and other important issues affecting naturists.
You may also stay informed by checking the following websites: http://www.friendsofsanonofre.org
Get on the e-mail list of Friends of San Onofre Beach by sending your request to: info@friendsofsanonofre.org
PLEASE HELP NAC TO CONTINUE HELPING NATURISTS!
The Naturist Action Committee remains committed to the vigorous defense of the clothing-optional use of public land. Activism on behalf of naturists can be expensive. NAC relies entirely on the voluntary financial support of people like YOU.
Won't you please send a generous donation to:
NAC
PO Box 132
Oshkosh, WI 54903
Or call toll free (800) 886-7230 (8AM-4PM, Central Time, weekdays) to donate by phone using your MasterCard, Visa or Discover Card. Or use your credit card to make a convenient online donation: www.naturistaction.org/donate/
Thank you for choosing to make a difference.
Naturally,
Bob Morton
Executive Director
Naturist Action Committee
---------------------------------------------------------------
Naturist Action Committee (NAC) - PO Box 132, Oshkosh, WI 54903
Executive Dir. Bob Morton - execdir@naturistaction.org
Board Member Allen Baylis - rab@baylislaw.com
Online Rep. Dennis Kirkpatrick - naturist@sunclad.com
---------------------------------------------------------------
NATURIST ACTION COMMITTEE
UPDATE
*******************************************************************
http://www.naturistaction.org
*******************************************************************
Copyright 2010 by the Naturist Action Committee, which is responsible for its content.
Permission is granted for the posting, forwarding or redistribution of this message, provided
that it is reproduced in its entirety and without alteration.
DATE : December 20, 2010
SUBJECT: San Onofre Update
TO : All naturists and other concerned citizens
Dear Naturist,
This is an update from the Naturist Action Committee (NAC) on the status of San Onofre State Beach in California and NAC's ongoing effort on behalf of naturists there.
CASES DISMISSED
NAC is pleased to announce that the first two contested citations for nudity at San Onofre State Beach have been dismissed by a Superior Court judge in San Diego County.
Beach regulars Greg and Barbara Young were ticketed by Ranger Mike Story on September 12, 2010. They are among as many as twenty individuals who have received citations for nudity in the traditional clothing-optional area of San Onofre since the California Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) rescinded the Cahill Policy and abruptly declared the beach to be mandatorily clothed. The tickets have been issued as misdemeanor violations of title 14, section 4322 of the California Code of Regulations.
Although Monday’s action was the first involving contested charges, two other ticketed individuals had previously chosen not to contest their citations and had entered into plea bargains. The accepted deals in those cases had reduced each charge to an infraction, which has been compared to the severity of a parking ticket.
A similar deal was offered to Greg and Barbara Young in court on Monday. However, representing the Youngs, California defense attorney and NAC Board member Allen Baylis rejected the offer, saying that the naturist defendants were understandably upset and indignant about the charges, and they wished to have their day in court, before a jury of their peers.
It was no bluff. The Naturist Action Committee has a list of willing defendants, and NAC has been preparing for this challenge. NAC has enlisted the advice of outside counsel and has set aside funds for the purpose.
Faced with the rejection of her offer and the naturists’ insistence on a jury trial, Deputy District Attorney Chris Ryan moved for a dismissal of the charges. Superior Court Judge Richard E. Mills granted the motion and dismissed the charges.
TICKETING CONTINUES AT SAN ONOFRE
NAC advises naturists that ticketing continues at San Onofre State Beach.
The source of the citations in each of the recent instances has been Ranger Mike Story, a 2006 product of the state's park ranger academy. Story's modus operandi is to stalk his quarry through field glasses or through the viewfinder of a camera from the top of a cliff overlooking the beach.
After he sights his target, Ranger Story cites his target, hurrying down to make the confrontation by driving along the beach at speeds some have called unsafe. Although other rangers (and lifeguards) are authorized to give tickets for nudity, Mike Story is the only one presently doing so at San Onofre State Beach.
WHAT IS NAC DOING?
Citations for nudity at San Onofre are being issued under California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 14, section 4322, a misdemeanor. In close coordination with Friends of San Onofre Beach, the local TNS-affiliated beach user group, the Naturist Action Committee is working to help with legal issues. It is our continuing intent to assist persons who are cited for nudity at Trail 6, while they are nude under appropriate circumstances. The specific nature of that assistance will likely vary from case to case.
The San Diego County prosecutor's office has offered plea bargains to defendants. NAC understands and respects the matter of an individual's personal choice in accepting or rejecting such a deal. Nevertheless, standing up to the charges is an important way to challenge their legitimacy. NAC stands ready to assist those who contest the charges.
As detailed in other NAC Action Alerts, Advisories and Updates, the Naturist Action Committee is leading an effort to have areas in California state park units specifically designated for clothing-optional use. While NAC continues to oppose ticketing at the traditional clothing-optional area of San Onofre, we are simultaneously working WITH the California Department of Parks and Recreation, as well as with the California Park and Recreation Commission, to advance the opportunities for officially accepted clothing-optional recreation.
WE MUST NOT ABANDON SAN ONOFRE BEACH
Friends of San Onofre Beach, the Naturist Action Committee and naturists everywhere need your assistance. First and foremost, we must not abandon our beach. If we do not maintain our presence at Trail 6, the Parks Department will have successfully imposed the intolerant will of a tiny handful of bureaucrats on the large numbers who enjoy responsible clothing-optional recreation on public land. We cannot let that happen. The naturist community is depending on us to stand our ground.
A citation for violating section 4322 of the CCR is a misdemeanor and is certainly a legal issue that must be addressed. However, a conviction under section 4322 DOES NOT require sex offender registration. Disturbing the peace may be charged as an infraction, similar to a minor traffic violation.
CAMP PENDLETON
The traditional clothing-optional area at Trail 6 of San Onofre State Beach is immediately adjacent to a portion of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. Some who seek escape from the intolerance and harassment of the California Department of Parks and Recreation have relocated their clothing-optional activities across the fence to the Marine Base.
Although there has been no recent response from the Marines, any unauthorized presence on the military property is considered trespassing. The Naturist Action Committee does not endorse or encourage the use of Pendleton's beach for clothing-optional recreation. It's unlikely that NAC will be able to help those who find themselves facing a federal charge of trespass on a military facility.
WHOM TO NOTIFY OF TICKET INCIDENTS AT SAN ONOFRE BEACH
If you witness an incident at the State Beach (e.g., ticketing, harassment - official or personal -, user misbehavior, or shallow burial of a large marine mammal in a recreational area), please contact Allen Baylis by phone at (714) 962-0915 or by e-mail at: rab@baylislaw.com
Alternatively, you may contact NAC Executive Director Bob Morton by phone at (512) 282-6621 or by e-mail at: execdir@naturistaction.org
LOCAL SUPPORT
Throughout the ongoing ordeal with the California DPR, the members of Friends of San Onofre Beach have done an extraordinary job of pulling their own weight for the beach they cherish. To donate to Friends of San Onofre Beach, you may send a check to:
Friends of San Onofre Beach
P. O. Box 6283
Huntington Beach, CA 92615
WATCH FOR INFORMATION FROM NAC
Watch for NAC Action Alerts, Advisories and Updates on this and other important issues affecting naturists.
You may also stay informed by checking the following websites: http://www.friendsofsanonofre.org
Get on the e-mail list of Friends of San Onofre Beach by sending your request to: info@friendsofsanonofre.org
PLEASE HELP NAC TO CONTINUE HELPING NATURISTS!
The Naturist Action Committee remains committed to the vigorous defense of the clothing-optional use of public land. Activism on behalf of naturists can be expensive. NAC relies entirely on the voluntary financial support of people like YOU.
Won't you please send a generous donation to:
NAC
PO Box 132
Oshkosh, WI 54903
Or call toll free (800) 886-7230 (8AM-4PM, Central Time, weekdays) to donate by phone using your MasterCard, Visa or Discover Card. Or use your credit card to make a convenient online donation: www.naturistaction.org/donate/
Thank you for choosing to make a difference.
Naturally,
Bob Morton
Executive Director
Naturist Action Committee
---------------------------------------------------------------
Naturist Action Committee (NAC) - PO Box 132, Oshkosh, WI 54903
Executive Dir. Bob Morton - execdir@naturistaction.org
Board Member Allen Baylis - rab@baylislaw.com
Online Rep. Dennis Kirkpatrick - naturist@sunclad.com
---------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
NAC Update- State of California
**********************************************************************
NATURIST ACTION COMMITTEE
UPDATE
**********************************************************************
http://www.naturistaction.org
**********************************************************************
Copyright 2010 by the Naturist Action Committee, which is responsible
for its content. Permission is granted for the posting, forwarding or
redistribution of this message, provided that it is reproduced in its
entirety and without alteration.
DATE : December 13, 2010
SUBJECT: California
TO : Naturists and other concerned citizens
Dear Naturist,
This is an Update from the Naturist Action Committee on an important issue.
NATURISTS ADDRESS CALIFORNIA PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION
Scores of concerned naturists have responded to the NAC Action Alert of November 23, 2010, by sending letters and e-mails to the California Park and Recreation Commission. Reflecting an originality and sense of genuine personal involvement that have come to typify messages from naturists, writers from California and across the continent have requested that the Commission set aside land for clothing-optional recreation in units of the State Park system.
NAC expresses its enthusiastic gratitude to the large numbers of you who have taken the time to make a difference by contacting the Commission. Your efforts are already having an important impact!
A REPORT ON THE COMMISSION'S PUBLIC MEETING OF DECEMBER 10
Since the presentation by the Naturist Action Committee to the Park and Rec Commission of a petition calling for designation of places set apart for clothing-optional recreation, NAC has been following up with letters to the Commission and personal appearances at meetings of the Commission.
In addition to issuing a call for correspondence, NAC asked for local naturists to attend a public meeting of the State Park and Recreation Commission that was held in San Diego on Friday, December 10, 2010.
FORTY naturists attended that meeting, making up an impressive two-thirds of the audience. Of those who attended, TWENTY-SIX addressed the Commission directly during the portion of the meeting reserved for public comment. For almost a solid hour, Park and Rec Commission members heard from naturists.
NAC executive director Bob Morton led off, and NAC board member Allen Baylis batted cleanup. In between, the gratifyingly diverse array of naturist speakers included women and men, young and old, straight and gay, NAC and NEF Area Representatives, lifelong Californians, immigrants from other countries, and even three naturists who have received recent citations for nudity at San Onofre State Beach, as a result of the arbitrary change of policy there.
NAC appreciates the impressive voluntary participation of those attended, those who brought their "Nude Beaches YES!" signs, and those who spoke to the Commission. When the supporters of designation for areas of clothing-optional recreation were asked to stand in the audience and be seen, the members of the Commission couldn't help but recognize the grass roots nature of the message.
The matter of designation was not a Commission agenda item, and was therefore not considered in a vote. That was intentional; NAC had not asked for an agenda item. Instead, NAC chose the "public comment" method of presentation as the most effective way to advance an issue that typically benefits from personalization and familiarization BEFORE official commitment.
NAC will, of course, be asking for the Commission's official commitment. The Commission has the authority to designate, and it has the responsibility to establish general policy and to recommend policy to the Department of Parks and Recreation. NAC seeks both designation and an accompanying policy for clothing-optional recreation.
OPPOSITION
The opposition to designation is NOT coming from the public. After all, the 2009 NEF California Poll showed that an impressive SIXTY-TWO PERCENT of California adults favor the designation of areas for clothing-optional recreation in State Parks. That California-specific opinion survey, which was commissioned just last year by the Naturist Education Foundation and was independently administered by Zogby International, shows that an overwhelming SEVENTY-NINE PERCENT of Californians agree that people should be able to enjoy nude sunbathing at a beach or other area that is designated for that purpose.
Further, the same poll reveals that SIXTY PERCENT of Californians are NOT offended by the non-sexual nudity of others.
Rather, the opposition to designation is coming from a few bureaucrats within the Department of Parks and Recreation. (Remember that the Department is different from the Commission.) Kathryn Tobias, the Department's Senior Staff Counsel, wrote in a memorandum dated December 10, 2010, that the Cahill Policy "no longer applies to any unit of the State Park System."
Simply put, those public servants who oppose designation for clothing-optional recreation are NOT being responsive the wishes, the preferences, the expressed opinions and the will of the people of California.
THE NEED FOR YOUR INVOLVEMENT CONTINUES
Whether or not you've written or attended the meeting in San Diego, you can still help. NAC asks that you write to the Commission. Send your comments by e-mail, fax or surface mail. If you haven't yet expressed yourself to the Commission, now is your chance. Those who have already written or have attended the meeting on December 10 are also encouraged to write again. We should be prepared to sing more than one verse of this song.
WHO SHOULD WRITE?
NAC is requesting ALL NATURISTS and other concerned individuals to contact California officials on this important matter, regardless of your place of residence. California understands the importance of out-of-state visitors who come to enjoy the state's beaches, lakes and streams. The opportunity to provide diverse recreational opportunities applies to those visitors, as well as to California residents. While all are encouraged to make their voices heard, the participation of Californians is, of course, particularly important.
Send a letter, a fax or an e-mail. Phone calls will likely be ineffective in this specific context.
California State Park & Recreation Commission
P.O. Box 942896
Sacramento, CA 94296
FAX: (916) 654-6374
Louis Nastro, Assistant to the Commission
E-MAIL: LNastro@parks.ca.gov
Send a copy to:
California Department of Natural Resources
Natural Resources Agency
1416 Ninth Street, Suite 1311
Sacramento, CA 95814
FAX: (916) 653-8102
E-MAIL: secretary@resources.ca.gov
NAC encourages you to send copies of your faxes and paper mail to:
NAC, P.O. Box 132, Oshkosh, WI 54903.
Send copies of your e-mails to:
CA@naturistaction.org
WHAT SHOULD YOU SAY?
When you write:
a) Be polite.
b) Be known. Give your name and address. If you are a California
resident or a frequent visitor to California, be sure to point
that out. Anonymous letters have very little impact.
c) Be focused. Keep your correspondence brief and on target.
d) Be positive. Remember that we're trying to ENCOURAGE the Park
and Recreation Commission to do something. Please do not take
a scolding tone.
e) Be clear. Say that you SUPPORT NAC's petition asking for
designation of clothing-optional areas in units of the State
Park System.
f) Be appreciative. Thank the Commission for its consideration
of the letters it has already received. Thank the Commission
for its attention to the naturists who spoke at the December 10
meeting in San Diego.
Additional writing points:
a) NAC and fifteen of its allies have submitted to the Commission a thoughtful petition that addresses the issues of designation and policy for clothing-optional recreation throughout the ENTIRE State of California.
This is NOT just about San Onofre State Beach. Although that beach was the first State Park unit at which DPR has killed its policy for managing clothing-optional recreation, it will not be the last. The present lack of a comprehensive statewide policy threatens ALL clothing-optional areas in California State Park units. Consider the implications for Black's (Torrey Pines), Gaviota, Bonny Doon and many others.
b) For thirty years, the Department's Cahill Policy allowed a means to manage for clothing-optional recreation in units of the State Park system. The nullification of the Cahill Policy has left the department with no statewide policy to address a form of recreation that's obviously popular with the public. The submitted petition proposes a specific way to address the management of clothing-optional recreation.
c) Using statistics that are misleading (and too often just plain wrong), officials of the California Parks and Rec Department have attempted to point to lewd behavior as a reason for prohibiting nudity. The public is not well served by such improperly supported allegations. The Naturist Action Committee has made the Department and the Commission aware of the misrepresentations and will be doing so even more specifically in the coming weeks.
WHAT'S NEXT
NAC is working with the California Park and Recreation Commission to determine the most appropriate way to proceed. Please watch for future Action Alerts, Advisories and Updates from the Naturist Action Committee.
MORE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES
Additional information and links are available, along with this NAC Action Alert on the web site of the Naturist Action Committee.
http://www.naturistaction.org
Select "Alerts, Advisories and Updates," and find this NAC Update under Current Updates.
PLEASE HELP NAC TO CONTINUE HELPING NATURISTS!
The Naturist Action Committee is the volunteer nonprofit political adjunct to The Naturist Society. NAC exists to advance and protect the rights and interests of naturists throughout North America. Fighting for the clothing-optional recreational use of public land is expensive. To do its job, NAC relies entirely on the voluntary generosity of supporters like you.
Please take a moment to send a donation to:
NAC
PO Box 132
Oshkosh, WI 54903
Or call toll free (800) 886-7230 to donate by phone using your MasterCard, Visa or Discover Card. Or use your credit card to make a convenient online donation: www.naturistaction.org/donate/
Thank you for choosing to make a difference!
Naturally,
Bob Morton
Executive Director
Naturist Action Committee
---------------------------------------------------------------
Naturist Action Committee (NAC) - PO Box 132, Oshkosh, WI 54903
Executive Dir. Bob Morton - execdir@naturistaction.org
Board Member Allen Baylis - rab@baylislaw.com
Online Rep. Dennis Kirkpatrick - naturist@sunclad.com
---------------------------------------------------------------
NATURIST ACTION COMMITTEE
UPDATE
**********************************************************************
http://www.naturistaction.org
**********************************************************************
Copyright 2010 by the Naturist Action Committee, which is responsible
for its content. Permission is granted for the posting, forwarding or
redistribution of this message, provided that it is reproduced in its
entirety and without alteration.
DATE : December 13, 2010
SUBJECT: California
TO : Naturists and other concerned citizens
Dear Naturist,
This is an Update from the Naturist Action Committee on an important issue.
NATURISTS ADDRESS CALIFORNIA PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION
Scores of concerned naturists have responded to the NAC Action Alert of November 23, 2010, by sending letters and e-mails to the California Park and Recreation Commission. Reflecting an originality and sense of genuine personal involvement that have come to typify messages from naturists, writers from California and across the continent have requested that the Commission set aside land for clothing-optional recreation in units of the State Park system.
NAC expresses its enthusiastic gratitude to the large numbers of you who have taken the time to make a difference by contacting the Commission. Your efforts are already having an important impact!
A REPORT ON THE COMMISSION'S PUBLIC MEETING OF DECEMBER 10
Since the presentation by the Naturist Action Committee to the Park and Rec Commission of a petition calling for designation of places set apart for clothing-optional recreation, NAC has been following up with letters to the Commission and personal appearances at meetings of the Commission.
In addition to issuing a call for correspondence, NAC asked for local naturists to attend a public meeting of the State Park and Recreation Commission that was held in San Diego on Friday, December 10, 2010.
FORTY naturists attended that meeting, making up an impressive two-thirds of the audience. Of those who attended, TWENTY-SIX addressed the Commission directly during the portion of the meeting reserved for public comment. For almost a solid hour, Park and Rec Commission members heard from naturists.
NAC executive director Bob Morton led off, and NAC board member Allen Baylis batted cleanup. In between, the gratifyingly diverse array of naturist speakers included women and men, young and old, straight and gay, NAC and NEF Area Representatives, lifelong Californians, immigrants from other countries, and even three naturists who have received recent citations for nudity at San Onofre State Beach, as a result of the arbitrary change of policy there.
NAC appreciates the impressive voluntary participation of those attended, those who brought their "Nude Beaches YES!" signs, and those who spoke to the Commission. When the supporters of designation for areas of clothing-optional recreation were asked to stand in the audience and be seen, the members of the Commission couldn't help but recognize the grass roots nature of the message.
The matter of designation was not a Commission agenda item, and was therefore not considered in a vote. That was intentional; NAC had not asked for an agenda item. Instead, NAC chose the "public comment" method of presentation as the most effective way to advance an issue that typically benefits from personalization and familiarization BEFORE official commitment.
NAC will, of course, be asking for the Commission's official commitment. The Commission has the authority to designate, and it has the responsibility to establish general policy and to recommend policy to the Department of Parks and Recreation. NAC seeks both designation and an accompanying policy for clothing-optional recreation.
OPPOSITION
The opposition to designation is NOT coming from the public. After all, the 2009 NEF California Poll showed that an impressive SIXTY-TWO PERCENT of California adults favor the designation of areas for clothing-optional recreation in State Parks. That California-specific opinion survey, which was commissioned just last year by the Naturist Education Foundation and was independently administered by Zogby International, shows that an overwhelming SEVENTY-NINE PERCENT of Californians agree that people should be able to enjoy nude sunbathing at a beach or other area that is designated for that purpose.
Further, the same poll reveals that SIXTY PERCENT of Californians are NOT offended by the non-sexual nudity of others.
Rather, the opposition to designation is coming from a few bureaucrats within the Department of Parks and Recreation. (Remember that the Department is different from the Commission.) Kathryn Tobias, the Department's Senior Staff Counsel, wrote in a memorandum dated December 10, 2010, that the Cahill Policy "no longer applies to any unit of the State Park System."
Simply put, those public servants who oppose designation for clothing-optional recreation are NOT being responsive the wishes, the preferences, the expressed opinions and the will of the people of California.
THE NEED FOR YOUR INVOLVEMENT CONTINUES
Whether or not you've written or attended the meeting in San Diego, you can still help. NAC asks that you write to the Commission. Send your comments by e-mail, fax or surface mail. If you haven't yet expressed yourself to the Commission, now is your chance. Those who have already written or have attended the meeting on December 10 are also encouraged to write again. We should be prepared to sing more than one verse of this song.
WHO SHOULD WRITE?
NAC is requesting ALL NATURISTS and other concerned individuals to contact California officials on this important matter, regardless of your place of residence. California understands the importance of out-of-state visitors who come to enjoy the state's beaches, lakes and streams. The opportunity to provide diverse recreational opportunities applies to those visitors, as well as to California residents. While all are encouraged to make their voices heard, the participation of Californians is, of course, particularly important.
Send a letter, a fax or an e-mail. Phone calls will likely be ineffective in this specific context.
California State Park & Recreation Commission
P.O. Box 942896
Sacramento, CA 94296
FAX: (916) 654-6374
Louis Nastro, Assistant to the Commission
E-MAIL: LNastro@parks.ca.gov
Send a copy to:
California Department of Natural Resources
Natural Resources Agency
1416 Ninth Street, Suite 1311
Sacramento, CA 95814
FAX: (916) 653-8102
E-MAIL: secretary@resources.ca.gov
NAC encourages you to send copies of your faxes and paper mail to:
NAC, P.O. Box 132, Oshkosh, WI 54903.
Send copies of your e-mails to:
CA@naturistaction.org
WHAT SHOULD YOU SAY?
When you write:
a) Be polite.
b) Be known. Give your name and address. If you are a California
resident or a frequent visitor to California, be sure to point
that out. Anonymous letters have very little impact.
c) Be focused. Keep your correspondence brief and on target.
d) Be positive. Remember that we're trying to ENCOURAGE the Park
and Recreation Commission to do something. Please do not take
a scolding tone.
e) Be clear. Say that you SUPPORT NAC's petition asking for
designation of clothing-optional areas in units of the State
Park System.
f) Be appreciative. Thank the Commission for its consideration
of the letters it has already received. Thank the Commission
for its attention to the naturists who spoke at the December 10
meeting in San Diego.
Additional writing points:
a) NAC and fifteen of its allies have submitted to the Commission a thoughtful petition that addresses the issues of designation and policy for clothing-optional recreation throughout the ENTIRE State of California.
This is NOT just about San Onofre State Beach. Although that beach was the first State Park unit at which DPR has killed its policy for managing clothing-optional recreation, it will not be the last. The present lack of a comprehensive statewide policy threatens ALL clothing-optional areas in California State Park units. Consider the implications for Black's (Torrey Pines), Gaviota, Bonny Doon and many others.
b) For thirty years, the Department's Cahill Policy allowed a means to manage for clothing-optional recreation in units of the State Park system. The nullification of the Cahill Policy has left the department with no statewide policy to address a form of recreation that's obviously popular with the public. The submitted petition proposes a specific way to address the management of clothing-optional recreation.
c) Using statistics that are misleading (and too often just plain wrong), officials of the California Parks and Rec Department have attempted to point to lewd behavior as a reason for prohibiting nudity. The public is not well served by such improperly supported allegations. The Naturist Action Committee has made the Department and the Commission aware of the misrepresentations and will be doing so even more specifically in the coming weeks.
WHAT'S NEXT
NAC is working with the California Park and Recreation Commission to determine the most appropriate way to proceed. Please watch for future Action Alerts, Advisories and Updates from the Naturist Action Committee.
MORE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES
Additional information and links are available, along with this NAC Action Alert on the web site of the Naturist Action Committee.
http://www.naturistaction.org
Select "Alerts, Advisories and Updates," and find this NAC Update under Current Updates.
PLEASE HELP NAC TO CONTINUE HELPING NATURISTS!
The Naturist Action Committee is the volunteer nonprofit political adjunct to The Naturist Society. NAC exists to advance and protect the rights and interests of naturists throughout North America. Fighting for the clothing-optional recreational use of public land is expensive. To do its job, NAC relies entirely on the voluntary generosity of supporters like you.
Please take a moment to send a donation to:
NAC
PO Box 132
Oshkosh, WI 54903
Or call toll free (800) 886-7230 to donate by phone using your MasterCard, Visa or Discover Card. Or use your credit card to make a convenient online donation: www.naturistaction.org/donate/
Thank you for choosing to make a difference!
Naturally,
Bob Morton
Executive Director
Naturist Action Committee
---------------------------------------------------------------
Naturist Action Committee (NAC) - PO Box 132, Oshkosh, WI 54903
Executive Dir. Bob Morton - execdir@naturistaction.org
Board Member Allen Baylis - rab@baylislaw.com
Online Rep. Dennis Kirkpatrick - naturist@sunclad.com
---------------------------------------------------------------
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