In This Issue:
Annual
Business Meeting March 9
College
Greek Athletic Meet March 23
Naturist
Festival Proves Productive
Annual Business Meeting March 9
Our Annual Business Meeting, election of officers, and picnic take place
March 9 this year. We will eat at
1:00, and meet at 2:00. Bring food
to share. (Note from the editor: If
you don’t want to come for the meeting, come for the food and “fellowship”. To me the spice of a meal is the people
I eat with.)
We have weighty matters to discuss.
One concerns technology. As
we and other clubs switch to electronic newsletters, we are all having to
re-examine our policies of disclosure and privacy. Like it or not, the age of technology is
upon us, and we have to make some bylaw decisions.
The other big area of consideration involves money and land. Unlike many other organizations this
year, we have made a small profit.
But some income intended for the Land Fund had to be used to cover
general expenses. We will vote on a
controversial proposal to lower annual lake fees from $135 to $125, which some
people think will actually bring in more money--or at least simplify the
bookkeeping.
The Thalheimer estate has taken longer than expected to clear probate,
but the $15,000 in matching funds is now available. We have one year to use it or lose
it. That means buying land. But unless we grow back to our former
size, we will not have the cash flow to cover mortgage payments. Come and see what you think of a
proposal to bypass the bank by offering attractive incentives to a few
investors.
We are also scheduled to vote on a new logo--provided that designs have
been submitted by March 1.
All board positions are up for re-election, and all committee members are
up for reappointment. Our
committees include Social, Political, Land Search, and Grounds. If you are interested in helping to lead
in any way, let Grant know before the meeting.
Persons who absolutely cannot attend the meeting can send in absentee
ballots. (Make up your own,
indicating your vote on each question, or choice for each office.) Absentee ballots must be in a sealed
envelope, with an explanatory cover letter outside. Members must vote to accept your reason
for non-attendance before the envelope is opened.
Whatever you do, don't miss the meeting. Too many important decisions hang in the
balance. Besides, it's time to
celebrate the end of an unusually cold winter.
Bylaw Proposals
Proposal I--Establish a
waiting period before putting former members on the board.
Amend Article V, Section B-1
by adding the italicized wording, to read:
B. Qualifications
1. Any
paid-up member is eligible for election or appointment to the board of directors
after attending two membership meetings, or one membership meeting and two board
meetings. These may include the
meeting at which he or she is elected. Persons whose club membership
has lapsed more than a year must requalify. Candidates are subject to these
restrictions:
a. No
two members of a married or social couple shall serve on the board at the same
time.
b.
Persons holding dual membership may not serve simultaneously on the
boards of two clubs.
Proposal 2--Bring computer
terminology up to date.
Amend Article V, Section I
by deleting the crossed out term, and substituting the italicized one, to
read:
I. The
board shall annually appoint a legal advisor, a bookkeeper, an electronic
mail co-ordinator a webmaster, and a newsletter editor. These persons may, but need not, be
board members, and may hold other offices. All appointments are subject to
change at any time.
Proposal 3--Make privacy
adjustments for an electronic newsletter.
Amend Article IX--Sections A
and C by deleting crossed-out words, and adding italicized wording, to
read:
A. The
board shall appoint an editor, and establish a publication schedule of at least
four two major issues a year plus monthly electronic updates
when there is news. In all
matters concerning the newsletter, the editor shall have final say, but is
subject to replacement by the board at any time.
C. No
member's recognizable picture shall be published without previous written
permission. Members may request in
writing that their last names not be mentioned in the
newsletter.
These are
the rules concerning protection of privacy:
1. No member's recognizable picture shall be published without previous written permission.
2. Last names, personal telephone numbers, and directions to anyone's house shall never be accessible from unsecured sites on the Internet, except by written permission. These matters can be placed in a secure "Members Only" site or section, or sent directly to members. People may even request in writing that such information be distributed nowhere--except under subsection 3.
3. Club members are entitled to know the identity of all club officials, including persons in important appointed positions down as far as committee chairs. That information shall be communicated to all members after the Annual Business Meeting or any other significant change of leadership.
4. All opinion pieces (including letters to the editor) must be signed. The author can request that distribution of his or her message be restricted to members only.
Proposal 4--[a continuation
of Proposal 3--to be voted on separately]
5. Provided that none of the above principles are violated, the board has the option of making current issues of the newsletter accessible to the public by posting on the club's web page or on a legitimate newsletter exchange site.
[Point of information: The board has no immediate plans to post
the newsletter on our web site (though the Bay Bares have been doing it for
years). But things are changing
fast. An electronic Florida
newsletter exchange bulletin board will probably be operational by the time we
vote on this.]
Proposal 5--Acknowledge
dress codes for special events.
Amend Article X, Section D,
by adding the italicized wording, to read:
D. The
first visit is clothing-optional for women and children. Otherwise, this is a nudist club
(hygiene and comfort permitting).
The board can set special dress codes for special
events.
Proposal 6--Clarify annual
grounds fee.
Amend Article XI, Section
A-7, by adding the italicized wording, to read:
7. There
are generally no refunds of membership or grounds fees. However, in the event that someone moves
from the area or the club loses its land, annual grounds fees may be converted
to the monthly rate, and any remaining balance refunded. An annual grounds fee is valid only
with a current membership.
Proposal 7--Move political
candidate evaluation from the Procedure Manual into the
Bylaws.
Amend Article XI, Section
D-3 by adding the italicized wording, to read:
3. The legal fund may be
spent only on expenses related to combatting anti-nudity legislation,
evaluating political candidates, or the defense of club members arrested
for nudity, as authorized by the board.
It is not available for borrowing.
Use of legal funds for any other purpose requires two weeks' notice to
current members, and unanimous consent of those present at a membership
meeting.
College Greek Athletic Meet March 23
Our eighth annual nude College Greek Athletic Meet is scheduled for March
23 (rain date: April 6). Year after
year, this event attracts a small group of enthusiastic college students who
re-enact the ancient pentathlon.
(If you have to ask, that's long jump, discus, 200-yard dash, and
javelin--with stand-up wrestling as a tie-breaker if
needed.)
Anyone of any age can compete, but the traditional victory wreaths of
leaves are reserved for the best college student in each entry classification:
male athlete, male non-athlete, female athlete, or female non-athlete. No experience necessary. Just come out and give it the old
college try. The idea is to
recreate the atmosphere of the ancient Greek gymnasium, which emphasized a well
developed mind in a well developed body.
The schedule is:
10:00
registration begins
11:00
demonstration and practice in the ancient methods
1:00
competition
For details, go to http://www.tallanaturally.org/greek_athlet.html
. For any additional questions, call Paul at (850)
222-1886.
Membership: We Get Them Young
An article in the January Bulletin pointed out that AANR clubs are
best at recruiting people over the age of 55. Our club has always had a younger
membership than most. That is
partly because we are recruiting people at far younger ages than the average
AANR club. Our current members
joined our club at these ages:
0‑9
10%
10‑19
2%
20‑29
19%
30‑39
17%
40‑49
30%
50‑59
21%
60‑69
2%
Naturist Festival Proves Productive
Last weekend, Paul and Doug attended the Midwinter
Naturist Festival at Sunsport Gardens near West Palm Beach. At our urging, an electronic bulletin
board is being created for the posting of newsletters from all Florida
clubs. We expect to let you know
the URL in our next issue.
Over the past few years, Florida clubs have done such a good job of
getting sympathetic candidates elected to the state legislature, that South
Florida Free Beaches' lobbyist thinks a resolution mildly supporting the local
option of declaring a nude beach might actually pass. A committee will begin drafting possible
language for review by all Florida clubs affiliated with The Naturist
Society. In no way do we want to
tinker with existing state law that has been interpreted in our
favor.
Other parts of the country are not so fortunate. We heard reports that indoor winter
swims at municipal pools have come under attack in New England, the Great Lakes
region, and western Canada. Most of
those after-hours private swimming arrangements have been going on for years
without raising any controversy.
Florida does face a different threat. Governor Jeb Bush is trying to close
down the State Library and State Archives. (which are two entities under one
roof). Reports keep shifting as to
where each part end up, and whether public information available in the Archives
will in fact remain public. In the past, our club has aided in the Canaveral
Nudity Law Suits by looking up Legislative Committee Testimony in the Archives
so a court could determine intend.
Paul led a workshop for the Professors and Researchers Special Interest
Group of The Naturist Society. He
also conducted a heavily attended workshop on informing politicians of naturist
family values.
Before Doug and Paul arrived, many naturists had lain
down on the public beach to form a nude peace sign. This idea started in California in
November, and has quickly spread around the country and around the world. For photographs, go to http://www.baringwitness.org/ To
prevent arrests, a federal judge had issued a restraining order against the
Florida State Parks System because such expression of public opinion is
timely.We later found great demand for our new peace flier at the
gathering.
The FANR board had met on the previous weekend.Though
they ducked the issue of an electronic newsletter exchange, our club did get
them to again buy the new AANR park guides in bulk for resale to small clubs at
cost plus postage.
Note from the Editor
I
am highly considering retiring as editor.
I have simplified the design so it will be easier for someone else to
take over. The March 9th
meeting will cover technology issues.
PLEASE SHOW UP. Hearing the
voices of members about the newsletter can help me make a decision. I don’t want to leave the club high and
dry as I feel my word to commit to something is important. But I also don’t like to feel that the
new format (electronic) is being forced on members. I also would like to see other VOICES,
articles, editors, pictures, anything being offered by other members. The board has now made newsletter dates,
which I am very happy for (though the dates still need some adjustments). If at least two of the “average” member,
submitted an article, picture, editorial, ANYTHING, my frustration with some of
the process (leading to me wanting to retire) would be minimized. I want this newsletter to meet the needs
of all members if I am the editor.
My gut feeling is telling me, that the newsletter might not be meeting
the need of the members. I will be
at the March 9th meeting!
Please SHOW UP and express your VOICE. Unfortunately, I don’t get out to the
Lake enough to hear the voices of members, but for me, as editor of YOUR
newsletter, YOUR voice is very important.
I need to hear member voices regarding the newsletter. I will be present on the 9th
and HEAR what members say.
News from Other Clubs
Hidden River over toward Jacksonville has announced
their third annual Nudie Blues weekend April 24-27. For details, visit their web
page http://www.hiddenriverresort.com/
Sunny Oaks Haven at Live Oak will experiment this
summer by doing away with grounds fees, and relying entirely on donations from
visitors. For instance, members of all nearby clubs are invited to attend their
barbecues the first and third weekends of each summer month. An additional $5
donation for food is suggested.
There will be a naturist excursion to the Florida
Keys May 29 to June 2. The $500 price tag is a bargain at Key West prices--and
it includes a free membership in the Naturist Society. For more details, check out http://www.beachesfoundation.org/Travel.html
2003 Calendar
Mar.
9 Annual Business
Meeting, election of officers & picnic
23 College Greek athletic
meet (rain date: Apr. 6)
31 Everybody's membership
expires
Apr.
11 First Full-Moon
Skinny-Dip
13 Board
meeting
27 Picnic &
seminar
|
Tallahassee
Naturally is a non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of
naturist recreation in north Florida and nearby areas. The club is an affiliate member of
both The Naturist Society and the American Association for Nude
Recreation. Bare
& Free is
the official quarterly newsletter of Tallahassee Naturally. It is sent electronically, though
a hard copy may be requested by leaving a message at the club's web page
:http://www.tallanaturally.org
Articles appearing in Bare & Free may be reprinted by other
naturist publications, provided that credit is given. Photos, however, may only be
reprinted with written permission. Club
members are strongly encouraged to submit articles, news items, and photos
for publication. Please
address all submissions to: Tallahassee Naturally, P.O. Box 6866,
Tallahassee, FL 32314, or contact the editor: |