Lee Baxandall, founder of The Naturist Society, died recently in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. His wife, Johanna, has announced a secular memorial service for Lee.

Saturday, December 6, 2008
2:00 PM
Seefeld Funeral Services
Oregon Street Chapel
1025 Oregon Street
Oshkosh, Wisconsin 54902

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NATURIST ACTION COMMITTEE
UPDATE
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http://www.naturistaction.org
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posting, forwarding or redistribution of this message,
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DATE    : November 30, 2008
SUBJECT : Lee Baxandall Memorial Service
TO      : All naturists

Dear Naturist,

Lee Baxandall, founder of The Naturist Society, died recently in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. His wife, Johanna, has announced a secular memorial service for Lee.

Saturday, December 6, 2008
2:00 PM
Seefeld Funeral Services
Oregon Street Chapel
1025 Oregon Street
Oshkosh, Wisconsin 54902

Lee is survived by his wife Johanna, by his sister Ann, by his son Phineas, by two grandchildren and by thousands and thousands of naturists.

Lee’s life and his deeds have affected and influenced many people. Nicky Hoffman Lee of The Naturist Society is compiling specific remembrances of Lee Baxandall. If you have a story you’d like to share, please send it to Nicky by e-mail at: nickyh@naturistsociety.com.

Complete obituaries will appear in upcoming issues of The Newsletter and N magazine. Tributes to Lee Baxandall will be a part of Naturist Gatherings and Festivals in the coming year.

Naturally,

Bob Morton
Executive Director
Naturist Action Committee
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Naturist Action Committee (NAC) - PO Box 132, Oshkosh, WI 54903
Executive Director Bob Morton       - execdir@naturistaction.org
Naturist Society: Nicky Hoffman Lee ­ nickyh@naturistsociety.com
Online Rep. Dennis Kirkpatrick      - naturist@sunclad.com
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Lee Baxandall, Founder of the Naturist Society died on November 27th.   Baxandall, who had suffered from Parkinson’s Disease, was 73 years old at the time of his death on November 27, 2008.

For many of us his publication,  ‘Lee Baxandall’s World Guide to Nude Beaches and Resorts’ was our source for locating the place of our first nude recreation experience.  His life made a mark on many of us and he will be missed.

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NATURIST ACTION COMMITTEE
ADVISORY
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http://www.naturistaction.org
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Copyright 2008 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   : November 28, 2008
SUBJECT: Lee Baxandall (1935-2008)
TO     : All naturists

Dear Naturist,

The Naturist Society has announced with profound sadness that its founder, Lee Baxandall, has died in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Baxandall, who had suffered from Parkinson’s Disease, was 73 years old at the time of his death on November 27, 2008.

Baxandall began his work as a naturist activist more than 30 years ago. With a background in writing and publishing, Lee’s naturist passion led him in 1976 to form the Free Beaches Documentation Center, which he located in his hometown of Oshkosh. By 1980, Lee had founded The Naturist Society (TNS), and TNS had presented its first Gathering for naturists. ‘Clothed with the Sun,’ the flagship publication of TNS in its early years, was renamed ‘Nude & Natural,’ or more simply, ‘N’ magazine in 1989. Today, the magazine has a staff of professional and volunteer writers, but in the early days, much of the content of the magazine was pure Baxandall.

Lee was also the initiating force behind other familiar naturist organizations. In 1983, it was a Baxandall idea (and $70 in seed money that Lee pulled from his own pocket and gave to Murray Kaufman) that led to the TNS special interest group that would become Gay Naturists International. In 1990, Baxandall jump-started the Naturist Action Committee as an adjunct to TNS. The Naturist Education Foundation followed in 1993.

For the decades of the 1980s and 1990s, ‘Lee Baxandall’s World Guide to Nude Beaches and Resorts’ was the standard companion for those seeking information on naturist destinations throughout the world. Each edition of the World Guide reflected Lee’s naturist philosophy, not only for growing numbers of naturists, but also for the benefit of an expanding mainstream audience. Baxandall’s World Guide is the inspiration for ‘The World’s Best Nude Beaches and Resorts,’ a recent TNS publication that carries on the tradition.

In 2002, recognizing the inevitable effect of his declining health, Baxandall transferred ownership of The Naturist Society to a carefully selected handful of longtime associates. TNS is necessarily a dynamic organization that responds to the changing needs of its members. Nevertheless, owners Nicky Hoffman Lee and Margaret Thornton have remained remarkably faithful to the vision of Lee Baxandall.

DETAILS AND ARRANGMENTS

Arrangements are pending. Lee’s family has not yet announced details. More complete obituaries will, of course, appear in N magazine and in The Newsletter. The Naturist Action Committee will distribute further information in the form of NAC Updates, as details become available.

The directors of the Naturist Action Committee and the Naturist Education Foundation join with the ownership and staff of The Naturist Society in marking, with respect and appreciation, the passing of an exceptional individual.

“Body acceptance is the idea. Nude recreation is the way.”
- Lee R. Baxandall (1935-2008)

Naturally,

Bob Morton
Executive Director
Naturist Action Committee

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Naturist Action Committee (NAC) - PO Box 132, Oshkosh, WI 54903
Executive Director Bob Morton       - execdir@naturistaction.org
Naturist Society: Nicky Hoffman Lee - nickyh@naturistsociety.com
Online Rep. Dennis Kirkpatrick      - naturist@sunclad.com
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Richard Mason, President of the Florida Naturist Association, is well known in nudist circles as one of the founding fathers of Haulover Beach and South Florida Free Beaches.

In the following article from the Palm Beach Post, he presents a compelling argument for the creation of nude or clothing-optional beaches as a way to generate money for the State of Florida to offset the pending budget shortfall facing Florida State Parks.

Nude beaches seen as cover for cash gaps

By Frank Cerabino

Palm Beach Post staff writer

Friday, November 28, 2008

Times are tough, maybe even tough enough to start paying more attention to one of the state’s leading nudists.

“It’s time for the state of Florida to grow up,” said Richard Mason, the president of the Florida Naturist Association.

Mason, who lives in Miami-Dade County, was in Boca Raton this week to urge Palm Beach County’s legislative delegation to take a less-is-more approach to plugging holes in the state budget.

Mason’s idea is simple: More nude beaches equals more state revenue.

“If you can build golf courses for golfers, why can’t you designate beaches for naturists?” Mason asked.

He uses Haulover Beach Park in Miami-Dade as Exhibit A.

For the past 18 years, that beach has been designated as a sanctioned clothing-optional beach — the only one in the state.

“It’s drawing more visitors than the Florida Marlins and the Miami Dolphins combined,” Mason said.

And the county is reaping the benefits of the $5 parking fee, which brings in about $1.4 million a year, he said.

“Every year the parking money keeps going up and up,” he said. “Nothing stops it from growing.”

Mason estimated that 60 percent of Haulover’s visitors travel from other parts of the state, elsewhere in America or abroad to sunbathe in the raw.

“It’s a destination beach all because it’s a naturist beach,” he said.

Mason’s pitch for more nude beaches is especially well timed because Gov. Charlie Crist is looking to make significant cuts in state spending, including from the Division of Recreation and Parks. That division has been asked to come up with a 10 percent cut in its operating costs.

To do that, the division has come up with a plan to close 19 parks across the state until the economy rebounds. None of the parks is in Palm Beach, Martin or St. Lucie counties.

But instead of closing the parks, Mason has argued, the state can more than compensate for its revenue shortfalls by keeping all the parks open and changing the designation of a few beachfront parks into clothing-optional spots.

“Naturists like to be around the ocean,” he said. “You put one of those beaches in Palm Beach County and it will draw a lot of people.”

The John D. MacArthur Beach State Park in northern Palm Beach County had been an unofficial clothing-optional beach until the state took it over in the 1980s and began arresting nude sunbathers there.

A state appellate court decision ruled that being nude alone does not constitute indecent exposure, and that there must be some lewd and lascivious behavior with it.

“So you can have a naturist beach as long as it is in a designated area,” Mason said.

Public officials, however, have been reluctant to make accommodations for nudists.

In 1989, Palm Beach County’s Tourist Development Council turned down a request by the Eastern Sunbathing Association to officially make a portion of MacArthur Beach State Park clothing-optional.

Like Mason’s request this week, the sunbathing group made an economic argument to the tourism board, saying that a nude beach would bring in dollars to the county.

But that was during more comfortable economic times, days when it was easier to dismiss nudists dangling dollars.

In today’s budget climate, its harder to scoff at Mason’s pitch without mulling over the pros and cons.

“It’s been a successful formula at Haulover for 18 years,” he said. “Why not give it a try?”

Or to put it another way, what’s worse?

A bare-bones budget or some bare-bones bathers.

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NATURIST ACTION COMMITTEE
UPDATE
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http://www.naturistaction.org
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redistribution of this message, provided that it is reproduced in its
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DATE   : November 14, 2008
SUBJECT: Seattle, WA
TO     : All naturists

Dear Naturist,

Very good news! The Naturist Action Committee offers this Update concerning a proposed ban on nudity in the public parks of Seattle, Washington. The Board of Parks Commissioners received the proposal at its regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday, November 13.

The Board has rejected the anti-nudity proposal. The matter has been removed from the Board’s agenda for future meetings.

NAC board member Mark Storey attended the meeting, and he addressed the Commissioners on behalf of naturists and others who oppose the proposed prohibiting of nudity.

MARK STOREY’S REPORT

Mark has filed this narrative report:

The Seattle Parks Board of Commissioners met Thursday evening in Seattle’s Park Headquarters, in part, to receive a staff-generated proposal for a ban on nudity in Seattle parks. Approximately 20 nudity-friendly men and women attended the meeting, hoping to express their disfavor with the ban proposed by Seattle Parks. After preliminary discussion by Parks Superintendent Tim Gallagher, board Vice Chair Jackie Ramels informed the audience that no public input would be accepted that evening on the topic of the proposed ban, and that everyone would have an opportunity to speak his or her mind on January 8 when the board had scheduled a public hearing for the ban.

Naturists in the audience were disappointed, but I had heard about this policy shortly before the meeting, and signed up to speak anyway. When Ramels asked if I was hoping to speak about nudity, I said, “No, I had no wish to address the proposed ban. I instead wished to praise the board for the Seattle Parks Strategic Action Plan Summary of Public Feedback that I had received that day. Gallagher laughed, and waved me up to the podium, saying, “Bring him up here!”

The only person to speak from the audience, I thanked the Parks Department for organizing such an efficient means of receiving public input a couple of months ago, when they wanted to hear what users of Seattle parks wanted done in the upcoming five years. I said that my wife and I had attended two of the meetings, and were impressed with how well they were run. I was also impressed with the detail of the report, and how among those expressing interest in off-leash dog areas, swimming pools, green spaces, and other public uses, the one item of interest that outranked all of them was the amazing outpouring of interest in developing a clothing-optional beach at a Seattle Park. Where other requests came in batches of two or a half dozen, the number of comments favoring clothing-optional beaches stretched across 22 pages! I did not remind them that NAC had sent out an Action Alert six months ago, and that many of the comments may have been inspired by NAC. I wanted the board to have clear in their minds in the minutes to come that there were many, many people in Seattle who liked the idea of at least some toleration for nudity in public parks.

I concluded my two-minute address by saying that NAC and local groups looked forward to conferring with Seattle Parks in determining how best to accommodate this broad-ranging user group. I could not tell if the board was amused or not, but Ramels asked the next couple of potential speakers if they too planned on talking about “the Strategic Plan.” All seemed ready to let the board hear from Seattle Parks, and changing the agenda to account for the audience’s clear interest in nudity issues, move directly to the proposal.

Seattle Parks Strategic Advisor Karen Tsao presented the proposal for the ban, sounding a little nervous, but graciously sympathetic to those naturists sitting around her. The board immediately, though calmly, questioned the need for such a ban. Were there really so many complaints about nudity? And what about all those people who seem to enjoy it? Couldn’t Seattle Parks accommodate skinny-dippers by providing a designated portion of beach with signs alerting passersby to the clothing-optional policy there?

Some on the board wished to hear from the public in coming weeks, to hear why so many people clearly wanted a clothing-optional beach. They also wanted to hear why some felt offended. Ramels moved, however, that the board reject the ban for now, to urge Seattle Parks to continue to give use permits as they have in the past (e.g., to naturist groups or for naked bike rides), and to limit future permits to groups who allowed problems to arise or who generated too many complaints. She-and most of the board-felt that a case by case approach to specific groups was better than an overarching ban on nudity in city parks.

Board member Terry Holme made the point that there is a clear distinction between the evening’s proposed ban and the loud call for a clothing-optional beach. While he agreed that the ban was ill-advised at the moment, Seattle Parks should also be open to discussion about accommodating those who wish to sunbathe or skinny-dip in Seattle.

This was outstanding! NAC and its body-accepting friends entered this meeting fearing Seattle Parks would ban nudity, and we walked out with the Parks Board saying “no” to the ban and charging Seattle Parks to enter into discussion about creating the state’s first officially sanctioned nude beach!

Be assured that NAC and its local allies will be presenting naturist-friendly alternatives to Seattle Parks in the days and weeks to come. In a follow-up NAC Advisory we’ll let people know how they can send emails or letters to Seattle Parks to support this effort, even with the cancellation of the now no longer needed January 8 public hearing. For tonight, know that your amazing response to NAC Alerts calling for comments on Seattle Parks’ Strategic Plan and for attendance at tonight’s meeting has paid off better than in any single project I’ve
been involved with.

MORE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES

Additional information and links are available, along with this NAC informational update on the web site of the Naturist Action Committee. Go to: http://www.naturistaction.org and then select “Updates” to find this NAC Update under Current Updates. NAC will distribute new information on this important situation as it develops.

PLEASE HELP NAC TO CONTINUE HELPING NATURISTS!

The Naturist Action Committee is a volunteer nonprofit organization that exists to advance and protect the rights of naturists throughout North America. To do its job, NAC relies entirely on the voluntary generosity of supporters like you. Please donate generously to NAC.

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 Director Bob Morton  - execdir@naturistaction.org
Board Member Mark Storey       - storey98@aol.com
Online Rep. Dennis Kirkpatrick - naturist@sunclad.com
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NATURIST ACTION COMMITTEE
ACTION ALERT
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http://www.naturistaction.org
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*Copyright 2008 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   : November 12, 2008
SUBJECT: Seattle, WA
TO     : Seattle area naturists

Dear Naturist,

The Naturist Action Committee wishes to make you aware of an important situation in Seattle, Washington. The Seattle Parks and Recreation Department’s Board of Park Commissioners will be presented on Thursday evening with a staff-prepared proposal that would prohibit nudity in any public park or park facility open to the public. Seattle presently has no such rule, and a rich tradition of clothing-optional use has quietly developed at parks in the city.

WHEN

November 13, 2008
7:00 PM PST

WHERE

Board of Park Commissioners
100 Dexter Avenue N
Seattle, WA 98109

WHAT IS NAC DOING?

NAC board member Mark Storey will be at the meeting, along with others from the Seattle area who oppose the proposed park rule. The Naturist Action Committee has already given a number of local media interviews on this issue.

WHAT IS NAC ASKING YOU TO DO NOW?

If you live in the Seattle area, NAC is asking you to attend the meeting on Thursday evening. Each of those who attend will have an opportunity to speak briefly (2 minutes). This is very short notice, but the information was made available to the public only late Wednesday.

If you speak, NAC suggests that you focus on Parks & Rec’s own Strategic Action Plan. Comments solicited from citizens during the recent development of that Plan overwhelmingly asked for the inclusion of clothing-optional areas in public parks. The proposed rule simply ignores the voices of those citizens.

YOU WILL HAVE ANOTHER CHANCE TO ACT

A formal public hearing for the proposed ban on nudity has been scheduled for January 8, 2009. You will have another chance to act. Please watch for additional NAC Action Alerts, Advisories and Updates on this important topic.

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. Go to: http://www.naturistaction.org/ and then select “Alerts” to find this NAC Action Alert under Current Alerts.

PLEASE HELP NAC TO CONTINUE HELPING NATURISTS!

The Naturist Action Committee is a volunteer nonprofit organization that exists to advance and protect the rights of naturists throughout North America. To do its job, NAC relies entirely on the voluntary generosity of supporters like you. Please donate generously to NAC.

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,

Mark Storey
Board Member
Naturist Action Committee

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Naturist Action Committee (NAC) - PO Box 132, Oshkosh, WI 54903
Executive Director Bob Morton   - execdir@naturistaction.org
Board Member Mark Storey        - storey98@aol.com
Online Rep. Dennis Kirkpatrick  - naturist@sunclad.com
————————————————————-

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NATURIST ACTION COMMITTEE ADVISORY
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http://www.naturistaction.org
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Copyright 2008 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   : November 12, 2008
SUBJECT: Lake Willoughby, Westmore, VT
TO     : All Naturists

Dear Naturist,

This is an Advisory from the Naturist Action Committee concerning Lake Willoughby, which is located in the town of Westmore, Vermont, and lies within the Willoughby State Forest.

BRIEF HISTORY AND DISCUSSION

During this past year, a clothing-optional beach on Lake Willoughby in Westmore, VT, was threatened by a petition to ban nudity in that town. The Westmore Selectboard held two moderated public hearings on the issue before choosing to table the issue indefinitely.

After the matter appeared to be settled, one of the three members of the Selectboard resigned due to health reasons. The Westmore resident who had petitioned the Selectboard in January to ban nudity in the town began a campaign for election to the vacant seat, but he was defeated by a substantial margin at a town meeting on September 4.

Members of the local naturist group, Friends of Willoughby Southwest Cove (FOW), were vigorous opponents of the proposal to ban nudity. Several of the Westmore residents who had initiated and supported the petition to ban nudity subsequently targeted a particularly visible member of Friends of Willoughby by lodging a complaint in July with the Vermont Department of Forest and Parks (FPR) and claiming environmental damage to the clothing-optional beach area. At the end of August, FPR sent letters to the FOW President and another member ordering them to appear at a meeting with FPR officials on September 18, 2008, to discuss the alleged environmental “crime.”

Although the meeting was not portrayed as a direct threat to the beach, NAC has determined that it may be retribution for opposition to the anti-nudity ordinance, and/or an attempt to intimidate FOW members, detering them from taking part in grassroots activism to protect the clothing-optional status of the beach. To represent the two FOW members, as well as the interests of naturists, NAC carefully identified, interviewed and retained a well qualified local attorney.

The attorney contacted FPR and requested information concerning the case. FPR suddenly postponed the meeting, saying that it required more time to compile the necessary information. FPR has since sent documentation to the attorney and has rescheduled the meeting for mid-November.

WHAT IS NAC DOING?

NAC board member Virginia Schnee has supported Friends of Willoughby SWC by providing guidance at their monthly meetings and taking part in their meetings with legal counsel. Since March 2008, NAC has been working closely with Friends of Willoughby SWC, who will continue to spearhead the local effort to oppose any future anti-nudity ordinance in the town of Westmore, VT.

The Naturist Action Committee has retained an attorney to protect the rights of Friends of Willoughby SWC members for the matter involving the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation.

WHAT IS NAC ASKING YOU TO DO?

This is an advisory. NAC is asking that you DO NOT take action at this time. Participation from naturists outside of Westmore and the surrounding Vermont towns, no matter how well intentioned, could possibly jeopardize the carefully organized local efforts of NAC and Friends of Willoughby.

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. Go to: http://www.naturistaction.org and then select “Alerts” to find this NAC Action Alert under Current Alerts.

PLEASE HELP NAC TO CONTINUE HELPING NATURISTS!

The Naturist Action Committee is a volunteer nonprofit organization that exists to advance and protect the rights of naturists throughout North America. Legal representation is sometimes necessary, but it’s expensive. To do its job, NAC relies entirely on the voluntary generosity of supporters like you. Please donate generously to NAC.

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,

Virginia Schnee
Board Member
Naturist Action Committee

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Naturist Action Committee (NAC) - PO Box 132, Oshkosh, WI 54903
Executive Director Bob Morton      - execdir@naturistaction.org
Board Member Virginia Schnee       - virginia@schnee.com
Online Rep. Dennis Kirkpatrick     - naturist@sunclad.com
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Get ready for the Cypress Cove event of the season, Nude-A-Palooza! What is Nude-A-Palooza? It’s an all day charity music festival on Saturday, November 8th, to benefit Rock Pink and their support of Susan G. Komen for the Cure Central Florida Affiliate. We are now up to 14 acts playing on 2 different stages!

The show features southern Rock super group, Ghost Riders, hot off of their Legends Tour. The band includes former members of Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Outlaws, Pure Prairie League, The Allman Brothers, Brooks & Dunn, and more. We are so excited to have them!

The outside stage will also feature other bands such as Knight Walkers, Dreams, Red Eye Extreme, The Boogalizers, Rebel Rousers, and Charlie D & The Things.

Additional performers will be singing throughout the day in the Lakeside Restaurant, including some of your Monday Music favorites such as Bernie Preece, Babe Plante, The Dukes & more. There will be something for all tastes.

In addition to terrific music, we are planning to have food & drinks (sorry, no coolers), vendors, and even a dunk tank with some of the Cove management inside. The event will be clothing optional and open to the public for just $20 per person for an entire day’s worth of great entertainment! And if you buy a ticket to the show, grounds fees are waived for the day. All of the proceeds go to help find a cure for breast cancer, a cause definitely worth getting behind.

Tickets are available now at the Front Desk and will be available at the front gate on the day of the show. Hope to see you there!

Living Waters Spa: Celebrating 5 Years of Business - from Startup to Award Winning Spa In 5 short years Living Waters Spa has gone from a complete startup business to an award winning spa. For Jeff and Judy Bowman the American dream is alive and well thanks to hard work and great customer service.

Desert Hot Springs, CA, November 06, 2008 –(PR.com)– Living Waters Spa opened their doors 5 years ago November 10th. What started as a dream for owners Jeff and Judy Bowman, Living Waters Spa has turned into a top rated boutique spa hotel attracting people from all over the country and Europe. “The American dream is still alive and well” says Jeff Bowman. “We wanted to create a spa that would offer people a chance to get away from their daily life, reconnect with life, and experience a bit of Europe right here in the USA.”

Acquiring a vintage 1960s “spa-tel” originally named the “Kismet Lodge” (named after the famous musical), the Bowmans set out to create something totally unique. Located next to Palm Springs in Desert Hot Springs California, Living Waters Spa is situated above a hot mineral water aquifer that provides the hotel with pure, odorless mineral water that is pumped from the hotel’s own mineral spring well. When they acquired the hotel it was tired and rundown and actually used as low rent apartments. “We hauled out over 30 cubic yards of junk just to get at the core of the building” according to Bowman. “Then once we started renovating we realized that the mid-century modern building was well built and perfectly designed for what we were going to do. It even had the 1960s quality imprimatur ‘live better electrically – medallion homes’ as part of the signage.” Renovation included reviving the hot water well, new pools, new pool decking, all new carpet and furniture, and even a complete overhaul of the old neon sign that proudly lights up “Kismet Lodge” and “Living Waters Spa” underneath.

Their spa has become a favorite having achieved an unprecedented 73% repeat rate of its customers in the 5 years of business. Judy says: “What really sets us apart from other hotels/spas is our customer care, hot mineral water, massages, spa/skincare treatments and the fact that we are a ‘European-style’ clothing optional spa. You don’t have to be a nudist or have a ‘perfect’ body to try skinny-dipping at Living Waters Spa. People from all walks of life are discovering what Europeans have known for centuries that nude is not lewd. We’ve had guests in their 20s to 80s enjoy our amazing hot mineral water naked or au naturel.” Judy herself is a breast cancer survivor and often shares with guests her experience with surgery, chemotherapy, and because of the clothing optional context they can have frank discussions about breast reconstruction.

In this trying economy, Living Waters Spa is the only clothing optional resort to offer discounts for guests under 30 years of age, those who are in active military, or who are survivors of breast cancer. “We are here with a passion to help people,” says Jeff, “and our discounts especially provide these groups the chance to take a break, reconnect with their partner, and restore their soul. On top of that with our winter specials you can stay a week in one of our condos for only $499.00 – an unbeatable offer!”

In this past year Living Waters Spa was:

Listed as on of the top 10 clothing-optional resorts of the world (TripAdvisor)
The highest ranked California spa and listed 9th on “Spas of America” top 30 spas
Awarded the “Hidden Gem” award for the 3rd year in a row (TripAdvisor)
Featured in articles by: Los Angeles Times; Times UK; Conde Nast Traveler on Concere.com; The Desert Sun; and American Spa

So, if anyone questions whether or not the American dream is still possible, just ask Jeff and Judy Bowman. They’ll tell you if you work hard, and provide your customers a “Lexus” customer experience — then it is.

For more information see the spa website at: http://www.LivingWatersSpa.com.

Those of us who know the heartache of having to put on clothes to leave the club for beer, cigarettes, or food, can appreciate the plight of the nudists of Caliente Resort.  While the following article is written about Caliente, there are similar numbers of residents at Paradise Lakes, Lake Como, and Cypress Cove in Florida.  Many of these dedicated nudists, who would rather do anything other than get dressed, also want to be able to do their duty as good citizens and vote.

Nudist resorts are not strangers to politics.  Many nudist clubs have hosted political meetings and fundraisers, and many nudists are very active in local and state politics.  It seems only fair that if a large enough concentration of nudists exists, a polling place could be authorized.  There shouldn’t be a problem with staffing it, since nudists are already serving as poll volunteers in nmany areas.

Nudists want to vote naked
Pasco resort requests its own polling place

by PETER LINTON-SMITH
FOX 13 NEWS

LAND O’ LAKES - The largest nudist resort in the country sits behind large privacy walls.  Once inside Caliente Resorts and Spa, “…they take off their clothes and the only time they put their clothes back on is to go the grocery store.  You can do just about anything at Caliente you want,” explained the resort’s spokeswoman, Angye Fox.

As Election Day rapidly approaches, there is one thing people who live clothing-free realize they can’t do in the buff — vote.

Now Caliente has asked the Pasco County supervisor of elections to establish a polling place at the resort.

Elections supervisor Brian Corley hasn’t ruled out the request but adds a new polling place is established “on need and population.”

There are more than 350 potential voters who live at the nudist resort full time.  Another 200 people work there, many of whom also work with little or no clothing.

However, “there is no magic number of people,” required to create a new precinct, according to Corley.

Right now, Caliente residents vote in Pasco County precinct 70, which is less than two miles away.

Corley said the nude polling place request wouldn’t be considered until 2010 at the earliest.  He added that the full county commission must approve adding or changing precinct locations.

One commissioner suggests that if nudists prefer voting with no clothes, they can vote absentee.  But nudists claim voting and their lifestyle share one thing.

“It’s about freedom,” Fox insisted.  “People take their civic duty seriously and in many cases [nudism] is a very serious part of their lifestyle.”

We may be in danger of losing another naturist hideaway in California. The Examiner of San Luis Obispo reports the county is planning to buy a portion of the 131 acre property and save it as “a family-oriented destination”.

The whole property is available for only $10.5 million, so why don’t we persuade one of the nudist entrepreneurs to jump in a buy it and make it into another “showcase” clothing optional resort.

Plan could put some clothes on Pirates Cove The county is tackling a new effort to buy land at the notorious beach and bluffs with hopes of one day turning the shoreline into a family-friendly area Bob Cuddy

Pirates Cove, the county’s notorious nude beach, and its equally controversial parking lot and trail, could become a publicly owned, family-oriented destination under a plan prepared by the county parks division.

The Board of Supervisors will be asked Tuesday to set in motion a proposal that would allow the county to buy 32 acres of the spectacular property south of Avila Beach now and an additional 27 acres later.

In a report to supervisors regarding the Pirates Cove slice, Janette Pell, the county’s General Services director, wrote that the board will need to address “the current ‘clothing optional’ behavior of some site visitors.”

TRIBUNE PHOTOS BY DAVID MIDDLECAMP - A nude beach-goer and his dog enjoy the warm weather this week at Pirates Cove.

“Consideration of an ordinance restricting such activity would also likely be included with the recommendation to accept the offer,” Pell wrote.

The county considers the goal of a family beach highly desirable.

Although it is on private property, the beach “gets used a lot,” said Pete Jenny, deputy director of general services.

“Unfortunately, it also gets abused,” he said. “Improvements to the beach access trail and monitoring by ranger staff with the assistance of the Sher-

iff’s Department will enhance public safety and reduce illegal activity currently occurring at the site,” Pell wrote.

There have been numerous arrests on the trail and parking lot for drug use and lewd activities.

Those who use the beach, nude or clothed, differentiate themselves from the activities at the parking lot or on the trail.

One visitor who was enjoying the beach au naturel on Thursday was dismayed at the idea of clothing regulations coming to Pirates Cove.

“We want this grandfathered in, and we want it kept the way it is,” said the man, who has been visiting the beach for 14 years but didn’t want to be identified. “A vast majority of the problems are at the parking lot. You know we love this beach.”

Nevertheless, the nude beach scares many families away.

The intent to purchase is only the first in a series of steps needed to bring the land into public control.

The entire property, 131 acres, is owned by San Miguelito Partners, and the current proposal leaves the fate of the remainder of the land in limbo. San Miguelito Partners has been trying to sell it.

In its totality, the land, which includes bluffs as well as beach, offers some of the most stunning ocean views in the county.

San Miguelito Partners has tried to put the land in the public domain, but plans to sell it have fallen through.

Most recently, the county tried to raise money for the 131 acres, and when it became apparent that it needed help, it turned to a national nonprofit group, the Trust for Public Land, which puts together grants and private donations.

Still, the price — $10.25 million — proved too high.

“I think it’s a shame,” said the trust’s Karen Frankel at the time. “It’s very disappointing.”

Frankel said the deal-killer was the failure of the state to pitch in some money to back the purchase. When the state pulled out, she said, it all but finished off attempts to go for a federal grant.

The county has the $1.25 million to go through with this partial purchase, according to Jenny. It will cut the parks division’s reserve fund in half.

He said if the supervisors give the go-ahead, his division will need to find a way to finance cleaning up the beach, parking lot and trail. The county will approach the Coastal Conservancy, Environmental Center of San Luis Obispo County and others for help.

Jenny said he did not want to put either a dollar figure or a timeline on having the area ready for the public. There are many bureaucratic hurdles to overcome, he said, including acquiring permits from the Coastal Commission. That could take as long as two years, he said.

Photographer David Middlecamp contributed to this report.

The beach at Trail 6 of San Onofre State Beach remains clothing-optional, thanks to quick and successful action by the Naturist Action Committee (NAC) and tremendous support from individual naturists and organizations. However, the battle for San Onofre is far from being over. This NAC Update is intended to provide you with current information on this important situation.

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NATURIST ACTION COMMITTEE
UPDATE
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http://www.naturistaction.org
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Copyright 2008 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   : October 3, 2008
SUBJECT: San Onofre Update
TO     : All naturists and other concerned citizens

Dear Naturist,

The beach at Trail 6 of San Onofre State Beach remains clothing-optional, thanks to quick and successful action by the Naturist Action Committee (NAC) and tremendous support from individual naturists and organizations. However, the battle for San Onofre is far from being over. This NAC Update is intended to provide you with current information on this important situation.

A BRIEF RECAP OF RECENT EVENTS

A California Superior Court ruled in August in favor of NAC in its lawsuit against the California Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR). DPR had attempted earlier this year to bypass state law regarding changes to public regulations, moving suddenly after more than 30 years to end the traditional clothing-optional use of a small portion of San Onofre State Beach in San Diego County.

In its order, the Court declared, “Dept of Parks must comply with the provisions of the California Administrative Procedures Act before it makes any changes in its enforcement.” Further, the Court said, “until the administrative process is completed, Parks shall maintain the status quo, and enforce the Cahill Policy as it has done since its issuance and subsequent interpretation by the Harrison letter, at Trail 6 in San Onofre State Beach.”

WHAT’S NEW?

As NAC had anticipated, the California Department of Parks and Recreation has appealed the order. Meanwhile, DPR has refused to remove the “Nudity Prohibited” signs that it had installed at San Onofre as part of its plan to ban naturist use of the beach.

Additionally, DPR personnel are misinforming the visiting public by telling them that there are no clothing optional areas at San Onofre and by saying that nudity is illegal south of Trail 6.

The signs and intentional misinformation are chilling, and they violate the Court’s order to return to the status quo and the traditional enforcement of the Cahill/Harrison regulation. Earlier this week, NAC petitioned the Court of Appeals for a writ that would require removal of the signs and put a halt to DPR’s campaign of misinformation at San Onofre State Beach. DPR has until October 13 to respond.

NAC THANKS YOU!

When the Naturist Action Committee asked for your grass roots participation in contacting the Director of DPR, you responded magnificently. Many of you are demonstrating through your generous contributions to NAC that you understand the significant expense associated with the Naturist Action Committee’s important defense of naturism on public lands. NAC continues to rely on your support.

Friends of San Onofre Beach, NAC’s co-plaintiff in the lawsuit, has done meaningful local fund raising. Also worthy of special mention is the gracious contribution made to NAC by the members of AANR-West.

NAC thanks all those who are choosing to make a difference!

MORE INFORMATION

Details of this situation and specifics of the Cahill/Harrison Regulation and associated documents may be found on the NAC Web page:
http://www.naturistaction.org/sanonofre

There, you will find background documents and important files related to NAC’s lawsuit, including NAC’s recent petition for a writ to force removal of the “Nudity Prohibited” signs.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

The Naturist Action Committee is in this for the long haul. Our successes have been significant, but no one should imagine that California’s Department of Park and Recreation will simply give up its attempt to ban nudity at San Onofre.

NAC will continue to issue Action Alerts, Advisories and Updates on this issue as circumstances require. Look for them.

PLEASE HELP NAC TO CONTINUE HELPING NATURISTS!

NAC is committed to the defense of clothing-optional use of public land. NAC does not hesitate to hire lawyers and lobbyists when it becomes necessary, but that can be very expensive. NAC does not have a membership roster on which it can simply assess dues. NAC relies entirely on the voluntary 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 (8 AM-4 PM, 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

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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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