Interview

[shãybare]

Today is the day the article about River Valley Naturist and Nudism was supposed to come out. It didn't. I drove to Sallisaw and spoke with Monica, the nice young lady that interviewed me. She said she appologized and hoped I wasn't inconvenienced. There had been prior articles she and other staff writers had been working on that need to come out so the RVN article was postponed till this coming Sunday. She assured me it would be in the Sunday paper and on their web site. So, I shall wait 'til Sunday. Have a good one.
Shaylin /infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

[hw]

Darn Shay, and I was looking forward to reading it. /infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif
Well I hope Sunday gets here soon! /infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif (Oh it is Sunday, I live in CA!) /infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[shãybare]

Well, gang, it is Sunday and still no article even though Monica assured me it would be in today. ??? I will get in touch with Monica tomorrow and see what's up. I am at a loss. When and IF it does finally come out I will let you all know. Shaylin

[Nude in the North]

Maybe the Censors havn't finished with it yet.
They might be trying to figure out how to Blurr all the words like nude, nudist, and nudism just in case children try to read it.
/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif

Steve

[hw]

What a disappointment Shay. /infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif

Maybe it is like Steve, (N i t N) said. They may be trying to come up with other wording so young eyes won't see offending words.

Oh boy>>> /infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif

[shãybare]

FINALLY. The article came out and it is a very good article. It is not on the web site, however. It is two columns long. Each column is approximately 13 inches long. While Monica did not promote naturism, there was nothing in the article negative or even hinting something negative. I believe it presents nudism in a very fair manner. In fact, the only thing that could have made the article better is if she had posted my picture. But then again, if she had done that everybody would be looking at how purty I looked and forget to read the article.

I don't know how to put it on the forum but I will send copies to different people and maybe they will figure it out.

Maybe noodjuggler or naturistmark will PM me their address and I will send them a copy and they can post it.

[Nude in the North]

Cool!!!
I can't wait to read it.
I'm glad to hear you say that she had a fair and positive angle to the story.

You did us proud Shay!

Steve

I'm looking forward to reading it.

[hw]

Me too Shay...can't wait to Read all about it. /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

(This is an Extra, Extra special post for you buddy!) /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[NoodJuggler]

Me too..cheers..NoodJuggler

[nudewheelchairTodd]

yeah

[Naturist Mark]

Travel Nudist Club Tries to Attract Area Residents
Group Advocates Body Acceptance

by Monica Keen
Staff Writer

Who knew a travel nudist club existed just miles outside the county?

The group does exist, and taking a short excursion across the country line by way of US Highway 59 south will take residents to the home of a man who formed the River Valley Naturist group in January for people who are comfortable with no clothing.

Shaylin Yarberry of Shady Point said he doesn't buy into the superficiality of today's mainstream society or what society says people should look like, and has formed a group to try to change negative attitudes about nudism, which is also called naturism, and promote body acceptance.

"We accept our bodies and others as they are," Yarberry said.

Yarberry said many people don't know about naturism or that it even exists.

Naturism or nudism is defined in the group's membership pamphlet as "a way of life in harmony with nature characterized by the practice of social nudity, and naturism believes in the essential wholesomeness of all human bodies."

"It's about body acceptance," Yarberry said.

The group not only accepts people with bodies of all shapes and sizes, but also regardless of the person's race, religion, political affiliation, or sexual orientation.

For only $15 a year, a person can join the group, which currently has 11 members, where nudism is not only accepted, but expected.

Yarberry said the yearly fee helps pay for advertising, which he has purchased in area newspapers. He said he has received response from residents in Sequoyah County.

However, before being accepted into the only nudist club in eastern Oklahoma that doesn't own land, those interested must have a face-to-face interview with Yarberry so he can find out about the applicant's attitudes about nudism and their intentions for joining.

Yarberry said the applicant's intentions should be positive toward nudism. He said he has rejected some men who thought the club was about sex.

Yarberry said one of the biggest misconceptions about nudism is that it's a sex club, but he strongly insists nudism is unrelated to sex.

He said people who go to nude resorts with that frame of mind will soon find out most resorts are family oriented, and no sex is involved. Yarberry said nudism is good for children because, they get to see that it's OK to have different body types.

He said their group doesn't have any young members, and consists of four women and seven men, including three couples.

"You'll find more sex at a regular beach than at a nudist resort," Bruce McClain of Poteau, a member of the area club, said.

McClain said there are many naturists around, but they just don't tell people because they think they would be treated differently.

Since Yarberry's group is a travel club and they don't have a permanent place to meet, members meet at individual houses and have meetings and potluck dinners. Since spring has arrived, they will be camping and picnicking and also traveling to resorts in Oklahoma.

Laws in Arkansas prohibit nudist clubs from existing or being formed, and by law a person's doctor or spouse are the only people allowed to see him or her naked.

In Oklahoma no laws exist that prevent nude clubs or resorts.

Yarberry, who has been a nudist for about 20 years, has lived at this current home for about 10 years and has introduced himself to his neighbors, but they don't have a problem with his nude lifestyle.

"I was born naked," Yarberry said with a laugh. "I've always felt more comfortable without all these clothes on."

Yarberry said everyone who knows him knows that he is a nudist.

"I don't hide it," Yarberry said.

Yarberry estimates he spends about 98 percent of his day nude, but said he obviously has to wear certain clothes for protection against the elements or if he drives into town to go to the grocery store.

"People wear clothes to hide what they think is bad," Yarberry said. "We should accept our bodies."

Yarberry said they do believe clothes also have a purpose for protection, but not for modesty's sake, and McClain added that nudists always sit on a towel for hygiene reasons.

"When it gets cold, we put clothes on," Yarberry said.

Yarberry said it's not that nudists don't care about fitness or staying healthy.

"But we realize that men aren't going to be like Adonis and women aren't going to be like Brittany Spears," Yarberry said.

Yarberry said nudism instills self-esteem and breaks down class barriers since it doesn't matter what people look like or the type of material things they own.

McClain said men in general are a little less self-conscious of their bodies than women because women see on television and magazines every day that they have to be and look a certain way.

Yarberry said women in nudism tend to be happier than women in regular society since pressure is taken off them.

Yarberry said most nudists are generally accepting of other people. He said he has people ask him where he looks when he's talking to someone who is nude and he tells them that he looks at people's faces, not their bodies.

"It's hard for people to understand," Yarberry said.

He recommends that skeptics to to a place where clothing is optional and see how freeing it is.

For more information about the club, visit the group's work-in-progress Website at www.rivervalleynaturist.homestead.com (http://www.rivervalleynaturist.homestead.com)

[shãybare]

Thank you Mark for posting this for me. I hope everyone will take time and read it. Thanks again. Sh?ylin

[TXK NUDE]

Just read the article, Shay...It was VERY good! I think it was positive in its presentation, and that it covered the facts as adequately as space would allow. Good job!

[WacoTX]

That's a good, positive article. I hope you get some positive response.

[melissastarr]

Wow! Fabulous job, Shay. I think this is the most informative and unbiased article on nudism that I've ever read- it's completely factual and neither promotes nor mocks nudism. Maybe there IS hope for this world!

Melissa

[Jochanaan]

Marvelous article! This is what objective reporting should look like!

[NudeAl]

Good article Shay. It sounds like they took you seriously, no toungue in cheek remarks. Just wondering what part of the paper was it in? Let us know if you get any new members as a result.

[EricNY]

Great article Shay..buddy......good job!!!!

When do you go National?? /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

No joke..you did great, hopefully this is just the beginning.

erc

[shãybare]

Thanks, gang, for your support. The article was in the Special Feature section of the Sunday paper. I have had four calls and have set up face to face interview with one of them so far. Hopefully more will respond but sometimes it seemsto go in cycles. Thanks again for your kind comments.

[hw]

Great article Shay! /infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif I think the only problem you'll have now is all the nudists in Arkansas will be beating a path to your door! /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[shãybare]

Thanks, hw, but unfortunately I am unable to advertize in Arkansas. The papers won't let me run ads, the businesses won't let me post flyers. I tried to put some in some of the area Arkansas bars but they said no also. It's very frustrating.

At least she didn't express any opinions of her own. She simply quoted what you said, and it's a very good article. Let's hope it brings many more of the right type of people (those interested in social nudism and not looking for sex).

[nudeM]

Very good article. All of the quotes were on the positive side without any prejudiced remarks from the reporter. I think the article will bring in more members to your club, at least to give nudism a try, just to see what it is like.

I have been trying to join a club that is 40 miles away, but everytime they have a meeting, I am on call at my job. They had a pot luck this weekend, but I was on call. One of these days.

Again, great article. Good luck on attracting new members. If we ever get a chance to get to OK, I'll be sure to stop by.

[missouriboy]

Shay, I'd say Monica did you, and all of us, proud!

Question: does that newspaper circulate into Arkansas? If so, would that type of article violate their spurious "advocation" law, or not?

[hw]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by shaybare:
Thanks, hw, but unfortunately I am unable to advertize in Arkansas. The papers won't let me run ads, the businesses won't let me post flyers. I tried to put some in some of the area Arkansas bars but they said no also. It's very frustrating. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Smile buddy...you have the word out there now! You have the internet along with members to help you get the membership #'s up. Word of mouth is one of the best advertising tools available! /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[Trailscout]

Shay, Great Job! I am glad the reporter was fair, too.

Arkansas needs to hear your message too, but since we are discussing that in other threads, we can put that topic aside here and celebrate the decisive victory that truth and common sense had in Oklahoma the day your article was printed!

[shãybare]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by missouriboy:
Shay, I'd say Monica did you, and all of us, proud!

Question: does that newspaper circulate into Arkansas? If so, would that type of article violate their spurious "advocation" law, or not? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>No, Moboy, the paper is not distributed in Ark.

[Rex]

Great result, Shay. A credit to both you and the reporter.

I'm not being facetious with what I am about to suggest, but I just can't understand what it must be like living in a place like Arkansas.

Would it be illegal to take copies of that newspaper across the state boundary and leave them in places where they may be picked up and read?

[Rex]

Maybe Ray Bradbury had Arkansas in mind when he wrote "Fahrenheit 451".

http://www.destgulch.com/movies/f451/

[NakedShayne]

Hey Shay, How ya been?? We're still on for the weekend of the 16th. We also have enough room for tents if PPL want to bring them. And thanx for the article

[nicehund]

Shaybare, that is a good and educational article. It's very clear, centrated, and easy to use as a reference for my nudist-to-be friends. Probably one day we might visit you and Shayne and BJ's places in OK.

Nicehund

[miguelito]

Shay,

I just finished reading your article, KUDOS to you and the reporter. It's very rare to get a straight-ahead, educational report about nudists/naturists. Keep up the good work!

Miguelito