Promoting Nudism

[NudeAl]

I have touched on this in other areas but wanted to start a seperate thread to dicuss this issue. I have become more open about my nude life as I call it over the years. Recently I retired from the military and returned to school. I ran into a classmate at the local Bare Buns Fun Run at Kaniksu Ranch here in Spokane WA. He challenged me to wear our BBFR nude runner T-shirts on the first day back at school we both did and we got lot's of comments on them. Now I have begun wearing my other nudist T-shirts to school and it has sparked some conversation with quite a few people. I have had serious talks about nudism and found that many have some experience with nudity one woman mentioned she used to go over to friends houses for nude hot tub parties and another mentioned how she once belonged to a Wiccan group and danced naked around the camp fire with her daughter. Yet another lady this one a proffesor at the college asked me what my T-shirt said I said Nudist. To which she replied have you ever ran in that Bare Buns Run? I didn't even get to reply as my class mate was right there to say yes he has. The proffesor then replied that her mom had run in that race once. In fact her mom had twisted her ankle and the joke was that she wasn't watching where she was going but looking at the scenery.

Anyway I just mentioned this as a way of illustrating how by the simple act of wearing a T-shirt I have gotten all this interaction. This dialogue is what I feel is needed in order to advance our cause and recruit new memebers. We are our own best recruiting tools. If we want our culture to survive and not die out we have to do something. Clearly what we are doing now is just not working as evidenced by the graying of nudism. As the oldest generation passes on we must actively seek out new members or we will slowly die out. So I am asking all of you here to be brave. To do more than you think you are capable of in the interest of keeping our cause alive. You don't have to take the same path I did. Just find a way to get the word out. Tell a trusted friend or relative wear a shirt to the gym or while on vacation put a bumper sticker on your car. Think outside the box is there a group out there that might just be outrageous enough to want to try it? How about that Wiccan group or the tree hugger environmental group maybe the vegan who shops at the organic food store? I don't have all the answers that's why I am throwing this out there to you all. Please help me get the word out and keep nudism alive.

[Home Nudist]

This dialogue is what I feel is needed in order to advance our cause and recruit new memebers. We are our own best recruiting tools. If we want our culture to survive and not die out we have to do something. Clearly what we are doing now is just not working as evidenced by the graying of nudism. As the oldest generation passes on we must actively seek out new members or we will slowly die out.

Playing the Devil's Advocate.....

I'm always a little puzzled when nudists start to talk about "recruiting" new members. Are we a cult? Are we a religion?

If you are advocating legalization of nudity and more venues where it is permitted, then I understand your cause. But, if you are just talking about increasing our number, then I don't see your point or why it matters.

I am naked at home for my own reasons. I am basically a loner to whom social nudity doesn't matter. (I've never been a "joiner.") So, it matters not to me how many other people choose to/prefer to be nude. To me, it's an individual thing.

When you talk about "our culture" "dying out," I have to ask why would you be concerned who is naked and who is not after you are dead? You'll be dead. You won't know. And, you won't know the difference. What matters is the here and now.

[FireProf]

Though I understand your point of view....being a HomeNudist, it's not the same for many of us that venture outside our home to enjoy this lifestyle. "Recruiting", as you call it, has it's benefits and increasing our numbers, via education and communication, can only help our progress of understanding with mainstream society and maybe help with some laws to change so many of us that enjoy simple, non sexual nudity can do so without fear of being placed on a "sexual preditors" list.

I think that is why we, my wife and I, have had some positive feelings and feedback on our lifestyle from our grown children's friends. They've known about it, they've seen me wear various nudist t's and have asked questions of us and our children. Some of them have already taken to skinny dipping and have regular swims, within their circle of friends, at each others homes. Some of them have admitted to being nude around the house but don't consider themselves nudists. The only thing we do not like about it is that they all wait til the kids are in bed. I think the kids should be able to partake as well but...that will take time to get them to that point as well...but it's a start and it all began with some mild..."recruiting."

[Moontan]

I didn't need any recruiting. I recruited myself many many "moons" ago.

[FireProf]

Good for you! Too many others aren't as open-minded and free spirited and need a little.....nudge! LOL

[Yogi Bare]

Playing the Devil's Advocate..... I'm always a little puzzled when nudists start to talk about "recruiting" new members. Are we a cult? Are we a religion?

Recruiting people goes on everyday from businesses looking for talented workers to organizations wanting to promote the benefits of being a member or to promote a cause. Think AANR, PETA, Tea Party, street gangs, AARP, etc. The list is almost unlimited.

I am naked at home for my own reasons. I am basically a loner to whom social nudity doesn't matter. (I've never been a "joiner.") So, it matters not to me how many other people choose to/prefer to be nude. To me, it's an individual thing.

You're right - it is an individual thing. You prefer to not be a "joiner", and that's fine. Nothing wrong with that. However, there are also people who prefer to practice nudism in the company of like-minded people where they can particpate in social activities. It may not matter to you, but it does matter to those who don't want to be a loner.

When you talk about "our culture" "dying out," I have to ask why would you be concerned who is naked and who is not after you are dead? You'll be dead. You won't know. And, you won't know the difference. What matters is the here and now.

Nude Al wants to see to it that the nudist lifestyle does not become an extinct footnote in history. That's why in "the here and now" he is doing what he can to preserve that lifestyle for future generations to enjoy. It's similar to President Theodore Roosevelt promotion of national parks - to preserve these areas for others to continue to enjoy what he did. We can only do things in "the here and now". By the time we are dead, it's too late to do anything.

[NudeAl]

Playing the Devil's Advocate.....

I'm always a little puzzled when nudists start to talk about "recruiting" new members. Are we a cult? Are we a religion?

If you are advocating legalization of nudity and more venues where it is permitted, then I understand your cause. But, if you are just talking about increasing our number, then I don't see your point or why it matters.

I am naked at home for my own reasons. I am basically a loner to whom social nudity doesn't matter. (I've never been a "joiner.") So, it matters not to me how many other people choose to/prefer to be nude. To me, it's an individual thing.

When you talk about "our culture" "dying out," I have to ask why would you be concerned who is naked and who is not after you are dead? You'll be dead. You won't know. And, you won't know the difference. What matters is the here and now.

In 1985 the club I belong to had over 400 active members we are currently at around 200 and those are not very active members. When I go through our old club scrap book I see families and couples and there is always a huge number in the photo. Now on any given weekend except for one or two large events we average less than a dozen members on a warm summer weekend sometimes it is only me and one or two others. So yes I am concerned about our way of life dying out. I have also had the misfortune of seeing 3 nude clubs that I have visited close their doors. They are gone but not forgotten I have also seen 3 nude beaches closed by the authorities so these too are gone. We are not a cult but we are a unique segment of society and we do seem to have a problem attracting new members. In fact it even seems that some are ashamed of thier nude lives. If that weren't the case we would have the same youthful demographic we did back in the 60's and 70's. If you are a member of either AANR or TNS you know they're concerned about this issue. If you are not a member you should join one of these organizations we need to organize to keep our clubs and beaches.

[FireProf]

Regretably...there are those that consider themselves nudists and won't join either organization. It took me over 4 years to convince one friend to finally join. He enjoyed reading and looking through the periodicals I get monthly and quarterly. Once the friend saw that the magazine subscription came with the membership...they joined.

We joined both org's. We have been fortunate enough to have the extra to pay for both memberships. If our grown children would commit to joining and truly commit to the philosophies of naturism, even if they don't live nude all the time, I'd pay for theirs as well but currently they just love vacationing that way, skiiny dip with friends and here with us but still have some hangups to get over before we're at that stage.

Still...we have friends that are nudists, call themselves such and do not belong to either of the organizations. They don't really have an answer when asked "why not, " just..."we don't want to spend our money on a membership," which doesn't make sense to me.

[RalphVa]

Good for you, NudeAl. I try to promote with my signature, which is downgraded to "Ralph, the natural gardener, God's original intent" for most audiences, but they get the idea. Tried making it "the naked gardener" that I'd prefer but got some flack on a gardening forum.

I really think the upswing in homosexuality has discouraged some from participating in nudist venues, but the internet has also helped some to get their nudist "lookee" jollies there. However, for me, I wish there was a club nearby (nearest is about 3 hours away) or a nearby non-landed group to get together with. Couldn't do it very often because my wife isn't comfortable being one or being around nudists, but it would be nice to get together.

[NudeAl]

I guess what I am trying to say is we all have an interest in how this thing plays out. If we want to have places to enjoy nude recreation in the future we need to do something about it now. The trend is for fewer and fewer people participating and less and less understanding of what nudism is and isn't. Unless we take action and do what ever we feel we can we will see more of our clubs and beaches closing.

Another thought here. Nudism really took off and grew as a grass roots kind of movement back in the 1930's during The Great Depression. The idea of communal style living working together eating and playing together seemed to be a good idea then. I wonder if there are any lessons for us from that era? What did they do then that worked and is it time for those ideas to be ressurected? I know a bit of the history but not much how about anyone else? Anyone have first or second hand knowledge of the early years of nudism and how it was made successful?

Here is a thought I had how about memberships based upon income level at least for those making below $30,000 a year? Or some sort of a break for students or young families? I brought this topic up on another forum and one person recounted the story of being at a very upscale resort and was considering staying the night and even though it was after 5PM and the resort had empty rooms they refused to give them a discount so they went elsewhere. This kind of poor decision making by the resort staff is short sighted especially in this economy.