Aside from the benefits our incredibly cheap annual membership offers and the opportunity to be part of a community – whether meeting other people face to face, or the feeling of not being alone – a crucial part of our work is to challenge threats to our lifestyle – something we do very well, as the following shows…and don’t be one of those who say ‘I never use that beach’; think of how we will act when your favourite place is taken away from you…" More: Holkham beach - saved for Naturism by BN
Isn't it great to see a national organization that's actually effective in supporting those it purports to represent? Not just by promoting member resorts/clubs via Facebook or defending strip clubs on dubious grounds that it may someday affect a paid member resort (while ignoring a unpaid nearby beach closing), but actually spending time and money to save a beach for everyone!
Naturism demonstrates that it is possible to affect the political process positively, and to do so for the benefit of all. BN understands that beachgoers do visit clubs and vice-versa, and that we're all connected.
We hang together or we can hang separately, as they say. We fully support BN's efforts and urge folks to either join or send a donation; every bit helps us all!
Are we bashing our USA national nudist/naturist organizations? Far from it, they're all we have! Consider it constructive criticism. We're just reminding folks they they'd be wise to learn something about those they send money to, and to make sure that that they're getting what they think they are. If you're a member, participate to make you views and needs known! If not already a member, consider what it is you expect to get other than $5 off a venue visit and a t-shirt. Is that all you expect?
British Naturism delivers; maybe our organizations could take a lesson from that. Perhaps they could collaborate and learn how to be effective. Plummeting membership suggests that they're doing something wrong, that people aren't convinced that they have anything to gain by joining.
Where is the evidence that membership dollars accomplish anything other than that? If our nationals are merely member social clubs, then let them say so. If they are truly advocates for our lifestyle, all of us, then let them prove it. Folks have been asking that for years now, and the answer is always, 'Trust us".
Is that enough, with no evidence to back it up? You decide.
We're looking forward to an official rebuttal from those organizations, which we will reprint and share. They deserve a chance to justify their existence, or at least explain what it is that they actually do provide to our community. It's time for a bit of honesty, isn't it?
Related:
- British Naturism
- British Naturism on Facebook
- Young British Naturists
- AANR on Your Side (sorry, we can no longer find the section that tells what AANR has actually done to protect nude resources, though it may be there somewhere...)
- Naturist Action Committee Successes (The Naturist Society offshoot. Most recent 'success' was 10 years ago regarding "countywide regulation targeting sexually oriented businesses".