Has AANR Become Outdated? Commentary by the AANR President

There are two major nudist organizations in the US. AANR which is the American Association for Nude Recreation and TNS, The Naturist Society.

I am on the AANR West board of directors http://aanrwest.org IMO, AANR in the last 10 years has done more for mainstreaming nude recreation than ever before, and more than any other organization. They have earned the expression the credible voice of nude recreation.

The President of AANR just wrote an article for Pasco Naturally newspaper. Here it is reprinted from AANR's blog:

"For the second time in 15 months, the AANR Board of Trustees voted to suspend the charter of a major club in Florida. The particulars were different, but both centered on the board’s feelings that the marketing practices of the clubs were contrary to our principles and standards related to sexual exploitation of the human body. In 2008, the issue was Caliente which invited swinger groups to sponsor “theme nights” at the resort and planned to sponsor a booth at “Swingfest.” This year it was Paradise Lakes which scheduled a “Miss G String” contest with non-nudist models and planned to air the event on the Playboy Channel under the theme “69 sexy things to do before you die.”

The AANR ruling documents provide that “A charter may be temporarily suspended by the President if charges are filed by the pertinent regional division or the suspension is approved by the board of trustees; such suspension to be effective until the next in-person meeting of the board of trustees.” Suspension is not a finding of guilt. It gives the association time to complete further investigation and gives club management time to develop an appeal before the charter is revoked. In both cases, club management decided to withdraw from AANR before the process could be completed.

Management of both clubs told me that economics were the reason for their decisions. They claim that traditional nudists do not spend the dollars on room rentals, meals and drinks that are necessary for the resort to be profitable. They need to reach another audience with the propensity to spend more money. I understand the problem. AANR, itself, has experienced a drop in membership as have nearly all membership organizations. As we manage our organizations, we need to adapt and do things differently in order to survive. However, we also need to step back and remember what we stand for.

In the past several years, AANR has been very successful in changing public perception about nude recreation. Major media outlets have featured nude recreation as a legitimate recreational choice. AANR has also been very successful in changing the viewpoint of elected officials and government agencies. We have differentiated ourselves from the adult business industry. We are being recognized as the credible voice of reason for nude recreation. The affiliation with AANR has enabled many clubs to get building permits, liquor licenses, and sometimes to be allowed to exist. That public trust cannot be jeopardized.

This past summer, AANR sponsored The AANR World Record Skinny-Dip. Club owners and beach organizers reported that many people participated who had never before been nude in mixed company. The press reports were the greatest we have ever seen for an event. Clubs signed up new members. The event portrayed wholesome family nude recreation. No one confused it with a strip show or a swinger convention. The event told me that, with focused marketing, our resorts and AANR can grow in membership without a sexual tone.

One of the resort owners told me that “the only thing acceptable to AANR is sitting on a log watching a campfire.” I think that most AANR members would disagree with that assessment. Times have certainly changed from the 1950s when I became involved as a child. We have more tolerance. But, most of us see that there is a line which should not be crossed if we are to be true to our brand and to the promises we gave to public officials. The AANR plaque on the wall of a club or participating business needs to stand for something. Sometimes we need to take a stand to enforce that.

I am sorry to lose two clubs with wonderful facilities which have provided a destination resort for many AANR members and potential members. My wife and I have visited both many times. I also feel for the members who have invested thousands of dollars to buy a condominium in a resort that has changed its image. My personal hope is that the management of these resorts re-examine their marketing strategy and agree to uphold the principles and standards of AANR.

After years of fighting for our right to exist, it’s a bit strange to hear from a club owner that we may be “outdated.” We walk a tough line between ultra-conservatives who would outlaw our clubs and the adult industry which wants to piggy-back on our success in bringing public acceptance. We know our niche and what it takes to protect our brand. And, we draw the line."

For AANR's Blog click http://aanr.blog.com

One of the most important sentences in this post is "Management of both clubs told me that economics were the reason for their decisions. They claim that traditional nudists do not spend the dollars on room rentals, meals and drinks that are necessary for the resort to be profitable."

Nudists only have themselves to blame for losing both Paradise Lakes and Caliente resort to becoming swinger and sexual oriented clubs. Every time a nudist vacationed in the Caribbean or Mexico at a non nudist owned naked place, it took money away from the real American nudist clubs. I bet, less than 20% of our business at Terra Cotta Inn comes from AANR and TNS members. Further I have found most AANR & TNS members only want to stay at our resort on weekends and go to the non nudist owned places in the Caribbean and Mexico for a week.

Nudists, if you want nice places in the US, WAKE UP!!! You have to vacation at them. STOP going to naked places in Mexico and the Caribbean that laugh in your face charging you sometimes over $100 a night more to stay on the "nude" side. Stop going to these places where to eat nude you have a hamburger shack, and the prude side has all the nice meal options. Otherwise, some day you will wake up and say, where did all the nice nudist resorts in the USA go? It's happening already.

AANR does a great job in supporting nudist rights in the US. You should also support them by belonging to this fine organization.

Now if you want to take a fun vacation, give us a call at The Terra Cotta Inn clothing optional resort and spa located in sunny Palm Springs, CA.

We are the most mainstream nudist resort in the US and are perfect for couples trying topless or nude sunbathing for the first time. You don't even have to be a nudist to vacation with us.

Become our Facebook friend at http://facebook.com/terracottainn

Visit our site at http://sunnyfun.com

Follow us on twitter at http://twitter.com/nudist_resorts

Hope to see you soon in sunny Palm Springs!

A nudist park in Ontario, Canada wil be closing

Glen Echo, the oldest nudist campground in Ontario, Canada will be closing. The owners could not find a buyer.

Now descriptions of this nudist campground makes it sound rustic. I have never been there. Maybe it deserves to be sold off to non nudists. I don't know.

Yet, this is a disturbing trend for American and Canadian nudism.

Who's to blame? I put the blame squarely on many American and Canadian nudists.

Every time an American or Canadian nudist goes to Mexico or the Caribbean and stays at a corporate owned, non nudist owned resort, beach or hotel, that is taking money away that could grow the nudist industry in the US and Canada.

Paradise Lakes in Tampa, Florida decided they had to go way more risque because they felt nudists were not supporting them enough.

I don't understand why American and Canadian nudists way overpay to stay at the Caribbean and Mexican naked places. I've been to most of them once before we started Terra Cotta Inn. They are nothing special. They were way, way overpriced and we never went back to them. And we have been to some of the newer ones in Mexico and the Caribbean since we started Terra Cotta. These places are still way too overpriced for what you get.

Now if you want to support a great nudist place like Sorobon, in Bonaire then you should. That place is owned by nudists and they charge a fair price. But all other nudist places in the Caribbean are way overpriced for what they deliver in my opinion.

Finally due to the recession nudists are realizing they have been had for years at these non nudist owned places in Mexico and the Caribbean.

Nudists sometimes spending more then a $100/night extra to stay on the nude side instead of the prude side at some of these places. Worse, they are supposedly getting tolerable meals as they are all inclusives. But on the nude side, they only have hamburger shacks if you want to eat nude. What a rip off.

Could you imagine an American nudist resort treating their guests this badly? Never. But, lots of nudists pony up $5000-$8000 for a week at these places and complain that they say we can't find enough good places like Terra Cotta Inn in the US to stay at. If they stayed here more and didn't go to Mexico or the Caribbean, we could open a second place. But, as long as nudists flock like lemmings to to Mexico and the Caribbean, I am not going to over expand.

My business is probably less then 20% AANR members and less than 5% TNS members. If it wasn't for us converting first timers into loving nude sunbathing at our resort, we would be belly up.

Nudists have to realize they are their own worst enemies. Stop giving your money to big greedy corporations in Mexico and the Caribbean who laugh at you because they can over charge you.

Start supporting American and Canadian nudism! Keep the vacation money home.

Here's the story:

"Left out in the cold
Naturist park’s closing leaves nudists with limited options

By this time next month, about 150 nudists will be cast out of the province’s oldest naturist retreat because their 100 acres of Eden is being sold to a private owner...

“We’re all very disappointed. You suddenly lose your second home, our home away from home.”

The nudist movement in Ontario had its genesis with Glen Echo Park, which was founded in 1955 as a co-operative. Most in the community got their first taste of naturism at the site... In its mid-1990s heyday, as many as 350 families were members...

Glen Echo’s owners, Mary and Edward Todorowsky, are approaching 80. Off and on Since 2005, they’ve been trying to sell to someone within the nudist community, who would keep their sanctuary open.

But after fours years of trying and several failed offers, the Todorowskys gave up...

“Losing a club is not good for naturism,” said Stéphane Deschênes, who owns Bare Oaks...

Hoping to attract a younger crowd, both resorts are moving away from the old “roughing it with nature” mentality by installing plumbing, electricity hook-ups for trailers and satellite television.

“We just added WiFi,” said Four Seasons manager Tom Landers. “I’ve been talking to the owner of Bare Oaks and both of us feel that this market is in its infancy.”

For the full story click here

Now as I said, the grounds sound very rustic at Glen Echo, so it may have been the correct thing to do to let it go textile. But, if nudists don't stop going to Mexico and the Caribbean, then one day they will wake up and find that there are NO nice nudist places left for them to go to without going out of country. And they will only have themselves to blame.

Now if you want to vacation at one of the best clothing optional resorts in the world according to tripadvisor.com and AOL.com, then give us The Terra Cotta Inn clothing optional resort and spa a call at 800-786-6938.

Visit our site at http://sunnyfun.com

We hope to see you in sunny Palm Springs!

Paradise Lakes in Tampa, Florida is no longer an AANR club

Paradise Lakes Resort has said goodbye to AANR over a dispute over a "Miss G-String International" competition sponsored by a Penthouse Magazine cover model named Schevelle.

Here's the story:

"G-string ad prompts resort to drop out of nude group

LAND O' LAKES - For the second time in just over a year, one of Pasco County's clothing-optional resorts has withdrawn from the American Association of Nude Recreation over advertising practices considered contrary to the organization's family-friendly principles.

Paradise Lakes Resort today withdrew from the influential association over advertisements for a "Miss G-String International" competition at the resort...

AANR's board voted to temporarily suspend the membership, but when resort owner John Forier was informed of the suspension, he voluntarily withdrew membership, said AANR spokeswoman Carolyn Hawkins. An investigation over complaints of advertising and marketing efforts behind the G-string contest was launched in recent months.

..."Any club that deliberately advocates, endorses, encourages or promotes sexual activities or sexual enterprises is subject to revocation of its charter."

...The ad says the Oct. 1-3 event will be hosted by a Penthouse magazine cover model and feature "25 gorgeous contestants competing for exciting prizes and top honors!"

In July 2008 ... Caliente Resorts withdrew its membership with AANR after the resort was temporarily suspended over an investigation into its involvement with a swingers organization...

The Paradise Lakes investigation determined that the resort's management had "increasingly sexualized the nudist experience" by advertising and marketing the G-string contest, AANR said...

When Caliente withdrew from AANR, Fox said the resort was "taking advantage of educating the next generation, the 20- and 30-somethings on social nudism. [AANR] hasn't done a good job of targeting those folks."

For the full article Click Here

Wow, this is big news in the nudist world. First Caliente is asked to leave AANR because of catering to swinger groups, now Paradise Lakes left because they "increasingly sexualized the nudist experience."

I have no first had knowledge of this situation. So I can not comment on it. I am just reporting what was in the newspaper and of course I do not know how accurate the reporting was.

My guess is sales are down at Paradise Lakes. I have written that nudists need to stop going to the places in Mexico and the Caribbean otherwise we will lose nudism in the US. So Paradise decided upon this event to increase sales.

What I will comment on is how nudism needs to reach out beyond this notion that all nudist resorts need to book families. I have seen conservative nudist resorts advertise, toga parties, lingerie parties, etc. I wouldn't call these events family friendly.

People want to have fun. The days of sitting out in a field in a drum circle singing Kumbaya are over. Couples take more vacations than families. Couples will vacation for a week or longer at a time as opposed to families wanting just Saturday nights.

I remember when we first opened 15 years ago, Lee Baxandall of The Naturist Society thought that I was a terrible person because I dared to have our toll free number be
800-Sunnyfun. What made him even madder at me was I said it was fun to vacation at nudist resorts.

Lee read my the riot act saying naturism had nothing to do with fun. It was all about body acceptance and getting over body shame. And how dare I even speak of fun and naturism in the same breathe.

Of course, we all know the whole nudist industry saw how successful we were promoting nudism and fun together and now everyone says it. Why? Because it is true!
So things can change in the nudist world.

I agree 100% with AANR that we do NOT want to promote nudism with swingers and sex. But, we also have to get away from the notion that nudism is for families only as couples normally do not want to hang around with families.

We operate a FUN conservative nudist resort, yet, we don't book families with kids. And we are extremely popular. With work it can be done. At the same time Cypress Cove in Florida and Laguna del Sol are good examples of nudist resorts that do cater to families with kids and are very successful. So it can be done. It is a large room and there should be space for all except nudism and swingers and sex groups.

Now if you would like to try topless or nude sunbathing at a fun resort, give us a call at 800-786-6938. We are the most mainstream nudist resort in the US and perfect for couples trying topless or nude sunbathing for the first time.

Visit our site at http://sunnyfun.com

We hope to see you in sunny Palm Springs!