Collaboration Is The Answer

Broadening The Effort Will Ensure Naturism's Place In Society

Relaxing with a best friend. (Courtesy Photo)

Al Gilewicz, president of the American Association of Nude Recreation Education Foundation, has announced a new initiative that offers a joint scholarship with the Naturist Education Foundation. The scholarship is open to any individual, regardless of nudist organization membership.

“The underlying thought,” he said, “is that the naturist community can benefit by collaborating on areas of interest and concern to mitigate the continuing decline in clubs and membership.”

Al said he believes the naturist community needs to set aside its history of internal divisiveness and focus on its common and shared interests.

“We can learn from our history. We can avoid repeating history, but only if we can let sleeping dogs lie and move forward,” he said.

Al joined the AANR Education Foundation around 2018, after it announced a need for board members. The foundation, incorporated in 2002, provides grants and scholarships to organizations and individuals that support the goals of educating the public about the values and benefits of nude recreation to ensure an understanding of nudism and its place in social and recreational activities.

“Being strong supporters of education, and learning the objectives of this 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, I submitted my interest and was selected to join this all-volunteer board,” he said. “As an active board member, I sought to expand my level of responsibility, and ran for and was elected president.”

The AANR Education Foundation board established an annual art raffle in 2021, with some of the proceeds going toward four scholarships and two youth camp grants.

‘Stoic Couple’ — a soapstone sculpture by Al Gilewicz is one of the prizes in this year’s AANR Education Foundation art raffle. (Courtesy Photo)

“Over the last four or five years, we have increased the number of scholarships given, increased grant activity for youth camps, issued a few art grants, and initiated an online art raffle,” Al said.