What Makes It Work
Adaptation Will Preserve Naturism
Gary Mussell, who will be guest editor of the Naturist Society Foundation’s summer issue of N magazine, has raised some serious questions about the future of naturism, and they deserve a thoughtful response. Here are some perspectives for further discussion.
His first question is the one we have been circling: “How do we stop the rapid decline of nudist clubs, or should we? Is the next generation just redefining the naturist movement in a different way?”
We previously discussed the problem of a one-size-fits-all approach: Different people seek different things, and having multiple options in terms of club policies can make sure each person is able to find what they are looking for and are most comfortable with.
In response to that earlier article, a member of Young Naturists New England wrote, “One thing I would like is quick categories and summaries of club policies in the AANR website so everyone can find the place for them.”
AANR President Linda Weber notes that her organization’s website links directly to club websites on its Club Locator. “With 180 affiliated clubs, we found it better to allow people to get the most updated info directly from the clubs,” she said, noting that, during the pandemic, they had attempted to develop a checklist of amenities and policies, but not all clubs participated, and some changed their policies without notifying AANR.
The Naturist Society Foundation also lists websites and contact information for clubs and groups in a downloadable format on its Resources for Groups and Clubs page.
Most club websites include information about its policies on an “About” or “FAQ” page, but people may find that it requires spending a lot of time navigating through the website to get a clear picture of what those policies are. Still, it makes sure the information is current, something a centralized database may not be able to provide.