sxnahm@ubvax.UUCP (Stephen Nahm) (01/30/86)
This article is from the Autumn 1985 issue of ``Clothed with the
Sun''. It and the entire contents of that issue are copyright
1985 by The Naturists, Inc. It is used here with permission.
By the way, TNS=The Naturist Society and CwS=Clothed with the Sun
-----
NUDEPAC: Naturists United to Demand Equity
Most Americans who prefer a clothing-optional lifestyle have been
frustrated by the lack of representation in the political
mainstream.
The formal establishment of a Political Action Committee
headquartered in the vicinity of the Nation's Capital is an
effort to move in that direction. We do not mean to supplant the
fine efforts of The Naturist Society, The American Sunbathing
Association, or any of the other national, regional or local
organizations that support our clothing-optional lifestyle. On
the contrary, our only wish is to act as a national support
organization, and we believe that our location in the National
Capital region will make us an ideal agent for just that.
Although our recent efforts in support of the clothing-optional
movement have not been made in the name of our new Political
Action Comittee, which we have named "Naturists United to Demand
Equity," (acronym NUDEPAC), they should serve as examples of what
NUDEPAC can help accomplish in the future.
We have established a dialogue with National Park Service
officials in the Department of the Interior in Washington. This
led to a very productive meeting in the office of William Penn
Mott, Jr., Director of The National Park Service. Included in
the meeting were Turner Stokes, now of NUDEPAC, Lee Baxandall of
The Naturist Society, Jim Hadley, then president of The American
Sunbathing Association, Dwight Rettie, head of NPS Policy
Development, Stanley Albright, head of NPS Park Operations, and
Mr. Mott.
Because of our concern about the impact of recent child
pornography laws on our right to publish photographs of our
children at play in a clothing-optional environment, we have
obtained a committment from the Senate Subcommittee on Juvenile
Justice to testify in any further hearings on this subject that
might occur in the future. Anyone reading the law as it now
stands should realize that it poses grave problems for naturists.
For the same reason, we have obtained a committment for one of
our number to testify before the Attorney General's Committe on
Pornography during the Miami hearings on child pronography in
November. We must point out the differences between innocent
pictures of young nudists and portrayals of sexually explicit
behavior that are rightfully classified as child pornography.
Although we are planning on having a volunteer rather than paid
staff, we are soliciting donations in order to at least take care
of miscellaneous expenses such as postage and stationery.
Computer software, including modem and communications software,
has been donated and is already in operation. We believe it is
time to let the political establishment know that we have the
clout to be a viable political factor.
We all know there are several naturist legal action funds that
are desperately in need of donations and we heartily endorse
their support. If NUDEPAC is to become an effective
organization, it needs grassroots support, so send us a few
dollars too. We can make a difference.
NUDEPAC
Naturists United to Demand Equity
Rt. 3, Box 352
Leesburg, VA. 22075
Editor's note: NUDEPAC will benefit greatly from the ideas and
specific action suggestions of Naturist Society members
everywhere. Please send to the NUDEPAC your proposals for goals,
tasks and tactics, and send a copy to CwS. CwS plans to distill
from the proposals and shorter comments a feature on the pospects
and strategies for greater naturist empowerment.
If you want in your comments to contrast or strengthen the
NUDEPAC idea with different, even competitive strategic
proposals, please do so.
CwS gratefully acknowledges Richard D. Hammond - a California
naturist, political scientist, and former military administrative
officer - for his original suggestion in 1983, and then the
elaborated proposal of a naturist PAC. TNS circulated the
proposal at that time among several dozen naturist leaders. It
stimulated Turner Stokes to think boldly about expanding on his
educational and lobbying efforts in Washington.
NUDEPAC will succeed only by the practical efforts and the
financial contributions and ideas of many naturists.
--
Steve Nahm
amd!ubvax!sxnahm
or
amd!ubvax!sxnahm@decwrl.DEC.COM
(formerly decwrl.arpa)