A Not So Small Detail Two Committees, but It Never Made It to the Florida Senate Floor Because of the by Jonathan Shopiro, NAC Area Rep Onset of Covid19
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Naturist Action Committee Pages of History Naturist Education Foundation Volume 2, Number 3. March, 2021 The Newsletter of the Naturist Action Committee and the Naturist Education Foundation Assembled and published by [email protected]. Mail: P.O. Box 132, Oshkosh, Wi., USA. 54903. Tel: (920) 4152900 Naturists supported SB 850, and it was unanimously approved in each of its A Not So Small Detail two committees, but it never made it to the Florida Senate floor because of the By Jonathan Shopiro, NAC Area Rep onset of Covid19. This was not as much of a disaster as you might think There are no Federal laws on When these local laws and because the bill didn’t make a nudity so naturists have traditionally regulations are being written or revised substantive change to Florida law, but focused most of their legal efforts on all the usual kinds of arguments come just restated in more explicit terms what state laws. These vary considerably up, but there is one special and was already there. However, in the from state to state. For example, in especially important input: guidance process of considering SB 850, Arkansas it is illegal to advocate from the state. So the people writing the something quite consequential nudism, while Florida does not local law will look very carefully at the happened. criminalize mere nudity unless there is state law and any other relevant state lewd intent (but the disorderly persons documents. As part of the process of law is used instead). You can look up considering bills in their committees in the laws in your state on the NAC It turns out that in the 2020 Florida Florida, the committee staff prepares website. So when I was on the NAC legislative session there were at least analysis reports discussing the fiscal and Board and people would send me three bills relevant to naturists other impacts of the proposed questions like, “can I be naked in my submitted. They all proposed changes legislation. These nonpartisan papers back yard?,” I would look up the law in to the state’s antinudity law. The bills’ contain information that is agreed to by their state and give them my opinion. authors had differing goals: one goal all sides. The staff of the Committee on was to specify that being nude Commerce and Tourism produced such a There is another tier of laws and in a place that was set aside for report on SB 850. regulations, however, that can be very clothingoptional use was not “ This report contains impactful for naturists. These are illegal. This was SB 850. The just about everything This report county and other ordinances, and state other goal was to increase the naturists could have contains just about departmental regulations. Two Florida penalty for lewd aggressive everything naturists examples are the St. Lucie county exhibitionism. These goals are wished for. ” could have wished ordinance that established Blind Creek not contradictory, but it wasn’t for. It quotes the Beach as a clothingoptional beach and possible to combine them in one bill. AANR estimate that nude tourism has a the Division of Recreation and Parks’ $7.4 billion economic impact in Florida. “swimsuit rule” which is used to ban In Florida, as in other states, bills It states that Florida courts have ruled clothingoptional beaches in state parks. are assigned to committees for that mere nudity without lewd intent is This kind of law is supposed to conform consideration before they are voted on not illegal, and it names the existing to the law of the state but the details can by the entire chamber. Each committee clothingoptional beaches in Florida. make all the difference for naturist must approve the bill before it goes on opportunities. to its next committee. Continued on next page. NaturistAction.org Page 1 NaturistEducation.org Naturist Action Committee Pages of History Naturist Education Foundation Continued from previous page. While this report may at first glance seem to be an incidental document produced during consideration of a bill that never passed, it is likely to have an outsized impact on future opportunities for naturists. Whenever a regulation or ordinance affecting naturists is being considered in the State of Florida, this report will be there to attest with the authority of the state that naturist beaches and other facilities can be beneficial to the local economy and community. Also, this report will serve as the basis for analysis reports on future state legislation, including bills that are being considered in the Florida Senate and House right now. Read the bill analysis online at: https://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx? FileName=2020s00850.cm.DOCX&DocumentType=Analysis&BillNumber=0850&Session=2020 Nude Swims with MARNA An Interview with Walter Green By Bill Schroer, NAC Chair Interview from Februrary 1, 2021 Renting a public swimming pool started their public nude swims after well as enjoy some activity. A nude for a nude swim event is a method for having lost their swim venue several swim event at a public pool became an allowing nudist group members to swim years ago. I recently spent some time idea supported by the group members. during the off season or, if the group talking with Walter about MARNA, the doesn’t have its own pool, the restarting of their public nude swims In the early 2000s MARNA found opportunity to swim nude anytime of and the impact on membership and a public pool willing to host the nude the year. If the event is open to the introducing people to naturism. swim events. And, while MARNA was public, it is also a demonstrated way of created by and for singles, couples and successfully introducing nonnudists to Walter initiated the MARNA group families were and are welcome to attend the benefits of social nudism. While it as an online forum back in the mid90s. the nude swims and other activities. As is sometimes difficult to rent or lease a “I wanted to start this club because there Walter emphasized “Everything we do is pool on an ongoing basis, the effort has was no place for single naturists like me a family event.” (Those under 18 who paid off for a number of nudist to go. Most nudist resorts didn’t want wished to attend had to be accompanied organizations and supporters of me as a member....because I was by a parent or guardian. ) naturism. Both landed and nonlanded single.” He began his forum for single nudist organizations around the country, naturists, and as membership grew...the MARNA swims attracted 3040 as well as some proactive nudist club evolved into a club where members people on a monthly basis and organizers, sponsor these events. would meet. Walter formalized the continued until about 2010 when the organization as an AANR (American facility was sold and the new owners did One such organizer and club is Association for Nude Recreation) non not make the pool available to MARNA. Walter M Green III, President and landed club (meaning there was no Founder of MARNA (Maryland Area physical place owned by the group to A new facility which included a Nudist Association). Under Walter’s meet or recreate). The group looked for leadership MARNA has recently re opportunities to meet and socialize as Continued on next page. NaturistAction.org Page 2 NaturistEducation.org Naturist Action Committee Pages of History Naturist Education Foundation Continued from previous page. In addition to the swimming pool, this new facility has additional rooms available, and Walter initiated nude yoga pool and fitness facility was discovered in Elkridge, classes (for a separate fee) as part of the mix of activities Maryland...not as convenient but still within the Baltimore available. metro area. After holding the swim events successfully for several years, difficulties evolved including having to rent the Additional activities sponsored in the past by MARNA pool from one group and the fitness facility from another also include bowling. Walter notes the bowling events are not group. From there the pool was closed and MARNA shifted to as popular as swimming, but he hopes to restart the bowling conducting nude yoga sessions in the fitness facility. This events as well. “The swimming events are the driver...as continued until some users of the facility became unhappy the participation picks up in the pool we’ll develop more interest in facility wasn’t available on the days MARNA reserved the getting another bowling event going.” space....and also that the facility was being rented to nudists. While the owner was very comfortable with MARNA and their Walter works to promote the events both inside and events, pressure from other users of the facility resulted in outside of MARNA. “We promote the swim events through MARNA losing access to the facility. the MARNA website, Facebook, Meetup and of course through member word of mouth.” While Walter would like to continue After several years of searching, Walter and his group the swim events throughout the year he admits it is difficult to found a new facility in November of 2020 in nearby Jessup, get people to come to an indoor facility to swim in the Maryland. Walter wants to hold events twice monthly but the summer. The organization is looking for an outdoor pool to Covid19 issue has impacted his plans to hold events as shift the swims outside during the summer but hasn’t found an frequently as some members might like. Still, the fact the acceptable facility to date. swims are occurring at all in a Covid19 environment is a testament to Walter and his team’s determination: “We ask Walter and George’s initiative and determination to create people to social distance and wear masks when not in the pool, a singles nudist venue has resulted in some very positive but it isn’t practical to require masks in the pool....”.