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NATURIST ACTION COMMITTEE
ACTION ALERT
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http://www.naturistaction.org
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Copyright 2009 by the Naturist Action Committee, which is responsible
for its content. Permission is granted for the posting, forwarding or
redistribution of this message, provided that it is reproduced in its
entirety and without alteration.
DATE : May 21, 2009
SUBJECT: California: American River
TO : Naturists and other concerned citizens
Dear Naturist,
This is an Action Alert from the Naturist Action Committee concerning an important situation in the state of California.
The city council of the town of Auburn, California, recently passed a resolution asking for increased enforcement and citations for nudity at the nearby Auburn State Recreational Area (SRA). The area includes traditional clothing-optional sites along a portion of the American River.
The resolution was introduced by Councilman Kevin Handley as a response to recent media attention given to online advertising that touted some stretches of the river as sites for illicit sexual behavior. That advertising has been removed. The local resolution has no real teeth, and California Park managers responsible for the Auburn SRA have indicated that they do not feel obligated to change their existing enforcement policies concerning simple nudity at traditional areas within the State Park unit.
Naturists have an opportunity to say, "Thank You." NAC is asking for your immediate action in the form of your letters and e-mails of encouragement and appreciation to key California Parks personnel.
BRIEF HISTORY AND DISCUSSION
Skinny-dipping and nude sunbathing are a decades-old tradition on the American River. The clothing-optional sites that would be most directly affected by the resolution are those located northeast of the town of Auburn, below the confluence of the North and Middle branches of the River and above the site of the abandoned Auburn Dam project on the American River.
THE LAW Section 314.1 of State Penal Code is the portion of general state law used to charge indecent exposure, but California courts have said that absent any lewd content, benign nudity like skinny-dipping is not prohibited under 314.1. Title 14, Section 4322 of the California Administrative Code bans nudity in State Park units. However, well established State Parks policy and court decisions have limited restrictions on nudity in traditional areas of clothing-optional use, and Section 4322 itself allows for the creation of areas within state parks to be set aside officially for clothing-optional use. Historically, California Parks personnel have not hassled people for mere nudity along the American River, unless a specific complaint has forced them to respond.
WHAT IS NAC DOING?
Since 2006, the Naturist Action Committee has been closely, directly and continuously involved with officials of the Auburn SRA. Following the recent resolution by the Auburn City Council, NAC board member Allen Baylis spoke with District Superintendent Scott Nakaji, who understands the issues of naturists. Superintendent Nakaji assures NAC that Auburn State Recreation Area intends to continue under established California Parks policy (the Cahill Policy).
NAC has also sent a letter expressing its concern to the Auburn City Council. Various local news stories on the matter have quoted NAC board member Baylis, as well as a spokesperson for the River Dippers, a Sacramento-area affiliate of the Naturist Society.
WHAT IS NAC ASKING YOU TO DO?
The Naturist Action Committee is asking you to do just ONE thing:
1) Write immediately to the California Parks officials
responsible for the Auburn State Recreation Area.
Thank them for their consistent and reasonable response
in the face of the local resolution.
NAC is not asking at this time for letters to be sent to the City of Auburn.
WHO SHOULD WRITE A "THANK YOU" NOTE?
NAC is asking ALL NATURISTS and other concerned individuals to write, regardless of your residence. The area at issue is U.S. public land being administered as a California public park. This is a matter that affects us all.
WHOM TO CONTACT
You may send letters of appreciation that are written on paper or e-mailed. We want tangible evidence of our participation, so NAC is not asking for phone calls in this instance. Please write to both of the following key individuals.
Scott Nakaji
Gold Fields District Superintendent
California State Parks
7806 Folsom Auburn Road
Folsom, CA 95630
snakaji@parks.ca.gov
Mike Lynch
Auburn Acting Sector Superintendent
California State Parks
501 El Dorado
Auburn, CA 95604
mlynch@parks.ca.gov
Please send a copy of your correspondence to:
Ruth Coleman
Director
Dept. of Parks and Recreation
1416 Ninth Street,
Sacramento, CA 95816
director@parks.ca.gov
NAC would enjoy the opportunity to read your thank you notes. Please send a copy to:
NAC
P.O. Box 132
Oshkosh, WI 54903
auburn@naturistaction.org
Key points to remember when writing:
1. This is intended to be a THANK YOU note to State Park
managers who already understand our message. Please
resist the temptation to convince them of the benefits of naturism.
2. Identify yourself. Anonymous correspondence is generally
disregarded. If you are a California resident, please say
so prominently.
3. Be brief and polite.
4. Say clearly and sincerely that you SUPPORT and APPRECIATE
the continuing position of officials at the Auburn SRA in
their management FOR nude recreation. Skinny-dipping and
nude sunbathing are benign activities that are a
traditional part of the diverse use of the Auburn SRA.
5. Gently remind the officials that mere nudity is not lewd.
Naturists do not condone lewd conduct in public.
6. Say briefly and specifically that you OPPOSE any move to
ban skinny-dipping and nude sunbathing on the
American River.
WHAT ELSE TO SAY?
Keep your correspondence focused and uncluttered. This is intended to be a "thank you" for specific State Park officials. At this point, they don't need to be converted, they need to be appreciated.
MORE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES
Additional information and links are available, along with this NAC Action Alert on the Web site of the Naturist Action Committee.
http://www.naturistaction.org
Select "Alerts" and find this NAC Action Alert under Current Alerts.
There you will find the complete text of the Auburn City Council's resolution, as well as NAC's response to the City.
PLEASE HELP NAC TO CONTINUE HELPING NATURISTS!
The Naturist Action Committee is a volunteer nonprofit organization that exists to advance and protect the rights of naturists throughout North America. Fighting for the clothing-optional recreational use of public land is expensive. To do its job, NAC relies entirely on the voluntary generosity of supporters like you. To donate to NAC, use the address below
NAC
PO Box 132
Oshkosh, WI 54903
Or call toll free (800) 886-7230 to donate by phone using your MasterCard, Visa or Discover Card. Or use your credit card to make a convenient online donation: www.naturistaction.org/donate/
Thank you for choosing to make a difference.
Naturally,
R. Allen Baylis
Board Members
Naturist Action Committee
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Naturist Action Committee (NAC) - PO Box 132, Oshkosh, WI 54903
Executive Dir. Bob Morton - execdir@naturistaction.org
Board Member Allen Baylis - rab@baylislaw.com
Online Rep. Dennis Kirkpatrick - naturist@sunclad.com
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