Bare Facts
Copyright 2000 Lake Edun Foundation, Inc.
Official Publication of the Lake Edun Foundation, Inc.
October 1, 2002
Box 1982; Topeka, KS 66601 Voice Mail: 785-478-BARN e-mail: benude@lakeedun.com Website: www.lakeedun.com
BBQ Ribs In The Rain
By Marian
The BBQ that Susan and I hosted ended up being wonderful, if I do say so myself. Even with the rain. It showed that we do still have a few die-hards out there! A total of 13 people braved the rain!!! Two of our BBQ connoisseurs came all the way from Omaha just for the ribs!!!
Susan, Carl and I spent from Friday night through Sunday, camping. Talk about feeling like ducks! But, when it wasn't raining, the weather was great! Beautiful, crisp, fall-like weather. And we had a great time! We invited a couple of my friends to join us Saturday for the BBQ and they ended up staying. It looks like we may end up with a couple more members! That would be great!
I'm looking forward to seeing everyone at our next get- together!
This was a special event with a short planning cycle. It was announced through an email. If you do not receive periodic emails from LEF, be sure to let us know your email address so you aren't left out in the future. - Ed.
Annual Meeting Scheduled
Our annual meeting will be held on October 26, just prior to our Halloween Party. We have this meeting every year to review our operation for the past year and get input from members about what they would like to see in the future. We will also elect a new Board of Directors. This is a wonderful opportunity for Eduners to learn more about our operation and make suggestions concerning what they would like to see in the future.
All Eduners should consider a position on our Board. Elsewhere in this issue is a listing of Board responsibilities. Take time to review it and decide how you might make a meaningful contribution to our continued success. It is through the dedication of individuals who assist with their time and energy that we are able to provide a wonderful program and facility for our members to enjoy.
This meeting will mark the end of another great season for the Lake Edun Foundation. Under John's leadership, our special place seems to become even more beautiful and our membership has shown significant growth. Please take time to thank John and all Board members who have contributed to make this a wonderful year.
Fall Work Days Scheduled
Every year, as the weather changes, there are certain tasks that must be completed in order to secure our facilities for the cold Kansas winter. We have scheduled two work days to bring things in and get everything in order for the coming cold. If you can help out on either October 12 or November 9, we can get a lot accomplished and have some fun in the process. A sauna is planned after both work days.
Halloween Party
This year, our fantastic annual Halloween celebration will be at the same location as last year. And it comes with plenty of ghosts. Festivities will begin at the conclusion of the business meeting on October 26. We will enjoy a pot luck dinner, an evening of live music (compliments of Nude Fusion), and costume judging. Dream up your best, most creative, costume for this event.
Our (g)host will provide pop, chips, dip, paper plates, napkins and plastic-ware. Eduners provide their favorite dish. Those who are able, please consider making a $10-$20 (or more) donation to our Legal Defense Fund.
Members will find directions enclosed. There will be limited space available for non-members. If your membership in LEF is not complete, use the form in this issue ofBare Facts to complete or contact us for directions.
This is a wonderful setting to celebrate Halloween and will be a fun evening. If you missed last year, don't miss again!
Compete in the LEF Chili Cook-Off
In keeping with the season, we will hold our second annual Chili Cook-off on November 9 at our special place. If you have a particularly great chili recipe, be sure to enter it.
This will be a big day for Eduners. We will have our second Fall work day, followed by a round of delicious chili-sampling and then a sauna, just to warm us up. Plenty of chili will be on hand. Eduners should bring a compatible side dish or desert and something to drink.
Help keep the Naturist spirit warm this fall at our chili cook-off! And watch next month for details about our first ever Thanksgiving Leftovers Potluck!
DON'T FORGET
Activities designated HN are sponsored by Heartland Naturists
Oct 11; Fri; 7-9; Sauna
Oct 12; Sat; 10-12; Board of Directors Meeting
Oct 12; Sat; 12-4; Work Day
Oct 12; Sat; 7pm; HN "Explore New Territories" party - KC; More info contact heartlandprez@yahoo.com
Oct 25; Fri; 8-10; Sauna
Oct 26; Sat; 6:30; Annual Meeting & Election of Board
Oct 26; Sat; 7:00; Halloween Party
Nov 9; Sat; 10-12; Board of Directors Meeting
Nov 9; Sat; 12-4; Work Day
Nov 9; Sat; 4-7; Chili Cook Off
Nov 9; Sat; 7-9; Sauna
Nov 30; Sat; 4-6; Thanksgiving Leftovers Potluck
Nov 30; Sat; 6-8; Sauna
** Bring Your Aluminum To The Lake **
Many of us have been saving our aluminum either at home or at our business. With the end of summer, we will soon be taking a load to sell. Please help us by bringing your contribution with you next time you visit.
From The Mail Bag
Dear Lake Edun:
Just wanted to drop you a quick note. My wife and I visited Lake Edun August 30 & 31st and had a wonderful time. This was only our second adventure with nude recreation and it was great! The lake was beautiful and so relaxing, just floating on our rafts and soaking up the sun. Walking the nature trails au naturel was a unique experience. We were impressed with the layout of the facilities.
The members we met made us feel completely welcome and totally at ease. Special thanks to John for his greetings and filling us in on Lake Edun. Also thanks to "bornnude" for the directions. They made finding Lake Edun a piece of cake. Coming from Omaha we hope to make more visits in the future.
Hopefully, Lake Edun will be around for a long time and not destroyed by small minded people. By the way, I saw in a newsletter that you would like to know who uses local accommodations instead of Lake Edun campgrounds. We stayed at the Quality Inn on Wanamaker Road, ate at Chilis and Burger King, and picked up some goodies for our day at the lake at the IGA grocery on Wanamaker Rd.
Thanks for a great time.
- P & A from Omaha
Dear Lake Edun:
I'm keeping up to date with everything at the lake through your website. Hopefully I can make it to the lake yet this year but definitely I'm looking forward to next year when I will finally have time to kick back and relax. It seems like this has been the busiest year that I've ever had.
Do you know what the weekend for Return to Edun is next year? I'm really hoping for a weekend in August! Keep in touch and tell everyone thanks for the emails. I appreciate the fact that everybody at Lake Edun never forgets about anybody and always makes them feel welcomed!
Talk to you soon. - Dave
Thank you,
Thank you for the Invitation. Both stephanie and I were hoping we could make it down before the cold sets in. My schedule, never ends. Haven't had a day off since, the last time we came down. By the way thank you to all who were present the weekend we camped. stephanie really enjoyed Lake Edun and definitely wants to return. once again thank you and a big thank you for providing, a safe and comfortable place .
- your friends forever, Ken & Stephanie
Dear Lake Edun:
Sorry it has taken me so long to respond. I wanted you to know that I enjoyed my time spent at Lake Edun. I had the most wonderful time there. Everyone was very gracious and above board. The entire area was so beautiful and peaceful. I truly can not understand why anyone would not enjoy being clothes-free in such an environment. It was especially good for me since it literally was my first time participating in social nudity. Making the transition from clothes to bare skin was a snap. ... Can hardly wait 'til I can get back down there to enjoy the freedom again.
- Dan (from Springfield, IL)
Preserving The Culture of the Awa
Recently, BBC World Affairs correspondent Mike Donkin traveled to Brazil to visit a small tribe of forest hunter-gatherers known as the Awa. The article waxes poetic about how the Awa people live primitively and in harmony with nature. Illustrated with photographs, Donkin comments about how the Awa are naked as they go about their daily tasks of hunting, preparing food and relaxing in their small portion of the Amazon.
Development and overcrowding in the cities is putting pressure on Awa settlements. To protect the Awa, Brazil's national Indian agency, Funai, has stationed agents in the Awa villages to monitor. Others are representing the Awa in court to insure and preserve their access to their traditional hunting areas.
Through all this, the BBC reporter, the Indian agents, and the court appearances, this observer wonders if the culture of the Awa is being respected. Is it fair for these contacts of "civilization" to appear clothed in an Awa village where the villagers are traditionally naked?
Observers of primitive cultures must exercise much caution for the mannerisms and habits of the observers quickly become a part of the culture they observe. This is true for dress, also.
While no society deliberately seeks to change, we all wish to improve our lot in life. Primitives exposed to the wonderful whiz-bang gizmos of the west will want them for themselves. If all westerners with whom they come in contact wear deodorant, hats, and clothes, it won't be long before members of the primitive society also wear deodorant, hats, and clothes even though their habitat may not require it.
If correspondent Mike Donkin and the others who claim to be concerned about preserving the culture of the Awa were true to their stated cause, they would respect the Awa culture and be naked when they work with them.
I doubt that this will happen. It's easier to lament the loss of the lifestyle than to truly take steps that would be effective in preserving it.
Random Thoughts & Reflections
We have quite a collection of small engine powered equipment. It is not a surprise that these engines need work from time-to-time. If you have the knowledge and skills required to help keep our small engines running, please let us know. Your assistance can save us on repair bills.
Shirley Mason, Executive Director, B.E.A.C.H.E.S. Foundation announced they are organizing a number of trips around south Florida. Each educational tour will include a visit to either an existing, former or proposed clothing optional beach site. All overnight accommodations will either be at a nearby nudist park or naturist-friendly hotel(s). It's an opportunity to learn about and appreciate the rich history of nude recreation and the sacrifice of those heroes who've fought the good fight. The topic for the Columbus Day event will be: "Beach Ambassador Program - 1st Line for saving our beaches." For more information, log onto beachesfoundation.org/Travel.html
Update on Hanlan's Point
In our April, 2000 issue of Bare Facts, we told of a bold experiment by the Toronto City Council to set aside a secluded area on one of the slowly shifting sand bars in Lake Ontario as a clothing-optional beach. Hanlan's Point had been used for clothing-optional swimming for many years, the city council merely provided official recognition.
As is usually the case in the political arena, the vote was not unanimous. Leading the opposition was Councillor George Mammoliti. "I don't think the city should be running a nude beach," he believed. He even went on a cross-Canada, split screen interview with the Naturist Action Committee's Judy Williams (of Wreck Beach fame).
Councillor Kyle Rae, in whose district Hanlan's Point is located, was supportive from the outset and, after only one year, pronounced the first year a complete success. Two years ago, the C-O area was extended by 30% because of usage. However, from the beginning, C-O use of Hanlan's Point has been temporary; an experiment.
On April 16 of this year, the Toronto City Council considered a recommendation that the clothing optional zone on Hanlan's Beach be made permanent. In the three summer months of 2001, Hanlan's generated over $9 million for the total economy locally, provincially and federally. Overall ferry traffic to the Toronto islands was down 1.9%, but traffic on the Hanlan's Point ferry was up 11.2%. Even George Mammoliti, when he saw for himself how beneficial C-O recreation is, reversed himself. He effused that tourism generated by the beach has been a boon to Toronto's economy and that "the city is ready for a nude beach!" The City Council passed the recommendation unanimously!
Now our northern neighbors have two officially sanctioned clothing-optional beaches: Hanlan's in Toronto and Wreck Beach in Vancouver. Both have a demonstrated record of making a significant contribution to the local economy. Here in Kansas, we have no officially sanctioned C-O beaches; only private facilities. Although they all also have a demonstrated record of economic benefit to their communities, "officials" would still like to see them closed down. Perhaps we are short sighted.
NO GLASS!!!
Some of our campers report finding glass on the ground. We only have three rules at Lake Edun; why is it people find them so difficult to observe. While each of us believes we will be careful, accidents do happen and none of us want a serious foot injury because of our glass container. Please do not bring glass or glass containers to Lake Edun. These accidents are so easy to prevent.NO GLASS!
Items We Need
Support Naturism - Join TNS
Images of 'Hunks' Spur
Body Anxieties in Men
Over the years, we have run a number of articles documenting the effect fashion advertising has on a woman's self-image. Now, reports Reuters Health, a newstudy suggests that men are driven to the same insecurities when faced with magazine portrayals of buff, muscled hunks. "We always think about these sorts of things with women, but we see the exact same things with men," said study co-author Dr. Regan Gurung of the University of Wisconsin, Green Bay.
Magazine, television, and other media depictions of extremely fit, muscled men have increased in number over the past few decades. "There is data that, in the media and advertising literature, exposure of men in advertisements is coming very close to that of women," Gurung said. He said one watershed moment occurred when rap star-turned-actor Mark Wahlberg posed for designer Calvin Klein "in his little white briefs." From then on, images of buff, semi-nude men have become as ubiquitous in advertising as those of the curvaceous supermodel.
What effect are all these images having on the average male viewer? In their study, Gurung, and co-researcher Jennifer Otto had 45 male and female college students fill out standard questionnaires assessing levels of mood, personal self-esteem, and body-image anxiety.
Then they asked each man to view a number of photos of semi-clad male models, and to rate the attractiveness and masculinity of each model depicted. Women were asked to perform a similar task with photos of female models.
"We found that women and men are equal as far as how much physique anxiety they experience after they see these types of pictures," Otto said. "We also found that a man who has more physique anxiety is more likely to rate the models as lower (in masculinity and attractiveness), whereas a man who feels good about his own physique would 'call it as he sees it'-he would rate the model high."
To compare men's and women's feelings of body insecurity in particularly stressful situations, they had participants change into skimpy outfits-a tight vest and shorts for the men - and then have their picture taken by an attractive member of the opposite sex. They then completed some more questionnaires while wearing the outfit.
As expected, levels of physique anxiety rose even higher, but the change in physique anxiety for men "was parallel to the physique anxiety of women doing the same thing," according to Otto. It is comforting that Gurung and Otto have learned that media images of the "perfect body" work to undermine men's body-confidence, too. It is disappointing they did not move this study to the next obvious step.
It would be extremely interesting to measure the test group again after they had spent a full day at a good naturist facility, such as Lake Edun. We believe the atmosphere provided in such a locale goes a long way toward correcting for the anxiety created by Madison Avenue and the advertising associated with the fashion industry and, increasingly, in almost every industry.
Uncovered Opinions
By Dave Bitters
Rethinking Privacy
Kansas City Star columnist Mike Hendricks's September 23 column bore the eye-grabbing headline, "Privacy doesn't go that low."
In it he wrote, "You might have read last week how [Washington State's] Supreme Court overturned the convictions of two men. Both had been arrested for taking photographs up women's skirts -- without their permission or knowledge, of course."
After commenting appropriately on the sophomoric nature of theses stunts, he wondered, "What possible grounds could Washington's high court have for giving these lowlifes a pass?"
In the next paragraph he provided the answer, "The women were in public places when they were photographed, the court ruled, and therefore they had no 'reasonable expectation of privacy.'"
I don't recall the details, but several years ago the U.S. Supreme Court issued a similar ruling involving drug testing in a high school locker room. The issue involved the constitutionality of a school edict requiring athletes to undergo a urinalysis test regardless of probable cause. The court found that in the locker room the students didn't have a "reasonable expectation of privacy" because, well, they were naked anyway. Under the circumstances, forcing them to fill a bottle didn't compromise anything that wasn't revealed already.
This is, of course, the kind of doublethink one gets from officials who have no concept of logic other than that of power and control. The idea that without probable cause the contents of young athletes' bladders in none of the government's business apparently was too subtle for the court.
Perversely, the "reasonable expectation of privacy" language the U.S. Supreme Court used in the drug testing case may have influenced the Washington Supreme Court's decision. If so, one might call this a case of the chickens coming home to roost.
Hendricks went on to note that, "Kansas City-area police occasionally are called to investigate similar cases." Then he speculated, "So far, none has prompted the kind of constitutional challenge waged in Washington. But I'll bet it won't be long, given how trends move from west to east."
Naturists who frequent public nude beaches can experience a different aspect of the same thing. For instance, the "Article of the Month" currently posted on the Naturist Society's web site deals with the scene at Black's Beach, north of San Diego. Titled "Garbage and gawkers got you down? At Black's Beach, a user group's joie de vivre has 'em on the run" and written by Dave Cole, it noted in part that, "It's not all good news down on the beach, though. The main reason we felt it was important to revitalize the Black's Beach Bares is that we noticed some couples and single women having a problem with gawkers. Unfortunately Black's Beach has had a recurrent problem with gawkers who move up and down the beach, stopping to sit close to and stare at women.
"We watched the same offenders doing this week after week, year after year, and finally decided to do something about it. Now, we go and offer help when we see someone who is being harassed. We have talked with some of the other groups at the beach and have found that they do similar things."
In each of these cases our culture confuses privacy with wearing clothes - more specifically with genital and (female) breast concealment.
Elsewhere Hendricks worried that, "What's more, there's no place to hide. Go out in public, and chances are you'll wind up on tape or video disk."
Taken at face value and out of context, this statement loses much of its significance. In most circumstances, Americans would be unconcerned about winding up as the subject of someone's tape or video disk. But put them on Black's beach without clothes and they might well be suspicious of the motives of some nearby photographer/ gawker.
Put this hypothetical photographer in Saudi Arabia though, and he might risk death for photographing evenfully clothed females.
What's the difference? Our culture attaches no totemic or taboo significance to most parts of our bodies. But we do attach special significance to the "naughty bits," or "privates" as they're sometimes called. However, Saudi Arabia has a strict religious prohibition (i.e. a taboo) against taking photos of women under almost any circumstances. Regardless of its purpose, this taboo guarantees Saudi women a measure of personal privacy in public spaces that we don't find in the United States.
Should naturists have an expectation of personal privacy even in a clothesfree setting? The case law discussed above says they shouldn't. But Cole's comments about Black's Beach gawkers suggest that they want such privacy anyway. Indeed, naturists can come up with creative (and sometimes aggressive) ways of dealing with people who invade their personal space. San Francisco Examiner columnist Burr Snider wrote (July 17, 1988) about an incident at Devil's Slide, "…This guy was weird to begin with. He spent most of a hot day slamming down bourbon-and-beer boilermakers and stumbling around stupidly wearing only his black socks and a baseball cap. And late in the day he started moving on a woman who was by herself. She kept moving her blanket, but he kept after her until finally your Uncle Burr, in a burst of bravado, warned him off. He threw his pint of whiskey at your uncle, and then went for his pack and came up with the hugest blade you ever saw. Fortunately, some of Uncle Burr's pals intervened with driftwood cudgels and sent the dude packing. It was scary, but, as they say, the system worked."
The issue Hendricks raises may result from a problem of definition. He alludes to this in his column. "If it's not John Ashcroft wanting carte blanche to spy on pretty much anyone who can say 'terrorist' in a foreign language, then it's your boss asking for a urine sample or your insurance company wanting a vial of blood or maybe a few strands of hair." Blood samples, hair strands and foreign dialects have don't have much to do with clothes or the lack thereof.
The Ninth and Tenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution state, respectively, that "The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people," and that "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people." These statements are masterpieces of ambiguity, but the references to "the people" seem to infer that individuals enjoy a measure of sovereign immunity, just as states and municipalities do. We might call this the right ofpersonhood. Another way to describe it might be the right to be left alone. (When asked once what she wanted, the reclusive actress Greta Garbo said, "I just want to be left alone.")
If we recast privacy in terms of personhood we could resolve the issues that trouble Hendricks, the Black's
Beach Bares and the students who objected to mandatory drug testing simultaneously. The peeper who photographs under women's skirts without permission violates their personhood in the same way that gawkers at Black's Beach violate the personhood of the naturists and the school officials violate the personhood of the students. Might it be that the Saudis understand this better than we do?
We could take this argument a step further. If I walk down Main Street naked while behaving in an offensive (i.e. aggressive) manner, I might violate someone else's personhood by my conduct. But if I walk down Main Street naked but not bothering anyone and somebody complains, that individual violates my personhood. Or, if the police arrest me, government violates my personhood (hence my civil liberties).
It all goes back to a simple principle from Political Science 101: My fist stops where your nose begins (and vice versa). Of course, Political Science 101 also teaches us that the Supreme Court interprets the Constitution. Were the Court to analyze the Constitution linguistically and logically - and rule accordingly - we wouldn't get the kinds of absurdities Hendricks discusses. But they don't, so we do.
The Board of Directors sets policy and implements the program for the Lake Edun Foundation. Board members meet monthly as a
group and as needed with their committee. Each member of the Board chairs a committee with specific responsibilities and makes
periodic contributions to Bare Facts.
President:
Preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors. Sit as an ex officio member of all committees.
Secretary:
Keep minutes of meetings of both the Board of Directors and members. Maintain membership records. Carry on correspondence with members and with others for the Foundation.
Maintain contact with all appropriate national organizations including TNS, NEC and NAC. Educate our membership on the function and importance of these organizations. Encourage support among our members for these groups.
Treasurer:
Account for all money and property owned by the Foundation. Pay all legitimate invoices in a timely manner as directed by the Board. Make regular financial reports to the Board.
Education/Outreach:
Implement the educational mission of the Foundation to the public through seminars, press releases, articles, presentations, meetings, interviews, etc.
Bare Facts Editor serves on this committee. Edit, write articles for, produce, print and mail our monthly newsletter.
The Web Master also serves on this committee. Maintain and enhance our presence on the Internet.
Education & Outreach committee is responsible for spreading the word on the beneficial impact naturism can have on the individual, the family, and our community.
Member Relations:
The overall purpose of this committee is to improve membership retention. Screen new applicants. Make a recommendation to the Board concerning their suitability for membership. Maintain contact with members; determine problems or conflicts that may develop with their membership. Work with the Social Committee to develop meaningful activities for all members. Remind members we have not seen about upcoming activities. Keep all members active and interested in the Foundation.
Promotion/Publicity
The promotion and publicity committee should work in concert with the Education Committee to arrange for appropriate publicity of our foundation with the objective of improving the public perception of nude recreation in general and increasing membership in the Foundation. We want to present nude recreation as a healthy alternative to other forms of family entertainment. We should strive to be featured positively in news stories twice during the year.
Social:
We realize not everyone will be comfortable with the Naturist lifestyle at first. The Social Committee must plan and coordinate special activities throughout the year that implement our educational objectives with our membership and permit members and guests to learn firsthand about the benefits of naturism. It should plan indoor events during winter months when use of our leased facility is not practical. It should make a special effort to conduct events that will attract women and families to the Foundation. Major summer activities should be limited to not more than one per month.
Return to Edun is a sub-committee. It plans the annual Return to Edun celebration including entertainment, security, and all aspects required for the safe execution of this event. Our objective for Return to Edun is to host an event to provide an enjoyable introduction to nude recreation for those who may not have tried it in the past. This committee should plan an event that is safe, enjoyable, and attracts new people to try the clothing-free lifestyle and then join the Lake Edun Foundation.
Facilities:
Insure we meet our obligations for maintenance and improvement as required by the terms of our lease. Organize our resources, including work days, toward achievement of these obligations. Coordinate with other committees to insure their requirements are met. The facilities committee is also responsible for insuring firewood is available for all friendship fires.
Conservation:
Insure we meet our obligations for conservation as required by the terms of our lease. Organize our resources in coordination with the Facilities Committee to achieve these obligations. Our lease requires we maintain a rustic, natural setting. This committee must plan ways that will tend to encourage suitable plant and wildlife growth. This includes planting trees and shrubs and attracting compatible wildlife. This does not mean all plants and wildlife are desirable. Poison ivy and other noxious and annoying plants must be discouraged. Likewise, beaver that kill trees or muskrat that damage the dam are not desirable. Our objective is to balance the needs of desirable plants and wildlife against our lease requirements.