NAC Action Alert - Auburn, CA
ANM Mod
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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
sna...@parks.ca.gov
Mike Lynch
Auburn Acting Sector Superintendent
California State Parks
501 El Dorado
Auburn, CA 95604
mly...@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
dire...@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
aub...@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.
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 - exe...@naturistaction.org
Board Member Allen Baylis - r...@baylislaw.com
Online Rep. Dennis Kirkpatrick - natu...@sunclad.com
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