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When you write or call:
NAC encourages ALL NATURISTS to contact the Wisconsin lawmakers who serve on the Assembly Committee on Tourism. State planners have said they value tourism, and so it's appropriate for all naturists, residents of the state or
not, to register their opinions.
WRITE:
Individually written letters are tremendously effective. However, NAC expects a quick hearing to be called for AB 574. Time may be short, so faxing or e-mailing your comments is a good way to get them to committee members in a timely manner. Keep your remarks brief and polite. Say very clearly that you oppose Assembly Bill 574 and wish the committee member to vote against it when the committee takes a vote. If you are a Wisconsin resident, please say so. Sign your letter, your fax or your e-mail. Unsigned correspondence is often simply discarded.
CALL: Call the office of each lawmaker and ask to speak to the Representative by name. Keep your remarks brief and polite. When you are communicating by phone, always give your name.
Anonymous calls are discounted. You will probably find that the commissioner is unavailable. Politely give your information to the aide, who is trained to report it to the lawmaker. Do not expect return calls from lawmakers. If
you are a Wisconsin resident, please say so. Be sure to say clearly and specifically that you oppose Assembly Bill 574 and wish the Representative to vote against it.
DO BOTH: It's not
a bad idea to follow your letter with a phone call or confirm your telephone conversation with written correspondence.
The Naturist Action Committee suggests the following points:
1.
Lawmakers must understand that this legislation has arisen directly from a crusade by Ralph Ovadal, a discredited self-appointed pastor who is well known for his various campaigns against anyone who doesn't share his narrow point of view.
2.
Naturists have peacefully used a small portion of the Wisconsin River near Mazomanie for clothing-optional recreation for several decades. There have been few complaints, expect from those like Pastor Ovadal who come to the remote spot looking for trouble.
3. Mere nudity is not lewd. That's an important distinction. Lewd behavior in public is prosecuted under existing law, and naturists support that policy.
4. A recent Roper Poll indicates that 80 percent of the American public believe that people who enjoy nude sunbathing should be able to do so without interference from officials as long as they do so at a beach that is accepted for that purpose.
The same national poll shows that half of those responding believe special and secluded areas should be set aside for people who enjoy nude sunbathing. This is consistent with the way in which local and state
governments now set aside public land for special types of recreation such as snowmobiling, surfing and hunting.
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