NAC Advisory - Lake Willoughby, VT
Acting on complaints filed by disgruntled supporters of the recently failed anti-nudity ordinance in the town of Westmore, the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation has made allegations of environmental crimes against members of a local naturist group that successfully opposed the ordinance.
Ordinances in the tiny town of Westmore apply to adjacent Lake Willoughby, where there is a long tradition of clothing-optional use at a cove on the southwest end of the lake. The idea of an anti-nudity ordinance for the town (and the lake) was first presented to the Westmore Selectmen by Jonathan L. Wood, Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation (FPR). Interestingly, FPR have attempted to deny that connection, despite the fact that Commissioner Wood's suggestion was given in a public meeting and is documented in the official minutes of the Westmore Selectboard.
The Naturist Action Committee has retained local legal counsel to assist in this matter. More details are included in this NAC Advisory.
Labels: FPR, Jonathan L. Wood, NAC Advisory, Vermont, Westmore, Willoughby
posted by Naturist Action Committee @ 6:07 PM
Naturist Action Committee
3 Comments:
First off, I have never been to Lake Willoughby, but the topic came up recently. I was a a recent meeting not related to this issue and an FPR employee mention this environmental crimes charge. She stated that the "crimes" are digging in the sand. I guess clothed people never dig in sand then. Also she did believe that this is retaliation for the defeat of the proposed ban.
yes,seems like a bogus reason for the ban i agree.Ihave been LAKE WILLOUGHBY once.I had my small children with me 5 and 8 year old.Upon passing the beach area two naked men fondling each other made very sexual verbal advances towards me and infront of my children.Thats wrong and perverted.I am a straight man,and do not have a problem with someones sexual preferance.I spoke with several locals who have had similar experieces.Its not the nudity or sexual preferance,the volgar languge,and i surely do not disrespect my wife by touching her private parts in public for all to see.My children herd and seen what the men were doing to each other!Hey you are right the state could have come up with a better reason to shut the beach down than that.Ill never go to that lake again!!
Concerning the second anonymous remark here, I'll point out that it's pretty easy to make inflammatory comments while hiding behind a shroud of anonymity. Nevertheless, we take your observations seriously. No one should have to experience "volgar languge" or the other things you've reported, and that's one of the best reasons for naturists to organize locally and nationally in support of proper clothing-optional beach etiquette.
Naturists realize that when ANYONE misbehaves at a clothing-optional beach, it puts the reputation of the beach - and the beach itself - at risk. I'm willing to bet that the poor behavior you observed was NOT something that was done by naturists who care about the future of clothing-optional recreation at Lake Willoughby. I'm aware that such a fact by itself probably won't change your perception or your conclusion, but it's a reminder to naturists that clothing-optional beaches are fragile. We certainly do need to speak up forcefully when we encounter other users who don't know the difference between benign nudity and illicit or boorish behavior.
Bob Morton
Naturist Action Committee
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