NAC Action Alert: Vermont legislation

***********************************************************
NATURIST ACTION COMMITTEE
ACTION ALERT
***********************************************************
http://www.naturistaction.org
***********************************************************
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: March 27, 2009
SUBJECT: Vermont Legislation
TO: All Naturists

Dear Naturist,

This is an Action Alert from the Naturist Action Committee regarding a proposed new law currently under committee review in the Vermont legislature.

BRIEF HISTORY AND DISCUSSION
At the request of a former constituent, Vermont State Representative John Rodgers (D-Glover) has introduced a bill entitled "Prohibiting Public Nudity on Public Lands." The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives on February 4, and it has been designated "H.154." It has been referred to the House Committee on General, Housing and Military Affairs, where it remains at this time.

WHAT IS NAC DOING?
NAC has been following this legislation closely since its introduction, and NAC is working with lawmakers and local grassroots activists to monitor it and assure that it does not become law.

WHAT IS NAC ASKING YOU TO DO?
The Naturist Action Committee is asking you to take action. NAC requests that you send a letter, fax or email to each member of the House Committee on General, Housing and Military Affairs, expressing your opposition to this bill.

WHO SHOULD WRITE OR CALL?
NAC encourages all naturists, regardless of your state of residence, to make your voices heard in this important situation. Of course, the participation of Vermonters and New Englanders is vital. You may write or call. If you are unable to contact all members of the committee, at least make sure that you contact the Committee's Chair, Representative Helen Head.

Vermont's economy relies heavily on tourism, and its lawmakers understand the importance of out-of-state visitors who come to enjoy the state's lakes, rivers and streams. Especially if you live outside of Vermont, it is imperative that you mention your preference for visiting Vermont's clothing-optional swimming areas.

WHOM TO CONTACT
Send a letter, a fax or an e-mail, or make a phone call to members of the Vermont House Committee on General, Housing and Military Affairs. Committee members share the same street address, phone number and fax number at their state capital offices in Montpelier. Alternatively, you may choose to contact the lawmaker's district office.

Rep.(Representative's Name)
State House
115 State Street
Montpelier, VT 05633
TEL (802) 828-2247
FAX (802) 828-2424


Rep. Helen Head, Chair
EMAIL hhead@leg.state.vt.us

DISTRICT OFFICE
65 East Terr.
South Burlington, VT 05403
(802) 862-2267


Rep. Joseph Baker, Vice Chair
EMAIL jbaker@leg.state.vt.us

DISTRICT OFFICE
1479 Whipple Hollow Road
West Rutland, VT 05777
(802) 438-9819

Rep. John Moran, Ranking Member
EMAIL jmoran@leg.state.vt.us

DISTRICT OFFICE
58 Hi-Hopes Rd.,
Wardsboro, VT 05355
(802) 896-9408

Rep. Kesha K. Ram, Clerk
EMAIL kram@leg.state.vt.us

DISTRICT OFFICE
31 N. Prospect St.
Burlington, VT 05401
(802) 881-4433

Rep. William F. Johnson
EMAIL -none-

DISTRICT OFFICE
3603 Rte. 102
Canaan, VT 05903
(802) 277-8329

Rep. Brian K. Savage
EMAIL bsavage@leg.state.vt.us

DISTRICT OFFICE
P.O. Box 232
Swanton, VT 05488
(802) 782-9314
(802) 868-3566

Rep. Robert South
EMAIL rsouth@leg.state.vt.us

DISTRICT OFFICE
P.O. Box 206
St. Johnsbury Ctr., VT 05863-0206
(802) 748-0873
(802) 748-5111

Rep. Tom Stevens
EMAIL tstevens@leg.state.vt.us

DISTRICT OFFICE
12 Winooski St.
Waterbury, VT 05676
(802) 244-4164


NAC encourages you to send copies of your faxes and paper mail to:
NAC, P.O. Box 132, Oshkosh, WI 54903. Send copies of your e-mails to: vermont@naturistaction.org .

When you write or call:

a) Be polite. You have a right to be outraged at the proposed law, but you will achieve nothing positive by name-calling or rudeness.

b) Be known. Give your name and address. If you are a Vermont resident or a frequent visitor to Vermont, point that out.

c) Be focused. Keep your call or your correspondence brief and on target.

d) Be clear. Say that you OPPOSE H.154.

e) Be prepared. If you call, The lawmaker may not be available, and you may find yourself able to speak only to a legislative aide. That's okay. The aide is trained to take your comment and relay it to the legislator.

Additional talking / writing points:
a) Vermont is known for valuing the personal freedom of its residents and visitors. House Bill 154 would restrict the personal liberty of every individual and prohibit the Vermont tradition of skinny-dipping and sunbathing, regardless of traditional and benign circumstances.

b) A public opinion poll (the 2006 NEF/Roper Poll, commissioned by the Naturist Education Foundation and conducted by the independent Roper polling organization) shows that 25% of Americans have skinny-dipped in mixed company.

c) In that same poll, an impressive 74 percent of Americans believe that people who enjoy nude sunbathing should be able to do so without interference as long as they do so at a beach that is accepted for that purpose.

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.

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. Identifying and fighting bad local lawmaking is necessary, but it's 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: http://www.naturistaction.org/donate/

Thank you for choosing to make a difference.

Naturally,

Virginia Schnee
Board Member
Naturist Action Committee

-----------------------------------------------------
Naturist Action Committee (NAC)
- PO Box 132, Oshkosh, WI 54903
Executive Dir. Bob Morton
- execdir@naturistaction.org
Board Member Virginia Schnee - virginia@schnee.com
Online Rep. Dennis Kirkpatrick - naturist@sunclad.com
------------------------------------------------------

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.

NAC Update: Brattleboro, Vermont

The Selectboard of the Town of Brattleboro, Vermont has declined by a vote of 3-2 to pass a permanent ordinance against nudity in the town. A temporary ban was allowed to remain in effect, but that measure will expire soon.

Naturist Action Committee Board Member Virginia Schnee attended the Selectboard meeting that decided the fate of the ordinance. The vote on August 21, 2007, included an interesting reversal that found the author of the proposed ordinance voting against it, after it had been amended to be more tolerant of certain parts of of the human body.

For a more detailed account, click here for a NAC Update.