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South Florida Free Beaches /Florida Naturist Association, Inc.
founders and mentors of Haulover Park's clothing-optional beach

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SunDial Online Archive
2005 - 2009: A Journal of Florida Naturism
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  March 2015

The President's Message

Naturist Unity Summit
Beach Ambassador Training
Suncoast Naturists
Three Mile Beach
Clay County Update
Gay Naturists Int'l. (GNI)

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 UPCOMING EVENTS:
                
March 28, 2015
 Beach Ambassador Training

October 24-28, 2015
The Celebrated Nude

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NudeBeachNews.TV was asked by SunSport Gardens Naturist Resort to shoot a  video tour of their clothes-free tropica paradise loated in Laxahatchee, Florida. Here is a little of the footage that we shot.

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This is the final cut of the video tour we shot of Sunsport Gardens Family Naturist Resort.

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RichardPix.jpg   March 2015 President's Message

   by Richard Mason

 

     Welcome to Haulover Beach

     Things we are looking at:


Florida State Legislature

We are watching a few bills that could have implications for nude recreation on public lands. Our Tallahassee lobbyist has spoken to the sponsors of the bills and expressed our concern for any amendments that could be added. These bills concern behavior, photography and vengeful distribution of nude and intimate photos. We also consult with the Naturist Action Committee (TNS), the American Association for Nude Recreation-Florida (AANR-Florida) and B.E.A.C.H.E.S. Foundation Institute.

* The Ritz Carlton Residences Building in Sunny Isles Beach on the Ocean Palm Site. These condos will be at the extreme high end of the market and just a few hundred feet from the naturist beach. We are concerned about how the developers view the naturist beach in relation to their sales efforts. They are well-connected developers. We will research the issues and keep you advised. 

* Clay County, Florida Anti-Nudity Ordinance. The Public Nudity Ordinance continues through the county commission process. The next hearing is March 24th, 2015. Our effort is focused on the overbroad structure of the ordinance. We would like them to write in protections for future naturist facilities, but this is not likely. Change will be difficult in a county like Clay where there are few naturists who would speak out against the Public Nudity section of the ordinance. Our Tallahassee lobbyist, Ray Maury has been in communication with the members of the county commission. We are submitting suggested amendments. AANR-Florida is also involved in this issue.

* Saving Haulover Beach's Naturist Beach. We continue to get reports of inappropriate behavior on the beach. What disturbs us and our Beach Ambassadors is that when asked what the person reporting the incident did about what they witnessed, they tell us "nothing. WTF

So let's discuss that issue here and now. Inappropriate sexual behavior on any beach is a violation of Florida's statute law under its criminal code. It is punishable by fines and imprisonment. It is a Felony. It will get a person convicted on the Sexual Offenders Data Base. Both state and federal. If a person wants to have a complete life changing experience, get arrested and convicted for an inappropriate sexual act on a public beach or in a public park. In Miami-Dade County there is no place that a convicted offender can live because of county codes on distance requirements from schools, parks and etc.  They will lose everything. Family, home and their job.

Further, if you witness an inappropriate sexual act, which is a felony, and you do not report that criminal act, you can be, upon conviction, an accessory to a felony. This is serious citizenship.

The United States has a long history of citizen involvement and taking responsibility for community policing. We, who use Haulover Beach should expect no less from our fellow beach visitors.

On page two of our GUIDEBOOK TO A NATURIST BEACH we have a list of phone numbers you can call to report inappropriate behavior. 

Haulover's Naturist Beach is not a "Resort-Style" beach. It is a public beach. All those that use the beach must take personal responsibility for the beach.  Our position is that if you will not accept responsibility for the beach, then go to another beach or go and establish a naturist beach somewhere else. PLEASE! Sooner is better!

All the previously traditional naturist beach locations around the United States except a few have been closed to nudity because of inappropriate sexual behavior, actual or implied. In every case, there was no organization established to protect and serve the beach.

Haulover's Naturist Beach was not a traditional naturist beach location when it was set-up.  The members of South Florida Free Beaches established Haulover Beach in 1991, after an intense two-year effort. After it was established, we were informed by the Miami-Dade County Commission that we have to be sure that it does not become a burden to the county or they will close the beach to nudity.

The SFFB position on inappropriate behavior on 'our' beach is this. If we witness you in the act of inappropriate behavior, we will take a photo of the act and have you arrested. We will be at your trial and will push for a conviction.

We believe that since they could care less about the future status of Haulover's Naturist Beach we should not care about their future, either. Whether it is in a jail cell or on parole. Anyone reading this message that is using Craig's List for meet-ups, you may want to send out a message that they should avoid Haulover Park.

* Crime Watch Program Established for Haulover's Naturist Beach. Volunteer's from the Beach Ambassador Program have established a separate and distinct Crime Watch Team and will be patrolling the Naturist Beach, the restrooms and the contiguous park section to provide a safe environment for park visitors. 

Anyone caught in an inappropriate sexual act will be referred to the Miami-Dade County Police for a citation and arrest. If you run, we will chase you and take a picture of your auto license tag. Households will be notified.

We plan on taking no pleas for forgiveness. Do the crime, spend the time.

We simply will not allow those engaged in criminal behavior to define and defile our beach.

Richard Mason, President

Request for Funds:

While SFFB/FNA is managed by an all-volunteer group we have many operational expenses that need to be paid on a monthly basis.

We rely on our supporter/member's donation to operate and pay our bills.

You can become a supporter/member by doing the following. Or, you can just make a donation to our Legal & Political Action Fund.

Send check to: SFFB/FNA. Inc. PO Box 530306 Miami Shores,
Florida 33153 or through our web site: www.sffb.com

Thank You                       



The  Naturist Unity Summit, Sunny Isles Beach, Feb 11, 2015

On the day before the Bare Necessities Nude Cruise, nudist and naturist leaders from national and regional associations and other interested persons attended the 1St Unity Summit in Sunny Isles Beach.

The purpose of the conference was to develop a strategy for a single message that we could all use when we deal with the media and government.

This need has been told to us over and over again by the media and government officials.  The objective was not to develop another layer of organizational strata, but to produce a message and an image that we all could use when dealing with those outside of nude recreation.

They can't work with us if they don't know who we are and what we stand for. We must be the ones who define who we are.

We had speakers from Visit Florida, Sachs Media Group, Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau, Genting Group/Resorts World and many highly qualified speakers, grant writers, social media, government affairs and the print and broadcast media.

The goal was also to capture the available message centers available in the social media as well as the media itself. That does not take a lot of money, but it takes a plan.

Much progress was made and there is still work to be done.

The Summit was a start and follow-up discussions will take place. Watch for a separate e-mail on this.

One project discussed that many believed would capture a lot of free publicity for nude recreation was the art show, The Celebrated Nude.

For information on this project go to: www.beachesfoundation.org/unite

Current news. This week we heard that Leonard Nimoy passed away. He is best known for his acting in Star Wars. However, he was also a noted photographer and published a book on the spirituality of the nude female.

The name of the book is "Shekhina." Shekhina is the female emanation of God in the Jewish faith. Leonard wanted to make the invisible, visible. To quote Erica Jung, "He revealed the feminine aspect of spirituality in all its complex beauty."

Rest in peace, Leonard. You were more than Spock.


Haulover Beach Ambassador training resumes in March

BAs on beachFollowing a fall and winter hiatus, there is a revised date for the next quarterly Haulover Beach Ambassador (BA) training. It is scheduled for Saturday, March 28, 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. These trainings can take place at any of several clothing-optional beaches in Florida. This session will occur at Haulover Park in Miami. Click above for details.

BAs are volunteers that serve as beach monitors and greeters, a combina­tion of block watch and welcome wagon. They are extra eyes and ears for Ocean Rescue (lifeguards), park staff, and police, observing and reporting any problems, welcoming "nudecomers" to the beach, providing information on beach rules and guidance on naturist etiquette, answering questions about
South Florida Free Beaches and our nonprofit, educational and charitable adjunct, B.E.A.C.H.E.S. Foundation Institute, and sharing with visitors their knowledge of park amenities, local hotels and restaurants, etc.

Seasonal residents are wel­come to participate. For their ser­vice, BAs get a cool hat, ID badge, and free parking on their duty days. The next training after this one is scheduled for
Saturday, June 20. If you have any questions or wish to sign up for a training session, contact Louis.


Quest for nude beach in Southwest Florida moves forward
 
NL2.jpgThose who participate in naturism do it for non-sexual reasons, such as personal comfort, a sense of freedom, self-esteem, and well-being. Many nudists / naturists have to hide, however, in private places to practice their beliefs. Attempts to get portions of beaches designated as clothing-optional have often failed because of the stereotype pinned on those who enjoy them. Nonetheless, the popularity of clothing-optional beaches around the world is growing at a significant rate.

As Pasco County, FL (just north of Tampa), with its many naturist resorts, has shown, clothing-optional businesses can be an important part of the tourist economy. One of the most successful clothing-optional beaches in Florida is at Haulover Park in Miami. Much of its success is due to supporting organizations such as South Florida Free Beaches and our nonprofit, educational and charitable adjunct, B.E.A.C.H.E.S. Foundation Institute.

Suncoast Naturists (SCN) in Sarasota, FL is now working with the groups mentioned above as well as AANR Florida (Florida Region of the American Association for Nude Recreation) to achieve clothing-optional designation for a NL3.jpgquarter-mile (400 meters) of remote, beautiful, and spacious Caspersen Beach in Venice, FL, about 21 miles (34 km) south of Sarasota. If you live in or visit Southwest Florida, please sign the online petition in support of this at www.change.org.

As mentioned briefly in the previous issue, the action committee for the Free Caspersen Beach Initiative held its first strategy meeting in Bradenton, FL on Monday evening, November 3, 2014. It was attended by leaders and key members of the groups mentioned above. Getting a recognized, clothing-optional section at Caspersen Beach has long been an ambition of SCN, but county government has been unresponsive despite SCN's proven dedication as the beach's official, adopting community group since 2001. The petition, launched last July, and the recent organizing activity with area supporters and allied naturist organizations represent a revitalization of the effort to attain this goal.

A number of action items were discussed at the November 3 meeting and a consensus was reached on them. Most of them are listed on the Free Caspersen Beach Project web page. Anyone that is interested and able to help beyond signing the petition (which is certainly also important) should ask to be added to the Free Caspersen Beach e-mail list to be kept informed of meetings and other developments. You can also "like" or follow the project on Facebook at www.facebook.com/freecaspersenbeach and/or Twitter at @suncoastjohnny. Furthermore, consider joining Suncoast Naturists, which strengthens the group at the core of this effort.

Please direct any questions to John, chairman of the action committee, at info@suncoastnaturists.org

Great American Cleanup: Suncoast Naturists was scheduled to participate in this coordinated, nationwide event at Caspersen Beach on March 21, 2015. Check the club's calendar for upcoming cleanups.


Three Mile Beach in British Columbia moves toward clothing-optional recognition

Three Mile Beach on Okanagan Lake in Penticton, BC, Canada has a tradition of nude use dating back to the 1930s. Such use was in a secluded area on private property, and was tolerated by owners. Last summer, however, with prospective buyers looking at lakeside properties and amid allegations of lewd behavior on or near the beach, adjacent owners erected fencing and no trespassing signs on the beach. They also conducted clandestine surveillance with still and video cameras and posted images late last year on a website designed to shame alleged trespassers.

Authorities determined that some of the fencing actually encroached on public land below the high water line, and required it to be pulled back. In the meantime, naturists agreed to suspend their nudity until a resolution could be reached. The issue cooled with the weather, but came up again Three Mile Beach
suddenly early this year, when the shaming website received publicity, followed by a petition from the owners' attorneys to the City Council to enact a ban on public nudity along with a fine of at least $100 for each violation. Supporters of the ban had the advantage when they appeared on February 2 before the City Council with little opposition.

Local naturists started to scramble, but they were hampered at first by a lack of cohesion and effective organization. Alerted by B.E.A.C.H.E.S. Foundation Institute
, which was monitoring local press coverage and social media chatter, Judy Williams, Founder and President of Wreck Beach Preservation Society in Vancouver, who is a member of B.E.A.C.H.E.S.' Board of Governors, made contact with naturists in the Okanagan region and offered to provide tactical advice, help assemble a presentation in favor of a clothing-optional beach, and rally support of naturist resorts and organizations. Since Judy is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Naturist Action Committee (NAC) and the Government Affairs coordinator for the Federation of Canadian Naturists (FCN), it was possible to spread the word widely on short notice.

Judy appeared before the City Council on March 2 with Kevin Proteau, an activist with the newly formed 3 Mile Naturist Beach Committee (3MNBC). They provided an overview of the historical, environmental, quality-of-life, and economic significance of retaining a clothing-optional beach in Penticton. Their own exhibits were bolstered by letters from individual naturists and naturist resorts and documentation on Haulover Beach provided by B.E.A.C.H.E.S., including economic impact analyses and testimonials from municipal and tourism promotion officials in Miami on the positive contribution of a naturist beach. You can watch a video of the March 2 proceedings. (Select the clip for "Three Mile Beach.")

The City Council ended up voting unanimously to look into clothing-optional designation with signage or visual barriers (e.g., berms, landscaping, etc.) on some public portion of Three Mile Beach to relieve any contention between nude users and others. A relocation of nude use to somewhere else or an anti-nudity ordinance with fines were among the options presented by City staff that the Council did not adopt. This means that clothing-optional use at Three Mile Beach is on track to graduate from long-term, informal toleration to official recognition. Nothing is assured, however. The property owners have made clear in public statements that they are surprised and dissatisfied with this outcome and seek to reverse it.

A report from City staff on potential arrangements at the public beach is expected at the City Council meeting on Tuesday, April 7, starting at 6:00 p.m. PDT (9:00 p.m. EDT). You can watch the meeting via live streaming. There will likely be resistance from the opponents. The mayor has called in advance for thoughtful and courteous dialog.


Update on Clay County, FL anti-nudity legislation

Clay County, FL (near Jacksonville) has continued developing a package of three new ordinances, one regulating adult entertainment businesses, the second severely restricting public nudity, and the third a zoning / locational measure to disperse from each other and certain other uses any such businesses that may decide to set up within its jurisdiction. The County is motivated by legal advice, on which it has spent a small fortune, that its current, absolute ban on such businesses leaves it vulnerable to a lawsuit that it is likely to lose on constitutional grounds.

Clay County in Florida (small)
Because the dispersal ordinance is still being drafted and is expected to raise fierce objections from potentially affected residents and business owners once allowed locations become known, the Clay County Commission has focused on completing the process to pass the regulatory and anti-nudity ordinances first.

At their February 10 meeting, the County Commission passed the first two ordinances by a 3-2 vote and sent them for review to the Planning Commission. The latter met on March 3 and determined unanimously that the two ordinances are consistent with Clay County's master plan, and then voted 4-2 to pass them back to the County Commission for a final vote on March 24. They also voted 5-1 to recommend that all three ordinances only be considered together, suggesting that action on the first two be postponed until the draft of the dispersal ordinance is completed.

The County Commission met on March 10 to review and discuss, among other things, the cumulative expenses (more than $110,000 at that point) for outside attorneys providing input on these ordinances. The Commission Chair made clear that she intends to pass the first and second ordinances on March 24, and will then introduce the dispersal ordinance. They plan to take their time with that to deal with the expected unhappy reactions of the public.

Through all the public hearings over recent months, many residents have expressed their desire to keep the status quo and rely on the existing total ban on adult entertainment businesses to stand unchallenged. They do not want such businesses in their County and fear that setting up regulations and zoning to control those will be perceived by that industry as an invitation to enter.

It's difficult to predict whether the public's anticipated objections at the next County Commission meeting will be strong and numerous enough to deter the Commission from taking action. What is clear is that citizens' passion is focused on the regulatory and dispersal ordinances, and not on the anti-nudity one. So far, only naturists and a few libertarians have objected specifically to it. The meeting takes place on Tuesday, March 24, starting at 2:00 p.m. EDT. You can watch it live or view it later after the video is archived. (Allow up to a few days.)

The prospect of preventing Clay County from banning nudity - no such ordinance exists currently - appears dim. Naturist leaders were conferring in the days leading up to the vote, but no decision on any further challenges had been made as of press time. 


Gay Naturists International (GNI) offers discount in support of naturist unity

NL8.pngGay Naturists International (GNI) is the world's foremost association of male naturists. Its motto is, "Life is Great; Live it Nude!"© GNI membership is open to all men aged 21 or over. Originating in 1981 as a special interest group within The Naturist Society (TNS), GNI spun off in the early '90s as an independent organization, but has continued to maintain close ties with TNS and its political action and legal defense adjunct, the Naturist Action Committee (NAC).

GNI has also collaborated closely with South Florida Free Beaches in running joint membership drives, providing complimentary exhibitor space at each other's events, and exchanging ads in their publications. GNI volleyballLast month, GNI joined B.E.A.C.H.E.S. Foundation Institute, SFFB, and Bare Necessities Tour and Travel Company in co-sponsoring and attending the first Naturist Unity Summit. (See related article in this issue.) In continuing support of naturist unity and the follow-up event, The Celebrated Nude Art Festival and Naturist Unity Conference in Miami, October 24-28, 2015, GbNI has extended a twofold offer.

First, there is a 25% ($10) discount off the regular $40 dues for a one-year membership in GNI for applicants referred by SFFB or B.E.A.C.H.E.S. (Note that membership is limited to men aged 21 or over.) Furthermore, for each one that joins GNI or renews his GNI membership through this promotion, GNI will donate $10 toward the expenses of The Celebrated Nude. These offers are valid through the end of that event.

NL10.jpgWhen joining GNI on line at www.gaynaturists.org, be sure to enter UNITY15 in the promo code field of the payment form to qualify for this deal. (This is not the "club promotional code" in the "Member Information" section.) The discount and GNI's donation are valid only if the above code is entered in the application; it may not be claimed after the fact.

Why should a man join GNI? There are many benefits of membership. Especially valuable are GNI's private membership directory and social media network, which provide a password-protected connection to like-GNI pool.jpgminded naturist men throughout the United States (with many in Florida), Canada, and a dozen or so other countries. Furthermore, attendance at GNI's two major annual nude† events is restricted to GNI members. The first is NakedFest, a four-day retreat in northeastern Maryland, June 4-7, 2015. After that is the 30th Anniversary International Gathering of Male Naturists in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania, August 21-30, 2015 (with shorter attendance options available).

NakedFest is a smaller, low-key event, drawing in the range of 300 men, while The Gathering is a high-energy event, attracting up to several hundred more than that. Both events offer naked† camaraderie, education, and relaxation in beautiful, rustic settings with a lake, one or two pools (both Gathering pools are heated), wooded trails, rolling, manicured grounds, and a variety of sports facilities. NL12.jpgThere is a full program of workshops and seminars, games, contests, shows, parties, tournaments, nightly Dance Club and campfires, etc., but there is also plenty of time and space for unstructured leisure. A flat fee includes standard housing in dormitory-style cabins, all meals and beverages (including beer and wine) plus two daily snacks, and programming. Optional ground transfers from select airports, bedding / linen rental, and housing upgrades (at NakedFest) cost extra.

† Nudity at these events is generally mandatory except for weather, medical, or special event reasons (e.g., parties or shows where costuming may be appropriate). There may be a limited, clothing-optional policy for the opening weekend of The Gathering to help newbies ease into nudity.

Find out more about GNI membership and events for naturist men at www.gaynaturists.org. After reading through the info, direct any remaining questions to the GNI Business Office. You can also find men's local naturist clubs and naked yoga classes around the world through GNI's Naked Communities directories. You may be surprised by what's available in your area. 

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