July 1981
Hello, Friends: I'm writing this crouched over a heater and feeling that summer was a long time ago; but the shortest day has passed (I know, because some of us dared the icy waters of Mission Bay on it), so the sun is on its way back. That it will shine on the FREE BEACHES of NZ we can only hope. The wheels of Council meetings and motions continue to grind, and soon their decisions must fall in our favour. When they do, the dominoes are stacked, ready to fall.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING: This is your formal notice of our A.G.M. to be held at St Barnabas' Scout Hall at 2 p.m. on 1 August 1981. We have received an indication of a good out-of-town representation so, Aucklanders, don't let their trip be for nought. We need a quorum of fifty, but the hall will accommodate many more than that.
Regretfully Robin is retiring from his position as Chairman; who is going to replace him? This is one of the things you will be asked to decide, along with electing a new Secretary. New blood is always welcome on a Committee and I hope members not residing in Auckland will agree to to elected. Did you know that travelling expenses are tax deductible at a rate of just over 25c per kilometer?
Another matter to be put to the meeting is the question of some districts forming their own Groups. This is not as simple as it would appear and we would like to hear as many opinions as possible.
WAIWERA SOCIAL: This will take place on the evening of 1 August and the bus will pick up from the A.G.M. as well as points south and north. Please make your reservation as soon as possible, as there is a lot of work to be done before the function. All you need to bring is your towel and bottle of medicinal whatever.
POPULAR BEACHES: Adrianne has compiled a list of most-used beaches from her recent survey. If you found yourself during the summer sitting on a beach all alone and wondering where everyone was, here is your answer:
North Auckland
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Auckland
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Other places
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The Auckland beaches have been listed in order of popularity; others not so. If they were, Papamoa would stand head and shoulders above the others - and at peak season probably ahead of Long Bay on a body count.
Our present official beach list is an amended list published in 1979 and is in line for overhaul. Your suggestions for a new list will be very welcome. Please, however, be very explicit. While a beach may be ideal for nude bathing at 3 pm on a Wednesday afternoon it may be totally unsuitable on weekends when the sands are covered in family groups.
What we require is: Name of beach; Directions for getting there; Tidal or weather conditions; Suitable times and if possible some indication as to local attitudes and degree of tolerance. This last point can be difficult to gauge, but it is crucial. I have myself lain on a beach amongst 30 or more strangers, clothed and scared to strip. After a time one brave soul stripped and within ten minutes over 20 did likewise. There are no doubt many other beaches where there is a similar pattern of "first there sets the style for the day." Let us know if your beach is one of these so we ensure we are early.
FROM WELLINGTON John Lowe advises that locals have hired Monty Python's Sauna (Hartman Place, Porirua) for Sauna evenings to be held at intervals. The next one will be 9 August, $5 per couple, and they need a minimum of 15 couples to make it viable. B.Y.0.G. Give John a call on 899-371 to confirm.
GISBORNE AND HAWKES BAY people are advised that the Gisborne Sun Club will host a regional conference of sun clubs after lunch at their club grounds "Mecca", to be followed by a cabaret evening. Our members will be welcome and you are advised to contact the Secretary, Barbara, at —
P.O. Box 391, Gisborne Date: Saturday, 25 July 1981.
CLIVE GREEN SAUNAS and SWIMERAMA are going well. Clive Green's every
Sunday night 5 - 9 pm, admission $3 each or $5 per couple. Swimerama third Saturday of each month 6.30 pm to 8.30 pm. Admission $1 adults, 30c children (sorry about previous confusion).
GEYSERLAND LEISURE PARK: The Secretary is holding applications for shareholding in Geyserland. It is imperative that more money is invested in this venture to make continued development possible. Shares may be purchased in multiples of $100, and arrangements can be made to have a sum transferred from your bank account each week. Applications and brochures are also available from Mrs D James, P.O. Box 2169, Rotorua. This is a chance for Free Beachers to have a stake in something permanent and contribute something tangible to the movement in general.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT: Anyone requiring a copy of the end of year financial statement is asked to send a stamped, addressed envelope to the Treasurer.
AFTER THE A.G.M. Lois would like to enlist the aid of two or three tea-persons to serve tea and coffee, and clean up the hail after the A.G.M. These would need to be people not intending to soak in the relaxing warmth (double-entendre there!) of Waiwera. Please ring her on 450-037.
THE OUTGOING COMMITTEE extends to members its best wishes for continued health and happiness in the sun.
Yours sincerely,
C H A I R M A N ' S F A R E W E L L
I have been privileged to serve as Chairman of the Free Beach Group since its foundation, and it has involved Jenny and me in meeting lots of interesting people and making many friends. However, due to the pressures of my work and, I believe, the need for some new blood on the Committee I have decided not to stand again. Several other committee members are also moving on and I am sure you will join me in thanking them for their services, especially those who have served more than one term.
*** I would like to make clear a point of our Organisation which does not seem to be generally known, that is the status of local groups away from Auckland. The F.B.G. Committee is a national committee administering a national organisation. It happens at the moment also to arrange social activities in Auckland, but need not do so. Any group of F.B.G. members in any part of New Zealand can organise its own meetings and get notice of these sent out by central F.B.G. or can get expenses reimbursed. This has always been the situation. Smaller areas benefit from this, as the cost of advertising to get a local group going, may be much more than the subscriptions gathered locally.
*** But local groups have to ask for reimbursement, and preferably to send receipts for the auditor's sake. There is nothing in the world to stop them "doing their own thing"; they do not have to affiliate - they are already part of F.B.G. Practically all the money subscribed can return to them again, though we do need enough for printing and postage. We can send on newsletters in bulk and they can re-post with their own information. Better still, we can print their information in our newsletter.
*** Now there is a need perhaps for local committees to be allowed to receive complete lists of local F.B.G. members. This can be met by a proposal at the A.G.M. which I hope as many as possible will attend. Perhaps you will all consider other constructive proposals to make the F.B.G. work more efficiently for everyone.
And most important: are YOU prepared to serve on the Committee? None of us had very much experience when we were elected - think what you will learn!
We thank you all for your support. Bare well,
July, 1981