National Committee

President John Groombridge

04 589-5461

Vice PresidentJackie Caldwell

(North Island)

Vice PresidentJoyce Fleming

(South Island)         03 322 7990

Secretary [ Barry Marten ]

04 567 5216

TreasurerJohn Groombridge

04 589-5461

Members 

Ian Bushett04 237-0193 

Linda Geeves04 478-4820 

John Lowe06 752-7915 

George North06 

All correspondence should be addressed to the official FBG address

LOCAL CONTACTS

Waiheke Island John Augustine 

09 372 6678

Auckland Alison & Graham 

09 817 8266

Tauranga Ted Lidgard 

07 542 2344

Waikato Roger Morris 

07 856 8857

Taranaki John Lowe 

06 752 7915 

Hawkes Bay Murray Ennor 

06 879 6988

Sth Hawkes Bay Hugh Bowles 

06 374 6238

Wellington Meryl Baker 

04 528 7010

Linda Geeves

04 478 4820

Christchurch Joyce Fleming 

03 322 7990

Robin Gray

03 389 1919

Our Sympathy

To Ian Burgess on the loss of his mother at the grand age of 108 years. It is believed that at the time of her death, lan's mother may have been the oldest NZ resident.

To Brian Tindall on the untimely loss of his brother.

Feeback on the Directory Form

The Editor has suggested that in the case of 'one half of a couple' sometimes none of the pre-set categories may be appropriate. Thus prompted, a couple of members have written - and taken diametrically opposite views!

One couple said: "A person who takes part in nudist activities without a partner is a SINGLE and should be listed as such."

Another said: "All couples should be C, whether spouse/partner [is] a member or not."

I think what may be best would be to include some guidance on that (and other uncommon pairs), in the fine print in that box on the form - at least by pointing out that the category can be ignored all together, and a personal specification made in the last, open paragraph; if desired. For example: 'My wife is not an active nudist, but is happy to welcome member couples'; or 'Spouse disinterested', or whatever.

Other comment (my view in brackets) included a suggestion that the vote on the directory format should be restricted to those in it. (Against the Constitution - and people change their mind about being in it, anyway.)

A salutation - Mr, Mrs, Ms etc; - should be prefix the name, to specify gender. (A bit formal for us - not been a problem before - if in doubt: it's male!)

Dispense with pre-selected interest categories. (The evidence is that many would then indicate nothing at all, unfortunately.)

Thanks very much for all those who took the trouble to write.

John Lowe

Auckland Events

Hibiscus Coast Sun Club swim nights at on the last Saturday of each month - 6pm 'till midnight at Palm Springs, Parakai, near Hellensville. $8 per adult. Take your own food and drinks or buy them there.

Auckland Sun Club invites visitors to their Spa and Sauna evenings, held every Sunday from 4pm to 7pm; $2-50 per person. Take your towel and FBG membership card. Phone 09 814 9973 for more details.

Letter to the Editor...

The format for the Directory of Members is not in our Constitution and can therefore be changed without being voted on at a general Meeting. John Lowe's proposed format has many new entries and alterations that I think members may wish to vote on separately rather than en bloc as in the proposed remit. For example, some members may feel the social group category complicated and unworkable, but would like the directory except for that section. The format could be worked on over the next few months so that we get what the majority of members prefer and we get it right first time.

Barry Marten

Wellington's MidWinter Madness

Barry's upside-down Xmas Party

On June 21 at Barry's home approximately 17 FBG'ers gathered for our mid winter dip in Wellington Harbour. Three car loads travelled to Petone Beach at about 6.30pm, and five of the hardy ones stripped, and, in club uniform braved the chilly waters, cheered on by the "chicken" ones. We were in the water for five minutes. (Oh really?? Editor).

Back at Barry's we were straight into the spa pool, followed by a shared meal, mulled wine, and a nice warm open fire. Father Christmas arrived and distributed presents from his bag at random (which had been contributed by those attending the festivity).

The up-side-down Christmas tree in the corner and the up-side-down Santa bear added a touch of class to a fun evening, ending in a game of Canasta in the early hours.

Thanks Barry for a mighty night.

Rick Baker

Profiles are presented in alphabetical order, and are reproduced as received from the contestants.

William (Bill) A Baine

* Fourth Generation European New Zealander - (Scottish / English extraction);

* As for my time on earth, all that need be said is that - at the end of the Second World War I was still at School - Enough Said!

* Father of two adult daughters; Grandparent of seven teenagers;

* Retired Secondary School Teacher;

* NZ Department of Conservation Honorary Ranger since mid 1950's;

* Originally joined the Free Beach Group Inc. within the first year to 18 Months of its inception - now well over 20 years ago;

* I was the Wellington District 'Contact Person' for the Free Beach Group for some years during the 1980's - and into the Early 1990's.

* These last few years I have been a Committee Member of the FBG Wellington District's 'Local Organising Committee' and have been responsible for the said districts Local Fixture's Calendar.

* In addition to belonging to the FBG I Have been a member of Rotota Sun Club for some years.

Ian Bushett

Ian has been a member since 1991, and is an active Wellington member. He has been a member of the National Committee for two years, and brings with him his experience in banking and retail management

Joyce Fleming

Joyce is a Life Member, South Island Vice President, and local contact of the Free Beach Group. Joyce has been a member since 1980 and has been dedicated to promoting the Free Beach Group, writing articles in the NZ Naturist, and arranging interesting events for Christchurch members.

Linda Geeves

Hi my name is Linda. I'm a 34 year old married mother of two. I've been in the group since 1993, first as a member, then on the Wellington regional Committee as Treasurer, then Chairperson. Now I'm up for election as a National Committee member for my second year.

John Groombridge

Member since 1978, current President, Treasurer and newsletter editor. Other interest include conservation of endemic species, ham radio.

Edward James

Edward has been a member of the Free Beach Group since 1991 and, with his wife, has been for some years a regular at Tapauae, the local free beach. Edward is active in his local church; also in tramping, motors-port and travelling.

John Lowe

John has been a member since 1976 and was for ten years the Wellington area organiser. On return from overseas, John set up the current database, which he is intending to re-write. John is interested in practical application of the naturist philosophy.

Barry Marten

I joined the Free Beach Group in 1993, and have served on the Wellington Regional Committee for the last 2 years. I took on the membership secretary's role earlier this year after the resignation of Jackie Caldwell. I have served on other committees including a scout group and sports club. Occupation: builder other interests: running, gardening.

George North

George joined the Free Beach Group in Christchurch in 1992, where he was pro-active in defending our place on the beach. George is a current member of the National Committee, and now resides in Katikati. He is interested in rock climbing and tramping.

 

Gordon Sim

I am finding it difficult to write a profile as I am not sure what information is required. Before I retired I was a senior technician with the Civil Engineering Department of Canterbury University. I have been involved as secretary, treasurer or committee member of quite a few organizations and am currently Secretary/Treasurer of an incorporated society, the constitution of which 1 was responsible for. I was for many years a telephone counsellor of Mens-line, an incorporated society of men helping men in Christchurch.

I have been a member of the Free Beach Group since 1992. One of the advantages of the Group, besides the obvious one of companionship of similar interest is that as a group, acting responsibly we can make our actions known and tolerated, even grudgingly accepted.

Being naturally highly kinaesthetic and having done quite a lot of massage, I am probably more aware of the helpful and healing effects of clothes optional. One effect that few people know is that when there is unresolved conflicts the tension stays in the body and can be seen in posture etc. Depression occurs when the person becomes introverted (often necessary for their well-being). Both these conditions are helped by the body awareness and acceptance that our interest brings.

John Tremain

John has been a member since 1994 and is very active on our behalf, especially at St Leonards - probably the most popular free beach in Auckland. John is a self-employed radio technician.

Be sure to record your vote on the ballot papers included with this newsletter

Remits

The following four Motions have been received for consideration at the Annual General Meeting of the Free Beach Group Inc, 19 September, 1998, in accordance with Clause 15.2 of the Constitution.

1 ...That Clause 7.3 of the Constitution be amended by deleting the words The Group will! render such assistance as it considers appropriate and within its resources, and substituting the words:

The Group shall render such assistance as the Committee may consider appropriate and within the resources of the Group.

Clause 7.3 would then become:

In the event of any legal action being taken against a member arising out of nude recreation in a place and at a time which the Committee considers suitable, The Group shall render such assistance as the Committee may consider appropriate and within the resources of the Group.

Explanation: A typographical error occurred in the preparation of the Constitution which was adopted by members at a Special General Meeting, 27 January 1996. The word "will" should have been "may".

Moved: John Groombridge

Seconded: Ian Bushett

2 ... That Clause 8.2 of the Constitution be amended by deleting the words confirmation o election of officers; and that Clause 9.1 be amended by deleting the sentence beginning with the words "These are to be elected ..." and substituting the sentence:

The National Committee shall be elected annually by postal ballot; in the case o resignation, a committee member may be appointed in an acting capacity.

Clause 8.2 would become:

The business of Annual General Meeting shall be the presentation of Reports of Officers, consideration and adoption of accounts, and general business.

Clause 9.1 would become:

The business of The Group shall be managed and controlled by a National Committee consisting of a President, Secretary,', Treasurer, and members of a number to form a committee not exceeding eight persons. The National Committee shall be elected annually by postal ballot; in the case of resignation, a committee member may be appointed in an acting capacity. The Committee may appoint Vice President(s) and shall have the power to co-op members within the limit of eight persons forming the Committee. Committee meet ings shall be open to all members;

Explanation: Clause 9.1 states that the election of the National Committee be conducted by postal ballot. A postal ballot enables all members to participate in the democratic election of the National Committee; it is therefore not appropriate to conduct another ballot at the AGM to confirm or reject the results of a postal ballot.

Moved: John Groombridge

Seconded: Ian Bushett

3 ...That Clause 12 of the Constitution be renamed Liquidation and that the words wound up in Clause 12.1 be replaced with the word "liquidated" and that the words winding up in Clause 12.2 be replaced with the word liquidated.

Explanation: The Incorporated Societies Act has been amended so that it is no longer correct to refer to the "winding up" of a society. The amended Act defines this action as "liquidation".

Moved: John Groombridge

Seconded: Ian Bushett

The above amendments are general housekeeping, and do not change the original intents of the Constitution.

 

4 ... I (John Lowe) move that the following changes to the Constitution be made.

Motion 4 Continued

1. Membership.

A. [5.1] Add to the end: The year in which an application is first accepted will be known as 'Year Joined'.

B. [5.2] Add the words: "or ex-member" after: "Any member" and change: "membership" to: "the Group" in the first sentence.

C. [6.1] Change the words "deemed to have resigned." to "deemed to be an ex-member." in the second sentence.

D. [6.1] Change the words: "Any such member may however revive his or her membership" to "Any ex-member may return to full membership"; change the words "sum due" to "subscription" and add the word "current" before the word "financial" in the third sentence.

E. [7.3] After "or members", add: "but not ex-members," in the first sentence.

F. [7.4] New: "Ex-members may be invited to participate in organised activities, at the discretion of the organiser; but they shall have none of the rights or privileges of membership."

2. Meetings. (Change title to: "General Meetings")

A. [8.1.1] New: "Notices of motions or remits for the AGM shall be in the hands of the Secretary by the 30th day of April and notified to the members at least two months before the mailing of the related voting form."

B. [8.2.1] New: "The results of motion or remit voting conducted by post and published in accordance with 8.1.1, shall be confirmed in general business."

C. [8.3.1] New: "Valid proxy forms returned for a General Meeting must be distributed to the attending member designated by name on the proxy form. Forms not specifying a personal name, or specifying the name of a member not in attendance, shall be distributed as evenly as practicable among the attending committee members."

D. [8.3.2] New: "In the case of a show of hands, the Chair shall ask subsequently for a count of distributed proxies, accumulating the count of those proxies for, and those against; separately from each other and the show of hands. In the minutes, shall be recorded the 'for' and 'against' count for both the hands shown and the proxies.

In the case of a secret ballot the Chair shall ask those responsible for proxies to specify them separately on the ballot paper beside a circled letter "P" or in such other way as unambiguously separates the proxy count for the voting member. The scrutineers shall keep and report separately the vote count of those attending, from the proxy count, as well, as the totals. On request for a recount, two new scrutineers may be appointed for one only recount of the papers. The Chair shall declare both attending and proxy results and move that the ballot papers be destroyed forthwith.

[8.4] Change "twenty five" to: "twenty".

E. 3. Management

A. [9.1] After "Treasurer," add: "Newsletter Editor, Database Administrator," and, after the first sentence add: "One person may occupy a maximum of two of the specified positions."

B. [9.1.1] New: "A 'Committee meeting' may be conducted in writing by 'Circular', in which case the circular must be sent to all committee members and those members wishing to 'attend'; Along with the related 'response forms', that Circular will constitute the minutes for that 'meeting'.

C. [9.4] Add: "In the case of a Committee meeting conducted by Circular the quorum shall be 5 responses returned from the prior circular, by a committee member."

D. [10.2] Add: "The Secretary may initiate a meeting in writing 'by circular' in lieu of attendance in person. In the absence of a circular or other committee meeting for more than 2 months, any committee member may initiate such a circular, provided the response is notified to the Secretary."

E. [10.4] New: "The database Administrator shall be responsible for keeping a secure list of all P members details, compiling the Directory of Members, and facilitating other committee members, local organisers and contacts, in their respective functions."

Moved: John Lowe

 

Note:

Clause 8.4 of the Constitution was amended last year. The quorum for an Annual General Meeting is twenty members, including proxies.