The NZNF bi-monthly supplement
This newsletter is produced from an idea submitted at the South Island seminar over Queens birthday weekend. The general consensus being that each club's newsletter was satisfactory but did not cover other clubs' happenings. Neither was the Naturist magazine able to keep members up to date on N.Z.N.F activities.
Hence this supplement is born. The newsletter will be circulated to members with their own news letter every two months until the A.G.M. at Christmas. The idea will then be reviewed.
It's aim is to fill the gap between club monthly newsletters and the quarterly Naturist magazine.
The bad points of belonging to a club. List compiled at the South Island seminar.
1. 50/50 rule. Eddie Robertshaw's guest editorial in Naturist No. 86 refers. Essentially 50% of members build the club whilst the remaining 50% divide it.
2. Clubs operate as a 'closed shop'.
3. Too few facilities for daytime members.
4. Nudism has a poor image.
5. The destructive criticism so often heard at the club.
6. The possessiveness of some members.
7. Working bees.
8. Factions,cliques.
9. Lack of friendliness towards new members.
10. Lack professional expertise in the way we do things.
11. Not enough effort put into children's and young peoples' activities. The youth of today are the most potential members of tomorrow.
12. Not enough community atmosphere.
13. Communications not seen as good enough. Too much gossip and speculation. NZNF should tell us what is going on and ... what is not going on. We want to know what our own club committees are up to as well.
14. Direction of the NZNF, eg does it have long term plans as well as annual plans? does it have any plans?
15. Nudist aspects!! Whatever that means. Probably put on the list for completeness? Yes! No!
By coincidence Mary Weston, President of the ANF and her team have revamped their quarterly newsletter with a new look starting with the March issue. As an aside the Australian delegates made other sweeping decisions like increasing the annual advertising budget to $2500, gave authority for the purchase of new typewriters for the secretary and editor and agreed that the ANF bulletin should be professionally printed. Fees also doubled. Sounds like the Australian nudists mean business. We'll stay in touch. For positive aspects from the South Island seminar read on.
Roy Cox, Editor
South Islanders have their say
North Island Seminar
New Plymouth, Labour w/e 24-27 October. For motel bookings ring Sue Hurley NIVP Auckland (9)2988349. Cost is $20 per person per night.
Over 50 members representing most South Island clubs attended the Queens birthday seminar in Christchurch. Many positive suggestions were tabled for evaluation, this newsletter being one of them. The suggestions were to be published after the North Island seminar so that duplication of ideas would not be a problem. The NZNF however agreed to finance the newsletter as soon as possible and here it is. North Islanders will have to generate original ideas too.
The seminar commenced with a thought provoking plenary session supported by a video.
What's wrong with nudist clubs?
Attendees then formed into 4 syndicate groups to discuss the following topics
targets/direction
nudism
promotion
NZNF
At the plenary session attendees were also asked ( a do part of the seminar) to list the good and not so good points of belonging to a club. It's interesting to note that the nudist way of life (good point) and Nudist aspects (bad point) appeared at the bottom of the lists, almost as after thoughts.
This newsletter is edited by Roy Cox and published. bi-monthly by the New Zealand Nudist Federation P.O. Box 957 Auckland. All correspondence to the above address.
On meetings: When to discuss sensitive issues: Schedule the discussion for the middle of a meeting instead of the start or end. Why? Because controversial issues often divide members. If discussed at the start, the tone of the meeting could be antagonistic. If at the end, participants may come away feeling angry or upset, and the entire meeting could be remembered negatively.
Dear Editor, Faced with a blank sheet of paper and so many impressions of last weekend, it is hard to know where to begin.
On Monday after you left I did the 'Norman walk' (editor's note - hands behind back Prince Philip style) around the grounds collecting opinion and some hearsay! From a new middleaged member who joined via Mapua, I received a very enthusiastic account of what the seminar had done for her. She is writing to the Naturist as a result.
observation 1: The people who said least in the discussions received more in insight and enthusiasm
Another comment came from a member who had been in the movement for many years, "the same questions had been posed at the last seminar" she didn't say whether or not the answers were the same.
observation 2: No matter how often the questions are asked, no matter how many answers are proffered, the, process must continue until solutions are found.
Each group and generation must rediscover. Little is new in the world, it only gets reinvented or rediscovered.
It is my firm resolve to initiate some of the ideas which came through most strongly at the seminar and which are relevant to our club.
1. Tell members more of what is going on via the newsletter.
2. Set up some sort of conciliatory device. A host / hostess - Ombudsman.
3. Maintain and improve appearance of grounds & facilities.
Yours etc.
Norman Wilkinson
President,
Canterbury Sun Club.
AUCKLAND SUN invite all their members to attend committee meetings to "air their views." Good thought. Alice Foster writes a readable newsletter with much information on one page. A.O.H.C has a new look newsletter with a computer playing a useful part. Subs now $77 per member reducible to $66 if paid by due date. Good value compared with what is offered over 12 months. A remit was passed requiring committee members to resign if they don't attend 3 consecutive meetings without an apology. Clubs require dedicated people with a professional attitude to run them.
NELSON SUN I see have a new newsletter format too. Congratulations Bill. "Hell" says Bill, "that was hard to type. I've never done it this way before." That little extra in producing your newsletter is definitely noticeable. I'm sure your members think so too. All the action it appears, took place at RO_TO_TA club last month. Detective Anne is looking for someone with a nasty cut on their right hand after following a trail of blood through the clubhouse to the first aid cabinet. Meanwhile John who had his gun at hand shot himself a stag (first one) and a pig. On the same day?
Linda Adams the new CANTERBURY SUN editor has started her job with much enthusiasm producing 4 full pages of useful information. Giles McCaw is the new sports officer. He's 19. Well done Giles. Now that's a way of retaining youth in the club. President Norm requests his clubs 'assistance and yours too perhaps.' He tells his members he belongs to a nudist club and plans to put a sign up on the grounds to that effect. He asks "please write in 20 words or less what the notice should say under this heading." If you have any suggestions, send them to me and I'11 pass them on. Some clubs just aren't nudist clubs anymore. Perhaps your notice will remind us.
PALMERSTON NORTH reports the polar bare midwinter swim is all organized. Pool temperature is a constant 12 degrees. TARANAKI now include committee members profile each month, Jim Marriner the treasurer being this months star. At 20+ he is quite young for the job (sic). Their newsletter contains 3 adverts.
Alan from WANGANUI has just installed an electric fence round the miniten court. Now that is novel Alan. HAWKES BAY reports the serious news. Wynne has just christened the new toilet on the hill. Patrick also did a neat job. ORCHARD are having a brass monkey barbecue. At this time of the year? Now we know you're different down there. "In the pink" is underway at SOUTH AUCKLAND CLUB. Tell us more. And finally the FREE BEACH GROUP are making plans to tackle the Takapuna City Council over beaches
