The Naturist Society
Encyclopedia
The Naturist Society is a national naturist organization based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin
, USA. It publishes a quarterly periodical called Nude & Natural
which documents and coordinates naturist activities and provides information about issues related to naturism
. The Naturist Society was established by Lee Baxandall
in 1980. Baxandall was the Society president for a number of years and still holds a revered position as founder. He formulated the initial TNS motto: "Body acceptance is the goal, nude recreation is the way." This statement incorporates the belief that the human body is not intrinsically offensive and that the practice of social nudity can be affirming, not degrading.
, and the TNS membership card is usually accorded equal status with the AANR membership card at resorts. TNS includes an equal opportunities statement in its participating agreement for its Naturist Network, which includes nudist resorts. It notes that its members must not "discriminate on the basis of age, sex, race, national origin, religion, disability, or sexual orientation." But "TNS acknowledges that single male visitors may be subject to a quota if a club or resort deems this unavoidable." The Naturist Society issues joint membership cards to same-sex couples.
TNS organizes several annual gatherings in various regions of North America, such as The Western Naturist Gathering and the Eastern Naturist Gathering (the largest such event, held in Massachusetts since 1997). The gatherings feature workshops and seminars on many topics, especially those that relate to body health and ongoing legal issues.
TNS also provides support for various Special Interest Group
s for TNS members who share hobbies or other interests such as amateur radio
.
Oshkosh, Wisconsin
As of the census of 2000, there were 62,916 people, 24,082 households, and 13,654 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,662.2 people per square mile . There were 25,420 housing units at an average density of 1,075.6 per square mile...
, USA. It publishes a quarterly periodical called Nude & Natural
Nude & Natural
Nude & Natural: The Magazine Of Naturist Living or simply Magazine is a quarterly 100+ page naturist magazine published by The Naturist Society in Oshkosh, Wisconsin and distributed throughout the United States and internationally...
which documents and coordinates naturist activities and provides information about issues related to naturism
Naturism
Naturism or nudism is a cultural and political movement practising, advocating and defending social nudity in private and in public. It may also refer to a lifestyle based on personal, family and/or social nudism....
. The Naturist Society was established by Lee Baxandall
Lee Baxandall
Lee R. Baxandall was an American writer, translator, editor, and activist, first known for his New Left engagement with cultural topics and then as a leader of the naturist movement.-Career:...
in 1980. Baxandall was the Society president for a number of years and still holds a revered position as founder. He formulated the initial TNS motto: "Body acceptance is the goal, nude recreation is the way." This statement incorporates the belief that the human body is not intrinsically offensive and that the practice of social nudity can be affirming, not degrading.
Membership
The TNS Naturist Network includes both private nudist resorts and naturist social clubs that agree to TNS principles and standards. The TNS-accepted nudist resorts are virtually identical to those chartered by the American Association for Nude RecreationAmerican Association for Nude Recreation
The American Association for Nude Recreation is a nudist organization in the United States. Founded in 1931, the organization advocates nudity and nude recreation in appropriate settings. The AANR charters approximately 259 independent U.S. nudist resorts and parks...
, and the TNS membership card is usually accorded equal status with the AANR membership card at resorts. TNS includes an equal opportunities statement in its participating agreement for its Naturist Network, which includes nudist resorts. It notes that its members must not "discriminate on the basis of age, sex, race, national origin, religion, disability, or sexual orientation." But "TNS acknowledges that single male visitors may be subject to a quota if a club or resort deems this unavoidable." The Naturist Society issues joint membership cards to same-sex couples.
Politics and education
In the 1990s TNS established two nonprofit adjunct organizations, governed by a board of directors elected by the TNS membership: The Naturist Action Committee, its political and legislative lobbying adjunct, and the Naturist Education Foundation. TNS advocates for the acceptance of skinny-dipping and nude sunbathing at designed clothing-optional public beaches. A 2006 Roper Poll commissioned by the Naturist Education Foundation found that 74% of Americans accept this idea.Purpose
The organization believes naturism is more than just being nude. "Naturism is about much more than clothing-optional recreation. It's a natural way of living. And recognizing our interdependency with Nature, we as naturists can affirm the goodness of being and appearing fully human while acknowledging our need to tread wisely and kindly on the Earth. To this end TNS wishes to cultivate a heightened respect for Nature."TNS organizes several annual gatherings in various regions of North America, such as The Western Naturist Gathering and the Eastern Naturist Gathering (the largest such event, held in Massachusetts since 1997). The gatherings feature workshops and seminars on many topics, especially those that relate to body health and ongoing legal issues.
TNS also provides support for various Special Interest Group
Special Interest Group
A Special Interest Group is a community with an interest in advancing a specific area of knowledge, learning or technology where members cooperate to effect or to produce solutions within their particular field, and may communicate, meet, and organize conferences...
s for TNS members who share hobbies or other interests such as amateur radio
Amateur radio
Amateur radio is the use of designated radio frequency spectrum for purposes of private recreation, non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, and emergency communication...
.
Publications
- N MagazineNude & NaturalNude & Natural: The Magazine Of Naturist Living or simply Magazine is a quarterly 100+ page naturist magazine published by The Naturist Society in Oshkosh, Wisconsin and distributed throughout the United States and internationally...
- The World’s Best Nude Beaches and Resorts - The top 1,000 places to get naked
See also
- American Association for Nude RecreationAmerican Association for Nude RecreationThe American Association for Nude Recreation is a nudist organization in the United States. Founded in 1931, the organization advocates nudity and nude recreation in appropriate settings. The AANR charters approximately 259 independent U.S. nudist resorts and parks...
(AANR) - Clothes free movement
- GymnophobiaGymnophobiaGymnophobia is a fear of nudity. Gymnophobics experience anxiety from nudity, even if they realize their fear is irrational. They may worry about seeing others naked or being seen naked, or both...
- List of public outdoor clothes free places
- Public nudityPublic nudityPublic nudity or nude in public refers to nudity not in an entirely private context. It refers to a person appearing nude in a public place or to be seen from a public place. It also includes nudity in a semi-public place, where the general public is free to enter, such as a shopping mall...
- Skinny dippingSkinny dippingNude swimming, colloquially called skinny dipping, is a term used to describe swimming naked.-Etymology:The term skinny dip, first recorded in English in the 1950s, includes the somewhat archaic word skinny, known since 1573, meaning "having to do with skin", as it exposed the naked...
- American Nudist Research LibraryAmerican Nudist Research LibraryThe American Nudist Research Library is the first and believed to be the largest nudist/naturist library in North America. The American Nudist Research Library is located in Kissimmee, Florida. Kissimmee is also the location of the headquarters of the American Association for Nude Recreation...