Linda Weber brings reform energy to r/nudism in first AMA as AANR President
Nudists ask tough questions, and AANR’s president answers with honesty and optimism
In a candid two-hour AMA—short for “ask me anything” for those not familiar—hosted on Reddit’s r/nudism on Monday, April 14th, Linda Weber (posting as u/TrueBlueNude), president of the American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR), fielded tough questions about the organization's direction, structural problems, and its future in an increasingly digital, youth-oriented landscape. The event had been announced and promoted on the subreddit in the weeks leading up to the AMA.
With over 129,000 members, r/nudism represents one of the largest online communities of practicing nudists, including a significant number of American naturists and AANR members. The discussion appeared to reflect a broad cross-section of the nudist community, from longtime advocates to newer, younger voices eager to see the movement evolve.
Weber acknowledged major challenges facing AANR, including outdated infrastructure, declining engagement from younger nudists, and internal resistance to change. She characterized AANR’s regional structure as an “outdated business model” that has led to a fractured organization and diminished impact, revealing that her proposal to eliminate regional silos and unify under one national strategy was not well-received by the regions.
Several community members criticized AANR-East’s ongoing absence from MoonGroove, North America’s largest young-nudist gathering. Weber said she had personally reached out to MoonGroove organizers in hopes of facilitating a sponsorship deal but that the decision to withdraw ultimately came from AANR-East. “If they don't [attend] it will be another missed opportunity to network with a successful community event within the target market we are looking to gain.”
On the future of nudist clubs, Weber said that non-landed clubs—those without physical properties—“are the wave of the future,” citing their flexibility and accessibility compared to brick-and-mortar resorts. She also emphasized the need to support these groups and ensure that existing clubs develop succession plans instead of selling to textile buyers.
Weber repeatedly stressed the importance of AANR’s advocacy work. She cited a current bill in the Florida legislature that could criminalize innocent photos of nude minors and said AANR dues help fight such legislation. “If AANR did not exist, many bills would have passed that would have affected our ability to be nude outside of our homes.”
Questions about AANR’s digital presence brought additional critiques. One user described Naturist Hub—the naturist-run social media platform labeled as AANR’s “official” social network—as “Old People Facebook,” while others lamented that club websites “look straight out of 2002.” Weber didn’t disagree. She admitted that past efforts to unify AANR's digital and social media presence was met with resistance from the regions but said she's since brought in new committee chairs “with a vision to the future.”
Weber also clarified that images on AANR’s website are of real members, not AI-generated or professional models, and that she had fought years ago to remove misleading stock photography from the site. Regarding AANR’s international presence, Weber confirmed that the organization is currently not a member of the International Naturist Federation (INF-FNI), following a failed vote in 2024 to rejoin under an “opt-in” model. She said the issue may be revisited in 2026.
Throughout the AMA, Weber remained responsive and solution-focused, reiterating that she welcomes feedback and suggestions directly. “I am doing what I can to point this out to the Regions,” she wrote in one comment. And in another, “Unless members stand up and say something, they won’t understand the misstep they are making.”
The AMA revealed both frustration among members and a reform-minded president actively pushing for modernization, digital growth, inter-organizational collaboration, and generational relevance. In an organization as sprawling and complex as AANR—representing individuals and clubs across a vast and diverse country—change is rarely swift or simple. Whether that momentum can navigate the slow-moving machinery of AANR’s entrenched structure remains to be seen.
Still, what emerged from the discussion, at least for me, was not opposition to AANR, but deep investment in its success. The critiques voiced by members and moderators alike came from a place of reverence for AANR’s legacy and belief in its continued importance. AANR remains central to the health of the nudist movement in the U.S.—an institution worth improving, protecting, and strengthening. The tone was not antagonistic, but hopeful: people are rooting for AANR to win. 🪐
Disclosure: The author serves on the Public Relations Committee for AANR. This article was written independently and is not affiliated with or produced in collaboration with AANR. While it can never be truly objective, it strives to offer an honest perspective on the AMA and the issues discussed.
I hope she can bring the aanr organization and nudism/naturism as a whole into the future, this lifestyle, and organization, is on the ropes, as it is.
i think she is really trying to improve the group