Not sure what the AANR does for me ? l have been a member for a few years and the only thing they have done for me is take my dues ? l didn't even get the opportunity to vote in the election as l didn't get a ballot !
Internet reliability should not be an issue. Emails will come through when you do have internet.
You should have gotten an email with the subject "AANR Ballot" from an outside voting company "vote-now". Search your inbox or spam folder for it. - If you did not get it, AANR says: "If you did not receive a communication from VOTE-NOW it is likely that AANR does not have an email address for you. Please call 1-800-TRY-NUDE (879-6833) and provide one."
If you have never set up an AANR online account (my wife hadn't) you first have to call to get verified and then they will send you a code that you need when they send you your electronic ballot.
George, you should have gotten an email with the subject "AANR Ballot" from an outside voting company "vote-now". Search your inbox or spam folder for it. - If you did not get it, AANR says: "If you did not receive a communication from VOTE-NOW it is likely that AANR does not have an email address for you. Please call 1-800-TRY-NUDE (879-6833) and provide one." Cheers.
We are facing an issue of family naturist and nudist issues or sex and sexuality issues. The two are not the same and don't mix. Aanr will have to choose and stand by it. I have seen too much on the fence and people claiming to be nudist or naturist when all they are really interested in is the sexuality of it. If I go somewhere to be nude it is just that. If I go somewhere for sexual reasons then it is just that. The public should not be a place for personal issues and if that is where the aanr goes then we need to know so we can choose to be a part or not.
(1) AANR needs a sharper, more relentless focus on PR, for existing and prospective members. It should be promoting a welcoming message about what naturism is in 2024. British Naturism has a much nice online presence and consistent brand identity. Frankly, and to your credit, Planet Nude has built a more impressive brand in your short time online, which you've bootstrapped by yourself and with a small group of partners. Of course, AANR has other functions beyond PR, and navigating various legal issues and facilitating relationships and coordination among clubs—a key constituency—is a vital function and one that a blog like Planet Nude doesn't have responsibility for. But on the other hand, that shouldn't distract from the need to build a better brand. The clubs won't exist without nudists. So those management functions can happen behind the scenes. while the public face of AANR is more focused on building a modern movement for naturism.
(2) Shifting to a more nuts-and-bolts point: my wife works in the professional field of association management. And one insight I've learned from her is that while it is definitely true that people in 2024 are less inclined to join organizations just for the sake of joining them compared to a few decades ago, there is a lot more expertise and there are a lot more resources out in the world about how to run an effective association, one that meets people where they are at—e.g., there are best practices about how to communicate with people, how to prioritize when resources are limited and engagement is less stable, etc. I hope that under new leadership, AANR might tap into some of these best practices. Naturism has unique elements but fundamentally there is a lot we can learn in terms of best practices from other organizations, non-nudist ones included.
Ultimately this is why I voted for Linda. In another moment, I might have preferred Tim's years of familiarity with the organization, which can be valuable for effective governance. But Linda's special focus on growing the nudist movement and on a more inclusive, focused mission for AANR best meets the needs of the moment.
While I have personal issues with Linda, including multiple instances of feeling railroaded and gaslit by her and people surrounding her, I'm also not a person that will ever be a part of AANR given my geographical position and bitter taste for organizations as a whole. That said, there are other people whom I do respect greatly that assure me that Linda IS doing the work that needs to be done for more positive change with AANR, so for the sake of nudists in that organization or any that benefit from strong affiliation... I sincerely hope it's true. My personal experience with too many faces in AANR has been a frustrating scraping against a fence of bigotry, inaction and ignorance. Not only from Members, but from leaders and 'influencers' alike. It would be so wonderfully refreshing for that to change.
I joined ASA (now known as AANR) in the early 1980s and remain a member to this day. The national organization needs to unify the existing clubs, promote social nudism, educate the public and work with government agencies and localities. They seem to have lost some of the enthusiasm and values of those years ago. The Naturist Society came to being in the early eighties; basically promoting and protecting Free Beaches. I have been a member since (almost) the beginning and, with my wife, have been lifetime members since the early 1990's. They, too, seem to have lost the drive of those early years (just leaf through any of their quarterly journals with articles of far away, glamorous locales...nothing wrong with that, but more emphasis should be based on Lee Baxandall's founding principles) and have what appears to me, an uneasy alliance with AANR. TNSF has recently been hit by a decline in dues paying members as well. I'd like to suggest AANR and TNSF merge into one and with bold, innovative leadership to utilize social media and to promote member clubs, free beaches and government affairs.
I can't imagine that happening. AANR is for clubs. TNS is for individuals. Not only do they target different groups, they see each other as ideological competitors.
Never mind that TNS seems like it is self destructing. They don't have a unified vision and don't seem willing to compromise within the group.
Fred - I intend to work closely with TNSF. We shouldn't be adversaries but respect that we both want what is best for nudism/naturism. There is strength in numbers and I hope to bring unity to not only the two organizations but any group or organization that promotes wholesome nudity.
Strength in numbers will call for compromise on some issues. Different demographics look for different things. There are a LOT of inflexible people out there. If you have a dollar to spend - and everything comes down to money and time eventually - how to spend it will be a source of contention. What happens when those interests conflict determines whether a coalition can survive or not.
Although I grew up a naturist, I only became a member of AANR when I turned 18. I’ve been a member ever since. This year I became an elite lifetime member for the first time. In the 19 years I’ve been a member, I don’t believe AANR has truly represented my demographic or in fact really cared about my values as a naturist. I feel like an outsider in the life I’ve always lived. This being said, I welcome any change from the status quo.
LOL! I joined the ASA back in the 1970s. Then I realized that none of the clubs in the state would let me enter because I was a young single male. End of that relationship.
I happily joined TNS for 20 years. It drifted after Lee Baxendall died and I left. It is the curse of organizations driven by an individual's vision. The individual leaves and there's a scramble for control but the vision is lost.
That's one of the biggest issues. Men are pretty much ALL regarded as creeps. Even if minding their own business. Those single men may one day marry/raise kids. They will remember how they were treated.
Evan is correct. The election used to be done via mail-in ballot and this allowed for the ballots to be mailed out, filled out by the AANR members, and then the time it took to mail it back to the office and then hand-tally them. This is one of the things I want to change. With online and telephonic options, the period can be shortened to something reasonable.
I've been an AANR member through Sequoians since 1999. Yes, there needs to be more inclusivity for Gen Z and Millennials. I support Linda Weber to bring about those needed changes
As I understand it, the primary purpose of AANR is to promote landed clubs. Landed clubs are rapidly losing economic viability. There are a few well established clubs in a few key market areas that are (I think) doing well. But most of the clubs I am aware of locally cannot survive because it is more profitable to use the facilities for other than nudist purposes.
The list of landed clubs in CA that have gone out of business since the 90s, or are going out now, is very long. They are not being replaced.
This isn't because of a shortage of potential nudists. It is the result of the high value of land and because clubs have traditionally been run as mom and pop shops. The owner retires and a beautiful club like Lupin goes for $14 million dollars. Remaining clubs focus on hanging on until the owner can retire and not expanding the membership base or a future of growth.
Just from economics, I don't believe (most) landed clubs have a rosy future. Any nudist model that depends on affluent people spending large sums of money to live at a camp or to commute hundreds of miles just for a weekend visit, is a losing proposition.
There is also the issue of the aging of the nudist community. A part of me suspects that many nudists want it that way. They like what they have and anything new would disrupt things. Nudism as a social movement is uninteresting to many older people.
Fred, has Lupin Lodge been sold, and if so, will it continue as a nudist property? You reference a price of $14 million, but I understood the original listing price was over $30 million. I haven't heard any updates since last Fall, so I'm just curious any news you may have about the future of this property as a nudist destination.
I guess I had the price wrong. Looked it up and it is going for $32.8 million. I don't think a sale has happened yet... but unless you know a multimillionaire nudist with cash to spare I'm pretty sure it will go textile. That's where the money is to be made. Every SoCal resort that I'm aware of being sold, did.
This year they did not offer a shuttle from Lupin to Bay to Breakers. That's bad news for the nude participants in the B2B, who seem to shrink in number every year.
Thanks Fred. Yes, I had not heard anything further about Lupin Lodge, after the initial news last Fall about the place being put up for sale. Not sure if this is good, or bad. I remember the owner had said her preference would be to see the property continue as clothing-optional, so I'm hoping maybe she's holding out for something she feels good about. I'm curious what offers have been made?
Thank you for your article. I wish I had read it before I voted. Thank you for the volunteer work you have done for AANR. I am a current member. I am not aware of the problems within the organization. I am aware that there are never any "letters to the editor" in the Bulletin.
I have had to deal with the Department of Children Services in my state. The biggest thing they seem to hate is nudity. I am scared to be nude in my house around the family. It seems that AANR may have some sway in Florida but not so much elsewhere.
We’re with Linda as President of the AANR. She is hardworking and tireless in her efforts promoting nudism. She has done so much for nudism for women and is an inspirational model for women considering the nudist lifestyle. She will do much for the AANR, taking it and the nudist lifestyle to the next level, gaining much needed acceptance from textile world. Jan&Gary 👍
Why can't the AANR file an Amicus Curiae brief with the court each and every time someone gets arrested for non-sexual nude sun bathing or swimming in their backyard? Why doesn't AANR take a stand on the not unheard of practice of firing a man for sexual harassment should a female co-worker find out that he's a nudist. Why is AANR invisible and unknown among college students and young adults, who represent the future of social nudism in America? Why hasn't AANR taken a visible stand on the legislative efforts to curtail the World Naked Bike Ride in Wisconsin? What is AANR doing to stop the closure of Little Beach in Hawaii and the related comprehensive anti-nudist legislation? I voted for Ms. Weber. I wish her all the best.
The answers to many of your questions are found in the Planet Nude archived articles from the past several months, regarding AANR's lobbying to stop the Wisconsin legislation, and the Hawaii legislation as well, and the protection of the beach in Seattle. And, AANR does help individuals with legal issues, most often advising a person's private attorney.
As far as attracting younger nudists, that is certainly a place AANR needs to do a lot more, no question. I know there have been discussions, and planning for future efforts within AANR, and the next president will need to move forward with their own ideas too. Not enough has been done since the demise of the Young Nudists of American, several years ago. Personally, I've advocated for creating seats on the AANR board of trustees, as well as the regional boards of directors, dedicated to nudists under 40, so that planning for the future of nudism will include voices of those who will actually be here for that future.
The problem I believe is that AANR is an organization made up by clubs that are satisfied by just having beautiful places to go and enjoy just staying behind the fence privately instead of fighting for our freedom to actually live outside the fence and enjoying everyday life in our neighborhood, going to beaches, lakes, hiking and just being free human beings. The AANR resorts will still function as all other resorts do because of what they offer in the way of recreation, relaxation and especially making friendships. Actually if more people are clothes free those people will attend the AANR Resorts as they do the prude resorts.
I'm going to put this frankly. I was a member of AANR, had an account on NaturistHub, and participated in the video chats. All three came to screeching halt. Besides getting a $9 discount on my visits to a resort, I didn't see much use for AANR. NH and the vid meets are another story. I did like that for a while. I felt at ease there, but over time I started having some concerns.
While I agree with looking out for exhibitionists, I have some issues. On NH, I had seen people posting provocative pics. I saw married couples with only the woman pictured. I know why this was done: to get more interactions. This goes back to an issue of sexuality. There were other things that came up and we were told they didn't want to "over-moderate". Now is the interesting part. I was pretty much looked at an accused of being an exhibitionist for appearing full-bodied on cam. Even AANR's own rules stated that nudity was fine as long as no focus on genitals. I was told there was a problem, though NEVER a focus on genitals. Even others present said there were no issues. That's when they made it "chest-up only" in rules. If I appeared the exact same way on cam as before but clothed, there'd be no issues. That tells me that those who had an issue were sexualizing simple nudity where a person is just naturally positioned.
There are also times where they'd turn a blind eye to their AFFILIATED clubs treating men like they're all perverts and having some pretty biased rules. When I brought some things up and talking with leadership, I was point-blank told my concerns would most likely be blown off. Now, why would I continue to support or send money to an organization that is going to treat me like that?
I went back and forth several times regarding how guys are treated with the same person that pretty much insinuated I was being an exhibitionist. I'd messaged back and forth regarding that situation but it pretty much got nowhere. I wouldn't even feel comfortable being on either NH or the vid meets at this point. That really bothered me. I have since cooled down a bit, but still pretty peeved when it comes to AANR. Our community as a whole (regardless of organization) is HURTING and headed in a terrible direction. I've seen things for myself in many ways. Not getting into details here, but it is really not looking good. I am hoping that AANR does turn around and REALLY start listening to people.
Not sure what the AANR does for me ? l have been a member for a few years and the only thing they have done for me is take my dues ? l didn't even get the opportunity to vote in the election as l didn't get a ballot !
Please call the office and let them know. The ballots went out via e-mail for online or telephone voting. 1-800-TRY-NUDE.
As a new member (1 year) I have not seen a ballot or information on candidates for leadership.
It is possible that my unreliable internet is the issue.
I would like to help and become involved in keeping AANR growing and not shrinking but I don't know how.
Stu Slinger, Kaniksu Ranch 509 299 5555
Internet reliability should not be an issue. Emails will come through when you do have internet.
You should have gotten an email with the subject "AANR Ballot" from an outside voting company "vote-now". Search your inbox or spam folder for it. - If you did not get it, AANR says: "If you did not receive a communication from VOTE-NOW it is likely that AANR does not have an email address for you. Please call 1-800-TRY-NUDE (879-6833) and provide one."
Please vote! Cheers sir !
For position statements by the two candidates, please look here:
https://www.aanr.com/aanr_articles/linda-weber-for-president/
and here: https://www.aanr.com/aanr_articles/aanr-elections-will-be-here-before-we-know-it-voting-starts-in-june-for-aanr-members-only/
If you have never set up an AANR online account (my wife hadn't) you first have to call to get verified and then they will send you a code that you need when they send you your electronic ballot.
George, you should have gotten an email with the subject "AANR Ballot" from an outside voting company "vote-now". Search your inbox or spam folder for it. - If you did not get it, AANR says: "If you did not receive a communication from VOTE-NOW it is likely that AANR does not have an email address for you. Please call 1-800-TRY-NUDE (879-6833) and provide one." Cheers.
We are facing an issue of family naturist and nudist issues or sex and sexuality issues. The two are not the same and don't mix. Aanr will have to choose and stand by it. I have seen too much on the fence and people claiming to be nudist or naturist when all they are really interested in is the sexuality of it. If I go somewhere to be nude it is just that. If I go somewhere for sexual reasons then it is just that. The public should not be a place for personal issues and if that is where the aanr goes then we need to know so we can choose to be a part or not.
A couple thoughts I've had about AANR recently:
(1) AANR needs a sharper, more relentless focus on PR, for existing and prospective members. It should be promoting a welcoming message about what naturism is in 2024. British Naturism has a much nice online presence and consistent brand identity. Frankly, and to your credit, Planet Nude has built a more impressive brand in your short time online, which you've bootstrapped by yourself and with a small group of partners. Of course, AANR has other functions beyond PR, and navigating various legal issues and facilitating relationships and coordination among clubs—a key constituency—is a vital function and one that a blog like Planet Nude doesn't have responsibility for. But on the other hand, that shouldn't distract from the need to build a better brand. The clubs won't exist without nudists. So those management functions can happen behind the scenes. while the public face of AANR is more focused on building a modern movement for naturism.
(2) Shifting to a more nuts-and-bolts point: my wife works in the professional field of association management. And one insight I've learned from her is that while it is definitely true that people in 2024 are less inclined to join organizations just for the sake of joining them compared to a few decades ago, there is a lot more expertise and there are a lot more resources out in the world about how to run an effective association, one that meets people where they are at—e.g., there are best practices about how to communicate with people, how to prioritize when resources are limited and engagement is less stable, etc. I hope that under new leadership, AANR might tap into some of these best practices. Naturism has unique elements but fundamentally there is a lot we can learn in terms of best practices from other organizations, non-nudist ones included.
Ultimately this is why I voted for Linda. In another moment, I might have preferred Tim's years of familiarity with the organization, which can be valuable for effective governance. But Linda's special focus on growing the nudist movement and on a more inclusive, focused mission for AANR best meets the needs of the moment.
While I have personal issues with Linda, including multiple instances of feeling railroaded and gaslit by her and people surrounding her, I'm also not a person that will ever be a part of AANR given my geographical position and bitter taste for organizations as a whole. That said, there are other people whom I do respect greatly that assure me that Linda IS doing the work that needs to be done for more positive change with AANR, so for the sake of nudists in that organization or any that benefit from strong affiliation... I sincerely hope it's true. My personal experience with too many faces in AANR has been a frustrating scraping against a fence of bigotry, inaction and ignorance. Not only from Members, but from leaders and 'influencers' alike. It would be so wonderfully refreshing for that to change.
I joined ASA (now known as AANR) in the early 1980s and remain a member to this day. The national organization needs to unify the existing clubs, promote social nudism, educate the public and work with government agencies and localities. They seem to have lost some of the enthusiasm and values of those years ago. The Naturist Society came to being in the early eighties; basically promoting and protecting Free Beaches. I have been a member since (almost) the beginning and, with my wife, have been lifetime members since the early 1990's. They, too, seem to have lost the drive of those early years (just leaf through any of their quarterly journals with articles of far away, glamorous locales...nothing wrong with that, but more emphasis should be based on Lee Baxandall's founding principles) and have what appears to me, an uneasy alliance with AANR. TNSF has recently been hit by a decline in dues paying members as well. I'd like to suggest AANR and TNSF merge into one and with bold, innovative leadership to utilize social media and to promote member clubs, free beaches and government affairs.
While I am a lifetime member of both AANR and TNSF since the 1990s, I sadly don't see that happen. I cooperate with all.
I can't imagine that happening. AANR is for clubs. TNS is for individuals. Not only do they target different groups, they see each other as ideological competitors.
Never mind that TNS seems like it is self destructing. They don't have a unified vision and don't seem willing to compromise within the group.
Fred - I intend to work closely with TNSF. We shouldn't be adversaries but respect that we both want what is best for nudism/naturism. There is strength in numbers and I hope to bring unity to not only the two organizations but any group or organization that promotes wholesome nudity.
Strength in numbers will call for compromise on some issues. Different demographics look for different things. There are a LOT of inflexible people out there. If you have a dollar to spend - and everything comes down to money and time eventually - how to spend it will be a source of contention. What happens when those interests conflict determines whether a coalition can survive or not.
Your right John. We should be interested in making our society welcome NUDISM then our resorts would flurrish.
Although I grew up a naturist, I only became a member of AANR when I turned 18. I’ve been a member ever since. This year I became an elite lifetime member for the first time. In the 19 years I’ve been a member, I don’t believe AANR has truly represented my demographic or in fact really cared about my values as a naturist. I feel like an outsider in the life I’ve always lived. This being said, I welcome any change from the status quo.
LOL! I joined the ASA back in the 1970s. Then I realized that none of the clubs in the state would let me enter because I was a young single male. End of that relationship.
I happily joined TNS for 20 years. It drifted after Lee Baxendall died and I left. It is the curse of organizations driven by an individual's vision. The individual leaves and there's a scramble for control but the vision is lost.
That's one of the biggest issues. Men are pretty much ALL regarded as creeps. Even if minding their own business. Those single men may one day marry/raise kids. They will remember how they were treated.
I struggle to understand why the voting period has been so long. Weeks? More than a month? It has seemed endless and I wonder what the rationale was.
A carryover from bygone days of mail-in voting, I believe
Evan is correct. The election used to be done via mail-in ballot and this allowed for the ballots to be mailed out, filled out by the AANR members, and then the time it took to mail it back to the office and then hand-tally them. This is one of the things I want to change. With online and telephonic options, the period can be shortened to something reasonable.
Good luck, Linda!
I've been an AANR member through Sequoians since 1999. Yes, there needs to be more inclusivity for Gen Z and Millennials. I support Linda Weber to bring about those needed changes
As I understand it, the primary purpose of AANR is to promote landed clubs. Landed clubs are rapidly losing economic viability. There are a few well established clubs in a few key market areas that are (I think) doing well. But most of the clubs I am aware of locally cannot survive because it is more profitable to use the facilities for other than nudist purposes.
The list of landed clubs in CA that have gone out of business since the 90s, or are going out now, is very long. They are not being replaced.
This isn't because of a shortage of potential nudists. It is the result of the high value of land and because clubs have traditionally been run as mom and pop shops. The owner retires and a beautiful club like Lupin goes for $14 million dollars. Remaining clubs focus on hanging on until the owner can retire and not expanding the membership base or a future of growth.
Just from economics, I don't believe (most) landed clubs have a rosy future. Any nudist model that depends on affluent people spending large sums of money to live at a camp or to commute hundreds of miles just for a weekend visit, is a losing proposition.
There is also the issue of the aging of the nudist community. A part of me suspects that many nudists want it that way. They like what they have and anything new would disrupt things. Nudism as a social movement is uninteresting to many older people.
I think your view of AANR’s scope is narrower than many within AANR hold.
Fred, has Lupin Lodge been sold, and if so, will it continue as a nudist property? You reference a price of $14 million, but I understood the original listing price was over $30 million. I haven't heard any updates since last Fall, so I'm just curious any news you may have about the future of this property as a nudist destination.
I guess I had the price wrong. Looked it up and it is going for $32.8 million. I don't think a sale has happened yet... but unless you know a multimillionaire nudist with cash to spare I'm pretty sure it will go textile. That's where the money is to be made. Every SoCal resort that I'm aware of being sold, did.
This year they did not offer a shuttle from Lupin to Bay to Breakers. That's bad news for the nude participants in the B2B, who seem to shrink in number every year.
https://losgatan.com/clothing-optional-resort-in-the-santa-cruz-mountains-for-sale/
Thanks Fred. Yes, I had not heard anything further about Lupin Lodge, after the initial news last Fall about the place being put up for sale. Not sure if this is good, or bad. I remember the owner had said her preference would be to see the property continue as clothing-optional, so I'm hoping maybe she's holding out for something she feels good about. I'm curious what offers have been made?
Thank you for your article. I wish I had read it before I voted. Thank you for the volunteer work you have done for AANR. I am a current member. I am not aware of the problems within the organization. I am aware that there are never any "letters to the editor" in the Bulletin.
I have had to deal with the Department of Children Services in my state. The biggest thing they seem to hate is nudity. I am scared to be nude in my house around the family. It seems that AANR may have some sway in Florida but not so much elsewhere.
We’re with Linda as President of the AANR. She is hardworking and tireless in her efforts promoting nudism. She has done so much for nudism for women and is an inspirational model for women considering the nudist lifestyle. She will do much for the AANR, taking it and the nudist lifestyle to the next level, gaining much needed acceptance from textile world. Jan&Gary 👍
Why can't the AANR file an Amicus Curiae brief with the court each and every time someone gets arrested for non-sexual nude sun bathing or swimming in their backyard? Why doesn't AANR take a stand on the not unheard of practice of firing a man for sexual harassment should a female co-worker find out that he's a nudist. Why is AANR invisible and unknown among college students and young adults, who represent the future of social nudism in America? Why hasn't AANR taken a visible stand on the legislative efforts to curtail the World Naked Bike Ride in Wisconsin? What is AANR doing to stop the closure of Little Beach in Hawaii and the related comprehensive anti-nudist legislation? I voted for Ms. Weber. I wish her all the best.
The answers to many of your questions are found in the Planet Nude archived articles from the past several months, regarding AANR's lobbying to stop the Wisconsin legislation, and the Hawaii legislation as well, and the protection of the beach in Seattle. And, AANR does help individuals with legal issues, most often advising a person's private attorney.
As far as attracting younger nudists, that is certainly a place AANR needs to do a lot more, no question. I know there have been discussions, and planning for future efforts within AANR, and the next president will need to move forward with their own ideas too. Not enough has been done since the demise of the Young Nudists of American, several years ago. Personally, I've advocated for creating seats on the AANR board of trustees, as well as the regional boards of directors, dedicated to nudists under 40, so that planning for the future of nudism will include voices of those who will actually be here for that future.
Linda
The problem I believe is that AANR is an organization made up by clubs that are satisfied by just having beautiful places to go and enjoy just staying behind the fence privately instead of fighting for our freedom to actually live outside the fence and enjoying everyday life in our neighborhood, going to beaches, lakes, hiking and just being free human beings. The AANR resorts will still function as all other resorts do because of what they offer in the way of recreation, relaxation and especially making friendships. Actually if more people are clothes free those people will attend the AANR Resorts as they do the prude resorts.
Alan Paul
Life long nudist
I'm going to put this frankly. I was a member of AANR, had an account on NaturistHub, and participated in the video chats. All three came to screeching halt. Besides getting a $9 discount on my visits to a resort, I didn't see much use for AANR. NH and the vid meets are another story. I did like that for a while. I felt at ease there, but over time I started having some concerns.
While I agree with looking out for exhibitionists, I have some issues. On NH, I had seen people posting provocative pics. I saw married couples with only the woman pictured. I know why this was done: to get more interactions. This goes back to an issue of sexuality. There were other things that came up and we were told they didn't want to "over-moderate". Now is the interesting part. I was pretty much looked at an accused of being an exhibitionist for appearing full-bodied on cam. Even AANR's own rules stated that nudity was fine as long as no focus on genitals. I was told there was a problem, though NEVER a focus on genitals. Even others present said there were no issues. That's when they made it "chest-up only" in rules. If I appeared the exact same way on cam as before but clothed, there'd be no issues. That tells me that those who had an issue were sexualizing simple nudity where a person is just naturally positioned.
There are also times where they'd turn a blind eye to their AFFILIATED clubs treating men like they're all perverts and having some pretty biased rules. When I brought some things up and talking with leadership, I was point-blank told my concerns would most likely be blown off. Now, why would I continue to support or send money to an organization that is going to treat me like that?
I went back and forth several times regarding how guys are treated with the same person that pretty much insinuated I was being an exhibitionist. I'd messaged back and forth regarding that situation but it pretty much got nowhere. I wouldn't even feel comfortable being on either NH or the vid meets at this point. That really bothered me. I have since cooled down a bit, but still pretty peeved when it comes to AANR. Our community as a whole (regardless of organization) is HURTING and headed in a terrible direction. I've seen things for myself in many ways. Not getting into details here, but it is really not looking good. I am hoping that AANR does turn around and REALLY start listening to people.