Promise yourself:

• To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet

• To make all your friends feel that they have valuable qualities

• To look at the sunny side of things

• To think only of the best, to work only for the best, and expect only the best.

Promise yourself:

• To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own

• To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to greater achievements of the future

Promise yourself:

• To give so much to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticise others.

From September quarter 1988 Elysium Institute "Jots" Journal of the Senses, front cover

The NZNF bi-monthly supplement November-December 1988

Time we started caring

Kindness is a word you don't hear much these days wrote Helen Brown in the Sunday Star last month. The concept of doing something for somebody else for nothing is quaint and out of date.

In the 1980's we're attuned to the fact that there's no such thing as a gift. "Free" is simply a bait to swallow before we really start paying.

Nothing's worth giving these days, unless it's tax deductible. Yet we are badly in need of generosity of the spirit.

People don't like the word kind any more. It implies superiority. You can only be kind to someone who's worse off than you. Or can you?

All the books say people never do anything unless there's something in it for them.

So people in the 80's value their right to be individuals and in so doing become obsessed with their own needs.

Ironically, while they're so busy giving more to themselves, they're actually giving less to themselves. Humans tend to be reasonably outgoing creatures who don't function too well on their own. We need friends and families around us. We need to be involved with others so we can learn one of the delightful quirks of the human spirit - that the more you give, the more there is to give. Club life provides that valuable involvement with others.

When people give their love and caring to others, it doesn't vanish down an emotional plug hole.

It is absorbed and given back, most of the time.

And what's all this got to do with the price of fish?

Well everything really. It seems some of us have forgotten how to be caring and sharing and supportive and less critical of others in our federation. See pages 2 and 3 of the latest Naturist for a perfect example of what I'm talking about. Fortunately the matter has been resolved and this kind of work should never appear in our magazine again. But we have to ask ourselves why did it appear in the first place?

Employment figures, the share-market and the political climates may affect us all and change every day. But the capacity to be kind to each other should be constant. All we have to do is put it into practice. It's really that simple.

Promise yourself. Be kinder to your fellow members this summer, they may have had a harder winter than you have.

Recording the history at the Reservation

Les Olsen (AOHC) and Doug Ball (TNC & PNSC) will be your official photographers at the Lake Downs Reservation, recording the antics of the attendees for posterity.

Rally photography has two main purposes: a) To record the rally events and participants for members, clubs and NZNF records, and b) to obtain as much material as possible for PR and publication purposes.

To achieve this it is necessary for all persons attending the rally to feel comfortable about being photographed and to be assured that their photos will not be published or used in PR without their express authority, but at the same time being willing to participate to satisfy object (a).

As you will see from your rally application form, we do not intend to use the red tag system, but instead will guarantee that no photos will be published without the signed approval of anyone recognisable in them. In the case of subjects under 18, the signature of a parent or guardian is required. There are special release forms for these approvals and if you don't sign a release your photo will not be published.

This new system is simpler and more secure than the old one, and should be easier for all to understand.

There will be a motion at the AGM to amend the photographic bylaws so they will incorporate this improved system. This will make them more consistent with the existing rules of most clubs.

Arrangements have been made to have all the rally photos printed and ready for your inspection on the last day of the rally. You will be able to order photos of yourselves ($2) and expect to get them without delay. All photos will be in colour. Black and white prints available on request. Les and Doug will be happy to take photos of you or your group. These will not be displayed, so don't be shy to ask for some shots for your family album.

Dear Roy,

I would like to air my views on the editorial policy of our Naturist magazine.

I have recently been criticised (NZN, Sept 88) for contributing to the Australian Sun & Health (AS&H) magazine. I am sup. posed to have been trying to undermine the sales of the Naturist. On the contrary I have continued to do my bit for the Naturist, and if more people would do as much, then the Naturist would have more than enough topical local material to make it popular with NZ nudists.

Which brings me to Point one. The NZN lost the support of most club nudists because it did not cater for them. The editorial staff seemed afraid to cater for the ordinary family nudist in case they lost sales to the voyeur market. Hence the illustrations were predominantly posed photographs of anonymous foreigners which had no relevance to the textual material. Better photographs can be found in the soft-porn magazines among which the Naturist is too often found. Many of the articles were also of foreign origin, and some of these were in poor taste, and not very suitable for friends and families to read. No wonder so many NZ nudists withdrew their support. AS&H magazine deserves our gratitude for demonstrating how a nudist magazine can cater for the real nudists (in a very tasteful manner without the slightest suggestion of pandering to prurient interest) and still be successful in the market place.

Point two. Let's have more NZ content in the Naturist.

The current lack of it is not entirely the editor's fault. Every nudist who can put pen to paper should be contributing to our own magazine. We have the ability, we have the material - all we need to do is make the effort.

Point three. Wherever possible let the illustrations be pertinent to the text. At least let them be captioned so we know where they are taken, and if permitted, who they are. And let's see who took them without having to turn to the back page.

Point four. Could we have the date of the issue on the front cover? Ever tried finding a particular back number?

Point five. Does the editor have to publish everything he is sent, whether it is relevant to nudists? The magazine could be improved by not printing letters to the editor about puerile topics such as whether or not to shave the pubic hair.

Point six. Let's keep it positive. We do want the public to buy our magazine, not just for their money, but so they can see what a wonderful way of life we have. If something doesn't promote nudism in the best possible light, let's not publish it, or else keep it in "In-Touch" where the public won't read it.

Doug Ball, Taranaki

Editors note: Couldn't agree with you more Doug especially with respect to the whole of point six. Perhaps it's time we all knew what the editorial policy is for the Naturist! Could we hear about it at the AGM at Christmas? Then we will all know what should or shouldn't be included in our national magazine.

IN-TOUCH

Edited by Roy Cox and published by the New Zealand Nudist Federation P.O. Box 1359 Wellington. All correspondence to this address.

Around the clubs

Have you considered standing for a position on the NZNF this year? Think about it now. Unfortunately owing to increased workload your editor will not be seeking the position again of North Island Vice President. Nominations close on 15 November.

Have you sent your rally application forms off yet?

Have you written an article for our national magazine this year? Did you promise to write one? Remember this is the magazine that supports the Percy Cousins Trust, the trust that helps clubs among other things improve their facilities by offering loans at reasonable rates. The cost of the magazine is reasonable and has much more NZ content.

Retiring President Graham McGregor in his excellent annual report indicates that the Ro-To-Ta Club is in good shape with most of their debts repaid. The children's facilities will get special attention next year and it's interesting to note that not only do they play horseshoes with a specially gifted competition set of shoes donated by an American visitor last year but now play petanque (French bowls). This must be the first New Zealand club to play the game! Is it? Leuk and Bernard Mentink of Sunleisure Recreations, Queensland, introduced Petanque to Australia I believe many years ago and the game has taken off well. it is played competitively at National Conventions (Rallies). Will we see the sport played at a rally here one day?

Tindo Tidings (S.Aust) editor Brian suggests that in future, if you wish to be an observer at a committee meeting, be on time because they no longer hold marathon sittings. Much to the committees delight. Does your committee meetings go on too long? How can you make them more productive?

Wanganui have just hosted a girls soccer team.. The team and their families were from Taranaki and stayed on the grounds over the weekend. They are also planning to lay a concrete miniten court.

The Free Beach Group are putting together a promotional plan for this summer. Items include appointing a new patron, listing FBG in community directories, publishing information sheets, to advertise in recreation magazines and to investigate the possibility of setting up a display unit that could be used at shows and markets. They have also donated $100 towards the setting up of Orchards new club grounds. What a magnificent gesture.

Diary Notes

Situations Vacant

Have you got a green thumb, and do you like a challenge? A grounds position has become available. Good working hours, good conditions. You are paid in satisfaction, and get lots of it. No clothes necessary. Contact a committee member now!! Be quick, these jobs go fast.

from Canterbury Pinecones