I was asked to write a letter to the American Association for Nude Recreation to defend the Youth Ambassador/Nude U programs. I just finished writing my thoughts down and I thought it would be cool to share with everyone what I wrote down.
I recently finished the Youth Ambassador program and suddenly I dont feel so alone anymore. Through this program I found Nudists in my generation. For once I didnt feel like the outsider, I felt like I really belonged to a great community of people that their 20's aren't just a 30 year old memory, but a time to make memories.
During the workshops at the Youth Ambassador progam I learned from Susan Weaver that Nudist resorts aren't the only ones having problems getting younger members, the Lions club is having problems as well. My reaction to that piece of information was "I thought the Lions club was for old people." That lead me to an idea that maybe the reason why we can't get people from my generation to joing AANR, resorts, or clubs is because they think Nudism is for old people and if you were to walk into a Nudist function that statement would certainly fit.
Programs like the Youth Ambassador program is essential to the survial of American Nudism. This goes beyond membership numbers, it's about preserving a culture. If the AANR board cuts the Nude U/Youth Ambassador programs so they can use the money for shuffle board courts somewhere then in 30 years there will be no more Nudism left the culture will be just a distant memory with alot of black and white pictures saying look at what the baby boomers did.
AANR needs the Youth Ambassadors and the Nude U grads to keep Nudism alive. Everytime I go to a resort or a club I'm always asked "how can we get more people your age to go to our events?" I never had an answer before because I was just one person and for a long time I was the only Nudist my age that I knew, but after the opportunity I had to go to the Youth Ambassador program I now have the support of others to come up with a solution to the problem.
These programs are the one thing that AANR does that makes me worth being a member. Really if you think about it I'm not old enough to rent a car from hertz and because of school going to a resort can be a stretch most of the time so really I as a 23 year old dont get alot of benefits that come with being an AANR member. Its these programs that make being an AANR member worth while. My money is actually going somewhere that will be productive for me.
Bottom line is if you want people from my generation to become Nudists and join AANR then why would you cut the funding of the one program that encourages college aged people to go out and promote this wonderful lifestyle?
Stay Naked
Nick
