Ashland OR 05-29-04



		NAC Action Alert ASHLAND, OREGON May 29, 2004

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******************************************************************** NATURIST ACTION COMMITTEE ACTION ALERT ****************************************************************** http://www.naturistsociety.com/NAC/ ****************************************************************** DATE : May 29, 2004 SUBJECT: Ashland, Oregon TO : Oregon naturists Dear Oregon Naturist, The Naturist Action Committee has identified an important local situation and is requesting your immediate involvement. The recently appointed chief of police for Ashland, Oregon, has asked the city council for an ordinance prohibiting nudity. The council is scheduled to consider the matter in its regular session on June 1, 2004. NAC is asking you to take the following action: 1) Send e-mail to the mayor and city council of Ashland. 2) Attend the city council meeting on June 1, 2004. BACKGROUND Ashland is a community well known for its appreciation of the arts and its tolerant attitude toward cultural diversity. The proposed anti-nudity ordinance was requested by the recently appointed chief of police and NOT by the citizens themselves. Last summer there were a few instances of nonsexual public nudity, and before that, there were anti-war protests that incorporated public nudity. In a message to the city council, the police chief says, "Such behavior is very upsetting to community sensibilities." However, the local newspaper claims to have received "no letters to the editor bewailing the sordid state of affairs, no frantic calls from parents whose children's lives have been ruined by a glimpse of skin on the Plaza." NAC ASKS OREGON RESIDENTS TO CONTACT THE ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL Contacts from those outside Oregon are NOT being requested at this time. Time is very short, and contacts by e-mail stand the best chance of being considered before the meeting on June 1. NAC asks Oregon residents to contact the following seven Ashland city lawmakers: MAYOR Alan DeBoer - Mayor awdb@aol.com CITY COUNCIL Alex Amarotico alex@standingstonebrewing.com Cate Hartzell (Council Chair 2004) cate@mind.net Chris Hearn cehearn@aol.com Kate Jackson katejackson@opendoor.com Don Laws donlaws@mind.net John Morrison jmorrison@rvcog.org Time is too short to expect postal mail to reach the lawmakers before the meeting on June 1. For reference, the postal address for all Ashland city councilors is: 20 East Main St Ashland, Oregon 97520 WHAT SHOULD I SAY? When you write, be sure to give your name and address. Anonymous correspondence is typically ignored. Contacts from Ashland residents are especially important. Be polite. Avoid the temptation to preach to the city councilors In your message, state very clearly that you OPPOSE the proposed public nudity ordinance. SOME POINTS TO CONSIDER Please use your own words. Here are a few suggested points for you to consider: 1) The proposed ordinance is a solution in search of a problem. It was requested by the recently appointed chief of police and NOT by the citizens themselves. 2) It's not up to the police department to attempt to define for the citizens what is "very upsetting to community sensibilities." 3) We're talking about innocent nudity, not lewd behavior. State law already prohibits lewd behavior. 4) The state of Oregon itself has seen no need to implement a ban on simple nudity. In a time of increasingly severe erosion to the liberties of individuals, does the City of Ashland really need to be leading the way in stripping away more personal freedoms? ATTEND THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON JUNE 1 The Ashland City Council will meet in regular session on Tuesday, June 1. The anti-nudity ordinance will be on the agenda for it second reading. The Naturist Action Committee strongly urges concerned naturists to attend the meeting on June 1. WHEN: June 1, 2004 - 7:00 p.m. Try to be there at least a half hour early. WHERE: Ashland Civic Center Council Chambers 1175 E. Main Street Ashland, Oregon If you intend to speak to the issue, you must fill out the Speaker Request form located near the entrance to the Council Chambers. The chair will recognize you and inform you as to the amount of time allotted to you. Whether or not you choose to speak, NAC encourages you to demonstrate your opposition to this proposed ordinance by making your presence felt at the meeting. WHAT IS NAC DOING? The Naturist Action Committee is working in close cooperation with local residents familiar with the situation. NAC's immediate goal is preventing the adoption of the proposed ordinance. After that issue has been resolved, NAC has committed to maintaining a dialog with Ashland law enforcement, citizens and media. Through education and information, NAC's intent is to avoid the need - or even the perception of a need - for future suggested ordinances of this kind. MORE INFORMATION Additional information about the proposed Ashland ordinance is available on the web site of the Naturist Action Committee: www.naturistsociety.com/NAC Select ALERTS, ADVISORIES & UPDATES and then "Current Alerts" to find this Advisory and links to additional information at LOCAL ISSUES, including: The complete text of the proposed ordinance The communication to the City Council from Ashland's new police chief, proposing the ordinance. PLEASE HELP NAC HELP NATURISTS IN OREGON AND ELSEWHERE The Naturist Action Committee exists to advance and protect the rights of naturists throughout North America. NAC is a volunteer nonprofit organization that relies on the grass roots participation of those who understand that individuals working together can make a difference. NAC has no membership roster on which to assess dues, and it relies completely on voluntary contributions from concerned and involved naturists like you. Monitoring lawmakers and coordinating action across North America is expensive. Won't you take a moment to help NAC by sending a generous donation? Your contribution of $20 or more entitles you to receive, as our thanks, 12 issues of The Newsletter, a monthly publication keeping you informed with the latest on naturist issues. You may send your donation to the address below, or you may call toll free (800) 886-7230 during normal office hours to donate by phone using your MasterCard or Visa. NAC PO Box 132 Oshkosh, WI 54903 Thank you for choosing to make a difference!** Naturally, Mark Storey Board Member Naturist Action Committee ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Naturist Action Committee (NAC) - PO Box 132, Oshkosh, WI 54903 Bob Morton - Executive Dir. - <ctnudists@aol.com> Mark Storey - Board Member - <storey98@aol.com> Online Rep. Dennis Kirkpatrick - <naturist@sunclad.com> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Top \| Click here for more important information at LOCAL ISSUES. \| \| Return to Current NAC Action Alerts \| Return to NAC Home Page \|



		NAC Action Alert ASHLAND, OREGON May 29, 2004

	\| Click here for more important information at LOCAL ISSUES. \|

	\| Return to Current NAC Action Alerts \| Return to NAC Home Page \|

******************************************************************** NATURIST ACTION COMMITTEE ACTION ALERT ****************************************************************** http://www.naturistsociety.com/NAC/ ****************************************************************** DATE : May 29, 2004 SUBJECT: Ashland, Oregon TO : Oregon naturists Dear Oregon Naturist, The Naturist Action Committee has identified an important local situation and is requesting your immediate involvement. The recently appointed chief of police for Ashland, Oregon, has asked the city council for an ordinance prohibiting nudity. The council is scheduled to consider the matter in its regular session on June 1, 2004. NAC is asking you to take the following action: 1) Send e-mail to the mayor and city council of Ashland. 2) Attend the city council meeting on June 1, 2004. BACKGROUND Ashland is a community well known for its appreciation of the arts and its tolerant attitude toward cultural diversity. The proposed anti-nudity ordinance was requested by the recently appointed chief of police and NOT by the citizens themselves. Last summer there were a few instances of nonsexual public nudity, and before that, there were anti-war protests that incorporated public nudity. In a message to the city council, the police chief says, "Such behavior is very upsetting to community sensibilities." However, the local newspaper claims to have received "no letters to the editor bewailing the sordid state of affairs, no frantic calls from parents whose children's lives have been ruined by a glimpse of skin on the Plaza." NAC ASKS OREGON RESIDENTS TO CONTACT THE ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL Contacts from those outside Oregon are NOT being requested at this time. Time is very short, and contacts by e-mail stand the best chance of being considered before the meeting on June 1. NAC asks Oregon residents to contact the following seven Ashland city lawmakers: MAYOR Alan DeBoer - Mayor awdb@aol.com CITY COUNCIL Alex Amarotico alex@standingstonebrewing.com Cate Hartzell (Council Chair 2004) cate@mind.net Chris Hearn cehearn@aol.com Kate Jackson katejackson@opendoor.com Don Laws donlaws@mind.net John Morrison jmorrison@rvcog.org Time is too short to expect postal mail to reach the lawmakers before the meeting on June 1. For reference, the postal address for all Ashland city councilors is: 20 East Main St Ashland, Oregon 97520 WHAT SHOULD I SAY? When you write, be sure to give your name and address. Anonymous correspondence is typically ignored. Contacts from Ashland residents are especially important. Be polite. Avoid the temptation to preach to the city councilors In your message, state very clearly that you OPPOSE the proposed public nudity ordinance. SOME POINTS TO CONSIDER Please use your own words. Here are a few suggested points for you to consider: 1) The proposed ordinance is a solution in search of a problem. It was requested by the recently appointed chief of police and NOT by the citizens themselves. 2) It's not up to the police department to attempt to define for the citizens what is "very upsetting to community sensibilities." 3) We're talking about innocent nudity, not lewd behavior. State law already prohibits lewd behavior. 4) The state of Oregon itself has seen no need to implement a ban on simple nudity. In a time of increasingly severe erosion to the liberties of individuals, does the City of Ashland really need to be leading the way in stripping away more personal freedoms? ATTEND THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON JUNE 1 The Ashland City Council will meet in regular session on Tuesday, June 1. The anti-nudity ordinance will be on the agenda for it second reading. The Naturist Action Committee strongly urges concerned naturists to attend the meeting on June 1. WHEN: June 1, 2004 - 7:00 p.m. Try to be there at least a half hour early. WHERE: Ashland Civic Center Council Chambers 1175 E. Main Street Ashland, Oregon If you intend to speak to the issue, you must fill out the Speaker Request form located near the entrance to the Council Chambers. The chair will recognize you and inform you as to the amount of time allotted to you. Whether or not you choose to speak, NAC encourages you to demonstrate your opposition to this proposed ordinance by making your presence felt at the meeting. WHAT IS NAC DOING? The Naturist Action Committee is working in close cooperation with local residents familiar with the situation. NAC's immediate goal is preventing the adoption of the proposed ordinance. After that issue has been resolved, NAC has committed to maintaining a dialog with Ashland law enforcement, citizens and media. Through education and information, NAC's intent is to avoid the need - or even the perception of a need - for future suggested ordinances of this kind. MORE INFORMATION Additional information about the proposed Ashland ordinance is available on the web site of the Naturist Action Committee: www.naturistsociety.com/NAC Select ALERTS, ADVISORIES & UPDATES and then "Current Alerts" to find this Advisory and links to additional information at LOCAL ISSUES, including: The complete text of the proposed ordinance The communication to the City Council from Ashland's new police chief, proposing the ordinance. PLEASE HELP NAC HELP NATURISTS IN OREGON AND ELSEWHERE The Naturist Action Committee exists to advance and protect the rights of naturists throughout North America. NAC is a volunteer nonprofit organization that relies on the grass roots participation of those who understand that individuals working together can make a difference. NAC has no membership roster on which to assess dues, and it relies completely on voluntary contributions from concerned and involved naturists like you. Monitoring lawmakers and coordinating action across North America is expensive. Won't you take a moment to help NAC by sending a generous donation? Your contribution of $20 or more entitles you to receive, as our thanks, 12 issues of The Newsletter, a monthly publication keeping you informed with the latest on naturist issues. You may send your donation to the address below, or you may call toll free (800) 886-7230 during normal office hours to donate by phone using your MasterCard or Visa. NAC PO Box 132 Oshkosh, WI 54903 Thank you for choosing to make a difference!** Naturally, Mark Storey Board Member Naturist Action Committee ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Naturist Action Committee (NAC) - PO Box 132, Oshkosh, WI 54903 Bob Morton - Executive Dir. - <ctnudists@aol.com> Mark Storey - Board Member - <storey98@aol.com> Online Rep. Dennis Kirkpatrick - <naturist@sunclad.com> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Top \| Click here for more important information at LOCAL ISSUES. \| \| Return to Current NAC Action Alerts \| Return to NAC Home Page \|