NAC Action Alert
TOWN OF WINDHAM, CONNECTICUT

July 22, 2003

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| View the text of the Proposed Ordinance at NAC's Local Issues |
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                     NATURIST ACTION COMMITTEE
                           ACTION ALERT
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                 http://www.naturistsociety.com/NAC/
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DATE   : July 22, 2003
SUBJECT: Windham, CT proposed indecency ordinance
TO     : Connecticut naturists

Dear Connecticut Naturist,

The Board of Selectmen of Windham, Connecticut has scheduled a public hearing to address a proposed new public indecency ordinance. The Naturist Action Committee asks you to attend the hearing.

WHEN:  Thursday, July 24, 2003 at 6:00 PM
WHERE: Windham Middle School Auditorium, 123 Quarry Street,
       Willimantic, Connecticut

The original public hearing on this issue, scheduled for July 22, 2003, at 7:00 PM has been canceled.

BACKGROUND

An application has been brought before the Town's zoning commission for an adult entertainment establishment at what is now Mr. Lucky's Café on West Main Street. In response, the Board of Selectmen has been asked to consider what they've been told is an "Erie, Pennsylvania-style" public indecency ordinance. The Erie ordinance was upheld in 2000 by a ruling of the U.S. Supreme Court, but the proposed Windham ordinance does NOT follow the Erie model faithfully.

The complete text of the proposed Windham ordinance is available on the web site of the Naturist Action Committee.

   www.naturistsociety.com/NAC

Click on "Local Issues."


WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE?

The wording of the proposed ordinance is far too broad. It infringes on the rights of artists, naturists and others, and places mere nudity in the same category as "deviate sexual intercourse" in a public place.

This one-size-fits-all type of ordinance:

  a) criminalizes women's breasts, but not those of men,
  b) prohibits nude models for traditional art classes,
  c) bans theatrical plays incorporating nudity (e.g., Hair, Equus),
  d) threatens to make sex criminals out of naturists,
  e) has not presented or established a sufficient link
     between nudity and claimed negative secondary effects,
  f) invites legal challenges the Town cannot afford.


WHAT IS NAC DOING?

The Naturist Action Committee has been in contact with Town officials and has submitted a differently worded Model Ordinance as an alternative. NAC questions at this time the necessity of adopting any such ordinance at all, but the substitute, as proposed by NAC, would at least address local concerns about adult businesses without doing major damage to the rights of naturists.


YOUR TURN! NAC ASKS YOU TO ATTEND THE HEARING ON THURSDAY

NAC is issuing an urgent call for naturists to attend the hearing on Thursday. It's especially important that local naturists attend, but citizens from outside the town will be allowed to speak at the hearing.

A great deal of popular support for the proposed ordinance is anticipated at the hearing. It is absolutely essential that naturist voices be heard opposing the ordinance! Even if you do not choose to speak, your presence as an observer can still be important. Plan to be at the meeting a half hour early, if possible.


ALSO IMPORTANT!  NAC ASKS YOU TO CONTACT WINDHAM SELECTMEN

Whether or not you can attend the meeting, a brief phone call or e-mail will help!

Selectmen Barbara McGrath, Tom DeVivo and Tom Millerd have already expressed doubt publicly about the appropriateness and constitutionality of the proposed ordinance. Other selectmen have not commented publicly.


WHOM TO CONTACT

(Phone numbers are daytime phones.)

First Selectman Michael T. Paulhus TEL (860)465-3004 
FAX (860)-465-3110 email: mikepaul@snet.net

Selectman Lorraine M. McDevitt TEL (860)423-3963
email: montimac@net.com

Selectman Joseph S. Marsalisi  TEL (860)456-2667

Selectman Thomas W. White  TEL (860)344-0311 FAX (860)-23-2772
email: twhite@ceui.org

Selectman Yolanda Negron TEL (860)450-2077
email: negron_y@yahoo.com

Selectman Thomas DeVivo  TEL (860)423-4527
email: tomdevivo@hotmail.com

Selectman Lourdes E. Montalvo  TEL (860)428-7732
email: Lourdes_m06226@yahoo.com

Selectman C. Lawrence Schiller TEL (860)423-6800
FAX (860)-423-6800 email: clschiller@snet.net

Barbara McGrath, TEL (860)570-5378 FAX (860)570-5368
email: bmcgrath2@earthlink.net

Thomas H. Millerd  TEL (860)228-9474
email: umpire3@mindspring.com


NAC ITSELF CAN USE YOUR HELP!

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 and financial support of naturists who understand that individuals working together can make a difference.

Won't you take a moment to help NAC by sending a generous donation? You may send your donation to the address below, or you may call toll free (800)886-7230 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,

Morley Schloss
Board Member
Naturist Action Committee

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Naturist Action Committee (NAC) - PO Box 132, Oshkosh, WI 54903
Executive Dir. Bob Morton      - <ctnudists@aol.com>
Board Member Morley Schloss    - <morleynaturist@hotmail.com>
Online Rep. Dennis Kirkpatrick - <naturist@sunclad.com>
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