While World Naked Gardening Day (WNGD) is a focus for nudists in May, I’m still thinking about last month’s tribute to the volunteers within the membership and the number of bills attacking simple nudity this year across the United States. These could really put a damper on celebrating WNGD this year. We are battling challenges to simple nudity indoors, much less outdoor activities.
I think what we really need to focus on is the spirit of the outdoor naturist community. We have community gardens at some of the landed clubs, and several of the members in my local travel clubs have long been volunteers at their community’s gardens and in their own home gardens. One of the best parts of gardening is producing more than you can use at home so you can share your bounty with the community. That is the real bounty of naked gardening. The ability to share the fruit of your labor beyond immediate needs. That same spirit of community is what GAT team members are committed to throughout the year and through our work to expand the positive face of nudists to our neighbors.
In the Northwest, that sense of community has led to a great number of GAT team members who support their communities. That sharing attitude is infectious among many of the current and past Northwest GAT Team members. Members who have fought long and hard to support nudists’ rights for all Northwesterners. That team is now at a crossroads as they reach out to find a new team leader. The current team leader, Steve Nolen, is moving on and is actively asking for other northwest nudists to step into the role of GAT Team Chair for AANR-Northwest.
Northwest President Andee Rodgers is a strong supporter of GAT. Past team members continue to support the efforts of the team, and anyone who is willing to step into that role will immediately have the support of the entire elected team. Add to that team Hall of Famers Mike Parker and Shirley Gauthier, among others, and you have a brain trust of support to draw from that recently passed team member Dave Smith called among the most dedicated and hard-working GAT members across the organization. I couldn’t agree more. AANR-Northwest GAT Chair has a team that is so in tune with watching what is coming around from lawmakers in all their states that they are on top if action is quickly needed. If you are a Northwest member, I encourage you to contact Andee Rodgers and get her take on what GAT wants in a team leader and see what they will do for you.
Tim Mullins
AANR Government Affairs Chair
