Time to renew, … and there’s every reason to, says BN’s Commercial Manager
It’s been a busy and productive year at British Naturism. Highlights include a busier-than-ever events calendar, including the massively popular Nudefest and Alton Towers weekends; a huge amount of active campaigning and media work; more acceptance through public events and activities (not all led by us, but showing a shift in culture and attitude); energetic and active volunteers joining the Executive Council; the launch of the recruitment drive and a reward for bringing people on board, accompanied by a full-colour poster sent to clubs to keep the profile of BN high; the move towards the organisation becoming a Company limited by guarantee; the replacement of the “Central Council for British Naturism” (CCBN) name by simply “British Naturism”; a mailshot to ex-members that brought over 70 of them back into the fold; a bigger and more “expert” editorial and marketing team, which now includes 3 professional journalists; a redesign of this magazine; a new online shop; and plenty of volunteers coming forward to lend a hand, especially in regional and campaigning matters. There’s plenty still to do. Attitudes might be changing for the better, but it doesn’t make us redundant. Campaigning for naturism – in all its forms – will continue to be high on the agenda in 2010. So will the social/networking opportunities we provide to bring like-minded people and groups together, and our role as the point of contact and information for naturists everywhere. There are some structural and strategic aspects of BN we need to tackle that can sometimes hinder our progress – though an organisation run largely by volunteers is never going to be able to act as fast as commercial concerns with large workforces and resources – but we’re working as a team to make BN as meaningful, modern and vibrant as we can.
Looking forward to 2010
Most of you will have picked up that I am to be released next year from my work on this magazine. It’s been great fun and I will miss it, but it is rightly acknowledged that it takes up a lot of time and has prevented me from doing other important things. I have always worked for BN on a consultancy basis – not as an employee – and so have other clients, though being a passionate naturist myself and with so much to do to make the organisation grow it does equate to “full time”, in terms of time spent, in practice. I look forward to working with the new editor – keep an eye out for news of an appointment. The magazine is still the main means of communication with members and the most popular benefit of belonging, as well as a useful publicity tool, so I won’t be moving completely away from it!
New ideas
Among the work that I hope to tackle with my freer time are: Entrance and exit polls – finding out more about why people join and what their expectations are, and, for any that leave, asking them to say why; specifically targeting groups or publications that have a synergy with us, making them more aware of the benefits of doing what they already do, but nude. Projects will vary – articles in magazines and on websites, flyers, joint ventures, even adverts – and the likely targets include swimming, spa and sauna, yoga, holistic/heath and beauty, parenting/family, holidays/travel, and camping and caravanning; the website needs much attention – it certainly does the job and outsiders often praise the wealth of information but it’s not the easiest site to navigate nor update. Things move fast online, and although it’s only a few years old, the design is already looking a little tired, perhaps not presenting a modern or fun enough image to reflect who we really are; promotional goods and other items we sell boost our revenue and serve to publicise BN and naturism – we’ll be looking at increasing the number of goods we sell, as well as looking into making the designs more appealing; having the magazine in the shops would be desirable though there are many barriers – not just cost – to resolve. The current thinking is that a composite magazine could be created from the best of the year and sold as an “annual” edition this time next year; data is impossible to capture, but we expect that the vast majority of naturists in the UK who don’t belong to BN only practice it on holiday. We need to raise the profile of BN and all that is going on back home in overseas resorts – lots of ideas, watch this space; finally, on media work, we’ll be doing more of the same, but I want to focus on nudity. Although naturism is now seen as a valid choice, live and let live etc., but hang ups, cultural issues, and social conditioning still mean there are many issues surrounding the unclothed human body in many people’s minds and we need to see them overcome if we are to get more people into naturism. Note that not all of this may happen, there are always issues and costs to consider, but I am determined and enthusiastic!
Already in place
Thanks to member Peter , BN now has a profile on both the main “social networking” websites Facebook and Twitter where many people outside our world can find out more about us and follow what’s going on; we’ve worked hard on getting as many BN and other groups’ dates agreed for 2010’s events and you can see the full list in the “What’s On” pages in this issue – they include the 5th British Naturism Alton Towers weekend and see the advert for full details of Nudefest2010, which you can book NOW!; we’ve improved the ease of ordering a “Details pack” – information that is available to anyone who wants to find out more about BN; and to make it easy for you to get people you know interested in BN and naturism, existing members can buy a “Gift Subscription” to the magazine for £20. Full details are on the website or available from Head Office. Recipients will not become members of British Naturism, and won’t have to provide a photograph, though they can upgrade to full membership at any time – which we hope they will!
BN as Insurance
Life in the 21st Century is busy and there are many demands on time and money for all of us. It’s right that members need to get value from their subscription – but there are many benefits – see the facing page. As naturism becomes more widespread and acceptable, it harms our public profile if our numbers go down, though we do believe that they’d have sunk faster if we hadn’t done all the good work we have over the last few years. Reports we get of other organisations suggest that we’re doing pretty well in comparison. Note that our 2009 membership rates are unchanged for 2010, and consider the support your subscription gives us – or put another way, how reduced revenue means less activity. One member may consider that not renewing won’t make any difference to the whole, but if many people hold that view it can have a significant effect. Aside from the individual benefits, you never know when the existence of a national body will be useful. Perhaps not today, perhaps not tomorrow, but sometime, being naked on a beach, in a club or holiday resort, or anywhere else you wish to express that basic freedom may be threatened. Help us to be there when it happens. Renewal forms are to be found in the envelope in which you received this magazine.
Good job we’re still here…
I leave you with an anecdote that illustrates that last point. I recently received useful and comprehensive information from a naturist – including a copy of a letter he’d had published in a local paper – concerning issues that had arisen on his favourite naturist beach. “I thought I’d let you know about this, so that you can take action. I don’t want to see the beach closed to me”, he said. “Thanks, we will”, I replied, “are you a BN member?” “No”, he said, “I left a few years ago as there didn’t seem to be much going on in my area.” I look forward to continuing to work hard for you all in 2010. BN
