Halloween Party Draws Record Crowd

Following the legendary Halloween Party we had last year, participation in our seasonal party this year attracted a record group of Eduners and guests. Festivities began at the conclusion of our business meeting and continued until late. This observer did not leave until after midnight. Estimates of attendance ran at about 40 Eduners.

Weather cooperated with us again this year. It was clear and mildly crisp--good weather for Topeka at this time of year. We satiated our appetites with a wonderful spread of Eduner delectables which partyers seemed to have difficulty leaving alone. Music was provided, once again, by our friends Nude Fusion. Perhaps the highlight of the evening was the first viewing of the Return to Edun/6 documentary video Dave has worked so hard on.

As we did last year, we asked all Eduners to make a contribution to the Naturist Action Committee. This is the national organization that looks out for the rights of naturists around the country. Ten Eduners made contributions totaling $112. Thanks to Marge, Donnie, Bobby & Sally, Lew, Sam, Mike, Carl & Vicki, and Webb. If you were unable to attend and wish to make a contribution, please send it to our box.

Although weather is cold at our special place now, the atmosphere was warm at Myron's. Thanks Myron for your gracious hospitality again this year.

Christmas Party In Planning Stages

The new Social Chairman will be working on a complete schedule. Final arrangements for the Christmas party will be in our next newsletter. But, mark your calendar now: The Christmas party will be December 12 beginning at 7 pm.

If you are interested and able to host a party for Eduners at your home, club house or other facility, please contact a member of the Board.

Help Your Board of Directors

Enclosed are two questionnaires designed to help us gather information on our membership and determine what our membership wants the Board to concentrate on in the future. Please take time to complete these and return them to our P.O. Box or slip them through the slot in the barn.

We conducted a similar survey about two years ago. The information was extremely valuable. Now it is time to do it again. These are important. They will be used to make decisions about improvements, scheduling, and a variety of other ways. Be sure your voice is heard. Complete your surveys and return them!

Annual Meeting

We held our Annual Meeting on October 30 during which we heard reports from outgoing members of the Board of Directors and elected new members to the Board. We also engaged in a lively discussion about improvements we would like the Board to consider next year.

Chuck listed an impressive number of improvements we completed this year including the volley ball court, horse shoe pits, more port-a-potties, opening a new beach on the west side, gravel and erosion control on the trails, significant improvements to the south beach, more sand on all beaches, and beautiful signage (thanks Ed) throughout.

We considered some suggestions for improvements. Be sure you complete the enclosed two surveys so the board can consider the improvements you believe we should make. The new Board will take all this input into consideration when making their decisions.

Members of the new Board of Directors are:

Allan Jon Mills
Chuck Sobke
Kelly Shepardson
Dave Peters
Lew Covell
Ed Weaverling
Vicki Knueppel
George Hess
Webb Garlinghouse

Paul will continue to represent the interests of LEAK. The board will elect officers at the next meeting, November 15. There are still a few board openings left. If you have an interest in serving on the Board of Directors, please let us know.

Items We Need

Microwave oven
Pay phone for members
Bench vice
Clear plastic jars with lids
Trash can lids for barrels

DON'T FORGET

Nov 7; Dusk; Council Fire
Nov 14; Dusk; Council Fire
Nov 15; 12-2; Board of Directors meeting
Nov 15; 5-7; Sauna
Nov 20; Heartland Naturists swim in KC
Nov 21; Dusk; Council Fire
Nov 28; Dusk; Council Fire
Nov 28; 7:30; Sauna
Dec 12; 7:00; Christmas Party
Dec 27; 5-7; Sauna
June 25-27, 1999; Return to Edun/7

Choose Freedom at Lake Edun

Can Public Custodians Manage Clothing Optional Facilities?

There are several management models that have worked at clothing-optional beaches for years. One of the most cost-effective ways is simple signs alerting the unaware to the possibility of nudity ahead. That way, no one will be unintentionally offended. Warning signs in this instance do not mean approval, any more than a deer crossing sign on the highway indicates approval of the deer being there.

Some public officials work closely with organized Naturist groups who do their own policing: handing out literature on proper nude etiquette, and keeping trash, sex, and drugs out of the clothing-optional section of the beach. Lighthouse Beach in the Fire Island National Seashore, and Gunnison Beach at Sandy Hook in the Gateway National Recreation Area serve as fine examples of the co-operation that is possible.

Some of the best managed beaches enjoy amenities equal to those found at any popular beach: police protection, lifeguard protection, rest room facilities, handicapped access.

When people realize clothing-optional recreation can be good for families and the local economy, solutions can come rather easily. The Lake Edun Foundation and naturist families everywhere stand ready to help reach solutions we can all live with.

Return to Edun/6 Documentary Video

Dave has completed our documentary video of Return to Edun/6. Those who placed orders should have already received their copy or will very soon.

The video runs for 1 hour: 47 minutes. It was first viewed at our Halloween party to very favorable comments by all. Dave, the video man, did a great job of editing down about eight hours of raw video to give us a fair summary of our Return to Edun celebration.

If you have not ordered a Return to Edun video and wish to receive one, you may use the order form at the end of this newsletter. Thanks, Dave.

Random Thoughts & Reflections

Does anyone have a portable welder. We still have a very small welding project, if someone can help us out.

With Christmas coming up, consider a gift from the Lake Edun Foundation for that someone special on your Christmas list. A T-shirt or hat; gift membership or subscription to Bare Facts; or one of the other unique gifts available to Eduners might be just perfect. Use the enclosed order form to order the surprise for this Christmas season.

You don't need the Bible to justify love, but no better tool has been invented to justify hate.

- Richard A. Weatherwax

The Shape Women Are In

The internet is a great place for information. The following observations, while not verified, are interesting and plausible:

Did you know...

If shop mannequins were real women, they'd be too thin to menstruate.

There are 3 billion women who don't look like super-models and only 8 who do.

Marilyn Monroe wore a size 12.

If barbie were a real woman, she'd have to walk on all fours due to her proportions.

The average American woman weighs 144 lbs and wears between a size 12 and 14.

One out of every 4 college aged women has an eating disorder.

Models in the magazines are airbrushed--they're not perfect!!

A psychological study in 1995 found that 3 minutes spent looking at models in a fashion magazine caused 70% of women to feel depressed, guilty and shameful.

Twenty years ago, models weighed 8% less than the average woman. Today, she weighs 23% less.

If these observations are true, it is a terrible testimonial on the state of body acceptance for women in our society today. We, with the Lake Edun Foundation, believe women should be freed from this negative stereotyping. Body acceptance is the goal. Nude recreation is the method. We are working for the women in our society.

Thoughts Before And After

By Luke Charron

I had never been to a naturist club before. I really never gave much thought to finding one. When I'm at home, however, I like to wear as little as possible. But, the idea of walking around and camping with a bunch of other people who are also naked never crossed my mind. Until, that is, I was invited by my brother, Ken, who is a member of the Lake Edun Foundation, to join the fun at ... Return to Edun/6. I told him it sounded like it would be a lot of fun.

Well, a couple of weeks before we were to leave, I began to think about it. Can I really walk around in front of God and everyone with just my shoes on? hmmmm.

The day finally came to leave. I was anxious. We arrived late Friday, got our tents set up and camp arranged so we could lay down for a little bit. But after the long trip, I couldn't sleep. So, I walked down to the lake as the sun started to rise. The geese on the lake started to honk and splash around. It was then that I realized what I have been missing out on.

As the weekend went on, everyone I met was very nice. The music, all of nature's beauty, and the activities made it the most relaxing place I have ever been.

All I know is I will return to Lake Edun. Thank you all.

Report of Audit Committee

On November 3, 1998, the audit committee appointed by the Board of Directors submitted the following report covering the period from January 1 to September 30, 1998:

Voluntary members of the audit committee, who accepted responsibility for this assignment are Beverly Nobles, Lew Covell and Dorothy Sands.

The Financial and membership records of Lake Edun Foundation, Inc. are well kept and in order. No discrepancies were found.

Recommended is:

1. The budget for each year, approved by the Board of Directors, should state the amount of income expected and the amount of said income to cover each one of the expenses. This type of information has been provided to the membership in the Lake Edun Newsletter. Said budget should be adhered to as closely as possible by the Board of Directors. However, the income and expenses computer printouts provided to the Audit Committee did not clearly state the budgeted amounts for the expenses of the Foundation.

2. The Bylaws of the Foundation are well written. Two sections are questioned in Article III, Directors:

Section 7: It is recommended that the Regular Meetings of the Board of Directors be scheduled in advance, at any special meeting of the Board of Directors or at the Annual Organizational Meeting, and be strictly adhered to by the Board of Directors.

Section 11: It is recommended that the Board of Directors strictly adhere to the quorum requirements that a majority of the total number of directors serving shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

It has been an honor and a pleasure to serve on the first Audit Committee for the Lake Edun Foundation.

Respectfully submitted,

// ss Dorothy Sands

Join The Legal Defense Team

As we enter our challenge to the county's ability to zone and tax us out of existence, we need to assemble a team of motivated Eduners to help with our legal defense strategy. Members of the Legal Defense Team will be called upon to help strategize and do a certain amount of gum-shoe research work. They need not all live in Topeka or even in the State of Kansas although some should.

For those interested, it will be a great opportunity to see the workings of our democracy in action as our opponents muster the considerable resources of the government against our activities. All we have to defend ourselves with is our wits, The Constitution, and the government's own duplicity. If you are interested in assisting, please drop a note to our PO box.

Help With Return to Edun/7

Return to Edun/7 is scheduled for the weekend of June 25-27, 1999. Coordinating an event of this magnitude is a major undertaking. We need people to help locate suitable talent, coordinate security, handle publicity, and the host of other tasks required. If any Eduners are interested in helping with the planning and preparations for this event, please let us know.

From The Board Of Directors

At its October meeting, the Board was pleased our membership continues at a record level and our financial condition is healthy. Thanks to everyone on the Board and all the Eduners who make our place so special. Congratulations to us all!

The board then discussed additional items for the annual meeting and some promotion/social ideas for next year's board to consider.

From The Mail Bag

Dear Lake Edun;

Just a note to let you know how much I appreciate receiving your Bare Facts newsletter. I like hearing about what's going on at Lake Edun, and I think the articles are well-chosen and thought-provoking.

In addition to my Web site, I've started running a naturist email discussion list. Unlike other lists which focus mainly on naturist events, trips, clubs, and so forth, my list leans towards discussions about naturism itself, the psychological and philosophical side of things. It occurs to me that you and others you know who appreciate this side of naturism might be interested in the list. You can read more about it at http://www.best.com/~cgd/home/naturism/nnnpage.htm

We have a number of pretty sharp people on the list, so message volume is heavy at times, but the atmosphere is always civilized and friendly, as a proper naturist group should be.

If you or anyone you know would like to join the list, just send me a note at cgd@best.com.

- Charles Daney

http://www.best.com~cgd/home/naturism

Hi Guys:

Hey, we had a fantastic day. We think you have a great place there.

When we returned home, we received a message from my children that they were planning on coming down for the wedding as well as other members of our family. This was much to our surprise. We know they don't quite understand and accept the naturist lifestyle. Therefore, we are gonna have to cancel out on the marriage on the beach. We are disappointed very much to have to do this. We hope you all will understand and invite us back again. We even talked about maybe next year having our first anniversary there and throw a party. Again, we thank you for all your efforts and thoughts. - Mark & Elise