From: schroedr@convex.com (Mark Schroeder)
Subject: Re: Excluding Single Males (Was: Nudist TV segment)
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1993 21:09:48 GMT
Organization: Engineering, CONVEX Computer Corp., Richardson, Tx., USA
X-Disclaimer: This message was written by a user at CONVEX Computer
              Corp. The opinions expressed are those of the user and
              not necessarily those of CONVEX.

If you do not like the discrimination against single males by 
ASA affiliated clubs, let the ASA know it.  Here is a copy of a letter, 
both regular text and LaTeX format, which I sent to the ASA expressing
my disappointment in their allowing such discrimination to continue.

As long as no one complains, it's not going to change.
Let them hear from you that you want this practice stopped!
I've done the work.  You supply the stamp.  

Don't forget to change the name/address in the obvious places.

============================TEXT FORMAT====================




                                        <street address>
                                        <city, state zip>
                                        <date>


The American Sunbathing Association, Inc.
1703 N. Main Street
Kissimmee, FL 34744-3396

Dear Sirs:

I am writing to you to express my disagreement and disappointment
with the discriminatory policies of many ASA affiliated clubs.
The policy of many clubs to exclude single males hurts the image 
of the ASA, retards growth of nudism in general, and de-values my 
ASA membership.

The Image Of ASA

The ASA proclaims loudly that social nudity is non-sexual.  
However, many potential members refuse to believe the sincerity of this
message when they are told that clubs are ``couples only''.
This restriction strongly implies that nudism, like sex, is only 
for consenting couples --- two partners of each other --- and reinforces
the ``nudity equals sex'' misconception which continues to 
tarnish the nudist message and kill our growth opportunities.

I also understand that in some cases clubs originally adopted this rule
for legal reasons, having to do with divorce and child custody cases.
A significant percentage of clubs have successfully dropped this policy,
however, and I do not consider it a valid argument any more in 1992.

The Growth Of Nudism

The growth of nudism is clearly tied to the number of participants.
Turning potential members away based on their marital status alone 
is contrary to the goal of advancing our numbers. 
It just does not make sense for a group wishing to grow.
By increasing the acceptance and participation of single males,
the ASA could increase by a very significant percentage in future years.

Personally, I also do not like the practice of quotas to keep the
ratio of male to female members about the same, as this also
discourages our growth.  As an alternative to shutting off the flow
of male members I would recommend actively contacting any local women's 
groups to increase the number of females instead.  Quotas do not seem
as damaging as categorical rejection, however.

The Value Of My ASA Membership

As a single male, I pay the same amount for my membership
but I do not receive the same rights and benefits as other members.
As such, I am being overcharged for my ASA membership.
My yearly ASA membership renewal clearly states:

    Your ASA membership includes, membership in the International
    Nudist Federation (INF), a subscription to The Bulletin (a $28.00
    value) and 20% off the daily ground fees at all ASA affiliated
    clubs.

The reality is that I get 20% off the daily ground fees of those
ASA affiliated clubs which admit single males. I contend that 
the ASA is not honoring your part of our membership agreement.
When I renew my membership, I will cross out the misrepresentation on 
the renewal and replace it with the text above, until the situation changes.

And if being rejected for being single is not bad enough, I have
heard of married members being denied admittance after their wives 
become deceased.  The fact that they have been long-standing members of 
clubs does not necessarily stop them from being shut out.

While the ASA does encourage affiliated clubs to not practice
such discrimination, I urge you to go further to eliminate this practice.
If it were up to me, I would revoke ASA affiliation of clubs which
practice discrimination, and stop any ASA funds, subsidies, 
etc. from being given to such clubs.  I don't know what 
percentage of the ASA membership is single males, but at the 
very least, discriminating clubs should have any funds they would
otherwise receive reduced by that percentage.  If they are
only providing services to 70% of the members, they should only
receive 70% of the funds of clubs which provide service to everyone.
Either that or my membership fee should be reduced by whatever
percentage of clubs deny services to me because of marital status.

My membership fee is being used to continue this discrimination 
--- discrimination effectively against myself and those like me --- 
and I want it stopped.



I believe that it is time for the ASA to drive a change among 
member clubs, and stop the discrimination that is currently rampant.
I would like to thank you for you time and attention in this matter,
and hope that you will continue your actions to correct this unfortunate 
situation.  If you have any questions, or would like to contact me
on this matter, I can be reached at the following address:

             <name>                   Home: xxx-xxx-xxxx
             <address>                Work: xxx-xxx-xxxx
             <city, state zip>


                                        Sincerely,
                                        
                                        
                                        
                                        <name>

=======================LATEX FORMAT==================

\documentstyle {letter}
\pagestyle{empty}
\textwidth=5.5truein
\topmargin=0truein
\textheight=7.375truein
\oddsidemargin=0.5truein

\begin{document}
\address{(street)\\
  (city, state zip)}

\signature{(name)}

\begin{letter}{The American Sunbathing Association, Inc.\\
  1703 N. Main Street\\
  Kissimmee, FL 34744-3396}

\opening{Dear Sirs:}

I am writing to you to express my disagreement and disappointment
with the discriminatory policies of many ASA affiliated clubs.
The policy of many clubs to exclude single males 
hurts the image of the ASA, retards growth of nudism in general,
and de-values my ASA membership.

{\bf \large The Image Of ASA}

The ASA proclaims loudly that social nudity is non-sexual.  
However, many potential members refuse to believe the sincerity of this
message when they are told that clubs are ``couples only''.
This restriction strongly implies that nudism,
like sex, is only for consenting couples --- two partners of
each other --- and reinforces
the ``nudity equals sex'' misconception which continues to 
tarnish the nudist message and kill our growth opportunities.

I also understand that in some cases clubs originally adopted this rule
for legal reasons, having to do with divorce and child custody cases.
A significant percentage of clubs have successfully dropped this policy,
however, and I do not consider it a valid argument any more in 1992.

{\bf \large The Growth Of Nudism}

The growth of nudism is clearly tied to the number of participants.
Turning potential members away based on their marital status alone 
is contrary to the goal of advancing our numbers.
It just does not make sense for a group wishing to grow.
By increasing the acceptance and participation of single males,
the ASA could increase by a very significant percentage in future years.

Personally, I also do not like the practice of quotas to keep the
ratio of male to female members about the same, as this also
discourages our growth.  As an alternative to shutting off the flow
of male members I would recommend actively contacting any local women's 
groups to increase the number of females instead.  Quotas do not seem
as damaging as categorical rejection, however.

{\bf \large The Value Of My ASA Membership}

As a single male, I pay the same amount for my membership
but I do not receive the same rights and benefits as other members.
As such, I am being overcharged for my ASA membership.
My yearly ASA membership renewal clearly states:
\begin{quotation}\noindent
Your ASA membership includes, membership in the International
Nudist Federation (INF), a subscription to The Bulletin (a \$28.00
value) and 20\% off the daily ground fees at all ASA affiliated
clubs.
\end{quotation}
The reality is that I get 20\% off the daily ground fees of {\em those
ASA affiliated clubs which admit single males}.  
I contend
that the ASA is not honoring your part of our membership agreement.
When I renew my membership, I will cross out the
misrepresentation on the renewal and replace it with the text above,
until the situation changes.

And if being rejected for being single is not bad enough, I have
heard of married members being denied admittance after their wives 
become deceased.  The fact that they have been long-standing members of clubs
does not necessarily stop them from being shut out.

While the ASA does encourage affiliated clubs to not practice
such discrimination, I urge you to go further to eliminate this practice.
If it were up to me, I would revoke ASA affiliation of clubs which
practice discrimination, and stop any ASA funds, subsidies, 
etc.\ from being given to such clubs.  
I don't know what percentage of the ASA membership is single males, but
at the very least, discriminating clubs should have any funds they would
otherwise receive reduced by that percentage.  If they are
only providing services to 70\% of the members, they should only
receive 70\% of the funds of clubs which provide service to everyone.
Either that or my membership fee should be reduced by whatever
percentage of clubs deny services to me because of marital status.

My membership fee is being used to continue this discrimination ---
discrimination effectively against myself and those like me --- 
and I want it stopped.

\bigskip

I believe that it is time for the ASA to drive a change among 
member clubs, and stop the discrimination that is currently rampant.
I would like to thank you for you time and attention in this matter,
and hope that you will continue your actions 
to correct this unfortunate situation.
If you have any questions, or would like to contact me
on this matter, I can be reached at the following address:

\begin{center}
\begin{tabular}{ll}
(name) & Home: xxx-xxx-xxxx\\
(street) & Work: xxx-xxx-xxxx\\
(city, state zip) & \\
\end{tabular}
\end{center}

\closing{Sincerely,}

\end{letter}
\end{document}
Newsgroups: rec.nude