The big news on the American scene continues
to be the formation of new organizations which promise to do things better than
the American Sunbathing Association. Latest of these is the American Health
Alliance which at presents consists of two clubs but has now advanced a program
designed to win other clubs to its ranks.
The AHA is headed by Norval E. Packwood, of Pine Forest Lodge in New Jersey, and Marvin Mounce, publisher of several nudist magazines in Spokane, Washignton. Packwood, affectionately known to American nudists as “Pack”, is the former Executive Director of the ASA who retired that position because of illness. It has since been disclosed that even while holding the top position in the ASA he was formulating the plans for the AHA. Mervin Mounce, is a former President of the ASA who has risen to success with the largest nudist publishing firm in the country. These two men now offer a new type of organization to members and clubs in America. They offer 15 definite services, and in exchange require three guarantees from member clubs. Politics, the right of members to have a vote or say in their affairs, will no longer cloud the American scene. These two men will offer their years of experience, and the financial strength of the Outdoor American Corporation, and, so far as we can gather from their prospectus, members will not need to concern themselves any longer with the advancement or protection of the nudist way of life.
The AHA starts with a guaranteed $10,000 legal fund for the protection of clubs and members. Clubs which affiliate with it will receive free publicity in the form of stories and pictures printed in OAC magazines, though they will be expected to supply information and negatives from which these can be prepared. AHA clubs will get free advertising in OAC magazines and it is hoped that the AHA will be able to find non-nudist magazines which will carry its advertising as well. A start is planned with health publications which, it is understood, will accept such ads now.
A service many clubs have enjoyed in the past from Mervin Mounce has been a weekly news letter with lists of names and addresses of people interested in joining clubs near them. This weekly service will now be confined to clubs which join the AHA. Accident insurance is proposed for AHA clubs as soon as finances permit. Conventions will take place but, since the members will have no vote, or elect any officers, these meetings will be called conferences and consist of forums and seminars addressed by experts in various phases of club management. Sports of various types will be held. This type of gathering will be familiar to members of the National Nudist Council which was formed after the ASA was “democratized” in 1952.
Free promotional literature, as is available now from the ASA, will be offered to clubs by the AHA. Membership cards will be issued by clubs and fees forwarded to the AHA using the procedure which was recently adopted by the ASA and which was the excuse given by those California clubs who recently withdrew.
The Members Service Bureau of the ASA, which has been popular with the members, providing them with association emblems and jewelry, magazines at discount prices, and a confidential photo film service, will not be needed in the AHA because the Spokane Mail Order Company, a subsidiary of the OAC, already serves this purpose. But perhaps the outstanding of the AHA to American nudists is prompt and immediate legal protection without any delay. “There will be no need to await the action of any committee or board” says the AHA prospectus. Presumably decisions of this nature will be made by the two AHA leaders.
In return clubs will be expected to forward $6 per family to the AHA, the same fee now charged by the ASA, and will be required to restrict photography and news reporting on their grounds to OAC magazines. A legally drawn contract between the clubs and the AHA will ensure the observance of these provisions.
At the time of writing no reaction has been heard from any of the clubs, but it will be most interesting to see whether American nudists will be content to turn over the control of nudism to these two former ASA leaders in exchange for services, all of which are presently provided and enjoyed in the ASA.
The AHA is headed by Norval E. Packwood, of Pine Forest Lodge in New Jersey, and Marvin Mounce, publisher of several nudist magazines in Spokane, Washignton. Packwood, affectionately known to American nudists as “Pack”, is the former Executive Director of the ASA who retired that position because of illness. It has since been disclosed that even while holding the top position in the ASA he was formulating the plans for the AHA. Mervin Mounce, is a former President of the ASA who has risen to success with the largest nudist publishing firm in the country. These two men now offer a new type of organization to members and clubs in America. They offer 15 definite services, and in exchange require three guarantees from member clubs. Politics, the right of members to have a vote or say in their affairs, will no longer cloud the American scene. These two men will offer their years of experience, and the financial strength of the Outdoor American Corporation, and, so far as we can gather from their prospectus, members will not need to concern themselves any longer with the advancement or protection of the nudist way of life.
The AHA starts with a guaranteed $10,000 legal fund for the protection of clubs and members. Clubs which affiliate with it will receive free publicity in the form of stories and pictures printed in OAC magazines, though they will be expected to supply information and negatives from which these can be prepared. AHA clubs will get free advertising in OAC magazines and it is hoped that the AHA will be able to find non-nudist magazines which will carry its advertising as well. A start is planned with health publications which, it is understood, will accept such ads now.
A service many clubs have enjoyed in the past from Mervin Mounce has been a weekly news letter with lists of names and addresses of people interested in joining clubs near them. This weekly service will now be confined to clubs which join the AHA. Accident insurance is proposed for AHA clubs as soon as finances permit. Conventions will take place but, since the members will have no vote, or elect any officers, these meetings will be called conferences and consist of forums and seminars addressed by experts in various phases of club management. Sports of various types will be held. This type of gathering will be familiar to members of the National Nudist Council which was formed after the ASA was “democratized” in 1952.
Free promotional literature, as is available now from the ASA, will be offered to clubs by the AHA. Membership cards will be issued by clubs and fees forwarded to the AHA using the procedure which was recently adopted by the ASA and which was the excuse given by those California clubs who recently withdrew.
The Members Service Bureau of the ASA, which has been popular with the members, providing them with association emblems and jewelry, magazines at discount prices, and a confidential photo film service, will not be needed in the AHA because the Spokane Mail Order Company, a subsidiary of the OAC, already serves this purpose. But perhaps the outstanding of the AHA to American nudists is prompt and immediate legal protection without any delay. “There will be no need to await the action of any committee or board” says the AHA prospectus. Presumably decisions of this nature will be made by the two AHA leaders.
In return clubs will be expected to forward $6 per family to the AHA, the same fee now charged by the ASA, and will be required to restrict photography and news reporting on their grounds to OAC magazines. A legally drawn contract between the clubs and the AHA will ensure the observance of these provisions.
At the time of writing no reaction has been heard from any of the clubs, but it will be most interesting to see whether American nudists will be content to turn over the control of nudism to these two former ASA leaders in exchange for services, all of which are presently provided and enjoyed in the ASA.
Ray Connett
(Source: Sun and Health, International
Edition, Vol. 27, No. 7, July 1963)
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