Missed the First NakedFest Mingle? Read On For More Opportunities.

 By Jon P. - GNI Board Member

    A couple of weeks ago some 60 men gathered online from the GoNaked online magazine community along with members of GNI to talk about GNI's August NakedFest. GNI Board members Brian B. and Jon P. fielded a variety of questions ranging from cabin accommodations to entertainment to meals. Several regular Gathering/NakedFest attendees also showed up to help welcome the men and answer questions.

    More on what was discussed in a moment. First, the GNI Marketing Committee is happy to announce a couple of upcoming Mingles from some of our GNI men. One is devoted to questions around health protections and the second to new NakedFest attendees. Be on the lookout for those event announcements next month in July. In the meantime, you can bookmark your calendars for July 8th and July 22nd. 

    Privacy regulations necessitate members to be more proactive about receiving email notifications for the Mingles. If you missed this first NakedFest Mingle, you can head over to the Mingle page and signup to receive the Zoom link for the next one. Also, feel free to go to your GNI member profile and register to be included in all future Mingle notices.

    One of the hardest things to do is to try to explain how our GNI events can be so life-changing, what with all the new friends one can make during the wide variety of daily activities. Our GoNaked brothers, led by Editor-In-Chief Nick Vanello, got a good idea of how special the Dance Club is, and what sort of nightly entertainment to expect, and what types of sports take place. Big on the men's minds during the Mingle were questions concerning housing and cabins, how quiet/noisy they might be, and how to get them all decorated. It's always fun to explain how one can "dress up" for Social Hour and still be "naked." 

    It's never too late to join GNI. Tell your friends to go and check out our newly redesigned GNI website. Registration is also still open for NakedFest 2021 in the Poconos. If you haven't registered yet, what are you waiting for?! Sign up for an experience you'll remember forever! 

Got Questions About Nakedfest 2021? We Got a Zoom for That.

 By Johnny Konapelsky - BuffBuzz Editor

By now a lot of you guys are well aware that Nakedfest is coming up in just a few months. And since GNI is hosting a Nakedfest this year and not a usual Gathering, a lot of members are confused and not sure about what's the same and what's different. Well, all your questions are about to be answered.

Please join GNI Board Members Brian B. and Jon P. for a Zoom meeting on Wednesday, May 26, at 8 p.m EST to find out more about this year's Nakedfest. All of your Nakedfest questions will be answered by Brian and Jon so get them ready. Feel free to ask anything about the event. This Zoom meeting is a cooperative event with GNI and GoNaked Magazine. As a result, we will have attendees from both organizations at this event. 

The Zoom link is as follows: 

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/95455535101?pwd=Y2hXQWV6NXR1WnJHWmpxRENjMnR2Zz09

Meeting ID: 954 5553 5101
Passcode: 439763

We look forward to seeing you guys at this Zoom meeting! 

First Time at The Gathering/Nakedfest? The List to Make it An Easier Experience

   By Paul Blascovich - GNI Social Media Member 

    Showing up to GNI for the first time can be nerve-wracking. You may feel like an outsider in an unfamiliar place where everyone seems to know each other. Luckily, GNI is a great group of men who are welcoming to first-timers. Before you head to the Poconos to shed your clothes, here are some tips that will help you make the most of your rookie experience. 

Start Packing

    You might not need clothing, but there are other essentials to bring along. The GNI website (gaynaturists.org) has a sample packing list to help you remember what you will need. Pack a few sitting towels (old t-shirts also work) and a lot of sun-block lotion. A zip-up hoodie or jacket will make cool evenings more comfortable, and a pair of boots is also nice to have. Check out the social hour themes on the website before you leave; if a full costume isn't your style, a simple prop can be a great conversation starter. Get started early on deciding what you will be taking so you are not scrambling at the last minute or waiting for a package to be delivered. The campground is a short drive from nearby stores if you forget something, but you won't want to waste a minute away from naked paradise.

Get Your Bearings

    As soon as you drop your bags (and your clothes), walk around camp and get the lay of the land. Also, feel free to ask an experienced cabinmate for a tour. Find both pools and the dining hall. Get to know the route to the dance club and back to your cabin (or camp/RV site). While most social hours are held at The Grove, learn the location of the main gym, too. Cross the damn -- don't forget to cover up! -- and take a peek "Across the Lake" (the spot where sexual activity can be had).  Finding these places during the day will make it a lot easier to navigate after the sun goes down. 

Have a Plan

    The daily activity schedule for Nakedfest will be posted online. Take note of items that catch your eye. Some activities are held daily; others are conducted only one time each year. Entertainment options change every night, and there is something for everyone. Read the descriptions, since some classes/events may require registration in advance of the Gathering/Nakedfest. A good goal is to have at least one activity in mind for each day that you are there.

... But Be Flexible

    Activity locations and times may change. It's a virtual guarantee that rain will disrupt the schedule, and other unexpected circumstances may arise. Be patient. Activities are planned and run by volunteers. If there's something that really piques your interest, make it a reality by volunteering this year or next. 

Follow the Party

    The largest parties bring the whole camp together. The salsa party and the bears' pool party are highlights. Every day features a social hour before dinner, and there are late-night soirees as well. Except for a few private gatherings, you don't need an invitation to join the festivities.

Article author Paul Blascovich (left) with Steve Herforth (right) at a Birthday Suit Social Hour event at Paul's first Gathering.

... Or Go Your Own Way

    Take advantage of the two heated pools and fitness center. Grab a paddle and life jacket and jump into a kayak. Bring your balls and head to the courts for volleyball, basketball, or tennis. Lounge on a pool float, or hang out on your cabin porch. You can choose to do everything or nothing at all. 

Be Brave

    Thursday morning ziplining is a thrill you won't want to miss! (Be sure to pack a shirt, shorts/pants, and closed-toe shoes.) Maybe you're too nervous to play naked Twister or participate in lube wrestling? Take a deep breath, finish that drink in your hand, and have some fun. See a cute guy you want to meet? Go say "Hi!" If 2020 taught us anything, it is to seize the opportunities that are in front of us today.

Be Respectful

    Put hundreds of gay naked men together on a campground, and sex is inevitable. With that said, sex is not the purpose of GNI. If it's not your thing, you're not alone. Nudity is not an open invitation, and sex is not welcome in most public areas. Read and respect the camp rules about where sex is permissible (if you have any questions, ask!), and talk to your roommates about what is accepted in your cabin.

And Lastly...Enjoy Yourself!

    Everyone is nervous at their first GNI Gathering/Nakedfest event. Take advantage of the chance to socialize and unwind in the buff. You might meet guys who are just like you, or you might find a special appreciation for the things that make you unique. Be yourself, and you'll have a wonderful time! 

NakedFest! Did I get your attention? Or, “if I had a nickel for every time someone asked why The Gathering is called NakedFest, I’d be rich."

By Jon P.  - GNI Board Member

I didn’t mean to make light of an important question, but the headline says it all: you can expect something different for GNI’s 2021 event. Men new to our gatherings should expect to make new, life-long friends in an idyllic setting. Our regular attendees can know that due to circumstances, requirements for large gatherings have changed in 2021. 

You may have noticed that GNI is out front in its leadership in Covid safety as a naturist organization. Other related groups are looking to our event to see what is possible as more and more of the world becomes inoculated to this virus. You can be assured that the GNI Board and executive leadership are meeting often to create the safest possible event for both new and experienced nudists.

Photo from Nakedfest 2014

So, I still haven’t answered your question, have I? Why call it “NakedFest?” Well, back in 2014 we created an alternative, smaller event to vary our offerings and to simply try something new. We called it NakedFest, with the full intention of bringing it back. NakedFest2014 and 2015(!)  were a LOT of fun, in a different setting, with new activities, and an all-around sense of greater community. Why wouldn’t we want to bring that back?

Photo from Nakedfest 2014

Because our 2021 event will look a bit different, we want to help everyone enter the space with a mindset of discovery and adventure. Calling it The Gathering, or even using our alternate name Naked Camp wasn’t a fair way to describe the large, international event that we’ve become. Though it will be at our traditional location, activities will look a bit different. Some events may not happen or will occur in different locations. But, all in all, we are giving you an event where everyone is vaccinated and you can make a complete range of choices in how you want to get involved.

Photo from Gathering 2018

 

One activity that our volunteer organizers are working on is the Dance Club. A variety of measures are being discussed and debated about how to keep it fun while not piling 400 wonderfully hot and sweaty bodies right on top of each other. We're also working to streamline your dining. What nightly entertainment will look like at this point is also still being discussed. 

Covid has changed our event. It has changed so much of our lives. We hope 2022 will be the big 35th Anniversary event we’ve all been waiting for. Until then, bring your excitement and enthusiasm to NakedFest and make it the event that YOU will remember forever. 

Photo from Gathering 2018

New attendees! Be on the lookout for an upcoming Thursday Mingle where you’ll have the chance to ask questions about NakedFest2021.

New BuffBuzz Editor Ready To Create New Buzz

Hello everyone. Johnny K. here. Some of you may know me as the new manager for the GNI social media accounts on Facebook and MeWe. What you may not know about me is that I am also the new editor for the GNI blog "BuffBuzz." As a way to reinvigorate the blog and get it back up and running, I thought it would be a cool idea to formally introduce myself to you guys so you could know more about me and my experience with nudism and GNI.

Just me relaxing in my room.

The picture above pretty much describes me to a T as some might say. Besides my interest in nudism (which I will mention next),  I am a hard-core video gamer. I have been playing video games since the original 8-bit Nintendo Entertainment System came out in the mid-1980s (yes, I'm that old even though I have been told I don't look it). It's a major part of my life. In addition to that, I am very much a Disney fan. My ultimate dream right now is to move from Miami to Orlando (or somewhere nearby) so I can visit Disney frequently. And besides that, I am majorly into pop culture and just a very casual kind of guy.

A relaxing day at Haulover Beach in Miami.

My journey with nudism has been an interesting one. I was not part of a nudist family. I got into it totally 100% on my own. Growing up, I would always take the opportunity to be naked whenever I was home alone. I think that's when I started to realize how liberating nudism can be. But it wasn't until my early 20s when I finally took a chance and went to the local nude beach here in Miami (Haulover). It felt amazing to be around all the other nude people there even though I myself didn't get naked just yet. The normalcy in being around all the other nude people felt wonderful though. About my third visit is when I finally grabbed life by the balls as the saying goes and dropped my swim trunks and got fully naked at Haulover. And it felt so freeing and I just really immersed myself in the feeling of the warm sun-kissed breeze all over my body. And then I went into the ocean naked and it was just like being in the biggest bathtub ever in which everyone was allowed in. After this experience, I would never again go to a beach that wasn't nude/clothing-optional.

Unfortunately, that's about it with my nudist experiences. I have been a huge GNI follower for many years but as of yet have I been able to get involved with any of the events that this amazing organization offers. It's still something I hope to change in the next 2 years. I do hope to attend a Gathering event very soon so I can meet as many of you guys as possible. I look forward to increasing my circle of amazing nudist friends through GNI. Thankfully that's already happening with the help of social media apps and now with this blog.

I'm just going to close this first BuffBuzz blog of 2021by stating that we will be relying on you, our amazing GNI members and BuffBuzz readers, to contribute articles to this blog. Please keep an eye out on both the Facebook and MeWe social media groups for call-outs for blog writers. Whenever we have new topics for writers, we will post messages there. Also, if you ever have any ideas of GNI/nudist topics that you feel should be on our blog, or any questions about the blog, please e-mail me at: buffbuzz@gaynaturists.org. Thanks for reading this blog article about me guys. I hope you were able to learn about who I am and I look forward to learning about you all as time goes by. 

Support Your Local Men's Resort

These challenging times of COVID-19 quarantine has hit the hospitality industry particularly hard.  We continually hear about the challenges occurring to men’s resorts, and those that support social nudity.  GNI is here to lend support to getting the word out to promote resorts as best we can.  

GNI has a dedicated page listing resort deals for GNI members.

As an example, recently, Vitambi Springs in Clewiston, Florida  

https://www.vitambi.com

recently sent out a communication detailing that they were facing probable closure in 2021 unless there was a turnaround in their business.   

GNI has an ongoing arrangement with Vitambi Springs for a 3-4-2 discount (buy two nights, get the third night free) for current GNI members on Naturists at Vitambi Springs (N-VS) weekends. Please call the resort for full and updated details.

If you know of a resort that would like to promote itself via GNI, let us know!

GNI Mingle Movie Parties set to resume in January 2021

Our GNI Mingle movie parties were a big hit this past Autumn.

Keep your eyes peeled (and your bananas, too!) for the January 14 GNI Mingle, where Jon P shares clips and his love of Campy Movies. 

Then, starting on Friday, January 22 we’ll watch four Gay Camp movies together on YouTube while we connect on Zoom. 

Click here to sign up

VIDEO: 2021 Gathering Promo

 GNI has a new promo video for the 2021 Gathering

Watch it here:

https://vimeo.com/457120230

VIDEO: World's Largest Naked Dance Club

Exclusively at the GNI Gathering, you'll find the nicest men, hottest music, and experience the most liberating feeling of dancing naked with hundreds of other men at our week long event every August. 

If you've dreamed of ever letting your inhibitions go, daring to try something new and exciting, or dancing naked in the world's largest naked dance club, join us at our next event!

Check out our new promo video below:

https://vimeo.com/462380269

VIDEO: Pocono Eagle at GNI

GNI has a new promo video for the Pocono Eagle.

Check out the men of Pocono Eagle at GNI's annual Gathering. 

Daily fetish and kink workshops, onsite leather store and accessories by LeatherWerks (Fort Lauderdale), Mr. GNI Leather Contest, Leather Barracks and Dungeon ... all for discerning males. 

Visit our website for more information.

https://vimeo.com/479024550 

New Website and Membership Directory Coming in 2021

After 18 years of using MemberClicks, GNI will be migrating away from using this service and signing on to a more dynamic, lower cost service. 

What does this mean for you as a member? 

All of your contact information will remain intact, but if you’ve been using the social community module in MemberClicks (posting on walls, sending internal messages to other members, sharing photos, etc) we won’t be able to carry that over to this new service. 

If you are an active member (that is, your membership has not yet expired) and want to save any information before we turn off the MemberClicks service, we encourage you to log in to your profile and save as much information before it’s no longer accessible. 

Our new directory provider will have a similar social community feature that will allow you to post on walls, share photos, send internal and instant messages to other members, etc. but will also change how you will set up your payment profile for paying your membership dues and Gathering registration fees. 

We’ll have lots more on this later when we finally finish the data migration and build the social community for you. 

We’re hoping to roll this out around February 1 but are working hard to expedite this for a mid-January release. Once this change is made, you’ll see other major features that we have been working on as well. We’ll be assigning new login credentials and have a new membership form, donations form, and Gathering registration form along with other surprises coming soon. 

--Rick

Executive Director

BuffBuzz Blog Survery Results

Back in the fall, we sent out a survey asking your opinions about this blog, the BuffBuzz.men blog.

GNI will using the results of this survey to craft our 2021 communication plan, and helping to optimize our social media going forward.  

Here are the survey results:

We had 204 responses, which we thought was a very good response rate!

Listed below are the the questions we asked and the top responses

1.  When do you visit the BuffBuzz blog?

47% = every time I get an email reminder

2.  The current publishing frequency is:

73% = as it currently is

3.  How would you rate the BuffBuzz blog?

49% = Good

16% = Excellent 

21% = No Opinion 

4.  What topics are you interested in?

25% = news about the Gathering

23% = GNI business / organizational news

23% = news about male social nudity (non-GNI)

15% = interviews with members 

14% = articles about GNI history

5.  Buff Buzz layout?

53% = Good

38% = Excellent 

6.  BuffBuzz photos?

48% = Good

42% = Excellent 

7.  BuffBuzz ease of reading?

47% = Good

43% = Excellent

8. BuffBuzz article length

53% = Good

38% = Excellent

Some Comments:

Potential Meet Ups for travel, trips and planning.

I have sent a few emails and you guys are great getting back to me in a timely and very personal manner... I have not attended The Gathering yet, but the more you guys talk to me... the more I get excited about cumming... I hope I have the courage to come this year!! Kisses!! Love you guys!!!

Is there any gay nudists places in southern Ca 

Where nudist places are.

I know we’re still getting BuffBuzz off the ground, but I’d enjoy a bit more content. Yes, I know that’s the hard part. So, good job so far. Let’s keep this going.

I know it’s a lot of work and it’s greatly appreciated. Thanks!

I thoroughly enjoy the group and the offerings. I get the impression the way the blog is set up and the site for GNI it was done several years ago. I don't know what your budget is, but you might want to have a professional look at the site and make recommendations for a revamp.

T hi s is the first time I am seeing this. I have not received any other communication on this group. I am very interested and want to participate more.

a wonderful blog

I just really wish to be part of the family and attend your gatherings

Hello, j'aimerais qu'un tel rassemblement existe en Europe avec un changement de pays chaque anne y compris en France ne pouvant pas aller au usa.

More pictures!!!

I just learned about GNI recently. I plan on to start participating and being more involved in the future especially after the COVID-19 is over.

Thanks it's inspirational seeing other men my age my very similar condition enjoying themselves.

Thanks for the interviews with others from around the country. Makes me think I am not alone with my feelings. I am sorry that my situation prevents me from attending a GNI in August. I would love it.

Keep up the good work

I apologize that I don’t check in often enough to read it. My experience is too limited to be of value to you.

I've never really looked at it... so can't really say either way. Thanks.

You know, I love being nekkid, I love sun and air on my body, but I am a near micro-penis guy growing more and more aware of how different I am. I have seen shots of similar guys, they might not label themselves thusly, but they're out there. I would love any "talk" about this in GNI or BuffBuzz.

More photos are always welcome.

 More videos would be nice

I would think under the isolation, you would have included questions about attendance to travel and camp in August

I look forward to getting the latest BuffBuzz edition.

It helps me feel connected during this time of isolation. Many of us are really alone.

didn't know there was a blog but I don't read blogs don't know what they are now buffbuzz I read when it is sent to me

I like it. It's difficult to please everyone and like most old people I miss the paper copy days of publications, but a blog actually is so much easier to produce and more timely. So I would not change anything.

It would be better, more interesting, and more pleasurable to read if it were presented in an online magazine format with pages that turn like a magazine. Magazine style communications are simply better, even if only a few pages.

I don't bother with the BuffBuzz blog. Were it to disappear, I probably wouldn't notice.

I'd like to see members be able to post their photos on the blog. Thank you.

good for maintaining GNI visibility among members

It seems clunky when I want to read an article. I wish it was just one document I could access like a magazine.

I can’t recall the last time I saw this publication. Stick to Facebook and Instagram. Would enjoy ride share section before the gathering to facilitate travel.

having a broad spectrum of topics, with more focus relating to the Gathering & events during the Gathering. So as to create more interest in going to Penn in Aug.

It almost seems irrelevant to keep posting the blog this summer. See you in 2021.

A regular schedule would be nice to have, even if posted less often.