Reduced-PDX1A-NATIONALADVOCATE-ISSUE1

THE
NATIONAL ADVOCATE
Winter 2015 | Equal Access Quarterly
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THE ONE VOICE UNIFICATION PLAN.
COMMON THREAD POTATO SALAD HILL MOAB SOLUTION
CALIFORNIA OHV LOBBY DAYS.
OFF ROAD BUSINESS ASSOCIATION YEAR IN REVIEW
RED BULL FROZEN RUSH
THE
NATIONAL ADVOCATE
MISSION STATEMENT
The National Advocate is a nondenominational free quarterly newsletter dedicated to the unified effort to
maintain motorized access to public lands. The National Advocate does not sell advertising in an effort to
promote distribution through multiple channels and broadcast information from regional and national OHV
associations. The Off Road Business Association makes funding for the National Advocate possible.
Published By Carrera Performance Group, LLC and made possible by volunteer contributors:
Jeff Knoll, Angie Knoll, Scott Jones, Alexis Nelson, Fred Wiley, Sara Melnicoff, Tom Edmonds,
Stuart Gosswein, Corey Osborne, Shots by TBars, Ed Rigsbee, Off Road Business Association, Bower Motorsporst Media, Rockcrawler.com, UTV Weekly, Mad Media, UTV Underground.com, RaceDesert.com, AMA
National, AMA D36, AMA D37, California Association of 4 Wheel Drive Clubs American Sand Association,
California Nevada Snow Mobile Association, Southern Four Wheel Drive Association, Colorado Off Highway
Vehicle Association,SEMA, and RallyVenture,
Send future contributions to [email protected]
3983 S MCCARRAN BLVD #523 RENO, NEVADA 89502
CARRERAPERFORMANCEGROUP.COM
A COMMON THREAD
PICKING UP BROKEN GLASS
My daughter was thirteen years old when she found the
glass lined stream near Potato Salad Hill. The broken glass
lined the shore of the stream and stretched for over 300
yards. Today, not a single piece of glass remains.
While that glass-lined stream looked like a daunting project when the first bucket was filled, determination
and routine made the project enjoyable. It also provides a
lesson, that together we can make a difference. I hope you
will consider joining the organizations that are working on
a massive project that will provide motorized recreation a
unified voice in Washington DC (page 21).
You can make a positive impact on motorized recreation. While the Save the Hammers effort was a high
profile fight that took me to the halls of Congress (page
29) I feel that a simple Clean Up Challenge in Moab, Utah
(page 3) had an equally large impact on saving trails.
Organizing a youth racing series (page 16) could change the direction of a child’s life and taking your
kids to an off-road event can shape their choice in friends well beyond the teen years.
Small things can make big impacts. That’s what the National Advocate is all about: sharing ideas,
resources and best practices across the country so that we may all continue to enjoy the great outdoors
with family and friends. Please share, promote and enjoy our first issue. We encourage your participation
and the redistribution of the content in this magazine, but please give credit where credit is due. I would like
to make a note that this project is made possible with the support of the Off Road Business Association and
the generous contributions from some of the best people you will find in the industry. We would love to have
you join our team, on and off the trail. If you would like to share your motorized recreation advocacy story,
please drop me a line. [email protected]
Off Roaders Shatter
Environmentalist
Perception In
Moab Utah
Common Thread
Operation Cooperation
In 2004, Moab Solutions’ founder Sara Melnicoff started doing jeep week cleanups at Potato
Salad Hill (a hill climb area not part of the official
Jeep Safari). Jeff Knoll, an avid rock crawler, read
about her cleanup efforts in The Times-Independent
and wanted to work with the group. He called out to
the off-road community and asked them to help with
daily cleanups and to donate money to pay for the
dumpster and porta-potties used at Potato Salad Hill
during Easter weekend. The response was fantastic
and the effort is constantly evolving. In 2005, Moab
Solutions created the project “Common Thread/Operation Cooperation”.
Page3
WORKING TOGETHER WORKS!
Common Thread/Operation Cooperation is a cooperative effort between Moab Solutions and the
Grand County Sheriff’s Office, the Solid Waste District, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Grand
County Trail Mix, (a county sponsored committee), the State of Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration, (SITLA), as well as the off-road group Rocky Mountain Extreme and other off-road enthusiasts.
The goal is to maximize recycling and minimize waste and off-trail damage during Jeep week. Says Melnicoff,
“We felt there was a way for diverse user groups to work together for the common good and Common
Thread is that vehicle. I have enormous respect for volunteers from the off-road community who come out,
year after year, to help pick up trash and recycling, and to work with us to make improvements at Potato
Salad Hill.”
Many improvements have been made at “The Hill” since 2004. Fencing was installed to prevent illegal
camping and off-trail use. Signs are posted each year at the entrance listing fines for speeding, littering and
going off-trail. The area is cleared and closed at 7 or 8 o’clock each evening to end illegal camping and the
attendant damage of the land around this gorgeous area. Daily cleanups keep the trash and recycling in its
proper place, and errant tracks are raked out quickly.
The Potato Salad Hill Working Group formed in 2014, with the goal of adding more improvements
and working to make this a model project that could be replicated in other areas. The Working Group is
comprised of the Grand County Sheriff, BLM rangers, a SITLA representative, Moab Solutions, and a volunteer expert on plant life in the area. The purpose of the group is to further practices that will keep the land
healthy, the trails open and people happy.
2014 was a year of great successes at Potato Salad Hill. Several volunteers helped make rock
outlines delineating the trails and did other prep work prior to the big weekend. The Solid Waste District
donated boulders and the manpower to install them in area organizers wanted to protect. Moab Solutions
received a small grant from Leave No Trace and a donation from Moonflower Community Cooperative to
cover some of the expenses and was able, with those funds, to hire people to maintain the recycling station
that was installed, display information about native flowers, and walk through the crowds with buckets to
collect trash and recycling for several hours on Friday and Saturday. The crowds loved it! “We are looking
forward to more of the same in 2015 and hope others will join in,” said Melnicoff.
For more information about Common Thread, visit the www.moab-solutions.org, projects page.
FROst bitten
Adrenaline Hit the Ice
at Maine Ski Area
offroad racing in maine
Horsepower and Adrenaline Hit the Ice at Maine Ski Area. A behind the scenes
look at the evolution of an ice course designed for desert racing trucks.
By Alexis Nelson
The Red Bull Signature Series headed to New England for the Frozen Rush Truck Race on January 8th & 9th at Sunday River Ski Area in Newry, Maine. Nine drivers and their crews traveled across the
country from the sunny desert to the bitterly cold mountains in Maine to challenge their skills on the ice. The
Frozen Rush Truck series race is a ‘one of a kind event’ running in its second year. The original concept was
put to the test on the snow in the Sierra Tahoe area, consequently balmy temps and sunshine aren’t a good
mix for creating a solid track. The race visionaries decided to move the Frozen Rush to an area where ice,
cold and snow dominate the winter season.
The mountain operations and grooming crew at Sunday River transformed the base area and one
trail into an outdoor racing arena complete with pits for each crew, a tire tent where BF Goodrich had their
staging area, and a spectator area. Building the track was a feat within itself. 2.6 million pounds of concrete
blocks were positioned along the border of the course to protect the spectators and chairlift while creating
a safe racing environment for the drivers. Massive piles of snow were moved and pushed using Pisten Bully
grooming equipment. These powerhouses shaped the course with special terrain park implements that
carved and dozed the snow into unique features designed specifically for the trucks. The actual race course
was separated into two, one-mile tracks – the blue track and red track. Each track featured slalom turns
and plenty of places to catch air on the table top and gap jumps.
The trucks required a slight makeover from the elements of dirt and sunshine. The 900 hp Pro 4
trucks required a serious tire change for grip around the turns and traction on the ice. Each BF Goodrich
tire was equipped with 684 spikes ready to rip. Snow flaps were installed to minimize the snow dust and
light bars were added for increased visibility for the drivers during the race. Another factor that needed to
be considered was driver warmth. Staying warm in thirty below temps was a challenge for the drivers, especially keeping their hands warm.
Nine professional drivers were ready to take the Frozen Rush challenge. Since there was an odd
number of drivers, they would compete for time during the qualifying portion of the race. On race day, a total
of eight drivers were ready to rev up the slopes and bring fire to the ice. The drivers competed two at time,
starting out head-to-head and then splitting to the blue track and the red track. After completing two laps on
each track, they would share the last leg of the track racing to cross the finish line. The final laps of the race
resulted in a close win, and Bryce Menzies took home the title.
The Red Bull Signature Series Frozen Rush Race will air on NBC on March 1st.
Page 6
WHY IS WINTER TRAIL GROOMING IMPORTANT?
By Scott Jones, Esq.
An important component of snowmobile recreation is the grooming of trail networks throughout the country that
provide public access a wide range of winter recreational opportunities in the backcountry. For those that are not
familiar with these actions, grooming is performed by snowcats, similar to those used by ski areas, which tow a wide
range of equipment in order to provide a well maintained and identifiable route through the backcountry. This is an important resource for all users, but is valued for different reasons throughout the country and unlike summer motorized
routes, winter routes must be built from scratch every year. In the Western United States, these routes are relied on
to access high quality backcountry opportunities in large bowls and other areas. In the mid-west and northeast, the
trail network is the recreational opportunity that is sought by users.
Traditional snowmobile recreational activities based on the groomed trail network provide a significant economic
driver to a wide range of local communities. In 2012, snowmobile recreation in the United States accounted for $34
billion direct sales of units, clothing and related services which resulted in over 100,000 jobs to a wide range of communities. Snowmobile recreation provides an important income bridge for many businesses who more directly target
summer recreation, but need to keep employees on the payroll over the winter. Snowmobile sales fills this niche.
Many of the communities that significantly benefit from snowmobile recreation as an economic driver are smaller communities that have lost more traditional sources of revenue such as timber, mining and agriculture. This make snowmobile recreation a very important revenue stream to these communities and their ability to provide basic services like
road maintenance and schools, and local communities are very interested in maintaining this activity.
At first glance, the groomed routes provided by the snowmobile community are mistakenly believed to benefit only
the snowmobile users. While state-based snowmobile registration programs provide the overwhelming source of funding for grooming, these groomed routes support a wide range of non-motorized activities, such as cross country skiing,
snowshoeing, ice fishing, hunting and dog mushing, free of charge. These activities that may not be directly related
to snowmobiling, but provide additional revenue and jobs to local communities that are more traditionally identified as
summer recreational activities. Many of these users and communities would not be able to pursue these activities
without the trail network provided by the snowmobile community.
The groomed trail network further provides significant safety to all users. The trails and maps provide a uniformly
identifiable navigation system and waypoints for all users and access for emergency response teams to safely access the winter backcountry to aid those members of the public that may have become injured or lost. The grooming
equipment further provides the specialized equipment in many areas for emergency responders to gain access to the
backcountry and undertake rescue activities in a timely manner.
Snowmobile recreation and associated grooming is a major benefit to local communities and many user groups that
are not directly associated with motorized recreation. A more complete understanding of these benefits is often a critical component of any discussion that is addressing changes in grooming activities in any area.
Did You Know?
Snow grooming plays a big part in over the snow
recreation. The same equipment used to build
the Frozen Rush Race Course is used across
the United States to enhance the recreational
opportunities of snowmobile use. A large portion
of the trails maintained for snow mobile use are
made possible by clubs and associations that
fund snow grooming operations. These succesful
operations have been developed through a collabrotive process that benefits all types of winter
recreation.
Page 7
BECOME A PAID OHV ADVOCATE
The National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council (NOHVCC) is hiring a Project Manager. Here is an opportunity to join the team and work in OHV Advocacy.
POSITION: Project Manager
BENEFITS: Full Medical, Paid Vacation, 401K
SALARY: Competitive
RESUMES DUE: February 15, 2015
STARTING DATE: On or after March 16, 2015
The Project Manager must have:
• A very strong background in OHV recreation, either professionally or as an OHV recreation advocate, with an excellent understanding of the issues and challenges facing the OHV community both locally and nationally.
• A good understanding of land management agencies and the processes used to determine how public lands are managed and
OHV trails are created.
• The ability to ride off-highway motorcycles, ATVs, or ROVs, preferably all types.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Good basic computer skills including Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• The ability to present information verbally to large groups.
• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Willingness to travel approximately once or twice each month, including weekends and holidays.
• Ability to converse easily with a wide variety of individuals in a variety of situations.
• The ability to work in a team-oriented atmosphere.
• The ability to provide a home office workspace.
Did You Know?
The American Motorcyclists Association (AMA)
offers Racing Opportunities for all skills and
age groups? Districts
are made up across the
United States that foster
safe competitive racing
events in the open desert,
woods, on the track and
in the stadium. Some of
the greatest motorcycle
racers in the world started at an AMA sanctioned
race. You can learn more
about AMA racing at:
http://www.americanmotorcyclist.com
Page 8
CALIFORNIA AIR RESOURSES BOARD
The CARB has decided that it’s time to go back and take a look at “Red Sticker” motorcycles. This time they
will be looking into fugitive fuel vapor from the fuel tanks and lines during the storage periods. The testing
procedures are complicated and, in ORBA’s opinion, need to be scientifically monitored.
ORBA, AMA National, AMA District 36 & 37 hired a well-known firm to participate in the testing process.
The company is DPS Technical INC. Transportation Forensics Specialist, Chris Reel, is participating in the
meetings and test sessions. The purpose of the testing is to ensure that the process meets industry standards and utilizes best available science. Chris has done an excellent job of participating and commenting
about the test process. Our organizations do not have the technical staff required to monitor this type of
technical testing; therefore hiring a professional company is the best use of ORBA’s member dues for this
type of work.
OCITILLO WELLS STATE VEHICLE RECREATION (SVRA) LAWSUIT AND NEW MANAGEMENT PLAN
The lawsuit against the State of California claims mismanagement of the Ocitillo Wells SVRA. The initial filing
was appealed by the plaintiffs and the judge has agreed to review their motion. We are waiting for the ruling to see how we will proceed. The “New Management Plan” continues to proceed by the OHMVR Division.
ORBA, and its partnership with EcoLogic, are working with the state on the plan. We have hired an archaeologist and biologist to develop independent analyses in the event of a future lawsuit. The new plan is expected
to be completed in 2015.
JOHNSON VALLEY OHV RECREATION AREA
The 2015 National Defense Authorization Act creates the first and only congressionally protected OHV area
in the US. The next steps include the management of the “Shared Use Area” and identifying the dates during
the year that the area will be used by the Marine Corps. There will be acreage added to the OHV area that
will be managed by the BLM, in part, the private land acquisitions by the Marine Corps will be added to the
OHV area acreage.
IMPERIAL SAND DUNES MANAGEMENT PLAN
The BLM “Record of Decision” outlines how that BLM recreation area will be managed in the future. A lawsuit was filed claiming that the ROD didn’t meet the requirements of the original suit. The court found that
the ROD was adequate and, soon after, an appeal was filed. The appeal is with the court and, while that
moves through the court, the ROD and its management plan are moving forward.
Through a partnership with ASA, CAL4, D 37 and EcoLogic Partners, ORBA has been engaged for over a
decade in this important land use issue.
ORBA STRATEGIC PLAN
ORBA Staff and Board Members began the revision process and update of the ORBA Strategic Plan. The
strategic plan included key initiatives and updates; from succinctly defining ORBA’s mission, to outlining long
term objectives for the organization over the course of the next five years. The last plan was implemented
in 2011. The 2014 plan outlines several objectives that ORBA will be striving to achieve through education,
outreach, growing the membership, and greater participation in Washington DC lobbying efforts. While
these objectives have been generalized, a separate action plan will be drafted with key indicators and methods of how the objectives will be accomplished.
2014 REVIEW
2014 LEADERSHIP SUMMIT & ONE VOICE
ORBA organized and initiated an unprecedented Leadership Summit in Reno. On July, 14, 2014, leaders
and professionals representing the motorized industry and community met for a one-day session to discuss
efforts and strategy in keeping public and private lands open for motorized recreation. After a lot of discussion and collaboration, attendees identified several points: the need for more representation at the national
level, and the desire to better connect all of the voices (local, state/regional, national) so that the message
being conveyed to lawmakers, regulators and the community is clear and consistent. ORBA volunteered to
develop a business plan for establishing an umbrella organization (generically referred to as ‘One Voice’) and
the plan was circulated to the summit attendees for comment. A second meeting was held at the SEMA
Show in Las Vegas to discuss, review, and address comments on the plan. The consensus at that meeting was to move forward with the plan, refine its structure by adding specifics and details, and reach out to
stakeholders for further participation. It was also agreed that ORBA would lead this effort.
The structure of One Voice is similar to ORBA’s; the Association will be governed by a Board of Directors and
lead by an Executive Director or CEO. It will be financially supported by industry and contract with a group of
professionals that specialize in education, public relations and marketing, applied science and information
technology. An Advisory Committee will be formed that represents the grass roots efforts and divided into
regions around the country. ORBA is honored and eager to continue this exciting development of a national
organization that represents the many facets of the OHV community.
Page 10
WINTER EVENT CALENDAR
Jan 30- Feb 1 - International Motorcycle Show, Cleveland, OH
Feb 13-15 Monster Jam Trucks, Roanoke, VA; Worchester,
MA; Hampton, VA; Salt Lake City, UT; Oklahoma City, OK;
Miami, FL; Cleveland, OH
Jan 30-Feb 1 - Rally America Snodrift Rally, Atlanta, MI
Feb 14 Supercross #7, Arlington, TX
Jan 31- Feb 1 – 2nd Annual Greater Dayton Garage Sale,
Dayton, OH
Feb 16-17 Ride and Drive (RAD) Expo, Quartzsite, AZ
Jan 30-Feb 6 - King of the Hammers, Johnson Valley, CA
Jan 31 - 4x4 Training - Tire Repair / Hi-Lift mini Clinic, Hawthorne, CA
Jan 31 – Monster Jam Trucks, Houston, San Diego, New
Orleans, St. Louis
Jan 31 - Supercross # 5, Anaheim, CA
Feb 5-8 - BITD Parker 425, Parker, AZ
Feb 19-22 International Sportsmen’s Expositions Show,
Phoenix, AZ
Feb 20-Mar 1 Rally America Rally in the 100 Acre Wood,
Salem, MO
Feb 20-22 Cal4 Wheel Annual CA4WDC convention, Visalia,
CA
Feb 20-22 Monster Jam Trucks, Wheeling WV; Richmond,
VA; Jackson, FL, Arlington, TX; Oakland, CA
Feb 6-8 International Motorcycle Show, Minneapolis, MN
Feb 20-21 BITD Laughlin U.S. Hare Scrambles, Laughlin, NV
Feb 6-8 WORCS Round 2, Primm, NV
Feb 6-8 Monster Jam Trucks, MO, IL, NY, WA
Feb 20-21 SNORE, King Shocks Battle at Primm, Primm,
NV
Feb 6-7 Monster Jam Trucks, SC
Feb 21-22 4 Wheel Parts Truck Fest, San Mateo, CA
Feb 7-8 Coyne Powersports UTV Series – Valentine’s Day Massacre, El Centro, CA
Feb 21-22 Coyne Powersports UTV Series- The King of the
Dez- CA, El Centro, CA
Feb 7-8 Maple Leaf Monster Jam Tour, Edmonton, AB, Canada
Feb 21-22 Maple Leaf Monster Jam Tour, Winnepeg, MB,
Canada
Feb 7-8 Monster Jam Trucks, Hartford, CT
Feb 7 4 Wheeler Supply Rock & Ramped, Cave Creek, AZ
Feb 7 4x4 Training – Getting Started Off-Road Driving, Gorman,
CA
Feb 21-22 4x4 Training – Getting Started Off-Road Driving,
Borrego Springs, CA
Feb 21 SRRS BattleFest Hot Springs ORV Park, AR
Feb 21 Supercross #8, Atlanta, GA
Feb 7 Monster Jam Trucks, Tampa, FL & Anaheim, CA
Feb 21 PURE 125, California City, CA
Feb 7 Supercross #6, San Diego, CA
Feb 8 4 Aces Desert Scramble Red Mountain, CA
Feb 8 4x4 training – Day 2 Getting Started Driving Off-Road,
Mojave, CA
Feb 13-15 International Motorcycle Show, Chicago, IL
Feb 13-15 Desert Bloom Rally, Quartzsite, AZ
Page 11
Feb 26-Mar 1 Speed Energy Formula Off-Road by TRAXXAS
w/V8 SuperCars Street – Australia, Adelaide SA, Australia
Feb 27-Mar 1 WORCS Round 3, Peoria, AZ
Feb 27-Mar 1 Monster Jam Trucks, Tucson, AZ; Baltimore, MD, Nampa, ID; Wilkes Barre, PA; Macon, GA; Biloxi,
MS; Tupelo, MS; Detroit, MI
WINTER EVENT CALENDAR
Feb 28-Mar 1 ASCC Lucas Oil Off Road Series Rounds 1 & 2,
Chandler, AZ
Mar 14-15 Coyne Powersports UTV Series – Full Trottle 100,
El Centro, CA
Feb 28 4x4 Training – Sand Off-Road Driving, Pismo Beach,
CA Feb 28 Supercross #9, Atlanta, GA
Mar 14 4x4 Training – Getting Started Off-Road Driving, Gorman, CA
Feb 28-Mar 1 Prarie Dogs GP Glen Helen, CA
Mar 14 Supercross #11, Indianapolis, IN
Mar 5-7 Jeep Jamboree, Parker, AZ
Mar 15 4x4 Training – Day 2 Getting Started Off-Road Driving,
Mojave, CA
Mar 19-22 Arizona Rocks, Parker, AZ
Mar 6-15 Daytona Bike Week, Daytona, FL
Mar 6-8 53rd Annual Tierra Del Sol Desert Safari, Salton
Sea, CA
Mar 19-21 Jeep Jamboree, Llano, TX
Mar 20-22 Reno Off-Road & Motorsports Expo, Reno, NV
Mar 6-8 Monster Jam Trucks, Grand Rapids, MI; Pensacola,
FL; Bridgeport, CT; Toledo, OH; Syracuse, NY; El Paso, TX;
Tulsa, OK
Mar 20-21 LOORS Rounds 1&2, Lake Elsinore, CA
Mar 6-7 WERock West Series #1, Congress, AZ
Mar 21 STI QuadX & UTV Racing Series, Round 2, Glen Helen,
CA
Mar 7-16 California RV Show, Angel Stadium, Anaheim, CA
Mar 21 Supercross #12, Detroit, MI
Mar 7-8 4Wheel Parts Truck Fest, Hawaii
Mar 22 Mud Slinger’s Rough Scramble, Centralia, WA
Mar 7-8 Dirt Riot Southwest Series #1, Congress, AZ
Mar 22 4x4 Training – Starting Rock Crawling, Lucerne Valley,
CA
Mar 7-8 Maple Leaf Monster Jam Tour, London, ON, Canada
Mar 25-29 High Lifter ATV Mud Nationals, Jacksonville, TX
Mar 7 4Wheeler Supply Rock & Ramped, Cave Creek, AZ
Mar 7 Supercross #10, Daytona Beach, FL
Mar 26-28 Monster Jam Trucks World Finals XVI, Las Vegas,
NV
Mar 7-8 HBMC EURO Scranble Johnson Valley, CA
Mar 27-29 WORCS Round 4, Lake Havasu, AZ
Mar 8 4x4 Offroad & High Performance Swapmeet, Payallup,
WA
Mar 28-29 Motion Pro Nevada “200” Trail Ride, Caliente, NV
Mar 8 4x4 Training- Winching Clinic, Borrego Springs, CA
Mar 27-29 Speed Energy Formula Off-Road by TRAXXAS w/
Indy Car Street, St. Petersburg, FL
Mar 11-15 General Tire Mint “400”, Las Vegas, NV
Mar 28- April 5 Easter Jeep Safari, Moab, UT
Mar 12-15 International Sportsman’s Expositions, Salt Lake
City, UT
Mar 28-29 VORRA Spring Short Course Series #1, Prairie
City, CA
Mar 13-15 Dirt Riot Central Series #1, Fredricksburg, TX
Mar 28 SRRS Southern #1, Gray Rock, AL
Mar 13-15 Monster Jam Trucks, Fresno, CA; Lafayette, LA
Mar 28 Supercross #13, St. Louis, MO
Mar 14-17 Moab Skinny Tire Festival, Moab, UT
Mar 28-29 Hilltoppers GP Twentynine Palms, CA
April 3-4 Dirt Riot Mountain Series #1, Moab UT
Page 12
WHAT DOES THE FUTURE OF
OHV
ACCESS ADVOCACY LOOK LIKE
TO YOU?
The business model of all land use associations is that all OHV users benefit, regardless if they participate in supporting the cause equally or not. The effort or money one person contributes does not grant the
participant any additional opportunity to recreate. Perhaps the hardest goal will be changing our own culture
and fostering an entire community of trail stewards.
What do you want from your land use organization? The obvious answer is access to public lands, but
how do you propose the association you donate money to accomplish this goal? In the last 5 years, I have
learned a great deal about how policy is made, deals are struck and our public land is closed to motorized access. I have seen how we are viewed, how we present ourselves and how money is spent by the various land
use organizations. Worse yet I have seen how groups of people who want exactly the same end result will
throw each other under a bus to gain a $25.00 membership. I have seen lies, backstabbing, deceit, opportunity for embezzlement and underhanded posturing to gain funding that never makes it a difference in keeping
a trail open.
My first experience in Washington DC was
in a private meeting with the director of the BLM.
WANT AN ASSOCIATION THAT
His expectation was easy to see. OHV people wore
orange jackets with patches, are stubborn and
DOES NOT HAVE TO BEG FOR
voted republican. We had a different approach and
the conversation yield an amazing result, progress.
MONEY FROM THE VERY PEOPLE IT
When I returned to Washington DC a year later it
was to meet with one of the most powerful lobby’s in
IS SERVING
DC. It was this experience that solidified my understanding of how our government works.
Nine Months of research on the subject of Marine Corps MEB training gave me the tools to discuss
29 Palms with a table full of former congressman and military experts. Our compromise could carry water,
but it would be a long, expensive and hard fight. Over the course of the next three years, I learned the most
valuable of my lessons.
We must have a relationship with Washington DC. People make policy, and people they know and like
influence them most. Our Congress is made up of people, not some mythical body or god-like sphere. These
are real people serving our country and doing the best they can. They make decisions on issues that are far
bigger than the small details and that are important to us. They rely heavily on staff, subject matter experts,
lobbyists, donors, lobbyists, constituents they like and trust, lobbyists and people who in the past have delivered successful results. Did I mention lobbyists?
Thankfully, I believe we are in a better position today than we have been in all the years I have participated in maintaining motorized recreation access to public lands. The relationships that have been forged as
we springboard of the Johnson Valley effort have opened new opportunities, gained access to policy makers
and started changing the perception of OHV users. This is just the beginning of the work that needs to be
done. With limited budgets, OHV activists work with limited funding, few staff members and are seemingly
behind the curve. While we OHV enthusiasts will spend countless dollars on our toys, trailers and haulers, we
are not normally known for investing in the protection of our riding areas.
Page 13
I
.
Our industry comes to the rescue when it comes to funding. Quietly, the manufactures, retail outlets and service providers often times backfill this shortfall. In some cases, the regional associations pool
resources with amazing results. The best example of this effort is the project currently underway to form a
national umbrella organization that unifies these efforts and hopes to obtain an office in Washington DC. The
working title of this proposal is the “One Voice Plan”. Many associations such as ORBA, SEMA, Cal4Wheel,
AMA D37, The Southern 4Wheel Drive association, and a growing number of supporters have embraced
this opportunity.
Unfortunately, some of our land use asET S BUILD AN ASSOCIATION THAT
sociations want to cling to the old ways
of doing business and protect their
PRACTICES
funding streams. The days of pounding on tables and making demands
• A SINGULAR ORGANIZED NATIONAL VOICE.
have not yielded positive results for our
• BEST USE OF THE LIMITED FUNDING.
community. Our small victories pale
• BUILDS A LIBRARY OR RESOURCE OF BEST
in comparison to the massive offense
against motorized recreation, but we
PRACTICES TO HELP REGIONAL TRAIL ADVOare making progress. Attending meetCATES.
ings and sending email blasts with no
• BUILDING A RELATIONSHIP WITH STATE AND
clear objective is not saving our trails.
By the time meetings are scheduled,
FEDERAL LEGISLATORS.
the choreographed outcome is set in
• MAINTAINS AN OFFICE AND STAFF IN THE
motion. If we are going to reverse the
LOCATIONS POLICY IS BEING MADE.
wave of closures we must try something new.
Isn’t time we had a dedicated representative presenting our concerns in Washington DC? With so
many associations dependent of our limited funding, would it not make sense to share in the overhead to
keep the lights on? Why do we have multiple contractors doing the same work with half the results? Would
it not make sense to position us as the subject matter expert to Congress, the BLM and Forest Service? This
is exactly what the anti-access crowd has done. I ask again, what do you want from your land use organization?
L ’
COMPETITION
AMA DISTRIC 37 PROMOTES YOUTH RACING SERIES
“I have been a big proponent of developing races for kids. The average age of our
riders keeps getting older every year. We are
seeing some real sportsmanship from these
young racers” Jerry Grabow
The above racers are brothers Mason and Carter
Klein. Mason is 12 and Carter 10. Mason runs
the #1 plate in super mini and Carter the #3 plate
in mini. These classes run together. This pic was
taken in the pits following the Jan 2015 National
race. Mason was sick and rode his heart out and
by the end of the race Carter had eventually caught
and then passed him. This was the first time Carter
had beaten his older brother and the combination
of exhaustion and emotion over came Mason but
family runs strong in these boys and Carter was trying to console his older brother. This picture could
not more accurately describe what this series is all
about.
Promoting family fun is a big priority in the California
Desert, and the AMA District 37 wants to share the
excitement of offroad racing with the next generation
of motorcycle riders. Learn more about District 37
AMA Offroad Racing : District37AMA.ORG
Page 16
MEET CAL4WHEEL
For more information or to attend one of our events visit us at cal4wheel.com or
like us on Facebook
By Steve Egbert, President
Welcome to this first issue of the National Advocate. Since this is a national publication, I would like
to introduce you to the California Association of Four Wheel Drive Clubs, Inc., also known as Cal4Wheel for
short. Since 1959, our non-profit organization has actively promoted the advancement of vehicle oriented
outdoor recreation. Today, the association represents over 8,000 members and 160 member clubs. We
are the largest organization of this type in California and represent owners of all makes and models of 4WD
vehicles, as well as non-owners who support responsible vehicle-oriented recreation.
We maintain a full-time office in Sacramento. Our staff and volunteers work closely with legislators
and land use managers to provide input, influence, expertise, and manpower to keep lands open to 4WD
vehicle access. Many successful battles have been waged and won to keep trails open all over the state. We
keep our members informed about important issues and changing laws through our bimonthly magazine, In
Gear, and regular email updates.
Members enjoy association-sponsored events all year round. These events cover every type of terrain
in every corner of the state. Whether you are interested in extremely challenging “hard rock” trails for the
experienced enthusiast, or milder runs for the new four-wheeler, we have several events just for you. Many of
our member clubs also sponsor monthly runs open to all.
Our members are also active in conservation projects throughout California. Projects, which are coordinated with local agencies, can range from tree planting to removing junk cars from remote areas, from
closing off entrances of hazardous mine shafts to repairing trail damage. We have received national recognition by winning “Take Pride in California” awards and “Volunteers for Public Lands” national awards. Many
clubs also have Adopt-A-Trails that they maintain.
Page 17
2015 CAL4 WHEEL EVENT SCHEDULE
CA4WDC Convention
Lamp Liter Inn, Visalia, CA
February 20-22, 2015
Win-a-Jeep giveaway Feb 21, 2015
Sierra Trek
Meadow Lake, Tahoe National Forest near Truckee
California
August 6-9, 2015
Molina Ghost Run
Hollister Hills State Vehicle Recreation Area, Hollister, CA
May 8-10, 2015
High Sierra Poker Run
High Sierra Ranger District, Sierra National Forest
near Shaver Lake California
September 4-7, 2015
Hi Desert Round-Up
Slash X Cafe and Stoddard Valley Off-Highway Vehicle
Area
May 22-25, 2015
Operation Desert Fun
Ocotillo Wells State Vehicle Recreation Area
October 16-17, 2015
Panamint Valley Days
Near Trona and Ballarat, California
November 13-15, 2015
Page 18
2015 CALIFORNIA CAPITOL
ANNUAL LOBBY DAY
A UNIFIED VOICE OF MOTORIZED
RECREATION LEADERSHIP WILL TAKE THEIR
CALIFORNIA STATE CAPITAL
ON MARCH 22-23, 2015
MESSAGE TO THE
661-323-1464 To Learn More About California Lobby Days
Annually, the California Motorized Recreation Council, with members in various off highway activities,
conduct a day-long legislative lobbying effort we call Lobby Day. We are joined with our member groups
like the Off Road Business Association”ORBA”, four wheel drive clubs and other recreational interested
groups. We team up to walk the halls of our state capitol in the spring of the year.
I represent District37 of the American Motorcyclist Association as the Legislative liaison officer. This
year we will meet at our Sacramento hotel on Sunday evening to train new participants as to what to expect
and to provide talking points to guide them. We also provide insight as to the demeanor to display if
confronted by attitudes that are counter to our agenda. Our attire is business or nice casual. Teams of
six participants are designated to visit offices of both Senators and Assembly members. At 9 AM on
Monday, we meet at the Capitol security entrance North side. We then visit the legislators that we have
made appointments with a month in advance. The legislator is given our talking points, for example
Ethanol15 fuel damage to older automobiles and motorcycles as well as other small engines, or land use
issues. We also solicit information from the elected officials on their concerns about our activities. It is
important that we have established a pre-event relationship with legislative representatives by
attending fund raisers, making donations to candidates as they seek election. At times, some of them will
have had no prior experience with you. This legislator then requires much more tact and finesse
coupled with more ground breaking or ice breaking conversations. Participants must control the
conversations direction to avoid being channeled away from our pointed agenda. A caution, you are not
allowed to discuss election information in a legislative office, it is not legal. The visits should not be
lengthy, fifteen or twenty minutes should work, as the legislator may need to go into session or
meet with others. Good protocol is to send a follow up thank you note when you return home.
In conclusion, the purpose of this expense of time and money is to train and educate the elected
members of the legislation and their aides on subjects that most have no knowledge or interest in. They
need to be taught the scope and volume of off highway activity and users and the needs and desires of
this voter base.
Tom Edmonds
10003 Huntington Downs Avenue
Bakersfield CA 93312-6135
{661} 587-7994
[email protected]
District37ama legislative liaison officer
38 year desert racer /grand prix racer, member of the Southern California Motorcycle Club {SOCALMC]
Page 19
Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
Winter Travel Management
February, 2014 was the date set to begin a process that is different than most planning processes.
The Department of Agriculture US Forest Service made the decision to implement a Collaborative Stakeholder Process prior to the Scoping Component of Travel Management Sub-Part C. The purpose was to gather
information from the stakeholders who could identify the issues and concerns. They would then present possible ideas/solutions to their respective concerns.
The meeting had about 50 people from several diverse groups with different reasons or interests in
the management of the Lake Tahoe Basin (LTBMU). The meeting was facilitated by a group that has been
working in different locations around the country in similar situations. The Forest Service presented the
court ruling that led to Sub-Part C public implementation. It was originally thought that “over the snow travel”
was exempt from the Travel Management Rule; most of us understood that wasn’t the reality of the Rule.
The courts further clarified that implementing sub-part C wasn’t an option; the agency must do a complete
review of their original plan to ensure compliance.
Some questions from the attendees were: will this trigger other components of Travel Management
and will that bring about other closures for summer-motorized recreation? Other comments referenced environmental and conflict issues. Somewhere mid-day, it became apparent that there was an elephant in the
room. Everyone wanted to tiptoe around it so as not to disturb it. Well, it didn’t take long for the elephant to
wake up, at that point the dialog began honing in on the real issue. As it turned out, the elephant in the room
was issues between environmental, human powered, and motorized stakeholders.
The collaborative process, when it utilizes professional facilitators, leads to comprehensive conclusions. It allows the participants to insert their subjective views and at the same time creates an objective
directive. The difficulty in this open process is distilling down to who has the ability to work towards an objective goal. The meeting ended with several goals and directions outlined.
It’s now a year later, the initial goal and directions have been implemented. A plan of action was created and moved forward with hearty discussion about what the ultimate conclusion/recommendation would
be. Over the next few months, the stakeholders will develop recommendations to assist the LTBMU staff in
implementing the initial scoping of their Sub-Part C planning project.
Page 20
ONE VOICE PLAN
During the 2014 Leadership Summit, attendees had identified a need for more representation at the national level, along with a desire to better connect all of the voices (local, state/regional, national) so that the
message being conveyed to lawmakers, regulators and the community is clear and consistent. ORBA volunteered to develop a business plan for establishing an umbrella organization (generically referred to as ‘One
Voice’) and the plan was circulated to the summit attendees for comment. A second meeting was held at
the SEMA Show to discuss, review, and address comments on the plan. The consensus at that meeting was
to move forward with the plan, refine its structure by adding specifics and details, and reach out to stakeholders for further participation. It was also agreed that ORBA would lead this effort.
The following action items were assigned during the meeting at the SEMA Show:
•
Identify stakeholders and develop a list of national, statewide, and regional entities that would make up
the member-based Advisory Committee and represent all segments of the OHV community.
•
Develop talking points to circulate to members for the purpose of outreach and support.
•
Advocacy for the 4-wheel segment was identified as being particularly weak and under-served at this
time.
Plan Implementation
•
Gather and analyze comments from the ‘One Voice’ talking points.
o
At this point, we have not received any feedback regarding the circulation of talking points
•
Work with a subset of participants from the SEMA Meeting (form sub-committee) in developing the
structure of the Advisory Committee.
•
Gather information pertaining to OHV groups within each region and compile lists for outreach.
•
Identify funding sources for DC presence.
•
Refine the One Voice plan and provide detail on structure and formulation of how this National Organization will be rolled out.
o
Need input from ORBA Board on how this will meld into daily ORBA business and/or if ‘One Voice’ will
remain a separate entity managed by ORBA.
Outreach
Efforts are underway in contacting identified stakeholders. This includes discussion around the concept
of One Voice and whether Organizations/Associations would participate at the Advisory Level or become
members of the Umbrella Organization (which is moving towards ORBA). So far, there is an overwhelmingly
amount of support of the concept. Organizational representatives have also identified the need for greater
participation in Washington and to develop best management practices and tools for addressing issues at
local, regional, state and federal levels. Other ideas have been discussed that are aligned with the general
objectives of the One Voice Plan.
Page 21
Page 22
MISSION DRIVEN ASSOCIATIONS; ARE THEY DYING?
Copyright © 2015 Ed Rigsbee
There seems to be a continual “old guard/new guard” debate as to the purpose of associations. This might
mean paid staff, volunteer leaders, or rank and file members. The old guard position is generally, people in the industry
or profession need to join the organization to serve and give back—our job is to advocate for the industry/profession.
The new guard position seems to be, to prove our relevance in the industry and today’s marketplace; we need to demonstrate a stellar member value proposition.
Erroneous Beliefs
Just for the sake of discussion, let’s assume that the new guard is more in touch with their peers than the old
guard. Continuing on this line of thinking, how in the world will the old guard effectively recruit new members—those beyond the age of baby boomers? How will the “join because you should” sales presentation influence the up and coming
business leaders that associations so dearly need in order to survive and prosper? Perhaps conventional wisdom has
become stale? If so, how will the mindset of the old guard transition to that of those they are trying to influence? Might
the term “mission driven organization” simply be code for “we are not going to evolve” regardless of what the marketplace is telling us?
The Distinction
It seems very difficult for the old guard to understand the difference between “industry benefit” activities and
“member-only” services. When a membership organization embarks on activities that serve both members and nonmembers—those activities cease to be considered “member-only” benefit. That does not necessarily mean that the
activities are bad or should be discontinued—it simply means those activities deliver benefit to all. As such, the activities
or services are not true “features of membership,” as one does not have to hold membership to gain the benefit. The
old guard tends to hold onto these “all industry benefit” activities and expects the new guard to value these activities
the way the old guard has.
New Era Benefit
The tendency of the new guard business leader or professional that might consider membership in their industry/professional organization is to seek honest value in return for their investment of time and money. Since many
were raised with computers and used to finding much of the information they seek via a quick Google search on their
mobile device (not the desktop computer), the paradigm has clearly shifted— in many cases, to the blind eye of the old
guard. The new guard expects and demands this reasonable return—something far beyond the old, “join because you
should.” With this in mind, there is an exceptional opportunity for today’s membership organizations to experience explosive growth through calculating and communicating the return on investment (ROI) of membership—and doing it in
actual-dollar numbers. Within this opportunity is the need for organizations to take a very hard look at what resources
are being used for the entire industry and what are being invested into member-only activities, services, and products.
These progressive organizations are sometimes misguidedly referred to as “retail” associations—meaning that they
only “sell” to their members.
Page 23
continued next page
Walking the Tight-Rope
Many membership organizations are struggling with the need for “old guard” activities that generally
tend to satisfy the long-term member. Fair enough, that is an honest member retention challenge. Organizations should never ignore the wishes of their long-term members, however those wished should be overlaid
with both cost-benefit analyses and the desires of the new guard members. It can be difficult for organizations to sunset ineffective or costly activities that are championed by long-term respected members. Yet,
this is the charge of the board of directors from a strategic perspective and of the staff from an operational
perspective. While there is nothing wrong with an organization touting their “industry benefit” successes,
these successes rarely influence non-members to join the organization.
The Answer
Member ROI is a compelling argument for the decision to join. Today’s successful membership organizations are going to great lengths to calculate and communicate the ROI of membership. This return
is what will influence new guard non-members into making the decision to join. This clearly does not mean
that organizations must abandon their stated mission to become “retail” organizations. What it means is
that membership organizations must understand the needs, wants, and desires of the new guard in order
to influence the decision to join. Smart organizations are writing better “sales copy” for their websites and
marketing materials focusing more on the benefits and less on features. Organizations are learning to “sell”
(okay to say recruit if it makes you feel better) based on new guard non-member buying motives. Learn to
write benefit-driven sales copy through the window of non-member buying motives and your organization will
be unstoppable.
Title Question
Are mission-driven associations and societies dying? They are surviving. As more old guard staff and
volunteer leaders are accepting new guard thinking, or retiring, these mission-driven organizations are finding new ways to serve their mission and their paid members simultaneously—these organizations are thriving. The key is this, recruit members (selling) with your features of membership (member-only) and retain
members (customer service) with all your activities, even those that are industry benefit.
Adapted from The ROI of Membership-Today’s Missing Link for Explosive Growth by Ed Rigsbee. He is
the Chief Member Evangelist at Rigsbee Enterprises, Inc., and the Executive Director of the Cigar PEG, Inc.,
(US Internal Revenue Service recognized public charity). He has authored three books and over 2,000 articles on business and organizational collaborations. He travels internationally delivering keynote presentations
and multi-day workshops to Corporate and Association/Society audiences. Rigsbee is frequently engaged by
associations and societies to facilitate various boards of director meetings and his proprietary, Member ROI
Valuation ProcessTM.
Ed is one of a handful globally that has received the coveted Certified Speaking Professional designation from the National Speakers Association and the Certified Association Executive designation from the American Society of Association Executives. When
you need a Member ROI keynote speaker, consultant or researcher, Rigsbee may be contacted: www.rigsbee.com or Ed@Rigsbee.
com.
Page 24
SFWDA … Our Path Forward in 2015
The Southern Four Wheel Drive Association continues on an aggressive rebranding effort as we
refocus our association and our efforts for 2015. The association has implemented sweeping changes to
the membership structure, and is now realizing a resurgence of new clubs, groups, premium members
and individuals joining our journey. Today, our membership is approaching 1400 members, 30+ clubs and
an emerging dynamic Business Member Network supporting our journey. Included in our rebranding was
the introduction of a new logo to reflect these changes; and the complete refresh of www.sfwda.org. During 2014, SFWDA introduced the SFWDA Grant program to allow each of our member clubs or groups to
directly address the needs of their local area and communities with this innovative tool. The key to our grant
program is that we continue to embrace our core missions of Conservation, Recreation and Education while
empowering our members to direct their money back to projects that impact their communities.
Our communication strategy focuses on three specific channels as we build links to our current members and as we reach throughout the Southeast to build a relevant voice in our communities. The channels
include: keeping fresh content on our web page, dynamic email distribution of information, and an explosive
Facebook and virtual world footprint. These communication channels are crucial to our growth and achieving the goals of SFWDA. Additionally, we compliment these electronic communications with a significant
increase in personal introductions, meetings and engagements.
The next critical element in the 2015 plan is our building of a Leadership Council with representatives
from each club or group. We have built a SFWDA 2014-2015 Leadership Directory that includes the current Board of Directors, Past Presidents, TrailFest and Dixie Run Coordinators, UFWDA Delegate, Land Use
Representatives and Club Leadership. We will be holding our first Leadership Council meeting online soon
and will allow input into key issues and decisions that impact this association.
Page 25
The plan for 2015 was presented at our Annual Meeting on December 6, 2014. Additionally we had a webinar link with in excess of 100 participants to this meeting.
The leadership plan for 2015 includes the following:
•
Plan combined Board of Directors and Leadership Council meetings and update sessions in February,
April, September and December (Annual Meeting). All meetings are electronic on-line meetings, including a
webinar of the Annual meeting.
•
Plan working Board of Directors meetings as required in January, March, May, July, October and
November. All meetings will electronic on-line meetings.
•
Oversight and coordination of TrailFest 2015 and Dixie Run 29
•
3 SFWDA Meet and Ride events in March, June and November. Currently, 2015 Meet and Rides
are planned for the Royal Blue WMA, TN; Beasley Knob OHV, GA; and Morris Mountain, AL. Year 2016
events and Meet and Rides will be scheduled at the next Leadership Council meeting.
•
Support of member club events including St. Jude’s 4 Wheeling for the Cure; GBR Mud 4 Blood;
STLCA GSMTR; Damn Locals Memorial Day Bash; KOR Wheeling for the Wounded; Carolina Trail Blazers
Fun Caravan; and others throughout the year
•
Educational interaction and support in regional JJUSA events
•
Support of other regional events including the Crawl for Reid; Helen, GA JeepFest; UOTRC Jamborees; Pickens County, GA Crawl for the Kids JeepFest; and others throughout the year.
•
Updating the association by-laws to reflect the proposed operating structure..
Page 26
RUGGED RIDGE - OMIX AND ADA
PROVIDE $50,000.00 IN GRANTS
At the SEMA 2014 show, it was announced that RUGGED RIDGE will continue their grant program for a
second year. They have created the program in a way that makes it simple to apply and get funds for key projects
around the country. This is another great example of how industry gives back and provides opportunity for organized Off-Highway Vehicle users to protect and enhance their favorite recreation area.
The Off-Road Business Association is a recipient for the second year and very proud to be part of this
important program.
Rugged Ridge/SEMA raised $85,000 for charities and student builder’s benefit from an exciting SEMA
Garage Project. The auction was held at the January Barrett-Jackson event in Arizona. All of the proceeds from
the Jeeps auction will go to benefit Childhelp America and Victory Junction.
Page 27
Page 28
Saving The Hammers | One Year Later
By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff
The 9th annual “King of the Hammers” was held last month in California’s Johnson Valley Off-Highway Vehicle
(OHV) Recreational Area. More than 430 teams in four vehicle classes competed during a week-long event
witnessed by at least 55,000 spectators and more than 750,000 online viewers. The event culminated
in the one-day “Ultra4” race in which vehicles constructed for their speed and rock-climbing abilities raced
across a 215-mile course of open desert and steep ravines.
Johnson Valley is a unique setting north of Palm Springs, California, that combines open desert, dry lake beds
and extreme rock-crawling trails. It offers riding opportunities for every skill level. The area was originally set
aside in 1980 for OHV recreation by the State of California on land managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land
Management (BLM).
However, until recently, the future of Johnson Valley was in doubt. For nearly six years, access to the land
had been debated in California and in congressional offices in Washington, D.C. At issue was a need for additional lands to train Marines at the Twentynine Palms combat center. In a compromise supported by the
OHV community, Congress passed legislation to provide permanent federal protection to 96,000 acres of
land for OHV activities while transferring 79,000 acres to the U.S. Marine Corps facility. The net effect was a
win for both sides.
During the congressional debates, SEMA joined with the Off-Road Business Association (ORBA) and a coalition of other land-use advocacy organizations to propose solutions for protecting military training needs and
off-roading. All of the interested parties are now working together to implement the 2013 agreement.
There is still one important goal to be achieved—including the word “National” within the Johnson Valley title.
Although the area is already the only federally recognized OHV area, the new designation would acknowledge
the lands national significance. U.S. Rep. Paul Cook (R-CA), a former Marine Corps colonel himself, represents the area in Congress and played a critical role in reaching the 2013 accord with the U.S. Marines. He
will lead the charge in 2015 on behalf of this special recognition. SEMA will climb over boulders in Washington in support.
Page 29
GET OUTSIDE | ATTEND AN EVENT
By Corey Osborne
Events. You know why the off-road industry is successful? Events. Each year there are a couple of hundred events across the country that take place outdoors that involve running, hiking, biking, and motorized off
road use. We, as outdoor enthusiasts, want to be outdoors in the same way that Jeepers want to be jeeping.
We are largely a social group...we want to experience things with others...share what we know and where we
have been...but did you know that YOU are the key? Without attendance to these events, our voice is diminished and support for our rights to continue to use the land that we all enjoy becomes muted. My fear is that
the words “Land Use” have become more political and tend to scare people away from becoming involved. All
of the things that we enjoy doing outdoors are for enjoyment, are hobbies or for fitness, etc...But becoming
involved does not, and should not, be scary, because we are already taking steps to make sure our rights are
preserved, just by attending events.
Do you know why Nascar racing is successful? Its fans. If nobody watched those races, they simply
would not exist. We are the off-road industry’s biggest fans. The new enthusiast seeks differentiation already.
It is the reason that the four wheel drive owner purchases certain parts over others or the runner chooses
brightly colored shoes over more conservative colored ones. It’s not about being cool or doing what everyone
else wants you to do, it’s about making decisions based on what it is that you want to do. We have a choice,
and because of those choices the industries that rely on our decisions need to see us. How did you know that
you would enjoy jeeping? You probably went jeeping with a friend or family member. You tried it, and you liked
it. Have you ever been to a Rock Bouncer event? How about an endurance dirt race? What about an event
that challenged your social as well as navigational skills? There are events that appeal to each and every one
of us taking place across our country every day, and we need to be taking advantage of what the promoters
are trying to convey to us...it’s their way of sharing the lifestyle with us, to give us another perspective, so that
when we make decisions about our interests, they can be the best decisions. Really. That is all we need to do
to make a difference. Be seen. Attend. All I’m suggesting is that you get outside and enjoy yourselves. When
there are events near you that interest you...make the effort...make an appearance. Be heard. Express your
interests. It will make a difference! I look forward to seeing each and every one of you at an event this year!
Page 30
THE
NATIONAL ADVOCATE
Winter 2015 | Equal Access Quarterly