Rubicon Trail Update

RUBICON TRAIL UPDATE: WATER QUALITY BOARD MEETS - RUBICON STAYS OPEN

SACRAMENTO, CA (April 27) — The Rubicon Trail is open and OHV recreation is sustained on this icon of four-wheeling, according to the Rubicon Trail Foundation (RTF) and Friends of the Rubicon (FOTR). The Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board (CVRWQCB) voted unanimously to issue a Cleanup and Abatement Order (CAO) to El Dorado County and the Eldorado National Forest for the world-famous Rubicon Trail that sustains motorized recreation while enhancing stewardship of the trail. Not only did the Board enact an order that recreationists can live with, but they also went so far as to praise the efforts of the volunteers for addressing trail issues ... read more here on BlueRibbon's Home Page

BlueRibbon Obtains Official Status for CFC Donations

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

For a number of years, pro-access government employees have strongly urged the BlueRibbon Coalition to obtain official status in the Combined Federal Campaign Charity List. Today that vision was realized when the BRC announced that the United States Office Of Personnel Management has granted the aforementioned status. BRC will be listed under the National/International Independent Organizations list for charitable donations.

BRC News Release on CFC Status
http://www.sharetrails.org/releases/media/?story=641

Many BRC supporters in the federal land agencies and our military will want to donate to its effort to champion good stewardship of public lands. BRC will be listed as: 11402 BlueRibbon Coalition.

Well done, BlueRibbon.

Del

Reno (NV) Rocks 4x4 in June – Wow!

Don't miss this one if you live close enough to Reno, NV to make it, Father's Day weekend. Rock crawlers, Hammer Kings, Pirates, Teeter Totters, RTI, parades, parties, show and shine, and you name it, this Little City is coming alive. W.E. ROCK will be there doing their thing as well. Dude, I mean seriously. This will be fun!

It's all happening June 17-21, 2009 at the Sands Regency Hotel Casino in downtown Reno, NV. Don't miss it if you can swing it. I'll be there.

Read more and see the flyer here: http://www.delalbright.com/Misc/reno_rocks_press_release.html

Del

CA – Eldorado Nat’l Forest Open Houses

Learn more about route designation and travel management on the Eldorado National Forest (CA) at their April Open Houses.

See more and find the time/place near you right here: http://www.sharetrails.org/alerts/?alert=1004

Del

Electric Dirt Bikes?

Electric motocross? Dirt bikes running on electricity? Noise and sound – what's the difference? And what the possibility of an all-electric OHV park?

Well, if these things wrap your motor windings, read The General's Blog (Don Amador) to learn more. It's awesome – and what a new twist to our outdoor sports: http://thegeneralsrecreationden.blogspot.com/

Del

 

Jeep Netting from a BlueRibbon Supporter

If you're a Jeep owner and want to protect your precious (or dangerous if flying around) cargo in the back seat, check out this netting I just installed in our Jeep from Safari Straps. Besides being cool stuff and well made, the makers of this netting are supporting BlueRibbon Coalition (http://www.sharetrails.org/) in a big way.

I have a short write up and install pics here:

http://www.delalbright.com/Products/products_straps.html

Please remember, whatever you ride, to buy from folks like these who are supporting our land use and access efforts.

Thanks, Del

UTVForums.net Partners with BlueRibbon Coalition

Alamogordo, New Mexico — April 2, 2009: In an effort to further support the valued members of our various UTV communities, UTVForums.net is proud to announce that we have formed a partnership with the BlueRibbon Coalition as an Organization or “Club” member.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank our vendors and other contributors for their sponsorship, without your participation this endeavor would not have been possible.
The UTVForums.net recognizes that our sport is under constant threat and we are highly motivated to assist our members and supporters in the pursuit of their business and recreational activities.

The BlueRibbon Coalition champions responsible use of public lands and waters for the benefit of all recreationists by educating and empowering its members. They are recognized by the general public, media, and elected officials as the leader in promoting common sense and an equitable approach to recreation and access issues.

As part of this new partnership, all subscribers of the UTVForums.net including subsidiary forums are eligible for the BlueRibbon’s discounted incentive “Associate Membership” program. Subscribers can join BRC and help strengthen this grassroots organization at half price for the first year ($15 to join) . . . BlueRibbon Coalition - Become an Associate Member. The UTVForums.net supports and believes in the BRCs efforts on behalf of our sport and encourages its members to join up and get in the game!

Learn more about saving trails and keeping our sport alive. Please visit the BlueRibbon Coalition home page at BlueRibbon Coalition: Preserving your recreational access to public lands. to familiarize yourself with their efforts.

The UTV Forums network includes: RhinoForums.net, RZRForums.net, TeryxForums.net, ProwlerForums.net, RedlineUTVForums.net, BigRedForums.com
Visit BlueRibbon Coalition at http://www.sharetrails.org/

CA - Please Support OHV Grants (letters needed now)

Support OHV Grants in CA (letters needed now)

Please support OHV Grants in CA right away. April 6th is an important deadline. Here's the short list of reasons why:

1. Without this OHV grant money, the USFS won't have any money to do many of the things we want done on our trails.

2. While not perfect and some not even all that good, the grants are a savior to many Forests and Districts. Trails could close without some grant money support in ill-funded Forests (and BLM Districts).

3. Grants are now front-loaded instead of the old way of theatrics at the last minute in Commission meetings. Front –loaded means OUR comments and support MAKE the difference in how a grant is perceived and/or granted. It’s in the analysis and review stage that we MUST tell the OHV Commission and State Parks staff that we support the grants (especially the ones we need and like including the Eldorado National Forest).

4. All the work that Don Amador and all the OHV user groups put into SB 742 (the new OHV Grant Program we fought so hard for), gave us the opportunity to take our OHV money away from non-OHV friendly Commissioners, and put it in the hands of State Parks OHV staff and us – you.

A short support letter is all you need to do. Let State Parks know we support grants on your Forest or BLM area. Here’s how you can read the grants in review right now:Go to this link, select Grants in the top box; then USFS in the Agency box, and then click in FIND. You’ll see the grants; then click on the paperclip to read the details:

http://134.186.25.134/user/ReviewProjects.aspx

Del

Article: The Future is Calling

Please feel free to use this article (land use and access) if you want, and are OHV friendly. I would appreciate a link or a copy if you do decide to use it. A nice photo accompanies this if you’d like it as well (just let me know).
Thanks, Del
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The Future Is Calling.
Who will be there to answer?

By Del Albright, BlueRibbon Coalition Ambassador

Activists in off-road recreation seem to be an aging group – no offense intended. Many of us are “gray hairs” and many are working so hard that “burnout” may cause some premature aging. I worry that not enough young folks are taking up the torch and carrying the flame. When the future calls, will we have folks there to answer?

I was enjoying the business of an annual convention recently of the Calif. Assoc. of 4WD Clubs when I noticed long-time activist Jim Bramham (featured in accompanying photo) sitting nearby with his grandson, Oscar (2 and 1/2 years old). I swung the camera towards Oscar and said, “Hello.” Upon hearing those familiar words, Oscar picked up his play calculator like it was a telephone and answered me back. Cute.

Read more and download this article in WORD or Adobe (.pdf) here.
Del