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
##

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

Poison Spyder Customs is back under new ownership

Poison Spyder Customs Under New Ownership
Banning, CA: Larry and Cheri McRae are the proud new owners and caretakers of Poison Spyder Customs. The McRae’s including daughter Cortney, are excited about this new venture and Larry commented, “We, like so many, have known and respected the Slays for years. We know how hard they’ve worked and sacrificed to build Poison Spyder Customs into what it is today. "

"When we heard the Slays were simplifying their life and dropping the Poison Spyder Customs product line, we had mixed emotions. We were excited for our friends in the 4 wheeling community who decided to travel down a different path, but were disappointed that the Poison Spyder products would no longer be available. Cheri and I wondered if we could do something about it. Clifton and I had a meeting at the SEMA Show and the rest, as they say, is history, added McRae.”
Read the whole story and see what the Slay's are doing now, right here.

Lead Ban and Dealer Protest (Malcolm Smith)

Thursday, March 19^th, the famed motorcycle rider and champion Malcolm Smith is holding a dealer protest against this lead and kids issue. This will be held at his Riverside, CA dealership. Read the details and some insightful thoughts on this on Don Amador's blog: http://thegeneralsrecreationden.blogspot.com/2009/03/civil-disobedience-and-cpsc-ban-on.html.

 

Del

BlueRibbon's Three for Free -- Three Ride!

Here's a note from the BlueRibbon Coalition. Wow, three for free. Del

Have you heard about BRC's new Three Ride program? For a limited time, we're giving away a three-month membership in the BlueRibbon Coalition--free! If you are not currently a member of the Coalition, you can quickly and easily sign up online to start your Three Ride.

Already a member? Maybe you know a friend, family member or co-worker who would like to take a BRC Three Ride. We have a downloadable form you can print and bring to events, or pass out at your club. With your help, we'll give them a three-month free ride. It won't cost them a dime. ?If they aren't convinced at the end of that time the BRC is worth the membership price, they can just walk away.

To learn more about the Three Ride program, visit http://www.sharetrails.org/three-ride-intro/ To sign up now, visit https://www.sharetrails.org/secure/three-ride -- feel free to share this link with your friends.
Greg MummExecutive DirectorBlueRibbon Coalition

Land Use Planning; Bruce Babbitt; and Hunting

My BlueRibbon partner, Don Amador, has posted up a great blog on the public process, Bruce Babbit, and hunting. Actually, its' more than that, but for sure you can get a lot out of this quick read with some good links.

Don links to a fish and game aritcle about getting involved in the management of hunting. The guy who wrote that article is Ken Mayer, a very good friend of mine. Ken is now the Director of Wildlife for Nevada. Ken knows government and in his piece he explains what we can do to ensure we have a say with the USFS and BLM.

It's really important that we are part of the early on "scoping" process -- where we can get our ideas in the game right up front, and hopefully see our ideas end up as the process spits out a plan.
Check out Don's info on his blog here:
http://thegeneralsrecreationden.blogspot.com/

Del

Theft Prevention -- An Ounce of Prevention vs. a Pound of Pain

My friend, Tom Severin from Badlands Offroad Adventures and 4x4training.com has some sage advice here, as well as some links to cool theft-prevention products.

"Remember the good old days when you could leave your bike outside overnight? Or your front door unlocked while you ran an errand? (Yes, I know I’m dating myself.) Sadly, those days are long gone. Theft is now a part of our lives. But we can minimize its occurrence. Four wheelers (and all motorized recreationists) already know that their vehicles are quite attractive to the wrong crowd. Yet it’s good to be reminded occasionally of the simple steps you can take to protect yourself and your property. "

Check out Tom's ezine article here: http://www.4x4training.com/Articles/Safety/VehicleSecurity.html
Del