BlueRibbon Coalition New Website for 2010

BLUERIBBON COALITION


BRC Announces Launch of New Website

Dear BRC Action Alert Subscriber,

In keeping with our goals of making our communication more effective and, at the same time, giving things a fresh new look, we've been hard at work the past couple of months designing and implementing a brand new website. We rolled it out this morning and we are excited to have you see it.

Stay tuned for more developments, as we are continuing to revise and fine-tune this work.

Please take just a moment to visit www.sharetrails.org -- we think you'll like what you see. Check back often; we have plans for lots more good stuff to keep you informed this year.

Thanks for your continued support,

Greg Mumm

Executive Director

BlueRibbon Coalition

Land Use Pledge for King of Hammers Race 2010

The 4405 MFS Race-a-Thon

by Kurt Schnieder (playing Jerry Lewis) & Del Albright

PLEDGE NOW to Benefit Land Use with the World's Largest Off-Road Race in the US

For the King of the Hammers 2010, we are taking pledges to land-use organizations depending on how far the 4405 land-use buggy makes it in the race! Just like a pledge drive high school kids do at school for sports fundraisers!!  This is an awesome, hard-core desert and rock race, where only a few are left standing. 15,000 to 20,000 people could be on-hand to witness this event next month.  I plan to be there.


YOU pick the amount pledged per mile and YOU pick the organization to donate too!

Travis Carpenter (Rock Zombie) is our driver.  With title sponsor, Motorsports Fabrication Services (MFS), he's also a BFGoodrich Tires guy; with Yukon gears; a Powertank; Solid Axle dude, PRP seats, Vision X-Lights, Coast High Performance Racing Engines,  but mostly, he's a land use HERO.  He's taking the MFS buggy to KOH to help kick some land use ACCESS.

KOH is 135 miles long this year, so if you pledge a dollar per mile, that's $135 to the organization you picked as long as Travis and the 4405 make it thru the entire race!

Directions:

1. Pledge anything you would like per mile made in the 4405 during KOH, and pick the organization you will pledge too, starting with the BlueRibbon Coalition.

2. Add an addtional amount pledged if Travis wins KOH. (By the way, If the 4405 wins, our team is donating $5,000 of the winnings to BlueRibbon Coalition (http://www.sharetrails.org/).

3. You also have the option for a "gutter pledge" that is if we don't start or do not complete at least 20 miles.

4. In your sig-line, please put: "4405 KOH Pledge" with your post number after it! (ex. 4405 KOH pledge #2) if you are a Pirate4x4 subscriber. (for non-Pirate4x4 folks, please see #6 below).

5. PLEASE forward a link to this thread to everyone on your e-mail, your local bulletin boards etc. If you can't afford to pledge anything (Which I totally understand) At the very least, help us to get the word out about this fundraiser!

6. If you are not a Pirate4x4 subscriber, you may e-mail your pledge to: kurt@friendsofeldorado.com (and let him know if you want your pledge posted, or prefer to remain anonymous).  We hope everyone will pledge and post up proudly so we can build an incredible list of donors.

7. After the race, please send you donation directly to the organizations you picked by March 1st. We are not collecting money.

You may cut and paste my post below and change the amounts and the organizations as you wish.

We will take pledges up until Febuary 11th, and I will also be taking pledges on the lakebed... Please pay you pledge amount by March 1st.

Suggested organizations to pledge too: (You may pick any land-use organization you wish, you do not need to pick from this list)

Blue Ribbon Coalition; then
Other National Organizations fighting for land use
State Associations
Regional Associations
other non-profit land use or appropriate associations, organizations, or Friends groups.

Note from Kurt:  Maybe this is just a pipe dream on my part, but think about this: if 20,000 people show up to KOH this year, and we get just 1/4 of them to pledge...at an average of $100 a person... THIS WILL BE THE BIGGEST LAND-USE DONATION EVER ON PIRATE4X4.COM EVER!!!

Help keep public lands open to the public!
Help support the sport!!

THANK YOU!

Note from Del:  it's my thinking we need to build the big dog, BlueRibbon Coalition, into the baddest biggest national grassroots organization ever formed.  This pledge fund-raiser could sure put a dent in that objective.

See the thread on Pirate4x4 here: http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?p=10813389&posted=1#post10813389

Visit title sponsor MFS here: http://www.mfs-ca.com/
Thanks to all,
Del (and Kurt)

Carnegie SVRA Rally and Ride

The hills were alive with the sounds of dirt bikes!!  It was awesome.  Yesterday's rally at Carnegie State Vehicle Recreation Area (SVRA) was a huge success.  The judge's order to close the park has already had a stay of a couple weeks and we're fighting to get the park back FULLY open in short order.

This is one of those bordering on silly situations -- but enough is enough, and silly or not, the OHV community is sick of being pushed around.  The FIGHT BACK attitude is alive and well.

Don Amador shows what a hoax this judge's order is...

Del and Don in the BlueRibbon booth with local riders who support BlueRibbon and Carnegie SVRA.

It was about the kids...and there were plenty of kids in riding gear on the stage to show the press how we want to have something for our kids and their motorized recreation future.

Side Note:  no matter what eco-situations we have or don't have on the ground where ever we recreate, it has been proven over and over that WE are ready, willing and ABLE to step up and fix it!  As volunteers, we are proven source of passionate and dedicated workers capable of drawing on our vast resources to fix any problem thrown at us.  Closure is not necessary; and not an option!!!

Off-Road Voters and a Great Gift

If you're looking for a great sticker that reflects our motorized sports and what we need to be doing, check this out from California Jeep Authority.  I got mine.http://www.californiajeepauthority.com/jeep-decal-i-offroad-and-i-vote.html

Del

Land Use Activist Don Klusman Passes Away

I'm saddened to report that we lost another land use activist yesterday, unexpectedly.  Don Klusman, long time advocate and Resource Consultant for the Calif. Assoc. of 4wheel Drive Clubs left us quickly.

Don has a passionate and noteable career helping us fight for our trails and access.  Read more on the Cal4wheel website here:  http://www.cal4wheel.com/

Bye Don..we'll miss you.
Del

USAA Insurance Company Teaches Uncle Del About Modern Communications

I am amazed at how our world is changing in the way of computers, electronics and communications. My first "Tweet" was more powerful than my first date as a teenager. My first "blog" gave me chills. And I thought my first time with online banking was scarier than jumping out of airplanes in army boots. But no; there's more.


United Services Automobile Association (USAA) insurance and banking company just told me how I can now do my insurance stuff AND bank on my Blackberry (or iPhone) and even do DEPOSITS using my phone camera and phone internet. OMG!!! Deposit a check I’m holding in my hand while taking a picture of it with my phone? What's next?


Now this post is more than a lame advertisement for USAA, albeit I've been with them for 40 years and I highly recommend them to ANYONE who has served in the military. Yes, they are now open to any and all honorable vets. But this blog is about how we must embrace new technology and apply it to those clients, customers and friends who are involved in the game of protecting our freedoms and fighting for our access to public lands. And we must especially apply all these new technologies to folks who love to recreate in the great outdoors, but have yet to figure out that they need to be fighting with us.


Well, ok, I may not be as amazed as I’m playing up here because in reality I’m fully embracing all the new technology I can. Yes, there will be some who feel “big brother” is watching us a bit too much here and there. But I believe that if you embrace all the security and common sense measures to go along with the “in touch” world, you’ll be just fine.


The point I’m really trying to drive home is that if you are trying to make a different in land use and access, or outdoor recreation in general, you should be using all means available to you. Hey maybe for you, like me, that also includes streaming tweets to your website along with an integrated hyper-link to your Facebook account with a side channel to your MySpace page. Whew…

I suspect companies other than USAA are doing this sort of banking thing, but you can learn more at www.usaa.com (if you’re military or ex-military).
Del

Off Road Christmas Auction for BlueRibbon Underway Now

BLUERIBBON COALITION, INC.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Del Albright, BRC Ambassador
Phone: (209) 304-7693
Email: brdel@sharetrails.org
Date: December 1, 2009

BRC Christmas Auction Project: LIVE and RUNNING

POCATELLO, ID (December 1) - It's on!!! Our Christmas and holiday auction is live and running with sleigh bells. Bids are flying; businesses are sponsoring; and the auction is ready for you. We're still getting new items to add to the list, but it's time to check out what you need to bid on to fill that chimney stocking of yours.

You know the deal. This special online auction is designed to help us all save trails and keep our sports alive. Yeah, well, that's all fine and dandy, but it's also a very impressive list of goodies just waiting for your click.

Just in, we have:

Axia Alloys Billet Mount Rear View Mirror (Side x Side)
4 Registrations to Rally on the Rocks (UTV event, Moab)
Axia Alloys iPod Billet Mount (UTV)
The Tugger (Rear and Front) Combos and Straps for dirt bikes
Parts Mike Dana 44 High Steer for Jeeps
Daystar JK Suspension Lift and Body Lift
Daystar Jeep Dash/Switch Panel
Aluminum Receiver Cargo Rack (donated by Ron Westberg of Colorado)

And these add to our existing list:

Nemesis Industries Hi-Line Front Fenders
Currie Enterprises Heavy Duty Steering System
GenRight Offroad Jeep goodies (TBA)
Tom Wood's Custom Drive Shafts Apparel, goodies and discounts
5 of Del Albright's Recreational Leadership Training Course (RLTC), for anyone
Roundeyes.com LED dome light kits
PIAA Accessory Light Kit
5 off-road Tires from BFGoodrich
5 Monster Beadlock Raceline Wheels by Allied
2 Dynatrac ProRock 44s for JK Jeeps (yeah, a new product)
Rubicon Express JK Suspension Upgrade
4 Diff covers from Dynatrac
Olympic4x4 Products Heavy Duty Deluxe Receiver Rack
Poison Spyder Rocker Knockers (Access Army Laser Cut Out Limited Edition)
Recovery Gear from WARN

We're still adding to our list as businesses continue to jump in and contribute, so please CHECK BACK often during the next 10 days. If you want to donate, just drop an email to Del Albright at brdel@sharetrails.org.

Bid here: http://shop.ebay.com/sharetrails/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=

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The BlueRibbon Coalition is a national (non-profit) trail-saving group that represents over 600,000 recreationists nationwide The Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) season is beginning. Federal employees, please mark BlueRibbon Coalition and Check #11402 on your CFC pledge form to support our efforts to protect your access. Join us at 1-800-258-3742 http://www.sharetrails.org