United FWDA Director of Env. Affairs in Public Display (of affection)

Todd (United Four Wheel Drive Assoc. Dir. of Env. Affairs) and Larisa get engaged in front of the entire banquet audience at the CA4WDC Convention on Valentine's Day.

Yes, Todd is a career Navy guy and he's in his dress uniform. Very cool. Larisa is just plain beautiful and TOTALLY surprised.

Change is Happening -- by John Stewart

BLUERIBBON COALITION PARTNER NEWS FLASH!
Dear BRC Action Alert Subscriber,
CHANGE IS HAPPENING

John Stewart, Natural Resource Consultant for the California Association of 4 Wheel Drive Clubs (http://www.cal4wheel.com/), writes an update in every issue of their magazine. John's latest update is titled "Change Is Happening" and is worthwhile reading.

John's article is right on. Change IS happening, and nowhere more than in Southern California. Travel plans, legislation, new regulations and military base expansion are combining to hurricane force.

John has requested help to complete the route inventory. John is asking for specific items. One item is GPS track log data for all routes used for OHV events. John's project isn't limited to the BLM Desert District, but change is happening there now, so this area should be a priority.

You can contact John via Cal 4 Wheel's website or via phone at 619-390-8747.
You can read John's entire article on the BlueRibbon Public Lands page at www.sharetrails.org/public_lands.

BLUERIBBON COALITION, INC.
MEDIA RELEASEFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Brian Hawthorne, Public Lands Policy Director BlueRibbon Coalition
208-237-1008 ext 102 DATE: February 24, 2009
TRAIL-BASED RECREATION GROUP RAISES CONCERNS ABOUT GAO SURVEY

The BlueRibbon Coalition, an off-highway vehicle (OHV) advocacy group, joined eight other off-highway groups in questioning the validity of a nationwide OHV survey of federal land managers. The groups made their concerns known in a February 5, 2009, letter to the Acting Comptroller General of the United States Government Accountability Office <http://www.sharetrails.org/uploads/Letter_To_GAO.pdf>

The GAO review of OHV use was originally requested by Arizona Congressman Raul M. Grijalva, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands.

The survey is supposedly designed to determine trends in the amount of OHV use, potential environmental and human health and safety impacts and how federal agencies are managing OHV use and enforcing OHV regulations. Managers from the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service received the survey and were asked to respond. Preservationist groups and OHV access opponents aggressively petitioned President Obama to appoint Representative Grijalva to the Secretary of Interior cabinet post, but Obama declined, opting instead for moderate Ken Salazar of Colorado.

Read more on the BlueRibbon website: http://www.sharetrails.org/

Safari Straps Helps BlueRibbon Coalition and our Trails

Safari Straps has joined the effort to keep our trails and riding areas open for all. These great folks are donating 10% of their sales (that's a LOT) to BlueRibbon Coalition.

Be sure to check out their products for your Jeep -- Jeep cargo netting straps designed for safety and load management. Keep your pets secure; keep your gear in the Jeep; keep someone from easily reaching in your open Jeep; and just have that added feeling of netting without losing your visibility.

Check out Safari Straps today, buy some netting or tie downs (in camo even) and thank them for helping us fight for our trails... visit http://www.safaristraps.com/

thanks, Del

HAM Radio -- Off Roaders Dream

Several members of my club, the Motherlode Rockcrawlers, just passed our HAM license test (yesterday). That's Stacie and me in the middle. Yea, I know, I have on the wrong hat. :)

HAM is THE way to go in radio communications if you want to be prepared for an emergency, or just ensure you have good commo over long distance where your CB just won't cut it.

Now don't get me wrong, I'll still have a CB because I believe they are better suited for convoys and bs sessions. I'll run both in my rigs. CB's have no rules, so yea, that is a drawback when an idiot gets on line. But for the most part, the CB is a good tool for 4x4 rides and club events. However, if you want to up it a notch, take the time to study for the test, ensure you can have emergency commuications (enough to bring in a medivac helicopter), then HAM is the way to go. Add it to your inventory.

HAM radios can hit repeaters that allow you to literally talk all over the world pretty much.

You can get a dual-band handheld guy for a couple hundred bucks and do most everything you need to do. There are plenty of websites to help you choose equipment. And a good place to start studying for the test is http://www.qrz.com/. We spent about a week studying, a couple hours a day.

Del -- the new HAM (my call sign will be issued in a few days).

Rubicon Trail Dinner – Black Tie and Boots

Support the Rubicon! Enjoy this fun-filled and unique banquet they're calling Black Tie and Boots!

On March 6^th in Placerville, the Rubicon Trail Foundation will put on their first sorta fancy but mostly fun fund raising dinner. Put on your black tie but leave your boots on. This will be a blast (as well as a great way to raise money for our icon of a trail). Stacie and I plan to be there. Go here to learn more and signup (there is still room as of this post but seating is limited and time is short).

Oh, if you can't make the dinner, you can always donate to the cause. J

More here: http://www.rubicontrail.org/newstuff/

Del

GPS and Go Home Button

Does your GPS unit have a simple, one-touch, Go Home button? Mine does and I love it when traveling. Makes the trip home easy to plan.

But here's a thought for you. Have you considered how easy it would be for a thief to find your house with this button? If a bad-guy gets your car keys, thus your car, there's a good chance you have a home key on the same key ring. So he gets the car started, pushes your Go Home button, follows the route and there he is, right at your front door with YOUR keys.

So my advice is to chart your Go Home button to a very nearby place – but not your house. Heck, just a few houses down would be enough to keep a car key stealing thief from finding your exact location.

There are a ton of websites out there to help you choose a GPS if you don't have one yet. I do recommend having one in your off road rig (and your RV if you play with big toys). It's a very helpful tool and be most useful in an emergency as well – you can direct in emergency folks with way points (lats and longs).

You can read a bit more on my website here: http://www.delalbright.com/Products/products_gps.htm

Del