THE NATIONAL ADVOCATE Winter 2015 | Equal Access Quarterly
• 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 Motor- sporst 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 daunt- ing 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 rec- reation. 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 Mel- nicoff 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/Op- eration 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 Ad- ministration, (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 volun- teer 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
FROst bitten 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 Janu- ary 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, espe- cially 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 im- portant 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 com- munities. 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 com- munities that have lost more traditional sources of revenue such as timber, mining and agriculture. This make snow- mobile 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 fund- ing 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 ac- cess 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 criti- cal 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 col- labrotive 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 op- portunity 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 under- standing 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 Motorcy- clists Association (AMA) offers Racing Opportu- nities 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 start- ed at an AMA sanctioned race. You can learn more about AMA racing at:
http://www.american- motorcyclist.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 stan- dards 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 rul- ing 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 archaeol- ogist 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 law- suit 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 meth- ods 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 discus- sion 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 meet- ing 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 W INTER E VENT C ALENDAR
Jan 30-Feb 6 - King of the Hammers, Johnson Valley, CA Feb 13-15 Monster Jam Trucks, Roanoke, VA; Worchester, MA; Hampton, VA; Salt Lake City, UT; Oklahoma City, OK; Jan 30- Feb 1 - International Motorcycle Show, Cleveland, OH 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, Feb 16-17 Ride and Drive (RAD) Expo, Quartzsite, AZ Dayton, OH Feb 19-22 International Sportsmen’s Expositions Show, Jan 31 - 4x4 Training - Tire Repair / Hi-Lift mini Clinic, Haw- Phoenix, AZ thorne, CA Feb 20-Mar 1 Rally America Rally in the 100 Acre Wood, Jan 31 – Monster Jam Trucks, Houston, San Diego, New Salem, MO Orleans, St. Louis Feb 20-22 Cal4 Wheel Annual CA4WDC convention, Visalia, Jan 31 - Supercross # 5, Anaheim, CA CA
Feb 5-8 - BITD Parker 425, Parker, AZ 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 20-21 SNORE, King Shocks Battle at Primm, Primm, Feb 6-8 Monster Jam Trucks, MO, IL, NY, WA 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 Mas- Feb 21-22 Coyne Powersports UTV Series- The King of the sacre, El Centro, CA 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 21-22 4x4 Training – Getting Started Off-Road Driving, Feb 7 4 Wheeler Supply Rock & Ramped, Cave Creek, AZ Borrego Springs, CA
Feb 7 4x4 Training – Getting Started Off-Road Driving, Gorman, Feb 21 SRRS BattleFest Hot Springs ORV Park, AR CA 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 26-Mar 1 Speed Energy Formula Off-Road by TRAXXAS Feb 8 4 Aces Desert Scramble Red Mountain, CA w/V8 SuperCars Street – Australia, Adelaide SA, Australia
Feb 8 4x4 training – Day 2 Getting Started Driving Off-Road, Feb 27-Mar 1 WORCS Round 3, Peoria, AZ Mojave, CA Feb 27-Mar 1 Monster Jam Trucks, Tucson, AZ; Balti- Feb 13-15 International Motorcycle Show, Chicago, IL more, MD, Nampa, ID; Wilkes Barre, PA; Macon, GA; Biloxi, MS; Tupelo, MS; Detroit, MI Feb 13-15 Desert Bloom Rally, Quartzsite, AZ
Page 11 W INTER E VENT C ALENDAR
Feb 28-Mar 1 ASCC Lucas Oil Off Road Series Rounds 1 & 2, Mar 14-15 Coyne Powersports UTV Series – Full Trottle 100, Chandler, AZ El Centro, CA
Feb 28 4x4 Training – Sand Off-Road Driving, Pismo Beach, Mar 14 4x4 Training – Getting Started Off-Road Driving, Gor- CA Feb 28 Supercross #9, Atlanta, GA man, 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 6-15 Daytona Bike Week, Daytona, FL Mar 19-22 Arizona Rocks, Parker, AZ
Mar 6-8 53rd Annual Tierra Del Sol Desert Safari, Salton Mar 19-21 Jeep Jamboree, Llano, TX Sea, CA 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; Mar 20-21 LOORS Rounds 1&2, Lake Elsinore, CA Tulsa, OK Mar 21 STI QuadX & UTV Racing Series, Round 2, Glen Helen, Mar 6-7 WERock West Series #1, Congress, AZ 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 26-28 Monster Jam Trucks World Finals XVI, Las Vegas, Mar 7 Supercross #10, Daytona Beach, FL 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, Mar 28-29 Motion Pro Nevada “200” Trail Ride, Caliente, NV WA Mar 27-29 Speed Energy Formula Off-Road by TRAXXAS w/ Mar 8 4x4 Training- Winching Clinic, Borrego Springs, CA 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 Mar 28-29 VORRA Spring Short Course Series #1, Prairie City, UT 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 partici- pate 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 ac- cess. 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, opportu- nity 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. His expectation was easy to see. OHV people wore I WANT AN ASSOCIATION THAT orange jackets with patches, are stubborn and voted republican. We had a different approach and DOES NOT HAVE TO BEG FOR the conversation yield an amazing result, progress. When I returned to Washington DC a year later it MONEY FROM THE VERY PEOPLE IT was to meet with one of the most powerful lobby’s in DC. It was this experience that solidified my under- IS SERVING. standing 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 deliv- ered 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 partici- pated 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 Our industry comes to the rescue when it comes to funding. Quietly, the manufactures, retail out- lets 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 as- LET’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 pound- • A SINGULAR ORGANIZED NATIONAL VOICE. ing on tables and making demands have not yielded positive results for our EST USE OF THE LIMITED FUNDING • B . community. Our small victories pale • BUILDS A LIBRARY OR RESOURCE OF BEST in comparison to the massive offense PRACTICES TO HELP REGIONAL TRAIL ADVO- against motorized recreation, but we are making progress. Attending meet- CATES . ings and sending email blasts with no • BUILDING A RELATIONSHIP WITH STATE AND clear objective is not saving our trails. FEDERAL LEGISLATORS. By the time meetings are scheduled, the choreographed outcome is set in AINTAINS AN OFFICE AND STAFF IN THE • M motion. If we are going to reverse the LOCATIONS POLICY IS BEING MADE. wave of closures we must try some- thing 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 organiza- tion? COMPETITION AMA DISTRIC 37 PROMOTES YOUTH RACING SERIES
“I have been a big proponent of develop- ing 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 Promoting family fun is a big priority in the California Klein. Mason is 12 and Carter 10. Mason runs Desert, and the AMA District 37 wants to share the the #1 plate in super mini and Carter the #3 plate excitement of offroad racing with the next generation in mini. These classes run together. This pic was of motorcycle riders. Learn more about District 37 taken in the pits following the Jan 2015 National AMA Offroad Racing : District37AMA.ORG 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 try- ing to console his older brother. This picture could not more accurately describe what this series is all about.
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 co- ordinated 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 recog- nition 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 Sierra Trek Lamp Liter Inn, Visalia, CA Meadow Lake, Tahoe National Forest near Truckee February 20-22, 2015 California Win-a-Jeep giveaway Feb 21, 2015 August 6-9, 2015
Molina Ghost Run High Sierra Poker Run Hollister Hills State Vehicle Recreation Area, Hollis- High Sierra Ranger District, Sierra National Forest ter, CA near Shaver Lake California May 8-10, 2015 September 4-7, 2015
Hi Desert Round-Up Operation Desert Fun Slash X Cafe and Stoddard Valley Off-Highway Vehicle Ocotillo Wells State Vehicle Recreation Area Area October 16-17, 2015 May 22-25, 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 MESSAGE TO THE CALIFORNIA STATE CAPITAL ON MARCH 22-23, 2015
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 Stakehold- er 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 pos- sible 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 en- vironmental 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 conclu- sions. 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 objec- tive 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 cre- ated 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 na- tional 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 volun- teered 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 stakehold- ers 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 Organi- zation 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 dem- onstrate 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 be- yond 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 market- place 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 non- members—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 in- dustry/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 ex- plosive 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. continued next page Page 23 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. Organiza- tions 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 organiza- tions 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 or- ganizations 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 find- ing new ways to serve their mission and their paid members simultaneously—these organizations are thriv- ing. 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 arti- cles 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 Speak- ers 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. Dur- ing 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 mem- bers 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 achiev- ing 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 cur- rent 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 webi- nar 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 Jambo- rees; 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. ey have created the program in a way that makes it simple to apply and get funds for key projects around the country. is is another great example of how industry gives back and provides opportunity for orga- nized O -Highway Vehicle users to protect and enhance their favorite recreation area. e O -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 bene t from an exciting SEMA Garage Project. e auction was held at the January Barrett-Jackson event in Arizona. All of the proceeds from the Jeeps auction will go to bene t 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 ad- ditional 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 coali- tion 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, repre- sents 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 Washing- ton 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 hun- dred 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 dimin- ished 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