Jan 2015 Volume 6, Issue 1 Wow, where has the year gone? As you read this January has arrived for some of us with a “Bang.” A year in my new job at Chevron has come and gone and been a good learning year. Speaking of Chevron, I will continue to log the hours I spend working for BRC and Chevron will match every 20 hours with a $500 grant. Unfortunately, they will only give a max of $1000 per organizations, for 40 hours. I will spend much more than that as the President of BRC. I am looking forward to the New Year and the challenges that come with it. Some of these challenges will include what events that we can attend to represent BlueRibbon Coalition as the President, and other trips for fun with my lovely wife. At BRC we will have our usual challenges also with working to hire a new Executive Director (this task maybe complete by the time you read this). Staying focused on land use issues across the nation. As we work to get the new Executive Director upto-speed on things that BRC does, it will be important for him/her to learn
more of the inner workings of BRC and our public lands department. There are many parts of land use and access that BRC tracks, to include upcoming Travel Management rules, Sage Grouse issues on the West Coast. All of these issues are tracked here: http://www.BlueRibbonCoalition.Or g One of my many goals as President of BRC will be to work to increase our membership across the country. If you have ideas on how we can increase our membership, please let me know at brtodd_o@sharetrails.org. With the price of oil down significantly, I am hearing of more people headed out to recreate on our nations trails and public lands. More people are traveling to further destinations with the lower price of gasoline. I think as long as the price of fuel remains low, more people will venture further than in years past. My buddy Del has been playing with creating videos lately. He is getting
good at these too. Here are the links to a couple of them: Letter writing: North American Motorized Recreation Council: The American Bantam Jeep Story: Great information from Del Albright about things that we all need to know. Thanks Del. I know the shopping season is over, but here is a way to help BRC. The Amazon Smile program. They will donate a portion of every sale you make on Amazon to BRC when you pick BRC as your charity of choice. http://smile.amazon.com/ Help us help you share your trails! Be in the fight. OTOGAA Todd Ockert Editor Recreation Nation
Nv – BLM extends comment period Coastal OHV Park
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San Juan National Forest TMP for OHV’s Roughneck Rendezvous
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BRC Membership Application Signs as Communication Tools About Indiana 4WDA
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AA Links
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Navigating the Legislative Terrain UFWDA Membership application Win an Off-Road Trailer – Cal4Wheel Events & Staff
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Empowering Kids for a Motorized Future Kids in the outdoors -- such a crucial part of the future of outdoor recreation. The Wilderness Society, Sierra Club and about every other enviro/eco organization has a focused youth program designed to get kids outside with an indoctrination towards protecting, preserving but not really "using" our resources. Look but don't really touch. Then those of us who love motors and exploring by vehicle have to compete with electronics, video games, ear buds, pods and pads, we have a few OHV groups with great programs for kids, for sure! But I don't think nearly enough. We have to find ways to empower our children to enjoy, use smartly, conserve
wisely, appreciate, and yet be able to ensure a future of access for all. There is a difference in youth involvement between the various motorized sports. Dirt bikers get their kids on a machine nearly as soon as the little one can walk. Hero-worship sets in early for motorbikers too, as their sport is full of champions, races, and heroes. Plus, the kids can go out and ride before they have a license. Four-wheelers have a different path for kids. The kids get to ride; a few might drive under careful supervision in controlled circumstances, but for the most part, for a kid, it's being an "observer" rather than a participant. That doesn't invoke the same commitment and enthusiasm for the
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sport as a dirt biking kid. So we have to find ways to empower our kids, treat them to fun, and show them the excitement, while teaching them our common sense ways of using public lands. You can good samples of kids programs at http://www.nohvcc.org, http://www.treadlightly.org; and other big associations. Just do a search and see what you come up with for your kids. If you were to share a group with a great kids/youth program, who would that be? http://delalbright.blogspot.com/2014/ 12/empowering-kids-for-motorizedfuture.html Reprinted with permission from Del Albright.
YOUTH IS THE FUTURE OF MOTORIZED OUTDOOR RECREATION LET'S GET THEM OUTSIDE!