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UFWDA eNews April 2016
Welcome to another edition of eNews, you'll note directly below is some information about the July AGM. UFWDA is in a good position to grow our advocacy role for four wheeling but... we need people to help us deliver. With the use of the internet, we no longer need to spend time and money to attend meetings, so volunteers for roles within UFWDA are freed from that... we do still meet, it's just much simpler!
We're even willing to split roles up if we get enough volunteers and it helps to reduce the perceived workload. If you've marketing or public relations skills, we'd really enjoy your help to get our message out.
president@ufwda.org
Your input of topical material for each eNews is still vital, so please keep UFWDA and our readers informed by emailing to
editor@ufwda.org |
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UFWDA Annual Meeting
The date for the 2016 Annual Meeting has been set for the evening of Thursday 28 July and conducted as an interactive online webinar. Registration for the webinar will be needed.
The Annual Meeting is when we elect our directors and to oversee the nominations, we need to assemble a 'nominations committee'. If members are interested in participating in that committee, please now contact
president@ufwda.org
Of course for that committee to have a purpose, we need nominations for the Directors roles. An important role but currently vacant, is the public relations director. Want to make a difference to four wheeling, then step up now.
Award winners are also announced and UFWDA now
invite nominations from organizations for the Jack Edwards Award, Four Wheeler of the Year, Environmental Affairs Four Wheeler of the Year and the Conservation Volunteer Award.
Nominations to be received by 8 July 2016 to
treasurer@ufwda.org
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Secretary Jewell Announces an Economic Study on Outdoor Recreations
The federal government can do our part by spending our money wisely, encouraging public-private partnerships and inspiring volunteer service, which fosters a deep personal connection to public lands and has become essential in supporting our visitors.
We can also do a better job of capturing the value of public lands.
Now, I’m not talking about the value of hearing the quiet of the night pierced by the howl of wolves that once again roam Yellowstone. Or the value of feeling the first rays of sun while catching the sunrise on Cadillac Mountain in Acadia. Or the value of seeing your grandchild try in vain to wrap his little arms around the old growth trees in the Pacific Northwest.
There are some things you can’t put a price tag on.
But by producing credible data on the tangible economic benefits of public lands, we can help the public and Members of Congress better understand the benefits of investing in them.
That’s why, today, I’m pleased to announce that we will work with the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis to produce an independent study on what impact outdoor recreation has on our nation’s economy. Hunting, boating, hiking, OHVing, wildlife viewing, and other outdoor activities are so closely tied to the health and accessibility of our public lands, yet this sector has, for too long, been overlooked and undervalued.
Industry estimates show that consumer spending for outdoor recreation is almost equal to pharmaceuticals and motor vehicles and parts combined – and yet the federal government has never fully recognized or quantified these benefits.
We want to know the impact of everything from buying gear, to hiring a guide, to renting hotel rooms in gateway communities. This project is the start of a multi-year effort to quantify these contributions in a comprehensive and impartial way.
So today, we are putting America’s outdoor economy on equal footing with every other major economic sector. This fast-growing economic powerhouse deserves to be counted.
I’d like to thank the bipartisan group of Members in the House and Senate for championing this issue.
Click ...
For more on the outdoor economic report
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Tidewater Four-Wheelers Donate to UFWDA; Thank you!
It is with great pleasure that Tidewater Four-Wheelers present the Association with a
donation of $1,000. This money was raised as part of the VA4WDA Annual Trail Ride that
Tidewater Four-Wheelers have hosted now lor 23 years.
The trail ride consists of two days of wheeling at Oak Ridge Estate. That also includes
camping for three nights, a band on Friday night plus dinner and a large raflle Saturday night to wrap things up.
Each year we have around 200 registered vehicles on the trails on Friday arid
Saturday, barring any breakage on Friday, 95% ol the time other registered participants assist in repairing the vehicle with parts or mechanic skills lor the next day.
On Saturday after a long day of wheeling everyone is provided a hot meal to gather for
an entertaining two to four hours for the Big Raffle. 85% ol the items raffled off are donated by business sponsors or VA4WDA member dubs. The Board of Directors for VA4WDA man the ticket wheel, present the raffle prizes and even get to man the microphone. After the raffIe is over, most gather around the campfire for fun and great stories of conquering obstacles during the trail ride and other wheeling adventures
Jesse L Schneirla
Tidewater President |
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Recreational Trails Program
Ever wonder how the trails we all enjoy get built and where some of the money comes from? Well, one of the funding programs is the Recreational Trails Program, managed by the US Federal Highway Administration. This user-pay/user-benefit program has created or improved nearly 21,000 trail projects since it began in 1993!
Read the 2014 report and learn more.
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/recreational_trails/overview/report/2014/report_2014.pdf
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UFWDA on Facebook
You can find UFWDA in several places on Facebook but one page managed by Jerry Smith, the UFWDA Environmental Director, has an 'access' focus
https://www.facebook.com/UFWDA
T here is also the UFWDA '
group' page' with information.
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Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival
Not a fan of waiting in lines?
Pre-register by May 8th!
Less one month left before pre-registration ends! Don't waste valuable Jeepin' time at on-site registration or miss out on activities if they reach capacity! Click the button below to register now.
Packets are sent out at the end of May so if you pre-register, you'll already have everything you need to start your Jeep weekend before you even arrive.
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Our Online Store is Now Open! Head to the online store to order your favorite Bantam apparel as well as reserve tickets for our Bantam Breakfast and Great Pig Out! Click on the banner above for the online store!
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Deadline Approaching for Trail Day!
We know you love to wheel your Jeeps through the off-road trails, but have you ever wanted to learn to trail guide or improve skills you already have? We're looking for more trail guides to help out during the event and perhaps you can join our team! We'll be holding Trail Guide Training at Coopers Lake Campground on April 23 and at Rausch Creek Off-Road Park on May 22. These training days will include:
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hands-on instruction to trail guiding and trail education
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technical skills in recovery and spotting
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4WD driving and in-field repair
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trail clean-up and trail rides
Our volunteer trail guides receive lots of great benefits, including free Festival activities. For more information and to register for trail days, please
complete this form and return to
Assistant@Bantam.org. The On-site Offroad Trails are sponsored by
Rugged Ridge and coordinated by
Rausch Creek Off-Road Park. Deadline to turn in forms is April 17th!
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SEMA Responds to EPA Decision on
Racecar Regulation
SEMA President and CEO Chris Kersting released the following reaction to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) announcement that it would withdraw its proposed regulation on modified racecars:
“We want to thank Congress for pushing EPA to withdraw an ill-conceived proposal. However, confusion reigns: the agency continues to assert new-found authority under the Clean Air Act to regulate modification of vehicles for use in competition. This means that those converting and racing competition vehicles, and the parts and services industries that support them, do so under new EPA policy that considers the activity illegal. Only clarifying legislation, such as that offered under the RPM Act, will confirm that such activity is legal and beyond the reach of future EPA regulations. The racing industry and public need a long-term solution to eliminate any uncertainty regarding how the Clean Air Act is interpreted."
Tell Congress to stop the EPA from outlawing our racecars — it only takes a minute:
SIGN THE LETTER
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A Citizens' Guide to Forest Planning
Forest Service has released "A Citizens' Guide to Forest Planning". The document was prepared by the Committee for Implementation of the Forest Service Planning Rule.
The Forest Service, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), is currently revising many of its land management plans across the country. Often referred to as “forest plans,” these documents guide the stewardship of an important part of our national heritage—the National Forest System—by creating a “big picture” view of how a national forest will be managed.
The purpose of this Citizens’ Guide is to help you understand the forest plan revision process and your opportunities for working with the Forest Service to help determine the future of this important national legacy.
More detail at....
http://www.4x4wire.com/discussions/a-citizens-guide-to-forest-planning-released
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United Four Wheel Drive Associations Inc.
PO Box 316
Swartz Creek
MI 48473
The deadline for contributions to UFWDA eNews, is the 10th of each month.
Please send materials to
editor@ufwda.org
To use materials from UFWDA eNews, please acknowledge the source.
UFWDA eNews is collated from many sources and may not represent nor constitute endorsement by UFWDA Inc.
Copyright United Four Wheel Drive Associations 2016
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