- Joined
- Apr 18, 2005
- Location
- Greensboro, NC
I made a run over to Chattanooga Sat, Feb 7th, to attend the SFWDA Leadership Meeting. Here are a few of the things that were talked about or brought up.
1) SFWDA is on top of the Tellico issue, as much as they can be. After attending the meeting and being briefed on the particulars, I feel like SFWDA is on the right track, spending our dues dollars wisely and is ready to respond to the Forest Service Environmental Assesment when and if it ever comes out. Publication of the EA, which was supposed to happen in Oct 2008, has now been pushed back until late Feb 2009 at the earliest. If you have read some of my other posts you know that I have been very critical of SFWDAs lack of communication on this issue and that leads to..........
2)There is a push on right now to improve the communication between SFWDA and it's membership. President Gary Parsons assured me he is taking this need seriously. The focus is mainly for SFWDA to reach out to the membership with information instead of just posting it on the web site or publishing it in the Trail Mix. SFWDA is working with the individual club officers to compile a master email list so that information can be passed directly from the BOD to individual members instead of relying on individual club officers to disseminate the info which sometimes falls through the cracks
3) SFWDA is also looking into several "benefits" for it's members. Some of the things being discussed are event discounts for SFWDA members for SFWDA events like Trail Fest and Dixie Run, business sponsor discounts and on line event registration. FREE admission to Sat and Sun the XRRA event at the May Trail Fest event at Gray Rock OHV in Alabama for Trail Fest registrants is the first of many such freebie/discounts.
4) SFWDA provides membership with legal representation in the fight to save our trails. ALL our trails, both public and private. It also provides it's members a voice in the United Four Wheel Drive Association which is a group of associations as associations are groups of clubs. It's the same as a group buy or emails to your government representatives; there is power in numbers.
5) Attendance and participation is down at SFWDA events as it is at ALL events around the country. This is a result of the general economic malise as well as general apathy. SFWDA needs us just as we need them. Ours is a symbionic relationship that requires that we support and defend each other. I suggest we all try to make it to at least one of the approximately 7 events SFWDA holds each year, from the Quarterly Meetings/Rides to the granddaddy event, Dixie Run.
1) SFWDA is on top of the Tellico issue, as much as they can be. After attending the meeting and being briefed on the particulars, I feel like SFWDA is on the right track, spending our dues dollars wisely and is ready to respond to the Forest Service Environmental Assesment when and if it ever comes out. Publication of the EA, which was supposed to happen in Oct 2008, has now been pushed back until late Feb 2009 at the earliest. If you have read some of my other posts you know that I have been very critical of SFWDAs lack of communication on this issue and that leads to..........
2)There is a push on right now to improve the communication between SFWDA and it's membership. President Gary Parsons assured me he is taking this need seriously. The focus is mainly for SFWDA to reach out to the membership with information instead of just posting it on the web site or publishing it in the Trail Mix. SFWDA is working with the individual club officers to compile a master email list so that information can be passed directly from the BOD to individual members instead of relying on individual club officers to disseminate the info which sometimes falls through the cracks
3) SFWDA is also looking into several "benefits" for it's members. Some of the things being discussed are event discounts for SFWDA members for SFWDA events like Trail Fest and Dixie Run, business sponsor discounts and on line event registration. FREE admission to Sat and Sun the XRRA event at the May Trail Fest event at Gray Rock OHV in Alabama for Trail Fest registrants is the first of many such freebie/discounts.
4) SFWDA provides membership with legal representation in the fight to save our trails. ALL our trails, both public and private. It also provides it's members a voice in the United Four Wheel Drive Association which is a group of associations as associations are groups of clubs. It's the same as a group buy or emails to your government representatives; there is power in numbers.
5) Attendance and participation is down at SFWDA events as it is at ALL events around the country. This is a result of the general economic malise as well as general apathy. SFWDA needs us just as we need them. Ours is a symbionic relationship that requires that we support and defend each other. I suggest we all try to make it to at least one of the approximately 7 events SFWDA holds each year, from the Quarterly Meetings/Rides to the granddaddy event, Dixie Run.
From what I have seen, the SELC/TU is serious about this and they have lots of data to back them up. Also, just like SFWDA, I don't think we have seen all their cards. IMO, we will know more and see some action when the FS releases it's EA plan, which should happen at any time. At that point there will be a 30 day comment period during which the FS will take comments from both sides and make their decision. I just hope we, wheelers, will step up to the challenge and provide rational, non emotional, incisive comments that will be taken seriously by the FS.