Interesting.....

[Prairie Master]

Found this today anyone going to it ?

http://www.fl-dof.com/calendar/2006_ohv_may_wkshop.html

[Ida_Mann]

they do this on a workday when most if not all of the people who ride are unable to attend due to work schedules?

Id@

[Prairie Master]

Think I might try to attend

[gery350]

The workshop objectives are to:

Review Florida sales of off-highway motorcycles and ATVs, rider demographics, and safety training programs

Review general and Florida specific needs and desires of OHV and other recreation publics

Review current county, state and federal laws, policies, regulations and planning efforts and their impact on OHV management and development in Florida

Improve the development, planning, design, construction, maintenance, and management of OHV trail areas, facilities and systems in order to:

Better meet local, county, state and federal requirements
Reduce liability

Minimize impacts and improve conservation of natural and cultural resources

Reduce conflict between recreational, community and environmental interest groups
Better meet the needs and desires of the OHV and other recreation publics



minimize impact-might as well say "ya'll aint ridin here no-mo"

notice how our needs and desires are at the end of the discussion.

[Ida_Mann]

notice how our needs and desires are at the end of the discussion.

did you expect any different?

sounds like a made-up "conference" that will have about 10 people show up so that they can actually say that they had a workshop on it and discussed other opinions.

cynical I am.

Id@

[Prairie Master]

Maybe some of us should make an effort to show up for a portion of it. instead of complaining about riding areas. looks like a great way to let them know of our concerns on riding and ranger attitudes. Maybe we can come up with a plan which show monthly or bi monthly trail work days.

[renmus]

http://www.atvflorida.com/forum/index.php/topic,8607.0.html

It is also interesting that this is one of several meetings that have been or are scheduled.  Check the report of the meeting the above post notes so you can go prepared.

[Prairie Master]

ATV Florida should become more scructured as Group maybe go to lengths as a Northwest Florida Chapter, North East Florida Chapter, Central Florida Chapter, and Southern Florida Chapter. By splitting the state into local chapters people will not have to go very far to attend meetings, which will mean more people attending club functions and thus helping moving our cause forward.   just my .02 

[Prairie Master]

Glad to see everyones so interested in saving our riding area's 

[SkyHighT100]

Unfortunately, I'm going to have to say 'Get used to it' Prairie. Some of us have typed out ideas until our fingers hurt, and talked until we were blue in the face... but everytime with no one stepping up to the plate and actually making a move. The riding community as whole is obviously getting pretty weak because all everyone keeps doing is just watching riding areas disappear. FTR is a huge orgainization... I wonder if they know about this meeting???

[Prairie Master]

Well I'll  step up to the plate for this area of florida Northeast section maybe some others can for the rest

[indianjoe]

I'm going to have to respond to this...SKyHigh I agree totally with your comment about  typing and people getting involved I have seen that many places concerning ATV issues.

I want to address a couple of comments, Jack Terrell, who is on the board for the Florida Trail Riders is part of the OHV Comm. and part of putting this school conference or whatever you want to call it together.

"The purpose of the Workshop is to conduct an educational forum on off-highway vehicle recreation management for Florida local, county, state and federal land management decision makers, recreation planners, resource specialists, and leadership representatives from OHV recreation and other stakeholder communities."

If you read the above paragraph from the post about it, the comm. is trying to bring together the decision makers from local, county, government and other  enities who might want to consider opening a riding area. This bty far is not meant as to slam riders. They are putting together a forum to show these decision makers that OHV recreation is good and it can be done and how to do it. This hopefully will result in more riding areas being opened. I leanred this from attending an OHV Comm. meeting where they spoke about this. This is not geared for ATV enthusiast they are trying to bring in the people who could make more riding areas happen and educate them on how to do it and that ATV riders are great.

I applaud what they are trying to do and help it will open the eyes of the  people who can make more riding areas happen.

I suggest if you have any land in your area that possibly could be used for this owned by a local government enity, get with the head or recreational director, parks director get them interested in attending.

[indianjoe]

Hey somebody might know a private landowner who might be thinking about this and this forum would help them to open a new riding area..so if you know someone like that get them to go to this forum.