Do we still want to fight for "legal" places to ride?

[AmericanRobster]

ummm---just my two cents here.

Anyone think of pulling ALL Atv organizations into one state-level organization? There are so many local atv groups that even work together. Yes, whoever said that a few within NPORA have been working hard. yes! But I would not dismiss the efforts of others within other groups. I only found the list of those groups just from messing with Google recently. Man, that is a lot of atv clubs. Few clubs with only 5-7 ppl. Bring them into big ones! My guess is that everyone wants to do something but it's very hard to Pull Together and fight for riding areas when so many are so scattered across the state. Everybody's doing dandy in one way or another. Except for the no riding areas!

Look at it this way, anyone who watches Battlestar Galactica knows that the whole fleet answers to Galactica because that is the only battlestar that controls and protects the fleet. Each ship has a representative... get it?

So the big guns in the biggest organization can try to pull everyone in just to fight for riding areas. the Rally wasn't too big. I didn't go but hey, I could have. Bad date, bad turnout, whatever, but we can try next year, just put all clubs on notice to stop talking and DO IT. Then tallahase may notice. A letter writing campaign by all atv riders, spearheaded by the biggest club, maybe? Someone suggested that one on this thread. Good thought. Boycott ATV sales would be incredibly hard because we would only hurt ourselves?

Just my wee two cents......
 

Good point!

[EigerGuy]

so can somebody tell me what i can do in my area to help out

thank you

[anarion55]

It's not just about forming a local group - they have relatively little clout. What is needed is a unified organization that operates on a national, state and local level, and brings all the smaller groups under their umbrella. The ATVA comes to mind, as does the AMA.

They already have their agenda and projects in the works; by working with them, we avoid reinventing the wheel... Join & get active.

Tony
AMA AND ATVA member.

[DOITHARD]

It's not just about forming a local group - they have relatively little clout. What is needed is a unified organization that operates on a national, state and local level, and brings all the smaller groups under their umbrella. The ATVA comes to mind, as does the AMA.

They already have their agenda and projects in the works; by working with them, we avoid reinventing the wheel... Join & get active.

Tony
AMA AND ATVA member.

It's not just about forming a local group - they have relatively little clout. What is needed is a unified organization that operates on a national, state and local level, and brings all the smaller groups under their umbrella. The ATVA comes to mind, as does the AMA.

They already have their agenda and projects in the works; by working with them, we avoid reinventing the wheel... Join & get active.

Tony
AMA AND ATVA member

You have a very valid point...Ok, lets say that we are now members of those two organizations...then what? 

It's not just about forming a local group - they have relatively little clout. What is needed is a unified organization that operates on a national, state and local level, and brings all the smaller groups under their umbrella. The ATVA comes to mind, as does the AMA.

They already have their agenda and projects in the works; by working with them, we avoid reinventing the wheel... Join & get active.

Tony
AMA AND ATVA member.

You have a valid point....what are the costs to joining? and then what?

[EigerGuy]

You have a valid point....what are the costs to joining? and then what?

x2

[mudnuri]

I am a member of ATVA. They are working with the Blue Ribbon Coalition, but I don't know what they do for us 
I know this sounds funny coming from me, but if I join something that is supposed to help me and then they don't...   
I know I am required to join AMA/ATVA to race in some sanctioned events, but I still don't feel them helping us here in FL.
If they are then my apologies, but can't remember ever getting even a reply after emailing them for help. And have I emailed. You name it, I have emailed them. NO REPLY EVER! FROM ANYONE! This includes our congressman, our govenor, and Forest services. NEVER-NOT ONE REPLY.
They'll take my money, but thats about it.
I have been to meetings and it is, for the most part, a joke. Some person gets up on the high horse and says what we want to hear and then does the complete opposite. Or drive 4 hours each way to a meeting and the issue of OHV's NEVER comes up!!
We are fighting an uphill battle and if you don't get into this fight with some sort of legal back-up, it is my stong opinion, NOTHING WILL HAPPEN.
The way I see it, the only thing we have right now is this new ATV organization. However, without a lawyer, nothing is going to happen. SAD BUT TRUE!
I will donate to that org if there is some sort of plan that I can see/read. There has to be anywhere's from 500 to 1,000 of us on this site alone. With the right lawyer, those numbers will mean something. If someone smarter than me can get this ball rolling we may have a chance to at least get the MARK T. SCHMITT OHV law enforced. That law is already in place. Get our group to attack the state officials on this law and maybe we will get somewhere.
Complaining to each other is getting so old and does absolutely nothing.

[Gato]

I am a member of ATVA. They are working with the Blue Ribbon Coalition, but I don't know what they do for us 
I know this sounds funny coming from me, but if I join something that is supposed to help me and then they don't...   
I know I am required to join AMA/ATVA to race in some sanctioned events, but I still don't feel them helping us here in FL.
If they are then my apologies, but can't remember ever getting even a reply after emailing them for help. And have I emailed. You name it, I have emailed them. NO REPLY EVER! FROM ANYONE! This includes our congressman, our govenor, and Forest services. NEVER-NOT ONE REPLY.
They'll take my money, but thats about it.
I have been to meetings and it is, for the most part, a joke. Some person gets up on the high horse and says what we want to hear and then does the complete opposite. Or drive 4 hours each way to a meeting and the issue of OHV's NEVER comes up!!
We are fighting an uphill battle and if you don't get into this fight with some sort of legal back-up, it is my stong opinion, NOTHING WILL HAPPEN.
The way I see it, the only thing we have right now is this new ATV organization. However, without a lawyer, nothing is going to happen. SAD BUT TRUE!
I will donate to that org if there is some sort of plan that I can see/read. There has to be anywhere's from 500 to 1,000 of us on this site alone. With the right lawyer, those numbers will mean something. If someone smarter than me can get this ball rolling we may have a chance to at least get the MARK T. SCHMITT OHV law enforced. That law is already in place. Get our group to attack the state officials on this law and maybe we will get somewhere.
Complaining to each other is getting so old and does absolutely nothing.

2nd that

[jetski dawg]

about 10 or 15 yrs ago , the farmers got tired of the government screwing them over, so thousands of them drove their tractors to D.C. right in front of the white house.... this is what we need to do.. gather up the quads and get a permit to rally in Tally.. drive them right on the streets and show them that we need places to ride

[Paul_S]

about 10 or 15 yrs ago , the farmers got tired of the government screwing them over, so thousands of them drove their tractors to D.C. right in front of the white house.... this is what we need to do.. gather up the quads and get a permit to rally in Tally.. drive them right on the streets and show them that we need places to ride

The new Motoplex is 30 minutes from Tallahassee, we are talking about holding an event there in the fall, that combines a demonstration in Tallahasee with a weekend ride. Stay tuned for more info.

[AmericanRobster]

about 10 or 15 yrs ago , the farmers got tired of the government screwing them over, so thousands of them drove their tractors to D.C. right in front of the white house.... this is what we need to do.. gather up the quads and get a permit to rally in Tally.. drive them right on the streets and show them that we need places to ride

The new Motoplex is 30 minutes from Tallahassee, we are talking about holding an event there in the fall, that combines a demonstration in Tallahasee with a weekend ride. Stay tuned for more info.

Great idea!!!

[DOITHARD]

Great idea! 

[JackL]

about 10 or 15 yrs ago , the farmers got tired of the government screwing them over, so thousands of them drove their tractors to D.C. right in front of the white house.... this is what we need to do.. gather up the quads and get a permit to rally in Tally.. drive them right on the streets and show them that we need places to ride

The new Motoplex is 30 minutes from Tallahassee, we are talking about holding an event there in the fall, that combines a demonstration in Tallahasee with a weekend ride. Stay tuned for more info.

[riverranchrat]

truth be known,every ATVer is a "closet treehugger" whether they know it or not