I say it is time to Protest.

[qt314nfla]

FYI:  I have been to Washington and met w/ most of the senators and congress ppl to politic chiropractic laws and bills.  I'm not just some idiot w/o a clue.

Did someone call you an idiot

No one called me an idiot.  I was just sharing a little info about myself that would let everyone know that I have done some work in this area.  So that if anyone wanted to use my experience to help the cause they know 'I've been there done that.' 

[TRX350_On_The_Rack]

FYI:  I have been to Washington and met w/ most of the senators and congress ppl to politic chiropractic laws and bills.  I'm not just some idiot w/o a clue.

Did someone call you an idiot

No one called me an idiot.  I was just sharing a little info about myself that would let everyone know that I have done some work in this area.  So that if anyone wanted to use my experience to help the cause they know 'I've been there done that.' 

Good, because it sounds like you know what your talking about to me. Appreciate any help you can give

[zilla954]

As I remember from the OHV meeting in April, several state officials made it known that money was there.  But it is not just handed out to anyone.  We have to press our local officials, and get them to request the money.  State or Fed money does us no good if it isn't requested.  Our fight needs to start on local levels.

JBBJ220, I think there was mention of opening the area surrounding one of the military bases, but I'm not sure which one.  I do remember it being a nice chunk of land, but there are also rules that will regulate how close to the base we can ride.  There has to be a buffer zone.

By the way, there was another dealer present at the meeting, just not as vocal as our friend JD.  He was the owner of Palmetto Motorsports

[qt314nfla]

If we could start by getting a list of ppl that are willing to accept the idea of committing to doing some research.  That would get us going.  My suggestions are as follows:

Research and put together numbers and info on other states that have riding parks.  Road blocks that we keep running against.  Such as insurance, destruction of land, environmental impact issues and reports.  Other states I'm sure have run into some of these show stoppers that we are up against.  So why recreate the wheel.

We have the T. Mark Schmidt law that was passed by Busch in 2002.  There was a committee that was doing work on finding land.  We need to contact the committee members that did this work and see what info we can get from them on this issue.  Things such as the environmental and insurance issues that are specific to this state and our particular road block.

It would be useful to contact the owners of the atv shops in our counties.  Find out what if any information they have.  Also, find out their stand point and if they would be willing to help the cause when we get one organized. 

It may be useful to contact all ATV and off road magazines for any information they have that could be useful.  Also, ask them if they would be interrested in backing our cause.

Create a database of ATV shops, attorney's, riders, and anyone else interrested in truely helping the cause. 

Find out how to get the T. Mark Schmidt law back into the political eye so we can use it to our benefit.  Find out if we need to go about creating any bills to support this law.

These are just a few suggestions.  I may be recreating the wheel because I haven't gone through and read the whole thread.  If we can get organized, create a plan, and delegate this research in small bits to ppl that are truely willing to offer their time we can get some numbers and statistics.  The government responds to numbers.  They also can't vote or speak on behalf of or against our issues because there is nothing on the table with regards to our issues that is currently open.

We need to open up some of these things.  Find out how to get the T. Mark Schmidt law on the roll again.

I know there is alot of talk about how we do impact the environment where we ride.  And let's be honest the trails through ONF were created by ATV's.  I also know that Florida with it's rainfall has an amazing way of regenerating itself when left alone.  A simple solution for ONF or other riding areas would be to open the Northern half of the riding area for half the year and the Southern half the other 6 months.  In the 6 month down time w/o riders on the land it should have enough time to rejuvenate itself.

Just my .02 if anyone has anything different to add please do.

[backinsaddle]

QT314Nfla: I agree with your posts.  There are many ways to get our concerns and issues in the public eye and addressed, many of which have been discussed in this forum, in this thread and others, and certainly on many forums on other websites.  It's also discussed among other outdoor powersport users - i.e dirtbikes, trucks/jeeps, water sports, etc. 

I subscribe to, or go to the bookstore and buy, pretty much every atv magazine that's published every month.  Most of them talk about land use issues regularly.  This is not a new issue, it's been happening here and in other states for a lot of years.  My parents talk about the same issues they had 30 years ago riding snowmobiles out in the country in the middle of nowhere, where you wouldn't expect to have problems.

Success lies in cooporation and working with all the parties that have a vested interest (i.e. gov't, homeowners, environmentalists, etc.).  The most effective way to do that is through organization.  This is not a fast process.  It takes years of patience, and more importantly commitment.  The good news, however, is lots of other people have already done it, and there's lots of information available for the gathering. 

Your idea makes sense to me to start doing research on the topic and gathering information and see how that helps and what can be done with the information that is found.  One step at a time.  At some point this group would have to begin thinking about a formal organization with a board of directors, regular meetings with minutes, etc. etc.  While this is not required, we probably won't get serious acceptance as an organization by the gov't, environmentalist, etc. until doing so.  Another purpose doing so would have is to more formally commit members to contribute, show up to meetings, etc.

Having said all of that, I would be willing talk to Jack Terrell at Florida Trail Riders (http://www.floridatrailriders.org).  To quote their website: "Jack...currently serves as chairman of the OHV Recreation Program Advisory Committee that advises Florida Division of Forestry on the management of the Florida OHV Recreation Program."  I think he would be a great source of info that can give a lot of direction.  This is a group that has already taken the above steps, and is THE group that is currently working with the state and all other parties regarding off road use in development of a plan for the future.  If someone elso on this website already has a relationship with Jack and would like to make an introduction for me, that would be great.

I would also be willing to research and assemble the following:

Research and put together numbers and info on other states that have riding parks.  Road blocks that we keep running against.  Such as insurance, destruction of land, environmental impact issues and reports.  Other states I'm sure have run into some of these show stoppers that we are up against.  So why recreate the wheel.

It may be useful to contact all ATV and off road magazines for any information they have that could be useful.  Also, ask them if they would be interrested in backing our cause.

If I were to do so, my next question would be, what do we do with all this info?  Way to much to publish and discuss on a website forum.  It took long enough just typing this thread.  I can't imagine how long it would take to summarize volumes of information into digestible bits, and then try to make next step decisions.  Other people need to start committing, and before very long, I think we would need to start having regularly scheduled meetings of some sort.

One last thing to think about - as mentioned, there are power in numbers.  There are a lot of people with the same issue outside of this website forum and within Florida.  We should start thinking about very early on how to work with the other groups out there, such as FTR, or FL-ATV.com (to name 2 of many), and figure out how to leverage into a combined effort.

While I am hopeful we can do something as a group, I think you best stated the reality:

Of the 2K on here I'm sure there will only be 5 that actually put up.

...we'll see.

[TRX350_On_The_Rack]

Let's do it QT314Nfla! I'm willing to help.

[MuddyGurl101]

So am I.

[redrider]

The friendliest people are quad people

[qt314nfla]

Ok, here it is: 
I am starting a list of anyone who is interresting in donating their time to doing some research. 

We need to make a list of all the parks we can find in the US.  Once the list is compiled we can delegate different parks to the ppl that have comitted to do the research.

It would be useful for someone to come up with a list of standard questions and concerns for the owners of these parks.  So that who ever does the calling knows what to ask.

Bellman in KY has offered some information on his park that I have saved in a file.

I agree that having a committee and meeting is a great idea but it is not practical with all of us spread over the state.  I think the best way to communicate will be to get an email and phone list.  In effect w/o actually having a meeting delegate a committee.  Each committee will handle, delegate, and compile information received from it's list of ppl.  Use the email list and phone list to contact one another.

Let me know how I can be of help with the commitee, research, organization and I will take on the job.  I will try to put together an outline in a more organized fashion of what needs to be done and who's doing what. 

[qt314nfla]

Ok, after many hours of work today I have put together the list of people that have said they'd be interrested in committing some time to this research.  Please be aware that you don't have to be an adult to get involved.  You kids on summer break are welcome to pitch in, too.  There are things that you could help us with.  The list is as follows:

QT314Nfla
backinsaddle
- Palmetto Motorsports
TRX350_0n_The_Rack
   -ATV Dealers Rick Case, Motorsports of Fort Lauderdale, Riva Powersports
Muddygurl101
Zilla954
Jbbj220
JD (dealer) all terrain of florida
Bellman
Dreth
YFZ450AndyH
HondaBeaterSFL –comment on making this well thought out
MotoMike

I used this thread to get the names listed.  I need further contact information like phone numbers, actual names, and email addresses to complete a data base.

I have also read this entire thread and have created an outline of action.  For anyone interrested I will email or post it.  First we need to look at the outline and finish organizing it.  Create committee's w/ subcommittee members.  Each of the sub members will be delegated a project.  When done with the project they will e-mail their report to the committee head.  The committee heads will compile all of the information received into an over view report.

Any other suggestions or am I going over board?

[backinsaddle]

Sounds perfect...count me in.

[americanhighlander]

  puting  more flyers on clipboard wall out next week.

to get people come this site.for  people atv that ride atvs.

 

[TRX350_On_The_Rack]

I'll PM you my info QT314Nfla

[MuddyGurl101]

"Committee’s" need to be by county

[jbbj220]

QT314Nfla, I PM'ed you. Let me know what you need.

   Jim,

[americanhighlander]

i have done  some  flyers i put in lake city.next couple weeks I will past  some more flyers out to some other cities when i go visting or shopping at mall or somewhere.

[MuddyGurl101]

For those of you that have been getting emails, we were talking about using a chat room to hold a e-meeting. The website for the chat room is http://www.chatzy.com/758697970999.

The room name is ATV Chat
Password is Muddy

Check it out! And let me know what you all think. Does anybody have an idea on a date. I was thinking the beginning to the middle of next month. What time of the day and day is good for everyone?

The good thing about this chat is that I can save what is written and anyone that misses it will get a copy. Please get your ideas together and we will get these meetings on the road.

[backinsaddle]

E-meeting with chat sounds good to me.  I wasn't able to access the website from work, hopefully I can from home.

[MuddyGurl101]

That's weird I am at work and I can get to it. I was thinking Saturday, July 9th around 11:30? Does that sound good to everyone?

[backinsaddle]

That's weird I am at work and I can get to it. I was thinking Saturday, July 9th around 11:30? Does that sound good to everyone?

I think our internet blocker software at work isn't letting me in.  I'll try from home.  I'll have to check the calendar for July 9th.  Unless my wife has something important planned, it will probably work for me.

[MuddyGurl101]

Ok everyone that plans to come needs to give me there email address so I can send you an invite and it will be easier to get in.

[jbbj220]

MuddyGurl101, I sent you a pm with my e-mail address.

    jim,

[jwscroll]

Toys for tots seems to be a way to generate some good news.

[TRX350_On_The_Rack]

Sorry guys, chat is not going to work for me. A private forum would be fine or something along those lines.

[MuddyGurl101]

Sorry guys, chat is not going to work for me. A private forum would be fine or something along those lines.

Why can't you do chat?