For those of you that are familiar with Squares/Bad Luck, in a meeting that was held in Naples, FL on January 5th, a group called the "Florida Outdoor Alliance" made an announcement that a new web site was being created to provide us with details and updates.  If you are interested in learning more about the status and what you can do to save Squares/Bad Luck, please click on the following link...

www.savebadluck.com

The web site is finally on-line and in the coming weeks, additional information will be added to this site.  If you have any questions at all, you can reach Brian McMahon (President - Florida Outdoor Alliance) at bmcmahon@savebadluck.com!  Let's get out there and fight for what is ours!!!

I just got back from the Squares/Bad Luck Rally that was being held on Everglades Blvd. just South of I-75.  We had a great turn out with as much as 200 riders picketing with signs.  The people that hosted the rally were passing out flyers with contact information along with paper and pens (to create letters).  As for the media, only a reporter showed up from the Naples Daily Newspaper.

This was definitely a great start, but we still have a lot of work ahead of us.  If we want to make ourselves known in South Florida, we need to organize a parade of vehicles and trailers and head out to our local government offices and courthouses.  The people of our communities need to hear our story and we need to show our politicians that we are pissed off with their actions.  Just remember, for every letter and/or e-mail message that we send to their offices, it counts for 10 votes (example: 10 Letters = 100 Votes).

Let's get out there and swamp these politicians and get in their face.  Listed below are the contacts that you need to send letters and e-mails to:

Governor Jeb Bush
PL 05 The Capitol
400 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399
jeb.bush@myflorida.com
(850) 488-4441

Senator Mel Martinez
Russell Senate Office Bldg., Suite C.2
Washington, DC 20510
mel_martinez@martinez.senate.gov
(202) 224-3041

Senator Bill Nelson
716 Hart Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510
bill_nelson@nelson.senate.gov
(202) 224-5274

Director of the Florida Division of Forestry
Michael C. Long
3125 Conner Blvd.
Tallahassee, FL 32399
longm@doacs.state.fl.us
(850) 488-4272

Florida Division of Forestry
Hank Graham, District Manager
Caloosahatchee District Office
10941 Palm Beach Blvd.
Fort Myers, FL 33905
grahamh@doacs.state.fl.us
(239) 690-3500

Lisa M. Douglass
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Ombudsman/Public Relations Manager - South District
lisa.douglass@dep.state.fl.us
(239) 332-6975 Ext. 175


That is everybody that we should be getting in contact with especially with the D.E.P.!!!  Good luck and keep writing!!!

One other thing that I would like to add...

According to the Florida Outdoor Alliance (F.O.A.), there is a web site being created that will provide us with all of the information that we need in regards to Squares/Bad Luck.  According to their representative, this web site should be completed within the next 7 to 10 days.  Listed below is the name of the site:

www.savebadluck.com

Check it out when it becomes available!

Hey guys,

I just wanted to add some other information to what 1Fast250r spoke about in regards to the meeting this past Wednesday night.  Besides the speakers that were there to represent the different State Departments, we had a panel of leaders who were representing all of us.  Among the leaders, there were two guys that stuck out the most.  One guy who has been fighting for our rights all over the state for the past few years and another guy who represented 15 different ATV Clubs on the East Coast.  

If we think that we are the only people that are suffering, that is Southwest Florida, think again!  Everyone is suffering in South Florida over this dilemma.  At one point in the meeting, the gentleman from the East Coast had told the representatives that if this were not enough people to fight for the cause of keeping open Picayune Strand State Forest (Squares/Bad Luck), then he would bus over hundreds and hundreds of members from the East Coast to support our cause.  And I think that is Kick A**!!!

Now the other guy who was there to represent us (and I strongly believe this) is the one guy who could help us in this fight to save Squares/Bad Luck.  And his name is Jim Kalvin.  Jim has been involved in situations just like this all over the state and has been doing this for quite some time.  If you ever get a chance to meet him, this guy knows the in's and out's of what needs to be accomplished!!!  If you would like to get in contact with Jim, you can reach him at:

Jim Kalvin
Cell:    239-825-3649
Home: 239-775-0746
E-mail: knucklemaster@earthlink.net

Most likely, according to Jim and other representatives who support us, we will be fighting this in court.  Yes, there were a lot of idea's past around, but one guy had mentioned about doing a parade of ORV riders in Southwest Florida to gain attention from the Media and from local and state government.  Even the Sheriff's Department is all for it as they claim.  That would be awesome if we could somehow organize it.

As we already know, there will be a meeting out on Everglades Blvd. and I-75 to allow ORV riders to fight against the closure of Squares/Bad Luck.  If there is any one out there that likes to ride at Squares/Bad Luck, you need to be at this meeting.  It will be big and I am sure that we will probably see anywhere from 200 to 500+ riders out there picketing.  The media will be there and this is a big issue in Collier County.

And for a last note...May the force be with us!

The latest update from what I have heard is...

Badluck/Squares is currently open to all riders, whether you have registered or not. Sometime in January of 2005, FWC and DOF is supposed to have a meeting to discuss some details on future rules and regulations on whether or not they will keep this area open to ORV's.

As of now, I plan to go riding this weekend and have a great time with my family. This past weekend, there were no FWC or DOF Officers around at all.  For those of you that have doubts...put them aside and come out for a great weekend!!!

Remember though...We still need to put pressure on the FWC to keep this area open to all riders for 2005!

The latest update from what I have heard is...

Badluck/Squares is currently open to all riders, whether you have registered or not. Sometime in January of 2005, FWC and DOF is supposed to have a meeting to discuss some details on future rules and regulations on whether or not they will keep this area open to ORV's.

As of now, I plan to go riding this weekend and have a great time with my family.  For those of you that have doubts...put them aside and come out for a great weekend!!!

Remember though...We still need to put pressure on the FWC to keep this area open to all riders for 2005!