Public Use
The Twelvemile Slough is primarily a wetland system
joining with the Okaloacoochee Slough that could
provide excellent opportunities for wildlife and natural
resource observation. To achieve maximum potential
for these activities, however, airboats and other
motorized equipment that disrupt the quiet atmosphere
of the site or infringe on the sensitivity of the wetlands
should not be allowed. This is not to say that a manager
should not be allowed to make appropriate use of such
equipment in a controlled fashion, if such were to
enhance management and public use programs without
causing undue damage or disruption. Other natural
resource-based recreational opportunities supportable
on the project would include picnicking, camping, nature
study trails, hiking trails and non-boat freshwater fishing.
Hunting might also be considered appropriate if further
review of the effect of hunting on observable wildlife
indicates this activity will not have an adverse impact
on this activity.

Lisa
The FL Forever Act is being replaced this coming legislative session in Tall.
 
If you are not engaged in the witting and passage of this bill your interest will not be in the bill. As you know hiking is, ORVing is not, hunting is not listed, camping is not, fishing is not,  while siviculture (timber) is; what is listed is appropriate outdoor recreation.  I would even go so far as to say paddle boating (canoe and kayak) will be listed in the replacement bill.

  The association needs to be involved here! We are not "appropriate outdoor recreation".

 Oh darn, and I was so wanting to impress Inyourdraft.....

  When I was at the Blue Ribbon Panel meeting Chuck, one of the USFWS guys leaned over and whispered in the ear of the Nature Conservancy guy that he wished the private land owners would realize how much money could be made with OHV and ORV crowd so that "they" (meaning OHVs and ORVs) would stay off "our" (meaning Forestry's) land. They know how much money can be made, Forestry doesn't want us there.

 

The war is necessary, the tax dollars collected for Forestry are not going there. The dems are in office now, complain to them...

  Anyway, not to hijack this thread about the war....Biologists are running Forestry now, biologist and bunny huggers. Those of us who actually use the forest need to earn more money for our kids and our hobbies than Forestry pays, so those without kids or hobbies become Forest Managers. (unless their spouse has lots of income...then they can "play" at being what ever they want...)

  Without a united front, with an association that will stand firm for its goals, and not promote "rallies" that are just mudding events, this will continue to happen and will take over Florida's National Forests. It all falls in line with the The Wildlands Project idea. Ignore that, and you are destined to lose.

  Gee and everyone wonders why I have been against these fees.....

  Well thank you! Pm me if interested.....I can coordinate, but I am working a field trip that day, and since I don't get paid unless I work in the summer, I won't be able to make the day. (I am a school bus driver)

  Good luck guys....

   This meeting is geared to let the forestry folks know what is wanted/needed here in the state. From what I understand the officials from both state and national attend this meeting every year...also FL4WDA attends, so if it has nothing to do with the forest or trails why are these folks so interested in being there? 

   Renmus, yes, you can show up at the meeting and pay the fee, unless they changed it from last year. Last year it cost $100.00. I don't know, as I haven't checked, what the cost is this year. Last year the meeting was held here in Ocala (possibly why someone suggested emailing Rick Lint to get the meeting location changed? I see that post has been removed....)

  Hmm, a gathering at the meeting...interesting, who would coordinate that? Could be a very good idea....

  Who is the association sending?

  Actually, it should be posted in the open so all knows what is going on. Paul, what happened at the meeting?

And I thought Ilk was the last name of a famous actress.....

Jack is way cool Chuck...and he gets things done.

 again, okay Paul.... 

  I didn't receive QT's money, because my account wasn't working. Since QT was only one of a few who wanted me to go, I didn't bother with getting it set-up. 

  Hey Scooter and Paul, did ya'll attend the OHV meeting? I had to miss it to make sure Mr. Lint behaved himself about OHVs at the Kiwanis club meeting (which he did...) so I had to miss it.....how did it go? What did they discuss, what resolutions did they come up with? Is the state still claiming they had something to do with the lands opening in Collier County? Are they still praising the Nature Conservancy for "helping" the OHVs?

The hamster on the wheel that powers it died today. RIP fluffy.

  Yeah, my husband admitted to killing it. Haven't had time to get back on and upload everything again. Since ya'll said you were gonna troll it, I am going to have to learn how to block IPs, get better spam protection etc. I am working on something else instead for right now. A blog that I will have to approve of replies before I post them up.

   For those still curious, yes I am still planning on starting an association of all public access users. It will likely take me most, if not all summer to come up with the answers ya'll will need before we can really get into it, but that will give this other association time to show us how well they are really working.

 Hey guys, any info on that meeting?

[say]

Do you think it may be possible that the association has contacted them, and they called because of that?

   Yes bigscrub, I had thought of that before I posted; but then I read Paul's post again and didn't see him say they called him back. Without meaning to sound condescending, I do thank you for pointing that out.

  I know that these agencies don't just call groups/associations/clubs because of posts like this, let alone individuals. Even folks who have way more influence than this association has (an association that hasn't even had their first meeting yet as Anoriginal keeps pointing out....) don't get called up like Paul was insinuating. Now, if Paul contacted them to find out why Eureka was closed, and they returned his call that is different. But to cold contact, as Paul suggested; nope won't buy that with a wooden nickel at all! And neither should you! 

  Chillin, his name is Jack Terrell and if you want, I will call him.....it has been a while, but unless he is swamped with an emergency, or out of town, he will usually take my call.

 

Office Of Greenways called me and promised to keep the association in the loop in future projects. We even discussed some areas they manage that the association may be able to help them open for ATV use.

   

  And you believed them?!?!?!  Oh, and we are supposed to believe you have such power that this agency called you? 

  Okay, that is enough for me....I am not going to debate that issue, if Paul believes that the Office of Greenways and Trails is going to work with ya'll, more power to him and the association (and if you believe that Office of Greenways and Trails called him about this, out of the blue, because the association/rally is so powerful already ya'll need a CAT scan) Just folks, don't give up the idea of selling your home here and moving to another state where they are more ATV friendly. If the fight down in Collier County isn't enough to show Paul and the rest of NPORA that these agencies are not to be trusted, then nothing will.

  I truly am sorry to be slinging mud here too, but I just can't let Paul's post pass..... 

   I am done with this conversation.... 

Mudslinging? No, it's teling the truth. Lisa and Viper came here with no purpose other than to stir the pot and start crap. Neither has accomplished anything with their lives or time and now want the rest of the world to be miserable with them.

They are insignificant in all aspects. Nobody in any power position capable of benefiting us listens to either of them. Wastes.

  Hence my point, the association doesn't want any input from me. Here I have given some ideas, and this is the kind of response anyone who doesn't agree with the association gets; even when they try to help. I guess my suggestion of challenging the news station, that ran bad press about ATVs, to attend the meeting was

stirring the pot and starting crap

too.

  Actually, I am doing something for the OHVs in the Black Bear Byway meetings. I am working to keep OHVs involved and upfront in the Corridor story

5. Corridor Story   1) Jessi Smith has received and incorporated most CAG comments into the Corridor Story to date. Copies were distributed of the updated story and the comments. Written comments submitted after the last meeting by Lisa Pardus were then reviewed by the group.     1) After discussion about adding information relative to hunting and recreation, already described in the last current paragraph. (just fyi, there was only one sentence each detailing the importance of hunting and recreation in the ONF.) CAG decided to add phrasing indicating hunting remains current important use, address miles of recreation trails (200 miles figure was questioned), and  Natural Scenic and Recreational resources are to be emphasized for the designation the CAG is pursuing.
2) Jessi will prepare final draft for CAG review at next meeting.

  But you are right Anoriginal, I don't get anything accomplished.

  Good questions Prairie Master. My guess, it was at least 2-years ago, and probably because of "ecological damage" to the area. Remember Tom Hoctor was doing reports for the Office of Greenways and Trails.

Mudslingin ? Ya can't sling mud with all the land closed !    I just had to say something 

LOL

IMHO.....Bart & Lisa are picking you guys apart & putting up walls for the association to bang their heads on. They will keep slamming you guys as long as you let them. They always take the pessimistic side of things & the association could sh*t $50 dollar bills in their pool & they would b*tch for $100's.

  *S* wait a minute....I haven't bashed, trashed or put up any walls in this thread. In fact, offered advice on what to do on this thread and another one......Why are you guys dragging me in the mud this time? (FYI, Anoriginal started the mud slinging this time, not me...)

Lisa, we are always open to help, and if you feel that you have something to offer the association, again I invite you to e-mail me. laptop@vol.com

 
  Already did Paul, read my last post again....

  Welcome back stacktester! Missed you..... 

I can't go to these guys, with 30 or 40 names and tell them with any seriousness that is representative of all ATV riders.

  *S* actually Paul, yes you could. The trick is to be as slick as they are. Do you really think they represent a large segment of society? Nope... They take petitions to grocery stores, pet stores, festivals etc. to get names. Those folks don't actually belong to the society, they just signed a petition!

 It takes actual work though. Something I haven't had the time to do. Whenever I told my husband I wanted to go talk to the ATVers out here in ONF, he found something for us to be doing that day....(his way of telling me I am putting too much time into something that I am getting little support on, and spending way too much grocery money to do)

  You ride the forest? Take a pen and paper, or a petition and have everyone sign it that you come across....get names, phone numbers, email addresses, etc. It isn't hard, just time consuming....those 30-40 will add up..

  Glad to see you took my reply for what it was, a suggestion. Also glad to see you are ready to get started taking comments and suggestions from the rally....good start!

  Yes they do renmus, but don't let that discourage you. They are afraid that the ATVers will rally behind a strong Association, because you have the numbers. You can get the money, you can get the support. You can sway the politicians. It will take a while, but it can be done! Has been done!

  Missed the meeting. Had to attend a talk Mr. Lint was giving about the ONF and make sure he didn't bash OHVs. Found out some interesting stuff, especially how much the Feds are giving all the forests in this state....

 anyway, how did the meeting go?