Panel meeting

[lisa]

  hi guys,

 For those who supported my trip, I am so sorry I forgot to post here. I posted on the floridajeepers.net message board and forgot about you. There has been a lot happening since I got back.

 First, let me say that recreation was only briefly mentioned, but as is usual during meetings, I got a little more insight into the feeling of some of the group than would be put in the notes.

  The USFWS liason and the St. John's River Management liason were both in agreement that anything that would get the private sector to start parks to keep us off of "their lands" is a good thing.

  The Forestry dept. is not really interested in recreation as yet. If we can make it known that good trails would be good for industry, that would help secure our place in our State Forests!

  The suggestion the panel made towards recreation was the pay-to-play idea. It was discussed and settled on at the first meeting. This is the first step the panel is making towards limiting our useages. We need a public access representative on this panel! Had I been at the first meeting, I might have been able to stop even that little first step!

  I made some contacts with the Friends of State Forests, and with the US Forestry recreation rep. That made the trip worth-while. I was given another name to contact and hopefully, another person to work with.

  It was a worthwhile venture. If those who sent me would like to ask some questions, please feel free. I learned a great deal, and have more questions to ask. I would like to officially represent you guys, but if you already have a representative, I would appreciate if they pmed me so I could ask my questions of the state and national guys through that person. Unity, and a unified front are what we  need. ATVers need credibility and someone who will stand strong, without going over-the-top, in-your-face with these folks. Once an issue comes to the fore, you, the ATV community, need to rally behind someone who will take your fight to the fore.

  Responsible ATVing will get things turned-around for you all! I have heard there is some ATV training going on for the Host Program (formerly called the Volunteer Ranger Program) this weekend, so someone is working towards getting the ATV community the credibility you need.

  Okay, that is getting off-topic of the Panel. Looking back on it, I really believe that knowing I was going to be there kept the talk on restricting recreation to the first meeting since I wasn't there.

  Once the final draft comes out, I will be able to further review just how far they went in that first meeting towards restricting public access.

  Thank you all again for supporting the trip. The contacts I made made it all worth the time. I hope to be able to make a couple more trips to Tally. It isn't as far as I thought, and I can make it with only one potty break and in 3 1/2 hours! Well able to make four or five trips a year if needed! Thank you for the help. I hope to be able to represent you guys in the future.

[gtnwood]

Thanx Lisa......I think.

[jwscroll]

The only rep that was willing to help all the time is QT. But I'm pretty sure that she would not protest you representing this crowd (if you dare ).

[lisa]

 No No No....QT is the best.

  QT, will you email me @ lisa@floridaequalaccess.org?

[qt314nfla]

Lisa I think you'd be a better person for the job.  I was trying to get ppl together but w/ the opening of our first park under the T. Mark Schmidt law I had a change of thought on how to get things done.  Before we were going to organize ourselves and try to get information.  Now it seems that the smartest thing to do would be to find out who got us Tate's Hell and find out what information they need gathered to get a few more parks going across the state.

I think you are very well written and would be the best person to represent the group.  I know it is hard to get ppl to stand behind you but I am one.  I have a list of several others whom after the last two rides I have had the honor to meet. 

If you would find out what information or how we can help the cause I'm quite sure we'd be willing to do what we can to see if we can get something else opened up.  I agree with you that there should be some land that is not pay per use.  If they are going to do it that way though it would be nice to keep it like they've done Croom and Tate's Hell where we pay once and get usage of any of the parks in the state.

Let me know what I can do to help.  I have limited time due to the start of my business but if given a project I will create time to get involved and to help the cause.  Thanks for representing us.  Do realize though that it's a long road and alot of ppl back out or lose interrest when things don't happen over night.  It sometimes takes years for things to come together.  And sometimes it will feel like ppl aren't supporting you and that you're just doing this for nothing.  It's not the case.