This question is one asked by guys everyday, and without a proper starting spot you can go in circles for years. So a little info out there is about to be given.
1. You need to see what you feel will be the best way you can help, weather that is through education, volunteer work,political activism or just monetary support.
2. Make up your mind that you are going to do it, do not put one toe in and decide to test the waters, jump in and do something.
3. Make sure you are committed before jumping.
4. keep your eye on the big picture, there are so many guys wanting you to stray, just to satisfy their own self, or prove that the fact they quit is not wrong, that they will tear down any attempt made with generalizations with negativeness about the entire movement.
5. Remember, united we stand, divided we fall.
ok, back to 1. there are a lot of different organizations out there, and they all have the hand out to donate to. Go to their websites and see what they have to say. See if they are the group for you. You cannot support them all, just choose one or 2. I have quit groups for stuff they do, and do not feel bad about that, but I still strongly believe you need to join at least one. It gives you a base, and a strongly needed one, and a way to get the message out. they usually have a newsletter you can use, or will direct you in ways to get articles published. They can help in many ways, organizing work days etc. Just look around and see if they one you are going join does stuff in the area you want to be able to affect.
number 2. One of the things that hurts us the most, is guys who put in one toe and then just lurk, you need to get involved. And getting involved means doing as directed at first till you prove you can be an asset. Do not think you are going join something and then become the boss the next day. Or that they are going take your advice and change all policy. These guys have been doing this a long time, and know the ins and outs of the political arena. They have representatives lobbying the politicians or doing what they do and watch for results. You need to commit to helping and once you have proven to be a team player you can move up as you prove to be a leader in the field.
Number 3. Make sure you want to do this. Some of the roads you will take can be hard and will require a lot of resolve. If you get into speaking out, you will be attacked verbally by the other side, you have to realize that you will be putting yourself out there. Even a simple sticker can get you noticed in parking lots and stuff. I have seen my name put down in print, had myself accosted while filling up, and seen people who were misdirected get so pent up with anger that I was afraid I was going be attacked. All over a point they felt strongly about and refused to see the other side of.
number 4. This is important, keeping the eye on the picture. lot of guys get started out, and then a small matter gets them discouraged and they quit. This is a long term battle, and not one that will be won tomorrow. Your kids will be fighting this battle. And the wins are small and the loses seem great. But it is a battle we need to keep on with.
Do not see something you do not like and become bitter. Trying to tear down the entire movement because you failed to look at the big picture. We have enough battles to go through to be battling among ourselves.
Number 5. Stay united, what more can be said, the path you take will require the resolve and support of the whole. This is a battle where leaders emerge by proving themselves and are the type that try to encourage the fallen, but have no time to deal with the negative. They prefer to pass by the naysayers and move forward. Remember we need to gain ground, not use our energy debating with side issues, we have a goal, and we must achieve it. Breaking off of the path does not do anyone any good. stay united and push forward.
You cannot cure things by dividing the troops, only leadership will achieve the goal, division by naysayers will only destroys the effort.
as a side note, I chose to support Tread Lightly. org, Do events that I can show the BLM and Forestry service I am working to help clean and maintain the land. Do searches and public work when they need me to and prove that off roaders are a resource for them to use in their underfunded world. It is a newer approach that has proven to get recognition fast. Volunteer work is proving we want to get our hands dirty side by side with them to improve and steward the land. It is not as easy as just sending money, but it has the benefits of knowing you are doing a lot to help. Just listening to the talk and thanks you get from the Government workers makes you know you are making a difference.
That is the path I have chosen, Education and Volunteering for labor. It is now time to choose yours.
"..4. keep your eye on the big picture, there are so many guys wanting you to stray, just to satisfy their own self, or prove that the fact they quit is not wrong, that they will tear down any attempt made with generalizations with negativeness about the entire movement...."
(lol)
As far as I can tell, there has never been a 'conspiracy' afoot with "many guys" just "wanting" wheelers to "stray" from anything. A few of us have simply asked people (like yourself) to define or point out to us this mass 'unity' you observe amongst all these widely scattered orgs. with 100% different agendas. (again, see these same orgs. in MI. supporting "full -size only" trails while praying that the "motorcycle only" trail crowd set 'a precedent' with their selfish efforts to keep everybody off of "their trails" also.
"...You cannot support them all, just choose one or 2. I have **quit** groups for stuff they do, anddonotfeelbadaboutthat, but I still strongly believe you need to join at leastone...."
...and if all the groups in your area subscribe to the notion of closed meetings; anonymous leadership; elimination of the public application proceess for representative positions and/or 'peon public' meetings but once every 3 months....send at least one of them in your money anyways...as they are closely connected with the 'big boy' orgs. out west who will disparage your character (or worse) if you don't.
It's a relief to find that you can quit clubs, HB and cut off your funding of them if indeed they turn out to be less than honorable or forthright...yet it appears as if the rest of us must definitely shut our mouths and keep supporting these guys regardless of the their connections elsewhere! (ie. whether the national orgs. support their 'buddies' 100% or not).
By the way, HB....was your original strong attack on those who question leadership "or prove that the fact they quit is not wrong"...a statement that you felt compelled to whitewash later with your 'I do not feel bad about quitting groups' flip-flop clarification?
Again, if you keep your mouth shut and simply covet the t-shirt or bumper sticker that one receives with that first check...you'll fit in just fine with HB's "How to make a difference without actually thinking to much" primer. Start asking about forming a truly united community (under one roof) for much more power or good 'ol conservative-type pay-to-play solutions?...be prepared to weather character or 'conspiracy' attacks designed to avoid discussion of just how or why we got in to this massive closure mess in the first place.
I agree with you, HB; history has proven that the present organizational formula is working 'nationwide' just fine and need not be tweaked or questioned...so send your money in all...and (please) keep your damn 'negative' comments to yourselves (we won't tolerate it!).
Last edited by Kzoocruiser : 11-12-2007 at 06:13 AM.
From what I understand Kzoo you are bitter because there is no ORG out in your area that is united to help support and protect your OHV areas to all. Here in Cal we have a couple of great ORG (from what I have read and seen) one of which I belong to (CORVA).
If I was you I would be pissed as well if the 2 wheelers were being jerks and had a holier then though attitude. I actually do get pissed with some of them on our local trail when they do think they own it and show no curtsy to others at all when riding on the trail.
If I was you I would try and get in contact with some of the more national groups and talk with them about the issues specific to your area and see what kind of actions you could take or if there is any local groups that would be in line with your thoughts. Maybe also try to talk to the leaders of these 2 wheeler groups that are trying to close land to just them. But I see nothing wrong if you have done your research and come to a conclusion that there is no existing groups that you would feel right in supporting, that is your decision and it is sad that there is no unity in this fight. Hopefully one day there will be.
__________________ "Because in the end it has almost nothing to do with the bike and everything to do with setting
out to accomplish something that is intimidating, that is unknown to you, something you know you
have a good chance of failing at but doing it anyways and slowly but surely proving yourself wrong." Mike Ambs
www.corva.org "Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
- Thomas Paine
hey Highbeams....Aren't you the guy who thinks buggies and the like aren't wheelers....I beleive it was you who shook Sean K's cage.....I can't back anyone with blinders on....
that is fine Homedad, that is why I do not ask you to join my cause, I ask you to find the one you like. I know that everyone has a line they need to set. I set mine, go out and set yours. Otherwise do not complain when you get a trail shut down.
Look at this, a politician in government needs to be reelected, that is their biggest job. They will say anything to get elected, and then do what lobbies show them the biggest group of voters will vote for. It is easy to show them pictures of 4x4s scaring the land, and leaving big tracks. The guys brag and post pictures on line. No one wants to see pictures of that except those who are ok with it. We are easy targets because we will not police among ourselves. I see those pictures all the time, and I have finally taken a stand. You do not have to take the same stand, but we will be fighting for the same thing. I just will not have to be explaining why that buggy has the right to be in most of their pictures. Video and pictures of those buggies climbing 8 foot rock waterfalls may be exciting to you, but I see the damage they do to our cause a lot. Such as you cannot support me, I personally have chosen to no longer support them.
...so are you here to 'comment' on what has been very clearly put forth in no uncertain terms...or simply to 'one post and out' use abbreviated slang and a slew of question marks....
Calm down. Dang. I'm by no means a writer, but all I'm saying is if one wants to truly help a cause, the author needs to let the reader know what the post is about in the first couple sentences, or, dare I say, the subject line.
It's a shame the post may get overlooked because others have, in confusion, said "wtf" and gone on to the next thread. An edit may be in order.
That being said, fight the good fight Highbeams. I commend you.
I live in Arizona...I LOVE the outdoors.....I wheel my FJ 80% of it's usage.....I see the crap that goes on out there first hand.....
What I see is this....
The drunkin' dumb asses out shooting there guns and throwing trash and beer cans all over....
The late night high school kids getting drunk and throwing there crap all over...
The vegrent drunk ass living out there....
What I DON'T see....
ANY ORGINIZED group making ANY mess at all....
Be it bikes or monster trucks....groups don't mess stuff up unless there is BEER involved....
Drunks picking up trash....
So if you want MY support.....quit picking a type of VEHICLE and let's get rid of the dumb ass drunks that destroy the land.....
__________________
I like Tator Tots...
He who dies with the most toys...Is still dead!
Last edited by k9crazy : 12-03-2007 at 02:41 PM.
Reason: Off topic
And Highbeams...the reason for the attack on YOU is because I read your pissing match with Sean K. and it's quite obvious YOU feel the buggies are the problem....well...I've wheeled with them too.....NO garbage anywere...except in the bags they hauled OUT of the trail....
When you see a pile of crap in the desert it is ALWAYS bullets and beer cans...never peanut butter jars and diapers...
When I see dead cactus...it's never had 40" tire marks in it...it's always beer and bullets...
When I see dead cars....they are ALWAYS CARS...not 4wd rigs...all shot up with beer cans all around....
When I see people so stuck they destroy the trail trying to get unstuck....it's some dumb ass kid in his moms Buick....
When I see trails going AROUND the obsticles....It's the un-equiped rigs that made the trail....not the buggie....
When I hear all the people in the commitees voting for what ever....they all blame the other outdoorsmen....never the dumb ass drunk with a gun...
So if you want to change ANYTHING....band together....bikes to buggies...and get rid of the idiots.....not each other!!!
Here is a prime example.....un-equipted rig....a case of beer....drunk by 10:00am...and 3 guns in the back...this was on saturday....I can get a shot like this on almost every run I've been on...
I'm a pretty straightforward guy as long as I'm not BS'n ya
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