I have been reading all the posts that I can find on atv issues, and the one thing I am confused about, are the steps someone has to take to get themselves where they can be heard by the people that can change the rules? if it takes living on the capital steps, I don't think I can help.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/img]

 

It might not take living on the steps; but if it comes down to keeping your mouth shut when your questions aren't answered by whoever has volunteered to do so.....................what are you going to do?

Be 'blackballed', by those hoping you'll go away; or be 'taken into the fold' (no more questions asked) because a 'big-city' riding park in comfy suburbia is more important than what's right or wrong? [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

John

 

Hi John, I was wondering about the meeting minutes you mentioned, how do access them?

 

Call Kubisiak(sic) at the DNR in Lansing and tell him that you want to get on their mailing list(one would think that these minutes would be availiable on-line (cough) 'somewhere'......................but hey, the idea of even a 'half-a$$' cross-club 'alliance' wasn't voluntarily brought forward until a stink was made and nobody wanted to look like they weren't (cough, again) 'cooperating'. While you have him on the phone; ask him if he's ever been involved in any aspect of obtaining a new riding area in SE MI. and I'll tell you what he told me; the last time we talked.

As for reading and commenting on the 'missing' money, Tim(Quadstock).............I haven't read it and will hopefully get back to you soon.

John

 

thanks, I have steve's e-mail , so I'll write to him this evening, hopfully he will send them along. Yetti

 

I have done some lobbying for other causes. One of the best ways to start is by calling your rep. Once you get a relationship with them started, you can being up more and more about ATVing. If you belong to a club, start wokring with them to call thier reps too.

A local club here in NE Ohio has been working with thier local rep. They changed the liably law in the state.

Can after those politations!

 

John & Yetti if you are looking for the minutes for the mi orv meetings try this

http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7...7945--,00.html

sorry about not making a link. the mins for 1/8/03 are not up yet it takes them about two months

later Russ

 

No need to apoligize, Russ; as one would think that this link would be prominently displayed on 'any' legitimate michigan atv web site. Although I guess if that was the case.................#1)people might actually start commenting on it's contents; #2)an actual 'discussion' might ensue and #3) folks might just start turning to others for some answers!

What a 'mess' that coud turn out to be!

Thought for the day:

Did the fathers of our trail system do what they did for the individual 'glory' of hanging their names on 'new' trails or would they have been just as happy to have had fixed and expanded 'old' ones to build a true multi-use system that was maintainable(first)?

Thanks, Russ.

John

 

John

It wasn't to hard to fine there is links off michiganatv.com to mi dnr

Russ

 

I have accessed the DNR site many times through the (sometimes 'official'/sometimes conveniently 'not') Michigan ATV Association site that you refer to. Maybe you can help me out here.

Doesn't this club's site have, as its president, our sole representative to the Michigan ORV Advisory board and the meetings we are referring to?

If so, could you please help me understand why I have 'never' witnessed the following on the club's site?:

1) An even 'brief' recap of what has happened at even 'one' of these meetings or what is about to be discussed at the next.

2) Any discussion 'ever' of what might 'need' to be discussed at these meetings or simple commentary on what was discussed by others (by either club members or the representative himself).

3) Anything that resembles the 'partcipatory' representation of other orv clubs in the state?

It has become pretty clear that the original promise (which has since 'disappeared' off the site) of getting SE Michigan their own riding area; has suppressed any SE MI. member's desire to discuss what happens at these 'outstate' meetings.

'Unfortunately', for those of us interested in the issues before us and those on down the road(in 'rural' Michigan)..........................going to the 'DNR' for information and answers has certainly been more informative and far less 'confrontational'!

Read the last(?) meeting minutes when a state official commented on the 'obvious conflicts of interest' in our present system and confusion as to why clubs see the state as 'competitors' for the money they receive and not 'partners' in maintaining our present system.

Are questions like these and other issues like 'million dollar lawsuits'; one reason why these minutes are never discussed openly on-line?

Or is it that the questions/views of the sometimes (sniff) 'rural' general public are not relevant to the 'game plan' we are unable to discover or discuss?

Thanks for helping me with this, Russ; as being 'banned' for being the first (and last) club member to ask about what happens in Lansing; has left me with more questions than ever.

Looking forward to your reply.

John

Oh, by the way; the meetings of the orv board have never been published until 'recently' (funny how bringing issues 'out' like this, can get things accomplished!.................look at the 'Alliances' section[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img])