The Aohva Needs You!!!!!

[plumbum]

Screw The Government!!!!

now that i have your attention.....


hey guys/gals, with all the crap we have coming down the line here in regards to ohv use we need a strong voice to speak to the government on our behalf. 3 very big issues are being decided upon within the next short while, one being the grizzly plan, the landuse framework is 2 and kids on atv's is the 3rd. and there are many other issues too but these are very pressing. the membership base now is only a very small percentage of the actual ohv users in the province. that is crazy. we are a huge group of people and have very little representation because of this. the first thing the government asks is " how many members do you have?". if they could come back with "over 100,000". instead of a couple thousand we may have some more say in what happens. more people and more money represented means the government listens. look at the environmental groups, they have very little memberships but huge sums of money and look at what the government does for them. it is time we had some say in what happens in regards to our activities. now i know it does cost money to join, but what is cheaper a $30 membership or having to buy 100 acres of land so you can ride your toy. anyway the main thing is numbers, so if you are involved in a club or organization there are options available for "cheap" memberships too. please follow the link provided below and sign up.

and if you are thinking this doesnt involve me, why should i care? this affects everybody from occasional riders all the way to pro racers and even people whose work involves the use of ohv's. farmers, trappers etc...




thanks for taking the time to read this.

Adam

 

[plumbum]

The majority of riders in the province are non-joiners, and the majority are responsible and go out of their way to help. But things are about to get ugly on the access front, and groups like the Quad Squad and the AOHVA that can lobby effectively need all the help they can get.

When a solution-oriented group like this approaches decision makers in Edmonton about a proposed closure, and that group represents thousands of members, they get taken seriously. Decision makers are looking for "partners", reasonable people who they can work with. Those groups who stomp their feet and write ugly letters will not be taken seriously. Especially when decision makers believe they're doing "what's right".


According to CATV there are about 400,000 ATV riders in Alberta, unfortunately only 3000 can be bothered to join an organization that defends their right to ride. When you compare that to the membership numbers in the Sierra Club, CPAWS, Castle-Crown Coalition and the Alberta Wilderness Association, it becomes clear why every year we lose more access to gang-green. Government can only conclude that we're dramatically outnumbered and disorganized.

Consider the history. In the 1980's Kananaskis Park was proclaimed and closed.

In 1999 the new Don Getty and Bob Creek Wildland Parks closed the top end of the "C5" area. (below Kananaskis)

In 2000 fifty percent of the Castle area was closed (everything south of Hwy 3). In 2007 I predict it will become Andy Russel Wildland Park.

In 2001 fifty percent of the Bighorn was closed. (everything between Banff and Jasper).

In 2001 they closed the Beehive Natural area, and headwaters of the Oldman River. (below Don Getty park)

In 2003 fifty percent of SE BC was closed under the SRMMP. They also closed 7 of 10 mountain passes between AB & BC.

In 2005 the AB government declared the Grizzly Bear a "species of concern" and closed the grizzly hunt. The consultant hired by SRD has put together a "Grizzly Recovery Strategy" that calls for extensive GB "Recovery Zones" and "Buffer Zones" (I'm pretty sure I know what that means).

In 2006 fifty percent of the Ghost-Waiporous will be closed.

When you draw these places on the map you'll note that they "connect the dots" to form the Y2Y "Eco Region". Only one large "hole" will remain, and that hole is the space between Hwy 3 and Don Getty / Kananaskis.
Yellowstone To Yukon - Home

There will never be a more important time for us than the next few years. Mark my words, our kids and grandkids will be asking what it was like to random camp and ride off-road.

The Quad Squad won't be significantly impacted by a single membership, but we're in a numbers game and it's not looking good. 3000 of 400,000!!

Surely it's not about $30?

About $20 of each $30 family membership dues goes back to members in the form of newsletters and website. $2.50 goes to the AOHVA. The remaining $7.50 gets leveraged in the form of raffles, casinos, and matching grants to put bridges over fish-bearing streams, teach ATV safety and conservation in schools, and improve random camping areas and trails.

I think this club is the most amazing organization in Alberta for what it does with so few resources. I take my hat off to Terry, Bob, Pat and Garry for taking the initiative to start the Calgary club. I know for fact they would rather be riding.

Please support the volunteers who do so much to support all of us!


another guy posted this on the outlaw site and he borrowed it from somewhere else, so i borrowed it from him.lol. good points made though. the onyl thing to point out is the costs are a little different.

as well i had a thought to help this topic out. maybe the founder (RK) could look at buying the club membership thing for the site and then if the money is an issue for some it would only cost $10 to join. the biggest thing is numbers. how about it Ron? pretty please. lol.

 

[plumbum]

alright last post for now.

one more thing i thought of. i know some say about how taxed we are and where does our money go blah blah blah.... if you join then your hard lost tax dollars can be put towards trail maintenence instead of shutting trails down. it can go to the aohva for education and such grants instead of legislation to ban our kids form riding. it can also go towards fighting the team green approach instead of funding it. just makes sense to me. pay a little a become a member and some of your money that you lost already goes back into doing what you love to do. off highway vehicles. random camping etc....

anyway now i am really late for work. bye

 

[TABSTER]

Thanks for the information Plumbum. I have never herd of the AOHVA before, so for myself being a quad, sled, and backcountry enthusiast and never herd of this organization, its kind of suprising after reading information on there website, and that they were founded 25 years ago. I think that they need to speak alot louder for people to know who they are, and what they are doing. I personally have really never given thought into the possibilty of not having a place to go riding, camping, fishing, or hunting. Now being aware that there are more and more groups who wish that the activites that are dear to me and to other outdoor enthusiast may be taken away.... Well not without good reason!.....The more information the better.
Thanks again Plumbum....

 

[plumbum]

i can only hope people are reading and following the link to join the aohva. seems that most dont believe what is coming down the lines. guess it is time for me to buy some land. dont worry i'll let everybody come out and ride. mud trails, hills, maybe a track. admission will be $50 a day. enjoy.

 

[plumbum]

went out saturday for a family ride about an hour north of vega. it is an area that my father in law and family has been going to for years hunting and riding/camping. miles and miles of cutlines, great scenery and very suitable for a family ride and lots of mud if you look for it. the only problem is that most of the area is now closed to motorized vehicles. the signs say wildlife conservation and closed by fish and wildlife. no other explanation. he didnt even hear about it and he checks often with closures etc... sad, another area lost without consultation or even notice. i wonder how many other back country areas that arent frequented as often are closed...