A "new and improved" (yeah right) Business Plan has been released for review.

I've read through it quickly and made a few notes. To say I'm disgusted is to put it terribly mild.

During a phone call with Neil Hamada (dunes manager) I was told the TRT endorsed the plan and that Roy Denner (ORBA and TRT member) had very supportive things to say about it.

I couldn't believe it, so I called Roy to talk to him about it and also emailed another TRT member. Both Roy and the other guy (I haven't asked him yet if I can use his name here) confirmed that Neil was correct.

Now, let me say something. Accepting the existence of the business plan was not a matter of choice. It was part of the RAMP and quite frankly, if we want the BLM to stop abusing our fee demo money we need something like this.

But to accept this business plan, as is, well... I just don't know if that can be done. I have not, of course, had a chance to meet with the other DUNERS board members, nor have we had a chance to go over this with our members. Naturally, if our members ask us to endorse it we will. But at this point in time my stomach is churning and I'm having a very hard time swallowing what's being handed us.

I've been stressing over and over that the BLM approached the duning community for help with this even though they had no obligation to do so. This almost-final version is only slightly better than what they started out with so it seems obvious that was an empty gesture and a waste of my/our time. How insulting.

That said, I was also assured that this is not a final version. There will be no final version until the OHV leadership roundtable has a chance to meet once again with the BLM.

So... what do we do...

Read this plan. Make notes on what is acceptable and what is not (I know I'm particularly curious about how in the hell they can cut out $2.5 million from their budget and still ask for $180 a year), and VOICE YOUR OBJECTIONS TO YOUR OHV LEADERS.

In the meantime, those OHV leaders who are not ready to accept this will be working very hard to do whatever can be done. Until it has gone to print, maybe it can be changed. Not at this local level, obviously, but beyond.

Please, if never before, now is the time to reach your OHV leaders and seek their representation. They are your champions in these matters. Make sure they are speaking what is in your hearts.

If you are not part of any organization, contact your TRT representative. That's what they're supposed to be there for.

Vicki

Vicki in the other thread where you brought this up you yourself explained that the TRT did not endorse the plan as it stands but with significant changes. They did not voice approval of the plan as written and you yourself have said so.

If you're going to tell a story please tell the whole story.

[quote]Vicki in the other thread where you brought this up you yourself explained that the TRT did not endorse the plan as it stands but with significant changes. They did not voice approval of the plan as written and you yourself have said so.

If you're going to tell a story please tell the whole story.[/quote]

As I stated in the other post, you're right, they did not "fully" endorse it, and I have removed that word from my post. It was Neil's phrase and it just stuck with me.

As for "significant" changes, well, that's a matter of opinion:

[quote] TRT recommendations
> The TRT recommended to Support the revised plan with the stipulation the the
> weekly fee be no more than $25.00 per week and that the annual pass remain
> under $100.00
> It was also stipulated that the BLM use out side vendors to make the passes
> easier for people to get them to the users as we felt this would help to up
> our compliance. It was also stipulated that the fee be reviewed annually and
> if revenues were up fee prices would come down.
> And As time is of the essence we emphasized that the BLM move on this ASAP.
> Please send me DUNERS recommendations and I will pass them on to the BLM I
> will be seeing Neil tonight.
> the fee's are now cost recovery fee's[/quote]

As I pointed out in the other thread, at the end of my conversation with Neil I reiterated several points, one being the TRT's reduced fee recommendation. His response was "That is a recommendation; anyone can make a recommendation; we will decide what to do."

Vicki

For the record, my disgust is aimed at one agency only... not at the TRT, any TRT member, ORBA, or any other organization.

What I'm feeling here tonight only has one target :rant:

[img]http://www.glamisdunes.com/phpbb2/files/cpoblm.jpg[/img]