It may be posted elsewhere on da board, but Slappy had ta place this one in da Neighborhood. Great piece azsandrider, a slapptacious thumbs up...
I never wanted to be an activist...
I was just like many of you!
I wanted to go to work, spend time with my family, and enjoy my time off riding my OHV.
I didn't want to be involved and join a club. Heck, I had a large enough group of riding buddies to ride with.
I didn't want to spend my hard earned money on political contributions or donations for legal funds to keep riding areas open as I could use that money to add parts to my ride.
I didn't want to spend my time volunteering to help OHV organizations, contacing OHV enthusiasts or businesses, and attending meetings as I could spend that time riding.
I just wanted to live my life and have fun. I stood by while the eco-extremists quietly whittled away at one little riding area after another. "Let someone else who has more time or money work to keep my riding areas open. Let more experienced people be involved", I thought as I had never done anything political before.
Then, towards the end of Bill Clinton's term, I started to hear about MAJOR riding closures at the dunes and in Arizona (Cinders??), the possible banning of PWCs at Lake Powell, the banning of snowmoblies at Yellewstone park, etc and decided there is a major campaign by eco-extremists to annihilate motorized recreation.
So, I started researching these topics on the internet and found that the eco cancer was malignant and was gobbling up huge areas of our public lands. These eco groups are well funded, well led, and have been setting their agenda for decades. They don't let trivial things like facts, fairness, or people's livelihoods get in their way.
Thats when I started becoming INVOLVED! I joined as many pro-recreation groups as I could and volunteered my time with the American Sand Association as I ride mainly in the dunes. (I'm starting to desert ride again too.)
I hope you can understand why I became an OHV activist. I don't expect everyone to become as involved as me, BUT, I do hope everyone who has an OHV trys to educate themselves, and others, about the issues.
Land closures affect us all and we all need to take a stand together. If a riding area closes in California, Maine, or here in Arizona, it affects us all. If we, as OHV enthusiasts, don't collectively stand together to tell the government that we demand a fair amount of public land to pursue our chosen recreational activity, we will eventually lose ALL our riding opportunities. It make take 20-50 years, but the ecos are patient people.
The reason for this post is to explain why I post the things I do. I am not trying to place blame or make anyone feel uncomfortable about their involvement in OHV issues. Everyone has to decide for themselves when it is important to be involved and for what cause. I just hope it is not to late for OHV recreation.
I never wanted to be an activist...but someone has too...
(The above statement is my own opinion and not that of the ASA's.)
Tim Wight
Mesa, AZ.