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Monday, June 16, 2014

Buy Bad; and Park Your Junk?

BUY BAD; AND PARK YOUR JUNK?
Love the one you’re with and let the others you’re not with know why!

By Del & Stacie Albright

If you buy off-road parts from a company that does not support landuse, trails, raffles or off-road organizations, you are buying “bad” and you might as well go green and park your junk!  I’m not being harsh here; I’m being real.  I’ve been off-roading for 50 years and working in landuse for 30. We’ve come far enough in the landuse world that EVERY club, business, group, virtual club, whatever, knows we are losing trails to enviro-exclusionary elitists and we have to fight back!  Companies not on the landuse team in some way (commensurate with their size) and merely making money from our love of our sports need to be brought to justice – the justice of our pocket books.

If you are buying from outfits merely because they’re cheap and not checking to see if they support landuse, you might as well give a similar amount of money to the Sierra Club or other anti-access groups trying EVERY DAY to shut us down.   It’s that simple.
Famous Red Jeep parked in garage....


So what can we  do to make sure we ARE buying from outfits that are in the game.  Here’s the simple process:
  1. Ask them if and how they support landuse.
  2. Find out what events they show up at and if they are donating to the event raffle --- that raffle hopefully supports landuse in some way and not just some warm and fuzzy cause solely.
  3. Look at their website to see what links they offer in the landuse world (United 4WDA, BlueRibbon Coalition, state organizations, AMA, ASA, etc.); and…
  4. Check out your state association and regional off-road groups to see what businesses THEY claim as members and supporters (on their website and in their newsletter where some list levels of sponsorship even).

Now let’s say you really love a company but they failed on all the above checks….just get in touch and give them a chance to “convert” to supporting pro-access efforts.   Get a few buddies to jump in with you.  Be fair.  If they don’t covert, STOP buying from them and let them know why.  You will be helping  to SAVE our sports and keep our trails open by doing that.


On the other hand, let’s say you buy from an outfit that is ALWAYS showing up with product donations to raffles, giving to landuse organizations, supporting the cause of access on their website and in their newsletters…..GIVE THEM A HUG – publicly!  Say so on forums when it’s appropriate.  Let your buddies know about the “good guys.” Be outspoken why YOU buy from the businesses who support keeping our trails open.  This has to go two ways  -- love the one you’re with and let the others you’re not with know WHY!
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Monday, June 9, 2014

Tribute to Mark Smith, Rubicon Trail -- Jeep Jamboree Fame

Mark A. Smith passed away yesterday and we mourn his loss.  Founder of the Jeepers Jamboree and Jeep Jamboree, Inc,; creator of rock crawling, adventurer who crossed the Darian Gap in a '76 CJ on 33's; donated and delivered by copter 90 bags of cement when FOTR built the Sluice Bypass and made it look "natural;" jump in to help Friends of the Rubicon (FOTR) get started and flourish from the very beginning; Inductee in the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame, and a man who leaves behind an incredible, lasting legacy that will never be forgotten.



A fun shot posted in February 2014 on Facebook with my take on the caption possibility.

The VERY first work party at the creation of Friends of the Rubicon (FOTR) with Mark Smith right there helping (pony tail alive and well).

Rest in peace Mark...you will live in in our hearts and minds.
Del

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

VOTE Today; and Pass on Your Passion

VOTE TODAY; PASS ON YOUR PASSION!

Do it! Vote and pass on your passion today (June 3rd) -- whatever it may be; share it; and vote for those who support what you believe in. Don't let this happen without you; our voice counts but we gotta let it rip at the polls! Stacie and I believe in many forms of freedom, and we will always VOTE for those common sense candidates who will help us pass on OUR passions and keep them alive.  


For incumbents we will check their voting record and platform statements on their websites.  We will write letters to those we question and ASK where they stand.  And we will campaign for those who believe like we do and will help us pass on our passions for the outdoors and for freedom!

PLEASE VOTE.