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Wednesday, October 31, 2012

SEMA SHOW AND TRAIL ACCESS

SEMA SHOW OFF-ROAD HALL GETS IT AWN!

Tons of vendors and thousands of smiling faces have greeted us so far here at the SEMA show in Las Vegas, NV.  It's all good too!

There is a lot of talk about landuse, saving trails and keeping the sport alive .....just what we love to talk about.  There are plenty of interested and supportive businesses who are upping their game to help us keep trails and lands open.

This pic just shows one collection of vendors, all part of the 4Wheel Parts/Transamerica family....that thoroughly supports landuse and access.  4Wheel Parts is one of our title sponsors on our new landuse and volunteerism book as well (http://www.delalbright.com/book_order.html)

Check out our Facebook pages for more pics of the SEMA show.

Del

Thursday, October 25, 2012

WORRIED ABOUT THE RUBICON TRAIL

IS GOVERNMENT LISTENING TO THE USERS?

I left my leadership position in Friends of the Rubicon (FOTR) and the Rubicon Trail Foundation (RTF) a few years back, thinking that we had laid a positive foundation to continue these incredible efforts to keep the Rubicon Trail open to all of us...all year; for all types of rigs; with challenges for us all.

NOT THE CASE!!!

I am sorely disappointed in the way the trail has changed in the last few years, and I am not afraid to step up and say that government is NOT listening to the users.  Not in this case.  Something is wrong and we need to bring some slap down on the deaf ones who "govern" our use of public lands in the case of the Rubicon Trail.

From the  blowing of the Gatekeeper, conducted like an ambush in war, unbeknownst to users and unspoken in public forums beforehand; to the resizing and near paving of Little Sluice in spite of comprehensive surveys and public input against such maneuvers behind the scenes; to the changing and possible closure of Soup (Bowl, Kitchen).  It is NOT what the users have asked for and have said in public forum. Government is NOT listening.

And do we have some of our own supporting these insidious, sneaky, behind the scenes moves?  I'm not sure; but I am sure that the folks I talk to, do NOT support these radical changes to the Rubicon Trail.

Oh, let's ask ourselves who has invested tens of thousand of hours in hard work, sweat, blood and back-breaking work in making this trail a trail for all?  Friends of the Rubicon (FOTR), that is who. Since the first work party in the summer of 2001, and hundreds of work parties since then, every summer....FOTR has earned the key to this trail.  Why does Government think they know best on this one?

FOTR earned tens of thousands of dollars in grant money for government agencies to help us manage the trail, maintain the trail, and mitigate the issues with erosion and use. So why would not government LISTEN to the users in how the trail should look in the future? YOU GOT ME.

Here's my suggestion for you if this does not wrap your winch the right way:  1) make sure your membership is current in fighting outfits like BlueRibbon Coalition and Cal4wheel; 2) make sure you're participating in Google groups for FOTR with your voice being heard; and 3) donate to those groups fighting for access THE RIGHT WAY, for you.
More on BRC here at http://www.sharetrails.org
More on Cal4 here at http://www.cal4wheel.com
More on Del at http://www.delalbright.com

Whatever you do; do NOT let your voice go unheard.  Back it with donations and memberships.  Be in the game.  It is OUR public lands we are talking about.
Del





Thursday, October 11, 2012

TAP TOUR FALL 2012 ANNOUNCED


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:  Del Albright, del@delalbright.com


TRAIL ACCESS PARTNERSHIP TOUR (TAPT) FALL 2012
 Landuse Tour Open to the Public
Join Del & Stacie Albright on a landuse, trail-saving adventure!


Businesses, partners and off-road enthusiasts are invited to join Blue Ribbon Coalition’s Del & Stacie Albright for a fun convoy, dedicated to trail access awareness bringing customers and businesses together in the spirit of landuse.  The tour begins with the annual meeting of the North American Motorized Recreation Council (NAMRC), and the SEMA show in Las Vegas, NV; next up is the 32nd annual Hump n Bump in Logandale, NV, followed by a few days exploring Death Valley, ending with Panamint Valley Days hosted by the Calif. Assoc. of 4Wheel Drive Clubs! 

The TAP Tour embodies key components of the BlueRibbon Coalition Mission -- to provide leadership in responsible recreation and empower members to secure, protect and expand recreational access.

You are invited to jump in for all or part of the tour.  The Tour motto is: we will NOT be “tapped” out of our trail access!  Our goal is to use this Tour to provide a forum for businesses, clubs, individuals and land use professionals to share a connection and exchange strategies for a positive future in off-road recreation, while building support for organized recreation.

Additional adventure stops and area orientations may be included as Tour planning continues.  Businesses will be showcased and everyone involved will be supporting landuse just by being there (for all or part).

Support landuse; have fun; hang with off-road businesses and enjoy campfire stories that will be unequalled!   Evening sessions will include landuse seminars, membership building motivational speeches, leadership tips, and vendor showcasing with tech tips as appropriate.  Several off-road 4x4 clubs will be joining us as we travel along.  In between the organized events, the rest of this Tour will be nothing too structured; just fun tagging along with each other and special invites to dinners, meetings, factory tours, trail cleanups and more. All we ask is that you support landuse and responsible trail access to be part of our Tour.

RSVP to Del Albright (del@delalbright.com) or on Facebook even if you only want to keep up with the fun and plans.  Facebook page and RSVP can be done here: http://www.facebook.com/events/250626235039729/

More on the NAMRC:  http://www.namrc.com

Registration and information about Hump ‘n Bump here: http://www.vv4w.org/hump-n-bump

Registration and information about Panamint Valley Days here: http://www.cal4wheel.com/events/panamint-valley-days

More about BlueRibbon Coalition at http://www.sharetrails.org



 


Outdoor Writers, Photojournalists, and Recreation Advocates
ALBRIGHT ENTERPRISES
PO BOX 127
Mokelumne Hill, CA  95245
Del      (209) 304-7693
Stacie (209) 217-6886


Ambassador, BlueRibbon Coalition www.sharetrails.org
Founding Trail Boss, Friends of the Rubicon www.rubiconfriends.com
Environmental Affairs, CA4WDC www.cal4wheel.com
Find us on Facebook here

Contact Del at del@delalbright.com

Sunday, October 7, 2012

RACERS AND BUSINESSES, RENEW LANDUSE VOWS NOW!

TEAM ALBRIGHT ASKS ALL RACERS AND OFF-ROAD BUSINESSES TO RENEW THEIR LANDUSE VOWS THIS WEEK -- JOIN OR RENEW AND REVITALIZE OUR SPORT

With the elections pending and a whole new fight ahead of us to preserve our off-road sports and save our backcountry access, we need a flush of memberships, right now.  Please join us.

This is a partial list, but an important one, to help you decide where to put your memberships and support.  Racers and off-roaders should join their State and Regional Associations that best represent your sport.

Businesses need to join several outfits, national, regional and state level, depending on where your biggest customer base resides.

START HERE: https://www.sharetrails.org/support/join-or-contribute


BlueRibbon Coalition supports and fights for ALL TRAILS, and ALL SPORTS, nationwide, at the grassroots level.  I recommend EVERYONE be part of BRC.  Start there, the add on.  BRC is the outfit Stacie and I work for full time.

California folks, or businesses with a large customer base in CA need to join this family-oriented 4x4 association.  With over 50 years of history, CA4WDC is fighting daily with professional landuse folks to maintain our access.

Visit and support Cal4 at http://www.cal4wheel.com







Dirt biker folks and businesses need to start with the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA), at

http://www.ama-cycle.org







4x4 folks should consider joining and support United Four Wheel Drive Associations as the national sport-specific group for jeeps, trucks, and 4x4's.

Visit and support UFWDA at http://www.ufwda.org





Businesses in the off-road industry should consider joining the Off-Road Business Association (ORBA), a trade association dedicated to help businesses preserve and promote recreational access and the off-road sports.

Join and support ORBA here:  http://www.orba.biz



There are many more choices and this list is just a start.  Every state has outfits fighting for the sport and our trails.  Write if you need more links or help deciding.

Some more groups working on our behalf include:

California Off-Road Vehicle Association (CORVA): http://www.corva.org
Tread Lightly! at http://www.treadlightly.org
Americans for Responsible Recreational Access (ARRA): http://www.arra-access.com
American Sand Association (ASA): http://www.americansandassociation.org
Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association (ROHVA): http://www.rohva.org
North American XJ Association: http://www.naxja.org

And visit Muirnet.net for a thorough list here:http://www.4x4wire.com/4x4-resource-and-information-links/other-4wd-and-offroad-sites-4

Del