Meeting Minutes - January 06, 2010

[akrange]

• Business Meetings Schedule
Meeting Date: Wednesday, January 06, 2010 @ 7:00 PM
Monthly Meetings: First Wednesday of every month at 7:00 PM
Next meeting date and time: Wednesday, February 3rd @ 7:00 PM

• Other Upcoming Events
ID4x4 Association annual meeting has been scheduled for March 13th at 1:00pm in Twin Falls. The place is still TBD. There will be a trail ride before the meeting. Meet in the dirt lot just before the bridge on the left. Rob will give a better description of the meeting place. Rob Culver from Snake River Canyon Krawlers will be hosting the run which will begin at 8am and will end at 12:00pm. This should give ample time to grab lunch and head to the meeting.

• Land Use Update
Update is attached below

• Non-profit Guidelines
There will be a copy of the new non-profit guidelines and business model at the annual meeting for everyone to read and discuss.

• Banking
Account Balance: $9,079.79

• 2010 Newsletter
We are asking that each club put together a brief description of an event held this fall or winter. Please include a couple of pictures. We would like to have a new newsletter

• Annual Meeting
Shawna & Sherri will do the Costco shopping for the meeting. We will buy snacks and drinks.
Rob will contact KMVT to reserve a meeting room for the Meeting.

Land Use Update
Land Use Coordinator Report January 6, 2010
The following report has been submitted by Eric Vogt, Association Land Use Coordinator

Outside Idaho:

We need to start looking outside of our backyard to what is happening else where. Tellico OHV was closed by the Forest Service. It was the largest OHV area east of the Mississippi. It was one of the only public OHV areas in that part of the country. The forest service closed it down using what the S4wdA claimed was faulty studies. They went so far as to hire an independent contractor to do studies showing the mistakes of the forest service studies used to close Tellico down. So far they have not been successful in getting Tellico reopened. Moab is said to be next on the chopping block. I really didn’t think that it could happen but after reading more and more and researching the Tellico situation, I don’t think it is too far out of the realm of possibilities. If the big off road meccas are closed it won’t be long until things will be looking grim right here in our own backyard.

BRC Deal to Consider:

Blue Ribbon Coalition is really trying to increase their numbers. The more members they have the more clout they have in D.C. Recently they have developed a partnership with the TLCA where they are offering a TLCA membership, BRC membership, and a $25 4 wheel Parts gift card for $40. Normally TLCA is $30 and BRC is $30 so this is a great deal. I’ve contacted them and asked them about doing a similar deal for the Idaho State 4x4 Association. Here’s the deal that I’d like the board to consider. If someone join s BRC at a discount price of $25 before January 31st, they will send $10 back to the Idaho State 4x4 Association (it could be used for dues or just a donation), and they will send them a $25 gift card from 4 wheel parts. So basically you get BRC membership for free and you’d be giving the Association $10 as you’d have your $25 gift card. 4 wheel parts has been very supportive of BRC and they are offering 10% off on anything on their website to BRC members. This includes stuff that normally doesn’t get included in their weekly 10-15% off sales. There is one catch, the catch is that if you took advantage of a membership opportunity from another organization and joined BRC using a deal you are not eligible for this deal. Using myself as an example, since I reupped using the TLCA deal, I’m not eligible for this deal. I need to let BRC know if the Idaho 4x4 Association is interested in this deal or not tomorrow as there isn’t much time left for it, January 31st will be here before you know it. If the association wants to do it, I need to have someone send them an Association logo and they’ll send back a .pdf to use a flyer to pitch this idea to each club or to post on the Association Website or Club Websites.

Other ways to keep informed:

Del Albright is on facebook now. If you are interested in hearing about actions he’s working on request him as a friend. BRC has a new website to start out 2010. Check it out at http://www.sharetrails.org Also look for their rig at the King of the Hammers race. BRC is also on Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace link up with them if you use those services.

Around Idaho:

Murphy Subregion: They are waiting for a response on the Owyhee County Appeal. The eagle appeal came back from IBLA and it was denied. So that is good as 4wds were the primary target in that appeal. On another note, the 45 has been fenced and the play area behind the Blue Canoe has been closed. The road to 2 headed dragon and Lost Trail is still open and if the appeal gets rejected from Owyhee County the plan will go into effect leaving everything as it was outlined in the final draft. They have been having some problems with motorcycles loosening the fence by Blue Canoe and slipping underneath it. I was told that this area is actually private property and that the BLM is working with the landowner to get it posted as such.

Sawtooths: No change. It is sitting in court. I hate these sorts of updates.

4 Rivers: I’ve dropped the ball on the 4 Rivers plan. I wasn’t able to make it up to Boise for the meeting due to work. I know many of the Boise club members attended the meeting and have a better feel for what is needed in that area. The BLM seems really open to working with 4wd enthusiasts in creating areas for us to recreate in their plan. This is a good opportunity for the ID4x4A to work with BLM in creating a plan that will benefit the 4wd community. I’m sorry I’m not better informed I’ll work on that for the next two reports.

Update on the Land Use Coordinator Position:

Due to personal obligations I will be stepping down as Land Use Coordinator in with the change of officers in March. I feel like I started out strong and things were moving along fairly well until September/October and then I hit a wall. Part of it is my personal life is changing rapidly with two growing boys, we now have activities Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday nights and combining that with work and projects around the house I’m strapped for time, so much that I haven’t been out on the trail since September. I’ve taken some crap from some of the ID4x4A members for not attending the meetings, but I was upfront about not being able to attend meetings when I was asked to do this. I said I would do reports which I have done for almost all of the meetings (I think I missed only one and there wasn’t really anything to report anyway). The other part of me that wants to call it quits is due to my overall dissatisfaction with how things are going with the Association. Being the only representative from the ID4x4A to show up to the Public Lands day really sent a personal message to me as to where many of the members’ priorities are in regards to land use. I just think my philosophy of land use and working with people and that of the Association’s clash.

Something I’d like all volunteers to consider:

Here’s something I’d like the Association to consider. When you hold your elections and when you volunteer for a position make sure your slate is clear. If you have a young family forget about being one of the main people. Let a single person, younger couple, or retired person take on the main responsibility as they are more likely to get things done. I’ve watched this happen over and over with people volunteering in organizations and I’ve seen it happen many times with the Idaho 4x4 Association. People take on positions and they have all these ideas on how to make things better and they are going to do this and that. But then reality sits in and their obligations to work or family that interfere with them completing their goals for their volunteer work. Soon a year or two has slipped by and the organization has suffered. I’m realizing that I’m in that position right now, and that is why I’m stepping down.

[Lehi]

Eric

Thanks for all the hard work you put in.

Lehi