Sierra Chapter news and notes

[Bryan C.]

I thought it would be a good time to post up some news and notes about our chapter.

Starting off, November is fast approaching and it will be time for chapter BOD elections. Now this is NOT the nomination thread or the place to post your intentions about running, but I would like everyone to stop for a minute and think about running for a position on the chapter BOD. The nomination period will begin November 1st, so please take the next few months see if you are interested in stepping up to help out the Sierra Chapter.

Chapter funds. With the success of the t-shirts sales and the Sierra Fest raffle, we now have approx $1200 in our chapter fund. Now this money has been earmarked all along for a land use donation of some sort. What I need from you guys are some suggestions regarding where you think the money would be best used. I personally would prefer a group that is active in our area who helps keep these trails open and maintains them for all of us. A few notable organizations are: The Rubicon Trail Foundation, Fresno Four Wheelers, also there is Friends of Fordyce although it is unknown if they will be accepting donations before the end of the year. So please use this thread to throw out any other organizations who you think would benefit from a donation. We would like to split the chapter fund to make a donation to at least 2 different clubs/organizations.

Chapter runs. This year we scaled back our run schedule due to a lack of interest from the previous year. I would like to see some input on what your thoughts are on this. Should we limit the runs to 4 per year? I haven't seen many informal runs posted up this year either. So, let's give the next BOD (whoever that might be) some input rgarding your interest level for a run schedule next year.

I want to thank everyone who bought t-shirts and raffle tickets for their support. I hope that we can use the money collected to contribute to a good/worthy cause.

Bryan C.
Sierra Chapter President

 

[karstic]

I know I'm not a member of SC per se, but if I were I would put my vote for the Fresno Four Wheelers after seeing the work they were doing on the Swamp Lake trail.

Maybe contact the individual groups that you are considering giving money to and see what kind of projects they have scheduled for the year to come.

 

[Ben H]

I dont know much about Friends of Fordyce, but it seems to me that they need the most help.

I agree with Steve on donating to the Four Wheel Drive Club of Fresno. They do a lot of work with the Sierra National Forest to keep the Shaver area trails open and in good order. It is no doubt that this club has it going on.

Those are the two organizations that I think should get the donations.

 

[Bryan C.]

So nobody else has any input on this?

 

[XJ_ranger]

As for the donations - Id really like to see FOF do something before we hand them a chunk of change... But I like the idea of an org that supports that trail - ive never gotten a chance to run that yet and would like to.

as for this -

Chapter runs. This year we scaled back our run schedule due to a lack of interest from the previous year. I would like to see some input on what your thoughts are on this. Should we limit the runs to 4 per year? I haven't seen many informal runs posted up this year either. So, let's give the next BOD (whoever that might be) some input rgarding your interest level for a run schedule next year.

I like the idea of having 4 runs a year, but definately wouldnt want to limit it to 4 runs per year.

Every event that ive been to - regardless of the turn out or intrest has been a blast! sometimes small groups can be more fun too... I dont think that there has to be a ton of rigs out there to consider an event sucessful...

 

[Capt. Nemo]

I'd say give it to the TDO crew. After attending a few meetings with some of those guys, and helping out with work projects that they were in charge of, they have their stuff together. They have a good handle on trail issues and wouldn't stand for allowing money that they donated to a cause to go unused or misused. It isn't really an organization I guess - it would be more of like a forward lateral.

Maybe Blue Ribbon, but they are all over the place geographically - unless the funds were earmarked specifically to help with the Route Dez or Sierra trails in general.

I'm reluctant to give it to FOTR, since their annual meeting didn't even include a budget report. I guess they aren't considered a NPO (I could be wrong) and the funds go to RTF. Besides, there are other trails out there besides the 'Con...

There's my .02

 

[Boatwrench]

This may be an over simplification, but let's figure out which battle is being waged where a donation made would tip the scales in the off-road enthusiast favor. One that will be a win.

It is my opinion, that we are fighting the battle to keep trails open on too many fronts. I think it would be better to focus all our resources on winning a key, land mark decision and the use that as the basis for the other fights.

Unfortunately, I am not that knowledgable of which trail that may be.
Panamint Valley?

 

[Bryan C.]

Tom, you made a great point, although the Panamint Valley fight suffered a setback recently.

So far we have the Fresno Four Wheelers, TDO even though I think most of their funds are sent to the Rubicon Trail Foundation. Any other places anyone can think of?

 

[JeepFreak21]

Maybe Blue Ribbon, but they are all over the place geographically - unless the funds were earmarked specifically to help with the Route Dez or Sierra trails in general.

I sent them some money and specified that it was for the eminent lawsuit to keep the Eldorado Nat'l Forest trails open. They sent me a letter that acknowledged the cause I specified. I heard that they have already filed a suit.
Billy

 

[XJedi23]

I sent them some money and specified that it was for the eminent lawsuit to keep the Eldorado Nat'l Forest trails open. They sent me a letter that acknowledged the cause I specified. I heard that they have already filed a suit.
Billy

Good Idea putting the money toward lawyers fees, because thats what its going to take to keep our trails open. F-ing Lawyers.

 

[XJ_ranger]

we now have approx $1200 in our chapter fund.

How much of this figure is to be donated? All of it?

Might also look into CORVA and Cal4wd...

http://www.corva.org/

http://www.cal4wheel.com/

My only issue with CORVA is they support the quads and dirt bikes as well - which in my opinion are the bigger scars to the name of our sport...

 

[Starboard M]

I think there should be a couple organized chapter runs. Say Sierra Fest, Hollister trip, Pismo, Rubicon.

And then let everyone post up trips that they are doing on the side.

Although, that was probably what was going on before that didnt work.

 

[JoesXJ]

I've heard nothing but good things about Four Wheel Drive Club of Fresno.

 

[selarep]

Fresno 4 wheel has my support.

 

[Letterman]

I don't get why a group like would give a donation to another Club/Group and let them get the credit. Maybe give to the same orginization as another group but . . . :gag:


How about one or some of these groups:
United Four Wheel Drive Association

California Association of 4 Wheel Drive


BlueRibbon Coalition


Tread Lightly


CORVA


Friends of the Rubicon

FOF Friends of the Fordyce


Bryan you have my suport what ever you end up doing with it.

 

[XJedi23]

What he said. :idea:

 

[Goatman]

The main issues with the Rubicon seem to be stemming from the ongoing law suit against the Eldorado National Forest. I think it would be important to financially support the organizations that are intervening in that lawsiut for our benefit, since it takes money to deal with court actions. I would recommend a contribution the the Rubicon Trail Foundation as the local lead orgnization, rather than Cal4Wheel or Blue Ribbon.

I agree that it would be a nice thing to support the Fresno 4x4 club since they do such a good job of maintaining the trails we use in the Shaver Lake area. Also, it would be a good PR move by us to make a donation and get recognized by them.

To me it's up to the chapter board how much they think we need to keep in reserve. I suggest a $200 donation to the Fresno 4x4 club, and a $500-800 donation to the Rubicon Trail Foundation.

 

[JP]

I agree that if the contribution goes to one of the legal battles it should be from not through some other club.

I know all the talk lately has been about the ongoing effort to keep trails open but another possibility could be for supplies for a specific work project. The trails still need maintenance while they are open. This could generate some positive publicity on what our community does in the forest where the forest service lacks and our chapter would get some recognition and exposure. This could include any upcoming projects on Fordyce, Rubicon or the Shaver area.

Just another thought.

 

[Trail-Axe]

Do we have any friends at the state capital?

Maybe there is someone in the senate or assembly that likes to use the same trails we do. When it comes time to pass a law, that is where the effort counts. I have worked at the state capitol, and I have seen how things get done there. What we need is someone who could lobby for us at that level, and help get bills in our favor passed, and bills against our use of the trails killed.

Gar

 

[JeepFreak21]

Getting close to decision time, right? ... any more thoughts?

What's the SCBOD thinking?

Thanks,
Billy