XTRA - XTRA read all about it!! Chronicle Published A Response!!

[woodsy]

:cool: Yesterday, Sunday - 25 December 2005, our local paper (The Muskegon Chronicle) actually published one of our responses to the icky article concerning "ORVers Gone Wild"..
Mr. Jeramey Valley, Mapping/Dual Sport Co-ordinator for the CCC of MI, got the honor of representing us and, I must say, did a BANG UP JOB!!!!!!
I am sure that one/some of you more puter' savy types with a High Speed connection will go and search out the link to his response so I wont bother trying to take pics and post them on here for everyones reading pleasure.. However, if no one reponds with the link, I will gladly do so!!
ANyway, THANKS Jeramey for a reponse WELL written!! If it is only one response that gets published I am GLAD it was yours!! :cool:
LETS HEAR IT FOR JERAMEY!!

 

[2TrakR]

Thanks for the head's up Woodsy! I can't find the article online, so here's a copy of what the CCC sent in. Note that I penned it, but the CCC/Board approved it as a message from our entire organization.

---
To: As the Reader See’s It – Muskegon Chonicle
From: Jeramey Valley, CCC Board of Governors
Re: Recent anti-ORV articles


I'd like to offer a slightly different view of motorized recreation in the State of Michigan, in response to Mr. Alexander's article "Boom in ORV riding taking it's toll on land". His article was published by the Chronicle on November 20, 2005. I'm speaking on behalf of 5000+ members of the Cycle Conservation Club of Michigan, a family oriented motorized recreation group in existence since 1968.

Is there damage being done by ORVs on our Public land? There is some damage being done, by a minority of careless/clueless riders. As with most things in life from drunk driving to jay walking, there are a small percentage of all groups that insist on ignoring the rules and laws established by society. ORV operators have taken a stance against such negative behavior and even put their money and time where their mouths are. Part of Michigan's ORV Program includes money dedicated to restoration projects which address the carelessness of a few. That money is derived solely from User Fees collected via DNR licenses for ORVs (an ORV sticker). Since that program's inception, over 2.4 million dollars have been spent on restoration projects.

Motorized recreation enthusiasts are also heavily involved with protecting and sustaining our Public lands, as well as fighting to ensure appropriate access for all members of the Public. We take direct action to protect the forests by multiple projects including trail maintenance, Adopt a Forest, Forest Clean-Up and Arbor Day tree plantings. We also stay involved with and help shape Forest Plans and management practices to ensure that the Public is not locked out of their land. Many proposed changes to these Plans, that we disagree with, would close hundreds of thousands of acres to the Public whether they are on foot or ATV. By being involved with the public comment processes and our working relationships with Land Managers we are able to shape the future to everyone's benefit.

ORV enthusiasts have also been successful in opening the county roads to ORV travel in two counties just recently. Those counties join a long list that have already done so, many years ago in fact, including most of the counties in the upper peninsula and three counties in northern lower Michigan. Ogemaw county was the most recent to implement such local legislation in 2005 with Iosco preparing to enact theirs on January 1st. Ogemaw county has found a number of startling facts which are quite contrary to the fears expressed by many USFS and DNR Staff. The local communities have obviously benefitted economically from the tourism dollars brought in by ORVers, they have also found unexpected financial benefits in less obvious areas such as increased Real Estate purchases from those same ORV enthusiasts who now want to obtain property in an area friendly to their choice of recreational pursuits. What may come as a shock to the nay-sayers is that ORV related citations have decreased dramatically since the roads were opened to them in these counties. The feared environmental damage has also not occurred, nor have increases in ORV related accidents both on or off road.

ORVers pay for their recreational pursuits in several ways. Their trails are paid for and maintained by dollars generated solely from the DNR license fee that all ORV operators must pay. This money also pays for law enforcement, both County Sheriff and DNR Conservation Officers. Additionally it provides for the mandatory safety and education training all youth operators must complete. Separately from the ORV Program, an excess of 1 million dollars are paid in State and Federal motor vehicle fuel taxes by ORV operators. That money goes directly to the maintenance of Public roads, the same roads that most ORVs are not permitted to use.

Rider education, responsible riding, sustainable forest management and enhanced recreational opportunity are all items that the motorized community are striving for. These items are reflected well in the ongoing State ORV Management Plan revision. These same values are shown in the US Forest Service's recent policy requiring all Management Regions to implement Recreation Plans that encompass motorized recreation. Michigan is three steps ahead on most all of these items as they already have plans in place which have been in effect for many years.

Getting the remaining 1% of violators on board with the rest of us, as with most things in life, remains a challenge for all. Each time we find a "one percenter" and share our views and values we get closer, especially if they change their ways immediately. As our education, awareness and outreach programs continue to expand, we progressively see the negative behavior decrease while at the same time participation and sheer numbers grow by leaps and bounds. Providing safe and enjoyable recreational opportunities for our friends and families remains a worthy and achievable goal.



Sincerely,
(my stuff in here)

 

[dales298]

Well Written indeed!

Dale

 

[KTM Mike]

You da Man Jeremey! EXCELLENT response! You almost make the rest of us sound respectable!

 

[INCA]

When you know the subject matter well, what is written is better and easier to do. Mr. Alexander as a reporter simply didn't do his homework.

Thanks you Jeramey

Young Ted

 

[Circuit Rider]

Well done, Jeramey...

Mike Sr.

 

[SNDMN2]

:worship:

 

[MWEISSEN]

I nominate Jeremey Valley for the next Michigan Governor!!!

Any seconds?

 

[2TrakR]

Bwhahaha that's too funny!

Just got your CD order today, Mark. I'm waiting for some new cases to arrive so I can ship the buggers out. 37 CD orders so far... that's like 1% of our active membership.

 

[YZMAN400]

Ill get my order in Soon Jerramy. Just gotta get my ducks in a row around here 1st.

 

[2TrakR]

Hate to hijack this thread, but.. I also was able to get all of 2005's Great Lakes TrailRider in PDF format on the CD; this happened after we published the article on what was included. Lots of cool stuff on this disc..

 

[70 marlin]

Jeremey, I'll get my order in for a CD. I don't even own a GPS that can use the info, hopefully my pc can use it? Thanks again for your ongoing support of the Michigan trail riders and the offroaders of MI. Is there a phone number that a can order CD order from?

 

[2TrakR]

Pat -
The CD has lots of non-GPS stuff like PDF version of our mapbook, the last years worth of the GLTR & more.
Hope I don't sound like a commercial, just think it's cool we can make this available.

 

[Asrith]

Like where can we get this?????

 

[2TrakR]

Sorry Asrith, forget who all is on this board at times.
This CD is the "CCC Member Map CD" and is available only to CCC members. Order form in the December Great Lakes TrailRider.
I can email the order form if you don't have the current GLTR. [email protected]
CD is $20 to cover shipping and materials.
The content on the CD includes:
Current CCC Mapbook
2005 issues of the Great Lakes TrailRider
Original Pere Marquette Cycle Trail MapBook
Current CCC Trail Directory
GPS files of all the trails
GPS loadable maps off the current MapBook
DNR Trail Maintenance Handbook
DNR ORV Handbook

All of the data is updated through 2005; the map files included have been updated since the paper mapbook was printed in winter of 05.

 

[Asrith]

I appreciate the response, I emailed you about membership. Thank you!

 

[BigTig]

Hey there JV!!
Thanks again for the great response in the Muskegon paper!
you should see my order coming through pretty quick for the CD.
Seeing as how the CCC had me listed as being born in 1909, do I get the senior discount? Oh, that's right, you took my plaque for oldest "standing" member away...

Tom