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This e-mail newsletter is distributed by:
New York State Off-Highway Recreational Vehicle Assn., Inc.
PO Box 338
Ravena, NY 12143-0338

Please copy and distribute to all interested parties. Your participation affects the quality of this newsletter: Please submit your pertinent material for inclusion in subsequent issues.

Editor: Alex Ernst, aernst@albany.net

Our Official Homepage is located at http://www.nysorva.org

An index of past newsletter issues is available at http://www.nysorva.org/news/newslist.htm

To request an addition to or removal from the list, e-mail aernst@albany.net listing name and e-mail address.

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SUBJECTS FOR THIS NEWSLETTER ARE:

1: St. Lawrence County Passes ATV Trails Funding Resolution
2: ATV/Trailbike Survey
3: ANF Draft Policy Comments Requested
4: AMA News
5: 4-H ATV Safety Training Program
6: The Truth about the New Millennium
7: More National Park Trails in Jeopardy of Closure
8: Businessman Tries to Open OHV Park

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1) ST. LAWRENCE COUNTY PASSES RESOLUTION

On 11/1/1999 the St. Lawrence County Legislature with a 15-0 vote passed a resolution, based on the NYSORVA proposed draft, in support of the State ATV Trail Funding bills (S632B/A1060) and of a public trail system. This makes #2 after Franklin County to adopt such resolution.

It would not have happened without the efforts of Star Lake OHV advocate Gaylord Kerr almost camping out at the Legislature to get them to take up the matter. We owe him thanks and hope others will look to him for support, encouragement and advice on how they might accomplish the same in their home county.

Gaylord has now turned his sights toward adjacent to OHV hotbed Lewis County and its Legislature to encourage its members to also consider a resolution, but he needs a county resident to coop the effort. Mr. Kerr can be reached at 315-848-2285 if you can help.

Two of the 53 County Legislatures that were sent the proposed draft by NYSORVA have now accepted versions of the resolution. As the new State Legislative year approaches, we need all the political pressure available to bear on the ATV bills. So, we hope that riders from around the state will contact their County Legislative Member to ask for the resolution matter to be taken up. If you need any support in such an effort, please contact us if you need assistance.

2) ATV/TRAIL BIKE SURVEY

NYSORVA is preparing to release a survey by mail to a significant cross-section of New Yorkers identified as ATV and trial bike riders. The survey is intended to get an honest picture of the public level of support for ATV Trail Funding and Trail System development.

The results of the survey will be compiled and presented to ATV Trail Fund Legislation sponsors Senator Nozzolio (S632B) and Assemblyman Bragman (A1060) to demonstrate support for promotion of OHV recreational activity and encourage continued attention to their bills. Results will also be shared with other politicians and state agency personnel as appropriate.

A preliminary draft of the survey will be available on our web site at http://www.nysorva.org/documents/surveydraft.htm.

Please print out copies for yourself and anyone else you know who would like to participate in this process. Please mail completed surveys to:

NYSORVA Survey
PO Box 338
Ravena, NY 12143-0338

As an alternative you may copy the survey into your e-mail program, edit in your responses and e-mail to aernst@albany.net.

3) ANF: DRAFT POLICY COMMENTS REQUESTED

This comes to us from the Allegany National Forest headquarters:

Allegheny National Forest
P.O. Box 847
222 Liberty Street
Warren, PA 16365

(814) 723-5150; FAX (814) 726-1465

Reply to: 1900

October 27, 1999

Dear Interested Public:

We are writing to inform you that a new Proposed Rule for the National Forest System Land and Resource Management Planning Act (NFMA) was published in the Federal Register on October 5, 1999. The 90-day period for the public to make comments on the Proposed Rule ends on January 4, 2000.

The Proposed Rule interprets the National Forest Management Act, which requires that each National Forest develop and implement a Forest Plan that outlines a vision of how and where sustainable forest management activities will be emphasized. The Proposed Rule will provide operating directions to the Forest Service to use during the revision of the existing Forest Plans. It incorporates recommendations made by a Committee of Scientists appointed by USDA Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman to help guide the Forest Service in constructing a new planning regulation to replace the existing regulations issued in 1982. The Proposed Rule is based upon 20 years of experience in developing and implementing Forest Plans, and builds on innovations in collaborative stewardship, sustainable ecosystem management, and the best use of science.

You can access the Proposed Rule and related summary documents on the Internet at the following site: www.fs.fed.us/forum/nepa/rule. Many libraries also carry copies of the Federal Register.

Public comments will be carefully reviewed and considered in creating the Final Planning Regulations. You may submit your written comments on the Proposed Rule through the above website or e-mail them to planreg/wo_caet@fs.fed.us. Comments can also be faxed to (406) 329-3021 or mailed hardcopy to:

We are hosting a local Town Hall meeting about this Proposed Rule on Wednesday, November 10, 1999 between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. at Olmsted Manor (Hickman Hall), which is located on Route 6 in Ludlow, PA. Our purpose for this meeting is to introduce you to the main themes of the Proposed Rule so you can later make better-informed comments about the proposed changes. You may ask questions of Forest Service officials to obtain a clearer understanding of the proposed changes, or discuss the changes with each other. We point out that this meeting is not a typical "public meeting" because we will not be collecting written or oral comments on the Proposed Rule.

Thank you for your continuing interest in land management planning on your National Forests. Please contact Gary Kell, Forest Planner on the Allegheny, at 814/723-5150 if you have questions.

Sincerely,

/s/ Gary Kell for

JOHN E. PALMER

Forest Supervisor

4) AMA News

NYSORVA stands with District 3 AMA President in asking for a greater presence of off-road enthusiasts at the district’s upcoming Sanction Meeting. I have pledged to attend and hope more of you will be able to come on behalf of your clubs or yourselves. Clubs can obtain AMA charters or renew at his meeting, so please come with a list of your members’ AMA numbers (minimum 5 numbers required for social club, 10 if you want to buy insurance for a sanctioned event). The meeting will be held at the Cobleskill Best Western Hotel, December 4 with the general meetings starting after the 9:30am Road Division meeting. For more information please contact D3 pres. Larry Schultz at (518) 399-7406 or e-mail lschwartz@webramp.com.

Larry also reminds us to check into the AMA Statewatch web service. It follows legislative and regulatory actions at the state and local levels. Go to www.ama-cycle.org then click on the Government Relations Dept. link.

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NYSORVA congratulates and welcomes the new AMA president, J. Scott Thornton. Also congratulations to the entire AMA community, now in its 75^th year, for attaining the 240,000-member level just recently [we now know it is actually 242,000 as of this writing]. Read on…

From an AMA News Release, A99084, November 3, 1999

Contact: Matt Ringlien, Phone: (614) 856-1900, Fax: (614) 856-1920

AMA names new president

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) has announced the hiring of J. Scott Thornton, CAE, as president and CEO of the 240,000-member Association.

Thornton has decades of experience in motorcycling, taking his first ride on a Cushman scooter in the '50s, then moving on to road and off-road riding, along with some dirt-track racing, on an Indian. After a stint in combat aeromedical evacuation with the Air Force in Vietnam, he returned to motorcycling in the 1970s. Since, he has accumulated over a half-million miles, mostly on touring machines. His wife, Diana, has some 250,000 miles on her own machines.

Thornton brings 22 years of experience in association management to the job of running the world's largest organization of motorcyclists. His professional background includes management positions with the American Heart Association, the International Education Forum and the Credit Union Executives Society.

An active member of the AMA for 18 years, Thornton graduated from an AMA EAGLES Leadership Academy in 1994. Since then, he has served as one of the Association's Field Reps, representing the AMA at a variety of events.

"I enjoy motorcycling of all kinds," Thornton said. "The main thing for me is the camaraderie. Often, the fact that you ride is enough to start a conversation. There's an instant feeling of friendship."

He noted that the AMA's role in bringing together all motorcyclists in areas as wide-ranging as government-relations activities, road-riding events and various disciplines of racing presents unique challenges.

"The strength of the AMA is in the sheer diversity of our membership," Thornton said. "But that is also our greatest weakness, because various parts of the Association can find themselves working at cross purposes.

"My job will be to keep the channels of communication open," he added, "to get all of the diverse groups that make up the AMA focusing on cooperative efforts and working together on our common problems."

In addition, Thornton committed himself to continuing the Association's growth curve, which has seen AMA membership increase by more than 70,000 in the past decade.

"Two hundred and forty thousand is an impressive number," he said, "but we still have a long way to go. I won't be satisfied until we have a half-million members.

"My job is to be a catalyst for that growth."

Carl Reynolds, chairman of the AMA Board of Trustees, noted that the Board chose Thornton after considering the qualifications of a large number of applicants in a search process that stretched over several months.

"We are pleased to have found a new AMA president with the unique combination of motorcycling background and management skills necessary for this complex job," Reynolds said. "We had a rich field of candidates to consider, and we would like to thank all of the dedicated individuals who offered their services to help lead America's motorcyclists."

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From an AMA News Release, A99081, November 3, 1999

Contact: Tom Barlow, Phone: (614) 856-1900, Fax: (614) 856-1920

AMA membership grows to more than 240,000

PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) membership totals have hit another record, surpassing 240,000 for the first-time in the Association's 75-year history.

With only two months left in the 20th century, the world's largest motorcyclist organization continues its recent growth curve, adding to its membership at 3.5 to 4 percent each year. Thanks to a renewal rate that is the highest in the Association's recent history, along with more new members, the Association has grown more than 10,000 members in the past 12 months – more than a 4 percent increase.

According to Mark Mederski, AMA vice president of marketing, that rising membership sends a strong message of unity to places where a large voice matters most: state legislatures and the federal government.

"Our membership goal for the year 2000 is 250,000," said Mederski. "A quarter-million voices will let the AMA work even harder for motorcyclists' rights and enable us to deliver a broader benefits package."

For more information about the AMA, or to join, call (800) AMA-JOIN, or visit the Association

[The American Motorcyclist Association is a 242,000-member non-profit organization. Established in 1924, the Association's purpose is to pursue, protect and promote the interests of motorcyclists, while serving the needs of its members. For more information, visit the AMA website at http://www.ama-cycle.org.]

5) 4-H ATV Safety Program

This comes to us from Amanda Alter of the National 4-H Council. She can be reached for further information at (301) 961-2970 or e-mail at alter@fourhcouncil.edu.

Amanda writes:

"We have an ATV Safety Program called the 4-H Community ATV Safety Program. The program promotes safety in the use of ATVs. We have led a national effort to engage youth as our partners in the design and implementation of safe riding practices and programs. We also work with a group (of youth) who promote environmental awareness and safety around OHV riding. Information on the OHV Vision Team can be found at: http://www.fourhcouncil.edu/ycc/yohv/index.htm."

We applaud 4-H for this effort. We hope that NY clubs will take advantage of this program in augmenting our state’s sometimes-obscure ATV safety training program.

6) Y2K

Floating around the Internet, quoted herewith validating this editor’s personal opinion on the matter:

"According to the U.S. Naval Observatory, the end of the second millennium and the beginning of the third will be reached on January 1, 2001. This date is based on a calendar created in 526 A.D. by Dennis the Diminutive, the head of a Roman monastery who forged a common calendar from the divergent dating systems of his day."

NYSORVA of course remains neutral over the religious and socio-political implications of the matter. Personally, I fully expect the marketing types out there to be alive and well to capitalize on 12/31/2000 as much as 12/31/1999 has been.

I just want my bike to keep running in 2000.

7) MORE NATIONAL FOREST IN JEOPARDY OF CLOSURE

This come to us from Nebraska’s OHV association and sounds a lot like other closure problems riders are facing around the country. Your help in the way of a letter or call could help our Nebraska friends keep some of their trails open. A comprehensive web page explains the situation and provides a form letter for you to copy. See http://www.atving.com/net/nohva/revplan.htm.

An excerpt from the web page (with [edits] in brackets):

Within the full article at the web site, the writer makes an important point, the theme of which is valid for almost anything we are trying to accomplish as riders:

"In order to ensure that the management plan will allow for ATV and dirtbike trails and to allow for continued cross country riding, we need riders to contact the Forest Service to voice their desires. Keep in mind that others will be contacting the Forest Service that want ATV and dirtbike recreation to stop on Nebraska's Forest Service lands. It is very important that large numbers of riders contact the Forest Service, otherwise the Forest Service will determine that there is little support for ATV and dirtbike recreation on lands they manage."

Please show your solidarity by at least copying the letter from the web site to mail. You may need the practice for when a plan threatens a land closure near you.

8) BUSINESSMAN TRYING TO OPEN OHV PARK

Like many growing communities, East Fishkill about an hour’s drive north of New York City, is loosing ground to development, thus outdoor recreational opportunities are diminishing for its residents. In turn, youth are suffering in that they don’t have places to go where they can keep out of trouble, especially if they ride a trail bike or ATV.

In an effort to create in his community a centralized, safe recreational center for skaters, bicyclists and OHM/ATV riders, especially kids, area resident and businessman Thomas Bruno tried to do something about it and found out how an idea that everyone thought was good for the community could turn into a political and bureaucratic fiasco.

The idea was to convert an idle 133 acre, light industrially-zoned, former farm parcel adjacent to an airport into such a place where kids could go to keep out of trouble and where riders of all ages could legally ride. Remove the fact that such the center would be for-profit (Tom would like to eat) and that it involved OHV recreation, and the community politicos where all for it. And although the project will be for-profit, Mr. Bruno intends to return to his community not only in commercial ways: he intends to hold safety training courses, DARE program events and other like programs throughout the year.

After being sent back and forth may times between the E. Fishkill Town and the Zoning Boards, Mr. Bruno now faces the specter of a $30,000 environmental impact study that once done will not guaranty he can open his park for OHV or any other purposes anyhow.

Mr. Bruno has sought the advice of his attorney, NOHVCC and NYSORVA, and now we ask our readers that if they can lend any assistance or advice based on any experience, that they contact him directly. He does not yet have e-mail, so please phone or write him:

Thomas Bruno
27 Lillian Rd
Mahopac, NY 10541
914-223-6321

For what Tom is trying to accomplish in a political fog, most people would have given up long ago. So we applaud his efforts to create a positive resource for ATV and trail bike riders in his community and wish him the best of luck. Please help him if you can.

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