Saturday afternoon was progressing nicely.  I was half-way through my lawn cutting project, which meant it was time to take a break.  Breaks usually involve a cigar and a beer.  This break was no different.  I had just sparked up my cigar and was watching the storm clouds rolling in from the southwest.  About then the telephone rang.

If you've been to my home, you know that I have a telephone in my garage.  I also always have my celphone with me.  Close by and scattered on the garage floor are an assortment of tools, which I have used or will shorthly need to keep my lawn tractors running.  I'm notorious for hating lawn work.  As a result, I have quite possibly the worse assortment of lawn tractors, lawn mowers and other lawn care equipment in the world.  As I was saying, the telephone rang.

"Hey John, it's Del!", the voice shouted.  I instantly recognized the voice.  It was the BlueRibbon Coalition's Access Ambassador, Del Albright!  Amazingly enough, earlier that morning I had been reading Del's article in the latest issue of BlueRibbon Magazine.  The article is entitled, The "collaborative process" for access issues.  If you haven't yet read it, be sure to take a couple of minutes and do so.  I assure you, it will be time well spent.

Del wanted to let me know that he had heard "good things" about Wisconsin OHV recreation and the "terrific" progress being made.  I commented on his article and we discussed it briefly.  We spoke about access to Tribal Lands, which Del reminded me is "a first" as far as a motorized recreation group working with a Native American Tribe to expand riding opportunities.  He also reminded me that this project too had been and probably continues to be a "collaborative process" between two groups which from the outside may seem to be a opposite ends of the spectrum.  The Sokaogon Chippewa have always been extremely environmentally conscious.  For an environmental group (Sokaogon Chippewa) to partner with a motorized group (WOHVA) is truly something special & unique.

We further discussed the "collaborative process" as it pertains to national groups who represent motorized users and how they have begun working much more closely together.  Groups like the BlueRibbon Coalition, ARRA, NOHVCC, AMA & UFWDA do not receive nearly the funding that the anti-access groups do.  Oftens times it seem that the anti-access folks are simply a single, very loud and vocal voice focusing on a single issue or possibly repeatedly writing numerous "Letters to the Editor" in your local newspaper.  This could not be further from the truth!

Here are just a few of the major donors and the amounts which they contribute to anti-access groups:  Pew Charitable Trusts - $43,000,000 per year; David and Lucille Packard Foundation - $96,000,000 per year; Ted Turner Foundation - $44,000,000 per year; Rockefeller Brothers Fund - $33,000,000 per year and William & Flora Hewlett Foundation - $36,000,000 per year.

Some of the major anti-access groups and the amount of money they spend annually include:  Natural Resources Defense Council - $36,100,000; National Wildlife Federation - $85,900,000; National Audubon Society - $53,600,000; Sierra Club - $54,300,000; The Wilderness Society - $14,300,000; National Parks & Conservation Association - $16,600,000; and Defenders of Wildlife - $13,300,000.  These are huge sums of money!  One can easily see why it's so important for our national motorized groups to work together, to combat the threat that the national anti-access groups pose.

As important as these national efforts are, WOHVA is extremely proud of the work we've begun with ATV and OHM groups here in the Badger State.  No longer mainly a 4wd group, the WOHVA member base now truly represents all OHV users in Wisconsin.  But, even more importantly are the current efforts by the Wisconsin major motorized groups to work together towards our common goal of increased motorized recreational opportunities here in our home state.

I encourage you to make a difference.  Join a local club, join WOHVA, contribute to the BlueRibbon Coalition and participate in a trail or highway clean-up project (maybe even several).  Stop by Mole Lake if you need gas or are looking for a great meal.  Be sure to thank them for opening their land to motorized recreational events.  And, I urge you to aso support the groups that are fighting to assure your ability to continue to enjoy motorized recreational opportunities!