Kurtuleas
02-11-2009, 11:32 AM
Sending this out to everyone on the FOE mailing list, but here it is for those of you that are not on the list. (hint: www.friendsofeldorado.com to sign up)
We are just dropping you a line to inform you on what FOE has been doing lately and what is in the works for this coming year.
First the, BAD news: Eldorado National Forest has now started it's wet-weather closures in the forest. From now on, EVERY year form January 1st thru March 31st wheeled motor vehicle traffic is not allowed on ANY dirt route in the forest. To make it even worse, it does not matter if the route is dry and dusty, or covered in snow, wheeled motor vehicles are not allowed to travel down them.
While we disagree with these closures, we do have to make an effort to follow these new rules. Our OHV reputation is fragile at best, and ignoring these new rules will only make it worse.
Now for the GOOD news: The dates for the Friends of Eldorado National Forest work-parties have been set for 2009.
PLEASE mark these on your calendar:
May 9th
Aug 15th
Sept 26th (Public Lands Day)
Nov 7th
May 16th is the Second annual Rock Zombie Bikini Rig wash and Swap Meet fund raiser for FOE!
The dates were carefully picked to NOT be on the same days as FOTR work-parties.
Several different things are being planned for these dates, so please make sure to keep on eye out for future e-mails from us before these work-parties.
Other FOE updates:
For 2009, our President Rick Ferdon has also been working diligently on our "non-profit" status. Hopefully that will be completed soon. It will help us in generating more funds for FOE.
On January 3rd and 4th, FOE worked the Iron Mountain Information Station counting the number of vehicles and informing people about the new winter closures.
NAXJA (North American XJ Assiociation) donated $1,000 to FOE. Please make sure you drop those guys a line and thank them!
In December, FOE participated in two parades in order to spread the word about trail and forest stewardship:
The clubs TDO, The Rock Zombies and the Kyburz Krawlerz formed together as an FOE contingent to run in the Discovery Bay Lighted Parade and won the "Director's choice" award!
Other FOE members closer to the forest ran in the Placerville Holiday Parade.
Several FOE members passed Del Albright's VLLS course at the end of 2008. This training is a HUGE asset for land-use folks, and we encourage others (you!) to attend this training in 2009. It not only helps build leaders, but it can help in your personal life too!
The Nor Cal Rock Zombies have been strong supporters of FOE since we began in 2007, and they have recently formed a rock Crawling Team, OV Rocksports www.ovrocksports.com This team has committed itself to the Friends of Eldorado, and will not only run FOE stickers on all thier competion vehicles in order to motivate others to become more active in land-use issues, but they have also committed their time and vehicles to our cause for 2009. The vehicles will be used under FOE's educational charter to spread the word on the trail and at booths etc. that FOE may hold through-out the year. The team is currently running a buggy in the now-famous King of the Hammers race in Johnson Valley. This makes two official "land-use" buggies in the race, the FOE buggy and the "Friends of Johnson Valley" buggy.
We look forward to a productive year in 2009!
We hope to see you at a few work-parties!
Kurt Schneider
The Friends of Eldorado National Forest
We are just dropping you a line to inform you on what FOE has been doing lately and what is in the works for this coming year.
First the, BAD news: Eldorado National Forest has now started it's wet-weather closures in the forest. From now on, EVERY year form January 1st thru March 31st wheeled motor vehicle traffic is not allowed on ANY dirt route in the forest. To make it even worse, it does not matter if the route is dry and dusty, or covered in snow, wheeled motor vehicles are not allowed to travel down them.
While we disagree with these closures, we do have to make an effort to follow these new rules. Our OHV reputation is fragile at best, and ignoring these new rules will only make it worse.
Now for the GOOD news: The dates for the Friends of Eldorado National Forest work-parties have been set for 2009.
PLEASE mark these on your calendar:
May 9th
Aug 15th
Sept 26th (Public Lands Day)
Nov 7th
May 16th is the Second annual Rock Zombie Bikini Rig wash and Swap Meet fund raiser for FOE!
The dates were carefully picked to NOT be on the same days as FOTR work-parties.
Several different things are being planned for these dates, so please make sure to keep on eye out for future e-mails from us before these work-parties.
Other FOE updates:
For 2009, our President Rick Ferdon has also been working diligently on our "non-profit" status. Hopefully that will be completed soon. It will help us in generating more funds for FOE.
On January 3rd and 4th, FOE worked the Iron Mountain Information Station counting the number of vehicles and informing people about the new winter closures.
NAXJA (North American XJ Assiociation) donated $1,000 to FOE. Please make sure you drop those guys a line and thank them!
In December, FOE participated in two parades in order to spread the word about trail and forest stewardship:
The clubs TDO, The Rock Zombies and the Kyburz Krawlerz formed together as an FOE contingent to run in the Discovery Bay Lighted Parade and won the "Director's choice" award!
Other FOE members closer to the forest ran in the Placerville Holiday Parade.
Several FOE members passed Del Albright's VLLS course at the end of 2008. This training is a HUGE asset for land-use folks, and we encourage others (you!) to attend this training in 2009. It not only helps build leaders, but it can help in your personal life too!
The Nor Cal Rock Zombies have been strong supporters of FOE since we began in 2007, and they have recently formed a rock Crawling Team, OV Rocksports www.ovrocksports.com This team has committed itself to the Friends of Eldorado, and will not only run FOE stickers on all thier competion vehicles in order to motivate others to become more active in land-use issues, but they have also committed their time and vehicles to our cause for 2009. The vehicles will be used under FOE's educational charter to spread the word on the trail and at booths etc. that FOE may hold through-out the year. The team is currently running a buggy in the now-famous King of the Hammers race in Johnson Valley. This makes two official "land-use" buggies in the race, the FOE buggy and the "Friends of Johnson Valley" buggy.
We look forward to a productive year in 2009!
We hope to see you at a few work-parties!
Kurt Schneider
The Friends of Eldorado National Forest