Well...this was a cool way to come home from a concert....not.
But...I will indudge you. I'm frankly stunned....that anyone would be upset over a sticker of all things. It's just a sticker....not a gold medal, or Heisman trophy.
BEAR said:
Anyone who knows me know just how passionate I am about the entire El Dorado County Forest, not just the Rubicon trail, I am a native for gods sakes.:mad3:
That's great....but we're
Rubicon Trail Patrol. If you would like to expand Trail Patrol beyond the Rubicon, why not offer to HELP expand it...
BEAR said:
The next level?..........were all just users. The next level is carrying a badge and gun........ Users are equal, TP or not.
That comment is so far out there. I have spent HOURS and HOURS of my own personal time, along with Scott to simply make this thing organized.
I would like you to tell me about communication you've had regarding Trail Patrol in the past year prior to me emailing you? I'd venture it was ZERO.
When we started...We had NOTHING...ZERO. We didn't even have a list of people and email or phone numbers. ZIP.
Wouldn't it be nice to know who else is on the trail on a given weekend?
Wouldn't it be nice to be able to radio to a fellow patrol person if you're in trouble...vehicle or otherwise?
Wouldn't it be nice to know what kinds of tickets the USFS and Sheriff are issuing so you can tell people about it?
Wouldn't it be nice to call for Search and Rescue if you ran into a medical emergency? I guess you could use the sticker to assist in CPR.
That's the essense of your "evil empire" speech. Those are the kinds of things we want to do.....RTF has submitted a grant to the state for us to get Radios...did you know that? Instead of worrying about your sticker....Worry about the actual mission....keep the trail open.
BEAR said:
"Divided we fall"! I agree, so why are some (who have been involved the same fight as many other volunteers) telling the others that are willing to help, that they are "not worthy" unless things are done there way?
Did I miss the memo where trail patrol get something for flashing a sticker?
The people that are willing to volunteer for the Patrol, are making a sacrifice in their time to help the trail. I have a REAL sense of responsibility for every single person out there. I feel it's my "job" to make sure everyone is fully trained so that they are as safe as possible on the trail. Merlin and Adam spent over 1 hour on Saturday giving AWESOME tips and tricks to the members to stay safe and still do their job. We have UNBELIEVABLE support from the EDSO and USFS....The top people on both sides...including people in the field...have given us their personal cell phone and email addresses, so that we can stay in touch. They want us to succeed as badly as we do.
You say "done their way". Are you implying that getting trained by a PROFESSIONAL law enforcement officer on how NOT to get in trouble is bad thing?
Do you know why we added a calendar and log forms? Because the STATE will take into account how many volunteer hours we put into it "for the greater public good" when submitting grant money. Did you know that?
So...Please...Indulge me now. Please tell EXACTLY how many Man Hours of Patrol were performed in 2004 and 2005.
You couldn't even give the names of 1/2 the people with the vaunted window sticker. Does that seem good to you?
BEAR said:
Is TP getting benefits from educating others? If so, I am owed because i have done it since the begining. I thought it was just some volunteers trying to save a world famous trail for EVERYONE.
The basic premise is JUST THAT SIMPLE. However, as in all things...there is more to it, in order to accomplish that goal. How would you feel, if YOU were in charge and one of your volunteers was beaten up on the trail because of a wrong approach to a situation?
I would feel HORRIBLE...and I would ask myself, what could I have done differently. Well...I DID ask myself that...BEFORE someone got hurt, so it is REQUIRED that all new Patrol members receive BASIC training from an EXPERT in dealing with those types of situations. It's ashame you've felt above it....because if you had attended...you would have been amazed at the amount of tips given by Merlin and Adam.
BEAR said:
I am not dividing anyone here.
I have to say...I've known you for awhile now....and I really don't understand why you couldn't email me or Scott....you have it. When you're mad at your boss, do you post on the internet? One would hope, you'd talk directly to him.
If you had dropped me an email, and said "I am PISSED...please explain it to me.." I would have met you for a beer...talked on the phone or whatever it took to speak to you....in person.
BEAR said:
It seems the "new" trail patrol is more like a couple of security guards that think they are better than any other tax payin, meeting attending, trail using person.
Bear...Let's explain the NEW trail patrol....and then you tell me if we fall into the above paragraph.
A) We train all volunteers to ensure they have the personal tools to avoid ANY potential conflict or problem with someone on the trail. We use PROFESSIONAL techniques provided by the EDSO to defuse...not escalate a situation.
B) We have the name, number and email of EVERY MEMBER...AND, we have a calendar so that we know Who is on the trail on any given day.
C) We track the hours of every volunteer to help us receive the MAXIMUM amount of chance to receive Grant Money from the State.
D) We want to provide radios to EVERY patrol member to either contact Merlin or the EDSO directly to provide a helicopter in an emergency.
E) We have the ear of EVERY TOP AGENCY leader, so that we can find out PRECISELY what tickets are being given to users, so that we can focus our education on it. Do you think the users would like that?
F) We have literature focused directly on the main issues facing the trail.
G) We're working directly with the RTF to potentially receive the resources required to do this as safely and effectively as possible.
There's more....but it's 2am...and I'm tired. I'm sorry if you think a rag tag bunch of people, aimlessly driving around the trail with stickers is a good thing.....but I beg to differ. There's nothing elitest about Trail Patrol....Anyone, with a square head on their shoulders, the time and conviction to put help where it's needed most...ON THE TRAIL....is welcome to join.....but first....You're going through training...no ifs, ands or buts. Sorry...but I need to sleep at night. (not that it's happening right this moment)
BEAR said:
I'm not trying to pour gas on the fire just simply typing (slowly) my feelings on this issue in the same forum it was presented.
For someone typing slowly....I saw a lot of needless steam rising from the keyboard.
BEAR said:
I'm sorry if the "higher-ups" are embarrassed, I'm just a trail user speaking my mind. Sorry if I'm not total P.C.
I am SO FAR from embarrassed. Since May....Scott and I have literally spent HOURS....Hundreds of hours, creating lists, getting stuff made, printing brochures, acquiring donations for trash bags, getting maps from the USFS, driving all over the place, attending meetings, talking for hours with the EDSO and USFS, creating a website, creating a calendar, recruiting new volunteers, sending emails, designing a training class, keeping the members informed, standing at the KIOSK in the hot sun for HOURS handing out trash bags, getting a donation for an EZ UP from a fellow 4 Wheeler...Bruce at Roundeyes so we had shade, spending personal money on feeding lunch and cold drinks for the new members, getting Merlin to donate his valuable time to teach the class....
I could go on....and I should mention...most of that was done, while I was bed ridden from surgery. So really... Am I proud of what we've accomplished? You betcha.
I'm really sorry that you've chosen to vent over a sticker, instead of being as proud of our(all members, agencies and groups) accomplishments as I am.
BEAR said:
FOTR should be changed to FOTOOTR.
Friends of the Owners Of The Rubicon:mad3:
Ball....Meet left field. I have no idea what you're talking about. I've only met Mark Smith in passing at meetings...I doubt he even knows who I am. I've known Merlin for years....had no idea until recently he had any financial interest in any of the land. My main focus with Merlin is Member Education....all other concerns are secondary.
I could careless about the "owners", as long as their goal...is the same as mine...continued access.
I'm 100% for you speaking your mind.....To US first. We should have had a chance to talk about this first.....then if you felt compelled to tell the world we're insane....then by all means....vent.