Jan 08 message to NMOHVA members from outgoing President

[ridenm]

When I stood to be President of NMOHVA, I said that I had a vision for NMOHVA to be the advocate for all New Mexico OHV recreation enthusiasts. I talked about improving communication internally (among the members of NMOHVA and its executive board) and externally (between NMOHVA and the public). After a year, my term is nearing its end and I want to evaluate honestly how the board and I have done our jobs.

NMOHVA has remained true to our mission to support all forms of OHV recreation. It has not been easy; especially as we participate in the Travel Management Rule processes in the various National Forests, the potential for division between various OHV contingents has arisen. In both the Cibola and Santa Fe National Forests, ATV use is coming under tremendous pressure, and we can expect the forces opposing OHV recreation to use that potential for division to their own ends. We must continue to remember that we are stronger united than divided. The folks who do not approve of OHV recreation on public lands see not one iota of difference between single-track motorcyclists, ATVers, or four-wheel-drive enthusiasts. They want us all to go away.

To communicate internally, between NMOHVA’s membership and the board, we have relied on periodic newsletters; but the newsletter only comes out a few times a year and that is just not enough. We had a website, but the board found for various reasons that it was not meeting our needs. We lacked the ability to add content directly to the site, or to use automated communication such as e-mail alerts to our members. So we engaged in a search for a new, locally based website provider who could design a product that can be edited rapidly as the need arises. You are seeing the fruits of our labor, especially that of our Secretary, Mark Werkmeister, right now on this website and forum. You can also expect to hear from us via e-mail if you have provided NMOHVA with an e-mail address. We promise to never make our member e-mail address lists public, and if you find our messages intrusive just tell us and we will remove your address from our list.

One area where I did not meet my goal to improve NMOHVA’s internal communication was my failure to visit and post on NMOHVA’s online forum. I apologize, and I intend to use the remainder of my term as president to establish a new model for communication between NMOHVA’s executive board and you, its members.

As for external communication, NMOHVA has remained mostly behind the scenes. We haven’t published opinion pieces in the local papers, and we haven’t splashed our name in the media; but we assuredly have made an impression with the local staffs of agencies such as BLM, Forest Service, State Parks, and the State Land Office, and the forces opposing OHV recreation definitely know who we are. Credit primarily goes to Joanne Spivack, who is reaching the end of her term as Recreation Resource Director. Joanne will still use her incredible networking and sleuthing skills for NMOHVA, but only in an unofficial capacity. Meanwhile, look for NMOHVA to become more visible with our message as the Travel Management Plan process moves into the public comment stage.

I leave office feeling like there is so much left undone, but I feel good knowing that we are fighting for access to our public lands.

Chris Johnson

[Johnnyone]

Chris Thanks for all you have done.
Our battle will continue we have lost a lot already.
I hope that what happen in Calfornia does not happen to us. We have all that money in the state fund from atv registration fees that has not been spent due to ^%$(*@)%. It has been there for almost 2 years. Our state is in a defect so it may be taken away
DD Fieldman is aware of this....