WOHVA Monthly Updates

WOHVA Update January, 2012

Friday, 06 January 2012 02:49 | Written by deadhead |

Since our last update, WOHVA has been working diligently assuring that environmentally responsible OHV recreational opportunities are expanded here the Badger State. Just a few of meetings and brief high-lights are noted below:

The WOHVA Mole Lake Trail Coordinators Team met in Townsend, Wisconsin to officially close out the 2011 trail riding season on the Sokaogon Chippewa Tribal Holdings in Mole Lake. The Team meets twice annually to assure compliance with the Forest Department at Mole Lake and facilitate trail planning.
Trail maintenance was discussed along with specific trail closures. In 2012 WOHVA will be focusing on developing trails aimed at better providing a venue for wheelers with limited experience or training. WOHVA will also focus on addressing trails specifically designed to accommodate wider and longer vehicles.

WOHVA attended the regular monthly meeting for the Wisconsin Off-Road Vehicle Park, Inc. (WORVPI). Regular updates on WORVPI (including meeting agenda & minutes) and all WOHVA special projects can be found in the “Projects” window located on the WOHVA Webpage. Project Updates are available to WOHVA Individual Members on-line and are provided quarterly to WOHVA Supporting Groups and clubs/organizations that have expressed interest by contacting WOHVA and offering their assistance in helping WOHVA expand OHV opportunities here in the Badger State.

WOHVA participated in the regular monthly meeting of the Lake States Resource Alliance (LSRA) Land Use & Legislation Committee (LULC).
The committee recommends actions on legislation and land management issues affecting public land stakeholders in the lake states region (Michigan, Minnesota & Wisconsin) to the LSRA Board of Directors.

WOHVA’s Project Team assembled to put the finishing touches on two current projects (ROLUN & RAT). RAT is WOHVA’s Response & Assistance Team (a volunteer rescue program aligned with the Badger State Sheriff's Association to lend aid and assistance in emergency situations). ROLUN is WOHVA’s Responsible OHV and Land Use Necessities (which is a supporting OHV safety program to accompany WOHVA’s OHV sticker program legislation proposal).
Additional information on both these projects will be available in the near future. Please watch the WOHVA website (http://www.WOHVA.com) for additional updates.

The WOHVA Board of Directors held their regular bi-monthly meeting in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. WOHVA Individual Members can review the agenda, minutes, financial reports and other documents pertaining to all Board Meetings in the WOHVA Updates Forum located in the Forums Section of the WOHVA website.

WOHVA attended the Lake States Resource Alliance (LSRA) Quarterly Directors Meeting at Trees for Tomorrow in Eagle River, Wisconsin. Information (including the minutes) on this and all LSRA meetings can be found on the LSRA web site at http://www.lakestatesresource.org
The LSRA is a group of access advocates focusing on a multiple-use approach to industry and recreation in National Forests in and around the Lake States Area (Michigan, Minnesota & Wisconsin).

“Remember, join and advocate (that’s) the two most important things that you can do!”

Del Albright (April, 2009)

WOHVA Update December, 2011

Monday, 05 December 2011 23:37 | Written by deadhead |

Since our last update, WOHVA has been working diligently assuring that environmentally responsible OHV recreational opportunities remain available nationwide and are expanded here the Badger State. Just a few of meetings and brief high-lights are noted below:

WOHVA attended the regular monthly meeting for the Wisconsin Off-Road Vehicle Park, Inc. (WORVPI). Regular updates on WORVPI and all WOHVA special projects can be found in the “Projects” window located on the WOHVA Webpage. Project Updates are available to WOHVA Individual Members on-line and are provided quarterly to WOHVA Supporting Groups and clubs/organizations that have expressed interest by contacting WOHVA and offering their assistance in helping WOHVA expand OHV opportunities here in the Badger State.

WOHVA participated in the regular monthly meeting of the Lake States Resource Alliance (LSRA) Land Use & Legislation Committee (LULC). The committee recommends actions on legislation and land management issues affecting public land stakeholders in the lake states region (Michigan, Minnesota & Wisconsin) to the LSRA Board of Directors.

On Tuesday, Nov. 1, the U.S. Senate voted 60-38 against Senate Amendment 821. The amendment, introduced by Senator Rand Paul (KY), would have eliminated the Transportation Enhancements (TE) program—the nation's largest funding source for trails. WOHVA contacted both of Wisconsin’s Senators to urge them to vote against this Amendment. TE funds RTP of which WOHVA is a beneficiary via our Pipeline Grant in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest.

Staffers from the office of U.S. Senator Ron Johnson contacted WOHVA and offered the Senator’s assistance in moving our sticker program legislation through the Wisconsin State Capitol. They’ll be contacting key players at the Capitol on behalf once the legislation is introduced. WOHVA would like to express our thanks to Senator Johnson for his anticipated assistance in helping us successfully pass this legislation.

WOHVA contacted both of your Wisconsin U.S. Senators (Johnson & Kohl) and urged them to vote against S. 1813, “Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21^st Century” (MAP-21). This bill would end the dedicated funding for the Recreational Trails Program (RTP), which is one of the most important and beneficial laws for motorized recreationists ever passed by Congress. WOHVA Individual Members can find additional information on this terrible bill and links on how and where to comment in our Members Forums.

WOHVA contracted with an independent and private business consultant to begin a research project on the feasibility of developing and operating a Motorized Recreation Area (MRA) in Forest County. This is a three phase project, the first phase of which should be completed for presentation at the Wisconsin OHV Enthusiasts Workshops in April. Motorized recreation advocates will recall that the Wisconsin DNR has been working on the project for nearly 6 years which has resulted in unacceptable delays. When completed the WOHVA study will serve as a site specific feasibility study as well as the business plan for the Forest County MRA.
Regular updates on this project will be available on the WOHVA web site with detailed updates expanded upon in the WOHVA Members Only Forums. Watch the website for more details as they become available.

We’re sure that motorized recreation enthusiasts will be excited by the following news: WOHVA is pleased to announce that we will be developing and providing 6 months hosting of a website dedicated to presenting information and details regarding the Wisconsin Off-Road Vehicle Park, Inc. WOHVA anticipates launching the web site early in 2012. Please watch the WOHVA web site for additional information on this breaking project.

In Mid-November, WOHVA received an update from Wisconsin State Assembly Representative Jeff Mursau’s office at the State Capitol. Representative Mursau plans to introduce legislation creating a 4WD Sticker Program when the legislature returns from Christmas Break on January 2^nd, 2012. WOHVA Individual Members can find additional information on this bill in the WOHVA Projects Section of our web site.

“Remember, join and advocate (that’s) the two most important things that you can do!”

Del Albright (April, 2009)

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