Volunteers

• The April Region meeting has been rescheduled to April 2oth.
• Deadline for submitting articles to the Region newsletter is MARCH 15th. Remember, members will receive $25 for each article you submit that gets published (one per issue). Gas? Membership dues? EC4WDA Northeast Region merchandise? Use it for whatever!
  

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I almost didn't sit to write today. It was one of those days where the creativity just didn't really materialize, but that got me thinking (funny how that works!)

Our greatest asset, as an Association, is our membership. If you could add it up, there are hundreds of years of experience at our fingertips within our Region alone. Each member brings something special, something tangible to their club. It may not be apparent at first, or ever for that matter, but that member should never be discounted or forgotten.
As our calendar fills up and events start to appear on the horizon, our members will be asked to step up and lend a much needed hand. Many already have in regards to TrailFest and I'm greatly appreciative of that. Many more are ready to throw their hat in the ring and help out. Still, some may think that there's already enough help or that they won't have much to offer. Trust me when I say whatever help offered is a welcome gift. This year we'll need people to just sit at a booth handing out pamphlets, or selling raffle tickets someplace, or handing out pins or leaflets or sometimes even t-shirts. If you're not comfortable handling money or selling tickets, we'll still need help elsewhere. And there are times when we do have plenty of volunteers, believe it or not, but knowing somebody can count on you for help is a blessing.
YOU are a key component of this organization. YOU are the force that drives it forward. YOU MAKE IT ALL HAPPEN.

The topic of volunteering frequently comes up in club discussions. "How do we motivate volunteers?" or "How do we get people to volunteer?"
I don't profess to know myself, but here are some great tips I picked up in book somewhere*;

• ASK. Don't wait for help to come to you. Go ahead and ask for help directly.
• Keep the members up to speed on what is going on and encourage idea/responsibility sharing.
  
• Although the chances of having a definitive job description for most of our events is slim, try to lay out as much information about the task as can be done. Then listen for suggestions that could help save time, manpower, and possibly money.
• Publicize and acknowledge the work of the volunteers, even before the event is finished.
  
• Guilt won't work for long.
  
• Volunteers that are dissatisfied with the job most often feel underutilized.

It all begins and ends with volunteering. From getting out the winch for a buddy to sitting here writing this blog, from scouting for trails to posting a really great link, we're all volunteers.

Raise your hand. MAKE IT HAPPEN.

*Pick up "Marketing Nonprofit Programs and Services" by Douglas Herron.

Public Relations (PR)

Public relations is one of the most important aspects of our sport, but unfortunately most of us really don't know how to do it effectively. Keeping our name in the news, generating newsworthy articles, and spreading the word about what we do and who we are makes it easier for us to move around within political circles as well as with private landowners.
There are three major groups to target when dealing with public relations, at least from our point of view; our members and potential members, the general public, and our legislators. Each group has a specific approach we need to apply when trying to promote our sport in a positive light.
While members and potential members demand more "detail", like where the trails are and what events would a club participate in, the general public is unconcerned about that. So we "market" ourselves differently. We promote each club and what is offered, like private acreage, educational classes, and more with most information generated at meetings and online forums. The general public sees our fundraising and community service events in newspaper articles or bulletins. The legislators however, are not "marketed". What we have failed to realize until recently is the importance of getting our word out not only to our members and the general public, but directly to our representatives.
The easiest way for a club to target all three groups is with a newsletter. EC4WDA Northeast Region has, as previously discussed, brought back our long forgotten quarterly newsletter, but let's not stop there. The benefits of a newsletter to the membership are that they are kept up to date and can see specifically what their club is doing. It's also nice to have your rig in print, too! A few extra copies left at your local library, post office, or mailed to your local paper brings your name to people who otherwise may not know what your club is about or even if it exists. And the greatest thing about the newsletter is the ease of putting it in an envelope and mailing it to your state representative's office.
Another item of interest is specifically addressed to the private landowner. OHV OPTIONS - A GUIDE FOR LANDOWNERS isn't loaded with new information, but it is a functional pamphlet that lays out the benefits of allowing OHV use on private property. I encourage members and non-members alike to use it when possible. More information can be found at the Adirondack Jeeps website or by emailing me.
One PR item your Northeast Region has begun work on is an educational, behind the scenes video similar to a Discovery Channel documentary. Storyboarding has just begun, but by using collegiate production classes we'll be able to create a quality video at affordable costs for use in mass media applications.
Our economic assessment is scheduled to be complete by May 1st and the 4x4 What's the Score booklet is scheduled for completion April 1st.
Finally, we have the help of a woman with many years of public relations experience creating media packets and press releases for a corporate headquarters in Portland, Oregon. She has agreed to look through our blogs, minutes, websites, and by-laws to find our "message" and the best way to present it. Being from outside the OHV world, her viewpoints should prove invaluable to our marketing strategy.
It is about marketing ourselves and creating our own "image". We've been the subject of "negative marketing" by the anti-access groups for too long.
Working together, we counter that with the truth today.

Litte, big issues (and still no PR)

How do you ask for volunteers to hold positions in your clubs, disseminate information as you get it, and hope like hell everyone trusts each other and plays nicely?

Small Issue #1. Suggestions.
If I don't get back to you right away, it's not because the suggestion wasn't a good one. I currently spend over an hour a day checking OHV related emails/posts/phone calls. I do suggest before making a suggestion to check around all the forums you can think of as you may be able to apply your idea to a pre-existing one. If you don't find one, ask if there is something like that in place. "xalexjx" did just that and I appreciate it immensely. Teamwork gets us further, faster.

Small Issue #2. Leadership.
Club presidents, this comes from your members; we need you more than you know. We need your enthusiasm. We need your ideas. We need your help making your club the best club in the Northeast. If nobody is talking, talk. If nobody is working, work. YOU are the leader of a club. Yeah, I know it's work and we're all supposed to be in this for fun, but it's like going to a dance with no DJ. You may eventually get canned, but you'll get at least a few people dancing to at least a few songs. At least you tried.

Big Issue #1. Public property.
We all know if it's a public road we schedule it and run it. While the NETMaP idea seems to be gaining ground (please spread the word about it), we haven't really used it yet. I urge the members of both Associations to be patient with it before throwing it out the window and giving alternatives. I realize there are other ways we could do it and would be happy to change things as needed, but we haven't done anything with it to know what tweaks need to be made. If it fails miserably, we start over. If it works at Gutter, we can try to apply it elsewhere. But we need to buy into it and work to make it happen.

Big Issue #2. Private property.
We need to answer this and answer this now;

• Is it okay to contact a landowner if the landowner has already been knowingly contacted by an OHV representative?
  

This is the single biggest problem we have (Okay, not single biggest. Volunteers, complacency, and apathy are up there as well). This question pits member against member, club against club, and association against association. Think about your answer from all sides; initial contact person, landowner, and subsequent contact person.

It better be pretty damn good wheeling if you're willing to risk friendships, reputations, and respect by undermining another man's...another club's...another associations hard work. Get with your club and region representatives before you pick up the phone.

Essentially, we're all in the same club. Let's start acting like it before it's too late.

Relationships

When I had an idea for the blog, I really didn’t think I’d have enough to talk about every Friday. Someday I may not, but it’s good to know that we’re busy and there IS enough to talk about on a weekly basis, even if some of it gets under my skin a little. I’m going to jump around a little;

• Recently the Friends of Coy Hill received some good publicity about the work our Region and the NEA is trying to do. You can read the article here. Mike Belben did a great job for the entire 4x4 community with that one.
  

• In case you haven’t heard, Essex Junction is not hosting a 4WD Jamboree this year. However, a show in Vermont (Vermonster) will be held twice this year and EC4WDA Northeast Region will be hosting a collaborative booth with the Northeast Association of 4 Wheel Drive Clubs to spread the word about organized 4 wheeling. Mike C. with Berkshire 4 Wheelers has accepted the position of event coordinator for us, so if you have any questions OR WOULD LIKE TO VOLUNTEER, head over to the club website and look up “sidriptide”.
  

• Dave Brill offers a Land Use seminar as part of our ongoing quest to make everyone “land use reps”. Knowledge is power, so if your club is interested, contact Dave and set up a seminar. It’s informative, it’s fun, and it’s free (although coffee and donuts would make it even better!).

I was going to get into PR (public relations) today, but I changed my mind. Perhaps this weekend.

Like shopping when you're hungry, you shouldn't blog when your angry.

It's about the trails II

Back in December folks from the NEA4WDC and EC4WDA Northeast Region got together in a sort of "summit" to discuss, among other things, how to handle the huge growth in our sport and our dwindling resources. We all brainstormed and came up with a pilot program to try out for 2008:
The North East Trails Maintenance Program, or NETMaP, is being tested on the Gutter this year. This is a work in progress and strictly voluntary. However, we strongly encourage clubs to follow it so we can figure out how to tweak it as we go and apply it to other areas. If you have any questions on how it works or what this means to you, email me.

The Gutter is private property and actively managed timberland. The public is welcome and recreation will continue to be allowed if:

1) Private property rights are respected;
2) No natural resources are removed or damaged
3) No dumping or vandalism occurs
4) No long term camping takes place
5) Motorized vehicles don’t harm culvert and road systems

We have obtained permission to travel this land and recognize the importance of the Tread Lightly! principles. Please exercise care and common sense when recreating here. Also respect the rights of ALL other trail users including hikers, equestrians, snowmobiles, etc. DO NOT travel away from the power line trail at any time. Our goal is to maintain this property for the public to enjoy for many generations to come.

If you have any questions, concerns, or observe any form of vandalism, do not hesitate to contact our Land Manager, Paul Regish via email at paul@nea4wd.org

*Please try to limit your club runs here to one run per year. Please understand that there are 30+ other clubs in New England that all wheel here therefore it will be traveled almost every other week. We are asking all the clubs to try to limit their runs.

*When entering the trail via the road (proper) DO NOT travel up the stream bed or anywhere else there is soft mud or stream banks. Please travel in a southerly direction perpendicular andstraight across the stream bed towards the first obstacle.

*Traveling the "washout" section above the first landing is acceptable, this is not a stream bed but seasonal water washed out section. The hard rock bed will not degrade any further.

*The southern end of the trail before the first road crossing consists of multiple private landowners who do not want any travel to disperse from the powerline. Please DO NOT travel down any trails perpendicular to the power line. These trails more than likely have gates and signs posted.

*This land is private land and it is NOT yours, please have complete respect for other trail users including but not limited to: hikers, birdwatchers, bicyclists, ATVers, hunters, and snowmobilers.

*Please observe Tread Lightly! principles at all times.

*If you are ever questioned or confronted by another trail user regarding your being there, calmly explain to them that you have proper verbal permission from the landowner that you can be there under the auspices of the NEA4WDC and EC4WDA. Never become confrontational on the trail and always use your best judgment and professionalism to diffuse any confrontations with others.

As stated, it's voluntary. However, it's up to all of us to make a difference. Special thanks to Paul R. for stepping up to the task, too.
Also, check out the Friends of Coy Hill site, a collaboration of regional clubs and the two prominent 4WD Associations here in the Northeast.

It's about the trails...

I've been perusing old newsletters from our region this past week.
We all know about the rebirth of TrailFest, but it's amazing how big it was and will be again. So with that, it looks like we're bringing back a few more tidbits from the days of yore. Just need to check with the "days of yore" people to make sure I know where to give credit. More on that next week, but it includes raffling off tickets, t-shirts, and a room.
As you know, the Northeast 4WD TrailFest '08 is taking place August 15th-17th. The festivities will be located in Windsor, CT at the Best Western and we'll have a block of rooms available at discount. Trails will range from stock to hardcore on several pieces of private property nearby. Ticket prices for the weekend have yet to be determined.
The EC4WDA Northeast Region has set up a great new trail schedule that includes each club, the dates, and the locations of all the trail runs in 2008. Each club delegate knows who is where and when, so coordinating runs is a little easier. With 11 clubs running 85 days this year, it's no surprise that some trails are going to be quite busy. Chris_Ryan with Underground Jeeps created the schedule you can see HERE.
Suggestion: If you're planning a pick-up run, please contact another club to see where, how many, and if a you could join 'em. If they're already running 20, perhaps a different trail would be a better option for a pick-up ride. If they're running 10 and you wanna bring 10, perhaps coordinate times. If they have 5 and you have 5, join together and meet new people/old friends. With over a thousand participants between our Region and NEA4WDC, it's getting crowded, but we have to keep our heads when it comes to getting out and wheeling. Make sure you use your contacts when dealing with private land owners, and make sure you use your common sense when dealing with public areas. As I've said, the trails thank you, and we need your help.
Next month Aili and Bruce will be heading out to New Mexico to attend the NOHVCC seminar, so have your club land use people keep tabs on 'em. They'll be bringing back plenty of info for you.
Well, that's it this week. You can keep tabs on the happenings of our Region as they occur by logging onto our forum (check the sidebar). If you're a EC4WDA club officer, please check in. There's stuff for you.

Getting Organized

As we steamroll into the 2008 season, we're already experiencing some enormous changes. Our first meeting of the year saw 29 representatives from 11 different clubs, and although we tried to pack in as much information as we could in 4 hours, it still didn't seem like near enough time. It wasn't.

Some of the great things we're doing this
year;

-Our previous On The Rocks event has been re-worked and renamed Trailfest. With the closing of Paragon last year, we knew it was time to bring the event back to the Northeast where it belonged. Multiple trail rides all weekend, a barbecue, a banquet, and loads of raffle prizes make this an event you won't want to miss this August.

-The first Region newsletter in 18 months is due out in late March. This time we're offering $25 to each member who sends in an article which gets published (maximum one article per issue). With 4 issues a year, that's an extra $100 in your pocket! Due date for the April issue in March 15th.

-We're currently working on updating our "4x4 What's the Score" booklet, as well as the 2008 Economic Assessment. Look for these to become available before the summer.

-Public relations and publicity are also a hot topic with our Region. How can we apply the "numbers" if we don't have the means to do it? Aili's working up a great PR packet each club can use when contacting a land owner, a news outlet, and your representatives. This will make it alot easier for your clubs to take the first step. We've also found that "Region D" doesn't focus the picture as well as "Northeast Region" when dealing with the public, so look for a new logo and letterheads.

That's just a few items we're working on for the members of East Coast 4 Wheel Drive Association's Northeast Region.

Want to get involved? Contact your club president or, if you're not yet a member of EC4WDA, contact us and we'll be glad to help you "get organized". We can't do it without YOU.