Picture this scenario: You and your family have packed up all the necessary items for a weekend camping trip. You have the truck gassed up, the dog is in the back, the ATV and dirt bike are loaded, and away you go. After driving for an hour, you look around that last corner, through the trees for the turnoff to your favorite spot on earth, the place you have gone every year for decades. Only something is wrong. There is a barricade blocking the road. The same "Stay the Hell Off" sign you have been seeing at other people's favorite turnoffs is also blocking your way. Your vacation is ruined. Now you need to go to one of the campground/subdivisions with wall to wall neighbors because that is all that is left. Only there, you can't let your dog out or unload the bike or ATV.
The Sierra Club, SUWA, and a dozen organizations you haven't even heard of have been busy. While you were carefree, enjoying your motorized toys, hunting, reading your book, and working so you could afford more, they have devoted their lives and much of their earnings toward control of your life. They don't approve of you. They hate your dog, your dirt bike, and especially your ATV. You know that bush your cousin ran over last year on your ATV? They took a picture of that and circulated it all over from Maine to Florida. The people who saw that picture, who also own your favorite camping ground, but who will never see it, want you kept off. They called their elected representatives and made a stink.
I know, back in 1997 you sent 20 bucks to Blue Ribbon Coalition. That should have been enough, right? Why didn't they protect your rights? Maybe this time you'll send them 30. But the nagging question keeps popping into your head: Is it too late? And the sad truth is that for many "favorite spots" it is too late. Probably the best that can be accomplished now, with you and all of your friends chipping in major amounts of your hard earned cash, is that half of those areas can ever be opened up again. You didn't want to hear that did you? Well, ask anyone who has been involved in the land use battle for more than twenty years how many once-closed areas are now open again. So now maybe you should sell the motorized toys and take up chess. But who are you going to sell them to? Nobody will want to spend thousands on machinery that can't be used. This is your fortieth wake up call!
Meeting - January 10, 6:00 PM
Grand Center
182 North 500 West
Moab, Utah
435-259-6623
Bring all your family and friends. I hate to have to say this, but from past meeting experience I must mention that coming sober, and polite will be very helpful.
It is now time to face the fact that whatever you have donated in the past to organizations like
USA-ALL 
Blue Ribbon Coalition
Ride with Respect
Sage Riders
should be increased by a multiple of ten, at least, if you hope to accomplish much at all.
