W4WDA FALL CONVENTION MINUTS

                                                                OCTOBER 11, 2003

 

CALL TO ORDER:  9:05

 

ROLL CALL:  PRESENT-Borderline 4x4 Trailseekers, Clear Water 4-Wheelers, Damage Inc,  Extreme Off  Roaders, 4x4 Forever Ltd,  Gopher Wheeling O.R.C. Inc, Green Bay High Riders Ltd, 4-Lakes 4-Wheelers, Lakeshore 4-Wheelers, Legendary Civilian Jeepers, Mudslingers Inc,  Northwest TrailFinders,  Northern Wisconsin 4-Wheel Drive Club Inc,  River City 4-Wheelers,  River Valley Swamp Rats,  Trailgators 4-Wheelers, Twin City Bushwackers,  Weekend  4-Wheelers Inc.  

                           Individual Members: Al Carroll, Harold Hoernke

Officers:  May Lynn Strauss, Mike Katterhagen, Orlin Clark, Helen Wagner, Mary  Hoernke

Board Members: Dan Bergin, Melissa Borde.

           Directors: Luana Schneider, Mike & Candy Meier, John Schnorr.

          ABSENT:     Badgerland TNT 4x4 Club, Badger State 4-Wheelers, 4-Play 4 Wheelers Inc,

          Fly N’Hi 4-Wheelers, Land Cruiser Legends of Wisconsin, Road Runners Jeep Club, River

         City Trailriders Ltd, Trail Runners 4x4 Ltd, Wide Open Wheelers.

          Ken Dibble, Pat Jabocosky, Jeff Bajczyk.

 

Secretary Report:  Approved as distributed

 

Treasurer Report: Approved as distributed. A motion was made by Mark White, 2nd by Candy Meier to     

                         approve $200 for printing costs so each club can have a copy of the W4WDA By-laws.

These will be ready for the winter meeting.

 

OLD BUSINESS

 

Kickapoo Valley Reserve-Orlin Clark reported some of the horse trails are being closed in the Reserve. Hunters have asked for access to the area, but it has been denied.  The Visitor Center is being worked on at a cost of $4 million.   A question of funding for this came up and Orlin sated the DNR and Department of Transportation control the funding for the bridges and building projects. Currently the area Indian tribe controls 1200 acres of the Reserve.  In 2005, the complete area will be reviewed.

 

ORV Survey-Dan Bergin reports they have not done any more on the survey after reviewing the results of the sample survey from the last convention. Scott Erickson and Dan felt people thought this was a joke and the results were inconclusive.  Those completing the survey need to be truthful and respectful. Dan questioned how we could release this to the public, when we can not get straight answers among our own group.

The idea of combining our survey with the United 4WDA survey was discussed with the results coming back to the W4WDA on Wisconsin area. Dan and Scott will rework the survey and return it to the delegates.   To get numbers reflecting a cross section of association members, each club delegate needs to make sure a minimum number of surveys are returned.  After the survey is complete, a deadline will be set for return of the completed surveys,

 

Ducks Unlimited-Harold Hoernke feels DU is not using the Association membership, as they should.  We are there to promote our sport, but this is not happening.   Members felt we have enough of a cross section of vehicle types, that if we knew the vehicle manufactures being represented, we could have pictures showing use of their vehicle.  Luana Schneider and Harold Hoernke will write a letter from the W4WDA to DU with our concerns. 

 

Nekoosa Area Updates- Dan Bergin will not be pursuing this anymore. Luana Scheinder stated she has contacted representatives of the newest owners of the land, Plum Creek, but is getting no responses from letters or calls made.        

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NEW BUSINESS              

 

Spring Fling 2004-At the previous convention the idea of holding Fling near the Hudson area at a private off road park was discussed.  Pat Roark introduced guests from RPM (Real Performance Machines) the user group connected with Apple Valley Farms Off Road Area located near Hudson WI.  Apple Valley is around 1500 acres with 6 sets of trails of varying degrees.

The representatives work with the owners and head trail rides on the property. We were told there is primitive camping available with showers on the grounds. The camping area can also accommodate larger rigs.  Cost would be around $40 per vehicle for the weekend plus $10 per person over 16 years old. Rate is based on 100 vehicles. This price includes camping.  Grounds are open from 4pm Friday thru Sunday afternoon.

A motion was made by Orlin Clark, 2nd by Helen Wagner to hold 2004 Spring Fling at Apple Valley Farms, May 1-2, 2004. Motion passed.  To see pictures of Apple Valley visit RPM4x4.com website.

 

Pa Rocker-Al Carrol said he is taking reservations for his 4x4 weekends.  Several weekends are booked for 2004 and 2005. See Pa to book a weekend or visit his Website.

 

New Projects- Mary Strauss would like to see a person head a committee organizing new projects the association can do and grants that could be written.  If interested contact Mary.  Luana Schneider suggested the new Safety Patrol program could be a part of this

 

Wisconsin Meetings—Rueben Gostewich told the group that a lot gets talked about at the meetings but he sees little follow through.  He suggested the Association have more meetings during the year to get a better focus and things accomplished.  Other members brought up the fact we have numerous volunteers but no direction for those people to follow.  Candy Meier suggested regional meetings be held prior to the conventions.  Luana Schneider said these meetings could be used to promote organized 4x4 clubs in each region and the W4WDA.   Our by-laws discuss regional meetings.

 

Kevin Bak suggested a committee be put together to review the by-laws and volunteered to head this committee.  A question was brought up if the Association maintains a SOP (Standard Operating Procedures). Not currently but from this time forward one could be maintained.  Orlin Clark voiced his concern that the by-laws are ok, what we need is an updated SOP. Kevin then declined heading this committee.  Position is now open for some one to record SOP and if needed review the by-laws.

 

Land Use—Helen Wagner read the motion that passed at the October 2002 meeting—a motion was made and seconded to have the 3 area Vice Presidents go out to the clubs in their regions and solicit volunteers to serve on a Land use committee whose focus will be contacting state representatives. The core land use committee members will continue on the committee.

Orlin Clark stated he would start doing this in Region C.  Off road vehicles are now a recognized group and we need to maintain our presence.  

 

Fund Raising Benefits

Extreme Off Roaders have two club members with very ill children and are holding a benefit on November 29, 2003 at Studio Hall on Washington Street in Oshkosh. The event starts at 7:00, with a $5 per person donation.

 

River City 4-Wheelers are holding a fund raising benefit on October 28, 2003 at the Brookwood High School, in Ontario, WI for a sick child in their club also.  A live auction and a silent auction will be held in conjunction with the fundraiser.

 

Pipeline Project—Mary Strauss gave an update on this.  The El Paso Gas Company was given permission to cover an area on Thunder Mountain where the pipe was in danger of being exposed.  What they did was build a rock crawl right over the area in question. Instead of eliminating a problem, they created a worse problem. 

 

Another person has been hired to do the Environmental Assessment project on the Pipeline.  Mary will be meeting with the Forest Service in November.  Mike Haemmerle from Extreme Off Roaders volunteered to attend also.

 

United 4-Wheel Drive Report—See attached from Candy Meier.                              

 

State Directors Report—See attached from Luana Schneider.

 

Additions to the state directors report.

Ideas for improving the March of Dimes Rally were brought up.  The check point people need to be out at the checkpoints earlier, the volunteers working the checkpoint or poker stops need to have meeting on Friday night prior to the Rally, and also it would make the checkpoint people more valuable if they ran the Rally the guinea pig weekend.

 

Luana Schneider reported the association receives a rebate from the camping fees at the March of Dimes. Total received this year was $1405.00. Luana suggested $200 go toward the Evergreen Horse club building fund toward the pavilion we used.  The association has 3 club families with seriously ill children and Luana would like to see the remainder divided among those needing the help.

 

United 4-Wheel Drive Assoc. is re-launching the Stand By-Program. In years past a listing of those 4-wheelers that could be contacted throughout the country was published in the newsletter.  If another wheeler was passing through a local area and had problems, those on the list could be contacted to help out and get the traveler on the road again.  This info was due to U4WDA by October 1, 2003, but if you are interested, get your name in.  Contact the editor of the newsletter.

 

10 Year Forest Plan-Luana stated all members should be aware of when each County forest in our local areas work on their forests plan to make sure our sport gets recognized.  

 

Mike Kasten-membership—Mike has a membership letter ready to go to all the non-W4WDA members that took part in the March of Dimes rally. The mailing list will be provided by the March of Dimes.  As an Association we need to work to get those people into and organized club and the W4WDA.        

 

Lake State Resource Alliance. - John Schnoor reported the Chequamegon National Forest is closed to all motorized vehicles due to the extremely dry conditions.  We have been told this is a temporary closure, hopefully for 180 days. 

 

There will not be a fund raising banquet in 2004, but a raffle will still be held.

 

John suggested before using a trail in the Forest, stop at the Forestry Station for a map.  We need to remember if the trail/road is not posted “open” it is “closed.”

 

25K has been appropriated by the Lake States Resource Alliance to fund a study and review of the Forestry plan.  The University of Stevens Point students will do this.  50K has been setup aside for legal issues.     

 

Forestry roads are classified as:

              Level 1 – trail                       

             Level 2 – two track

              Level 3 – numbered gravel roads with a forestry service sign

              Level 4 – county or townships road

              Level 5 – state highway

 

Luana Schneider was told that no areas could be officially closed without a public hearing.

 

Election of Officers:

 

Vice President Region A is Andrea Lyman from Northern Wisconsin 4-Wheel Drive Club.

 

Vice President Region C is John Schnoor from Legendary CJ’s.

 

Board Positions were filled as follows:  2 years terms for Melissa Borde and Dan Bergin.  Chris Hannis will hold a 1 one-year term.

 

Motion made by Chris Hannis to destroy the ballots, 2nd by Candy Meier.

 

Andrea Lyman was appointed as the new Webmaster. Thanks to Brian Swearingen for his hard work in the past on the Website.

 

Newsletter position- Brian Swearingen is stepping down from the editor position.  If interested in heading the newsletter, contact Brian or Mary Strauss.  

 

Winter Meeting—The date set is January 10, 2004, from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Originally it was going to be held in Mauston at the Country Suites, but moving the meeting to the Wisconsin Rapids area was discussed. Dan and Laura Bergin will check into moving the site.  Watch the Website for location.

 

 

Motion to adjourn made by Ginny Clark, 2nd by Tim Duenkel. 

 

 

Respectfully submitted – Helen Wagner   Secretary