|
Quoted from appended article in current edition of BlueRibbon Coalition's Magazine:
Derrick Crandall, President of the American Recreation Coalition and Chairman of the previous TPIA Advisory Board feels "the new program will have dramatic and beneficial consequences for millions of Americans who turn to the great outdoors for mental, physical, and spiritual health and celebrate the special legacy we enjoy in our parks, forests, refuges, and other public lands."
Please have a look as what the BlueRibbon Coalition is saying about this "Take Pride in America" program. For additional info see:
http://www.funoutdoors.com/tpia.html
http://www.takepride.info
http://www.doi.gov/news/030416nortonspeech.htm
http://www.takepride.gov/partners.htm
http://www.paohv.org/right_frame_usa_pride.html
http://www.paohv.org/right_frame_political_june03.html
http://www.nmma.org/government/legcon/bios.asp
And here's an article announcing that Derrick Crandall would be replaced with a lawyer from the firm of Brownstein, Hyatt & Farber, P.C. --- which, of course, is the old law firm of Gale Norton.
Take Pride in America is a tool in the privatization toolbox. It should be broadly denounced and vigorously opposed by all who care about protection of the environment or who enjoy low impact forms of outdoor recreation.
Scott
--- begin quoted ---
OHV GROUPS "TAKE PRIDE IN AMERICA"
Acting under the direction of the White House, Secretary of Interior
Gale Norton re-launched the "Take Pride in America" initiative on
Wednesday, April 16th at the National Press Club in Washington D.C. In
attendance was Bob Hammond representing the National Off-Highway
Vehicle Conservation Council (NOHVCC). Originally created in 1985, the
"Take Pride in America" (TPIA) program has been dormant since 1993. It
was conceived to help Americans appreciate their public lands
birthright and spark heightened interest in volunteerism on public
lands. And it succeeded. Vandalism declined and volunteerism soared
while the program was in place.
The NOHVCC and BlueRibbon Coalition joins the other new partners, which
includes motorized and non-motorized recreational groups, civic
organizations, and wildlife and conservation organizations.
"Take Pride In America will empower volunteers from every corner of
America to restore and improve our parks, refuges, recreation areas and
cultural and historical sites. The program inspires citizen stewardship
through a bold and innovative public communication campaign.
Outstanding volunteer efforts are rewarded with presidential
recognition," Norton said at the National Press Club address.
After the luncheon, some of the group hopped on a bus and went to a nearby park to plant trees and clean up trash.
"I got to spend about 10 or 15 minutes with Secretary Norton on the bus
talking about OHV issues and NOHVCC and told her about the need to
close the gap between perception of OHV enthusiasts and the reality of
who and what we are," reports Hammond. "And then at the cleanup,
probably a quarter of the sponsor organization reps there were from the
OHV community!"
Hammond continues, "NOHVCC has always been promoting volunteer action,
and that has been taken to a new level as Secretary Norton called the
nation to action to improve our public lands. Grassroots,
state-by-state, acre-by acre progress is the only way we will
accomplish the task of improving our public lands. Just as club by club
is the only way our OHV network will grow." "BlueRibbon Coalition
member organizations have a long history of working with our federal
land managers on trail-head cleanups, trail maintainance projects, and
other volunteer work," said BlueRibbon Coalition Executive Director
Clark Collins. "We are excited that this program has been re energized
in this administration as a means of recognizing that important
volunteer work." In addition to volunteerism, OHV groups have been
heavily involved in funding programs that benefit a broad range of
recreationists. One of those efforts, the Recreational Trails Program,
provides $50 million a year for recreational trail improvements
nationwide.
A new website for TPIA (http://www.takepride.gov) has been formed.
Local OHV clubs should use the website to demonstrate what great
volunteers the OHV enthusiasts are and gain the recognition we deserve
as good citizens and caring users of public lands.
"Take Pride in America" will have four core programs:
1) Deterrence of vandalism and theft of natural and cultural resources and promotion of an appropriate outdoor ethic.
2) Solicitation and recognition of volunteerism on public lands, including state and national awards.
3) Increased awareness of the shared legacy all Americans share in our Great Outdoors.
4) Ensure that American children, either through family or
organizations ranging from scouts to schools, are afforded an
introduction to the shared legacy of the Great Outdoors.
Derrick Crandall, President of the American Recreation Coalition and
Chairman of the previous TPIA Advisory Board feels "the new program
will have dramatic and beneficial consequences for millions of
Americans who turn to the great outdoors for mental, physical, and
spiritual health and celebrate the special legacy we enjoy in our
parks, forests, refuges, and other public lands."
Some of the motorized groups who have signed on as Charter Partners for
"Take Pride in America" include the National Off Highway Vehicle
Conservation Council, Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC), American
Motorcycle Association (AMA), BlueRibbon Coalition, Motorcycle Safety
Foundation (MSF), Specialty Vehicle Industry Association (SVIA),
American Recreation Coalition (ARC), Americans for Responsible
Recreation Access (ARRA) and the American Council of Snowmobile
Associations.
--
For questions or comments on this article, or on other OHV issues,
contact the BRC main office: P.O. Box 5449, Pocatello, ID, 83202.
Phone: 208-237-1008, Fax: 208-237-9424. Email
<
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
>.
|
- Privatization 
