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July 2, 2009
Raid on OHV funds planned again, Email from CORVA
Urgent! - Raid on OHV Funds Planned Again!
CORVA has received word that there will be another run on the OHV Trust Fund, this time aimed at the Grants Program that funds OHV recreation on federal lands. We all know that 80% of OHV recreation in California occurs on federal lands, most of it paid for with California OHV funds.
Please take a few moments to fax and email Governor Schwarzenegger to voice your objection to this raid on our funds.
SEND BOTH A FAX AND EMAIL - please do this today!
Sample Letter below ˆ Please use this to draft your own! `
________________________________________
July 1, 2009
Dear Governor Schwarzenegger:
As a resident of the State of California I understand the gravity of the budget
crisis and the difficulty of finding ways to resolve it. I feel very strongly
that what is needed is long term solution, not temporary measures that only put
off dealing with the problem.
I understand that our State Parks are in need of funding and that measures to
redirect funds from the OHV Division to the Parks are being considered. I would like to point out that OHV funds are held in the Fuel Tax Trust Fund. Recent
court cases have upheld the need for repayment if these funds are borrowed and used for anything other than the intended purposes.
OHV recreation areas on federal land are among the most popular in California
and receive millions of visits each year. OHV facilities on federal land such as the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area are for the most part funded by OHV
Trust Fund dollars. The Oceano Dunes and other State Vehicular Recreation Areas are some of the most visited parks in the state. Redirecting funds from these areas to other less visited areas will leave millions of Californians with
nowhere to go.
The State of California has already borrowed $90M from the Trust Fund. The OHV Trust Fund has already contributed more than its fair share. To borrow more
from the Fund is not a solution to the budget problem, only a short term fix.
I urge you to avoid redirecting OHV funds to any other purpose.
Sincerely,
Name
Address
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-445-2841
Fax: 916-558-3160 (new number)
Email address: governor@governor.ca.gov
Assemblymember Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa), Chair
Phone: (916) 319-2007
Fax: (916) 319-2107
assemblymember.evans@assembly.ca.gov
Assemblymember Bob Blumenfield (D-Woodland Hills)
Phone: (916) 319-2040
Fax: (916) 319-2140
Assemblymember.blumenfield@assembly.ca.gov
Assemblymember Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles
Phone: (916) 319-2045
Fax: (916) 319-2145
Assemblymember.deLeon@assembly.ca.gov
Assemblymember Roger Niello (R-Sacramento)
Phone: (916) 319-2005
Fax: (916) 319-2105
Assemblymember.niello@assembly.ca.gov
Assemblymember Jim Nielsen (R-Biggs)
Phone: (916) 319-2002
Fax: (916) 319-2102
assemblymember.nielsen@assembly.ca.gov
Senator Denise Ducheny (D-San Diego)
Phone: (916) 651-4040
Fax: (916) 327-3522
Senator.ducheny@sen.ca.gov
Senator Bob Dutton (R-Rancho Cucamonga)
Phone: (916) 651-4031
Fax: (916) 327-2272
Senator.dutton@sen.ca.gov
Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco)
Phone: (916) 651-4003
Fax: (916) 445-4722
Senator.leno@senate.ca.gov
Senator Alan Lowenthal (D-Long Beach)
Phone: (916) 651-4027
Fax: (916) 327-9113
Senator.lowenthal@sen.ca.gov
Senator Mimi Walters (R-Laguna Hills)
Phone: (916) 651-4033
Fax: (916) 445-9754
Senator.Walters@sen.ca.gov
June 18th, 2009
OHV Trust Funds Saved!, Email from CORVA
Late yesterday we received word that the joint legislative committee found an alternative funding source for State Parks. This proposal would increase registration fees for motor vehicles by $15. Because this is a fee and not a tax, it can pass the legislature with a simple majority.
It was also proposed that this fee allow free entry to State Parks for day use. The rationale is that the majority will never visit the parks anyway.
We'd like to thank those of you who sent letters to members of the Budget Committee in response to our emergency communication. That sent a strong message to legislators to keep their hands off our OHV Funds!
Thanks CORVA Members
June 8th, 2009
30 Down & Dirty, Submitted by Diana Mead, Escarabajo Buggy Club, CORVA, Northern
Escarabajo selected, “30 Down & Dirty”, as the name and the theme of our annual fund raising rally May 2009. “Thirty”, because we’ve been hosting a rally for thirty years, (actually 31, but we lost count for a year, when we lost our Virginia City venue a few years back), and “Dirty”, for the wonderful dirt running we have at Frank Raines Regional OHV, in Patterson, California.
“Dirty” took on another definition when we were blessed with rain, enough to give the participants perfect “mud” to enhance the experience. Now, we dirt enthusiasts don’t let a little foul weather daunt our spirits, but it was clear that nasty weather predictions kept many away. That’s a shame as a good time was had and a few dollars were raised. In the words of our Rally Master, Roy Haley, “The event was a success, and we broke even.”
Like last year, speed was not the criteria for winning. Points are accrued throughout the park by participating in the various check point events (bean bag toss, paint ball, basket ball challenge, etc. all of which are performed while in or on the vehicle!), playing poker (cards drawn at each event), locating numbered cones throughout the park, etc. There are ways to lose points too. Missing a cone, for instance, costs the number of points labeled on that cone. He or she with the most points wins. Trophies were awarded to first, second and third place finishers in four classes.
Once again we offered a terrific dinner of tri tip, potato salad (trademark homemade), garlic bread and salad.
We made a few changes this year to accommodate what we learned last year. The date was earlier in the month, to stay clear of the fire season, but not so early that we’d conflict with the East Bay Hi-Tailers dinner dance in mid April. The route was customized to allow easier travelling for the 4X4 vehicles that had a hard time in 2008. We offered the very popular “dash plaques” as mementos for participants. We awarded passenger trophies to point accruing rails, glass bodies and 4x4’s.
We learned more lessons about how to make this event more successful. More advance notice, more advertising, more marketing. And maybe more effort to cajole other groups in the area to attend.
This is a fun day for all who came and for all of us who worked to host. Bill Salmon sold two more CORVA memberships so we had a small success for CORVA too!
We will continue to host this rally and hope that more of our Northern California friends will support our efforts when we try again May, 2010.
Note: Escarabajo Buggy Club is bay area based. Chartered in 1968, our members are a multi generation group of off road families. The original by laws required ownership (or under construction) of a VW based buggy. Over the years we have updated our by laws and changed our requirements to invite “active” members who enjoy off roading. The focus has shifted from a single type of vehicle, to the people/families who enjoy the sport. We are diverse in our economic status and our political outlook as well as our toys. We are learning, born of necessity, to focus on what we have in common and not worry so much about where we differ.
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