The current calendar of events for the Billings area as of June 13th. Additions and modifications may be posted later.

United Four Wheel Drive Associations was one of 24 national organizations uniting in one voice urging Congress to fund the recreational trails program at all-time high levels.

The Recreational Trails Program (RTP) is a federal program that funds motorized and non-motorized trail grants at the state level. Each state receives a portion of the multi-million dollar program to fund grants for both motorized and non-motorized trail projects.

BlueRibbon Coalition
-by Adena Cook

On May 5, the Final Rule on management of our National Forest System Roadless Areas was released. Subsequent news stories totally misrepresented the intent of the Rule or what it could accomplish. The stories postulated that the Rule would stimulate road-building and timber harvest in these relatively undeveloped areas. In describing these areas, they chose to ignore that our Roadless Areas are where a significant amount of recreation occurs in our National Forests, the importance of that recreation, and how it is crucial that these areas be actively managed to provide for forest health, access and diverse recreation opportunities.

The Helena Independent Record and the Billings Gazette are running
on-line polls on the Roadless Rule. Please log on at:

http://www.helenair.com/ & http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php

The polls are near the bottom left.

If you know of anyone else that would want to vote, please let them
know.

Original Article

USDA FOREST SERVICE ACTS TO CONSERVE ROADLESS AREAS IN NATIONAL FORESTS Announces National Advisory Committee to Help Implement New Rule

WASHINGTON, May 5, 2005 - Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns today announced a final rule that invites input from state governors in the conservation and management direction for inventoried roadless areas within national forests. This rule will provide environmental benefits and help to ensure that the needs of local communities are considered in roadless area conservation.

"Our actions today advance President Bush's commitment to cooperatively conserve inventoried roadless areas within our national forests," Johanns said. " USDA is committed to working closely with the nation's governors to meet the needs of our local communities while protecting and restoring the health and natural beauty of our national forests."

Please pass the message to get people to sign on to this petition. The
petition will be autoforwarded to the following on May 31, 2005.
MT Representative Denny Rehberg
MT Senator Conrad Burns
MT Senator Max Baucus
CA Representative Richard Pombo (Chairman of the US House Resources
Committee)

The following is a petition hosted by e-thePeople. If you want to sign
this petition, follow the link at the bottom of this email.

Mountaineers 3rd Annual Top Truck Challenge

Saturday May 21st, 2005

@ the Gallatin County Fairgrounds Motor Sports Park

Regestration - Starts @ 8:00am
Racing - Starts @ 10:30am

EVENTS:
Rock Crawl
Mud Pit
Tow
Obstacle Course
Skill Event

Off Highway Vehicle Trail Grants

Full Details

July 13-17, 2005, near Philipsburg, MT.

Flier and Registration

April 23-24 at the WarBonnet Inn, Billings, Montana.

$17/adult. See the linked PDF for details and registration form.

Come vote in the new M4x4A Board of Directors.