To All FFOR Members and all Off-Highway Vehicle groups:
On December 2, U.S. Senator Conrad Burns will be holding U.S. Senate hearings in Missoula. The focus of these hearings is to determine the future of public access to public lands, based on recent proposals by the USFS and BLM to shut down significant percentages of trails to motorized vehicle use.
It is difficult to describe just how important it is to attend these hearings in Missoula. We have worked long and hard to seek government oversight into how the Forest Service and BLM are ignoring the people who actually use public lands (us), and approving plans by extreme environmentalist groups whose members rarely set foot on these lands.We only get one shot at this and we need to make it count. We are working with Senator Burns' staff to line up speakers to testify, but we also need to absolutely pack their room to its capacity of 350. I'd like
Yellowstone County and the surrounding areas to have 50 people in that room, so here's what I need to know immediately from every person who feels strongly enough to attend these hearings in Missoula.
I'm proposing renting a charter bus to drive 50 people to Missoula and back, but it will cost $40 per person to do so. We would leave at 2am on December 2, stop for breakfast along the way, then get into Missoula by 8am. We would participate in the hearings, depart at 2pm, and be back in Billings by 9pm. This way there are no overnight lodging costs. The bus is a very nice coach with a bathroom. The seats partially recline so you can sleep.
If you would be willing to pay $40 for coach fare (plus food money for three restaurant meals) and give up a day of your life to participate in these historic hearings, please e-mail back directly to me at:
bigedmelcher@aol.com.
This is your chance to really make a difference to help ensure access to public lands for generations to come. If we don't do this now, we may never get another chance. Please let me know if you will commit the time and money to ensure our voices are heard by Senator Burns and others. If you e-mail back stating you will go, please give your full name and phone number so we can contact you with detailed information.
Sincerely,
Ed Melcher
Families For Outdoor Recreation
PS: If you are unable to go but would like to sponsor someone else or help to sponsor someone please send your check made out to FFOR and mail to PO Box 89104
PPPS: IF YOU WANT A RIDE ALONG INTERSTATE 90 LET US KNOW!