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From the MWA:
No, we're not members, but we do get their emails.

Here's the text from their email on Thursday, Feb 10th:
A JOINT RESOLUTION IN THE MONTANA LEGISLATURE WOULD URGE CONGRESS TO STOP THE FOREST SERVICE AND BLM FROM CLOSING ROADS ON PUBLIC LANDS.

DON'T LET IT HAPPEN.

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Dear Wilderness Supporter:

Representative Dennis Himmelberger (R) Billings has drafted a joint resolution, HJ 18, that would recommend that Congress pass legislation to stop the U.S. Forest Service and the BLM from closing roads on federal lands. For a full text of HJ 18 go to:
http://data.opi.state.mt.us/bills/2005/billhtml/HJ0018.htm

The House Natural Resources Committee of the Montana Legislature will hear the bill on Friday February 11th at 3 PM in Room 152 of the Capitol Building in Helena.

What can you do?

The Off-Road Vehicle industry is planning a big turnout for this hearing. Conservationists and supporters of Wilderness need to be there in equal force! Montana's public lands need YOU to come to the hearing, or contact the committee members by phone or by email at the Legislative Comment web page.

Urge the members of the Natural Resource Committee to Vote NO! on HJ 18.

Call and leave a message at (406) 444-4800

Send an email to the members through the Legislative comment page:
http://leg.state.mt.us/css/sessions/59th/legwebmessage.asp

Jim Peterson (R) Buffalo Chairman
Jack Ross (R) Absarokee
Chris Harris (D) Bozeman
Norma Bixby (D) Lame Deer
Dee Brown (R) Hungry Horse
Paul Clark (D) Trout Creek
Sue Dickenson (D) Great Falls
George Everett (R) Kalispell
Gail Gutsche (D) Missoula
Ralph Heinert (R) Libby
Larry Jent (D) Bozeman
Llew Jones (R) Conrad
Mike Jopek (D) Whitefish
Carol Lambert (R) Broadus
Ricj Maedje (R) Fortine
Veronica Small-Eastman (D) Lodge Grass
Dave Wanzenreid (D) Missoula

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If you can't make the hearing, contact the legislators and let them know that you oppose HJ 18. The hearing is Friday of this week, and they will likely vote on the resolution Monday or Wednesday of next week, so contacts later this week will be important.
If you can only send nine emails, start with the Democratic members of the Committee.

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Tell the Committee members that:

* Rehabilitating and closing roads on federal lands is critical to protecting Montana's big game and 5-week elk season.

* Road rehabilitation is vital to our economy - without road rehabilitation Montana's water quality would suffer, damaging fisheries and impairing other uses.

* Road closures are about protecting other values, not about limiting access - being able to drive everywhere limits the options for other users of public lands.
ACT NOW!

Keep it Wild,

The Montana Wilderness Association
Need more information? Contact John Gatchell at jgatchell@wildmontana.org

Announcing a Master Tread Trainer Course in Great Falls, Montana

Tread Lightly! would like to invite you to participate in an upcoming Master Tread Trainer Course. The Tread Trainer program is designed to train participants in innovative, practical methods of spreading outdoor ethics (specifically regarding motorized and mechanized recreation) to the public. The training is provided through a o­ne-day course and will qualify the participant to become a Tread Lightly! representative-- a "Master Tread Trainer."

Tread Lightly! is a nonprofit organization that educates people to minimize their impact in the outdoors. We specifically focus o­n motorized and mechanized recreation.

Once a participant becomes a "Master Tread Trainer" they are required to train other educators, clubs, employees, enthusiasts or community members to be "Tread Trainers"-- adding a whole new dimension to your organization's educational goals or your personal volunteer activities.

ATTENTION MOTORIZED RECREATIONISTS!

Please plan to attend this meeting, since this plan is the next step in determining what trails we will be able to ride o­n for the next 10 years in the Gallatin Forest

When: Monday August 25,2003 7-9pm
Where: Best Western City Center Motel, 507 West Main
What: Gallatin National Forest Draft Travel Plan Alternatives
Info: www.fs.fed.us/r1/gallatin/travel_planning

A Skyliners Hello!

Things here are going quite well. We had a few members go to the Hot Springs Mud Bog / Obstacles over Memorial Day weekend. Congratulations to those who brought home prizes.
The trail ride was fun. The guys had a run by themselves. It was said they sure missed the women not being there. Their tail gate lunch didn't function well! This month promises to be better guys.
The rain here has made life a little soggy. We've tried to do the highway clean-up, but not successfully. We keep trying!
As some of you heard at Convention, the tribal land was going to be posted to what was open and what was closed off. Well, some of that has now started along the river corridor. The main roads are open, but some of the branch off roads have been posted "closed". So, we're going to feel the crunch. We have a couple of members that are trying to get the tribal council to hear us out, about the 4X4 club helping them or if we can do any patrolling or road repairs with them. We must keep trying and hope for the best.
We are planning a trail ride on the 23rd of June. We're going to do the power line road out of Lakeside with Uncle Vic as Captain of the day. We sure hope for some sun, or we might be the 4X4 club with pontoons and paddle tires

See ya 4 wheelers!
Mickie RVP / Sec.

Hi Everyone!
Wow! Was that Convention fun for all or what? Thank you to all who attended. All the costumes were great and the race track was a hoot. I just want to say that the cooks, Fred and Sherry Hanson, did a wonderful job.
Congratulations to the costume winners:
Bob and Ann Lambert -Best couple
Leonard Nelson -Best male
Amy Johnson -Best female
Emily - Amy's Daughter -Best child
We need to mention one more costume that was good. We were told that it was not a skirt - it was a wrap! So, I think Tom Mandera should get the Burrito Award for the male that was all wrapped up!
R.C. races was won by Jason Schroeder, future son-in-law to Rob and Cindy St.Clair.
Frontier 4 Wheelers of Helena won the trail riding basket of goodies for the best picture poster contest.
Rob Zolman did a wonderful job on the photo booth. Everyone seemed to be pleased with their pictures, and I have to say, you all looked great!
The Skyliners would like to say congratulations to the state officers. You did such a good job last year and it's nice to have you here again.
Enough of Convention now. Life here is back to usual. Trail rides, some 4X4 fun, and the civic duty of highway clean up. May 18th is a run to Blacktail with a dog luck (short for hot dog pot luck). May 19th we're showing a friend of Jan's some Montana hospitality. She's from California. It's a pot luck and sure to be fun.
We had our election of officers - the same as last year.
Pres. Jan Munn
V.P. Frank Brown
Treas. Don Munn
Sec. Mickie Ross
R.V.P. Mickie Ross
Delegates Joe Ross & Preston Johnson
Alternates Jan Munn & Rob St.Clair
The Hot Springs Mud Bog looks like it's going to be fun. Some of the Skyliners are going over to show support.
We're back to trying new ways to build up our membership again with hopes of recruiting a couple more for this year.
We welcome Fred and Sherry Hanson, and Rob and Krystal Zolman, (parents to Trenton & T.J. Zolman - Mickie & Joe Ross' grand sons that most of you have already known since they were babies.) Glad to have you all in the club!
So long for now. -Mickie Ross, R.V.P.

Our letters work.
This is a portion of Senator Burns letter:

I continue to be amazed when a company stands behind there product...35 years later !

Hi-Lift jacks that literally last for years !!!