Re: why join AERC? Trails Conferences

[Nancy DuPont <htrails@earthlink.net>]

This person, Bob Morris, has said it better than anyone. This is the issue,
the problem, and --wake up guys and listen to him!  
He should be your President or at very least your Trails Chairman. Send him
to Washington DC with us in March! 
Connie - here is your chosen one.

>Resent-From: ridecamp@endurance.net
>Resent-Date: Tue, 12 Jan 1999 11:24:54 -0800 (PST)
>Reply-To: "Robert Morris" <bobmorris@rmci.net>
>From: "Robert Morris" <bobmorris@rmci.net>
>To: <LSimoni197@aol.com>, <cberto@juno.com>, <flemmerl@rcbhsc.wvu.edu>,
>        <ridecamp@endurance.net>
>Subject: Re: why join AERC? Trails Conferences
>Date: Tue, 12 Jan 1999 12:19:10 -0700
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>OK Lynge:
>
>The following diatribe will let me get some things off my mind and perhaps
>get some ideas across while dispersing some of my frustrations. You are all
>welcome to hit the idiot button at this point. (as in he is an idiot so
>let's hit the delete button)
>
>First we must examine our problem. To me it is that the ARC has, in the
>past, addressed the trails issue but with little or no real support.
>
>Funds have been set up but allowed to lapse. Monies have been set aside but
>not channeled properly. i.e. Little or no enthusiasm, direction or purpose
>from the total organization.
>
>Now my bitch!! (delete here if you want) On Ride Camp, at the Convention,
>where ever horse people congregate, you hear talk of what is the latest
>thing to feed, what is the latest supplement, what is the best saddle, how
>can I win that award, how can we increase our funds for awards. Bring up the
>subject of trails and every one walks away saying " I still have some place
>to ride".
>
>Riders spend a small fortune on tack, feed, shoeing, special "go juice" but
>cannot comprehend the loss of trails. Take a look at the rides presented for
>competition at this point in endurance riding! Ten years ago many rides were
>on logging roads at the worst. Today those logging roads are not available
>and the rides are on hard packed roads and the trail is marked by pickup.
>Have a endurance ride on a trail? No way, conflicts with hikers and
>bikers(assumed by the agencies) No way, this is a National Park. No way,
>horses destroy the environment. No way, horses leave manure and bring in
>weeds.
>
>As an example, Boise was an important stop on the Oregon Trail. We have
>remnants of the trail still extant. We now have a Reserve set aside to
>preserve this evidence of our heritage. Allow horses. Not only NO but HELL
>NO. The horses would destroy the evidence of the trail and besides they
>would conflict with the bikes!!
>
>BIKES on the Oregon Trail?? Almost as bad a cows in Berkeley (I think Connie
>will remember that one).
>
>If we want the AERC to get behind the National Trails Program then we must
>bring a very good proposal to the Board in February. One that will have
>support in fact not just in mention! A proposal that commits, dedicates and
>projects an AERC willing to lead with all resources. If we can get an AERC
>that is willing to develop as much of a trails program as it has for an
>International program we would have a start.
>
>This all starts with people. People willing to set aside personal agendas,
>willing to forget regional preferences and people willing to work. People
>willing to spend time applying for grants. People willing to speak out but
>at the same time listen. Arlene and I have been trying, on a local and
>regional scale, to do this for the past 15 years and have had very minor
>success. So, this AERC effort also needs people who will not get discouraged
>in the short term.
>
>I would be very willing to go private with this and discuss ways and means.
>Connie, would you care to lead this? I will be necessary to be represented
>by a nation wide spread so all regional differences are considered. Linda
>You from the East ( though West Va.. is a specialty in itself).
>
>Shall we see what we can do????
>
>Bob Morris
>Morris Endurance Enterprises
>Boise, ID
>-----Original Message-----
>From: LSimoni197@aol.com <LSimoni197@aol.com>
>To: bobmorris@rmci.net <bobmorris@rmci.net>; cberto@juno.com
><cberto@juno.com>; flemmerl@rcbhsc.wvu.edu <flemmerl@rcbhsc.wvu.edu>;
>ridecamp@endurance.net <ridecamp@endurance.net>
>Date: Tuesday, January 12, 1999 9:07 AM
>Subject: Re: why join AERC? Trails Conferences
>
>
>>Bob,
>>
>>I have been talking to Connie.  I believe that she feels as I do that AERC
>>should send an official representative to all National, and probably
>regional
>>trail conferences as well.  So many decisions are made, policy directions
>>decided at these meetings.  At these meetings is the time and place where
>>horsemen can educate and influence the caretakers of our public lands and
>>trails.  Now is the time we must be active to maintain the right to use
>trails
>>for pleasure, conditioning and competition.  I hope Connie will draft a
>>statement to the Board of Directors to secure this end.
>>
>>Lynge Simoni
>>West
>>
>
>
>