Quad Riders Association of British Columbia

by MOIRA JAATTEENMAKI, COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR

Sustaining Grant 2007
As we announced on March 1st, CORVA has approved our Sustaining Grant application for 2007. This grant was for $60,000 and is for salaries of office staff. This will cover our office manager for 2007 and a seven- to eight-month position of Land Issues and Communications Coordinator (LICC). This was the result of an excellent application put together by our President with input from the Board. The LICC position was covered in the previous newsletter and this position is being advertised immediately with a projected starting date of May 1st. The ability of ATV/BC to deal with land issues will increase dramatically with the establishment of this position with the end result of improved and more stable land access for ATV riding for all of our members.

Board Activities
The past few months have been busy ones for the Directors. There have been three Board conference calls–one in each of November, December and January. Executive meetings are being held at least once a month. What do we discuss? Well obviously the office has taken some time and it is now established and open. Other topics include 2007 Sustaining grant, Project Grant proposals, memberships for 2007, land issues, meetings with Government and other associations, planning for the various shows that we attend, planning the Poker Ride, the mapping contest, AGM/Jamboree, environmental programs for 2007, R & L, BCSF meetings with the Government, ABC Snowmobile Association and various other items and planning.

Recreational Trails Strategy Survey
In December, we were asked to participate in a Recreational Trails Strategy survey from the Ministry of Tourism. This survey was available online and in theory could be completed by anyone thus obviously skewering the results. However, we were assured by the Ministry that there was a firm criteria of one survey from each Provincial Association. This survey is probably one of the most important and far reaching documents ATV/BC has been involved in. The Executive went over the survey line by line with various ideas from the
members. Then President Bev Felske and Vice president Pat McHugh inserted those ideas and others and it was circulated to all Directors for further comment. The key direction was the inclusiveness of access for all to the trail system with no discrimination against motorized recreation. Following that it was then submitted to the Ministry. The results for that survey have not been released as yet.

Membership Books
These will be shipped from our office starting in early March. The membership will remain at $40 per person when joining through a club. This year, for NEW members only, there is a one time early bird bonus in that if you join between March 1st and May 31st, 2007 the fee is still $40 with the membership good until May 31st, 2008. Clubs establish their own fees as they wish. We are making this change in order to encourage new members to join us and also to allow clubs to sign up new members immediately.

Insurance News from Jones Brown
I received the following item from Ken Anderson of Jones Brown – good news for ATV/BC members. “On Feb 12 we will have replacement cost on sleds and quads insured under our program. NO DEPRECIATION on all new units including demo’s for 24 months from date of delivery. Not available anywhere else under any program!!! No additional premium charge. It will be available to YOUR members only.

Please tell your clubs about this new additional benefit of being a member, put it on your website, newsletters, etc. Tell your local dealers.”

And yesterday the following:
“Please be aware, as of March 1, 2007, you will now be able to offer the following limits and premiums on all quads: $ 200,000 third party liability for a premium of $ 105 for members, $ 210 for non members $ 500,000 third party liability for a premium of $ 115 for
members, $ 230 for non members $1,000,000 third party liability for a premium of $ 125 for members, $ 250 for non members (as is now)This is before the 10% safety course discount, if applicable. The minimum premium will remain as is of $100. As of renewal, the policy will now provide up to $ 1,000 on dedicated decks or trailers at no premium. Higher limits will be available at a 3% rate over the $ 1,0000.”

Meeting with Representatives from Ministry of Tourism
President Bev Felske talked about this in her report. However, she deserves recognition for initiating with the Ministry the first of what will be ongoing meetings with stakeholders and MOT representatives on the subject of trails access. Not only that, she convinced the MOT that the next meeting should be held in Summerland and that is where it will be held. Bill Marshall of this Ministry was pleased to learn of the proposal to hire the LICC and wishes to meet with both the LICC and President Bev Felske in May for “getting to know you” session. We are underway with new initiatives in land use resolution with much more to follow.

Environmental Items
You will shortly have available to you, garbage bags with the ATV/BC logo and the phrase “Pack it in- Pack it out” on them. These are for distribution to members and for give-away at the various shows we attend. We also have great pens inscribed with our logo and contact information as well as fridge magnets with all our info. These are being handed out at shows to promote our Association. The Grasslands Conservation Council of BC produces a booklet – “Grasslands Best Management Practices”. This is an excellent booklet about responsible riding through grasslands but the material covered is applicable for general ATV riding. It is available for download by following the links on our web site at http://www.atvbc.ca/features/feb_06/resource_material.htm.

The GCC is undertaking a large printing of this booklet and the Directors voted to contribute $1000 towards this cost. Our aim will be to have a copy of this booklet distributed to every member. Many Clubs do garbage clean-up along roadsides and gullies as a community project for both safety and environmental reasons. If you do, let us know and we’ll cover it on the web site. Let’s take credit for good deeds!

Photos for the Office
I sent out a request for photos suitable for the walls of our office. We have blank walls to try to cover so that there is no doubt this is the ATV/BC office. If you would like to donate an 8x10 or whatever size you have, please send them in or bring them with you in April.

Information on www.atvbc.ca
Here are some items of interest to you that are on our web site.

Information for the AGM/Jamboree
www.atvbc.ca/features/feb07/getreadyforthejamboree.htm

Also on there is the registration form
www.atvbc.ca/features/feb07/images/jamboreeentryform.pdf

Photo Gallery of rides near Summerland
www.atvbc.ca/photogallery/#summerland

Poker Ride 2007
www.atvbc.ca/features/dec06/3rdannualatvbc.htm

Mapping Contest
www.atvbc.ca/features/nov06/save_track_contest.htm

Development/Project Grants for 2007 Updates
Work has started deciding on what will be proposed for each of the grants – Land Issues and Safety. The Safety Committee has had a conference call and is currently pricing out the anticipated costs of suggestions. Land Issues Committee is gathering ideas for assessment. CORVA has established a firm set of criteria for both the application and content of these grants as well as what will and will not be funded. Our applications will definitely have to be of high quality in every way.

Attendance at Sports Shows
Several of our Directors have been at various sports shows starting last November running the ATV/BC booth. At these shows they distribute poker ride information, kids colour contest handouts, various brochures and answer many questions re ATV/BC, memberships and insurance. The Arctic Cat ATV prize at the Poker Ride 2007 was on display. These shows are invaluable for ATV/BC and many thanks are due to the Directors as well as many volunteers from the Lower mainland clubs for their long hours at these shows.