On January
8-9, 2005, 27 New
Jersey off-highway motorcycle, ATV and four-wheel drive enthusiasts met
to rebuild a statewide OHV association. The National Off-Highway
Vehicle Conservation Council and American Motorcyclist Association
sponsored the two-day "OHV Association Development Workshop" and "Ride
Into Political Action" Seminar.
"I feel great about everyone who is involved," commented interim
President Dennis Farmer. "I think everyone is involved for all the
right reasons, which is to get more than one legal riding area in New
Jersey. We have qualified people from within our sport that can get
this organization off to a great start. With over 350,000 off highway
enthusiasts in New Jersey it's inconceivable that there is only one
80-acre parcel to legally ride in this state. Currently we have a few
groups fighting each other rather than the people in government who can
get us more land. We need this organization to help direct the fight,
so we can have access to a legal area to enjoy our sport.
"I'd also like to thank the NOHVCC crew and the AMA folks for getting
this whole deal organized and off the ground. They handled it all very
professionally and it would be hard to imagine this happening without
their help."
NOHVCC Senior Project Coordinator Dana Bell facilitated the workshop
along with newly hired NOHVCC Project Coordinator Jack Terrell.
"Our State Association Development Workshop Program is a particularly
rewarding program to be involved with," said Bell afterward. "What a
great opportunity it is to work with incredibly determined off-highway
motorcycle, ATV and 4WD enthusiasts ready to give extraordinary amounts
of their personal time to build and protect a future for responsible
OHV recreation within their states."
NOHVCC New Jersey State Representative John Parrinello says, "The
meeting went real well and there are a lot of fresh faces involved. I'm
still busy with some of the same things I've been doing for years, and
in fact I have a meeting with interim New Jersey Governor Cody tomorrow
(Jan. 20) to discuss OHV issues, so hopefully we'll be seeing some
changes around this state real soon."
The workshop participants elected as interim officers; President Dennis
Farmer, Vice President Dale Frietas, Treasurer Rea Wundrack-Lippner,
and Secretary Steven Chmarney. The officers will work with
Communication, Organizational and Membership committee members Larry
Osusky, Bob Klaus, Scott Mizerek, Vic Gorin and Diane Frietas to
develop the necessary documents and coordinate a formal incorporation
meeting. Larry Tosi, Dwayne Warren and Phil Weisbecker with the law
firm of Warren & Tosi P.C. have volunteered to serve as advisers
during the incorporation planning process.
The follow-up, one-day incorporation meeting will be held in mid-Spring
in Bordentown. The agenda will include approval of the association
name, mission, by-laws, election of officers and recommendation on the
association’s 1-year and 5-year goals. All OHV enthusiasts are welcome
to attend.
The proposed mission of the association is: (New Name) is a New Jersey
not-for-profit organization (or coalition) that advocates safety,
environmental, conservation and land ethics education, serves as a
communication network, and works to protect, promote, and enhance
responsible and quality off-highway vehicle recreation opportunity.
Goodfellows Motosport, the Jersey Devil ATV Riders Association, X-treme
Habitat, Pine Barrens Motorcycle Club and Meteor Motorcycle Club each
donated $100.00 to fund the association through the incorporation
meeting.
For more information on the next meeting, contact Dennis Farmer at
dennis@njorvp.org or 732-506-6595.
