The State of the Association at the End of 2006
By Dan Nitzel, NOHVA Business Manager
As I write this article, the first thing that comes to mind is that “I’m tired”, but it’s a good kind of tired. It’s a kind of tired that happens after a year of being really, really busy resulting in profound progress for NOHVA and for Nebraska’s recreational ATV and dirtbike riders.
Speaking for myself, it’s a year where my nearly twenty year old vision of multiple public places for ATV and dirtbike riders is beginning to take shape. Patience and persistence has proven to be worth the effort! One voice can make a difference in Washington and Lincoln!
It’s a year that we actually have some money left in the bank, thanks to a $10,000 grant from Polaris Industries to cover insurance costs, a resurgence in membership numbers and donations, and two successful jamborees.
It has been a very successful year in attracting volunteers as we have had more people than EVER steeping forward to become involved in projects.
Some of the positive highlights of the year include:
We received two grants from Polaris Industries this year. The first grant was $10,000. It was spent on general liability insurance, GPS mapping and trail development. It came at the right time as our insurance doubled. The insurance protects land owners and NOHVA officers at six ATV and dirtbike tail locations in Nebraska.
The second $10,000 grant from Polaris Industries went to the Flat Rock Riders OHV Park near Sutherland. Even though there were a few difficulties over management of the local NOHVA chapter, things were ironed out and eventually they accepted the grant from Polaris to make extensive improvements to their park.
An important lawsuit was won this year. The Nebraska Habitat Conservation Coalition was successful in a lawsuit challenging the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s critical habitat designations for the threatened piping plover. The Coalition argued that the designation of critical habitat violated principals of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and provided little or no benefits to the species.
In 2003, the Nebraska Off Highway Vehicle Association joined the Nebraska Habitat Conservation Coalition (NHCC) as a contributing partner in order to help head off the impact of the habitat to the Headworks OHV Park near Genoa and areas where members recreate in the Columbus area. NOHVA has contributed $5000 to NHCC since 2003. Dan Nitzel served as our organizations liaison with NHCC.
NOHVA’s concern about the habitat designation involved the likely potential of the Fish and Wildlife Service banning the use of ATVs and dirtbikes during the summer months of June, July and August at Headworks and in and along the Loup River from the Headworks OHV Park near Genoa to Columbus. Additionally, ATV riding in the Platte Rive would have been affected. NOHVA plans to be involved in a new organization that will study invasive plant species and the protection of riparian areas in Nebraska’s rivers.
The formation of a new chapter called the Little Blue OHV Club was formed in the Deshler and Hebron areas of south central Nebraska to support a new public ATV and dirtbike park. A proposal to fund a large $300,000+ OHV park near Deshler and Hebron has been submitted to the Nebraska Recreational Trails Program committee.
A longtime club in Alliance known as the Alliance MX Association joined up with NOHVA to resurrect a besieged riding track.
We initiated a new chapter program where groups of riders can become part of NOHVA. NOHVA pay’s the insurance costs and provides corporate identity and protection. Our new program makes it easier for groups of riders to form chapters and eliminate most of the administration headaches that clubs often face. The program outlines how chapters can be formed and how they are to be operated. Half of the NOHVA membership fee’s are refunded back to the chapters for use by the chapters. The NOHVA business office handles riding area development and management support and membership management. Our chapter and officer insurance program consumes 25% of the total NOHVA operating budget and protects land owners and NOHVA officers at six locations in Nebraska.
We formed new associations with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Michelle Stryker has made an outstanding effort to find new places to ride ATVs and dirtbikes in Nebraska, and she has been fantastic in helping the people in Deshler and Hebron, as well as at Harlan to get projects proposed and submitted to the state for funding. Two NOHVA members serve on the Recreational Trails Program committee, a committee that recommend funding for trails projects to the Game and Parks Commission using Federal gasoline tax refunds. This year, about $900,000 worth of projects will be funded this year by Game and Parks. There is a good chance that about $350,000 will be authorized for motorized projects in Nebraska this next year.
NOHVA has been able to provide a $2000 donation to the Genoa and Fullerton Rescue Squads in return for helping at the Jamborees at Headworks.
NOHVA has donated $2000 to the new project at the Harlan County Reservoir near Republican City.
NOHVA has returned $1800 back to chapters from membership fee’s paid by NOHVA members who have designated their affiliation with their chapter. The refunds represent about 50% of the membership fee’s paid by chapter members.
NOHVA paid out from membership fee’s about $800 for toilets at the Headworks OHV Park near Genoa. We plan to spend about $1400 for toilets in 2007 at Headworks.
Over 50 NOHVA members volunteered about 450 man hours to clear trees and improve trails at the Nebraska National Forest this spring. On other occasions NOHVA was called upon to clear cattle guards on the Dismal River trail.
We FINIALLY got our trail maps of the Nebraska National Forest distributed to our members! The maps involved a LOT of work. Now we have to map the rest of the area.
Curry Bros. Motorsports donated the use of a new Suzuki 4x ATV for use at the Headworks OHV Park.
ALL OF THIS WAS DONE THIS YEAR!
Highlights that are not-so-positive include:
The Dismal River Trail renovation project where funding was approved last year is stuck in the mud. There is a disagreement in wording between the U.S. Forest Service and the Federal Highway Administration over some of the final details. NOHVA has pledged $1000 toward a total grant of $17,000.
The Nebraska Supreme Court made a ruling that could effect recreational liability involving ATV and dirtbike access on public lands in our state. The ruling has the potential to cause some OHV parks to close.
With all things considered, it has been a great year for recreational ATV and dirtbike users in Nebraska! It’s been a GREAT year for NOHVA and our members! NOHVA enjoys one of the highest per capita membership of enthusiasts in the nation.
None of this would occur if it were not for all the volunteers who have stepped forward to organize riders, raise funds, and talk to elected government officials and land mangers. I think it can be said that NOHVA deserves a lot the of the credit for making many of these projects possible. Sure we’ve made a few mistakes along the road, but you have to make mistakes in order to learn how to do things the right way.
It has taken years of nagging and organizing. We’ve been blessed with great co-operation from Loup Power, the U.S Forest Service, NPPD, the Corp of Engineers and multiple sheriff’s departments. It is clear that NOHVA is indeed making many positive contributions to ATV and dirtbike recreation in Nebraska.
So what does the year 2007 and beyond hold for us? It’s going to be busier yet! We are going to need more volunteers to develop the newly projects, and more volunteers to help with even more new projects. The sponsors of the two proposed OHV parks in south central Nebraska will need help planning and developing these areas.
Some of our current people may need to replaced (is there anyone who may want to write this newsletter and our Ride Guide?) or just need help as they have too much to do.
If you would like to become involved, please attend our Annual Meeting in Grand Island on January 6th at the Interstate Holiday Inn.
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