Past Newsletters

PAST NEWSLETTERS

OCTOBER 2009

TMP

The Travel Management Plan comment period has ended and hopefully everyone sent in a comment of some sort. Now we just get to wait and hope some sort of sane decision is made.

MERA

October 17 will be the MERA GRAND OPENING. There will be speeches, a parade, marching band, balloons, clowns, a barbeque … OK, so maybe just a barbeque. That is where we come in. We have been volunteered to put on a barbeque of hotdogs and/or hamburgers, maybe chips and something to drink. We need some volunteers to help organizing and putting this on. I have a volunteer to bring a barbeque grill, but nothing else. If someone knows anyone at Pepsi or Coke maybe we can get them to donate the drinks? We will need help purchasing food, etc. (the club will pay), setting up, cooking and cleaning up.

This should be some good publicity for us. The Observer, maybe the Oregonian, County Commissioners, USFS, State Parks, etc will be there, as well as (hopefully) a lot of the community. If you can help in any way, come to the meeting or contact me. I believe the event is scheduled to start at noon. There should be an article of some kind in the Observer about it , so look for that.

Even if you don’t want to help, you can bring your ATV or motorcycle to show your support and go for a ride and see the work in progress. Over the next couple of years we will be working to expand the riding opportunities on MERA. Also, if time allows, maybe we can arrange to show club members the MERA cabin.

Speaking of work in progress, the Kid’s Loop is coming along real nice. Bill Gerst has been putting a lot of hours into this project. With the help of Art Chase and a few others, things are looking better all the time. We will be opening the area to kids on the 17th also as part of the Grand Opening.

As I said last month, the advisory committee will be working on the MERA master plan over the winter and we would like your input on what you would like to see developed up there. Ray, Art and I have our own ideas about what we would like to see happen, but we could use other opinions. What types of trails do you want to see built? Is there any interest in a motocross type course? If you have any ideas it is probably best to let us know before the plan is completed.

Fall Trail Cleaning

Normally we would have our fall Breshears trail cleaning party on the 18th, but with the MERA Grand Opening the 17th, lets hope the weather holds and do it October 25. For those of you unfamiliar with this annual event, every fall we have a ride on the Breshears trail system and clean the debris out of the water bars and diverters to help with the spring runoff. It is work, but with enough people it goes pretty fast, and if you haven’t ridden the trail before this is a good way to see all of it and possibly meet some new people to ride with. We generally meet at the ESD building parking lot (across from D&B and Bill’s Quick Mart) in Island City by 9am Sunday October 25 and drive up together. If you know the way and want to come up later, or meet us up there, that is OK too. If you have a polaski or similar tool bring it as well as a lunch and something to drink. Also, dress for the weather. Hope to see you there.

Website

I hope everyone has had a chance to check out the website. I am trying to keep it updated every week, Sunday evening if I can. I am changing photos every time I get something new, so keep checking back so you don’t miss any. Occasionally I will post updates or important info between newsletters too.

Until next month,

Mark Barber Secretary/Treasurer

NOVEMBER 2009

Next Meeting

There will not be a meeting this month. We will meet again in the spring. If something important comes up I will post it on the website (www.eoatva.org) and send out another newsletter.

Trail Cleaning

We had a real good turn out for the Breshears fall clean up. We had good but cool weather (no rain). As usual we split into two groups with one going up Breshears and the other going up Bell Creek. The top inch or two of ground was frozen so it made the digging a little difficult in places. We finished up around 1pm, grabbed a bite to eat, then everyone went for a ride, getting back to the trucks about 5pm. We had a good time, and I would like to thank everyone that came for their help.

Website

I’ve been trying to update the website weekly and have put a date of the last update on the home page so you will know if it has been updated since your last visit. The updates probably won’t be as frequent over the winter, but you never know. If you have any ideas for things to put on the site, let me know. I was asked about putting pictures of peoples ATV’s or motorcycle on, so if you want to send me a picture, I can do that.

MERA

We will be working on the MERA master plan this winter and hope to have some trail plans made so we can start building them in the spring. If you have any suggestions for what you would like to have in the plan, please contact Ray, or me.

Have a GREAT winter, and see you in the spring.

Mark Barber Sec/Treas

BARBER’S BLURB MAY 2010

Well it’s about that time of year again. The snow is coming off, at least at the lower elevations, and things are greening up. I’m sure some of you have been out riding already, and I know the ground is soft in places, so let’s ride responsibly and preserve what areas we still have to ride.

MERA

We have been having meetings throughout the winter trying to get the MERA master plan completed. We are getting close. The motorized trail “concept” map has been completed and can be seen on our website (www.eoatva.org), there is also a description of the proposed trail system as well as maps of the current roads and trails and a drawing of the learners/kids loop. The Union County website (www.union-county.org) will be the official site for MERA, but I will keep some info up on our site at all times.

We will need volunteers this summer to help with various projects, such as trail location, trail building, general trail maintenance, possibly work on the cabin and what ever else comes up. I will try to keep you informed of projects by posting them on the website, in the newsletter, at meetings and at AC Power Sports.

BMFP

The Forest Service is taking another stab at finishing the Blue Mountains Forest Plan. This is basically the Master Plan for the Malheur, Umatilla and Wallowa-Whitman Forests. The plan can be seen at http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/uma/blue_mtn_planrevision/ . This plan will incorporate the travel management plan when it is finalized. Any comments on this plan need to be made by May 28.

Trails

As soon as we can get to the trails we need to start getting them opened up. Usually we can get to Evan’s trail first, then Long Ridge before heading to Breshears. If you are up there and see that we can get to these trails let me know, or let me know that they have been opened up, so we don’t head up to clear a trail that is already open.

Website

I hope everyone has had a chance to check out the website. I am going to try and start updating it every week again, Sunday evening if I can. If you have anything you would like to see, or have photos you would like posted, let me know and I’ll see what I can do. I would like to keep the site changing regularly so that there is always something new to look at or read. Any help you can provide will be greatly appreciated. Occasionally I will post updates or important info between newsletters too.

Until next month,

Mark Barber Secretary/Treasurer

BARBER’S BLURB JUNE 2010

MERA

The MERA Master Plan has to be completed by June 30, and we are getting close to having it done. When that happens we will hopefully be able to start some trail construction.

We have been looking at putting a motocross type track on MERA and it would be nice if everyone that is interested in doing that would get involved in its design, and then in helping to construct and maintain it. Without input and help, it will take a lot longer to get this started, and the sooner it is started, the sooner you will have a close place to ride.

Another thing I would like help with is designing and making an estimate on a solar charging setup for the cabin battery. If anyone has experience or knowledge in doing that, please let me know. It would be nice to be able to leave the battery in the cabin all summer without having to bring it to town to charge.

If you are interested in either of these projects, let me know. My contact info is on the reverse side.

I will try to keep you informed of other specific work projects that come up, by posting them on the website, in the newsletter, at meetings and at AC Power Sports. Volunteer hours are how we meet the match money needed to get grants to fund various projects. The less match we have the less money is available.

Trails

I believe Evans and Long Ridge Trails are both open now. We went up to Breshears on May 29 and barely made it to the lowest portion of trail, because of the snow. We need some warmer weather to get the snow off and things dried out. As always, if you work on any of the trails, let me know what you did where, and keep track of your time.

If you go to the Winom/Frazier system, there is quite a bit of the lower elevation trails that are open. It will be a while until you can get over the top anywhere though.

Website

If you have anything you would like to see, or have photos you would like posted on the website, let me know and I’ll see what I can do. I would like to keep the site changing regularly so that there is always something new to look at or read. Any help you can provide will be greatly appreciated. Occasionally I will post updates or important info between newsletters too.

Dues

I would like to thank everyone that has paid there dues already this year. Look on the newsletter address lable for your expiration year. Dues expire at the end of June for the year listed.

“Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.”

Jim Ryan

BARBER’S BLURB JULY 2010

MERA

The MERA Master Plan is still not completed. We have one more meeting on July 12 to hopefully finalize it and get it sent to the commissioners for approval.

If you haven’t been up Fox Hill lately, there have been some changes. The entrances have new fencing, the Information boards have been updated and there are a couple of new loading ramps. Most of the work has been done by the YCC crew. The ramps were an Eagle Scout project.

ELECTIONS

As usual, we are a month behind on our annual elections. The terms that expire are President (Chris Hedden), Secretary/Treasurer (Mark Barber), and board members Ray Clements and Art Chase. If you would like to volunteer for any of these positions please let me know, and/or come to the meeting. Most of these positions take little time commitment and it would be nice to see some newer members step up to one of these positions.

PARADE

The Union County Fair Parade is coming up soon, August 6 (?) and I think we should be in it again. It is good exposure for the club. It would be great to have a large turn out this year. The crowd always likes the kids when they are involved. So bring you kids and ride with them. It would be real impressive to have 20 to 30 members riding. We’ll discuss this at the meeting.

TRAILS

As of June 26 the Breshears system was still snowed in at the upper ends. It is possible it may be open by the time you get this, or shortly thereafter. It all depends on the weather, and when someone can get up there to finish cutting it out.

WEBSITE

DUES

I would like to thank everyone that has paid there dues already this year. Look on the newsletter address label for your expiration year. Dues expire at the end of June for the year listed.