The rally is tomorrow afternoon (Weds May 7th) from 1600-2100 EDT (4p-9p)
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=676594VIRTUAL ONLINE RALLY FOR UPPER TELLICO OHV AREA
Pirate4x4.com builds on a successful rally format to protest more route closuresAfter an extremely successful virtual rally for Johnson Valley and the world renowned Hammers rock crawling trails in California, Pirate4x4.com members are shifting their focus to the east coast and are once again gathering for a massive virtual rally to save the Upper Tellico OHV Park in North Carolina. On Wednesday May7th, 2008, Pirate4x4.com, a leading website for the OHV community, will hold this rally from 4 to 9 pm eastern standard time.
In 2007, the Southern Environmental Law Center, in coalition with Trout Unlimited and P.E.E.R. (Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility) filed a notice of intent to sue the Untied Stated Forest Service, claiming it was in violation of the federal water pollution act. This coalition stated that the Upper Tellico OHV area was dumping sediment into nearby streams and destroying the habitat of local brook trout. In turn, the USFS closed a major portion of the Tellico trail system.
There are many arguments against closing this popular OHV area, and many organizations involved in keeping it open. Carla Boucher, the attorney for the United Four Wheel Drive Association states, “United Four Wheel Drive Association (UFWDA), along with its partners Blue Ribbon Coalition and Southern Four Wheel Drive Association, are committed to taking all steps necessary to save our access at Tellico, including legislative, administrative, and legal action!” This rally will bolster the efforts made by these organizations in this battle by showing a large contingent of OHV users who back and support these organizations in their efforts.
Virtual rally participants will be asked to post their experiences, photos and history recreating with their families in the Tellico area along with their feelings and beliefs as to why the trail system should not be closed. Their comments will be posted and tracked in a bulletin board format, with a goal of creating a lasting record of how important this area is to a vast number of people in the OHV community. Tellico is one of the very few public areas on the east coast for OHV recreation. Interested parties are encouraged to participate in the rally and read the thread.
On March 12th 2008, Pirate4x4.com hosted a similar virtual rally for the world renowned OHV trail system in Johnson Valley, CA. That rally had nearly 1,500 posts from OHV enthusiasts all across the world in a four hour time span. Saved in time in order to create a lasting homage to the rally, to date the Hammers rally has been viewed by over 48,000 people.
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If you would like more information on this topic, or to schedule an interview with Nick McCracken, please e-mail him at orangecherokee@yahoo.com. For Kurt Schneider, Pirate4x4.com land-use Editor, Please e-mail Kurt at kurtuleas@pirate4x4.com
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Basic Rally Instructions:1. Please post up your concerns on the Upper Tellico OHV area being closed. You MAY make multiple posts!
2. Tell people how you have enjoyed Tellico in the past! (Tell us stories!)
3. If you have never been to the Upper Tellico OHV area, voice your concern about this closure and tell people how you or your club recreates responsibly in your own area! If you have always wanted to go to Tellico, let us know!
4. Show them what this area means to the entire OHV community!
5. Post pictures! Trail rides, camping with your family, etc.
6. Have fun, but please remember to be professional. Many eyes will be on this thread!
7. MAKE SURE you see what number post your FIRST post in the thread is!
Please put that number somewhere in your sig-line so we know who has posted!
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=676594
