Alberta 4 Wheel Drive

Immediately following the May long weekend and the implementation of the Ghost Access Management Plan (GAMP), AB4WD held a town hall meeting in Calgary. The meeting served as a forum for concerned 4x4 users of the Ghost/Waiparous area and a basis for AB4WD to present their role as advocates for the 4x4 community. There was strong sense of dissatisfaction with the released GAMP as well as agreement that the plan did not address irresponsible use of the area. The 4x4 community is faced with strong restrictions within GAMP. AB4WD discussed options with the users as to how to address the plan. Recommendations from the town hall meeting included seeking legal advise as to the legality of the GAMP plan, influencing the government from within by joining the PC and Liberal parties as individuals, holding a protest, holding a rally, and continuing to submit letters to MLAs.

Progress with the recommendations has included AB4WD securing legal counsel with initial steps having a positive outlook, ongoing encouragement to join the PC and Liberal parties, holding a protest or rally is in its initial stages of planning, and the ongoing encouragement of MLA letter submission.

Thanks to all who attended and special thanks to those who were willing to stand up and volunteer!

August 8th, 2006 - Town Hall Meeting in Edmonton

A meeting was held with 27 Edmonton area wheelers and AB4WD executives.

Provided background as to the history of AB4WD and why the association has been revived. Explained the impact of GAMP and the concerns around being locked out of the Recreational Corridors Committee. Introduced the Industry Liaison and provided an update on his activities to date. Introduced the GAMP stewardship AB4WD representative and provided an update. Introduced the AB4WD representative that will sit on the ILM committee. Encouraged all to join clubs and that these clubs join AB4WD. Encouraged that all join the PC party to influence the government from within.

Thanks to all who attended.

Memberships

Currently, we have 17 clubs, 5942 members and 187 families.

Thanks go to the following clubs that have joined: ECO Four Wheeling Society, Northern Alberta Four Wheel Drive Association, Rocky Mountain Landcruisers Association, whiteknight.ca, 4wheeler.ca, Calgary Early Broncos, Canadian Hummer Club Alberta Chapter, Hardcore Offroad, Calgary Ground Pounders, Calgary Jeep Association, Calgary Nissan and Import 4x4 Group, Calgary 4x4, CountryBoyz Offroading, Four Wheel Stampeders, Rocky Mountain Big Wheels Association, True North Trail Runners, and Northern Lights Off-road Association.

ILM

AB4WD had been invited by the government to participate in the Integrated Land Management program for Alberta. This is a major initiative to address land issues from industrial use, reclamation, and access for recreational use. AB4WD is very pleased to be involved in a major directional policy development at this level. This is a commitment of ½ day per week in Edmonton. We are pleased to announce that Tink from NA4WDA and ECO Four Wheeling Society will attend these meetings on our behalf. She can be reached at ILMRep@AB4WD.com. Information will be placed in the Access Plans section as it becomes available.

More information about ILM can be obtained here: http://www.srd.gov.ab.ca/land/u_ilm.html.

GAMP

AB4WD was invited to participate in the Ghost-Waiparous Stewardship Committee. Peter Straub is the representative for AB4WD. He can be reached at GAMP@AB4WD.com. Additional information will be added to the Access Plans section of www.AB4WD.com as it becomes available. To date the committee has met on 2 occasions.

Alberta Recreational Corridors Coordinating Committee

AB4WD continues to lobby for inclusion of a four wheel drive specific representative on the Recreational Corridors Coordinating Committee. To date the Alberta Recreational Corridors Coordinating Committee under the direction of Ray Danyluk and Denis Ducharme has continued to block and rebuff every effort that has been made to garner a seat at the table of this committee.

Thanks go to Le Chef from NA4WDA for having taken the initiative to write letters on this issue. These letters can be viewed in the Access Plans section of www.AB4WD.com.

Industry Liaison

Thanks to Git’er dun from the NA4WDA club who has stepped forward to serve as a liaison to industries. He has joined the Whitecourt Regional Forest Advisory Committee and has been in discussions with local forestry companies. The local committee has representation from all of the forestry companies, an oil & gas company, logging & trucking contractor, the MD's in the area, trappers, aboriginals and a recreational representative. The recreational representative is the AB4WD Industry Liaison. This is the first of several committees we hope to join. The intent of the committees is to discuss local issues in the forest area. This could include development plans, access, land use, etc.... Our Industry Liaison can be contacted at IndustryLiaison@AB4WD.com.

Business Representative

Thanks to Jeep In Mud from 4wheeler.ca who has stepped forward to serve as a business representative. He can be contacted at BusinessRep@AB4WD.com.

AB4WD Stickers

Thanks to fragz from Evolution Machine and taljolmis from 4Wheeler.ca for creating 3 different bumper stickers for AB4WD. Thanks also go to Dorin at Dirty Kustoms for printing the stickers. These stickers serve a dual purpose: to raise funds and to raise awareness among the 4x4 community. These are targeting wheelers that are not part of an organized club and may not be aware of the issues.

Donations

Thanks go to the following:

Hardcore Offroad Club for donating the funds required to purchase the AB4WD banner that will be used to identify us at booth displays
Modern Motors for donating $600
Evo Shooter Girls for donating $30

Raffle

National 4WD in Calgary donated a winch to raffle off at the National 4WD Open House held on June 24, 2006. All money raised from the raffle was donated to AB4WD.

Other relationships

AB4WD was invited to and attended the National 4WD Calgary store open house held on June 24, 2006.

AB4WD was invited to and attended the Calgary Jeep Association Show and Shine held on July 15, 2006.

AB4WD was invited to and attended the Off-Road Expo in Red Deer in September 2006. Thanks go to kln for volunteering to coordinate our attendance.

May 8th, 2006

March 28 General Meeting

The important events of the March 28 meeting were the acceptance of the proposed membership fees, revised bylaws, and election of executive. The executive of AB4WD is:

Greg Woytkiw, President
Myriam Hurabielle, 1st Vice President
Dan Torrence, 2nd Vice President
Kim Johnson, Secretary-Treasurer

Colin MacKenzie continues to be the Web Master
Peter Straub is the GAMP Committee Chair

A number of other activities and ideas were discussed which will be discussed in detail below.

Membership Dues

Membership Dues have been set at:

$10.00 per Club Member (to be collected by the Club)
$25.00 per Member at Large
$100.00 per Club
$100.00 per Associate Member

If a Club has less than ten members, then the Club Member dues are waived for said Club. The $100 Club dues are still required.

We’ve just recently finalized our banking arrangements, and we will soon be contacting our members to coordinate payment of our first member dues.

Willow Creek

AB4WD has been engaged in a multi-stakeholder committee to address increased usage of the ‘Willow Creek’ area, which is South of Kananaskis Park, and North of Crowsnest Pass. Increased use has led to a number of specific issues in certain areas related to water quality. A number of municipal districts in the area, the Ranchman’s association, and a number of different OHV groups have been invited by SRD to collaboratively work towards solutions in the area. At this time, a clean-up is tentatively planned for after May Long weekend. More details will be announced as they come available.

Bonnyville

Similar to the Willow Creek area, AB4WD has also been invited to participate in finding collaborative solutions to problem spots on trails in the Bonnyville area, specifically the May Lake Trail. This type of end-user driven solution facilitated by government is exactly the positive type of working relationship the AB4WD wishes to engage in through-out the province. Both the Willow Creek and Bonnyville processes have started this year, and are still very early in the process.

ILM

AB4WD has been invited by the government to participate as a reviewer/advisor on the Integrated Land Management program for Alberta. This is a major initiative to address land issues from industrial use, reclamation, and access for recreational use. AB4WD is very pleased to be involved in a major directional policy development at this level.

More information about the ILM can be learned here:
http://www.srd.gov.ab.ca/land/u_ilm.html

While AB4WD has review/adviser status, we’ve also been invited to attend the working sessions of the ILM committee. This is a commitment of ½ day per week in Edmonton. If you are able to represent AB4WD on this committee, please contact info@ab4wd.com

GAMP

On May 3, an Order In Council created the Ghost Forest Land Use Zone, with OHV usage restricted to “areas or on trails that have been designated for that purpose by signs or notices in the Zone or by the written instructions of a forest officer." While this is not GAMP itself, it is the legislative mechanism required to support GAMP, and as of May 3, you must remain on designated trails in the Ghost area. There’s no further word from SRD about the plan.

Poster Contest and Logo

Thanks to Tim Dzaman for creating a new Logo for AB4WD, inspired by the original logo dating back to 1976.

AB4WD has also concluded an informal poster creation contest on some of the forums. Congratulations to Ben aka "Subdermal" from the 4Wheeler.ca forums for his winning entry. This poster will be used in the future by AB4WD for various marketing and communication opportunities.

Raffle

AB4WD is investigating a major raffle as an initial fund-raiser for the organization. Major prize donations have already been pledged by a number of prominent 4x4 business, and investigation of regulations, logistics, and details are underway.

Other relationships

The AB4WD is working hard to foster new relationships around the province. By all accounts, we have a great start with AOHVA, who have been true to their word in working collaboratively and cooperatively with a four wheel drive specific organization. In fact, many of the important activities that we are now engaged in are as a direct result of introductions and invitations from AOHVA. We are also working with other industry and user group organizations, and announcements will be made as those relationships mature to a point where it is appropriate to speak publicly about them.

Interview with Edmonton Journal

The executive was interviewed by Edmonton Journal Wheels Editor, Dave Halliday on April 29 while attending the Multi-Club Run at Alberta Safari Company. We anticipate a feature article about AB4WD in an upcoming wheels section of the Edmonton Journal.

Alberta Recreational Corridors Coordinating Committee

AB4WD has continued to lobby for inclusion of a Four Wheel Drive specific representative on the Recreational Corridors Coordinating Committee. Efforts to this end have not been successful at this time, and we continue to seek ways to ensure that this guiding committee will ensure that future recreational corridors are inclusive of four wheel drive recreation.

Can you help?

Raffle coordination? Committee Meetings? Building relationships? Ideas on how to improve our sport? We need help, and we’re not turning anyone away. Contact info@ab4wd.com if you want to help.