DRaider90
Uwharrie Off-Road Volunteering
- Joined
- Oct 23, 2007
- Location
- Weddington, NC
We are currently hours away from the beginning of 2011. And thanks to everyone on here including the clubs we have had a GREAT first year of volunteering at the Uwharrie National Forest. Without the individuals and clubs on here, this year could have gone either way. So a big thanks to everyone that has been apart of the work days, individuals and clubs alike.
Most may not know but the Forest Service expectations of a volunteer group aren't that high. They expect a group to show up for 2-3 work days a year, come out with maybe some tools but usually use the Forest Service tools, and get a little bit of work done. Well everyone on here went above and beyond that, here are some points/accomplishments of the year:
~ A member of NC4X4 was at EVERY WORK DAY from March to December. October was the only work day I wasn't there, but still there were CTB members that are on here that made it for October.
~ Thanks to Terry The Hot Dog guy we have had our first official Volunteer Lunch Program throughout the entire year. Working with Shawn and NC4X4 we have had a free lunch, and a free dinner also.
~ Thanks to Chris Cagle the owner of the Outpost we have established the first Volunteer Breakfast Program circa 8AM every work day. A big thanks goes to Chris for the 1/2 priced breakfasts and promoting the work days.
~ Thanks to donations from members on here we have met a major Safety Goal for the work days that has never been addressed. We now have cones, signs, and other safety equipment to prevent Dirt Bike and ATV accidents. There were a few near accidents at the beginning of the year that brought this to our attention. The Forest Service was quite impressed with our level of safety and organization.
~ Between a couple groups including CORE we were able to fund 2 Bobcat Rentals, plus purchase a 2-Man Auger unit. A big step forward in the right direction as far as tools and equipment are concerned.
~ Thanks to Mike, John, Don, and others on here that have provided input/feedback we have been able to start to get our foot in the door for bigger projects in 2011. Of course in the first year you can't dive off the deep end, but with the feed back that has been given we are on the right track.
Keep in mind that this entire volunteer program started out with a simple idea that maybe a couple people on here would like to attend ONE volunteer work day in March.
There is a LOT of work to get done in 2011. Now that we have our foot in the door, its time to see how far we can push that door open in the new year.
~ We will be starting the year off right with a Volunteer Dinner/Summit Meeting. Where everyone (all clubs, everyone) will be able to voice your opinions,ideas, and concerns about what is happening at the Forest.
~ After the Summit Dinner in February there will be a in person meeting with Deborah Walker and Terry Savery to discuss what was brought up at the Summit Dinner.
~ There will be our first annual Heavy Work Weekend going on in June. This will be a full weekend of heavy equipment work. We will need anything ranging from Tractors/FELs to Bobcats, to Bulldozers, and even Tracked Loaders. This will be our opportunity to show what kind of difference we can make in the upkeep of the trails.
~ We will be exploring the expansion of our work into Forest Service Roads, Parkinglots, Campgrounds, etc. This will be the first for an OHV group to go into this territory.
~ We will continue to work on the big issues of littering and going off the trail this year. Subjects such as the donation of a Patrol vehicle, Forest Service Ridealongs, and other solutions will continue to be discussed. The goal for the year will be to come to a common decision on what path to take, and to get the ball rolling in that direction.
~ The new trail being opened in the near future, plus ideas of a Rock Garden, and other possible trail re-openings will be expanded upon. This also includes updates on future trail re-routes, repairs, etc.
~ All of this will be on top of keeping the Breakfast and Lunch Programs running, the addition/improvement of our Safety situation, the stickers on stickers program will continue, plus we will be working on Volunteer Information Day(s), and other incentives/ideas for the volunteer program.
Again don't forget about the Volunteer Summit Dinner that will be held Jan 29th. This will be a HUGE opportunity for everyone from here and all the clubs to get their voices and opinions heard in an open environment. 2011 will only be as big/great as me make it!
Most may not know but the Forest Service expectations of a volunteer group aren't that high. They expect a group to show up for 2-3 work days a year, come out with maybe some tools but usually use the Forest Service tools, and get a little bit of work done. Well everyone on here went above and beyond that, here are some points/accomplishments of the year:
~ A member of NC4X4 was at EVERY WORK DAY from March to December. October was the only work day I wasn't there, but still there were CTB members that are on here that made it for October.
~ Thanks to Terry The Hot Dog guy we have had our first official Volunteer Lunch Program throughout the entire year. Working with Shawn and NC4X4 we have had a free lunch, and a free dinner also.
~ Thanks to Chris Cagle the owner of the Outpost we have established the first Volunteer Breakfast Program circa 8AM every work day. A big thanks goes to Chris for the 1/2 priced breakfasts and promoting the work days.
~ Thanks to donations from members on here we have met a major Safety Goal for the work days that has never been addressed. We now have cones, signs, and other safety equipment to prevent Dirt Bike and ATV accidents. There were a few near accidents at the beginning of the year that brought this to our attention. The Forest Service was quite impressed with our level of safety and organization.
~ Between a couple groups including CORE we were able to fund 2 Bobcat Rentals, plus purchase a 2-Man Auger unit. A big step forward in the right direction as far as tools and equipment are concerned.
~ Thanks to Mike, John, Don, and others on here that have provided input/feedback we have been able to start to get our foot in the door for bigger projects in 2011. Of course in the first year you can't dive off the deep end, but with the feed back that has been given we are on the right track.
Keep in mind that this entire volunteer program started out with a simple idea that maybe a couple people on here would like to attend ONE volunteer work day in March.
There is a LOT of work to get done in 2011. Now that we have our foot in the door, its time to see how far we can push that door open in the new year.
~ We will be starting the year off right with a Volunteer Dinner/Summit Meeting. Where everyone (all clubs, everyone) will be able to voice your opinions,ideas, and concerns about what is happening at the Forest.
~ After the Summit Dinner in February there will be a in person meeting with Deborah Walker and Terry Savery to discuss what was brought up at the Summit Dinner.
~ There will be our first annual Heavy Work Weekend going on in June. This will be a full weekend of heavy equipment work. We will need anything ranging from Tractors/FELs to Bobcats, to Bulldozers, and even Tracked Loaders. This will be our opportunity to show what kind of difference we can make in the upkeep of the trails.
~ We will be exploring the expansion of our work into Forest Service Roads, Parkinglots, Campgrounds, etc. This will be the first for an OHV group to go into this territory.
~ We will continue to work on the big issues of littering and going off the trail this year. Subjects such as the donation of a Patrol vehicle, Forest Service Ridealongs, and other solutions will continue to be discussed. The goal for the year will be to come to a common decision on what path to take, and to get the ball rolling in that direction.
~ The new trail being opened in the near future, plus ideas of a Rock Garden, and other possible trail re-openings will be expanded upon. This also includes updates on future trail re-routes, repairs, etc.
~ All of this will be on top of keeping the Breakfast and Lunch Programs running, the addition/improvement of our Safety situation, the stickers on stickers program will continue, plus we will be working on Volunteer Information Day(s), and other incentives/ideas for the volunteer program.
Again don't forget about the Volunteer Summit Dinner that will be held Jan 29th. This will be a HUGE opportunity for everyone from here and all the clubs to get their voices and opinions heard in an open environment. 2011 will only be as big/great as me make it!