MORE What's New in the ASA
October, 2007

ASA Goes to DC

The ASA, UDG and ORBA have been invited to participate in the Nov Sheriff's Summit hosted by Bill Woody, BLM National Director of Law Enforcement. Bill Jones, Brian Crain and Bob Mason will make the DC trip and will meet with BLM and USFWS management. They will discuss ISDRA fee collection, PMV de-listing and the PMV Critical Habitat Proposal with agency staff members. Trip participants will include:

Dennis Stephens, Government Affairs Counselor K & L Gates
Dave Hubbard, Executive Director Ecologic
Fred Wiley, Executive Director ORBA
Cathy Kennerson, CFO UDG & CEO El Centro Chamber
Bill Jones, Chairman Elect ASA
Brian Crain, Vice Chairman Elect ASA
Bob Mason, Chairman ASA

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Washington, DC Lobbyist - ASA Goes Big Time

ASA has engaged the services of Dennis Stephens to assist in our efforts in DC.

Stephens is a Government Affairs Counselor for K & L Gates. K&L Gates is a public policy group founded more than 30 years ago at a time when few law firms had lobbying practices.

Since then, the policy group has grown from a single lobbyist to its current place among the largest practices in the United States. Today, the group continues to thrive with a client base that includes leading publicly traded companies, associations, and other entities in America. They have achieved the status of the fastest growing top law/lobbying firm in the United States between 2002 - 2005 (National Journal, March 2006).

K&L Gates is also ranked the 5th largest law and lobbying firm in the United States (Legal Times, March, 2007). With over 300 years of combined experience in federal and state government, K&L Gates policy professionals are an integral part of the decision-making process in Washington, DC.

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The "Right Thing"

Receive a free safety DVD, Checkered Flag or a set of the new "Take it Outside" trading cards by "Getting Caught Doing the Right Thing." Law Enforcement Officers will be looking for you doing the "RIGHT THING."
Try to get caught! Get a free DVD, It's not hard to do. Set a good example and receive a reward.

Some things you can do right to get caught!
Attend a safety course
Supervise children under 14 riding ATVs
Staying out of close areas
Pick up your or someone else's trash
Drive your OHV responsibly
Don't Drink and Drive
Drive an OHV with low noise emissions

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"Take it Outside" Trading Cards

The newest partnership is the "Take it Outside" program. "Take it Outside" is a BLM National interpretive program and initiative.

The BLM El Centro Field Office has tailored this concept to fit the OHV recreationalists' need for the Imperial Sand Dunes. The idea was pitched to the ASA Board in San Diego, CA last summer and we immediately donated $5,000.

In addition, the ISDRA Technical Review Team (TRT) recommended fee dollars to be spent on the program in 2008. In the past, the BLM had a difficult time generating enough interest in the Jr. Ranger Program. Therefore, we are taking the program to the kids. Topics will cover OHV safety, natural resource conservation, history, and other recreation related topics. All designs and illustrations are being done by BLM and all the printing will be completed by UDG.

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Camp Smart

During the 2006/2007 season, the Imperial County Sheriff's Office, (ICSO), Off Highway Enforcement Safety Team, (OHVEST), is starting a new visitor education plan called the "Camp Smart" OHV safety campaign.

It includes a dune visitor educational brochure as another way to get the safety message out to the public. This new "Camp Smart" brochure was developed with the assistance of Melissa Nimmo from Extreme Performance Buggies, who developed the "Dune Smart" campaign and was a key part of the billboard program.

The "Camp Smart" OHV safety campaign's mission focuses on safety and education. The brochure has targeted information for the dune visitor on laws that will receive priority enforcement, safety tips, maps, and important emergency contact number information

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Appreciation Awards

The ASA Board recently acknowledged the extraordinary volunteer efforts of Bryan Henry and Lee Banning.

Bryan is recognized for his service as the California Events Chairman and for the support he has provided at the Open Board meetings for the past several years. Bryan also provided audio-visual support for the ASA/GOL RAMP Info Meetings (before the ASA was incorporated - approximately 8 years ago). He has been a steadfast pillar of the ASA machine since its inception. Because of Bryan, ASA has had the benefit of all the latest audio and video equipment.

Lee Banning has been less visible however, and is always there when ASA needs help. Equally indispensable, Lee and his family, in the background and in addition to many other needs, are there to provide seats for the Desert Advisory Council tour, transportation of the raffle car, and maintenance of the ASA hospitality trailer. None of this is at any cost to ASA.

Volunteers like Bryan, Lee, and their families, working, not for recognition, but for the good of the common goal, are what make the ASA what is today.

The sincerest appreciation of the ASA and its founders goes out to these exceptionally dedicated volunteers.

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Acronyms
ADSB - Andrews Dune Scarab Beetle
AMA - Adaptive Management Area
ARA = Arizona Public Records Act
ASMAP - Peirson's Milk Vetch (technical)
BLM - Bureau of Land Management
BLM ECFO - BLM El Centro Field Office
BO - Biological Opinion
BOD - Board of Directors
CA PRA = California Public Records Act
CBD - Center for Biological Diversity
CCC - California Coastal Commission
CDCA - California Desert Conservation Area
CDPA - California Desert Protection Act
CEQA = California Environmental Quality Act
CNPS - California Native Plant Society
CORVA - California Off Road Vehicle Association
CVC - California Vehicle Code
DOJ - Department of Justice
DOI - Department of the Interior
EIR - Environmental Impact Report
EIS - Environmental Impact Study
ECFO - BLM El Centro Field Office
ESA - Endangered Species Act
FLPMA - Federal Land Policy & Management Act
FOIA - Freedom of Information Act
FoOD - Friends of Oceano Dunes (Pismo)
FoDD - Friends of Dumont Dunes
ICBoS - Imperial County Board of Supervisors
SDCSO - San Diego County Sheriff's Office
FTHL - Flat Tail Horned Lizard
FWS - See USFWS
GOL - GlamisOnLine.org
IC - Incident Command
ICSO - Imperial County Sheriff Office
ISDRA - Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area
LEO - Law Enforcement Officer
MA - Management Area
NECO - North Eastern Colorado Desert Plan
NEPA - National Environmental Policy Act
NEQA = National Environmental Quality Act
ODSVRA - Oceano Dunes State Vehicle Recreation Area
OHMVR - Off Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation
OHV - Off Highway Vehicle
OHVEST - Off Highway Vehicle Enforcement Safety Team
ORBA - Off Road Business Association
ORV = Off Road Vehicle
PA - Planning Area
PH SO - Sand food
PMV - Peirson's Milk Vetch
RAMP - Recreation Area Management Plan
ROD - Record of Decision
SDORC - San Diego Off-Road Coalition
SSSS - Sand Sports Super Show
SVRA - State Vehicle Recreation Area
TRT - Technical Review Team
UA - Unlawful Assembly
UDG - United Desert Gateway Communities (local to ISDRA)
USFWS - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
WECO - Western Colorado Desert Plan
WSA - Wilderness Study Area