Coming This Fall - The National Off-Road Association (NORA)

[JeepTales]

Please tell your friends about this...

https://webcontrol.avv.com/dealerimages/169565//nora.JPG

Navigating rolling terrain, traversing tricky rock grades and spines, making your way through wild regions to reach expansive vistas - these are just a few of the reasons so many people are passionate about off-road adventures.

Every day, across the United States, off-road enthusiasts get into their off-road vehicles and take to the trail. However, the roster of the places where they can legally and responsibly go is shrinking.

That's where the National Off-Road Association (NORA) comes in. NORA will bring together responsible OHV enthusiasts to be a unified voice, to learn about important issues, and to strengthen the nationwide family of off-roaders so that they can affect change.

"It's important for off-roaders to come together as a community in order to continue doing what we love," says Mark A. Smith, Off-Road Hall of Famer. "NORA will help us to create that strong community."

Members of NORA will come together not only to share their passion about exploring off-road terrain, but also to share information. Many off-roaders don't know about impending trail closures, or they might hear of closures in their area but not those farther away. NORA will provide a network of information sharing so that members can stay up-to-date on all issues that affect them.

In addition to sharing information that is already out there, a specific example of how NORA will also help expand the knowledge base of the industry is by initiating three studies. These studies will be produced by a university or independent company with the goal of discovering, through information gathering, the real effects the off-road industry has on an economic, environmental, and geologic level.

NORA will also provide a place where members can make their voices heard. Members will not only be informed about issues, they'll also have the tools they need to do something about them. NORA will provide members an opportunity to speak to like-minded off-road enthusiasts, as well as reach out to those land management agencies and elected officials who are making decisions.

While becoming a member of NORA provides many benefits, including a wide array of manufacturer discounts and rebates, it also comes with some responsibility. Every month, members will be asked to respond to three Action Alert items, which will increase the organization's leverage and encourage positive change in the industry. Members will also observe an off-road code of ethics that will help balance the use of off-road trails with the need to maintain a healthy environment.

Strength and success for NORA will only come from a large group of passionate people who want their voices to be heard. This unified voice will help to preserve the off-road industry and ensure that people who love to off-road responsibly will be able to do so for many years to come.

[JeepTales]

Imagine a land access organization modeled a lot like the NRA.


Backed by big name retailers.

A massive membership who are passionate about land access.

Effective lobbyist with access to US and State Representatives

Armed with facts about (area) Real Environmental & Economic Impact Reports.

Bringing the voice of Jeep Owners, ATV, Dirt Bike and Sport SVUs under one organized umbrella.

Creating a public persona of the Modern Off-Roader to dispel the image of a drunken redneck and replace it with accurate image

Good Stewards of Public & Private Lands
Family Oriented activities
The face of the modern Off-Roader has changed dramatically

[pirate_over50]

Got my email about today Greg. I think it should be mandatory that we belong!!! I'm waiting for membership info.

[JeepTales]

I'm going to record a podcast with the folks behind this so you can share it with your friends in the next few weeks.

[imhuntndeer]

When & where is sign up an how much is membership we all should be behind any organization that backs up our sport/hobbie and can make it more open an viewed by the general public as a legit sport not just a bunch of guys tearing up the land they wheel on IMHO

[JeepTales]

All of the info will come out in the form of a press release on October 1st. and I will have the podcast done with the founder's by then so you will get to hear it all.

[SSGchappy]

Please keep us posted, as some of us will not have access to the pod cast right away, I would def like to back this organization. Just show me where to sign up.

[JeepTales]

Today I had a conversation with Pearse Umaluf the VP and General Manager of Jeep Jamboree USA. Some of it was just catching up since we had not spoken in about a month, but a large part of our telephone conversation was about the birth of the National Off-Road Association or NORA.

http://jeeptales.com/nora_big.gif

Pleased keep an eye out for more news about this Initiative and be sure to involve your friends, family & co-workers...

Here is a link to their new website... (Still Under Construction)

http://nora-usa.com

Pearse and I plan to release a PodCast in the next few days that layout the big picture of this Bold New Initiative I'm proud to be a part of. I'm certain; after you learn more you will want to become involved in this aggressive effort to preserve our access to public lands.

[JeepTales]

Greg, I am a long time (now Retired) ToledoJeep Plant Manager and avid Jeeper. I have spent some time over the years with Mark Smith on Jamborees and as a guest visitor at the Assembly plant. He even helped us create an off-road demonstration course at the Stickney Plant site a few years ago. An inquiry about NORA was sent to Pearse Umlauf via his e-mail at JeepJamboreeUSA but I have not had a reply yet. Can you tell me more about NORA and how we can get involved here in the midwest? I live just in Michigan just North of Toledo and am personally interested in helping to promote this new organization. Mark and his Crew at JJUSA are a respected group and I'm confident that their involvement in NORA will make it a first class operation. Thanks for any information you can share.

Sincerely,
Jerry Huber
(734) xxx-xxx

[JeepTales]

Another tidbit...

Even if you don't read the whole magazine check out the editors remarks on
Page 5.

www.JPFreek.com

[skipper]

We have a small club in the western Kentucky and surrounding areas, we are interested in this new orginazition, please send me information at

skipper1409@yahoo.com

[JeepTales]

Want to learn more about NORA???

Here is where it will start.

http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/5568/t/3916/signUp.jsp?key=2039

More information will come to you soon!

I just signed up myself

[Fred]

I am signed up and I will spread this info to the several Clubs in my area

[JeepTales]

Words from the Nora Founders https://webcontrol.avv.com/dealerimages/169565//nora.JPG I have been reading a few of the posts regarding the National Off-Road Association (NORA). I am encouraged that so many of you are interested in what the organization is all about, and I would like to provide more information about our purpose by responding to your comments. As Vice President of Jeep Jamboree USA (JJUSA) & Mark A. Smith Off-Roading, Inc. (MASOR), I have seen countless trail closures over the past 11 years, some directly affecting our JJUSA program. Many of our all-time favorite Jamborees like Daniel Boone and Mohawk Trail have been closed down and many of the trails at other events such as the Appalachian Jeep Jamboree have been closed with little hope of reopening. NORA’s Mission Statement is as follows: To unify the off-road community by providing information and tools, To influence state and national policy-makers on legislation where access to public lands by off-highway vehicle (OHV) users are at risk, To provide economic / environmental reports, and legal action support; and use all lawful means necessary to carry out these objectives. So what is NORA and how is NORA different from other OHV organizations? 1) The Ability to Lobby & Opportunity to Re-Educate: NORA has been created as an S-Corp. (for Profit Corporation) with the primary objective of lobbying on behalf of the off-road industry. Organizations like United Four Wheel Drive Association (UFWDA), Blue Ribbon Coalition (BRC) and most other land access organizations are designated as a 501 C3's (non-profits) which are legally unable to lobby. NORA estimates that the off-road industry is responsible for contributing over $100 billion dollars annually to the US economy and for employing over 1 million Americans. Yet, the off-road industry does not have a lobby to represent our interests as a whole. As a community, we have failed to recognize the power of what successful lobbying could accomplish for the OHV community. Many groups who oppose OHV activities conduct powerful and effective lobbying efforts. It is unreasonable to expect our elected representatives to support our goals when all they hear is the opposing side of our story. The opportunity to re-educate policy-makers and state representatives on the economic impact that OHV users have on communities nationwide is critical. Guided only by opponents of free access, law-makers have adopted policies that have contributed to the closure of thousands of miles of public land across the country. NORA will re-educate government officials on these important issues. 2) Economic Impact Reports: One of the first major goals of NORA is to complete economic impact reports in all 50 states, identifying the direct economic impact of the OHV community. Once completed, these reports will be freely available on the NORA web site for anyone to download. In 2003, the State of Arizona completed an economic impact report focusing on the OHV community. The report found that OHV enthusiasts were responsible for generating over $3.1 billion dollars into its local communities, which represented $187 million dollars in annual state tax revenue and supported just under 37,000 full & part-time jobs. By similar measures, OHV enthusiasts spend 14 billion dollars annually in California. While these figures are impressive, we need nationwide numbers to support our objectives, and until now, no one has studied the nationwide economic impact of OHV enthusiasts. 3) Environmental Impact Reports: A majority of the environmental impact reports that target OHV usage on public lands have been funded by large, well organized groups who oppose such use. Fighting only sporadic local opposition, these groups have been very successful in restricting OHV access in many areas. The OHV community needs to fund non-biased environmental impact reports, facilitated by third-party organizations that give us "real" feedback. Do we have an impact on the environment? If so, what are the solutions to decrease our impact? 4) ”Strength In Numbers”…Unification of all User Groups: The Sierra Club is successful, in part, because they have a large, well organized group of individuals who support their beliefs and efforts. Sierra Club membership is estimated to top over 750,000. By comparison, the OHV community doesn’t have a single land access organization representing more than 15,000 individual members. NORA plans to create an umbrella organization, which is able to generate a minimum of 50,000 - 100,000 active members. We will work to unite all motorized user groups regardless of user type (four-wheel drive, ATV, motorcycle and snowmobile) in the name of our common goals and needs. 5) Support Existing Organizations: NORA is also designed to support the efforts of OHV organizations like UFWDA & BRC. NORA is currently working with these two particular organizations to highlight many of the ongoing land conflicts. NORA plans to tackle these difficult issues by using Action Alerts, which are emailed to individuals who are signed up to receive NORA’s free monthly eNewsletter. OHV enthusiasts can subscribe to these eNewsletters by visiting www.nora-usa.com, it's completely free. 6) Member Benefits: The annual NORA membership fee is $29.00. Those deciding to become a member of NORA will receive hundreds of dollars in rebates, in the form of coupons, from a variety of off-road businesses, such as Goodyear, Hi-Lift, ARB, Jeep Jamboree USA, Teraflex, etc., just to name a few. These companies recognize the essential mission of NORA and support us through valuable offers and discounts offered exclusively to our members. Our goal is to give back to the individuals who are the voice of the OHV community. 7) Re-Brand the OHV Community: Trail clean-ups, garbage removal, erosion control, trail maintenance, construction of bridges (over and around water ways), charity fundraisers, trails rides for the disabled and toy drives during the holidays are just some of the socially responsible activities conducted by OHV enthusiasts. This type of volunteer work usually goes unnoticed, while a small percentage of “bad apples” grab a majority of newspaper headlines with negative press. NORA plans to help re-educate the general public on the positive impact of the OHV community. We must effectively communicate the fact that we are not a threat, but instead an asset to local communities. 8) Clean-Up Our Behavior: We are our own worst enemy. Just pick up one of the many national off-road magazines and you are likely see a number of non-Tread Lightly images including vehicles jumping in the air, flipped over in streams, spewing rooster tails of mud, etc. NORA believes that the behavior of about 5% of OHV users is usually the primary reason behind trail closures for everyone, including the 95% of us who practice off-road responsibility. Straying from designated routes is no longer an option. Below, I have included 3 articles (provided by Greg Machado – JeepTales) which highlight the bad press the OHV community has been receiving: * http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/30/us/30lands.html?_r=1&oref=slogin * http://www.cravenherald.co.uk/news/3785566.Off_road_bikers_knock_down_walls/ * http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/nov2007/2007-11-01-097.asp NORA is all about creating an organization which meets the needs of individual off-roaders and serves the interests of all responsible off-roaders. For years, I have heard people say they want to get involved, but they don’t know what the next step is. They want to take action, by making a phone call, or by emailing or writing a letter, but don’t know who to call or who to write …so they didn’t do anything. NORA will provide the tools and information for individuals such as these to get involved with land use issues and allow all of us to take action quickly and easily. These are just some of the items that set NORA apart from other land access organizations. I hope that I have addressed your questions accurately and given you a better picture of what NORA is all about. If you have any further questions, please email us at: info@nora-usa.com.

[JeepTales]

Words from the Nora Founders https://webcontrol.avv.com/dealerimages/169565//nora.JPG
I have been reading a few of the posts regarding the National Off-Road Association (NORA). I am encouraged that so many of you are interested in what the organization is all about, and I would like to provide more information about our purpose by responding to your comments. As Vice President of Jeep Jamboree USA (JJUSA) & Mark A. Smith Off-Roading, Inc. (MASOR), I have seen countless trail closures over the past 11 years, some directly affecting our JJUSA program. Many of our all-time favorite Jamborees like Daniel Boone and Mohawk Trail have been closed down and many of the trails at other events such as the Appalachian Jeep Jamboree have been closed with little hope of reopening. NORA’s Mission Statement is as follows: To unify the off-road community by providing information and tools, To influence state and national policy-makers on legislation where access to public lands by off-highway vehicle (OHV) users are at risk, To provide economic / environmental reports, and legal action support; and use all lawful means necessary to carry out these objectives. So what is NORA and how is NORA different from other OHV organizations? 1) The Ability to Lobby & Opportunity to Re-Educate: NORA has been created as an S-Corp. (for Profit Corporation) with the primary objective of lobbying on behalf of the off-road industry. Organizations like United Four Wheel Drive Association (UFWDA), Blue Ribbon Coalition (BRC) and most other land access organizations are designated as a 501 C3's (non-profits) which are legally unable to lobby. NORA estimates that the off-road industry is responsible for contributing over $100 billion dollars annually to the US economy and for employing over 1 million Americans. Yet, the off-road industry does not have a lobby to represent our interests as a whole. As a community, we have failed to recognize the power of what successful lobbying could accomplish for the OHV community. Many groups who oppose OHV activities conduct powerful and effective lobbying efforts. It is unreasonable to expect our elected representatives to support our goals when all they hear is the opposing side of our story. The opportunity to re-educate policy-makers and state representatives on the economic impact that OHV users have on communities nationwide is critical. Guided only by opponents of free access, law-makers have adopted policies that have contributed to the closure of thousands of miles of public land across the country. NORA will re-educate government officials on these important issues. 2) Economic Impact Reports: One of the first major goals of NORA is to complete economic impact reports in all 50 states, identifying the direct economic impact of the OHV community. Once completed, these reports will be freely available on the NORA web site for anyone to download. In 2003, the State of Arizona completed an economic impact report focusing on the OHV community. The report found that OHV enthusiasts were responsible for generating over $3.1 billion dollars into its local communities, which represented $187 million dollars in annual state tax revenue and supported just under 37,000 full & part-time jobs. By similar measures, OHV enthusiasts spend 14 billion dollars annually in California. While these figures are impressive, we need nationwide numbers to support our objectives, and until now, no one has studied the nationwide economic impact of OHV enthusiasts. 3) Environmental Impact Reports: A majority of the environmental impact reports that target OHV usage on public lands have been funded by large, well organized groups who oppose such use. Fighting only sporadic local opposition, these groups have been very successful in restricting OHV access in many areas. The OHV community needs to fund non-biased environmental impact reports, facilitated by third-party organizations that give us "real" feedback. Do we have an impact on the environment? If so, what are the solutions to decrease our impact? 4) ”Strength In Numbers”…Unification of all User Groups: The Sierra Club is successful, in part, because they have a large, well organized group of individuals who support their beliefs and efforts. Sierra Club membership is estimated to top over 750,000. By comparison, the OHV community doesn’t have a single land access organization representing more than 15,000 individual members. NORA plans to create an umbrella organization, which is able to generate a minimum of 50,000 - 100,000 active members. We will work to unite all motorized user groups regardless of user type (four-wheel drive, ATV, motorcycle and snowmobile) in the name of our common goals and needs. 5) Support Existing Organizations: NORA is also designed to support the efforts of OHV organizations like UFWDA & BRC. NORA is currently working with these two particular organizations to highlight many of the ongoing land conflicts. NORA plans to tackle these difficult issues by using Action Alerts, which are emailed to individuals who are signed up to receive NORA’s free monthly eNewsletter. OHV enthusiasts can subscribe to these eNewsletters by visiting www.nora-usa.com (http://www.nora-usa.com), it's completely free. 6) Member Benefits: The annual NORA membership fee is $29.00. Those deciding to become a member of NORA will receive hundreds of dollars in rebates, in the form of coupons, from a variety of off-road businesses, such as Goodyear, Hi-Lift, ARB, Jeep Jamboree USA, Teraflex, etc., just to name a few. These companies recognize the essential mission of NORA and support us through valuable offers and discounts offered exclusively to our members. Our goal is to give back to the individuals who are the voice of the OHV community. 7) Re-Brand the OHV Community: Trail clean-ups, garbage removal, erosion control, trail maintenance, construction of bridges (over and around water ways), charity fundraisers, trails rides for the disabled and toy drives during the holidays are just some of the socially responsible activities conducted by OHV enthusiasts. This type of volunteer work usually goes unnoticed, while a small percentage of “bad apples” grab a majority of newspaper headlines with negative press. NORA plans to help re-educate the general public on the positive impact of the OHV community. We must effectively communicate the fact that we are not a threat, but instead an asset to local communities. 8) Clean-Up Our Behavior: We are our own worst enemy. Just pick up one of the many national off-road magazines and you are likely see a number of non-Tread Lightly images including vehicles jumping in the air, flipped over in streams, spewing rooster tails of mud, etc. NORA believes that the behavior of about 5% of OHV users is usually the primary reason behind trail closures for everyone, including the 95% of us who practice off-road responsibility. Straying from designated routes is no longer an option. Below, I have included 3 articles (provided by Greg Machado – JeepTales) which highlight the bad press the OHV community has been receiving: * http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/30/us/30lands.html?_r=1&oref=slogin * http://www.cravenherald.co.uk/news/3785566.Off_road_bikers_knock_down_walls/ * http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/nov2007/2007-11-01-097.asp NORA is all about creating an organization which meets the needs of individual off-roaders and serves the interests of all responsible off-roaders. For years, I have heard people say they want to get involved, but they don’t know what the next step is. They want to take action, by making a phone call, or by emailing or writing a letter, but don’t know who to call or who to write …so they didn’t do anything. NORA will provide the tools and information for individuals such as these to get involved with land use issues and allow all of us to take action quickly and easily. These are just some of the items that set NORA apart from other land access organizations. I hope that I have addressed your questions accurately and given you a better picture of what NORA is all about. If you have any further questions, please email us at: info@nora-usa.com.

[JeepTales]

Words from the Nora Founders https://webcontrol.avv.com/dealerimages/169565//nora.JPG I have been reading a few of the posts regarding the National Off-Road Association (NORA). I am encouraged that so many of you are interested in what the organization is all about, and I would like to provide more information about our purpose by responding to your comments. As Vice President of Jeep Jamboree USA (JJUSA) & Mark A. Smith Off-Roading, Inc. (MASOR), I have seen countless trail closures over the past 11 years, some directly affecting our JJUSA program. Many of our all-time favorite Jamborees like Daniel Boone and Mohawk Trail have been closed down and many of the trails at other events such as the Appalachian Jeep Jamboree have been closed with little hope of reopening. NORA’s Mission Statement is as follows: To unify the off-road community by providing information and tools, To influence state and national policy-makers on legislation where access to public lands by off-highway vehicle (OHV) users are at risk, To provide economic / environmental reports, and legal action support; and use all lawful means necessary to carry out these objectives. So what is NORA and how is NORA different from other OHV organizations? 1) The Ability to Lobby & Opportunity to Re-Educate: NORA has been created as an S-Corp. (for Profit Corporation) with the primary objective of lobbying on behalf of the off-road industry. Organizations like United Four Wheel Drive Association (UFWDA), Blue Ribbon Coalition (BRC) and most other land access organizations are designated as a 501 C3's (non-profits) which are legally unable to lobby. NORA estimates that the off-road industry is responsible for contributing over $100 billion dollars annually to the US economy and for employing over 1 million Americans. Yet, the off-road industry does not have a lobby to represent our interests as a whole. As a community, we have failed to recognize the power of what successful lobbying could accomplish for the OHV community. Many groups who oppose OHV activities conduct powerful and effective lobbying efforts. It is unreasonable to expect our elected representatives to support our goals when all they hear is the opposing side of our story. The opportunity to re-educate policy-makers and state representatives on the economic impact that OHV users have on communities nationwide is critical. Guided only by opponents of free access, law-makers have adopted policies that have contributed to the closure of thousands of miles of public land across the country. NORA will re-educate government officials on these important issues. 2) Economic Impact Reports: One of the first major goals of NORA is to complete economic impact reports in all 50 states, identifying the direct economic impact of the OHV community. Once completed, these reports will be freely available on the NORA web site for anyone to download. In 2003, the State of Arizona completed an economic impact report focusing on the OHV community. The report found that OHV enthusiasts were responsible for generating over $3.1 billion dollars into its local communities, which represented $187 million dollars in annual state tax revenue and supported just under 37,000 full & part-time jobs. By similar measures, OHV enthusiasts spend 14 billion dollars annually in California. While these figures are impressive, we need nationwide numbers to support our objectives, and until now, no one has studied the nationwide economic impact of OHV enthusiasts. 3) Environmental Impact Reports: A majority of the environmental impact reports that target OHV usage on public lands have been funded by large, well organized groups who oppose such use. Fighting only sporadic local opposition, these groups have been very successful in restricting OHV access in many areas. The OHV community needs to fund non-biased environmental impact reports, facilitated by third-party organizations that give us "real" feedback. Do we have an impact on the environment? If so, what are the solutions to decrease our impact? 4) ”Strength In Numbers”…Unification of all User Groups: The Sierra Club is successful, in part, because they have a large, well organized group of individuals who support their beliefs and efforts. Sierra Club membership is estimated to top over 750,000. By comparison, the OHV community doesn’t have a single land access organization representing more than 15,000 individual members. NORA plans to create an umbrella organization, which is able to generate a minimum of 50,000 - 100,000 active members. We will work to unite all motorized user groups regardless of user type (four-wheel drive, ATV, motorcycle and snowmobile) in the name of our common goals and needs. 5) Support Existing Organizations: NORA is also designed to support the efforts of OHV organizations like UFWDA & BRC. NORA is currently working with these two particular organizations to highlight many of the ongoing land conflicts. NORA plans to tackle these difficult issues by using Action Alerts, which are emailed to individuals who are signed up to receive NORA’s free monthly eNewsletter. OHV enthusiasts can subscribe to these eNewsletters by visiting www.nora-usa.com, it's completely free. 6) Member Benefits: The annual NORA membership fee is $29.00. Those deciding to become a member of NORA will receive hundreds of dollars in rebates, in the form of coupons, from a variety of off-road businesses, such as Goodyear, Hi-Lift, ARB, Jeep Jamboree USA, Teraflex, etc., just to name a few. These companies recognize the essential mission of NORA and support us through valuable offers and discounts offered exclusively to our members. Our goal is to give back to the individuals who are the voice of the OHV community. 7) Re-Brand the OHV Community: Trail clean-ups, garbage removal, erosion control, trail maintenance, construction of bridges (over and around water ways), charity fundraisers, trails rides for the disabled and toy drives during the holidays are just some of the socially responsible activities conducted by OHV enthusiasts. This type of volunteer work usually goes unnoticed, while a small percentage of “bad apples” grab a majority of newspaper headlines with negative press. NORA plans to help re-educate the general public on the positive impact of the OHV community. We must effectively communicate the fact that we are not a threat, but instead an asset to local communities. 8) Clean-Up Our Behavior: We are our own worst enemy. Just pick up one of the many national off-road magazines and you are likely see a number of non-Tread Lightly images including vehicles jumping in the air, flipped over in streams, spewing rooster tails of mud, etc. NORA believes that the behavior of about 5% of OHV users is usually the primary reason behind trail closures for everyone, including the 95% of us who practice off-road responsibility. Straying from designated routes is no longer an option. Below, I have included 3 articles (provided by Greg Machado * JeepTales) which highlight the bad press the OHV community has been receiving: * http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/30/us/30lands.html?_r=1&oref=slogin * http://www.cravenherald.co.uk/news/3785566.Off_road_bikers_knock_down_walls/ * http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/nov2007/2007-11-01-097.asp NORA is all about creating an organization which meets the needs of individual off-roaders and serves the interests of all responsible off-roaders. For years, I have heard people say they want to get involved, but they don’t know what the next step is. They want to take action, by making a phone call, or by emailing or writing a letter, but don’t know who to call or who to write …so they didn’t do anything. NORA will provide the tools and information for individuals such as these to get involved with land use issues and allow all of us to take action quickly and easily. These are just some of the items that set NORA apart from other land access organizations. I hope that I have addressed your questions accurately and given you a better picture of what NORA is all about. If you have any further questions, please email us at: info@nora-usa.com.

[JeepTales]

It was called to my attention that it looked like I wrote this....

It was in an email that came to me from:

Pearse Umlauf
VP/General Manager JJUSA

Sorry for any confusion

Although, I'm not too sure why it lost the formatting???

And why it would not let me edit it?