Join us at Beasley Knob, in Blairsville, Ga on June 14 for our new "Meet & Ride" quarterly event.
The Friends Of Uwharrie organization is now officially a Federal 501(c)(3) with an effective date of exemption of November 7, 2012!
On the heels of an exciting first quarter of 2014, SFWDA is building on the momentum of renewed enthusiasm! Following the launch of a new website and logo; and an expansion of its use of Social Media, the second quarter has been very successful.
We’ve had three outstanding events. The Rattlerock Club 4 Wheeling for the Cure April event at Windrock Park in Oliver Springs, Tennessee raised over $17,000 for St. Jude’s Children’s hospital. The East Tennessee Four Wheel Drive Club and KnoxOffRoad.com supported this very successful charity fund raising event.
Also in April was the 11th Annual Mud 4 Blood held by the Georgia Bounty Runners near Atlanta, Georgia at which 86 pints of blood were collected for Life South’s Community Blood Centers mission.
May was kicked off with the 11th Annual TrailFest, held at Adventure Off Road Park just outside of Chattanooga, Tennessee. This event has grown from 43 attendees in 2013 to over 140 in 2014!
Next we look forward to the 28th SFWDA Dixie Run to be held September 25-28, 2014 at Golden Mountain Park in Sparta, Tennessee. Come join our journey and fun weekend in the Tennessee Mountains.
Additionally, SFWDA has worked toward broader business engagement and building a member-driven grant process on both public and private lands. The SFWDA Grant program is aimed at advancing the core missions of our association…Conservation, Education, and Recreation…for all OHV enthusiasts. The SFWDA Grant program awarded the first grant to the Friends of Uwharrie and Carolina Trail Blazers 4WD Club for access road improvements to and within the Uwharrie National Forest. The project is nearing completion and a complete report will be forthcoming to all our SFWDA members and supporters.
Up next is the Memorial Day Bash hosted by the Damn Locals 4x4 Club, Tracy City, TN on May 23-26, 2014; and a SFWDA Meet and Ride hosted by the Georgia Bounty Runners on June 14, 2014 at Beasley Knob OHV, Blairsville, GA. Come join our journey and support the Southern Four Wheel Drive Association. If you would like to become a part of Southern Four Wheel Drive Association or to learn more, please check us out atwww.SFWDA.org andhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/SFWDA/.
This was a special event this year. A combination of many fresh and exciting things happening all together that made this 11th annual the biggest and best TrailFest events yet. The weather this past weekend was the best I can recall at this event. The rain held out, the temperature was great, and the trails were well primed for us all at Adventure Off Road Park.
Here's a great resource we just have to share with all our friends and members.
They provide access to thousands of trails on the American Trails website!
Over a million people a year use our website as their trailhead for all types of information and trail connections. Check out the thousands of trails and resources on our site. Learn how to volunteer, design, build, maintain, advocate for and secure funding for trails, and much more! Find information about great trails in each State!
For all their latest news and events check our a copy of their newsletter click here;
National Recreation Database Trail maps can be found here.
http://americantrails.org/NRTDatabase/index.html
All State Trails can be found here;
http://www.americantrails.org/resources/statetrails/index.html
Your Association Introduces the - SFWDA GRANT Program
The Southern Four Wheel Drive Association Board of Directors approved during the on-line meeting on April 21, 2014 the introduction of the SFWDA Grant Program. This new initiative by your association has been established for the benefit of its members and their OHV areas, both public and private. The SFWDA Grant initiative is our largest annual project committing a significant portion of the association net income to this program. The SFWDA Grant initiative supports the membership and regional projects focused on our core missions – Conservation, Education and Recreation.
The grant funding will be $5,000 maximum per grant project and requires a cost sharing portion from the requesting party in order to qualify. SFWDA has committed $30,000 in 2014 to fund this first year of the Grant Program. The decision process includes the application process; Grant scoring based on the goals and scope of the project; and a commitment to maintain best operating practices for a period of three years. Additionally SFWDA will post signage designating the project as a SFWDA Grant project. The application and decision framework for the program is posted on our association web page at www.sfwda.org.
Additionally the SFWDA Grant can be used as part of the matching funding requirements of the state Recreational Trails Program in your home state. As part of our development of the SFWDA Grant Program, your association has detailed the available RTP funding by state and the appropriate links to the RTP sites for additional information. This information is included in the SFWDA Grant application document.
SFWDA recently awarded our first Grant to the Friends of Uwharrie (www.friendsofuwharrie.org) and the Carolina Trail Blazers (www.carolina-trailblazers.org) for Gravel Access Road improvements within and to the Uwharrie National Forest. The SFWDA Grant will purchase 125 tons of gravel to be applied by a U.S. Forest Service Contractor during the annual maintenance of these roads. This grant addresses access issues of OHV, hikers, kayakers, fishermen, bird watchers, mountain bikers and equestrian users of this valuable national land asset. Additionally, SFWDA has offered a challenge to the office of The Honorable Richard Hudson, Member of Congress, 8th District to match our grant award and address the needs of his constituents.
Future projects will include Tread Lightly training and educational segments; trail development on OHV private lands; access and trail improvements within both public and private areas; trail maintenance; site improvements including restrooms, etc.; and other great ideas from you, the members of SFWDA.
We are pleased to share this tool with you, the supporting members of SFWDA, and empower you with a funding mechanism to address critical projects in your home areas. Please work with your public and private land partners to create a dynamic result and address critical conservation, education and/or recreation needs to continue growing our OHV sport.
Please feel free to direct any questions to Ray Stanley, ray.stanley@sfwda.org; Brian Overly, brian.overly@sfwda.org; or Flint Holbrook, flint.holbrook@sfwda.org.
SFWDA Board of Directors Update
March 21, 2014
Ladies and Gentlemen:
First thanks for your continued support and participation in the online meeting last evening. The following are notes from our discussions:
SFWDA BOD Meeting 04.21.2014 8:00 PM
Members: Ray Stanley, Wayne Hartford, Flint Holbrook, Doyle Punches, Walter Shafer, Jon Plaza, Gary Parsons, Roger Theuer
Follow-Up Items:
1.TrailFest 2014
2.Web/Facebook
3.Public Relations
a.Jon Plaza reports we are very close to the completion of an association discount program with 4WD Parts and NAPA.
b.Rack Card and Counter Display progressing
4.Friends of Uwharrie Grant
a.Gravel project on target for completion late April/Early May
b.Chris Brower, CTB, lead contact and liaison
5.Helen, GA 2015 JeepFest
a.Meeting with Helen Business Council 04.22.2014
b.Offer SFWDA support
6.Membership Updates
a.Club Update Status
b.Business Members – 12 + additions of Allsouth Autosports and NC 4x4
i.www.allsouthautosports.com
ii.www.nc4x4.com
Business Items:
- SFWDA Grant Concept
- Discussion on the concept and implementation
- Motion to Approve: Roger Theurer Second: Flint Holbrook Unanimous Vote
- Prototype Projects
- Uwharrie National Forest, FOU - $3000 Gravel Access Roads Approved 03.17.2014 Timeline: April 2014
- The Flats, NC
- Report on visit 04.19.2014. SFWDA members at visit Ray Stanley, Griff Shirley, John Craven, Doyle Punches, Scott Fields
- Discussed an overview of the visit, findings and a potential path forward
- Approval to initiate discussions on a proposed project to develop a moderate trail within this property
- Beasley Knob, GA
- Discussions with GBR about potential projects
- Adventure Off-Road Park
- Discussions on a main access trail project
- Windrock Park
- Scheduling a May meeting to discuss Grant process and a role for SFWDA at Windrock
- SFWDA Membership 2015
- Broad discussion on challenges to grow club and individual membership
- Discussion on impacts of social media and the informal “groups” that represent a larger portion of the entry OHV segment
- Introduced a new strategy for consideration to engage all OHV enthusiast:
- SFWDA Club Memberships – Flat Cost Structure with defined benefits including 2 positions on SFWDA Leadership Council; access to SFWDA Grant Program; and access to SFWDA Insurance Program
- SFWDA Individual Memberships – Flat Cost per individual with a NET “$0” cost structure. Discounts to TrailFest and Dixie Run equaling cost of membership. 2015 discounts from key SFWDA Business Partners.
- SFWDA Premium Memberships - $50/Year memberships including direct representation through the SFWDA Leadership Council and a SFWDA Merchandise Package
- Reviewed economic impacts of this model and 2015 goals to achieve a positive growth trend for our association.
- Goals: Create a club and group cost structure with leadership representation on the SFWDA BOD; Incentivize Individual Members to support SFWDA; and Engage SFWDA Social Media and Web constituents.
- SFWDA Business Partners 2015 – Introduced a tiered business partner strategy
- All membership items are for discussion purposes as we develop a path forward. SFWDA BOD will have follow-up discussions with members at large, leadership and other interested parties before a final vote in June, 2014.
- SFWDA 2015 Calendar
- Discussion on a list of tentative events for 2015. Goal is to formalize calendar by June 2014 in order to plan appropriately for 2015.
- February, 2015 SFWDA Meet and Ride
- March, 2015 Helen JeepFest
- March, 2015 UORTC Jeep Jamboree
- April, 2015 4 Wheeling for a Cure/St. Jude
- April, 2015 GBR Mud 4 Blood
- April, 2015 Jeep Beach
- May, 2015 TrailFest
- May, 2015 SETLCA
- May, 2015 Damn Locals
- June, 2015 SFWDA Meet and Ride
- September, 2015 Crawl for the Kids JeepFest (Pickens County, GA)
- September, 2015 SFWDA Meet and Ride
- September, 2015 CTB Fun Caravan
- September, 2015 Dixie Run 29
- October, 2015 UORTC Jeep Jamboree
- December, 2015 SFWDA Annual Meeting, Leadership Council and Ride
- In addition, Flint Holbrook will have discussions with Jeep Jamboree USA about SFWDA presence at the TN Mountain; Cullman, AL; Cumberland, KY; and Uwharrie, NC events in 2015.
- SFWDA Future Business Action Items:
- Review and updating of association By-Laws
- Completion of Equipment Assessment
Again thanks to all for your participation. See everyone at TrailFest 2014.
Ray
We had an amazing event this year!!! If you didn't make it this year, you need to plan to be there next year !! We had a lot of great sponsors for our t shirt's this time and a lot of business donations too. We've had help and donation's from a lot of Jeep Clubs, ATV Clubs, friends, family, neighbors, and just a ton of donations from strangers who came out to support and enjoy the day.
A special thank you to our own club members of RattleRock ! With out your help we would of never had a Event. A huge thank you to Knox Off Road for all their help and to Billy Gibson and Lacey Wright who Rocked the Raffle and Barbie Powersport event !!! And to East Tennessee 4WD for their help in the RC event. The kids had a great time . To Mallorie Mendence for the write-up in the Daily Times !! We want to recognize SFWDA Association for their support and for the new Banner this year ! WindRock Park for allowing us to have our event there for the last 2 years !! We enjoyed some Great BBQ prepared by Slappy's !! And to WIVK for their support and music at the event !
It looks like our total is going to be $16704.00 to send in memory of Brendle and DA, Jim and Kenneth. And to help all the children of St Jude Children's Hospital . We thank everyone who supported this Awesome Event !!
See ya next year ! Love Brian and Janet Overly
$16,704 Raised for St. Jude Children's Hospital http://t.co/vPF0LluPPo
— SFWDA (@SFWDAorg) April 17, 2014
We just received a very generous contribution of $2000 from Tenneco Corporation for 2014. A huge thanks must go out to our very own Gregg Griffith for working for our association and keeping us in front of these great corporate partners.
For those who don't already know Tenneco Inc. (NYSE: TEN) is one of the world's leading designers, manufacturers and distributors of clean air and ride performance products and systems for the automotive, commercial truck and off-highway markets and the aftermarket. The company is well-balanced across end-markets, geographic regions, customers, product lines and vehicle platforms.
- Nearly 26,000 employees worldwide
- 89 manufacturing facilities on six continents
- 14 engineering centers around the world
You may know them best by the variety of brand names they represent, their most popular off road brands include Rancho & Dynomax but that's just a few of their brands. This donation will be put to great use while we continue to promote Off Road Conservation and Education right here in the Southeastern USA.
Please be sure to support these great brands. http://www.tenneco.com/our_brands/