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Grant Program

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4LOBOUND Crew Donates $500 to support the ongoing battle of the Daniel Boone Back Country Byway

We have been holding back on a little secret we are super excited to finally share. So, before we all gather up at this Saturday for our Summer Meet & Ride to benefit an amazing cause I thought this would be an opportunity to announce another great cause. One that SFWDA has been earnest about for years now and one which just received a generous $500 donation from the 4LOBOUND crew! Together they have generated proceeds from patch and sticker sales and put it forth to hit their first goal of $500 and donated it all to SFWDA in support of the DBBB.

We at SFWDA wanted to graciously say Thank You! Thanks to everyone who has supported #4lobound and your efforts to raise money. Your donation will go a long way to support the ongoing expenses of the Daniel Boone Backcountry Byway. It could not have come at a better time either. In fact we are deep in a long battle to legally reclaim safe and clear passage throughout the whole planned Byway, but we could use more support.

You too can now DONATE online right here, and right now, right on our website with any computer, tablet, or smartphone. All you need is a credit card or even a Paypal account; no registration required. No minimum required. Anonymity is secure.

We appreciate your support!

“We really dig the trail and we know this will go a long way to making sure that stays open.”
— Thanks again, -4LOBOUND crew

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SFWDA continues the fight for your trails on the DBBB! Learn more about this World Class OHV System

The Daniel Boone Backcountry Byway (DBBB) is a high clearance 4wd route comprised of improved and unimproved county and public roads over 100 miles long centered around the scenic Red River Gorge and Daniel Boone National Forest in eastern Kentucky.

Back in 2016 SFWDA started developing a strategy to allow public access to all of the DBBB trails. We have already made great strides on physical trail improvements, in addition to reclaiming trails that were illegally blocked and barricaded by residents. We also Digitally mapped this great trail, and placed maps on kiosks throughout the trail system.

The fact is we are very close to setting a new precedent on the matter with a Summary Judgment in the works now. This would be a HUGE victory for us and the OHV Community as a whole for future land access battles. It’s been a costly battle though. Our own SFWDA Grant Program has been vital to get us this far. Our current expenses on the DBBB alone in 2016 were $8,477 then in 2017 $26,006 and now in 2018 we’re already at $36,075. Our last legal bill alone was over $18,000. It’s all well worth it when we claim victory. This is why we are asking for your help. A small donation today will ensure we can finish the fight and preserve these amazing trails forever. Scroll to the bottom of this message of this link to learn more and donate now.


www.sfwda.org/dbbb


More about the DBBB.


* The DBBB is of moderate difficulty and open to licensed vehicles only. It is designed for entry level off-roading and providing a safe and rewarding driving experience.

* Historically, this area of Kentucky hosted the Jeep Jamboree for many years, as far back as 1969. In 2004, a travel management rule change by USFS closed off many of the routes and ended the organized events.

* Tourism was a huge part of the rural economy of the area and the loss of access equaled a drop in economic input both direct and indirect.

* Since the mid-2000's, a concerted effort between SFWDA members, five local counties, and USFS resulted in the DBBB. Some of the important routes previously utilized by the Jeep Jamboree are now open and drawing organized events and support.

* The DBBB was launched in 2016. SFWDA supported the development of a digital map of the DBBB which allows users to navigate these beautiful 4wd roads with smart phone technology. The DBBB Facebook page has over 3200 followers and some posts have reached 10k.

* The roads are part of the historical county transportation systems which make the right-of-ways county property and allows access to the public.

* A few recent challenges to the public access of these roads have arisen due to the increased traffic of the DBBB. None have resulted in a loss of access due to support from the counties and SFWDA's grant program, which has provided generous financial support in the form of legal fees and road maintaining resources.

* There are 50-100+ miles of expansion of the DBBB planned to meet the growing need of the OHV community for entry level experience.

* The DBBB is within 5 hours drive of the northeast megalopolis which represents 17% of the US population or roughly 50 million Americans. It is also convenient to southern states as well.

* Future financial support of the DBBB is critical to sustaining and growing these world class OHV opportunities. We have recently filed for a Summary Judgement which along with our ongoing efforts have become a considerable investment.

We are seeking additional financial resources to complete our battle for access via public roads to the DBBB. If you would please consider a donation today to help support and to preserve trail access for future generations.

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SFWDA Contributes $2,500 Grant Award to 6th Annual "4Wheeling for a Cure" to benefit St. Jude

A $2,500 Grant was Awarded to "4 Wheeling for a Cure" to benefit St. Jude
on April 14, 2018 at
Windrock Park, Oliver Springs, TN

SFWDA Public Relations Director Jon Plaza presents the SFWDA Grant check to Brian Overly host of the 6th Annual Event. 

This 6th Annual contributed another $36,435 directly to St. Jude Childrens Research 

"Another great year for the books! We really appreciate all of the help for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital! $36,435!!!! Thank you to everyone who donated to, participated in, and attended our event. Your support means the world to us and the kids of St. Jude! "                       
                                                                                        - St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital

Brian and Janet Overly of the Rattle Rock OHV Club

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SFWDA Contributes $2,500 Grant to help support "Crawling for Reid" event in 2018

$2,500 Grant Awarded to "Crawling for Reid" event

 In case you missed in the Fourth Annual Crawling for Reid event on Saturday, March 17th at Adventure Off-Road Park in South Pittsburg, TN. Many SFWDA members were in attendance and our President Mr. Ray Stanley presented this very special $2,500 grant to the event organizers and the Underwood family in support of the "Crawling for Reid" event. SFWDA can't express how much we love to support great causes like this one. We hope to do the same again next year, and maybe we'll see you there. 

 Overall we're told they had a very successful event with over 2000 people in the gates and $178,000 dollars raised for Reid Underwood and his Doctor’s (Dr. Jakub Tolar) research foundation at the University of Minnesota.  

"This brings us one step closer to raising the money we need to cure the devastating disease called Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB).  We could not have the success we did without the generous support and contributions from our vendors and off road organizations such as SFWDA.  We are truly grateful to have you on our team and hope that you will continue to be a part of this growing off-road event. We have exciting plans for 2019 and are working hard to get your products in front of even more people in the off-road community.  So, thank you again for partnering with us and we look forward to working with you again in 2019." - Bobby Underwood

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Carolina Beach Jeep Go Topless Day makes a $5,954.00 contribution to help support a cooperative Grant Project in Uwharrie National Forest

 We wanted to give a huge shout out of gratitude to the Carolina Beach Jeep Go Topless Day; who just made a $5,954.00 contribution in 2017 for support of an all new "Interpretative Trail System" project within the Uhwarrie National Forest. 

This project showcases how the OHV community contributes positively.  By supporting the mapping portion of this project, the OHV community illustrates to the overall outdoor recreation community and the National Forest Service that we are dedicated to promoting responsible use of the trail system by all. 

Thank You CBJGTD for your generous support!

 What is the Carolina Beach Go Topless Day like? 

 

Check out the aerial video from last years event....

Carolina Beach Go Topless Day - 2017 https://youtu.be/1bFoIau6CAA

Venuw Location; Wilmington, NC

Carolina Beach Jeep Go Topless Day was formed by a few close friends back in 2012 to get out and enjoy the weather, being topless, the beach and most importantly to share a love in our vehicles and give back to the community. We quickly realized just how important this was to the lifelong Jeeper’s and even the newest members to the Jeep community. The first year we had 72 participants and thanks to Neuwirth Motors sponsoring the event, we were able to contribute $1200.00 to local charities around our community. The word quickly got out and the event has beyond grew to 648 Jeeps in 2017 with the help of 4WD joining on and just over $32k being raised and donated to local charities. We invite you to join this event and not only give back for a good cause, but get to be apart of the biggest annual Jeep event in NC.

Learn More.... https://www.jeepgotoplessday.com/ 

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SFWDA joins a Cooperative Grant to provide Smart Maps for all within the Uwharrie National Forest

Uwharrie Co-Op Grant Info Package

 We are very proud to announce an exciting new Educational Grant project to map the Uwharrie National Forest!

 Made possible together with a dynamic team of both sponsors, and volunteers. The team at CartoTracks will not only be mapping the OHV trails, but also the hiking, mountain bike, horse, and kayak trails. Our hope is that this project will bring trail conservation further into the spotlight, potentially saving the lands we all hold so dearly — at Uwharrie National Forest. 

An educational project has been started to turn the Uwharrie National Forest Trail System (UNFTS) into an Interpretative Trail System (ITS), where important key areas along the trails are identified by local experts and then identified with signage along the trail and highlighted on an Interactive Map Application (IMA). This will be the first of its kind in the nation.  

The UNF Interpretative Trail System project is being sponsored by organizations like Tread Lightly!, 4 Wheel Parts, Carolina Trail Blazers, Carolina Jeep Beach Go Topless Day and the National Forest Service. To date each sponsor has donated in their own way to creating the Interpretative Trails in the Uwharrie National Forest.   

Visit our Grants Page to learn how your club or group can make a difference. 

 
This project showcases how the OHV community contributes positively.  By supporting the mapping portion of this project, the OHV community illustrates to the overall outdoor recreation community and the National Forest Service that we are dedicated to promoting responsible use of the trail system by all. 

“I am really glad to see SFWDA and Carolina Beach Jeep Go Topless Day step up and illustrate to all those that like to recreate in the great outdoors that we are committed to helping provide tools that will help everyone.

While doing the research to determine the value of this Uwharrie National Forest Trail System mapping project, feedback from OHV enthusiasts, hikers, bikers and equestrians indicated a GPS enabled map that requires no cellular network connectivity will help them stay on the designated trails as they trek through the forest.”
— Al Sweney - Vice President; SFWDA

Learn More;

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A look back at 2017 and wishing all a Happy New Year for 2018

What's your Association been up to.......

Video from meeting archived on Facebook from our LIVE stream

SFWDA Membership Status

  • Membership overall is up over 10% on a year to year bases.
  • Active club members: 2018 / up 16%
  • Individual members 375 / Premium members 223
  • Clubs 36/ up 12.5%
  • Business members: 62 /up 19.2%

Social Media (Dec. 2017)

  • Facebook Group: 7,006 / up 13%
  • Facebook Page 1,000 Likes + since mid 2017 inception 
  • 500+ followers for Instagram
  • 300 followers on Twitter

Third party awards for BOD Members

  • UFWDA Four-Wheeler of the Year Award:  Flint Holbrook
  • ORBA/SEMA Recognition Award for Outstanding Commitment:  Walter Shafer and Pete Mier

Regional Land Use Updates

Brent Galloway: WindRock – state of park activities

  • Additional cabins to be built on WR land and within the next 2 months online reservation will be available.
  • Building new parking lot next to T2- will be open for special events.  
  • WRP be getting into the concert business.  Spring 2018 will be timeframe of first event.
  • Currently has a Shooting range- shoot your own or rent.
  • A new restaurant on site:  WR Grill   
  • WR Bike Park- leased area for a prof mountain cyclist.   WR is diversifying. 
  • WR ATV Club is involved with trail systems since inception.   Disbanding at end of year.

DBBB Mountain Springs Rd Update:

  • Another hearing schedule on December 6.  We are trying to show 15 years of public use of roads. 
  • Goal to move forward to receive from the court system a Summary Judgement by Feb 2018.

New dialogues about the Blackwater Watershed.

  • Aaron Roddy- Carburetor Hill update:  
  • Early this year Forrest Service has closed it to OHV traffic due to landslide. 
  • Next few years to start process to do a land swap with the Forest Service and County. 

Uwharrie National Forest update: updates by Flint Holbrook and Ray Stanley

  • New District Ranger Michael Spisak  
  • USFS approved Interpretive OHV Trail system developed by Tread Lightly, 4Wheel Parts and Path Less Traveled, Inc.
  • Construction of expansion of Baldwin Lake Trail starting mid-December and will be RTP funding.

Beasley Knob OHV

  • GBR GA RTP grant complete.  The ongoing maintenance continues.
  • Problem area at Nicholson Gap, the potential solution may be re-route.
  • GBR proposed adding camping to Satterfield Station area.
  • Jay Bird discussed new Rock Garden at Beasley Knob.

Tennessee Commissioner’s Council on Greenways and Trails

  • Update provided by Bob Yarbrough: 
  • Things are more positive than in years past.
  • Currently in the planning stage which includes the study and surveys of OHV usage

NFS Region 8 Southern Region Recreations Resource Advisory committee

  • Ray Stanley has seat on committee
  • First meeting was elections, setting up structure and by-laws.

South Carolina Recreation Trail Program

  • Updates provided by Flint Holbrook
  • Rebecca Smith is the point of contact.
  • Trick N Traction looking for RTP grant to provide help to land area.

GA Recreation Trail Program Ken Sutz GA RTP committee

  • Completed a 2year cycle for RTP grant funds.
  • Estimating roughly 2million dollars available for motorized RTP grant funds.
  • Pre-application phase in progress and Phase 2 scheduled to commence April 2018
  • GA NR Projects for 2017
  • Conassuga Ranger district OHV trail Maintenance $70K
  • Bush Head Shoals State ATV Park $1.1M ATV project
         Proposal had public resistance with NEPA issues; the project was not approved.
  • GA DNR Projects for 2018, preliminary $2M to develop OHV trails.

Overview on Land Use:

Adventure Off Road Park:

  • change of ownership in 2017  
  • Committed to hosting Trailfest May 3-6 2018
  • Troy discussed conversations with Shawn and his continued commitment to the AOP.

Big Creek Rocks LLC Uwharrie NC

  • Mapping by Cartotracks/ campsites built / entrance gate and fencing installed / road repaired and shelter pad rocked.

Busted Knuckle Off-Road Park, Stevenson AL

  • Monitor progress of BKOR / hosting SFWDA M&R March 3, 2018

Coalmount TN Southern Gulf Off Road Park:

  • Roger Theurer provided status of construction.
  • TN RTP grant – purchased 1340 acres with an additional RTP grant for Construction
  • Started the project in 2010; $528K construction grant coming in.
  • Will need volunteers to help complete this park.  
  • Will be requesting SFWDA grant to help maintain water issues and road access.
  • Target is to open in end of year 2018.

Golden Mountain Park – Sparta Tn

  • Property is for sale and was reclassified for tax purposes.
  • GMP loss significant monies in recent periods.
  • DR31 & DR32 on GMP calendar, but no firm commitment if property sells.
  • Review findings of Event Planning Committee in the 2018 SFWDA calendar building portion of meeting. SFWDA will continue to monitor progress of any potential investors.

Tread Lightly updates

Al Sweeney:  Master Trainer Regional training projected schedule

  • July in Troy NC
  • November in Greenville SC   
  • Support of UNF Interpretive trail and SFWDA Educational Initiatives
  • Membership discussion on cost, time and requirements for having a Master Training Class with individual clubs in the Southeastern area.

ORBA and UFWDA

  • ORBA association of motorized offroad related businesses formed to promote and preserve off road recreation.
  • One Voice: explanation of the purpose and what is stands for “one voice to our government leaders”

2018 Grant opportunities:

  • Regional Tread Lightly Training  
  • Educational Videos
  • Organizational Support
  • Charity Contributions
  • UNF Mapping Project

2018 Organization support

Charity Contributions

  • Grant request to continue annual commitment to $1K each to TreadLightly, UFWDA, ORBA, and BRC
  • Grant request to donate $2500 each charity Crawling for Reid and 4 wheeling for a Cure

UNF Interpretive Trail System Project

  • Scope: create printable map of 173 miles in UNFTS which includes OHV, hiking, mountain bike, horse back and Kayaking trails.  Key part of Treadlightly interpretive trail project.
  • Start Dec 2017 / projected complete date May 2018
  • Total cost $10,954 / Carolina Beach Jeep Go Topless contributing $5954/4 Wheels Parts $10,000
  • Approved $5K SFWDA grant to help support

We are optimistic for a very successful and prosperous year ahead in 2018.


Hope to see you on the trails soon. 

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Season 3 of our Education Video Series Continues...."Safe Vehicle Recovery After a Rollover"

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Season 3 of our Education Video Series Continues...."Safe Vehicle Recovery After a Rollover"

 We're very proud to release this all new video from our third season now of Educational Videos! We're hard at work on the additional 3 planned for this season. 

"Safe Vehicle Recovery After a Rollover" 

 Learn from the Pro's. In conjunction with Overland Experts, SFWDA is excited to present step by step suggestions on how to safely recover a vehicle after a simple rollover. There are a ton of tips throughout the video so sit back and enjoy......and hope you never need to use these valuable skills and knowledge. (All situations are different, so it is imperative that you evaluate your situation before taking any action.)

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Off Road Awareness Classes making an impact at SMJC Jeep Invasion

Huge THANKS!!!

To Jeep Invasion, CartoTracks, and all of our Tread Lightly Master Trainers....

 In case you missed it SFWDA sponsored 3 Off Road Education classes daily at the SMJC Jeep Invasion. We were successful in connecting with thousands and shared some valuable awareness with about 125 participants in our classes. We gave away some door prizes and a pair of Dixie Run 31 family event passes to a couple of very lucky folks. Thanks again for your support to everyone who made it happen. Be on the lookout for our next Off Road Education class coming to your area. #offroadeducation #TreadLightly #SFWDA

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NAXJA Southeast Chapter - Cherokee Crawl Event contributes $800 to SFWDA

  The NAXJA Southeast Chapter which hosts the Annual Cherokee Crawl event this year up in Harlan KY at Black Mountain OHV Park had another successful event this summer back on the first weekend of July. Be sure to join them next year in Harlan.

To learn more visit their forum today; http://naxja.org/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=364

NAXJA Cherokee Crawl    
July 1-2, 2017   Black Mountain OHV Park; Harlan, KY 

 It was voted before the event that NAXJA would be making a donation to SFWDA. Well we are very proud to announce that we received a check in the amount of $800 which has been earmarked for our Education Video Series.

Dirk DeYoung
NAXJA Southeast Chapter Treasurer
NAXJA National Director

- Presenting their $800 Contribution to SFWDA President; Ray Stanley

The Educational video series is now into its third season and is at the core of our mission. Funds like this fuel our non profit association and make it possible to reach more folks and continue the fight. Thank you to the NAXJA Southeast Chapter for your contribution, it is already being put to good work. In fact the first video episode on season 3 is ready to be released any day now so stand by to watch the very newest addition to this great series.  

Thanks again Dirk and everyone at the NAXJA! 

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