United Four Wheel Drive Associations (UFWDA) yesterday launched its “Million Voices” campaign to motivate new membership in the more than 30-year old organization. Individual membership for all new members is being offered at a discounted rate of $28 per year. The deadline to enroll with this discount is June 30th.
“The challenges before us to maintain access to public lands requires not only dollars but a strong and clear voice,” says Wayne Groom, President. “That's what this campaign is really about, the ability for us to have all the resources we need to be there and represent those who value and appreciate public lands.”
The bond among UFWDA’s members is the enthusiasm for the outdoors and the camaraderie enjoyed at 4-wheel drive events. Since the mid-1970s, the organization has served to speak on behalf of its members, ensuring that public and private trails are accessible, specifically for 4-wheel drive vehicles.
“Our public lands are being locked up in massive wilderness bills. Our favorite trails are threatened or are already closed. This is happening in your back yard or will soon,” says Dave Logan of Southern Four Wheel Drive Association.
On March 25, the Omnibus Public Lands Act put forward as the Battlefield Acquisitions bill won U.S. House approval in a 280 yea – 140 nay vote. It’s now ready for the president to sign into law. It provides the government's highest level of protection on land such as:
• 517,000 acres of wilderness in Idaho’s Owyhee-Bruneau Canyonlands
• 256,000 acres of wilderness in Washington County, Utah, including in Zion National Park
• Almost 250,0000 wilderness acres in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado
• 128,000 acres of wilderness around Mt. Hood in Oregon
• 53,000 acres of wilderness in Jefferson National Forest in Virginia
Logan continues, “Change is in the air. So, we have a choice. We can work together and spot each other through the obstacles by working slowly and carefully or we can turn around and go home.”
New members can join by going to
www.ufwda.org.
Contact:
Geraldine Grady
Director of Public Relations
804-381-1153
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United Four Wheel Drive Associations (UFWDA) is the leading representative for four wheel drive enthusiasts. UFWDA is a group of individuals, clubs, state, regional, provincial and national associations and businesses in the United States and around the world; our members span the globe from the U.S. and Canada, New Zealand, Australia, England, Japan, South Africa, and Iceland. If you would like more information on how you can be a part of this effort contact United Four Wheel Drive Associations today at 14525 SW Millikan Way #22622, Beaverton, OR 97005-2343, 1-800-448-3932 or visit
www.ufwda.org.
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