updated 02/03/2010
Next meeting: Feb. 14th at Nuthin Fancy Bar and grill
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link to abate of Il.

Shawnee Hills Chapter

A.B.A.T.E. of Illinois

"Riding the hills of southern IL."

Dedicated to the rights and freedoms of all motorcyclists
 

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Shawnee Hills Chapter news

We had the elections at our last meeting. Shelly Trovillion is our new Secretary, Kerri Taylor is our new Chaplin and Monty Sanders (that's me) is our new Legislative Assistant. Many thanks to Shelly and Kerri for stepping up and filling these positions. Jim Conley resigned from his FedPac position but he's staying on as Legislative rep.  

We got a letter from the Anna Veterans home thanking us for the visit and the gifts. We voted to donate some money from our chapter to the home to help them build a handicapped accessible fishing dock on the pond.

We don't have dates yet for the Cabin Fever party but it will be at Hogdaddy's in Old Shawneetown in March again.

 

 

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URGENT!

Flowers Introduces Prohibition on Youth Riding -- Again!
Illinois House bill 5029, introduced by Rep. Mary Flowers (D-Chicago), would make it illegal for anyone under the age of 16 to operate an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) or off-highway motorcycle (OHM).  The proposed legislation would also make it illegal to transport a passenger on an ATV or OHM regardless of whether the vehicle is configured for a passenger.   The bill would also require ATV and OHM riders to have valid driver's licenses and wear helmets.
 
This legislation is nearly identical to legislation introduced by Rep. Flowers last year that ultimately died in the House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee. 
 
The text of HB 5029 and a prewritten response are available on the "Rights" page of http://www.americanmotorcyclist.com.   
 
This legislation was referred to the rules committee on January 25th.  Additional updates will be posted as they become available.  

 

 

OFF ROAD UPDATE

AMA Urges Action to Prevent Trail Funding From Being Slashed in Budget

President's Budget Proposal Would Slash Trail Funding

Take Action!
Write your Senators and Representatives Today!
 
On February 1, President Obama submitted his proposed budget for fiscal year (FY) 2011 to Congress.  One proposed cut could be disastrous for motorized trail users. 
 
Buried in the nearly 200-page document is one paragraph dealing with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Capital Improvement and Maintenance (CIM) program.   The CIM program funds improvements, maintenance and the operation of U.S. Forest Service roads, trails and recreation infrastructure. 
 
Under the budget proposal, the CIM program would be cut by $100 million -- from a $538 million appropriation in FY 2010 to a proposed $438 million in FY 2011.  In justification for the proposed cut the Administration says that it wants to focus the Forest Service on "road decommissioning, erosion control, watershed health and forest restoration." 
 
The proposed cut is particularly disturbing in light of the Forest Service's recent work on off-highway vehicle (OHV) travel management.  Many National Forest's have only recently completed their travel management plans and will need funding for implementation.  As these plans were developed local Forest Service staff repeatedly told OHV enthusiasts that they lacked sufficient funding to maintain existing trails, provide trailhead facilities or to adequately inventory existing trails. 
 
Furthermore, funding for good trail design, construction and maintenance is essential to meeting the Administration's stated goals of erosion control, watershed health and forest restoration.
 
The OHV enthusiast community has done all it can to assist the Forest Service in funding trails.  In partnership with the Forest Service, OHV enthusiasts provide thousands of hours of volunteer hours each year to maintain trail systems.  In addition to consistently asking Congress to provide adequate appropriations, enthusiasts also fostered the federal Recreational Trails Program and state level motorized trail programs that provide non-Forest Service funding for trails.  The OHV community even supported the Forest Service's controversial Recreation Fee program to get badly needed funds on the ground.  But it is incumbent on the agency to seek and provide a reasonable level of funding for trails in its own budget. 
 
Congress will be considering the President's budget proposal over the next few months.  The American Motorcyclist Association urges its members to contact their federal elected officials and request that they oppose any cut in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's CIM budget.

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
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