Last week an ad was ran in several Utah Papers, the ad is self explanatory but was ran by the SUWA and had "signatures" of several Moab Businesses supporting the ad/letter to the Governor of Utah.
http://www.suwa.org/library/Final_Huntsman_ad.pdf

Based on that letter several web forums decided a boycott was neccesary. However USA-All and Utah 4 Wheel Drive Association have discovered the SUWA may have used "unfair practices" to "get" the supposed signatures. In fact a number of the business contacted had never seen the ad/letter.

Another condition shows that in the ad/letter they are not actually signing the letter.. so at this point in time there is an investigation going on.

UTAH 4 Wheel Drive Assocaiton is planning to place an Ad in those papers thanking the State and Moab for EJS. The following has been posted in several places.. please help if you can.

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In the anti-4WD businesses in Moab thread, the idea of a "on behalf of the 4WD community, thank you for hosting us and EJS" full page advertisement was brought up to advertise in the Moab Times. Each year EJS brings thousands of visitors and while it is a good source of revenue for the town and its tourism industry, it also brings huge burden and to many, unwanted nuisance. We are also NOT going to slander any businesses related to that thread as THEY DID NOT ENDORSE AN ANTI-4WD LOBBY.

On behalf of the Utah 4WD Association and anyone interested, we would like to take a full-page ad in the Moab Times thanking Moab for their wonderful hospitality. The cost of this ad is just under $760.00. I have created an email address specifically for this project. Please paypal your donation to:

ejsadfund@collegeinternetsolutions.com

We would like to see each contribution of somewhere between $15 and $20 but any amount will do, even if it is $2. A list of contributors will be posted later in this thread. If you do not want your username listed please PM me or send an email to ejsadfund@collegeinternetsolutions.com. Persons or businesses who contribute more than $50 will be eligable for a "Silver Star" Contribution in that they can have their name highlighted and possibly a logo affixed to the ad. The ad will read, however, "paid for by indivual 4WD enthusiasts" to be clear that this is from the people, not companies though they may endorse it.

We will accept donations for 5 days with donations ending Monday Morning, April 4, at 8AM when I will send copy and print to The Moab Times. I am also going to attempt to argue for a lesser rate from the Moab Times as it is for a good cause. Any remaining funds will donated to the Utah 4WD Association which is a huge supporter of land use in Utah. If we have enough money to run it twice, we will.

If anyone is interested in volunteering to do the artwork let me know. Otherwise I will do it myself. If people would be willing to post this message on various boards, that would be awesome to help spread the word. Thank you...

Edit: Fixed my link...

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This message has been edited. Last edited by: ThePagan,

Well, that entire thing is pretty confusing. I can't find anything in the advertisement itself that even mentions EJS or Red Rock 4 Wheelers. While I don't see anything wrong with a counter ad, I'm not sure its necessary. Huntsman is part of the dominant state party. Most of the signers of the ad, if they really are that, are pretty anti-Huntsman/Republican party. To put it mildly, they're the radical green movement that couldn't get any politician elected in a very conservative state.

Politicians listen to their supporters, not their enemies. I seriously doubt that any of the businesses on the list donated to his campaign or to any of his political allies.

2 establishments on the list suprise me somewhat. We ate at Eddie McStiffs twice last week. They were packed every evening. Trust me when I point out that it wasn't greens and bikers eating there and filling up the waiting area. They know that very well. Some of their employees are in Red Rock families. One of the standing jokes about bikers and hikers that come to Moab is that they come with a dirty T-Shirt and a $5 bill and don't change either. A lot of truth to that.

The other was Mobilia. No way that they would suppport or donate to any cause that opposes the Jeep Safari. The owner/owners are Bob Castaldo and his wife. Bob is a long time member of Red Rock and trail leader. I also consider him a personal friend. I'm very interested in his take on that letter.

There are other ways to support 4 wheeling in Utah and specifically Moab/Grand County/San Juan County. One good place to put your money is in the Red Rock 4 Wheelers "Mud Fund". Most of us donate to that every year (and I've got the pins to prove it.) In addition, a significant part of the EJS revenues go into that fund each year.

An example of that funds expenditures can be seen in the quick and efficient response to the "landowners" that wanted to close a county road across their property last year. That was a quick and powerful response thru a SLC attorney that flew to Blanding on hours notice and managed to get the requested closure stopped.

All that aside, any help we can get is appreciated.

I couldn't get the provided URL to work, but copying and pasting this did:

http://www.suwa.org/library/Final_Huntsman_ad.pdf

Dick you are correct.. I have questions about the businesses on the list.. and am wanting to hear what USA-All and the Utah 4 Wheel Drive Association find out.

I got this from a friend who jsut returend from Moab:

quote:

Just back from Moab- this petition was sitting on a lot of counters at businesses. Essentially it came across as a feel good bit - save nature, etc., without a lot of specifics on what it was. It looked so benign I can see pretty much any tourist signing it unless they are involved in motor sports and see the real possibilities.

There is a lot of discussion/contention that the businesses were mislead...

Either way I don't think there is anything wrong with the Utah Association running a non Political Ad that is simply a thank you supported by a number of businesses.

There are also some discussion about legal action against SUWA.. but that will just have to wait and see what happens.

Of course I just returned from 2 weeks there, too. I didn't see any petitions, but then I don't look for that kind of thing, either. The smarter business people in town do their level best to refrain from antagonizing their customers/patrons. At the better restaurants you never get to see the 'counter' because the waitress takes your money and returns with the change.

We did the obligatory hikes thru town in the evenings with our wives. That translates into hitting every tourist trap along both sides of 191 from about the Bowen in the north to TacoBelly and Moab Adventures south (walking distance.) I avoid most of the biker shops, tatoo parlors, etc. I've been patronizing Back of Beyond books for over 20 years, and I would have expected to see subversive material there, but didn't.

Allow there to be no doubt, Jeep Safari week is that peak business time for Moab, all year. Its probably double the activity of any other week. That includes all eating establishments, the few bars in town, and surely the filling stations and car washes. It would suprise me if the jewelry stores, trinket outlets and Tshirt shops aren't likewise. The main Tshirt shop in the middle of town had to hire 15 extra employees to cover the business. And still couldn't keep up. I can probaby go on for hours with examples. And don't leave out City Market. They were mobbed (its Krogers for you eastern people.) That we don't get support from the mountain biker community isn't suprising. My guess is that most of the people signing from Moab are one or two man home based business'.

The history of the Jeep Safari is full of antagonism and hatred by small elements of the local community. Its probably somewhat based on envy. In the early years after the Uranium bust, the typical Moab family was a former union miner sitting at home complaining and collecting some form of welfare while the wife worked as a maid or food service employee at minimum wage. They flat hated us. I admit we tossed around some money. We were all employed and on vacation. Instead of being grateful that the local economy was getting a shot in the arm, they complained. They didn't supervise their drunken/drug soaked kids that terrorized the desert. When they did venture out they disposed of their litter in the usual way. They tossed it out the truck window.

There is no doubt in my mind that we've changed the accepted conduct for the better. Now we're faced with a group of greenies that want to dictate what we eat and how we enjoy the scenery.

Its somewhat disturbing that the bikers don't come around. The BLM considers them in the same mechanized travel class as jeeps. Over the years we've done a lot of rescue work helping out stranded, dehydrated or broken bikers. Seems its a one way street.

Just an added note: In a phone conversation with a friend that lives in Moab, the owner of Mobilia did lead a Jeep Safari trail on Big Saturday. My guess is that the deceit being practiced by the eco community to make it look like they have a lot of backing will be shown for what it really is.

quote:

Originally posted by Dick Burg:

Its somewhat disturbing that the bikers don't come around. The BLM considers them in the same mechanized travel class as jeeps. Over the years we've done a lot of rescue work helping out stranded, dehydrated or broken bikers. Seems its a one way street.

I agree. Last year we stopped at Poison Spider OVerlook, and afew bikers stopped as well to take in the view. Several of them had run out of water, not expecting the trail to be as long as it was. Being we had plenty of bottled wtaer along, we gladly passed it out to those who wanted it, and offered them extra. They all thanked us for helping. I used to ride mountain bikes too, and plan to start again this year for some good exercise. Probably take it along to Colorado this summer, sitting on the trailer with my Jeep.

I have said it many times...ALL use groups will have to bond together to beat the greens and keep OUR trails open for everybody to enjoy. If not, you better get used to the idea of *pay to play*. Sad part...the greens are better organized and funded than we are. You would think that the many manufacturers of OHV's would get behind their customers and put some serious corporate leverage to good use. Just think if all the money GM and Diamler-Chrysler, along with Avanti spent on sueing each other went toward land access!