Greg Mumm Greg lives in South Dakota and his interests include 4-Wheeling, fly-fishing, and camping. |
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The Open Gate
May/June 2009
By Greg Mumm
In my last column, I identified legislative action as one of the top concerns of OHV folks for this year. I want to confirm that as a priority focus. I spent this past week in Washington discussing our issues with congressional representatives, many likely from your own state. I certainly have sore feet and legs to show for my efforts but more importantly, it was time well spent. Recreation’s battles are won by communicating with those who can make a difference.
The mood in Washington was definitely different on this visit with a different power structure now in place. But I have to tell you, those I had meetings with were still happy to have the contact and our perspective on the issues. Many of them weren’t even aware of some of the issues or why they were so important. Some are only getting a one-sided perspective and that “one-side” wouldn’t be what I would call “your side.”
I cannot stress to you how important it is that you find ways to develop relationships with your local representatives. We cannot let the politics of Washington cloud the vision for recreation in the local districts. We can help to keep their vision clear by being a resource to them. I have said it before and will say it again, we can meet with them in Washington but you validate our efforts by having the backyard chats with them. The single most effective voice to your Congressperson or Senator is still the voice of a constituent. Take the time to learn who your congressional delegation is and make contact. We’ve made it simple for you through a link on the BRC website at http://www.sharetrails.org/rapid_response/. All you need to do is type in your zip code and the system will provide the contact information.
I would like to offer just a couple of tips to make development of your relationships with your congressional representatives more successful. First of all, be courteous, polite and concise. These people really are busy and appreciate it when we are cognizant of that.
Be memorable but stay focused on the issues. Let’s face it: those who stand in opposition to access often frustrate us and it is easy to sidetrack on a rant. Let the issue stand on its own two feet. Often, the opposition won’t do that in their visits and your visit will then stand out because of the merit. If it is a personal visit, be sure to take along a one-page synopsis of what you are talking about to leave with them. It will help you stay on track.
The same goes for electronic communication and especially with phone calls. Leave them with the knowledge that if they need more, you are happy to provide it to them. It gives you a good excuse to contact them again and when they come calling for that additional information, be sure to deliver. Say what you are going to do and do what you say you will. When you make your presentation, be sure to include the economic impacts—pro or con as the case may be. In today’s economic situation, this is vital because everything relates back to the dollars gained or lost to a district because of an action or inaction. Another very important thing to remember in your presentation is that you don’t have to be an expert. They don’t expect you to be an expert unless you claim to be an expert. What matters is that you convey to them in terms that are clear and honest why it is important to you and to your community.
To keep more up to date on the issues, visit our website at www.sharetrails.org and sign up for our alerts or our RSS feed burner. BlueRibbon Coalition is stressing the importance of these “backyard congressional chats” because we need your help. You are important and you can make a difference. This is just one more example of how.
