FREE HELP WHEN YOU NEED IT
The NOHVCC wants to solve your off-highway issues

Don’t let the big name scare you. When someone hands you the phone and says it’s the National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council on the other end, don’t go screaming off into the woods yelling “Keep that bureaucratic, slick-talking, fundraising, behemoth away from me!” No, don’t do that because the person on the other end of the phone line is likely to be Lynn Noltner, the ATV riding mother of five from Wisconsin, or Russ Ehnes who lives to go riding every weekend in the spectacular hills around his Great Falls, Montana home, or Roy Garrett, the guy who just talked all the “suits” in Indiana into opening up their first state riding park. The NOHVCC (pronounced No-Vac) is actually just a bunch of folks who love to ride off-highway, and are passionate about opening new trails and saving established ones throughout the country.

The organization, which numbers over 100 volunteer representatives scattered throughout the country, all made a pledge to help the rest of us whenever we have an off-highway issue that needs to be resolved. They’re basically professional off-highway consultants, but their fee is $0!

“We’re actually one of the best bargains in the business,” says NOHVCC Communication Director Steve Casper. “Our main purpose in life is to help off-highway enthusiasts keep their ride areas open by giving them the tools to organize, gather funds, work with local politicians, land owners, and land managers, and any other way we can think of to keep the sport happy and healthy. Rider education, even at the youngest levels, is also a very important part of our mission since we know from experience that responsible riders are the best ammo we have for keeping ride areas open.” And the key word here is experience. The very reason NOHVCC was started in the first place was to join the nation’s most influential off-road movers and shakers and pick their brains for what works and what doesn’t in our never-ending battles to keep ride areas open, as well as starting new ones.

“Every year we gather in one place to meet with all the NOHVCC state representatives as well as many other important OHV organizers and land managers to have a big Pow Wow where we share and record information,” explains Steve. “This info eventually becomes the basis for the ‘tools’ we share in our literature and consulting services. It’s constantly being updated at our head office where it’s cataloged into our off-highway library. If you’ve got a question on any off-highway issue, NOHVCC can usually find you an answer.”

To do that, it’s as easy as calling the NOHVCC (800) number or sending a quick e-mail. “It’s our job to help people, and the more folks who contact us, the happier we are,” says NOHVCC’s Ann Vance. Even simple requests such as “Where in my state can I ride my ATV or dirt bike?” will get a response (some of that info is also on their website). “Our motto here at the head office is, ‘We may not necessarily know all the answers, but we do know how to get you in contact with the person who does,’” reports Ann.

Following is a partial list of the many materials and services offered by NOHVCC, most of which are free of charge.

• Club Kit (how to start a club)
• Park Guide (a resource guide to assist in the development, enhancement and operation of OHV recreation and facilities)
• Where to Ride materials
• Access to a national network of OHV activists, clubs, associations, organizations and agencies
• Information on getting federal gas tax monies for your trail project
• A wide array of Youth programs and materials for your club or organization
• Direct contact with experts to address specific issues
• Workshops and speakers for OHV organization development and recreation management
• Public awareness and image enhancement materials
• Information regarding risk management, event insurance, economic impact studies, environmental studies, and the political process as it relates to off-road issues
• ATV and dirt bike riding schools
• Detailed literature on trail management issues and techniques
• Volunteer development programs

To find more detailed information on these “tools” and the many more that NOHVCC has to offer, check out their extensive website at www.nohvcc.org By the end of the year, many of these materials will be available in a downloadable PDF format, allowing users instant and free access to the most popular NOHVCC tools.

The National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council was started with seed money from American Honda in 1990. One of their original goals was to organize the hundreds of riding clubs throughout the country into statewide blocks and to have a NOHVCC “Representative” appointed to represent each state. That goal has nearly been reached, as there are now 43 state clubs on the roster.

There have been literally hundreds of NOHVCC success stories over the years, most recently on their mantelpiece is the first state-funded ride area in Indiana which just opened this year. In addition to riding opportunities, the education of youth riders is high on the NOHVCC priority list. Their popular “Adventure Trail”, an interactive tour through the big NOHVCC truck with a quiz at the end, is a big hit with the kids whenever the truck shows up at one of the dozens events on the NOHVCC schedule every year.

NOHVCC is a non-profit organization that doesn’t solicit memberships or money from the grassroots weekend riders. The best way to help with the organization’s mission is to be active at the club level in promoting safe and environmentally-friendly riding practices within your group. And if you need any help on any off-road topic, don’t be afraid to call NOHVCC!

CONTACT INFORMATION
Anyone can contact NOHVCC by calling (800) 348-6487, e-mailing trailhead@nohvcc.org or writing to NOHVCC, 4718 S. Taylor Dr., Sheboygan, WI 53081. You can also find out more about their services at their website http://www.nohvcc.org/