Storming' Springfield

Stormin Springfield on April 18, 2002 was quite a learning experience for all who were there. Those who became educated were the 75 members of 4-wheel drive clubs from 14 clubs throughout Illinois as well as the legislators and visitors they spoke with while there. The Firewalkers had a good number of members present and our display board was the best!

Stormin Springfield was the second annual event sponsored by the Illinois Four Wheel Drive Association (ILFWDA) to teach our legislators in Springfield what our hobby is about and what we stand for - treading lightly and responsible wheeling. For example, many government officials perceive "4-wheeling" based on what they see on TV in commercials or shows - Jeeps flying through the woods and tearing up the environment. They don't realize that we can walk most trails faster than we can drive them. We also wanted to show how much revenue is taken out of the state of Illinois because there is not public land and little private land that we can 4-wheel on.

The day started with some of the members of participating clubs setting up their displays in the rotunda. A podium and speaker system was set up in the center of the rotunda for a speakers program later in the morning. We met and talked to each other and checked each others' displays for ideas for next year. Then many people headed out to the fairgrounds to meet up with the rest of the participants to storm back into town in our Jeeps.

Once everyone arrived back to the Capital building, the speakers session started off with a welcome and introductions by Brian Frank, the President of the ILFWDA. The first speaker was Jack Sahr, the Awareness Training Coordinator for ILFWDA. Followed by Angela Rubel from the Pike County Chamber of Commerce. She spoke about the value of having off-road recreation in Pike County. All trails in Pike County are on private land and there are two events sponsored by the local club in the area (Two Rivers Jeep Club - TRJC - out of Pittsfield). These events bring in national revenue from those who attend. The TRJC provide year round trail grooming (and testing) The trails are open only to club scheduled events. The private landowners benefit too with the Land Owner Appreciation Weekends (the members of TRJC offer services to the local landowners to help them maintain their farms/land/buildings, etc. as a way to thank them for the use of their land.) In addition, TRJC donates approximately $5000 to local charities each year, as well as sponsoring food and clothing donations. Angela indicated she was willing to speak to landowners throughout Illinois on the benefits of allowing this type of off-road use on their land .

Cindy Fleischi, from the Illinois Tourism Department spoke on what type of grant money was available in Illinois to promote tourism. She wants to set up a meeting to develop a working relationship with the ILFWDA. Next, Dave Sellman and Brenda Potts from the ILDNR spoke about obtaining grant money to develop, maintain and acquire land for off-highway vehicle parks and trails.

The morning ended with the presentation of certificates of appreciation/participation to each club present by Brian Frank, followed by group photos taken on the steps outside of the capital building. After lunch we were encouraged to meet with our individual legislators.

Since the House of Representatives had only been in session for two hours that morning, most legislators left early. Jim Bryant, Scott and Debby DePauw were able to at least leave our club brochure and business cards with Suzanne Simpson and Susan Garrett's secretaries as they both had headed home. Jim had previously sent e-mails to each, telling them we would be there on the 18^th. Hopefully they will contact Jim now that we reinforced our interest to converse about our club and lack of land plight. Maybe we can even invite Suzanne to stop by at one of our meetings for a few minutes to see what we're all about. We could tell her what we have and can do for the revenue in Lake County if she would support our endeavor to find public or private land to use.

After we packed up, we caravaned over to the Knights of Columbus Hall for snacks and a raffle. Before we headed home, we even added a new member. Although we did not go off road, we still had breakage by one member - Tom Curley had his windshield cracked on the driver's side on the way down when a hunk of truck tire was thrown into it. But thanks to good insurance, he had the window replaced before the drive home. After we were all exhausted from being on our feet most of the day (as opposed to sitting in our Jeeps or laying under them) we headed home.

Thank you to the members that were present - Scott and Debby DePauw, Gary Miller, Jim Bryant, Juliet Sanderson., Dave Glader and Katie Durling, Tom Curley, Carol and Robert Rutchik, John and Kristen Knox, and Colin Weaver. Thank you to Jim Bryant, who loaned us the display board and a special thank you to Becky Ratfelders and Charles Jackson for putting the display board together and to all who supplied photos for the board. (Come see it at our next meeting.) Also, a thank you to Hank Chamberlain for coming to the rescue of one of Chicagoland's member who broke down on the way home.

For more info on this year's event, visit the ILFWDA website.