Twin Lake MI Trail Clean Up - 4-19-2008

[phazer42]

I would like to thank everyone who went and all of those who helped out in cleaning up the woods.



When I arrived, I was asked to aid in driving one of the guests around the respective sites, so I obliged. I was privileged to have State Representative Geoff Hansen who was voted into office for the Lake, Newaygo, and Oceana Counties. We had much discussion and I was very pleased to see his deep interest in the off-road community as he resides over the county for the Silver Lake Sand Dunes. In any event, here are a few pictures that I took while I was there....

http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/...22&uid=9984164

[06-H3]

I was really hoping to have been able to go along. Unfortunately the wife was relocated for work so every available weekend between now and June is being spent packing up for the move from Kalamazoo to Chicago and trying to get our house ready for the market. Next year should be much calmer for the two of us.

[Mr. I - Man]

Welcome to Chicago!

[phazer42]

A note from Pat Brower - Orginizer of the event....

What a FANTASTIC turn out!!!

I looked out the door at 9:00am (the 'supposed' end of registration) and couldn't see the end of the line!

I know I saw all of you, but the day was such a blur of activity, I don't remember 5 minutes of the entire thing! I hope you all had a good enough time to come back next year. This is REALLY starting to draw the attention of both decision and policy makers - in a great way!

181 people signed in with an estimated 3,580 man hours of labor donated for the event.



We hauled 100 cubic yards of trash, 645 tires, and 35 gallons of an unknown liquid I'm going to list as oil.

We turned over 3 pieces of evidence that will hopefully lead to citations.

The National Forest Service brought out a fire truck for the kids, as well as sending 2 people to work, a PR person from the head office, and Les Russell - the Baldwin District Ranger. They presented the Two Trackers with the Gold Level (Highest) Presidential Volunteer Award that came with a gorgeous plaque and a letter from President Bush. They also presented an official Forest Service edition Leatherman to me for acting as lead coordinator over the last decade. Baldwin Interdisciplinary Team Leader, Christopher Frederick, even took the time to sit down and compose a beautiful poem titled "The Volunteer Spirit of the Forest" just for the event(Below this post).

The DNR sent out both of the COs who work the project area. I thought that it was an especially nice gesture considering it was supposed to be Mr. Simpson's day off!

I'd like to thank:

Geoff Hansen - State Representative 100th District
Mary Valentine - State Representative 91st District
David Farhat - President Muskegon Chapter Pheasants Forever, Former State Representative 91st District
Jan Kutnz - Republican Party Senator Van VanWoerkom's Office
Charles Buzzell - Muskegon County Commissioner District 2
Marvin Engle - Muskegon County Commissioner District 5
Don Studaven - Blue Lake Township Supervisor
Marion Knash - Blue Lake Township Assessor
Kate Kremmel - Cedar Creek Township Zoning Administrator
Sharon Ackerman - Cedar Creek Township Treasurer
Jim Muston - Cedar Creek Township Supervisor
Kate Salm - Forest Service Public Relations Officer
Less Russell - Forest Service Baldwin District Ranger
Chris Fredericks - Forest Service Baldwin District Interdisciplinary Team Leader
Kathy Bietau - Forest Service Baldwin Trails Coordinator
Chris Pearson - Peterson's Off Road Magazine Reporter

- for their attendance and assistance in raising awareness of illegal dumping and the Michigan Coalition for Clean Forests program.

The Two Trackers Four Wheel Drive Club's Clean Up Committee - there's NO way I could have done this alone!

ALL of our financial and raffle donors: Star Customs, Forest Hills Foods, Pot Luck Pick Up, SWS Waste Services, Kool Toyota, Van Andel & Flikema Jeep, Harvey Hummer, and over 30 others!

I'd like to ESPECIALLY thank all of YOU!

We couldn't do it without you!
__________________
Pat Brower

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