Feb. 8, 2007.
Was invited to Michigan Conservation Summit hosted by the Natural Resource Committee, in Lansing.
All the top DNR, NRC, DEQ, and MDA officials, several Legislators and Senators were there with all the conservation groups including but not limited to: MUCC, Heart of the Lakes, Ducks unlimited,MSA, Seirra Club, Loggers,Tree Farmers and other conservation and environmental groups.
When all was said and done we found that we had more in common then not,and a new coalilition was formed to get the message out and to gain political clout!
What most do not know or understand is that the DNR DEQ and MDA, only recieve 1.8% of the Budget! With the DNR and DEQ sharing just 1 % of that.
We all benefit from the Forest lands,clean air and clean water. But only a few user groups actually pay for everyone else.Per capitia people pay only $2.50 of thier taxes to the resources, of that amount a bit over 1/2 goes to PILT (payment in leiu of taxes.) leaving approximately $1.25 to support and maintain our natural resources for the generations to come.
As ORV users we are proud that we are the only group that at this point are completely and 100 % funded by ourselves, with out one penny of Gov't funds!
Sorry to say I was the only one invited that deals with motorized recreation and will not be able to do this alone!
I will need all of you to become active in some way,whether it is time or money to help get this grassroot effort off the ground.
Sorry about the rant, but everyone needs to know!
Thomas Dunn
AMA D-14 Assist Legislative Director
tdunn976@yahoo.com
1-517-896-9757
Was invited to Michigan Conservation Summit hosted by the Natural Resource Committee, in Lansing.
All the top DNR, NRC, DEQ, and MDA officials, several Legislators and Senators were there with all the conservation groups including but not limited to: MUCC, Heart of the Lakes, Ducks unlimited,MSA, Seirra Club, Loggers,Tree Farmers and other conservation and environmental groups.
When all was said and done we found that we had more in common then not,and a new coalilition was formed to get the message out and to gain political clout!
What most do not know or understand is that the DNR DEQ and MDA, only recieve 1.8% of the Budget! With the DNR and DEQ sharing just 1 % of that.
We all benefit from the Forest lands,clean air and clean water. But only a few user groups actually pay for everyone else.Per capitia people pay only $2.50 of thier taxes to the resources, of that amount a bit over 1/2 goes to PILT (payment in leiu of taxes.) leaving approximately $1.25 to support and maintain our natural resources for the generations to come.
As ORV users we are proud that we are the only group that at this point are completely and 100 % funded by ourselves, with out one penny of Gov't funds!
Sorry to say I was the only one invited that deals with motorized recreation and will not be able to do this alone!
I will need all of you to become active in some way,whether it is time or money to help get this grassroot effort off the ground.
Sorry about the rant, but everyone needs to know!
Thomas Dunn
AMA D-14 Assist Legislative Director
tdunn976@yahoo.com
1-517-896-9757