Discount Hotel Rooms for Wisconsin Outdoor Education Expo

For those that are helping with the Youth Expo, the Best Western Campus Inn is again offering a discount on hotel stays during the Expo.  Please mention Wisconsin Outdoor Education Expo to receive the discount.

We are still looking for volunteers to help with the ATV / Snowmobile exhibits. If you are interested, please email info@watva.org.

Best Western, Beaver Dam, WI
Phone: (920) 887-7171/1-800-572-4891

Roger Steinbach Memorial Ride and Sign Dedication: May 5th

Roger Steinbach Memorial Ride and Sign Dedication

Date:  Saturday May 5th Rain or Shine

Location & Time:  Ride starts at the Trailhead in Lakewood to Animal's Bear Trail Inn via the new trail south of Lakewood.  We will be leaving the Trailhead at 10:00 am.  The Lakewood Trail Head is located on Highway 32 in the middle of Lakewood.  Just a reminder that the ride over to Animal's will be thru some Forest Service Property and UTV's over 50 inches wide are not allowed on FS property at this time.

Ceremony & Sign Dedication:  The Ceremony will start at noon at Animal's Bear Trail Inn on the corner of Highway T & 64, Mountain WI.  There will be a short Memorial Ceremony and sign placement on the trail to honor Roger

Lunch:  Our club will sponsor a lunch after the ceremony and after lunch the ride will continue on the loop back to Townsend and then back to the Trailhead in Lakewood.

Roger was very instrumental in forming our club and was our current Vice-President.  Roger was "Mr. ATV" and if you wanted to know where to go or where not to go on your ATV, Roger was the one to ask.  Roger & his wife Kathy were the leaders for many years in the WATVA Trail Ambassador Program.  Roger & Kathy logged many hours and miles on their ATV's and he will be sorely missed.  Kathy, Lucas & Jason will be in attendance along with many friends and fellow ATV rider's.

Jim Wisneski
Secretary
Hidden Bear Trail ATV Club

Bayfield County ATV/UTV trails will officially reopen Friday, April 27

NEWS RELEASE

Date: April 26, 2012

From: Bayfield County Tourism & Recreation

Bayfield County ATV/UTV trails will officially reopen Friday, April 27, rescinding the 2012 Spring Closure Order.

The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest ATV trails in Bayfield County WILL ALSO BE OPEN beginning April 27, 2012.

Some trail work has been recently completed, so ride with care and stay on the designated trails and routes; when in doubt, follow the signs.

If you are interested in receiving the newly updated official Bayfield County ATV/UTV map, send an email request to info@travelbayfieldcounty.com or call (800) 472-6338.

Iron County Trails Opening

The Iron County ATV Trail system will open on May 1, 2012.

ATVers are asked to obey all town route restrictions that may be in place.  Some routes or portions of routes may still be closed.  The Towns will continue to open routes as they are able to repair and maintain them.  Please use caution on all trails and routes as conditions can change daily.  Remember, use of private land is a privilege, not a right, stay on the trail.

Wisconsin ATV/UTV Association Honors the Top Trail Ambassadors, Legislators, TREADY (Trail Rider Experience AwarD of the Year) Winners at 2012 Annual Meeting and Announces Two New Honorary Awards

Press Release

Wisconsin ATV/UTV Association Honors the Top Trail Ambassadors, Legislators, TREADY (Trail Rider Experience AwarD of the Year) Winners at 2012 Annual Meeting and Announces Two New Honorary Awards 

Sheboygan, WI, April 23rd, 2012:  The Wisconsin ATV / UTV Association (WATVA) representing both ATV & UTV riders is pleased to announce the top Ride Smart Trail Patrol Ambassadors for 2011 , our dedicated legislators, the winners of the rider voted Trail Rider Experience AwarD of the Year (TREADY) , and the announcement of our new honorary awards.

2012 Annual Meeting:

The Wisconsin ATV/UTV Association hosted its annual workshop and meeting from April 20th – 22nd at the Grand Lodge and Resort in Rothschild, WI. This year, the Wisconsin ATV/UTV Association hosted various workshops with topics that included the new UTV program, bringing ATV/UTV clubs together with snowmobile clubs, working on funding with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and US forest trail updates. We also had many great guest speakers, including the Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources Cathy Stepp and the Secretary of Tourism Stephanie Klett.

The weekend opened on Friday with the first ever, “Town Hall” meeting on ATV/UTV tourism, ATV/UTV trail access, and economic growth. The afternoon was again focusing on increasing tourism and improving the economy with ATV & UTV trails. The last workshop was an overview of the recently completed year-long economic impact study of the Cheese Country Trail. This workshop was conducted by Green County Representative Jerry Guth and highlighted how the trail system attracted over $15 million dollars per year in spending and supports about 190 jobs.

The Saturday workshop sessions were opened with a presentation from the Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources Cathy Stepp, who highlighted the positive working relationship the Wisconsin ATV/UTV Association has with the Department of Natural Resources. Secretary Stepp stressed how important it is to continue this partnership. After the opening presentation, the day continued with a two track series of workshops that had topics of funding, private business partnerships, marketing, tourism, ATV Snowmobile club mergers, social networking for clubs, and a workshop with the US forest service.

The evening awards presentation was opened with the Secretary of Tourism Stephanie Klett, who gave a powerful speech on how important the Wisconsin ATV/UTV Association is to the economic impact of the state. She also emphasized the positive working partnership with the Department of Tourism and agency leaders.

On Sunday, the Wisconsin ATV/UTV Association held their annual business meeting. Current financial status information was reviewed about the Wisconsin ATV/UTV Association. There were territory updates from the regional coordinators, and discussions from the floor were heard and addressed. Election results were announced for the following positions:

• President’s Position: Randy Harden was re-elected
• Treasurers Position: Greg Olson was appointed after incumbent Randy Curtis resigned
• Greg Olson’s advisor position will be appointed at a later date
• Advisor: Terry Coplien was re-elected.

Our Top Ride Smart Trail Patrol Ambassadors:

Wisconsin has one of the best volunteer-driven ATV/UTV Trail Patrol programs in the nation. Without our dedication from volunteers from around the state, Wisconsin wouldn’t have the trail systems we have today. It’s because of theses volunteers that more communities are willing to open access opportunities based on local club coordinated trail patrol. Each year, the Wisconsin ATV / UTV Association, along with its partner, the NOHVIS Group, awards top trail ambassadors for the most hours volunteered. For 2011, or volunteers donated over 5,000 hours of their time and rode over 55,000 miles patrolling our trail systems. This year the top seventeen volunteers are:

• Audrey Emery (Clam Lake) for 779 Hours and 8,058 Miles
• Frank Emery (Clam Lake) for 774 Hours and 8,010 Miles
• Randy Groth (Monticello) for 405 Hours and 3,020 Miles
• Karen Groth (Monticello) for 391 Hours and 3,020 Miles
• Damian Narlock (Wausau) for 375 Hours and 6,794 Miles
• Holly Pasterski (Wausau) for 375 Hours and 6,794 Miles
• Linda Pasterski (Shawano) for 375 Hours and 6,794 Miles
• Roger Steinbach (Shiocton) for 324 Hours and 2,917 Miles
• Kathy Steinbach (Shiocton) for 314 Hours and 2,771 Miles
• Allen Morschauser (Necedah) for 166.5 Hours and 1,477 Miles
• Karen Morschauser (Necedah) for 166.5 Hours and 1,477 Miles
• Ernie Pulvermacher (Princeton) for 110.5 Hours and 577 Miles
• Naomi Pulvermacher (Princeton) for 110.5 Hours and 577 Miles
• Fred Ackley (Pigeon Falls) for 52 Hours and 574 Miles
• Jim Vandenack (Athelstane) for 41 Hours and 376 Miles
• Dennis Swiatek (Athelstane) for 32 Hours and 285 Miles
• Paul Villwock Jr. (Ashland) for 25 Hours and 229 Miles

Winners of the Trail Rider Experience AwarD of the Year (TREADY):

For the second year, the Wisconsin ATV/UTV Association, along with its partner National Motorsports Services, announced the winners of the Trail Rider Experience AwarD of the Year, or TREADY. The awards are based on the highest number of public votes, with voting starting at the Wisconsin ATV/UTV Associations VIP Ride in September and ending on April 1st. Each voter can nominate an entity for the following categories: Dealership, Lodging, Restaurant, Special Event and Trail System. This year’s top nominees and winners are as follows:

• Best Dealership:
• Winner: Hayward Powersports in Hayward, WI
• 2nd Place: Country Sports in Wisconsin Rapids, WI
• 3rd Place: Lakewood Motorsports in Lakewood, WI
• Best Lodging:
• Winner:  Lakewoods Resort in Cable, WI
• 2nd Place: Mountain Springs Motel in Mountain, WI
• 3rd Place: Waubee Lodge in Lakewood, WI
• Best Restaurant:
• Winner: Lakewoods Resort in Cable, WI
• 2nd Place: Weatherwood Supper Club in Mountain, WI
• 3rd Place: Hillcrest Lodge & Resort in Townsend, WI
• Best Event:
• Winner: ATV Nation.com's Toys for Tots in Cable, WI
• 2nd Place: Chix’s 4 A Cause in Mountain, WI
• Memorial Day Rally in Hurley, WI
• Best Trail System:
• Winner: Dusty Trails in Oconto County
• 2nd Place: Sawyer County Trail System
• 3rd Place: Oconto County Trail System

We would like to thank all of those that sent in their vote!

Presidents Key Legislator Awards:

The Wisconsin ATV/UTV Associations legislative team had a monumental year in 2011. With help from our volunteers and input from many businesses, organizations, and government officials, the Wisconsin ATV/UTV Association passed one of the largest bills in our history. With this law, the UTV program moves out of its pilot program and into a permanent registration program. The law clears the way for additional funding for trail maintenance, and provides a much-needed boost in economic opportunities from increased rider counts. Full details of the bill can be found on our web site www.watva.org. With the hard work from our key legislators on this bill and others, the Wisconsin ATV/UTV Association presented the following Presidents Key Legislator Award to:

• Senator Jim Holperin
• Senator Joseph Leibham
• Representative Louis Molepske Jr,
• Representative Erik Severson

Along with the Presidents Key Legislator Award, the Wisconsin ATV/UTV Association also presented its Presidents Key Legislator Staff Member Recognition Award to:

• Lucas Moench of Senator Joseph Leibham’s Office

With each legislative session, the Wisconsin ATV/UTV Association strives to improve the ATV/UTV registration programs by taking input from not only riders, but also land managers and law enforcement agencies that really make our ATV and UTV program be the successful program that it is. Each legislator and their staff spend countless hours with Wisconsin ATV/UTV Association volunteers, drafting and passing each bill.

Wisconsin ATV/UTV Association Announces New Honorary Awards:

This past year, Wisconsin has lost some highly dedicated volunteers to the ATV / UTV program. These individuals always left a positive and rewarding memory to those that were lucky enough to work with them. Their positive commitments on local and state levels have forever changed our program. In recognition of their efforts, three new awards will be given out to honor their work each year. The Wisconsin ATV/UTV Association is confident that their stories will continue to inspire volunteers to continue their mission on creating a positive future for the sport.

The Spencer McElroy Unity Award is in memory of the late Spencer McElroy of Florence WI, a longtime volunteer and past board member of the Wisconsin ATV/UTV Association. He was committed to bringing clubs and organizations with similar visions together, making those visions become realities. Spencer cleared the way for the unique partnership that the Wisconsin ATV/UTV Association has with the Michigan Trails and Recreation Alliance of Land and the Environment (MI-TRALE), among many other accomplishments. This year, the award was given to Spencer’s family in honor of his achievements.

The Bud Auer Good Image Award of Excellence is in memory of the late Paul “Bud” Auer of Winneconne, a volunteer and past board member of the Wisconsin ATV/UTV Association, who strived to teach others about the importance of positive image for our organizations and sport.

The Roger Steinbach Trail Guardian of Excellence is in memory of the late Roger Steinbach of Shiocton, a volunteer Trail Patrol Ambassador that set long standing records of hours volunteered as a Trail Patrol Ambassador. The Roger Steinbach award will be given to those Trail Patrol Ambassadors that go above and beyond the call of duty. This year, Roger’s family received this award for his long standing commitment to the program and the positive and rewarding experiences we had working with him.

Thank You to Our Volunteers and Sponsors:

The Wisconsin ATV/UTV Association would like to thank all of those that volunteered their time and talents to our 2012 annual meeting and workshop.

We would also like to thank our sponsors who continue to support our long term visions and goals with financial support though membership, advertising and donations: National Motorsports Services, Yamaha Motor Corp, Polaris Industries, American Suzuki Motors, Can-Am | BRP, Moose Utility Division, Tucker Rockey Distributing, Chilton Trailers, the NOHVIS Group and the Grand Lodge and Resort by Stoney Creek.

Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources Cathy Stepp speaks at the 2012 Wisconsin ATV/UTV Associations annual meeting on April 21st 2012.

Secretary of Tourism Stephanie Klett and Wisconsin ATV/UTV President Randy Harden speaks at the 2012 Wisconsin ATV/UTV Associations annual meeting on April 21st 2012.

(From Right to Left) Ryan Stiver of Yamaha Motor Corp, Bill Kohlhagen of Can-Am | BRP, Ron Klimke of American Suzuki, Rob McConnell of the NOHVIS Group and Jon Bush of Polaris Industries discuss the possibility of an ATV/UTV consumer demo show on April 21st 2012.

Lucas Moench of Senator Joseph Leibham’s staff discusses recently passed legislation with Department of Natural Resources ATV/Snowmobile Administrator Gary Eddy at the Wisconsin ATV/UTV Associations annual meeting on April 21st 2012. 

Wisconsin State Senator Joseph Leibham speaks at the Wisconsin ATV/UTV Associations annual meeting on April 21st 2012.

Top Left: Ernie Pulvermacher (Princeton), Naomi Pulvermacher (Princeton), Fred Ackley (Pigeon Falls), Frank Emery (Clam Lake), Damian Narlock (Wausau), Allen Morschauser (Necedah), Karen Morschauser (Necedah), Paul Villwock Jr. (Ashland) Bottom Left: Randy Groth (Monticello), Karen Groth (Monticello), Audrey Emery (Clam Lake), Kathy Steinbach (Shiocton), Linda Pasterski (Shawano), Holly Pasterski (Wausau) pose after receiving their award for top trail ambassador at the Wisconsin ATV/UTV Association annual meeting on April 21st 2012.

Marinette County ATV Trail Re-opening

PRESS RELEASE

Date: April 3, 2012

From: John Scott, Forestry and Parks Administrator

Subject: ATV Trail Re-opening

The Marinette County ATV Trails will re-open Friday, April 13, 2012. The trails have been closed for spring breakup and because of downed trees/branches.

Thank you for the help in protecting the soft trail base.

An Important Reminder:

ATV riders on the Iron Snowshoe ATV trails in the Butler Rock area of Marinette County which connect into the Oconto County summer only ATV trail system at the county lines- need to be aware that Oconto County's ATV trails won't open until May 1st and closes Oct. 31st each year.

The Permanent Utility Terrain Vehicle (UTV) Registration Program Is Signed Into Law by Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker on April 2nd, 2012

Press Release: April 3rd 2012 - The Wisconsin ATV Association

Sheboygan, WI, April 3nd, 2012: The Wisconsin ATV Association (WATVA) representing both ATV & UTV riders is excited to announce the signing of a new law that creates Wisconsin’s next motorized recreational registration program. The law also makes fundamental changes to the ATV program which adapts changes based on years of feedback from users, local / state/ federal land managers and law enforcement officials.

When the Wisconsin ATV Association started working with key partners in 2004 on the UTV program, we never would have thought it would have evolved to the successful program it has today! With four years of test pilots under our belts, the final program was ready for law. On April 2^nd, 2012, WATVA board members and regional coordinators met in Madison to watch Governor Scott Walker sign the law into effect starting July 1^st.

The following list summarizes the bill:

· Creates a new UTV decal

· UTV public registrations will be $30 / 2 years

· UTVs owners will be able to purchase non-resident trail passes

· UTV’s will be included in the ATV snowplowing law

· Tampering with UTV hour meters and odometers / same protection as ATV

· User generated funding for trails

· Maximum passenger & seating requirements

· Definition of the UTV

· Private / agriculture UTV registration will be exactly the same as ATV private registrations

· For public UTV & ATV registrations, in addition to the 2 side decals furnished by DNR, owners will furnish their own rear plate

· Commercial dealers, OEMs, distributors will still register with the DNR but will no longer be issued plates, only decals for a self-provided plate

· A new shorter term, non-resident trail pass will be available for both UTVs and ATVs

· Effective dates for non-resident trail passes and for permanent ATV and UTV registrations decals will change to April 1^st from July 1^st

· A registration free weekend for ATVs and UTVs is added

· Certain ATVs that do not currently fit the ATV definition can be registered as UTVs

· Same safety and education rules will apply to UTV drivers

An in-depth look at the changes:

Creates a new UTV decal: With the previous UTV pilot program, UTVs received an ATV sticker.

UTV public registrations will be $30 / 2 years: The registration fee will be the same as the ATV fee which helps fund a wide range of support for the UTV trails.

UTV owners will be able to purchase non-resident trail passes: Identical to the ATV registration program, any non-Wisconsin resident will now be eligible to purchase a non-resident trail pass.

UTVs will be included in the ATV snowplowing law: Because the UTV was not a permanent program when Wisconsin passed its ATV snowplowing bill, UTVs were technically not covered under the snowplowing bill. This bill adds them to that statute.

Tampering with UTV hour meters and odometers / same as ATV: Currently there is a law that prohibits tampering with any ATV hour meter and odometer. This law protects the consumer and now applies to UTVs as well.

Additional funding for trails: $5 ATV / UTV late renewal registrations will be available for the trail program.

Passenger restrictions on UTVs: To prevent unsafe riding conditions for passengers, a UTV can only carry the number of passengers as specified by the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) in the designated seats. This makes riding in the bed or cargo box of a UTV illegal.

Definition of the UTV slightly modified from the pilot program: A golf cart, low speed vehicle, dune buggy, mini-truck, tracked vehicle, and vehicles that meet federal motor vehicle safety standards are not considered Utility Terrain Vehicles.

Private / Agriculture UTV registration will mirror the ATV private registrations: This will enable law enforcement to track and aid in locating stolen vehicles.

For public UTV & ATV registrations, in addition to the 2 side decals furnished by DNR, owners will be required to furnish a rear plate: This change was added after many discussions over the years with various experts and user groups based on surveys and meetings.

· Plate will be minimum of 4 inches in height and 7 ½ inches wide.

· Plate must be white

· Black lettering a minimum of 1 ½ inches high with a minimum 3/16 inch stroke

· Need only the 4 registration numbers and two letters that follow –same as on the registration decal

· Owner shall maintain the plate so it is in legible condition

· Plate shall be attached to the rear of the vehicle

Commercial dealers, OEMs, distributors will still be required to register with the DNR but will no longer be issued plates, only year decals for a self-provided plate: This change is to reflect the public registrations requiring a vehicle plate. Currently the DNR issues a single green, reflective plate for dealers, OEMs and distributors. This revision requires them to furnish their own plate which saves more for the ATV / UTV fund.

A new shorter term, non-resident trail pass will be made available for both UTVs and ATVs: This change allows our non-resident tourists an option of either a 5 day $20 pass or an annual $35 trail pass.

Effective dates for non-resident trail passes and for permanent ATV and UTV registrations decals will change to April 1^st, beginning in 2013: The change was made to better serve the users with the registration period more closely aligned with the main riding season.

A registration free weekend for ATVs and UTVs was added: This change was made to match a popular free fishing, free entry to state parks & state trails weekend which helps promote the sport and encourage new riders to try our trails.The weekend is defined as the first full weekend in June of each year starting in 2013.

Certain ATVs that do not currently fit the ATV definition can be registered as UTVs: This change was made for vehicles that fit all of the ATV definitions except they are heavier than 900 lbs.

Same mandatory safety and education rules will apply to UTV drivers: This change is to match the current mandatory safety law in effect for ATVs. This certification applies to anyone born on or after January 1^st 1988, the person is required to successfully complete a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources ATV safety class. UTV drivers must be at least 16 years old and pass the DNR ATV safety class.

The mentioned changes to the ATV program and the creation of the UTV program are a combined effort of the Wisconsin ATV Association, the Wisconsin County Forests Association in consultation with the Dept. of Natural Resources. We would like to thank all lawmakers that voted for the bill, especially the bill sponsors and co-sponsors & staffs of Senators Leibham, Holperin, Harsdorf, Moulton, Hansen, Lassa and Taylor. On the Assembly side, Representatives’ Severson, Rivard, Endsley, Krug, Marklein, Nygren, A. Ott, Petryk, Spanbauer, Strachota, Tauchen, Tiffany, Tranel Brooks, and Mursau.

Thousands of hours of combined work have been put forth into this bill from grassroots volunteers including WATVA president Randy Harden, WATVA Vice President Rob McConnell, WATVA Special Projects Manager Hank Wozniel and the Wisconsin County Forests Association Legislative Committee Chairman Mike Peterson. WATVA would also like to thank all of those who submitted feedback during the drafting period.

WATVA’s President Randy Harden says “I am extremely proud to represent the Wisconsin ATV Association and its members, especially during this bill drafting period. These changes will help shape the future for our ATV and now UTV recreational programs while promoting a positive economic impact to our state’s tourism industry.”

These changes will modernize an ever evolving ATV industry and provide a starting point for the new UTV program. UTVs are one of the fastest growing outdoor recreational products in the market place.

Attending the signing of the bill:

Back Row: Representative Mike Endsley, Senator Leibham Staffer Lucas Moench, Northwest Regional Coordinator Jeff Jordheim, WATVA Vice President & Southern Regional Coordinator Rob McConnell, Special Projects Manager Hank Wozniel, Northwest Regional Coordinator Greg Olson

Front Row: All Terrain Riders ATV Club President Ernie Pulvermacher, Lobbyist Jeff Schoenfeld, WATVA President Randy Harden, Northeast Regional Coordinator Terry Coplien, WATVA Secretary Naomi Pulvermacher