“If we in the trails community can work out our differences among ourselves, and present a united front to the funders and decision makers, we’ll have much more power.”

By Skye Ridley, Executive Director emeritus, American Trails

Organization

When I hear about trails success stories around the country, I like to find out why they succeeded. I’ve noticed that the groups or individuals who make it happen have certain characteristics in common– what I call the 10 habits of highly successful trails advocates

1. They pick their battles carefully! — i.e., they act strategically. They know they can’t do it all; they have to prioritize, or they’ll spend too much time and effort on the wrong projects.

2. They have lots of patience, with themselves and the other folks they’re trying to motivate. For example, they don’t demand too much from agency people if they don’t know what challenges those agencies are facing.

3. On the other hand, they have persistence. They don’t give up easily. They approach problems in new ways.

4. They’re creative. They know there’s no magic formula, and that no two communities are alike. They must invent new ideas all the time. For example, inColorado Springs, our success was partly due to the fact that we involved the business community a great deal. But inBoulder, where things are much different, the people organizing a new trails coalition are going to have to be very careful about allying themselves with businesses, because Boulderites don’t automatically trust businesspeople.

5. They reach out. We’re very fortunate here in the West, and you are all especially fortunate here inWyoming, because I can tell you, people in the West have a much more cooperative attitude and understanding of different trails uses than folks in the East.

But let’s ask ourselves: could we reach out more? Couldn’t we be better ambassadors for trails? Who could you talk with to help get trails built in your area? I was once very surprised to be invited to speak before the Women Lawyers of the Pikes Peak Region, which later became an active organizational member of our trails coalition! It would never have occurred to me to ask them to join. But after that, I started talking to all sorts of groups and businesses and community leaders.

Be forewarned, you may get criticized for bringing in someone from “the enemy camp.” My response to that: hey, be sure to attend the other groups’ meetings — it’s actually the perfect opportunity to research their strategies!

In actuality, though, I’ve found that familiarity breeds understanding. When I get representatives from various trails user communities to really sit down and talk with each other, they usually (not always, but usually) end up realizing they have more to gain by working together than by battling.

6. Successful trails advocates are resourceful. They’re not afraid to be scroungers. If you can talk the local cement company into dumping their daily leftovers onto the end of your new trail, be glad! If you can get the county to use recycled asphalt to build trails, go for it!

7. They think nationally, act locally. No matter how pressing our local situation is, we must pay attention to the national scene. ISTEA has brought us more money for trails than anything we ever did on a local level! The people who work on the national scenes are the ones who made that happen for us.

8. They’re like the Boy Scouts: they’re prepared. Successful trails advocates somehow find time to get ready for the next challenge. For example, inColorado Springs, trails advocates ensured early on that the city had a really good Trails Master Plan. Our city trails people educated themselves quickly on ISTEA Enhancements. And we got City Council to declare trails a community priority. Then, when the first round of ISTEA Enhancements funds were available, we were able to move at lightning speed to access that money! The result? Our city raised $830,000 for trails the first year ISTEA funds were distributed!

9. They’re committed. Of course there are exceptions, but in general, X units of work results in X miles of trails

We tend to overlook this; we’d rather find some slick strategies and miracle cures than work long and hard. But the unfortunate fact is, to be successful trails advocates, we have to motivate our volunteers, our board members, our agency reps, our elected officials– and ourselves!– to just plain work hard for trails.

10. Successful trails advocates take risks. Don’t be afraid to act if you’ve done a good job of educating yourself about an issue. This isn’t rocket science. Trails advocacy is a very common-sense, seat-of-the-pants job.

In conclusion, I believe that if we don’t hang together, we’ll hang separately. Trails everywhere suffer from a lack of funding and a lack of stewardship. I believe that if we in the trails community can work out our differences among ourselves, and present a united front to the funders and decision makers, we’ll have much more power. We’ll have a much better chance of raising the funds and getting the legislation we need for all trails.

I hope you agree and that you’ll join me in this approach.

From “Tools for Coalitions and Team Building” Presentation to the Second Annual Wyoming State Trails Conference, September 28, 1996.

Dawn Frederickson, Katy Trails coordinator,  made the official announcement and recognized the city of Clinton,  Clinton Parks and Recreation personnel, and the director of the Henry County Fair for their partnership.  Show-Me Missouri Back Country Horsemen were also recognized for their participation in at least two other non related partnerships.  SMMBCH State President, Eldon Kreisel was also asked to speak along with Keith Peterson, Knob Noster Park Superintendent and Dan Files, District Supervisor.

Several riders were present to make the first ride and others attending included the Clinton City Mayor and representatives of the Henry County Sheriff’s Posse.

Parking at the Clinton Trail head is across Hwy. 52 and at the rear of the fair grounds.  Access is gained by riding through the fair grounds, crossing the the highway and riding down the edge of the city park.  Signage indicates that camping is available.  Contacting the City Parks and Recreation Department is advisable

The two day workshop was held at the Bateman Ranch in the Ava District of the Mark Twain National Forest. The participants included ten members of the Douglas County Fox Trotter Horse Breeders’ Association and a former Bureau of Land Management employee who is an avid hiker. The Fox Trotter participants are also members of the Mountain Riders Chapter of the Missouri Back Country Horsemen. The workshop included overnight camping.

Each participant taught one of the seven Leave No Trace Principals. The focus of the workshop was to show the participants how to teach all seven principals. After each principal was introduced, Russ and Tammie lead a discussion on why the principal is important and how best to teach it. The training will allow the participant to go out and teach the “Leave No Trace” principals in their own community.

“Leave No Trace” is an international program that teaches respect for nature. The seven principals of Leave No Trace are: Plan Ahead, Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces, Dispose of Waste Properly (take it in take it out), Leave What You Find, Minimize Campfire Impact, Respect Wildlife, and Be Considerate of Other Visitors.

For additional information on “Leave No Trace” instruction in the Ava Missouri Area please contact Steve Assenmacher at (417) 796-2912.  For other areas of Missouri contact Russell or Tammie Martin at (417) 326-5687.

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A grant for trail upgrades, rerouting, and armory will hopefully be approved with tentative announcement in January 2011.  A large number of adverse trail areas have been identified  for repair, armory or rerouting.  Flagging  is tentatively to take place in January 2011.  Clearances and vegetative studies must be requested and approved. Plans include moving the old equestrian camp ground, moving some parts of the trail to the west of the creek and rerouting some of the worst spots.  A small amount of additional trail is planned.

Preliminary work to be performed by SMMBCH was discussed with Park personnel expressing a favorable opinion.  Park personnel will be planning and working with SMMBCH to set up  seven or eight work days to help with trail development.  The State Park Youth Core will be available from April to November to work on the project.  It was also stated that some State Park equipment would be available for use.  Setting a date for a Public meeting sometime in March 2011 was included in the discussions.

As various sections and areas of the trail are developed and repaired it is anticipated that there will be a “soft opening” of those parts of the equestrian trail. However, closing may be made due to wet weather or conditions that would be adverse to the subsequent improvements.  This opening is projected for the spring of 2011.

A big “Thank You” goes to George and Joann Becker of Brushy Creek for sponsoring and making welcome members for the SMMBCH Celebration and Fund Raiser Weekend.  It was the consensus of all attending to make this an annual event.

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