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BLUERIBBON COALITION FOUNDER STEPS BACK IN
AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Clark Collins also receive AMA's
Motorcycle Advocate Award
BlueRibbon Coalition founder Clark Collins
has stepped back into the Executive Director position he
held since the organization's founding until January of this
year. Former Public Lands Director, Bill Dart, who was
promoted to the Executive Director position in January,
resigned on September 24th.
"I have resigned as Executive Director of
the BlueRibbon Coalition, effective immediately," stated
Bill Dart. I have thoroughly enjoyed serving BlueRibbon
members and urge continued support of BlueRibbon's mission
'to preserve our natural resources FOR the public instead of
FROM the public."'
Jack Welch, BlueRibbon President, accepted
Mr. Dart's resignation on behalf of the BlueRibbon Board,
and stated "We thank Bill for his many fine efforts on
behalf of the organization and wish him well."
Clark Collins, a co-founder of BlueRibbon
who presently serves as it's Director of Development and
served as Executive Director between 1987 and 2003, will act
as BlueRibbon's interim Executive Director pending further
action by the BlueRibbon Board of Directors.
COLLINS RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS AWARD
Collins was also recently honored with the AMA’s prestigious
Motorcycle Advocate Award. The award was presented to
Collins by Dal Smilie, AMA Vice Chairman, at the reception
for the BlueRibbon Coalition’s annual Board of Directors
meeting in Pocatello, ID.
“The AMA Board created the Motorcycling
Advocate Award to recognize those who have been the leaders
in fighting for the rights of motorcyclists,” said Smilie.
“It is one of the very highest awards that the AMA can give.
This is only the fourth Motorcycling Advocate Award ever
presented.”
“Clark L. Collins,” Smilie continued, “has
been a leader in the fight for the rights of
motorcyclists...The American Motorcyclist Association is
proud to have an ally as staunch as Clark Collins and the
BlueRibbon Coalition, working for the rights of off-road
motorcyclists, ATV riders and other users.”
“Motorcycling will exist as a free sport
because [people] like Clark arise to volunteer and organize
our forces to keep us riding. The AMA Board recognizes Clark
L. Collins as one of the key voices for motorcyclist’s
rights and has chosen to present him with this Motorcycling
Advocate Award to recognize him for his ongoing efforts,”
Smilie concluded.
For the complete text of Dal Smilie’s comments at the
BlueRibbon Coalition reception, visit
http://www.sharetrails.org/releases/media/index.cfm?story=345
ADDITIONAL STATEMENT FROM
BILL DART
An
additional statement by Bill Dart, regarding his
resignation, was posted on the BlueRibbon website Sept. 27
and is reproduced here:
Dear Friends and Associates:
I recently e-mailed you asking you to consider contacting
members of the Board of Directors of the BlueRibbon
Coalition on my behalf and ask them to reserve judgment on
my future as the Executive Director of BlueRibbon until the
issue of the notice of violation I received alleging
conducting a business on public lands without a permit was
resolved.
On September 24 & 25, the BlueRibbon Board held their
regular semi-annual board meeting here in Pocatello, and I
had the opportunity to meet with the Board and discuss my
situation with them. The end result was that we came to a
mutually agreed upon decision that it would be in the best
interests of everyone to resolve the issue at this time.
Accordingly, I have resigned as the BlueRibbon Coalition
Executive Director, effective 9-24-04. Many, many issues in
the recreation access arena are ongoing right now, and
BlueRibbon needs to direct all of its resources on these
issues and not be distracted with side issues that might
impact the effectiveness or credibility of BlueRibbon.
I am leaving BlueRibbon in an amicable manner, and I do not
want this issue to affect your relationship with BlueRibbon.
I want to ask each of you to continue to support BlueRibbon
and its mission of "preserving our natural resources FOR the
public instead of FROM the public" as you have in the past.
I also want to thank everyone so very much for your support.
I want to tell you that it is hard for me to express how
much your support means to me. I hope to be able to continue
to work in the recreation access arena and have an
opportunity to give something back to you in return.
If I can be of any assistance, you will be able to contact
me by e-mail at
DART1151@msn.com
Bill Dart
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The BlueRibbon Coalition is a national recreation group
that champions
responsible use of public and private lands, and encourages
individual
environmental stewardship. It represents over 10,000
individual members and
1,100 organization and business members, for a combined
total of over
600,000 recreationists nationwide. 1-800-258-3742.
www.sharetrails.org
Clark L. Collins
Founder/Development Director
BlueRibbon Coalition
4555 Burley Drive, Suite A
Pocatello, ID 83202
ph.(208)237-1008 ext. 107
fax (208)237-9424
www.sharetrails.org
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