CALIFORNIA NOHVCC REPRESENTATIVE HAROLD SOENS PASSES AWAY SUDDENLY

Longtime activist was very involved in Southern California OHV issues

   It is with great sadness that we must report the death of one of the NOHVCC's most active members, Harold Soens of Santee, California. Harold passed away suddenly Thursday morning, March 30 of a heart attack just days after attending the annual NOHVCC Conference in Birmingham, Alabama with his wife Jean. Harold, 66, has been very active as an OHV advocate for many years and held several key positions at the time of his death.

   Soens was passionate about off-road recreation and often worked with children educating them about the sport and teaching them responsible use. He volunteered thousands of hours working at Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation Area, attending meetings, helping the California Police Activities League (CalPal), working as a representative for the National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council (NOHVCC), serving as president of both the California League of Off-Road Voters (CLORV) and the San Diego Off-Road Coalition (SDORC) and being a member of the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area Technical Review Team. Harold was also a member of California Off-Road Vehicle Association (CORVA) Board of Directors for over 14 years and served as a congressman for the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA).

   Meg Grossglass, spokesperson for the Off-Road Business Association (ORBA), states, "Harold was a personal friend and an inspiration to me and many in the OHV community. He was a leader and never failed to attend a meeting or coordinate an event."
   "Harold was also a friend to hundreds of people at the local, state, and national levels. I know he was respected and loved," said, Mindy Scharf, treasurer for the San Diego Off-Road Coalition.
   At the NOHVCC Conference which ended on March 26, Harold was given the Never, Never Quitting Award for his work as an OHV activist over the past year.

   Along with his wife Jean, Harold is survived by a son Todd, a daughter Sandra, two stepdaughters Debra and Kathleen, eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

   Services for Harold will be held on Wednesday, April 5, 2006 at 2 p.m. at Featheringill Mortuary, 6322 El Cajon Blvd. San Diego, CA 92115 (619)583-9511.There will be a wake reception immediately following the service to celebrate Harold's life at the home of Julie and Phillip Allen: 11410 Cacho Ct. El Cajon, CA 92021 (619)448-4234. If you plan to attend the reception, please RSVP to meg@orba.biz