Meet the Issue Area Representatives – Youth and Education, Carol Smith
This article is the second in a series to introduce NOHVCC’s Issue Area Representatives. This article focuses on Youth and Education. Other articles in the series highlight the Representatives from the other issue areas.
Background
At its Annual Conference in Grand Rapids NOHVCC announced a restructuring of its Partner system. NOHVCC Teams have been replaced by an Issue Area Representative (IAR) structure. This structure is designed to make it easier for NOHVCC Partners and others in the OHV community to access the assistance of those with knowledge in a specific area of expertise to help create a positive future for OHV recreation. The current Issue Areas are Public Lands, Private Lands, Youth and Education and Clubs and Associations.
In short, IARs serve on the NOHVCC Board of Directors and can form ad hoc committees to provide you with the information and assistance you need.
Youth and Education – Carol Smith
Carol L. Smith is a 6th generation native Texan and an avid motorcyclist (both on and off road) since 1974. Carol began writing professionally in the mid 1980’s working for local Medina and Bandera county newspapers as a columnist and feature writer. She also wrote as a stringer for the San Antonio Light under the editorship of Cary Cardwell and branched into writing feature stories for local, regional and national magazines throughout the 1990’s.
Carol has been very active in the politics of motorcycling since late 1970’s. She works closely with the AMA and volunteered as their Community Council Director for the Texas Hill Country from 2003 through 2008. Her work in the Texas Legislature helped add the Local River Access Plans to SB155 and to create the OHV Decal Program. She was featured in the AMA magazine in June 2016.
She volunteered on the Board of the Texas Motorized Trails Coalition from 2003 through 2010 and as their Land Acquisition chair. Carol was able to assist the TMTC to utilize $1.6 mil in federal funding to acquire 3,200 acres of land to create an off-road park in Crockett County, the single largest land acquisition ever using FHWA Recreational Trails Funds.
Carol sits on the Board of Directors of NOHVCC and is the Executive Director of the Texas Trails, Education And Motorized Management (TXTEAMM).
Carol currently resides in Medina County with her husband of 47 years and has two grown children and two grandchildren. She and her husband are currently restoring their 1967 BMW R69S and they still love to ride, both off road and on. Their last trip (Aug. 2018) took them to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and through three motorcycle museums on the way home.
If you are facing an issue related to Youth and Education (or any of the other issue areas), all you need to do is contact NOHVCC at trailhead@nohvcc.org. NOHVCC staff will then put you in touch with the appropriate IAR who will work with you to make sure you get the help you need!