Slacker’s Corner

 

     Well here we are and it’s March already.  The year is already trying to rapidly pass us by before we get our fill of trail riding and the great outdoors.  It seems as if some of our appetites are bigger than others, and some of us just can’t seem to get our bellies full.  While this is my first time writing for our newsletter, bare with me while I touch on the subject of leading by example and treading lightly.   

    It all started at the Thunder Nationals earlier this year, in which my entire family attended.  Somewhere in between shows, my 10-year-old son Jacob (whom was very excited about the monster trucks) came up to Nitro and myself and told me that he was so happy that I was a Boonie.  To this remark, our President, Nitro, looked down to Jacob (or was it up to Jacob, lol) and told him “well you’re a Boonie too”.  Well this provoked an immediate swelling up of my son’s head, whom was prouder than a Boonie who made it through, up and or down an obstacle that no one else could tackle.... We all know that feeling.  The point is his excitement and pride about being a Boonie, carried over to other areas of his life.

    My son decided to take our club run pictures and the Thunder National event pictures that he had taken himself at Evansville earlier this year, to a school show and tell type deal.  What was intended to be a classroom show and tell, turned into an entire 5th grade event that led to him writing an article in the school newspaper.  He explained what the Boonie Riders were all about.  Like camaraderie, how one Boonie helps another, and how we are always there for one another during trail rides and even outside club events, where there is always help to be offered and needed on one thing or another.  Like the illegal dumpsite that was cleaned up on Pigeon Switch Road at Gentryville, like the adopt a highway program on U.S. 231 between Gentryville and Dale.  Like the trail cleaning that gets done at Wilstem and now our newly added French Lick Springs Resort run.  These are just a few things that have been done since my membership of only one-year, and I’m sure I have forgotten some.

    The point is look at what we have accomplished and what we have done to help our sport of four-wheeling.  We as Boonie Riders have promoted strong community involvement by participating in club runs such as Wilstem, French Lick Springs Resort, Mt. Watson, and Spurgeon.  Doing the trash pick-ups and trail cleaning helps others besides fellow wheelers enjoy the great outdoors.  Let us tread lightly and follow some of the most basic rules such as: Staying on existing trails and/or routes.  Never force your way through brush or virgin timber; try to stay to marked routes. Always pick up your trash, cans, bottles, wrappers and sandwich bags, just to name a few. It is in every Boonies interest to preserve and protect the environment while promoting the sport of 4 wheeling in a positive manner.  Just remember that someone is always watching what actions you take.  What actions you portray as a Boonie and wheeler are up to you.  For the sake of all and the future, lets hope those actions are on the positive side.

    Up to this point, I had not realized what an effect that myself, and our club the Boonie Riders, was having on others around us.  The young people of the next generation, and others around us will hopefully carry on our values and beliefs that trail riding and 4 wheeling can be combined with the conservation of our natural resources.  So that one and all can enjoy the great outdoors that God so gladly bestowed upon us.  I, for one, am proud to be a Boonie Rider.   

                          Glenn (Slacker) Coe

Familiar face. New position?

I recently had one of those thoughts. We have always talked about fixing up some sort of medical information card for our members to have in their glove box in case of an emergency. What we lacked was someone to take care of the project. So, when the idea resurfaced in my little brain, I called upon my Wife Melissa, who has a background in medical stuff to fill the position. I sold it to Allen, and he said it sounded like a fine idea to him, so there you have it. Melissa will be putting together a questionnaire in the next few weeks for each of us to fill out and return to her. Of course, you don’t have to do this if you don’t want to. It’s your life. For those of us who participate, she will prepare a laminated card with the information on it. Please keep these in your glove box or wallet so it will be easy to find in the event that you ever need medical attention during a club event.

Rich “the Wellness coordinator's husband” Reisz