Here's the link and the letter. Just put in your name and Club and send it off. Thanks.

http://161.11.121.121/govemail

April 15, 2008

David A. Paterson
State Capitol
Albany, NY 12224

Dear Assemblyman/Senator:

As an avid snowmobiler and a member of the (NAME OF CLUB), I am writing to you to strongly urge your assistance in stopping the unprecedented attempt by the NYS Division of the Budget (DOB) and the Governor to sweep $1 million out of the snowmobile trail fund in the 2008 proposed state budget.

As you are aware, this money comes from the registration fees paid by snowmobilers and is desperately needed for maintaining and developing the statewide trail system. Trail maintenance is an ongoing process for my club and the other 206 snowmobile clubs throughout the state that make up the NYS Snowmobile Association (NYSSA). These clubs take on the responsibility and the financial obligation to maintain the trails throughout the year.

The sweep of this money undermines the credibility of the fund, violates a public trust and will devastate our ability to adequately and safely maintain the state trail system and consequently jeopardize the impact snowmobiling will have on the upstate winter economy. Furthermore, this money comes from snowmobilers who use the trail system and are willing to pay for its upkeep and development. My club, NYSSA and all snowmobilers strongly oppose their fees being redirected to the general fund.

On behalf of my club, NYSSA and all snowmobilers, I request that you reject this sweep of snowmobile funds by DOB in order to avoid a major blow to the snowmobile trail fund and to prevent setting a very dangerous precedent.

Sincerely,


Name

Thanks for posting the letter.

This not working for me !! It say that this in not a valid e mail address ??

Fella's let's hold off on the letters for now. Nobody wants to jump into this fracas as bad as I do but let's let the back door channels work at this a bit.

Nice letter and great idea but we need to get a focus on the future mission and use a procedure that is currently in place.

Please keep us informed on this. I'll gladly send an angry (but respectful) letter out!

This was copied off the NYSSA site.............

Guys- I appreciate your outrage, and the need to respond immediately, but NYSSA and our lobbyists have laid out a detailed response plan. The letter is being hand delivered to the governor's office as we speak. Please hold back on e-mailing the governor at this point, and focus on the club presidents letter to the legislators. If and when we need club member letters, believe me, you will know.

Suredoshine- please contact me directly to discuss how you can help with this effort- I do appreciate your willingness to step up- and want your efforts to be part of the coordinated strategy!

Mike

--------------------
NYSSA President

I think that there are a couple of changes that should made to this letter.

1. They are not attempting to take the 1 mil, they have allready taken it.

2. Where it says upstate winter economy, should be state winter economy.

Per Mike Fischer's post on the NYSSA site, please do not send letters/e-mails/faxes at this point. A letter from Mike, through our lobbyists and media strategist was hand delivered to the governor today. Additionally, every club president received a letter today to send to their assemblymen/women and senators-please make sure your club officers act on this NOW while the houses are in session. Next step will be a coordinated response from the membership. 65,000 guns all aimed one direction will be great, 65,000 guns aimed all different directions will hurt more than it helps. I understand your outrage. Mike and I share your outrage, we can help make this happen-that's what we pay the lobbyist and media strategist for.

Gary Broderick
Vice-President, NYSSA

I got a copy today of a petition that supports the return of the million dollars that was taken from the snowmobile trail fund. I am attaching it for your use. I will be gathering my own signatures and sending the petition to the address at the bottom of the form.

Can you attach that as a PDF? It doesn't print well in its present format.
I'll get as many people from Southern New Jersey to sign them as I can... It might help to let Albany know there is plenty of out of state revenue at stake for them to loose as well.

If you want to, go ahead and get your petitions ready, but please, don't send them in yet. We don't want to inundate the governor's office yet. This was a Spitzer-ism that the new guv inherited and I doubt he even knew about it. A letter was hand delivered to the governor from the President of NYSSA, every club president received a formatted letters for their assemblycritters and senators and are sending them in. We have many key legislators from both sides of the aisle on our side and are gaining more everyday. Shortly, we weill be asking for letters from our membership. The lobbyist and the media strategist are the best in Albany and have said this is the course we need to follow to get our money back and prevent this from happening next year.

I read this particular guy's letter attached to the petition-he's got many facts wrongs-including snowmobiler's in New York State being vehemently against SRRA and hinted that it was forced by Albany-which it was not-we requested it.

Again, 65,000 members guns being pointed in every direction is useless and will get some of us shot-65,000 members guns pointed in one direction will make a point, but we are not there yet. Iw ill post more as we get more from the professionals.

Gary Broderick
Vice-President, NYSSA

Gary being from out of state I’m not a active club member however I do believe in a chain of command and how important that is.
I ask those that are trying to jump the gun by sending in petitions to wait and let those that are active and at the top of the chain do their jobs.
When they are ready they will advise us and we can and will send in petitions.
Thanks for all your good work and keeping us informed.

We are working to correct his 'facts' on the registration, but we commend his quick response to get the ball rolling. In our area we are focusing on Mary Lou Rath for senate support.

Jump the gun?

You do realize I'm from Jersey right? The Governer is lucky we're not all in Albany now camping out on Empire Plaza.

Got a copy of a letter submitted by the senate leadership to the governor saying give the snowmobile money back. We're moving in the right direction.

I wouldn’t brag that “your from Jersey” with the Governor you got.
Doing away with the death penalty, health benefits to same sex partners ect.

If I were you I’d be marching to Trenton. LOL

Here if a pdf version of the petition.Click to view attachment

WE PAID for these !!!...The elected politicos ruined, mismanaged and backrupted OUR (NY<NJ) States..into oblivion, and we are left with very few options.
New Jersey Parks Now Closed for Business

Budget Cuts Force Closure of Popular Parks, Swimming and Camping AreasNine state parks are slated for closure due to cuts in the NJ Governor’s budget. Camping, fishing, swimming and kids programs threatened. ATV's ?..you jest!..ByeBye. Whats left of Snowmobile trails in the Winter will be closed. Period.

Camp Out at the Capitol!!!!

So this is how we roll in Joisy... http://www.njkeepitgreen.org/

Out of State letter to the Governor can be found at http://nyssnowassoc.org/actionalert.shtml#letters

Sorry for the delay. Please pass the word!

Gary

I emailed the gov and also posted this on another sled site

AB