American Sand Association sponsored workshop on the Recreation Access Managment Plan for Glamis (Imp. Sand Dunes).

As you probably know, the BLM will soon release a comprehensive Recreation Area Management Plan (RAMP)for the Imperial Sand Dunes (Glamis) Recreation Area. It has the potential to change our sand sports forever. The courts and congress have put exceptional pressure on the BLM to fast track this issue. We need your help in orchestrating a strategic response to this RAMP. We'd like to invite you to attend a special workshop on April 5-7, 2002 in Ontario, CA, sponsored by the American Sand Association (ASA).

We realize that every organization will have different comments/responses to this plan. However, we'd also like to have a strategic set of responses that we could all agree to and use that would strengthen our basic objectives. We envision coming up with several key messages, bullet points and strategic comments that we would all incorporate into our individual organizational responses and share with our membership. We would hope these comments would encourage our individual members to also make comments on the plan. We are looking for a unified stance from all of us on key points and response comments; but certainly we recognize that we'll all have individual comments also.

At the workshop we would find those areas of agreement that we would all use and agree not to detract from in our comments. We believe this approach will provide a noticeable advantage to all our organizations. Essentially, by all of us saying the same thing, then adding our own additional comments, we offer a united voice on key messages that will be heard by the BLM and our elected representatives. We've all seen this effectively used by the anti-access folks over and over. It works. Now is the time for us to do the same.

The ASA Board of Directors believes this workshop is important enough that they are sponsoring the cost of the workshop and meeting room. However, after you RSVP with Del Albright and confirm your attendance, you would need to arrange your own transportation and lodging. We are asking that you reserve your lodging at the meeting hotel so we're all together (and we save a few bucks on the meeting room). Here's where we're staying and meeting:

Each organization is asked to send a couple folks who can speak for their group (we're thinking because of space limitations, two reps would be ideal, three would be ok if needed).

Each attendee is asked to read the RAMP before coming to the meeting so we can make the best use of our time.

Each person must make their own reservations. Ask for the ASA rate of $84.00 + tax (single or double) so we get credit on the meeting room. This rate includes a very good continental breakfast. We want an early, well rested start so we hope many folks will fly in Friday night. Free airport pick up is available, but you must call. We're suggesting a working lunch (pizza?) on Saturday and Sunday, and dinner at Cask & Cleaver, Marie Calendars or In&Out Burger that are all nearby. We'll have water, coffee & tea in the meeting room.

Directions to the hotel: in Ontario I-10 to Vineyard south; 3/8's of a mile on the right (across from the Doubletree)

The workshop would begin Friday night with an informal gathering (allowing for travel times). We plan to work hard all day Saturday and Sunday, then travel home Sunday night. We accept the fact that this might be a tough schedule to meet, but we are under the gun and this must be done right and thoroughly. We ask for your understanding in this task-oriented schedule.

The good news is that we will be working under the guidance of professional meeting facilitator and land use advocate, Del Albright. Del promises to not waste our time and to give us the product we need for this RAMP response. Feel free to visit Del's web site (www.delalbright.com) for more on his land use/access involvement and facilitation skills. It will be important for you to read the RAMP before our meeting so we can hit the ground running.

We are inviting several groups and organizations/clubs, but we're trying to keep the workshop manageable (30-35 folks). Because of our limited facilities and time frames, we're asking that each organziation send only its key representatives and/or decision-maker and not its general membership. All attendees need to RSVP with Del.

Please advise if you think there are other groups/persons we should invite.

Please contact Del with your RSVP (and if you have a suggestion) of who will be attending from your group/organization (e-mail:  jeepndel@goldrush.com). Or call Del at (209) 286-1009.

We look forward to your participation on this critical matter.