- Educate yourself. Force yourself to break from your normal routine to learn more about the issue. Spend some time asking questions and chatting about it with family members, friends, fellow 4-wheelers, or local community leaders. Take an interest in others' experiences and opinions, then make up your own mind about the issue.
Try to stay up-to-date on action alerts, current legislation, and key votes that have recently taken place in Congress. You can even receive e-mail updates from the Blue Ribbon Coalition whenever issues arise that impact your favorite sports (4x4ing, ATVing, snowmobiling, etc.) in your local area.
- Pick one thing. Choose one small thing that pertains to the issue, and devote whatever you can to that one thing. Don't try to tackle the whole problem yourself, instead choose one small aspect that you are most comfortable with. There is only so much that one person can do. But, by picking just one small thing, you’ll be able to be more productive, while taking up less of your valuable time and energy.
- Pick up the phone. Call your elected representative and ask questions about the issue. Remember, they sought public service in order to help a community members get what they want. So they actually want to hear from you! Here's everything you want to know about who to contact and what to say, whether by phone, letter, or e-mail.
- Pick up a pen. Write an editorial letter to all the local newspapers in your area. The column exists for a reason... to allow local citizens to share their point of view. And you do have one, don't you? Best of all, the newspaper reaches literally thousands of people from your area at once! Keep in mind that a letter to the editor doesn't have to be long to be strong. In fact, the shorter the letter the more people will actually read it. Have at least two people proofread it for accuracy, grammar, and spelling, then submit it to all of your local newspapers, maybe even national ones too!
- Get involved. The best way to get involved on the local level is to join a 4-wheeling club. If one person can make a difference, just think of the power a few dozen people could make as a group!
If there's not a club in your area, then take the grassroots approach and start a club yourself. It's easy! If you know at least one other four-wheeler and the two of you are willing to share your thoughts, ideas, and time with other four-wheelers, then you’ll be surprised how quickly your small group will turn into a meaningful club with a purpose. Each state also has a "four wheel drive association" that can help you. They provide clubs with materials, information and expertise on how to fight and win battles with groups opposed to all forms of responsible off-road use.
- Be a role model and a leader. You don’t have to be a die-hard activist to make your point and to be an example to fellow four-wheelers. Simply by talking the talk and walking the walk, you will be influencing many more people who could ultimately make a difference... in their own way too!
As Gandhi said, "We must become the change we wish to see." If you want the problem to get better, rather than worse, then become a leader in the fight to protect our lands. Step up to the plate and make your point of view known, whenever you’re in the right place at the right time.
- Recruit one person. Find one friend or family member to jump on board and help you support the cause. They don't have to be a four-wheeler – if they like hiking, camping, hunting, fishing, birding, mountain biking, backpacking, nature photography, horseback riding, climbing, or any other recreational use of the public lands, then these closures affect them too! Encourage them to write or call their elected officials, and help them write their letters. Remind them how valuable their help would be and how one person can make a difference!
- Increase public awareness. For example, by adding a catchy phrase or quote that's meaningful to you into the tagline of your e-mails, or by slapping a bumper sticker on your vehicle, you'd be reminding others of the importance of this issue on a daily basis. Here are more simple ways to increase public awareness of the problem in your local area.
