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Access Update
By Andy Nelson, Co-chair R&P Committee
The Access Committee started 2016 with a variety of new initiatives and existing projects with many new members joining the committee. Much of this work is encompassed in our goals for this year, which can be broken down into three main areas.
Communication
The work of the Access Committee has grown tremendously in the last few years. In an effort to keep the membership aware of what we are up to, we have decided to focus on how we communicate to the broader association. Keep an eye out for social media posts, webinars, and other great ways to find out what the Access Committee is doing throughout the year leading up to Minneapolis. We will also use these opportunities to alert you to important issues and crucial matters that impact public land access for member programs.
Advocacy
It seems like as the AORE continues to grow, so does the potential for the association to connect with a larger community of outdoor recreation and education groups, organizations, companies, and land management agencies. This provides a unique environment where we can advocate for our member programs while identifying the common ground we share with those in our wider outdoor and conservation community. Members of the Access Committee have traveled to various conferences and meetings to increase awareness of the AORE. Likewise, several of our members in addition to the Executive Director have the awesome privilege of sitting on various advisory committees and working groups. With all of this happening in many places, with many faces – the Committee has decided to really focus in on how we can best centralize the advocacy work so that we can utilize these opportunities to the fullest potential. Ultimately we believe this will benefit all AORE members and member programs.
Education
Central to the mission of the Access Committee is helping members gain authorized and reasonable access to public lands and waterways. To achieve this, the Committee is continuing to provide resources on the website for AORE members to use in inquiring about and seeking authorized access to public lands and waters. If you haven’t check this out yet – head to the Organization Member Portal on the AORE website. There you can find the Access and Permitting Member Toolkit. This resource was designed to aid AORE members in the area of access to federal and state lands. Here you will find best practices, tips on inquiring about permits, a glossary of useful terms, and more! Additionally, we are busy planning a few presentations for the annual conference. We had a great session last year that we are hoping to recreate that engages both the membership and local stakeholders such as conservation organizations and public land managers.
Don’t hesitate to contact the Committee with things you would like to share in regards to public land access. We always like to know what successes and challenges you’re experiencing so we can effectively share your story when the time comes. Also, feel free to give us a shout with your access and permitting questions!
Advocacy and Education for AORE
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