Pigeon River & Beyond - Back Country Horsemen, Michigan

I wanted to start a place where we could all share ideas and network together on the promotion of our HB 4610 petition.  We need to do whatever we can do to get this circulated out to all concerned!  It needs to go out to all that would be concerned over losing access to more public lands in Michigan, equine or not.  I'll post my ideas on how we can all promote this petition, and I hope you will add to the list!  Some are "no brainers", but I'll post 'em any way.

Spread the word via emails and ask that it be forwarded on and on....

PLEASE make sure that your own reps know about this bill.  Call, write or send them a link to the bill/petition and ask them to support it...and to forward the email on to all in their address book.

Post a link to BCHMI & a link to the petition on all the forums (equine or outdoor websites).  Please include a link to this site so that they know what we are working towards and why.

Post notices about the petition directing them to go to BCHMI.org to sign it.

Add a link to the petition/site on your email signature so that it gets sent out on all your outgoing emails.  You can always remove the signature after the hearing.

Contact local news papers about the bill and let them know how fast this grassroots group is growing and what we are working towards.  Let them know that we are joining up under an impressive national group. Some papers will write something up for free. 

Post notices on bulletin boards, grocery stores, pet shops etc...

Call into talk radio shows, local or national and get the subject discussed!

People are talking nationally right now about Michigan's economy with all the troubles happening with the big 3 etc.  You could post on national forums about how an eight billion dollar industry is being driven out of Michigan at the worst possible time...post where ever Michigan's economy is being discussed or where politics might be the topic.

Print off our brochures (linked on "What you can do") and circulate them at feed stores etc.

Print off the paper petitions and circulate them.

This is all I have right now...I'll be thinking about this though....I hope you post your thoughts on this too!

How about contacting your local 4-H groups, FFA, FB offices, all the horse clubs in your area..... 

Bloggers could post away on this too!

It has already been put on these sites and I hand delivered a copy to our MSU Extension Office.

http://mihorsecommunity.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general

http://melmoderator.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=backup

http://kpcomputers.net/index.php?board=2.0

http://nmawhc.com/forum/index.php?board=6.0

http://michiganhorsechat.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=generalchat

It has also been sent to The Michigan Sheriff's Mounted Association and  everyone in My address book.

I have a friend who is going to take a folder of HB 4610 flyers; BCHMI flyers; Membership forms; and paper petitions,  from farm to farm in my area for those who do not have or use the internet.

I have a link to www.bchmi.org in my email signature and I've just added a link to the petition. 

I have posted a link on Chronicles of the Horse - Endurance & Trail Forum; Horse Trailer World - Camp forum; Michigan Horse Connection.

http://www.chronicleforums.com/Forum/

http://www.horsetrailerworld.com/forum/forum-view.asp?forumid=6

http://www.horsepage.com/board/wwwboard.html

I have emailed about 150 people who I know will send it on to many others.

Now, I have to follow up on some "writers" from local papers.

In promoting this, please let's not forget some key points.  We need to link the BCHMI.org site up when posting the petition.  This is like our home base, our billboard if you will, and we can post new messages here for all to see, alter things etc.  But it also lets folks know what and why we are fighting for this legislation and what we do!  So please include links to our site when posting!  They can't miss the bright red online petition once here! 

We can also grow our membership right now by sharing BCHMI.org, while promoting this petition and working towards getting this bill passed.  Let's not miss an opportunity here!  By growing our membership we are also strengthening our voice in Michigan to not only fight this fight, but future fights that will no doubt come down the road! 

Please let's also promote the hearing itself too!  Let's pack those rooms!!!! 

I also found that many legislators have NO clue that this bill even exists...please let's let them know about it and get them to back it, please!!!   Thanks everyone!!

Offer to exchange website links with appropriate websites!  Just send me a link to their website and I'll add them to our links page, as long as they are a website that is fitting for what our org is all about.

Hi last night I sent an email to every group that Saddle Up magazine had as a link.  Quite a few.  REcommending that they post it on their website and forward to there members.  4h groups and breed specific groups were included.  Another facebook link has been created...

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=53944087809&ref=ts#/group.php?gid=92529183848&ref=ts

Posted on http://allhorses.freelief.com/?p=3152

please tag the above website to link to... allhorses

I just sent an email to Broadway on B93 and asked him to forward it to the Morning Boys, so lets see what happens.

Broadway does Pray request at night.

And that is what we are doing Praying!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 ELK BAITING STORY!

http://www.upnorthlive.com/news/story.aspx?id=281555

Please take some time to read and comment online.

Here's a GRAND post among many on the Petition!

# 660:

7:19 pm PDT, Apr 1, Name not displayed, Michigan
As natural resource managers for a government agency, we are aware of the many challenges inherent in providing quality recreation experiences for diverse users. We respect site-specific decisions to restrict or prevent some uses in some places some of the time. In our career, equestrians have often been the most courteous, thoughtful, and dedicated trail riders, volunteering thousands of hours for trail maintenance and land stewardship. In particular, we laud the efforts of Backcountry Horsemen of America, who work tirelessly on behalf of many outdoor enthusiasts. By signing this petition, we wish to encourage MDNR to continue to seek ways to work WITH and not in spite of organizations that share your mission to care for the land.

WHO COULD IT BE!!

I applaud all that you have done.  Also you have given me a couple of new ideas. 

There are some sample letters under here:

http://www.bchmi.org/letterstotheeditor.htm

and write to legislators that introduced the bill; and the ones that are on the committee...  all the info is in this site. ::/ 

Promoting Right to Ride Petition: 

I haven't seen this mentioned yet.  Print up some petitions and ask your farrier if he or she would be willing to get signatures for us.  Our Farriers see lots of horse owners every day.  ..   I'm sure most would be willing. 

Can everyone who posted information about HB 4610 on forums & websites etc on the net, please update all those locations with the current informaiton on the May 5th hearing please?

Okie doke

Just put it on these Boards

http://mihorsecommunity.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=3627

http://michiganhorsechat.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=generalchat&thread=1779

http://melmoderator.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=backup&thread=1447

Well, just have some exciting news regarding our "Right to Ride" petition.  Today in the mail I received 20 signatures from the Bode's...THANK YOU SO MUCH!.....Adding these 20 names to what was just reported in our newsletter it now brings the total to 9,908!  That's only 92 away from our 10,000 mark...........!  Wow!!!!!!!

Can we get 92 more in just a week?  Wouldn't it be great to be able to turn in over 10,000 signatures at the Senate Hearing?   

We only need 10 more now to reach our goal initial goal of 10,000.  We will keep it going as long as needed....till it is signed into Law!  Please copy the petition and then when completed mail to me.

Thanks,

Connie

You all have given me some new ideas!  I will be going to Lansing this weekend for a bridal shower.  I believe my relatives will sign it if I wave it under their noses!