Pigeon River & Beyond - Back Country Horsemen, Michigan

I cannot take credit for this.  But, this is a suggested Letter to the Editor that anyone can copy and send to their local newspaper.  My understanding is to keep it under 200 words. This one is under 160.

To the editor:
During the past decade, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources has initiated a policy of discrimination regarding equine access to public trails in the Pigeon River Country.
These trails are highly valued by trail horse enthusiasts, many of whom would be unable to enjoy the area were they unable to do so on horseback.
Horses, in addition to being an excellent mode of non-motorized transportation, are an $8 billion industry in Michigan. Trail enthusiasts boost local rural economies by purchasing supplies in pursuit of their hobby. By eliminating these on land paid for by tax dollars, the DNR is cutting out a much-needed source of income for local businesses.
The Right to Ride bill has been introduced by state Rep. Tim Moore and would open these trails to horse riders. The Tourism, Outdoor Recreation and Natural Resources Committee will consider the bill on April 28. Please write your lawmakers and urge them to support H.R. 4610.

I sent my letter to Midland Daily News and I did get an electronic receipt.

Hopefully it'll be in Monday or Tuesday's paper. 

I also submitted it to Bay City Times online, hopefully it'll be in the newsprint as well.

here is acopy of a letter I wrote to to the editor of our local newspaper, it was printed in it's entirity, just change the rep's names to reflect your area and it should be good to go.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR:

A BIG THANK YOU TO REPRESENTATIVE KENNETH KURTZ

I want to publicly thank Rep. Kurtz for his co-introduction of House Bill 4610 into Committee.  This bill is informally referred to as the “RIGHT TO RIDE BILL”.  The hearing for this bill will be held by The Tourism, Outdoor Recreation & Natural Resources committee, chaired by Rep. Joel Sheltrown, on APRIL 28, 2009, 10:30 A.M.  Room 521, in the Anderson House Office Building, 124 N. Capitol, Lansing, Mi.

Rep. Kurtz worked with seven other representatives to get this bill introduced into Committee.  The work of this group of representatives along with the support of the other members of the House of Representatives will help to change restrictive rules that have severely curtailed the Horseback Trail Riding opportunities in our beautiful State Forest Lands.

A small group of trail riders has been working together diligently for over 18 months to regain access to horse camps and trails that were closed by the DNR.   They recently formed a new organization called PIGEON RIVER & BEYOND, BACK COUNTRY HORSEMEN OF MICHIGAN, which is an affiliate of BACK COUNTRY HORSEMEN OF AMERICA.  The name Pigeon River and Beyond was chosen by this group because the Pigeon River Country Forest was where the camp and trail closures began for this group,  the Beyond part of the name recognizes any and all other places where trail riding opportunities are threatened in Michigan.

Pigeon River & Beyond Back Country Horsemen of Mi are strongly encouraging all horsemen and horsewomen of Michigan to come to the House Building on April 28, to show support for this bill, they are encouraged to wear their western wear and hats so the Committee will recognize them as Trail Riders in support of the passage of this bill.  For more information and the complete wording of House Bill 4610 go to www.bchmi.org

THANK YOU AGAIN REP. KURTZ FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THE HORSEBACK RIDING COMMUNITIES OF BRANCH & HILLSDALE COUNTIES.

Marieta Davis

9642 Long Lake Rd

Montgomery, Mi 49255

517 296 4475

Hi prbmi folks,  I just got an e-mail from the editor of the Coldwater Daily Reporter, my letter of information and thank you to Rep. Kurtz has been published in the Quincy, Mi weekly paper and will be in the Saturday Coldwater Daily Reporter.  It was published in The Hillsdale Daily News this week on Tuesday.  That completes the newspapers in our and Rep. Kurtz's districts, they have all published or will publish the letter.  Please send it on to your Rep's, just change the name to reflect your man, you have my permission to reproduce it.  The more we get this news out to the public, the more we will grow and the bigger the chance of our bill getting passed.

Thanks and  Happy Trails,  Marieta

Sorry the above letter should state  Please send it on to your Newspapers  (not Rep's)  Marieta

Yep. Good Work. I was published in a small newspaper:

http://viewnewspapers.net/moxie/news/letters/letters-to-the-editor-042.shtml

Here's some more samples that you can use!!

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

Remember to personalize it.  and give your name, city, state.