We fourwheelers need to take a pro-active approach to improving our public image and fighting for access to public land. An excellent example of this philosophy is the Sumas Mountain trail clean-up that took place on May 31, 2003. The clean-up was organized by two BC4x4 message board members: Allison Swartzenberger (aka Whizzette) and Jared Taylor (aka Belize). They were angry about how much garbage was accumulating on the mountain and decided to do something about it. They contacted the Fraser Valley Regional District (FVRD) staff to get an okay and support to put on the clean-up; and local businesses to get supplies and draw prizes. The esult was a group of 50 volunteers who managed to collect enough garbage to fill up one and a half industrial garbage dumpsters. (Most of the garbage, by the way, was apparently dumped by locals who were too cheap or lazy to haul their junk to the disposal site.)

In the process, they also got two local papers to write about the clean-up, thereby helping improve the image of fourwheelers. They also made a good impression with the FVRD staff and hopefully that goodwill can be preserved.

The two newspaper articles are available at these websites (I don't know how long they'll be available):

Abbotsford Times
Abbotsford News

Neither Jared nor Allison have any experience in organizing events like this. They just decided to do something and they did it. That's all it takes. Fourwheelers have the ability to help themselves! We just need to get off their collective asses and do it! Thanks to Allison and Jared for this lesson. Who's going to go next?

Appliances...	a boat...	tractor tires...
and lots of other garbage.	The FVRD staff showed up with their pickup trucks to help haul the garbage.	Allison (Whizzette) manning the BBQ.
Jared (Belize).	After a much-deserved hotdog feast, prizes were awarded.

A big round of thanks and applause goes to the following groups:

Prize Donations

• KMS Tools
• Lordco
• Prospera Credit Union
• Valhalla Pure

Food and Other Donations

• Funk's Supermarket (hot dog buns, condiments and pop)
• The Mad Butcher (hot dogs)
• Tim Hortons (muffins)
• City of Abbotsford (garbage sticks and bags)

Participation and Support

• Doug Wilson and the local FVRD Staff
• All the fourwheelers who showed up to help out!

Thanks for your help!

...lars

Thanks to Lisa Gibbs for some of the photos!