Time to Stop Talking, Time to Start Acting!

[Laser4G63]

I would be more than willing to sign this petition. Is there some sort of online petition site that can be used? I see them all the time for political stuff, why couldn't one be used for this?

[c0nsumer]

I would be more than willing to sign this petition. Is there some sort of online petition site that can be used? I see them all the time for political stuff, why couldn't one be used for this?

Online petitions are useless because they can't be tracked back to real signatures. They are little more than feel-good measures and shows of force. Having a real, physical signature is the way to go.

[bender13]

I would be more than willing to sign this petition. Is there some sort of online petition site that can be used? I see them all the time for political stuff, why couldn't one be used for this?

Print out a copy, sign it, have a few friends sign it and mail it into the OP.

Jeff

[J.knight]

I did not perceive anything negative towards imba from jajones post. That came from another poster.

You're correct. I seemed to have been responding to the first two posts, rather then just Jason's.

I hindsight, a petition probably is a good idea. My initial response to petitions seems to developed into "Geez, another petition for something else?", because they seemed to have become overused and misused. I think I've realize that this is something that the MMBA/IMBA Chapters should get behind, and try to get move people aware of . I see NO harm in trying to as many signatures as we can.

My one suggestion would be that we need to have an address/location to send these too now, and it needs to be on the form. Otherwise, some people with petitions will never hear about where to send them, and they'll never be returned. With an address included, copies that into 'the wild' will still be returned.

Oh, and every page needs to have the text at the top. You can't have pages of just signatures, because there is no proof they were signing THIS petition.

Nick,
I'm sure you were commenting on my post regarding the leadership of the MMBA/IMBA. Maybe my comment was a little harsh, but when I am told, by what I think is an elected MMBA official, that the MMBA is too busy to to work on advocacy, it makes me wonder WTF she is doing. I recognize everyone is a unpaid volunteer, but if you run for a position in a mountain bike advocacy group, and are elected, I think it is your duty to work on advocacy. I'm sure if I or someone else got this petition going unilaterally, the leadership would have felt their toes were being stepped on.

This bill is the biggest threat to the MTB community since the early 1990's. But our leaders are too busy... Again, WTF
From my perspective the MMBA has been pretty passive, and IMBA has been invisible. Now is the time to rally the troops. Call out the National leadership. Do they have an official position on this bill? I guess they do, but you wouldn't know it by looking at their website. Why are we partnered up with them? This is a serious issue and it needs to be addressed. MMBA leadership needs to hold IMBA's feet to the fire on this and demand help. We don't need to play nice and make friends. We are paying them, they work for us.

Protecting our rights to trails and aquiring use of more public space needs to be priority one for MMBA. Racing, picnics, group rides etc can be handled when priority one is taken care of.

[ibike]

Oh, and every page needs to have the text at the top. You can't have pages of just signatures, because there is no proof they were signing THIS petition.

Are you sure about this? If so, then we need to modify the petition form that was posted. Can you confirm this information please?

[utabintarbo]

Oh, and every page needs to have the text at the top. You can't have pages of just signatures, because there is no proof they were signing THIS petition.

Are you sure about this? If so, then we need to modify the petition form that was posted. Can you confirm this information please?

As this is not an "official" (as in one that went through the Board of Canvassers) petition form, there are no "rules" that apply. However, this is simply a common sense observation that would likely enhance the credibility of the collected signatures as well as the organization collecting them.

[jajones]

While it can't hurt to have the text at the top of every page, I think for our purposes it isn't a huge deal. Why? We are using it simply as a matter of moral suasion or influence to show politicians our opposition to a Bill. We aren't legally canvassing to say, collect signatures to put someone on a ballot or recall an official. We aren't going to a court of law with this thing. I doubt a legislator is going to look at it and invalidate the statement that he being made because he doubts the signatories were signing for the intended purpose.

[edhawk]

I am in. Printed a copy and will get signatures.Thanks for taking the time, initiative and involvement in this issue.

[balexander87]

Just dropped a copy of the petition off with the LBS. Thanks, jajones, for getting us going on this. Is there a date in mind when we need to have all signed copies to you?