MAFWDA Selects 2014 Club of the Year

During the 2013 MAFWDA Annual Convention the Board of Directors and Association Club Delegates selected MAFWDA Club of the Year. For 2014 Capital Off Road Enthusiasts, Inc. (CORE) was selected for that honor. CORE has completed another year as a model fourwheel drive organization demonstrating the best of what our sport and people have to offer.

Please congratulate CORE for its great accomplishments in 2014.

Larry Pope MAFWDA President presents Fred Granruth 2015 Club of Year award.

During the 2013 MAFWDA Annual Convention the Board of Directors and Association Club Delegates selected MAFWDA Club of the Year. For 2014 Capital Off Road Enthusiasts, Inc. (CORE) was selected for that honor. CORE has completed another year as a model fourwheel drive organization demonstrating the best of what our sport and people have to offer.

Please congratulate CORE for its great accomplishments in 2014.

2014 CLUB ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

I hereby nominate Capital Off Road Enthusiasts, Inc (CORE) for the Middle Atlantic Four Wheel Drive Association’s Club of the Year. The year 2014 has been a year of growth for CORE in every aspect of its membership, including off-road activities, membership numbers, and participation. CORE has rededicated itself to providing numerous activities and benefits for its members to help build an active and dedicated membership and to use that membership to contribute to, and in the promotion of, recreational four-wheel driving. A major benefit of this renewed energy is apparent in the participation and contributions CORE has been able to make to the Middle Atlantic Four Wheel Drive Association.

CORE recognizes the importance of participation in our regional association and the benefits that can be achieved by working together to further our sport. They have continually stepped up to the plate when it comes to filling membership roles within the organization. Currently, three of the five board members of MAFWDA are CORE members. Larry Pope is the President of MAFWDA, Bob Weaver is the Vice President, and Michael Vincenty is the Secretary. CORE members are enthusiastic about filling these positions and understand that without active participation we cannot achieve a strong voice in matters of land use and access.

Another important aspect of participation is taking part in MAFWDA meetings and activities. CORE members have eagerly attended trail rides, meetings, and volunteering opportunities hosted by MAFWDA. On February 14-16, MAFWDA hosted their annual Valentine’s Weekend Snow Run. Six CORE members attended along with four additional guests. On August 8-10, CORE members attended the Potomac State Forest volunteer weekend and helped clear trails within the forest. These volunteer events are essential in maintaining positive relationships with forest managers and are important efforts in conservation. CORE members also manned the MAFWDA booth at the PA Jeeps show which is a valuable event in the promotion and growth of the association. Additionally, several CORE members plan to attend the annual MAFWDA meeting in November including the three board members and several other members. Attendance at these trail rides, meetings, and volunteering efforts are integral in maintaining a strong and influential regional association.

One of the most influential forms of outreach that a club can participate in is by contributing material to websites, newsletters, and other publications. These publications help build a wealth of information for others, facilitate the promotion of the association to interested parties, and provides a voice to demonstrate our community’s dedication to positive land use activities and conservation. CORE members have made numerous contributions to MAFWDA publications as well as many other national and international publications again this year. CORE member Michael Vincenty runs, writes, and publishes both the MAFWDA website and the newsletter, Recovery Points. CORE contributed their Black Friday Run trail report to the January issue of Recovery Points. They also contributed their Valentine’s Weekend Snow Run trail report to the April issue of Recovery Points. CORE was featured in United’s May issue of The Voice in an article about the Valentine’s Weekend Snow Run trip report as well as our MAFWDA Club of the Year write-up. CORE was also featured in Rec Rider magazine several times this year, including our MAFWDA Club of the Year write-up in the February issue, our MAFWDA Valentine’s Weekend Snow Run trail report in the April issue, and our AOAA trip report in the August issue.

One of the benefits of joining an association is the connections and opportunities that arise from participating in each other’s events. This year CORE had several members attend the PA Jeeps Show in July. As mentioned before, three members volunteered to man the MAFWDA booth. In addition, three members volunteered to man the CORE booth at the show, and two other members attended in support of the event. Another event that CORE actively participated in was the EVOR Wheelin’ 4 Wishes ride in October. Four CORE members were signed up to participate, although due to last minute complications only three were able to attend. These events help foster the relationships between the association member’s clubs and contribute to the growth of organized events.

Oftentimes the off-roading community gets a bad reputation for being destructive and careless in their interactions with nature and public lands. Clubs and associations like CORE and MAFWDA strive to alter these unfortunate opinions by respecting the environment and participating in positive land use activities, conservation efforts, and philanthropic campaigns. CORE is committed to responsible four-wheel drive activities. Participating in and supporting civic activities for the betterment of the community is at the core of its mission. In regards to positive land use activities, CORE has joined the Maryland Off Highway Vehicle Alliance which includes financially supporting them to “advocate for and represent off-highway vehicle interests in Maryland.” Conservation efforts include several weekends of volunteering in local state forests clearing trails. In May, seven members volunteered in Green Ridge State Forest and helped plant over 500 saplings and around 20 small trees in coordination with the FJ Bruisers club. In August, two members attended the MAFWDA Potomac State Forest volunteer weekend and helped to clear trails and fire roads. This included clearing snowmobile trails that would have either required the State Forest to clear them or forced them to close those trails for the upcoming snowmobile season. And in August, six members and three guests volunteered in Green Ridge State Forest to help cut back brush, trees, and other overgrowth that was limiting access to a campsite in the forest. These volunteer efforts show our community’s dedication to conservation efforts and help build relationships with the state forest managers that may lead to future use of currently closed trails. CORE has also participated in several philanthropic campaigns to raise money for various causes and help foster a positive view of the off-roading community. These included participation in Wheelin’ 4 Hope in April. Seven members and two guests attended and helped raise money for the American Cancer Society via the Relay for Life team of Nelson, Virginia. Three members also participated in EVOR’s Wheelin’ 4 Wishes whose proceeds went to the Make a Wish Foundation.

CORE has shown incredible growth in the year 2014, adding several new members and attracting many guests currently seeking membership. They have hosted at least one trial ride per month including several volunteer weekends and have many more planned through the end of the year. These included several exploratory runs to provide information to other members and clubs for future trail rides. They have maintained an active online presence though their website and social media. This increased activity and growth is not only beneficial to CORE itself, but also to the associations like MAFWDA that CORE is a part of. CORE has provided an active and enthusiastic membership to participate in events, volunteer in positive land use activities, and leadership positions. CORE was awarded the honor of being MAFWDA’s Club of the Year in 2013 and over the past year they have only increased their dedication to and participation in the association. They have repeatedly shown their commitment to responsible four-wheeling and look forward to the future growth and promotion of the off-roading community.

Andrew and Cherie Taylor