A Legislative Warning

 The following was stitched together by the editor from 2 e-mails.  It comes from a Board member who was in attendance (on official business, thus s/he remains anonymous).  The story illustrates a) how the Idaho Legislature really works (good) and b) how just about anybody can assert just about anything and almost make it a law (bad)!

Boat Registration Bill Killed
Proposed House RS10892 was sent back to the sponsor effectively killing the bill for this year. This proposal would have required the annual registration of all vessels in Idaho. This could and probably does include float boats (rafts, kayaks, drift boats, catarafts, and inflatables). Our member-observer had the privilege of watching the committee in action.  Happily, from the reactions of some of the committee members to statements made by the sponsors, the proposal was in trouble early on.
One of the sponsors quoted a BSU study that stated that there were over 100,000 float boats in the state.  When asked what the fiscal impact of registering all of these vessels would be on the Department of Parks and Recreation, the committee was told it would be negligible. [Well, if one figured 15 minutes to do the paper work, receipt the money to register each boat (you get a sticker for each boat), that would calculate out to 25,000 man-hours of work for someone.] Some negligible impact. Also, no section of the proposal dictated what be done with the money. Without that section Parks and Recreation could be allowed to do as they wish with the money.  Even at a cheap(?!) $10 per boat, it does add up quickly.
The bill was sponsored by a Connie Morgan and Richard Vaughn of the Western
White Water Association, a jet boaters group. Mr. Vaughn stated that their association voted to approve and sponsor the legislation. But, other members of the Western White Water Assn. (that the observer knew personally) said that was not true.
When asked if they had approached any of the non-motorized floaters about
the proposal, the sponsors only mentioned someone in Lewiston (whose name was missed) who is the supposed "spokesman" for non-motorized whitewater enthusiasts in the state.  Whoever it was, he said his group would not support the proposal.

The observer’s editorial comments
We already have to pay BLM to float the Payette and the Forest Service to float the Middle Fork, Selway, Main Salmon, or Hells Canyon (not to mention the Lottery you have to go through first). He thought the Snake over by Jackson Hole had a fee system also. On top of all of this, now we have to pay registration fee to the state of Idaho?  For what? They don't even control the access to any of the rivers or at least most of them that he floated.
This whole proposal was probably a Parks and Recreation invention that they conned someone else into sponsoring, because they were afraid to do it themselves.
This is an idea which surfaces about every year. Telling your legislators it is a bad idea should be an objective of anyone who boats.  While the jet boaters are licensed, if you own 2 or 3 boats, the proposed fees for the muscle powered craft could exceed the costs of the gas driven boaters.

Les Bechdel rescue courses announced:

For those of us who missed the February meeting or wish to have the hands-on experience his course gives, Les Bechdel will be offering two river rescue courses in McCall:  May 12 - 13 and May 19 - 20.  No experience is necessary and it is open to all rafters, kayakers and canoeists.  He will be covering much of the information found in his book, RIVER RESCUE.  The cost is $150 per person, plus tax.  Contact him at:  info@canyonsinc.com or toll free at 888-634-2600.  The courses are starting to fill and reservations are necessary.  MC and VISA accepted.

 Cascade FREE FOOD! Meeting

  Cascade Outfitters/Maravia generously agreed to co-host the March 7 meeting with one of our most popular programs:  FREE FOOD.  We had over 40 attendees and a full belly was had by all.
Ron Abramovitz, USDA Natural Resources, the snow survey guy, shared the bad news for the Northwest.  Basically the Columbia basin (and all of Idaho) is about 50% of normal.  The high snowpack is south of Boise, but at 70-80% of normal.  He opined a lack of the usual high water, overall lower flows, and unfilled reservoirs, but as modified by the spring weather.  As of the beginning of March, there was less than a 10% chance of catching up.
 Kudos to the following:  Denny Mooney and Gary Stott of Cascade for hosting; Ron Abramovitz for his bad news; Food gathering: Pres. Ax Yewer and Bd. Mem. Janet Stone; Food Prep: Bd. Mems. Janet Stone, Jeri Rose, Mike Cooper; Food Assembly @ Cascade: Janet Stone, Jeri Rose, Mike Cooper; Chief DO honcho, new member Wayne Howard; mystery thanks: the couple who made the meat lasagna and the guy with the curry chicken (which was not too hot!).
 Our thanks to everybody who came, helped or ate (and joined).

The Annual Thanks Award to Our Most Frequent Supporters

 Once again the Association thanks our most frequent supporters, Idaho River Sports in Hyde Park.  Jo Cassin and Stan Colby always go the extra rapid with and for us.  Recently they hosted the Christmas Party (with numerous great prizes and the nutty gift exchange); Les Bechdel of Canyons, Inc. on river rescue and Pete Zimowski of the Statesman on the Middle Fork after the fires.  And, again this year, they will be open and have secured the (not) Lucky 13 parking lot for the Used Equipment Sale.

UPCOMING EVENTS--

Next Meeting:
Annual Membership Fest
at AIRE
Door prizes. Food.  Raffle. Puncture. Business.

APRIL 4th @ 6PM.
 AIRE, long time supporters and local manufacturers of fine whitewater craft, are again hosting the Annual Meeting. There will be a plant tour and slides of the craft in places you wish you were (or not!). [A mystery guest may also speak, but no full bore commitment as of publication.] Their usual excellent amenities, the really long sandwich, chips and punch, will please all.
And there will be freebies, door prizes, and a raffle for a boat.  Each attending member will receive a free raffle ticket and, of course, all non-members are encouraged to join (and get a free raffle ticket). The donation of a boat to the Association for fund raising purposes is, as always, deeply appreciated.
Alan Hamilton has promised to demonstrate the ease of repairability of the AIRECELL technology.  The omission of this annual highlight last year is restored by popular demand.
[Directions:  from Chinden Blvd. in Garden City, turn south on 33rd. Drive to the end of the block, AIRE is the gray building on the right, 110 33rd.]
Let’s have a good turnout, and show them our support and thanks.

Idaho River Sports Film Fest (OK, just one film)
 Teva and Idaho River Sports are presenting a kayaking extravaganza featuring Willie and John Kern at the premier showing of Liquid Lifestyle 3.  Waterfalls, oceans, big waves!
Where:  IRS in Hyde Park
When:  March 27 @ 7PM
And:  Refreshments and snacks provided.
How:  Donations to Idaho Rivers United will be appreciated.
Idaho Rivers United and Idaho Whitewater Association new and renewal memberships won’t be hit up for donation and receive effusive thanks.  Heck, join both and get extra food.

IWA Used Equipment Sale
 Set for May 5th, we need volunteers for our annual biggest fundraiser. Besides the fun day itself, this also means the data input party to get the info into the database and the checks out to everybody.  Please volunteer at the meeting.
 This is our last major event before the boating season hiatus, however much boating we get to do.

The National Paddling Film Festival
The 18th annual National Paddling Film Festival is coming to Boise on Saturday May 5th at the Basque Center brought to you by Idaho Rivers United.
The Festival highlights people powered watercraft in a world class collection of whitewater and boating films.  We will span the globe with
videos from the serene to the extreme.
Tickets are $10, available at the door.
Doors open at 6:30, with the festival beginning at 8:00.
There will be door prizes.
All proceeds will benefit Idaho Rivers United.
For information, please call Dan at 343-7481.

Shameless Plug for Our Great Local Supporters

You will notice 3 local businesses named in this Newsletter:  AIRE, Cascade and Idaho River Sports.  These are local businesses that understand supporting private, volunteer organizations with common goals is part and parcel of their businesses.  Their support goes well beyond hosting or donating to us.  Eat their free food, then go back and get that boat or piece of gear you need for the next season.  Thanks for your support.

IWA Business Stuff!
Revised! All New!
The IWA Computer-
After considerable thought, deliberation, and comparison shopping, the IWA board authorized the purchase of a computer system to better maintain and carry out the organization’s functions.  The organization has purchased a Micron Pentium PC and HP printer, which will allow us to keep all of our membership listings, financial records and organizational minutes in one place.  Moreover, we are now experimenting with the finer details of printing the Newsletter in-house, at a considerable savings. (This is out first try…any Word guru is invited to volunteer their knowledge in putting out this more or less monthly missive.)
 

No phone, just e-mail
You will note the lack of a phone number on the masthead.  We were paying for a phone line that very few people called.  Coupled with the monthly cost for local and long distance, Newsletter Editor Dan Skinner arranged communications the new way:  via e-mail-- (idahowhitewater@hotmail.com).
This is an experiment.  All e-mails received will be shared with the Board.  It is the first step to a web page.
 [Technical stuff:  If you have something to share (river stories, recipes, letters, for sale, etc.)with the membership and wish to see it in the Newsletter, please e-mail us.  However, do not send an attachment, rather, send the information, request, query, etc., in the body of the e-mail.  Instead of not being able to open an attachment or not being able to translate it, if it’s in the body of an e-mail, we can keep it electronically and put it into the newsletter much easier.]

Newsletter by e-mail? 
Tell us.
In another cost cutting measure, and as an effort to stay up with the digital age and expand on the potential of the internet, we’ll explore providing the Newsletter via e-mail to those who may so choose to get the Newsletter in this fashion.  Please answer the application and survey questions, as applicable, if it’ll be as easy for you to get this over the Net instead of through the U. S. Mails.

More communications, maybe
And along with the e-mail address, we’re exploring use of a timely, e-mail notice type system that may be coupled with an organization web site.  This member-maintained notification potential could alert boaters and other river users via e-mail warnings about recently discovered river hazards (e.g., strainers, new/changed rapids, access concerns and/or problems, etc.).
Life’s a little nicer when you’ve been forewarned about what’s just around the corner.  Please let the board know of your thoughts on this concept. And if you have the computer expertise to assist, suggest, direct, this project, tell us…we need someone with more of a Web background than is presently available on the Board.

Membership
 Along with the new system is a new database for our membership.  We have been using a 2(?), 4(?) year old mailing list holding us prisoner because of its inflexibility.  Using an integrated system on the new
computer, the new data will be maintained is usable form.  As before, failure to pay dues will result in being dropped from the membership list and newsletter.
A new membership application is on the cover requesting fuller information.
And, again, a final threat:  save and excepting founding member subscriptions, the Association will purge the mailing list after this Newsletter.  You won’t know the when or where of the meetings, when we do the free food, and your other friends who did cough up $15 will shun you.

Board Elections
 Only current members are eligible to vote, but you can become current by showing up at AIRE in April and forking over the tolerable dues of $15.
To our chagrin, we discovered the By-Laws dictate election of the Board and the Board appointing officers for the upcoming year.  We will select a new slate of board members who will appoint, select, or, of course, you can volunteer for the 4 leadership slots:  President Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
 The 8 or 9 per year monthly meetings are generally held at Louie’s in downtown Boise.
 
Board Supports Amendment of
By-Laws
 Currently the membership is authorized to amend the by-laws.  Since there is but one annual meeting, this approach is unwieldy and unresponsive.  At the Board Meeting of March 14th, the Board unanimously agreed to present the membership with a proposal to amend the by-laws by delegating amendment authority to the Board.  We’ll be voting on it at the AIRE meeting..
 
 

Columns we’ll run on a if there is an interest in ‘em:
For Sale
I Want/Need
Guess What I Found (yes, river booty)
Did You See (yes, some people rip others off)
I need/have a ride (to/from)
See also:  Letters to the Editor
And, yes, your river trip articles, recipes, observations, can all be published…just send ‘em in to the new e-mail  address or to the editor:
idahowhitewater@hotmail.com or
lattaslaw@home.com

 If you really know Word and/or Publisher, know how to add pictures, borders, like public contact, and are interested in putting together the Newsletter (i. e., make this better), call the editors, Bill Latta, 344.9443 (lattaslaw@home.com) or Dan Skinner 343-7481 (dskinner@idahorivers.org).  We’ll take the help. [Note the lack of the usual IWA logo?  We though it better to get the word out now and the logo in later…we really do need the help. Ed.]

And now, a real filler:  the Dutch Oven Enchilada Recipe
(for 12” DO)
Cook together 2 lbs. of skinned, cubed chicken breast w/ 1 med. onion. Drain off liquid.
1 can of red or green enchilada sauce, 1 can of chilies, 1 small can of olives, 1 lb. each jack and cheddar cheese, grated. Flour tortillas.
Layers:
Grease inside of oven w/ olive oil.
Tortilla, 1/3 of:  chilis, sauce, olives, cheese; repeat for 3 layers.
Cook: 6-8 briquettes on bottom, 15-20 on top.  15-20 Min cook time, let stand 10.