How are things going with the Washington beach effort ?

Will we at least be able to hold NAPKA events there again this year or are the councils still reworking the bi-laws?

It looks like I need to travel almost as far for snow as hardpack beach these days so ...... ?

I have some bad news. Maybe not for washington, but the snowy plover blight is moving north. I have heard through the grape vine that sometime in the near they will be banning kites, horses, dogs, and other such activities in manzanita BUT below the campground. Below the camp ground is a nice 2.5 mi stretch of solitude. Major bummer, but the best riding is up north by town. I need to find an authoritative source on this. I imagine that this will be a harder sell for sunset beach as it's a highway, but...

The last word is, the wonderful governor of Washington State cut all the programs that was making money and now we are screwed.
Fletcht has been in contact or not, with Parks and NO response in the last few months. Everything and everyone is changed so it is like starting over.
Got this from Fletcht the other day so I will pass it on to you all,

OK, I have not had a great deal of success in communicating with the Parks Dept. My last three e-mails have gone unanswered. So, I have submitted an application for special activity for the dates Feb. 27th through March 6th for both NAPKA and NWBKA. I have requested both Longbeach and Grayland areas. If we can have just one I asked for Longbeach.

We will post more info as we get it.

Good to hear Fletch isn't giving up. I think pushing the continuation of last years model / success for this year is the best approach. Special event model works and thanks to NAPKA is workable ?

Best wishes and don't give up the good fight !

We have a 2nd group that is applying for permits also, it is NWPKA, (North West Blokart Association). With the hopes of 2 groups that have insurance and all the paperwork for a legal, legitimate group with rules and the stuff, we will get more of the powers at hand to allow us to open the beaches.
NAPKA started the ball rolling and now we are 2 groups, working towards the same goal.

Let me know what I can do to help.

I've had dealings with the parks board here locally and we are in good standings.

I speak with them at the beginning of the season as well as a follow up at the end.

For 2010 we only had one complaint.

For those in WA, I spoke to a few kiteshops that's would love to help get the area open, we have their support.

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Originally posted by ripsessionkites For those in WA, I spoke to a few kiteshops that's would love to help get the area open, we have their support.

If they have an interest in helping, the best thing they could do is to contact me or fletcht and than we could see what they can do to help.
To many things to post here and need to know who and what they are, makes life a lot easier.

Or you can come to Sunset Beach..............................

It's fantastic to have Sunset.

I think winning the Washington beaches is important and worth all of us going out of our way to do so.

Even talking to the general public about our effort to open the beach to Wind powered vehicles they all seemed to think it is CRAZY that we ever lost use.

Hey we need the revenue. Just give your 20 bucks to Sunset Jim when you use the beach.:eureka:

Jon, have you heard anything about "plover conservation" anywhere on sunset?

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Originally posted by jellis Hey we need the revenue. Just give your 20 bucks to Sunset Jim when you use the beach.:eureka:

It sure felt to me like the town of Grayland was more hard up for tourist dollars than any of the other beach towns I have visited. Seaside included. The people in that town seemed genuinely excited about the potential of us getting things started up there. We got a very warm welcome from all.

I paid my money to NAPKA ! I want my money working to open new locations, holding events. If I give money to Mayor Jim it will only go to Pie! :P

Thank goodness we have Sunset. Seems unlikely the Plover ( 1st time I read that word I thought it was a joke ) is going to set up there what with the traffic and guns and stuff? :puzzled:

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If I give money to Mayor Jim it will only go to Pie! :P

Hey, I resemble that remark!!

OK, I've been away from an internet connection for awhile.
I don't know completely what the status is going to be on Wash. beaches this year. At one point I was told we would probably have the same or similar permit process has last year. I have not received a confirmation on that however. Wa. Parks is in major reworks, with the economy currently. Talk of combining agency's, closing parks, turning over to local municipalities, etc. I think a large number of folks are scrambling to save their jobs and the Parks. Jeff is correct there, will not be any rules changes this year for sure, the most we can hope for is doing the permit thing again. Like Jeff, said, I have had numerous e-mails in and I have submitted a permit. It has not been responded to yet either. So those dates are still up in the air.
I know we have the support of local business, and a lot of local home owners. But at this time they don't have much more clout then we do.
I will be making a trip that way at the end of month anyway, so one day might be camped out at Park headquarters if need be.
I'll keep all up to date when I know anything.

Yes, there is always Sunset, and I'll be down there at the end of the month myself if the permit falls through. But this is for the principal of the thing. There isn't a logical reason why we should not be there. As far as Snowy Plovers go, they move their nesting areas all the time, we can work around that.

Later

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Originally posted by bigkid Quote: Originally posted by ripsessionkites For those in WA, I spoke to a few kiteshops that's would love to help get the area open, we have their support. If they have an interest in helping, the best thing they could do is to contact me or fletcht and than we could see what they can do to help. To many things to post here and need to know who and what they are, makes life a lot easier.

Everything should be going through NaPka. It's the governing body we are tryin to make/create here. We have more pull as a group when representing ourselves than two individuals. Should there be issues it should be forwarded to Napka. I can't speak too much but there was an issue in europe and the governing body there settled things well. The point is that flècht is doing a great job as a spokesperson but I wanted to let him know he has resources to help aid him.

I spent a lot of time and travels speaking to these kiteshops, manufactures on the phone and at the last tradeshow. Information will be given and added to the Napka sponsors for support. Sorry but I have my doubts sending kiteshops to you as your business is a kite distributor.

Quote:

Originally posted by ripsessionkites Quote: Originally posted by bigkid Quote: Originally posted by ripsessionkites For those in WA, I spoke to a few kiteshops that's would love to help get the area open, we have their support. If they have an interest in helping, the best thing they could do is to contact me or fletcht and than we could see what they can do to help. To many things to post here and need to know who and what they are, makes life a lot easier. Everything should be going through NaPka. I spent a lot of time and travels speaking to these kiteshops, manufactures on the phone and at the last tradeshow. Information will be given and added to the Napka sponsors for support. Sorry but I have my doubts sending kiteshops to you as your business is a kite distributor.

Ouch. I guess you told me.
I guess it would be best for me to bow out and let you run the show.
Let us know how it turns out.

I have removed this post and agree we need to save the planet just for the animals ;-) Feeling better.

Quote:

Originally posted by bigkid Quote: Originally posted by ripsessionkites Quote: Originally posted by bigkid Quote: Originally posted by ripsessionkites For those in WA, I spoke to a few kiteshops that's would love to help get the area open, we have their support. If they have an interest in helping, the best thing they could do is to contact me or fletcht and than we could see what they can do to help. To many things to post here and need to know who and what they are, makes life a lot easier. Everything should be going through NaPka. I spent a lot of time and travels speaking to these kiteshops, manufactures on the phone and at the last tradeshow. Information will be given and added to the Napka sponsors for support. Sorry but I have my doubts sending kiteshops to you as your business is a kite distributor. Ouch. I guess you told me. I guess it would be best for me to bow out and let you run the show. Let us know how it turns out.

I don't think it was Rips intent to "run" the show. This is not the time to bow out and let one person go it alone. Fletcht nows that NAPKA is behind him in this effort to open the beaches in Washington. If Washington state starts to see this as one or two people attempting to open an area just for them selves this effort will get the door slammed shut. Yes fletcht did most if not all of the leg work last year, and for that we thank him. However it was the fact that NAPKA finally had insurance. We need to let cooler heads prevail here, and keep the big picture in focus.
I'll get off my soap box now.

I should get Sean to type more for me as he knows what I'm trying to say better. Thx bro.

I never said I want to go at this alone nor should anyone else. We need to stick together as a whole.

Contrary to the belief of many here and other places, I could care less if I ever sold another kite. I enjoy more than anything to teach and see the face of a newbie after they figure out how to fly a kite. The fact that I sell kites is the result of teaching, and talking to people who have no idea or can't get any answers from those that haven't the time anymore.
My main goal is to help in anyway to open the beaches here in Washington State, and that has branched out to other states as people have asked for help.
I'm also involved with the Blokart group here to get the beaches open for them.

If you think for one moment I have an arterial motive to my actions, think again. I'm not you.
For a guy who is the MAN, you might want to take some classes in how to get the point across, or hire an interpreter.
If I'm talking out of my a$$ than So Sorry. If Not, than who cares.

Ok, everybody needs to get out and kite.
Also thanks for the support, I know that everyone, as well as NAPKA, and NWBKA will offer support as well. In the mean time, I'll keep plugging away. If I don't get any movement from Parks here in a few days, then I believe it is time to contact local kiteshops and Local Chamber of Commerces, and have them send letters of support to both Parks and area State Representatives. I am in the process of forming a letter ( in my head currently) that I'll send out. On that note, if any of you local folks Longbeach, Grayland/Westport, Ocean Shores/Copalis, know of specific contact individuals please send the names and addresses to me.

This is a long process, unfortunately, the issues with the State budget didn't help at all. We were moving along rather nicely at the end of last year. Slow but nicely. Then everything just went pear shape.

I'll keep all informed.

Thanks

Evans

Why is the quote from Richard in Bigkid's post different than the post it is quoted from? Weird.
S

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Originally posted by Scudley Why is Richard Weird? S

*******Please note that this is NOT The orginal verbage in Scudley's post.********

Easy to change a quote.

csa,
Are you seriously suggesting that bigkid deliberately changed the wording of Richard's post? Although I do not know bigkid from Adam, I do not think that I can believe that. If bidkid did it, he certainly owes Richard an apology. If bigkid did not, you owe him one.
S

I never suggested that Bigkid did anything of the sort. In fact with my limited dealings with Bigkid he has shown to be a standup guy. All I was doing was demonstrating the ease at which one could change the quote, and you need to take it as such. If I have a problem with someone on this forum I'll tell them. I won't make idle accusations. I'll get off the soap box now, so we can get back to the topic at hand.

Fletcht, Bigkid keep up the fight we're behind you, if not standing beside you in this one.

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Originally posted by arkay Jon, have you heard anything about "plover conservation" anywhere on sunset?

I think we can thank Camp Rilea for the lack of Plover Restrictions on Sunset. Tough to argue that the birds will be scared by the kites and not nest when the army is shooting automatic weapons less than a mile away and in there general direction.

So every-time the beach is blocked off for target practice, don't think "This Sucks!" think "Thanks for keeping this beach kite friendly!"

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Originally posted by jellisWe have upgraded our spotted owl cook book to include the snowy plovers.

Yep, thats right Plover Pie! By the looks of it The Mayor of Sunset Beach is buying! :tumble:

NAPKA members, I have posted the latest info on NAPKA.org. In the NAPKA #10 section Washington Beaches 2011.

We are open and ready for business, almost.
Short notice, but what the heh.

And, on another note, and not to stir up any comments. I don't want to hear them. I know that the Parks staff last year searched through the web looking for more info on kite buggys, and kiting in general. There are some very dedicated environmentalists that I have had to deal with these past couple of years. They love their PLovers, and they are very influential with other park staff.

Just had to get this out, now I feel better.

Quote:

Quote: Originally posted by jellisWe have upgraded our spotted owl cook book to include the snowy plovers. Yep, thats right Plover Pie! By the looks of it The Mayor of Sunset Beach is buying! :tumble:

Sorry, but due to the overabundance of the delicious birdies in the freezer, it overloaded the circuit and took out the freezer.

Update, on NAPKA