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TRAM Report - Follow Up- Horses were first in Grand Rapids, MI

People on Horses Last Saturday we traveled from Grand Rapids, MI to Midland, MI to take part in becoming one voice for our right to ride. As you could tell from my previous article, I was excited!

I would love to give you a glowing report and tell you that the TRAM (Trail Riders Alliance of Michigan) meeting went wonderfully!! Not so much!!! And it makes me so sad because they truly have the right idea. The people that traveled all distances to fight for our "Right to Ride" were very passionate . . when they entered the meeting.

Presentation is everything in a meeting. How you present things will either make or break a meeting. In this case it broke it . . . badly.

The meeting basically started out with an hour of saying thank you to the people who supported them. Then there were presentations by all kinds of different organizations. Michigan Horse Council, The Michigan Horsemen PLU, Michigan Equine Partnership, and many other organizations spoke. The people in the room were constantly trying to write down these names thinking, "Oh this is the one voice".

There were presentations from lawyers and representatives and many others that spoke very passionately about protecting our right to ride. There were a lot of people in the room that can make a huge difference in our fight to keep our trails. The problem was the structure of the meeting.

I got frustrated and got up to clear my head and ended up taking to one of the organizers--possibly Connie Frey from Lansing. My first question was who is our 'one voice'? She then explained to me that while TRAM was a good idea, it became clear that they didn't need to reinvent the wheel. They had found the Back Country Horsemen that was a national organization.

She went on to tell me that in order to be a part of BCH, the state had to have at least two chapters. So they formed the first chapter, "Back Country Horsemen Pigeon River and Beyond". The now needed to form another chapter so that MI had two chapters. They were encouraging people to join their chapter so another chapter could break off of theirs. Too bad very few in the room understood this.

The entire time she was explaining, I felt sad. Once again they were dead on in what they were trying to Horses Meet attempt but they were going about it the wrong way. I explained to her that they should have started out the meeting explaining what was going on. TRAM was no more and that BCH was now the "one voice". I explained to her that the human phyche will see "Pigeon River". The "and Beyond" part will not be translated. They will decide right then and there that this is only about Pigeon River and not all the other places that were loosing trails in Michigan. She kept saying, no they need to see the "and beyond" part. Unfortunately that is not the way the human mind works.

The goal, I believe, was to get two BCH chapters so that then we could have a BCH of Michigan that is under the national.

By this time they were taking questions at the mic. I went up and told them you have a whole lot of really confused people here. The rumble around was definitely with me. I then went on to explain the direction I had been told they were headed in--and it was a good direction. Then Cynthia Kieliszewski got up and started yelling ''no' that TRAM was no more--which is exactly what I had said. She was seriously yelling and seemed extremely unprofessional to me. In the end, we just left the meeting. I have no idea how it will pan out.

The other thing I thought interesting, was that the flyer they gave us to join BCH Pigeon River & Beyond, did not have one phone number or email address on it--not even a website.

Things could have gone so much differently had plans had been made for a smooth presentation. It is all in the understanding of how the human mind thinks. People were there to hear one voice. It could have been accomplished had they immediately laid out their plan to get one voice.

I left my card and told them to call me if they wanted help getting word out about the next meetings and help structuring the next meeting, I would be glad to help. There is also a way to structure a voice on line--all us bloggers know it. There are forums we could put together to meet online regularly--all things I know how to do and how to set up. It is doubtful Miss Cynthia would allow that to happen. It is sad, so sad!! There was a room full of people eager to ban together and in the end they didn't know who to ban with.

So we started our 2 hour trek back to the Grand Rapids Michigan area!

Photo Courtesy -Horses Meet

Posted by Tami Vroma-Realtor Grand Rapids Rapids Homes for Sale on 02/10/2009 09:33 AM

Comments (19)

Horse Were First in Grand Rapids MI - Follow Up in the ActiveRain Channel

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19 Comments on TRAM Report - Follow Up- Horses were first in Grand Rapids, MI

FEB

Tami,

Disappointing, but at least it is a start!!! Take the reins!!! :) Thanks, Fran

Tami, would you say a lack of leadership?

FEB

Fran - I am afraid the start is over because all those people that were in that room have gotten disgusted and they aren't going to believe them.

Missy - There were a lot of leaders . . . but no one seemed to really know how to lead. It all comes down to communication--they didn't communicate well at the meeting and they didn't communicate well before the meeting. Their hearts were certainly in the right place!

Tami, How disappointing! It may be an uphill battle but one worth the journey. Kepp the faith.

I'm sorry to hear the meeting turned out this way. I hope you will continue to update us.

Barb - Gonna keep keeping on!!

Ann - You have no idea how disappointed I was!

WWW.BCHMI.ORG

This is where we, as a group, will be with one voice!! This is not the time to tear people down. It's time to join together and help in the fight for our trails. This was the first meeting ever to lay out a concept for the organization. Hopefully the new website will dispell some doubt.

This grass roots organization started a year ago with a very small group of people that were very upset with the ongoing events in the PIGEON.

I'm so sorry you came away from the meeting so confused. TRAM was the original concept...but Backcountry Horsemen of America provides NATIONAL backing and has all the values of which the tram people were looking for. They ARE and VERY much will be our voice FOR MICHIGAN. Everyone is so stuck on the NAME! It's not the NAME but the purpose in which we are fighting for our trails... all of them in MI. IT ALL STARTED IN THE PIGEON!

Please visit the above website to learn more about what these true PATROITS are working for endlessly to have the RIGHT TO RIDE.

Thank you.

FEB

Hi Tami - Someone sent me your blog site.

First - on the real estate info - THANKS... I'll be paying more attention to your blog. You write very well.

Re: The TRAM meeting. Your impression was just what I felt as the meeting was "winding down". I sat next to Connie Frey who I know from Shiawasee. I also went up to Dick Kleinhardt and asked him point blank why they named the group what they did. Well - it's taking some digging, but apparently, they couldn't use "Michigan" or "Alliance" in the name. And I agree with you where they should have started off with that to start with. But they didn't. Let's move on.

I explained to Dick that I would have a hard time talking to "downstaters" who have NO clue what Pigeon River Country is. In fact, I'm only vague in my understanding that it's someplace "up North" and not being a native Michigander - that term just drives me crazy. When I googled for "Pigeon River"... I got 4 locations in Michigan. Then I googled Pigeon River COUNTRY and got a whole bunch more. but none pointed their finger at a map of Michigan and said "this is where it is".

Like you, I live amongst a gazillion acres of "state land". Just 1/2 mile in any direction is state land filled with trails that only hunters are allowed on. ???? In fact, Lapeer lost 12,000 acres to equestrians about 8 years ago (before I moved there 5 years ago) so there are many of us want back in the game to try and get some or all of that back. Most of us trailer to Elba Equestrian center and ride the trails there or elsewhere.

So while I agree that presentation is half the battle - I think the folks that have been battling for more than 18 months and make frequent visits to Lansing, could use a little sympathy and empathy. More importantly - they need our support. I am amazed at how much they HAVE accomplished and I've worked with a couple of horse groups - starting with by-laws, mission statements, incorporating, deciding on how many directors, writing extensive show rules, yada yada yada... It's brutal work sometimes.

So. Please join us February 28th in Clare at Jay's sporting goods store. There will be more to talk about and perhaps your organizational skills can be helpful for future meetings and presentations to other horse groups as we all fight to retain our Right to Ride!

At the last minute, there was a decision to get a booth at Birch Run Expo on Saturday, Feb 14th. I hope you are able to stop by if you can't make the meeting on the 28th.

Website address was just approved a few days ago by BCH of America. we're now at BCHMI.org

Oh... we have 2 groups in Michigan. The U.P. group is BCH-Ottawa. Then we have BCH-Pigeon River & Beyond, Michigan (BCH-PRBM). Sorry for the confusion.

Have you ever gone to mtra.org and to the forum? We've had some chat about the TRAM meeting there that might help answer some of your questions.

I hope to hear back from you, and more importantly, I hope you'll join the group. We need it.

Hi Tami, This project is dear to every horse owner's heart. That being said it is truely unfortunate that someone wasn't in the position to actually organize the meeting w/ a written agenda & goals for the meeting. It seems that they need you.

Fellow Horse Girl ~ Marian

FEB

Tami

I sincerely apoligize if you felt I was yelling. Were you standing at the mic next to another man that was asking if this was a state organization? If so, wasn't this near the end and many people were getting up and moving around?

I think you spoke and then the other man spoke and then you spoke again. I felt we were all trying to do the same thing which was to answer your question and his question. I remember that when I said 'No, TRAM, is no more, the man behind you said, 'Thank-you, that's all I wanted to hear' and he also said 'That was the answer to my question.' So, even though you were saying the same thing, he wanted to hear it from a presenter to be sure we were in agreement with your statements. He and his family and I spoke at length after the meeting about the name and the state organization.

In response to your comments on the presentations, I'm sorry that you feel that way.

In response to your comments about this is only about the Pigeon River, I recall Dick saying that the Pigeon is where this group started but when we realized that trail closings are happening everywhere, our focus became preserving and protecting all the trails in Michigan. It wasn't just a local issue.

We are just a group of people that got together and decided something had to be done. We were successful in getting the attention of the legislature. Through our efforts there were legislative committee meetings on appropriations and tourism that asked the DNR to present their reasons and gave us the chance to present the horse riders point of view. We were successful in forming partnerships with other organizations that are supporting our efforts.

This meeting was to see if there is a group of people interested in joining a member driven grass roots organization that would be focused on preserving and protecting horse trails and trail access. There were a lot of good ideas presented by the people there. Together, we can plan the best way to not only preserve and protect what we have, but how to re-open those area's already closed, like Lapeer.

So we weren't there to tell people what to do. We were there to see if people wanted to do something.

Did we have an meeting agenda? Yes. Could we have done better in delivery? Yes. Will we get better? Yes.

It is obvious that you understood what we were trying to achieve. Will you be willing to help in organizing the agenda for the first membership meeting on February 28th in Clare so we present things more effectively?

Please call me. 989.766.2570 Home 989.255.1575 Cell

Tami wrote: There was a room full of people eager to ban together and in the end they didn't know who to ban with.

Tami - I thought this was a typo the first time, but then you used it again.

I hope that you mean BAND together (as in JOIN together) rather than ban... which is to block or stop. (insert a smiley there) (We all have mental breaks - little brain farts as us old-timers call them. : )

I was there, that must have been you that went to the microphone at the end? With Vinnie? I don't believe Cynthia was yelling. She appeared to be somewhat frustrated and maybe a little tired. She was really trying to get the idea of a single unit. I am SO glad that there are some folks who are taking this on. It's LONG overdue in Michigan. But... they can't do it all by themselves. If they don't get a large membership - from throughout the state - they won't have the MUSCLE to fight "city hall"... (aka Lansing).

thanks for allowing this conversation on your blog!

"Ronnie"

FEB

Hi Tami- I read this from an outsiders view....both your Post and the comments from people involved. These are my comments:

1) Everyone of us has a different skill- someone might be good at letter writing, or researching, and someone else might be good at the Communicating part.

2) People follow leaders, so you might have had a bunch of people that were in charge, or insturmental in the Organization but that doesn't mean they are Leaders....a totally different concept.

3) Sounds to me like this can all work itself out. The ones that want to do something will work together, miscommunication and all. OK, so there were errors, fix them, learn from them, and move on.

4) Use social Media to your benefit....a static website is just one small piece of the puzzle. Go to Linkedin and set up a Group, something with Michigan Horse-riders in it. Do the same with Facebook, and check out Twitter and see how you can find all the Horse People. So many people are using Social Media sites, and these Groups will be a way for people to ask questions, post reports, etc, with the new Technology that you are already using.

Best of luck to all of you....Sounds very encouraging to me as an outsider to see the other participants come onto your Blog to work together :)

Hi Tami, Wow you got a lot of long comments with this post. Looks like you are reaching people. I hope this all works out well. I know how much you love horses.~

FEB

Lyn - As I stated in the post, I believe everyone had their hearts in the right place. Things just didn't work out very well. I wrote also on the forums at BCHMI but will say it here again. People do get behind a name- a name that states the goal and if it seems like it is leaning toward one region or goal rather then the group as a whole, people will tend to back away. It is the way it is. I have been in sales and marketing my whole life. I know how people view things and they will not hear the "And Beyond" part. They want something a little more organic so they feel as if their caues and their need is also encompaed.

Gabrielle - I could not agree with you more that there are many people who have worked very hard. That is why I believe it is so important to have others join them. The meeting is over and now they need to work toward re-capturing the interest of all those people in that room. We talked at length on the phone but I think the people in that room would just like to hear, "we are sorry, that didn't go off as planned and we should have explained the structure from the beginning". Then explain it to them--but give them something they feel is working toward all the goals-not just Pigeion River--and yes I know it says and beyond but the organizers need to understand that people just don't believe the "And Beyond Part". The emphasis is on Pigeon - take the emphasis off and make it more encompasing.

Marian - I am sure someone wrote out the goals, I just think they were not prepared with how badly we wanted to follow a voice that would speak for all of us. There were things that went on behind the scenes that, had they shared immediately, would have made for a lot more understanding.

Cynthia - I am glad that you saw that I really did understand what you were trying to do. It seems to me there have been a lot of people who have come before the meeting that worked very hard. I would be happy to help you with your meeting.

Ronnie/Veronica - You were right I meant band . . LOL I couldn't agree with your more that we need to BAND together . .LOL

Kathy- You make very good points. Although I don't see myself as a leader, I do see myself as a communicator and understand how people's minds work with subjects like this. I too believe that this can be worked out. I think people need to be open to other ideas and to understand no matter how much they don't want something to be doesn't mean they can change it. People will interpret the way they interpret--it is up to us to guide their interpretations. On the social media- I could not agree with you more. I sat listening in the meeting about how they called newspaper but no one would come. We live in a world where WE make out own news via the social media's. It is so easy and best of all - free except for time! It is very cool to see everyone come to the blog.

Thank you Shirley!

Always remember "Perception is Reality" and work from there......:)

The back country horsemen of pigeon river and beyond is dedicated to saving all our trails. These members are not professional politicans but volunteer's who are dedicated to saving all our trails. I have one wish for all our equestrian users to unite and stop verbally tearing down each other. please stop focusing on all the negativity but on the good and wonderful mission this organization has. I believe the equestrian users are smart enough to look beyond a name. I believe our equestrian users are loyal and smart professional who can study, evaluate and make a clear concise decision. Please start focusing on all the postive, good, this organization can do. If you have ideas's this organization is grass-roots and membership driven. Please come to the next meeting and help us learn and grow.

FEB

I was at that meeting also. I rode for 3 hrs. to get to the meeting. Yes there was some confusion towards the end of the meeting about changing the organization name from TRAM to Back Country Horsemen /Pigeon River and Beyond...I Then realized what Dick was trying to say.....The UP had already organized an affiliate of BCH and adding our organization created BCH in Michigan. All horsemen united....And that's what we want, that's what we need.Whether we're TRAM or BCH,it doesn't matter...What matters is that we are UNITED...All horsemen...in the state of Michigan, and in the US..

We need to get past this confusion and start working together for the good of all trails..There is another meeting coming up:Please try to attend...ask questions, make proposals....the bottom line is to UNITE not matter what the name...So lets do that..

I joined that very day...I want my trails back and the sooner we get working at it the better.....thank you....Darlene Alexander, Hubbard Lake, Mi Next meeting is Feb. 28 at Jayes Sporting Goods, Claire Mi..1:00pm